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‘Karnataka govt knew, they sat on Prajwal Revanna videos for months’: Amit Shah questions Congress, JDS suspends Devegowda’s grandson from party

OpIndia Staff
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‘Karnataka govt knew, they sat on Prajwal Revanna videos for months’: Amit Shah questions Congress, JDS suspends Devegowda’s grandson from party

On Tuesday (30th April), Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress-led Karnataka government for its tardiness in acting on complaints of sexual misconduct against Janata Dal-Secular leader Prajwal Revanna.

During a media interaction in Guwahati, Minister Shah said: “BJP’s stand is clear that we stand with the ‘Matr Shakti’ of the country. I want to ask Congress, whose government is there? The government is of Congress Party. Why they have not taken any action till now? We do not have to take action on this as this is a law and order issue of the state, state government has to take action on it…”

Amit Shah added that the BJP is in support of an investigation into the matter and the JD(S) has called a meeting of its core committee to decide what steps to be taken.

“We are in favour of the investigation and our partner JD(S) has also announced to take action against it. Today there is a meeting of their core committee and steps will be taken…” Shah said.

Reacting to Priyanka Gandhi raising questions against the alleged inaction by the Modi government against Prajwal Revanna, Shah said, that instead of questioning PM Modi she should question Karnataka CM Siddaramiah since law and order is a state subject. “What is your [Congress] government doing? Why there is no investigation?” Shah said.

Notably, “public order” and “police” are State subjects as listed by the Indian Constitution’s Seventh Schedule. The respective State Governments are in responsible for upholding law and order, safeguarding citizens’ lives and property, and combating crimes against women.

JDS suspends Hassan MP and current candidate Prajwal Revanna from Party

The JDS has announced the suspension of sitting Hassan MP and their current candidate for the seat Prajwal Revanna from the party in view of the sexual harassment scandal against him. The reports multiple of videos in circulation allegedly involving multiple women, including the staff and servants at the residence of the Revanna family has been the primary reason behind the suspension.

JDS notice on suspension of Prajwal Revanna, image via Ashwini Shripad on X

Earlier today, Prajwal’s uncle and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy had announced that appropriate action will be taken by the party’s core committee after due discussion.

Congress govt knew about the videos months ago: Says Prajwal’s driver

Meanwhile, Karthik Reddy, the former driver of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna claimed on Tuesday that Revanna’s alleged sex scandal was known to Congress leaders months prior.

Speaking to IndiaToday, the driver said that he had given Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar the pendrive months prior, on which he allegedly had multiple videos of Prajwal Revanna and his victims.

In a conversation with TimesNow, Deveraj Gowda, Advocate & Former BJP MLA said: “My client gave me a pen drive. When I saw the pen drive, there were obscene videos in it. I asked him if this video has been given to someone, and he said yes, it has been given to D. K. Shivakumar. The next morning, I wrote a letter to JP Nadda JI, Modi JI, Amit Shah Ji… about the video… I said that we have to be very careful about making an alliance with JDS because the video has already reached Congress, and during the time of the elections, it might create problems for us…”

There are allegations that the ruling government sat on the videos and did not take any action for months because they wanted to use it politically at an opportune moment just before the elections.

Prajwal Revanna flees India just before Karnataka govt announces SIT formation

As reported earlier, Prajwal Revanna fled India a day after the state of Karnataka decided to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations of rape, sexual exploitation, and the 2976 obscene videos that have allegedly surfaced. The videos surfaced on social media barely two days before the first round of Karnataka’s Lok Sabha elections on 26th April. Revanna is said to have fled to Frankfurt on the 28th morning of April from Bengaluru.

On Sunday, Revanna was charged with sexual harassment based on complaints filed by his former housekeeper. The woman stated that she was sexually abused multiple times by Revanna and his father between 2019 and 2022. His father, JD(S) leader HD Revanna has also been booked in this connection. The case has been filed under sections 354A, 354D, 506, and 509 of the IPC on charges of sexual harassment, intimidation, and demeaning of a woman’s dignity.

Assaulted, forced to clean toilets: 93 minors being trafficked from Bihar to madarsas in Saharanpur rescued in Ayodhya, 5 Maulvis arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Assaulted, forced to clean toilets: 93 minors being trafficked from Bihar to madarsas in Saharanpur rescued in Ayodhya, 5 Maulvis arrested

On Friday (26th April 2024), the Uttar Pradesh Police searched a bus on suspicion of human trafficking while it was passing through Ayodhya. The police rescued around 93 minor children who were present on the bus whose ages varied between 6 to 14 years. The Police have arrested five Maulvis in this connection. As per reports, all the children are said to be residents of Bihar’s Araria district. The Maulvis were taking them to Madarsas in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur for enrollment. However, during their investigation, the police discovered that these Madarsas were unregistered.

The Maulvis are accused of raising funds from external sources by falsely claiming that the minor children were orphans. Upon gaining the children’s trust, the authorities learned that they were subjected to inhumane treatment. Currently, the administration is conducting further investigations into the case. 

According to reports, on Friday (26th April), Police stopped a double-decker bus near Devkali, Ayodhya, on suspicion of Human trafficking. There were about 100 people onboard the bus, with 93 of them being minor children who appeared tired and distressed. 

The bus had started its journey from Araria in Bihar. During the initial interrogation, the Maulvis told the police that they were traveling to Saharanpur. They mentioned two madarsas – Madarul Uloom Rafiqia and Daare Arqam, located in the Deoband area. According to the clerics, they were taking the minors to enroll them in these two madarsas.

When the police investigated these madarsas, it was revealed that neither of them was registered. Additionally, it was also discovered that the Maulvis were raising funds from the parents of these children. However, they presented these minors as orphans to solicit funding from external sources as well.

After apprehending the clerics, the police sent the children to the Government Children’s Home in Lucknow and also informed their parents. The team from the State Child Protection Commission arrived at the Children’s Home on Sunday (28th April 2024).

When they gained the children’s trust and inquired about their well-being, the minors opened up and narrated the ordeals they had suffered in the madarsas.

The minors said that they were brutally assaulted in the madarsa. They were made to clean toilets and were threatened with dire consequences if they told anyone about it. Even when children fell ill, they were given medicine only after receiving money from home. Many children rescued in the recent incident had previously stayed in these madarsas in Saharanpur. The gates of the madarsas were closed at night, and when the minors asked them to open the gate, they were assaulted by the guards. They named Master Shahzad and Jabar as the ones who tortured them the most.

The Police are interrogating the arrested Maulvis and other legal action is underway in this case. As per reports, the parents of these minors were made to give it in writing that the Maulvis would not be responsible if anything untoward happened to their children. 

The administration called on their parents to Lucknow on Monday (29th April). According to Dr. Suchita Chaturvedi, a member of the State Child Rights Protection Commission, the children started crying while talking to her.

These minors said that their dream is to become doctors; however, they added that they can’t achieve this dream by studying in the madarsas. Dr. Suchita said that she would obtain written assurances from the visiting parents that these children would not be admitted to the madarsas again.

A similar incident was reported in May 2023. Back then, the Maharashtra Police had intercepted and seized a truck carrying 63 minor Muslim boys in the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. These Muslim boys, all aged between 7 to 13, belonged to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal and were brought to the city via train from Bihar.

Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece asks Muslims to practice ‘Vote Jihad’ during elections, BJP slams the attempt to misguide Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece asks Muslims to practice ‘Vote Jihad’ during elections, BJP slams the attempt to misguide Muslims

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece, Maria Alam Khan addressed a Samajwadi Party rally in the Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, 29th April, and asked Muslims to practice ‘Vote Jihad’. While addressing the people in the Imam Chowk area, Khan, in the presence of Khurshid, said that practicing ‘vote jihad’ is needed in the current situation.

“We must practice vote jihad very silently and smartly. We need not be emotional about this. We must unite to save the Constitution and that demands Vote Jihad. That is all that is in our hands. We all together need to get this Sanghi government out of power. Only then can we save the Constitution,” Maria Alam Khan could be heard saying. The video of her controversial address is making rounds on social media.

Khan further added that all those Muslims supporting the BJP-led government should be barred from the community. “There are so many people who are currently in jail due to CAA-NRC. Amid this, all those supporting the people in power should face the ire. Salman Khurshid Sir is fighting for all Muslims and we should support him. You people are our power. We all are working for your betterment. The democracy is in danger. Think of your future generations and practice vote jihad,” she added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Salman Khurshid supported the statements made by Maria Alam Khan, and said that usually ‘vote jihad’ terminology is not used in the open as people misinterpret it. Khurshid said that ‘Jihad’ just means fighting with the situation. However, he supported the claims made by Khan that said ‘vote jihad’ must be practiced.

Apart from Salman Khurshid, former Congress MLA Lewis Khurshid, State General Secretary Prakash Pradhan, District President Shakuntala Devi, and many district-level Congress leaders were present during the meeting. SP candidate Dr Naval Kishore Shakya, former MLA Pratap Singh Yadav, Ajit Katheria, and Ramprakash Kallu Yadav also were present at the gathering.

BJP’s Rakesh Tripathi took cognisance of the inciden,t and slammed the opposition for making such controversial statements. While talking exclusively to Times Now, Tripathi said that till now, people were only being made aware of ‘love jihad’, and ‘land jihad’, but now ‘vote jihad’ has also come into the picture.

“These people are trying to misguide the people by asking them to practice vote jihad. The opposition is scared due to the massive development undertaken by the Modi government, even for the minority communities. So they are making attempts to misguide the Muslims. But all these efforts will go in vain. However, strict action must be taken against such leaders who make controversial remarks,” Tripathi said.

As an Indian Ex-Muslim petitions SC to be excluded from Sharia law, this is what Islam says about Ex-Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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As an Indian Ex-Muslim petitions SC to be excluded from Sharia law, this is what Islam says about Ex-Muslims

The Supreme Court of India issued notifications to the Kerala State and Union governments on Monday (April 29th) while hearing a writ suit seeking a ruling that a person born a Muslim but ceased to be a believer is not subject to Shariat law. After lengthy arguments, the bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra issued notices on the plea, describing it as an “important issue.”

As reported earlier, the bench requested that the Attorney General of India appoint a legal officer to assist the Court. The next hearing on this matter will take place during the second week of July 2024.

The writ case was filed by Safiya PM, a Kerala-based woman who serves as the general secretary of an organization of Kerala ex-Muslims. In her letter, Safiya proposes a “declaration that persons who do not want to be regulated by the Muslim Personal Law must have the right to be governed by the secular law of the country, viz, the Indian Succession Act, 1925 both in the case of intestate and testamentary succession”.

Initially, the bench was hesitant to hear the petition, citing the rationale that a non-believer would not be subject to the Shariat Act. Responding to the petitioner’s counsel Advocate Prashant Padmanabhan, CJI Chandrachud said, “The moment you are born as Muslim you are governed by the personal law. Your rights or entitlement are not governed by being a believer or non-believer.” 

The court further questioned how the Court could issue a statement stating that personal law does not apply to a person under Article 32 of the Constitution when the petitioner had not challenged any statutory provision.

During the arguments, the CJI emphasized the requirements of Section 3 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937. He stated that a person will not be controlled by the Act until they clearly declare so under this clause.

“You don’t have to seek that declaration. Because Section 3 of the Shariat Act says that unless you make a declaration, you will not be governed by the provisions of the personal law in the matter of wills, adoptions, and legacies. So if you don’t make a declaration, your father doesn’t make a declaration, they are not governed by the personal law,” the CJI noted.

However, the court recognized an issue because Section 58 of the Indian Succession Act expressly states that the Succession Act does not apply to Muslims. Nonetheless, the bench observed that the petitioner did not contest Section 58 of the Indian Succession Act.

Highlighting the existence of a legal void in such instances, CJI D Y Chandrachud declared, “There is an issue. Because if there is no proclamation, it is still void because secular law does not apply. When we first started reading it, we wondered what type of petition this is. This is a crucial point. We will issue a notice.”

While the court has decided to hear the petition filed by the ex-Muslim woman it is important to learn why the matter is being pressed so much to be heard and what the Muslim law says about the ex-Muslims.

How does Islamic law treat ex-Muslims?

As per the Islamic law, when a Muslim-born individual becomes a disbeliever of the religion, it is referred to as apostasy in Islam. Apostasy is identified when any Muslim individual declares a clear statement showing disbelief in Islam if he/she does something that implies disbelief in the religion.

Apostasy can be categorized into four types: apostasy in beliefs, words, actions, and omission. Beliefs include associating others with Allah, denying his existence, insulting Allah or the Messenger, disrespecting the Quran, prostrating idols, or not following Islam. Omissions, such as not following Islamic rituals also signify disbelief.

As per Islamic law, any individual who is a Muslim but is found showing disbelief in Islam is to be executed. The evidence of this punishment lies in the Al-Bukhari hadith in which the Prophet says, “Whoever changes his religion, execute him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 2794).

“It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim who bears witness that there is no god except Allah and that I am His Messenger, except in one of three cases: a soul for a soul (murder); a married man who commits adultery; and one who leaves his religion and splits from the jama’ah (main group of Muslims,” the Prophet says. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6878; Muslim, 1676)

However, as per the plea filed by the ex-Muslim woman in the given case, the person who leaves his/her faith in Islam, will be ousted from her community and thereafter she is not entitled to any inheritance right in her parental property. 

The petitioner sought a declaration that she would not be governed by Muslim Personal Law for any of the matters listed in Sections 2 or 3 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, but as per the reports, there is no provision in the Act or the Rules for her to obtain such a certificate.

The petitioner meanwhile also claimed that her valuable fundamental rights under Article 25 would be rendered useless by the lack of such protection from the state. The court has termed the issue as important and has said that notice will be issued in the given case.

Conclusion

The case is expected to have wider ramifications. At a time when a lot of present-generation Muslims are renouncing their faith, and the union government is keen to bring a Uniform Civil Code, the SC has taken up a controversial issue that may have wide-scale implications and may face vehement opposition from fundamentalist Muslim organisations. As seen in other cases of civil rights, like the Shah Bano case and Triple Talaq laws, the male-dominated fundamentalist Muslim lobby does not like to cede an inch when it comes to Muslim Personal Laws.

Many Muslim leaders and organisations, even so-called ‘progressive’ politicians have declared that they will not allow the Uniform Civil Code and will bat for the continuation of Muslim Personal Laws in India.

Persecution of minorities continues in Bangladesh, Hindu man charged with ‘blasphemy’ for sharing song about Lalon ‘Fakir’

OpIndia Staff
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Persecution of minorities continues in Bangladesh, Hindu man charged with ‘blasphemy’ for sharing song about Lalon ‘Fakir’

On Sunday (28th April), a Hindu businessman named Sanjoy Rakhit was arrested for supposedly ‘hurting’ the religious sentiments of the Muslim community by sharing a song about 18th-century Bengali mystic Lalon Fakir.

The incident took place in Shariatpur in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh. Rakhit had posted on his Facebook account,” Sunnat e Khatna dile jodi hoye Musalman, tahole Nari jaatir ki hoy Bidhan (If circumcision is the way to become a Muslim for a man, then, what rule applies for women)“

The lines were taken from the song ‘Sab Loke Koy Lalan Ki Jaat Sansare (Everyone says what is the Faith of Lalon)’, written by popular Bengali folk singer Kartik Das Baul in 2016.

Screengrab of the Facebook post of Sanjoy Rakhit

The 40-year-old Sanjoy Rakhit was arrested from his residence in Sariatpur on Sunday (28th April) afternoon under Section 54 of The Code of Criminal Procedure in Bangladesh, which allows for arrest without a warrant.

The Hindu man was thereafter charged for hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community on Facebook. Based on oral complaints by the Muslims, the police sent Rakhit to Sariatpur district jail.

Previously, a Muslim mob reached outside the house of the Hindu man and created a state of unrest.

While speaking about the matter, Officer-in-Charge of the Vedarganj Police station Mintu Mandal told Dhaka Post that a young man was arrested for insulting the rules of Islam.

SP (Shariatpur) Mahbubul Alam remarked, “To avoid any kind of chaos, we arrested the person and brought him to the police station and later he was sent to jail through the court under Section 54. There is still anger among people in the area. Policemen are keeping vigil to prevent any untoward situation.”

The Hindu businessman was produced before a local court on Monday (29th April), following which he was granted bail. In the meantime, several Bangladeshis have expressed support for Sanjoy Rakhit and asked the cops to arrest them for reiterating the lyrics of the Lalon song.

In March this year, OpIndia reported how Islamists are now eyeing to encroach upon the Kantajew temple and Chandranath Mandir in Bangladesh.

Lalon Fakir, popularly known as Lalon Shah, was a prominent Bengali Baul saint. He is considered one of the greatest spiritual and musical figures in the history of Bengal.

He composed numerous songs, known as Baul songs or Lalon Geeti, which are characterised by their spiritual depth, poetic beauty, and social commentary. His songs often explore themes of love, humanity, the search for truth, and the unity of all religions.

Egypt: Angered over approval for a new church, Islamists set fire to houses of Coptic Christians, hundreds of villagers attacked

OpIndia Staff
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Egypt: Angered over approval for a new church, Islamists set fire to houses of Coptic Christians, hundreds of villagers attacked

In Egypt’s southern Minya province, several houses of local Coptic Christians were set on fire on the 23rd of April by local Muslims over the construction of a new church.

The incident unfolded in the Minya Province village of Al-Fawakher, which is home to some 3,000 Christian families who follow the Coptic Orthodox Church. Reports state that the local Islamists had recently responded adversely to the Coptic community getting approval to erect a new church.

Speaking to The Arab News, a source said: “The attacks are believed to have been triggered by an attempt to build a new church in Al-Fawakher village. The report further states that when “religious fanatics failed to expel Christians from their homes as punishment,” they “burned down their houses while they were still inside.”

Social media users shared videos of mobs celebrating in front of burning buildings. According to the advocacy group Copts United, “extremists attacked Coptic homes with stones and chants, and a number were set on fire, amid the screams of women and children.” It further stated that after the attacks started, security personnel did not arrive at the spot for “a long time”.

Coptic Bishop Anba Macarius said in a statement on 24th April that “security forces arrived and brought the situation under control, arresting the instigators. The state agencies will compensate those affected and hold the perpetrators accountable,” stating that “calm prevails in the village now.”

The burning down of Christian houses is the latest instance of sectarian violence directed at Egypt’s minority of Coptic Christians, who have long been persecuted and subject to legal discrimination. It is against the law to convert from Islam, Christians are not allowed to hold high positions, and terror attacks on churches are common, especially in Minya.

According to Copts United, a similar attack over church construction took place in another village on Friday. The government of Egypt has been accused of underestimating the number of Christians in the 111 million-person nation—between 5 and 15%. The majority are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which has its origins in the early church.

The Hindu’s deputy editor claims ‘while corporate loans are written off, properties of middle-class defaulters are being auctioned’: Here is what she won’t tell you

Anurag
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The Hindu’s deputy editor claims ‘while corporate loans are written off, properties of middle-class defaulters are being auctioned’: Here is what she won’t tell you

On 28th April, Deputy Editor of The Hindu, Vijaita Singh, got confused between “written-off” and “waived-off” loans. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Vijaita Singh targeted banks for auctioning off properties of the loan defaulters and asserted that such actions were being taken while corporate loans were “written-off”. Though she wrote “written-off”, it was clear that The Hindu’s deputy editor does not know the difference between waiving-off loans and writing-off loans.

She wrote, “While  corporate loans are written off, homes and land of middle-class people who default on loans are attached and auctioned by banks. List of properties to be auctioned by Canara Bank in Bihar.”

She also shared a photograph of The Indian Express’s 28th April issue where auction notices were published. The pending amount of the loans that were not paid varied between Rs 4 lakhs and a little over 1 crore.

It has been years since Vijaita has been confused about the two terms. In November 2016, a week after demonetisation, she wrote on Twitter (now X), “While you and me prove our patriotism by standing in queues, SBI writes off loan of wilful defaulters,Vijay Malya’s 1201 cr loan waived off!”

However, a little research of her timeline revealed an interesting fact. Vijaita Singh appears to be well-informed about the usage of terms “waived-off” and “written-off”. Interestingly, in 2019, she quoted a report in The Hindu and wrote, “Despite spending over ₹19,000 crore on farm loan waiver, a total of 12,021 farmers have died in the State due to suicide between 2015 and 2018, the Maharashtra government said in Assembly on Friday.”

Contradictory understanding of terms on the timeline of Vijaita Singh on social media

Using the correct terminology indicates Vijaita Singh understands the difference. Then what could be the reason behind the misleading post she made on X on 28th April? Sensationalisation of reporting? Ethics of journalism categorically oppose the sensationalisation of media reporting as it can have adverse effects on the public and may manipulate the truth. This is exactly what has happened here. In journalism, the sensationalisation of a topic is an editorial tactic to draw the attention of the viewers and has the potential to mislead people.

Difference between write-off and waive-off

The ‘write-off’ is a process of balance sheet cleaning up exercise undertaken by banks to depict the real status of the bank’s assets and liabilities. The write-offs are not loan waivers as claimed by Rahul Gandhi. The banks usually write off loans (an asset to the bank) given to borrowers, which have now shown signs of weakness.

If banks fail to write-off these loans, it is reflected as a high-quality asset and the returns-on-assets should be classified as an income to the bank. However, the quality of a defaulted loan has deteriorated for some time now, which results in giving the wrong picture of the true assets of the bank.

Secondly, if a loan is not written-off and is continued as a healthy asset at a time when it actually is a Non-Performing Asset (NPA), then banks can continue to book interest income on the loan, on the accrual basis of accounting.

Write-offs are a purely technical, accounting entry. Loans, which may not be repaid by the borrower in the normal course of business are written off. Even when these loans are written off, various recovery procedures like recovery suits filed before the Debt Recovery Tribunal and action initiated under SARFAESI Act continue. Hence, the writing-off a loan is not simply a ‘waive-off’.

In addition to these differences, not all the loans that are being restructured by ‘writing-off’ are provisioned during the current regime this year. The scheduled commercial banks have in the past, also in the current fiscal, may have written-off loans that are given by the banks in the UPA era. Loans writing-off is a normal banking operation, that is continuously undertaken every fiscal year by the banks to clean their balance sheet for accounting tax-related issues.

Banks recovered over Rs 10 lakh crores from bad loans in nine years

In July 2023, Finance Ministry informed Lok Sabha that between fiscal years 2014 to 2023, scheduled commercial banks recovered around Rs 10 lakh crores of NPAs or bad loans. The information by the Finance Ministry was provided in Lok Sabha as a response to an unstarred question by MP Gnanthiraviam S and MP Vijaykumar alias Vijay Vasanth.

Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad stated that according to the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) data, the amount owed by scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) to corporate company borrowers who are classified as non-performing assets (NPA) and have an outstanding amount of Rs 1,000 crore or more was Rs 1,03,975 crore as of March 31, 2023.

It is evident that though it is a slow process under which the commercial banks recover loans but the recovery was on track. Interestingly, it was reported in February 2022 that Rs 18,000 crores were recovered from fugitives Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. All these loans were NPAs and despite them being outside India, the recovery process continued.

By the time this report was published, Vijaita had not corrected herself or written any follow-up comment.

Uttarakhand govt files criminal complaint against Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna, halts production of 14 ‘medicines’: Know what are the restricted products

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand govt files criminal complaint against Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna, halts production of 14 ‘medicines’: Know what are the restricted products

On Monday (29th April), the Uttarakhand government informed the Supreme Court that it has revoked licences for 14 products offered by Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy. The declaration included an apology from the State Licencing Authority (SLA) and a commitment that it would not perform any deliberate or willful act that would violate any Supreme Court orders.

According to an affidavit filed by the state through Dr Mithilesh Kumar, joint director of the State Licencing Authority, Ayurvedic and Unani Services, an order issued on 15th April to Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Limited conveyed that the manufacturing licences for 14 products were suspended immediately. The ban was imposed due to persistent violations of regulations, including misleading ads, as outlined in Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945.

The products whose licence has been suspended are Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, Bp Grit, Madhugrit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold and Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop.

Many of the products are very popular in the market and have been sold as effective ‘treatments’ for a number of diseases, including cold, cough, bronchitis and diabetes.

Patanjali and Divya Pharmacy have been directed to stop manufacturing the mentioned products immediately and submit the original formulation sheets to the SLA’s Deputy Director.

Moreover, the affidavit stated that on the 16th of April, the drug inspector/district ayurvedic and unani officer in Haridwar filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Judicial Magistrate against Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, Divya Pharmacy, and Patanjali Ayurved Limited under sections 3, 4, and 7 of the DMR Act.

In the affidavit filed in court, the SLA tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology for any inadvertent and unintended noncompliance with the Supreme Court’s directions and stated that he is 55 years old and has five years of service remaining.

The case against Patanjali Ayurved

The case against Patanjali Ayurved originated from a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association in August 2022. The association was triggered by an ad that sparked controversy by questioning allopathic medicine’s efficacy. The IMA accused Patanjali of contributing to vaccine hesitancy and spreading misinformation about the efficacy of its products.

During the hearing, Justice Amanullah cautioned Patanjali against making false claims about curing diseases and warned about imposing fines for such claims. However, despite court orders, Patanjali allegedly continued false advertising, leading to contempt notices and a ban on their medicinal product advertisements. As Patanjali allegedly failed to comply with the orders, it prompted criticism from the court for their inadequate apologies and demanding a comprehensive explanation for their actions. OpIndia’s detailed report on the matter can be checked here.

Congress aide who agitated to deny development in Chhattisgarh gets Goldman Environmental Prize, which was earlier given to Medha Patkar who denied water to Gujarat for years

OpIndia Staff
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Congress aide who agitated to deny development in Chhattisgarh gets Goldman Environmental Prize, which was earlier given to Medha Patkar who denied water to Gujarat for years

Alok Shukla, the convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), is set to receive the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize on Monday (29th April).

He is apparently being honoured for his efforts in safeguarding Hasdeo Arand, a vast expanse of highly dense forest in central India covering 170,000 hectares, which is threatened by the presence of 23 coal blocks.

“Alok Shukla spearheaded a community-driven initiative that effectively preserved 445,000 acres of biodiverse forests, thwarting plans for 21 coal mines in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In July 2022, the government scrapped the proposals for these coal mines in Hasdeo Aranya, renowned for its pristine forests, often referred to as the lungs of Chhattisgarh and recognized as one of India’s largest contiguous forested areas,” stated the Goldman Environmental Prize on Monday.

CBA and its sinister agenda

In 2009, the Ministry of Environment classified Hasdeo Arand as a “No-Go” area for mining due to its abundant forest cover. However, it was later reopened for mining as the policy regarding this classification was not yet finalized.

Nevertheless, the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA) continued collaborating with tribal communities to advocate for and pressure the government to declare Hasdeo Arand free from mining activities.

Following significant opposition from local communities, the Chhattisgarh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in July 2022, designating an expanse of nearly 1700 square kilometres within the Hasdeo forests as free from mining activities.

BJP resumed stalled mining projects

It is noteworthy that Shukla was awarded the prize months after the BJP returned to power in Chhattisgarh last year and started the long-stalled mining projects in the state. 

The move predictably drew the ire of many in the state, including Shukla, who organised a demonstration in Raipur and presented a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu and Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan, appealing for their intervention to protect the rights of Adivasis in the Hasdeo Aranya forest region, which is safeguarded under Schedule V of the Constitution.

Deo Sai, the inaugural tribal Chief Minister of the State, which harbours 7.5 per cent of India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population, defended the move stating that the choice to pursue coal mining and tree felling was initiated during the Congress regime, and the current activities represent a continuation of that decision.

Congress leads in large-scale deforestation

Notably, deforestation has become a contentious political issue in Chhattisgarh, with both the Congress and the BJP trading accusations regarding deforestation associated with mining operations during their periods in opposition. While the Congress points fingers at the BJP for rapid deforestation, official records reveal that in 2022, under Congress rule, 41 hectares of trees were cleared, with permission granted for an additional 93 hectares in November 2023, just before the BJP assumed power in the state.

Nevertheless, the Goldman Environmental Prize bestowed upon Alok Shukla has underscored the looming threat posed by international influences on India’s energy security and economic progress.

Alok Shukla, linked with the Congress party, rose to prominence through vigorous social media campaigns targeting the Rajasthan government’s mining endeavours in Chhattisgarh, where numerous coal blocks operate unhindered. Notably, he has conspicuously omitted addressing the activities of entities such as the Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited, as well as private miners like the Jindal and Vedanta groups. His actions, aimed at unsettling the energy stability of states like Rajasthan, raise concerns, particularly given its proximity to Pakistan.

Alok Shukla targets Rajasthan government

Despite attempting to incite tribal opposition to Rajasthan’s mining projects in the Hasdeo Forests, Shukla diverted his course when local support for Rajasthan’s energy initiatives became evident.

Strategically selecting Alok Shukla from Chhattisgarh, India’s leading coal-producing state, for the Goldman Awards highlights a desperate attempt to grant him recognition, evident in the substantial prize money of two lakh US dollars (approximately Rs 1.70 crore). However, his impact on the ground remains minimal compared to his social media clamour. His sponsored online campaign against Rajasthan’s legitimate mining efforts persists, crucial for ensuring affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply to its populace of eight crores.

Collaborating closely with former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Shukla played a significant role in weakening the Congress party in Chhattisgarh. While his social media activism garnered international attention, including coverage from outlets like the BBC, its repercussions were severe. His actions resulted in the loss of three assembly seats in the Surguja district and eroded tribal support for Congress in other constituencies, dealing a substantial blow to the party’s electoral base.

For some time, international interest groups have opposed India’s infrastructure development projects, with Shukla’s accolade from the Goldman Awards being another testament to this. Shukla’s association with organizations linked to the controversial Centre for Policy Research grants brought his name to the forefront. Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the Foreign Contribution Act (FCRA) license of the Centre for Policy Research last year, with the Income Tax Department also scrutinising its activities. Coincidentally, Shukla was summoned by the IT Department regarding transactions in 2022.

‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ activist Medha Patkar was also a recipient of the dubious Goldman Prize

It’s worth recalling that Medha Patkar, an advocate against the Narmada Project and a supporter of Shukla’s cause, is also a recipient of the Goldman Award. It’s worth recalling that Medha Patkar, an advocate against the Narmada Project and a supporter of Shukla’s cause, is also a recipient of the Goldman Award. Medha Patkar is best known for her ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ against the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. The protest contributed to the years-long postponement of the Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada River.

For suspected money laundering during the “Narmada Bachao Andolan,” the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed an FIR against activist Medha Patkar on April 5 this year. In addition to the ED, investigations into Patkar’s shady dealings have also been initiated by the Department of Revenue Intelligence and the Income Tax Department.

According to a Pioneer report, Patkar’s NGO received a donation of roughly Rs 1.2 crores within a year of its foundation in 2004 but managed to elude authorities for almost 17 years.

The investigation raised several concerns regarding the payments. According to records obtained by Pioneer, the NGO received the funds on June 18, 2005, from 20 different sources in a single day. Surprisingly, the amount of all 20 donations was the same, which was Rs 5,96,294. Pallavi Prabhaar Bhalekar, one of the donors, was a minor at the time the donations were transferred.

Punjab Police files FIR against the YouTube channel that compared Raghav Chadha with Vijay Mallya and claimed AAP sold election tickets

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab Police files FIR against the YouTube channel that compared Raghav Chadha with Vijay Mallya and claimed AAP sold election tickets

A YouTube channel has landed in trouble for making a video on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha who is currently abroad for eye-related treatment. The Punjab Police has filed an FIR against the channel named, ‘Capital TV’, at Shimlapuri police station in Ludhiana. The FIR has accused the channel of defaming the AAP leader and running “misleading content” on the Delhi liquor scam.

The channel had also claimed that AAP has been selling election tickets.

The FIR against ‘Capital TV’ was filed on the complaint of Vikas Prashar. He is the son of the AAP candidate from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat, Ashok Pappi Prashar. The complainant has accused the channel of using defamatory and “misleading content”.

According to the complaint, the YouTube channel was running “misleading and scandalous content” against AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who is currently in England. The complaint states that by allegedly equating him with fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, the channel had tarnished the image of the AAP leader.  

The complainant Vikas has accused the channel of defaming Chadha by “equating him with Mallya” and of calling “Chadha a Khalistani supporter after he met UK MP, Preet Gill”. The channel has also been accused of spreading “fake news on drug-peddling in Punjab”, and inciting ‘religious sentiments’. 

The complainant added that “such videos are disturbing the public peace and harmony and need to be deleted immediately”.

Regarding the case, DCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said, “The FIR has been registered on the basis of the complaint. A probe has been initiated.”

Content of the FIR

As per the FIR, the channel made claims that “Vijay Mallya fled to the UK after taking public money, and similarly, a Rajya Sabha member left for England, claiming it was for eye treatment.”

According to the FIR, when Raghav Chadha met British MP, Preet Gill, he was called a Khalistani. It has also accused the channel of spreading fake news on the drug problem in Punjab. As per the FIR, this would increase mutual enmity between different groups and harm public peace and harmony. 

The complaint reads, “The statements/contents of false videos on Capital TV channel and others shall harm the public peace and harmony…and is likely to promote enmity between different groups in the country on grounds of religion, caste, race, and community.” 

The FIR has been registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups based on religion), 469 (forgery), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code and section 66 of the Information Technology Act.

AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadda has been in England for a while. He went there for eye treatment, along with his wife, actress Parineeti Chopra, who later returned to India.

Meanwhile, there has been a lot of turmoil in the Aam Aadmi Party since Raghav Chadha went abroad. Incidentally, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the liquor scam case, but netizens and political analysts have noted a lack of vocal response from Raghav Chadha regarding these issues. 

Nonetheless, a similar action against another YouTube channel was reported earlier this year. In February, the Punjab police arrested YouTuber Rachit Kaushik from Uttar Pradesh on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity based on religion. However, Kaushik, the founder of Sab Loktantra claimed that he was targeted for “exposing Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP government in Punjab”.

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