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Exclusive: AAP spent over ₹1500 crores on advertising since 2015, ad expenditure of Delhi Govt increased by 408% in past 5 years under Kejriwal

OpIndia Staff
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Exclusive: AAP spent over ₹1500 crores on advertising since 2015, ad expenditure of Delhi Govt increased by 408% in past 5 years under Kejriwal

The Arvind Kejriwal-led-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has spent a whopping ₹1585.87 crores on advertising since it came to power in Delhi in 2015.

The revelation was made through two Right to Information (RTI) replies obtained by activist Vivek Pandey, one of which has been exclusively accessed by OpIndia.

In his tweet, Vivek Pandey shared how the total advertisement expenditure has grown by 408% in last 5 years under AAP government.

Pandey had sought information from the Directorate of Information and Publicity about the expenditure of the Delhi government on advertising since 2020.

Screengrab of the RTI reply obtained by Vivek Pandey in April 2024

In an RTI reply obtained by the activist on Thursday (25th April), the Directorate of Information and Publicity informed that the AAP government spent ₹293.20 crores in the Financial Year 2020-2021, ₹568.39 crores in the Financial Year 2021-2022, ₹186.28 crores in Financial Year 2022-2023 and ₹26.23 crores in the Financial Year 2023-2024.

The advertisements, borne on taxpayer’s money, were displayed across various forms of media such as electronic and print. OpIndia accessed another RTI, filed by activist Vivek Pandey in November 2020.

The RTI reply provided year-wise expenditure on advertising by the Delhi government since 2012-2013. Given that Arvind Kejriwal formed his government in February 2015, we took into account the money spent on advertising since the Financial Year 2015-2016.

Screengrab of the RTI reply obtained by Vivek Pandey in November 2020

According to the RTI, the Arvind Kejriwal-led-government spent ₹81.23 crores (FY2015-2016), ₹67.25 crores (FY2016-2017), ₹117.76 crores (FY2017-2018), ₹45.54 crores (FY2018-2019) and ₹199.99 crores (FY2019-2020) on advertising.

It implies that the Delhi government spent a total of ₹311.78 crores on ads between 2015 and 2019. If we compare both the RTI replies and add the expenditure incurred on ads, it turns out that the Kejriwal government spent ₹1274.09 crores in the past 5 years (2019-2024).

The amount stands at a staggering ₹1585.87 crores if we account for the last 9 years of the AAP government in Delhi. As evident from the RTI replies, spending on ads increased tremendously since 2019.

Simplified table depicting year-on-year ad expenditure from 2015-2024

When OpIndia compared the ad expenditure of AAP between 2019-2024 (last 5 years) and 2015-2019 (previous 4 years), we found an increase of 408.65% in spending.

Punjab: Several govt buildings defaced with Pro-Khalistan graffiti in high-security zone in Bathinda; US-resident SFJ terrorist Pannun claims responsibility

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Several govt buildings defaced with Pro-Khalistan graffiti in high-security zone in Bathinda; US-resident SFJ terrorist Pannun claims responsibility

The walls of several government offices in a high-security zone in Punjab’s Bathinda were defaced with pro-Khalistani graffiti on Saturday morning (27th April). The Pro-Khalistani graffiti was found written on the walls of Bathinda’s mini secretariat complex, which is a high-security zone. It is pertinent to note that the secretariat is less than 100 yards away from the residence of the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and it is a few yards away from the SSP’s office. 

Unidentified Khalistani miscreants had spray painted Pro-Khalistani slogans outside the walls of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, a women’s police station, a post office, and the court premises. Following the incident, the state administration rushed to the spot and removed the graffiti from the walls of these government and administration offices. They have launched an investigation into the matter and are analysing all the nearby CCTVs to apprehend the perpetrators. 

As per reports, the miscreants had written that there should not be any political party in Punjab, neither BJP, SAD, nor Congress. Additionally, the banned Khalistan organisation Sikh for Justice (SFJ) has claimed responsibility for the act. Reportedly, SFJ terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun has released a video to claim responsibility for the act.  

Several incidents have taken place since last year where miscreants defaced public walls and pillars with pro-Khalistan graffiti. These incidents were reported across several States including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.

Last year, miscreants spray painted pro-Khalistan slogans on the walls of five metro stations in Delhi. Back then, slogans like ‘Delhi will become Khalistan’ and ‘Khalistan Referendum Zindabad’ were found on walls of Punjabi Bagh, Shivaji Park, Madipur, Paschim Vihar, Udyog Nagar, Maharaja Surajmal Stadium, and Nangloi metro stations. The development came at a time when India was hosting the G20 summit across several states in the country.  

Later, the Delhi Police arrested two members of the banned Khalistani terror outfit led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), from Punjab in connection with the incident. One of the arrested accused in this case was identified as Preetpal, who was arrested on 31st August, last year. 

West Bengal: BJP worker found dead in Purba Medinipur district, family accuses TMC leaders of kidnapping and killing him, demands CBI probe

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: BJP worker found dead in Purba Medinipur district, family accuses TMC leaders of kidnapping and killing him, demands CBI probe

An 18-year-old BJP worker was found dead in Purba Medinipur district on Friday (26th April), West Bengal Police said. They added that the deceased was Dinabondhu Middya, a BJP worker.

Dinabondhu Middya was found in a betel-leaf farm in Goramahal village in the Mayna area of the district. As per reports, it is alleged that his body was found in a suspicious state as while it was hanging, parts of the body were touching the ground and there were injury marks as well. 

Following the incident, Middya’s family accused TMC leaders of “kidnapping and murdering” him. However, the state’s ruling party, Trinamool Congress rejected the charge.   

The mother of the deceased BJP worker, Henarani Middya said, “My son was missing since Wednesday. We were being threatened by a few members of the TMC for quite some time. I am sure that my son was murdered by them.” 

Speaking with reporters, she named TMC leaders Buddhadeb Mondal, Kamal Putiya, Swapan Bhowmick, and two others for continuously threatening them. She added, “They work for TMC. They used to come to our house continuously and used to physically assault my mother-in-law and injured her head. They also used indecent language to harass us.” She also demanded a CBI investigation into her son’s alleged murder case. 

According to the Bengal Police, after receiving a missing person’s complaint, they started searching for Middya. Later, with the help of his mobile tower location, they found the body. They added that the body had been sent for post-mortem examination. 

Alleging TMC leaders’ involvement in the death of the BJP worker, the saffron party described TMC as a ‘Talibani Party’ whose motive is to Murder by Cruel means. 

Taking to X, BJP West Bengal wrote, “TMC is a Talibani (T) Party whose motive is to Murder (M) by Cruel(C) means. Dinabandhu (Dhananjay) Midya, 18 years old. His father, Sudarshan Midya, is an active BJP worker in Goramahal village. Since Wednesday, he has been missing. He was found hanging last night (Thursday). There are signs of injury on his body. In the hanging state in which the body was found, some parts of the body are touching the ground.” 

https://twitter.com/BJP4Bengal/status/1783693632098258983

Additionally, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee also condemned the murder of Dinabandhu Midya and accused TMC goons of committing the crime. She also stated that TMC’s Taliban’s tactics of silencing opposition voices with brutality must be vehemently opposed.

Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the TMC is resorting to more violence as it is losing more grounds electorally. 

He also demanded that the investigation should be handed over to the CBI stating that otherwise, the state police would destroy evidence. The BJP leader also extended support – legal and otherwise to the bereaved family.  

Meanwhile, speaking with PTI, TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed rejected the allegation that the state’s ruling party leaders were involved in the alleged murder case of the BJP party worker.

It is pertinent to note that in West Bengal, pre- and post-poll phases have been marred with violence with the ruling party, TMC, accused of intimidating other opposition parties and being involved in the large-scale politically condoned violence in the state. 

USA: Columbia University bans anti-Israeli protest leader over calls for Jewish genocide; 550 arrested across US campuses over support for terror group Hamas

OpIndia Staff
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USA: Columbia University bans anti-Israeli protest leader over calls for Jewish genocide; 550 arrested across US campuses over support for terror group Hamas

One of the organisers of the anti-Israel rallies at New York-based Columbia University, 20-year-old Khymani James, was barred from the campus following the release of a clip in which he was heard vehemently expressing that Zionists “don’t deserve to live” and should be murdered which led to massive outrage at the institution. Later, the student leader apologised and said that he “mis-spoke in the heat of the moment” and was “unusually upset.”

Columbia University stated on 26th April that Khymani James was prohibited from entering the campus. The remarks were uploaded on Instagram in January by Khymani James, who has served as a spokesperson for the anti-Israel protestors. James threatened, “Be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.” The statements were made both before and after he was summoned for a disciplinary hearing by the Columbia University administration.

Khymani James said, “I don’t fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill,” in a post. The comments were then shared widely which sparked the backlash against the University. The University released a statement which read, “Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy.”

On 26th April, James alleged, “I affirm the sanctity of all life and the movement for liberation. This applies to all people regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality. All people deserve to be safe from physical harm.” However, he then said, “I am frustrated that the words I said in an Instagram Live video have become a distraction from the movement for Palestinian liberation. I misspoke in the heat of the moment, for which I apologize.”

Students who sparked nationwide anti-Israel protests, however, have declared that they have reached a standstill with officials and that they plan to stay in their camp until their demands are satisfied. Protesters at campuses around the country are calling for institutions to sever financial ties to Israel and divest from businesses they claim are supporting Israel. Meanwhile, the demonstrations have turned anti-semitic in several universities and have scared Jewish students away from the universities.

Rallies by students protesting Israel’s counter-offensive against Hamas terror attack have spread around the United States in the wake of the arrest of over 100 activists at Columbia University last week. Major campuses have had close to 550 arrests linked to protests in the last week. Police employed tasers and chemical irritants to break up anti-Israeli demonstrations.

The Israel-Hamas war began over six months ago on 7th October 2023, when Hamas terrorists, in a shock attack, invaded Southern Israel from land, sea, and air to kill over 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped over 254 Israeli and foreign nationals, which prompted Israel to launch a retaliatory ground action after weeks of aerial bombardment on the Palestinian enclave. 

UP: Aman Hussain kidnaps and rapes a minor girl for declining his marriage proposal, writes his name on the victim’s face with a hot iron rod; booked

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Aman Hussain kidnaps and rapes a minor girl for declining his marriage proposal, writes his name on the victim’s face with a hot iron rod; booked

A horrifying case of kidnapping, sexual assault, and torture has come to the fore from Uttar Pradesh’s Kheri, where a man named Aman Hussain raped a minor girl after abducting her on her refusal to marry him.

Hussain reportedly proposed to the victim to marry him. But when she declined his proposal, an angry Hussain kidnapped the girl and took her to his home. He tied her hands and raped her.

After raping the minor girl, Hussain tortured her by writing his name on her face with a hot iron rod.

As per reports, Hussain’s mother and sister were complicit in the matter.

The police have filed an FIR into the case and launched an investigation into the matter.

Responding to media questions on what action have police taken into the rape and torture of the minor girl, a Lekhi police official confirmed that an FIR has been booked in the matter and a probe has been underway. Reportedly, the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the POCSO Act. 

US: BLM activist who participated in Jan 6 Capitol Hill siege to ‘incite violence’ sentenced to 6 years in prison

OpIndia Staff
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US: BLM activist who participated in Jan 6 Capitol Hill siege to ‘incite violence’ sentenced to 6 years in prison

John Earle Sullivan, who had previously addressed a Black Lives Matter rally in DC, received a six-year sentence after being convicted of felony obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder. Prosecutors asserted that Sullivan aimed to “incite violence” and “stir up chaos” during the Capitol protests on J6, as reported by NBC News.

“I brought my megaphone to stir things up,” he admitted to jurors during the trial. Sullivan had previously spoken at a BLM rally in DC in 2020, where he called for a revolution and advocated for the removal of Trump from office before the next election.

Despite being a vocal critic of Trump and identifying as an “antiestablishment” activist supporting the BLM movement, Sullivan found himself convicted on seven counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, and various charges related to his actions during the Capitol unrest.

Throughout the trial, Sullivan maintained that he was merely a journalist observing events, stating, “I followed the crowd. I’m there to document.” However, his past involvement with an extremist group in Salt Lake City called Insurgence USA, where he claimed to combat a “white militia” group, added layers of complexity to his narrative.

You will stay here with me, have my children: Israeli teenage hostage reveals Hamas terrorist proposed with a ring, reunited her with kidnapped mother to ask for marriage

OpIndia Staff
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You will stay here with me, have my children: Israeli teenage hostage reveals Hamas terrorist proposed with a ring, reunited her with kidnapped mother to ask for marriage

Noga Weiss, an 18-year-old Israeli who spent 50 days in Gaza before being released from Hamas imprisonment last year, disclosed on 25th April that one of her captors had declared they would get married, handed her a ring and stated that she would live in Gaza forever to bear and raise his children, reported The Times of Israel. “He gave me a ring on day 14 (in captivity) and I stayed with him until day 50.” She recounted that he told her, “Everyone will be released, but you will stay here with me and have my children.” She added, “I pretended to laugh so he wouldn’t shoot me in the head,” in response.

Her kidnapper expressed his love for Noga after a few days of being held hostage and informed her that he was going to bring his mother to their apartment so she could approve of their marriage. Afterwards, a woman with an Arab appearance came into the flat. It took Noga a while to realize it was her mother. “I thought she’d been murdered, I thought I was alone. Suddenly, she’s alive, and I’m not alone,” she expressed.

However, 53-year-old Shiri, her mother who was also abducted into Gaza on 7th October and later reunited with her daughter was unwilling to comply. 26-year-old Meytal, one of Noga’s two sisters disclosed that although their mother initially attempted to gently decline the proposal, the Hamas kidnapper did not appear to accept it, so she yelled at him until he understood.

The prospect that she would be stuck in Gaza forever with the terrorist stayed with her even after her mother made it evident she would not accept the proposal. Noga mentioned, “People don’t understand the feeling of fear. I was 50 days, 24/7, with the thought that they would get tired of me and just shoot me or that they wouldn’t need me in the end, or that they would shoot us while we slept in the middle of the night.”

Noga voiced that as long as there are 133 captives in Gaza, she will not be able to grieve for her father. “They have been there for an indescribable amount of time. At one point, they brought us a half-litre bottle of water for two days. You can’t survive like this for 200 days.” She unveiled that upon their vehicle’s entry into Gaza, thousands of Palestinians cheered some of them even younger than her. They attempted to hit her and pull her hair through the broken windows. “I didn’t understand why they were delaying shooting me.”

During her imprisonment, she was relocated between different residences, always wearing a hijab and instructed to clasp her captor’s hand to give the impression that they were married rather than Israeli hostages. “They brought cards for us to play with, and I told myself, ‘I’ll play with them and do whatever they want as long as they don’t shoot.’ Their moods changed so quickly. One minute they played with us and laughed, the next they’d come in with a gun. You always had to please them.”

She remembered how her captors had insisted on calling her an invader and that Israel was their property. One of them claimed to be an elementary school teacher and to have been wrongfully ejected from his house by Israelis. Meytal noted that Shiri observed houses catching fire as she was being removed from Be’eri and was certain that her daughter was suffering the same fate.

Meytal her other sister Ma’ayan (23) maintained daily contact with Noga via WhatsApp while residing in different student residences in different areas of Be’eri. Noga was advised to flee their parents’ burning property by the elder sisters, who spent twelve hours hiding in their safe rooms before being found by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) forces.

Father killed, mother and daughter kidnapped

On 7th October, Noga was in her parents’ Kibbutz Be’eri house when hundreds of terrorists headed by Hamas invaded Israel. At 7:15 am, her 56-year-old father Ilan departed the house to join the kibbutz emergency squad, and he never returned. It was subsequently established that he was killed on the same day and that his remains were taken into Gaza. Ilan kept his wife and daughter in the safe room of the house. “They started shooting at the door, something like 40 shots until they managed to get in. We saw the conversations on WhatsApp and understood what was happening. People were writing that their house was on fire and then stopped answering.”

Shiri told her daughter to hide beneath the bed because she thought the terrorists would shoot her as soon as they entered the room and miss Noga. The young woman conveyed, “I went under the bed, and they came in and took her. After they took her outside, I heard gunshots. I thought she was murdered and not kidnapped.”

Noga was able to leave the house covertly and attempted to hide amid some bushes, but the kibbutz was full of terrorists and she was soon discovered. “Something like 40 terrorists surrounded me with Kalashnikovs. They tied my hands behind my back. As they took me away, I saw the bodies of people I knew from the kibbutz. A few minutes later, they put me in a car and started driving.”

Delhi: ‘Minor’ Muslim boy kills Hindu woman in Jahangirpuri, used to stalk the victim’s underage daughter

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: ‘Minor’ Muslim boy kills Hindu woman in Jahangirpuri, used to stalk the victim’s underage daughter

On Friday (26th April), a minor Muslim boy along with his two friends killed a 35-year-old Hindu woman in the Jahangirpuri area of Northwest Delhi.

As per reports, the accused used to stalk the victim’s 16-year-old daughter when she went for tuition. When the girl informed her family, they filed a complaint with the police.

According to the victim’s family, the police failed to take strict action against the Muslim boy and he continued to harass the minor Hindu girl. Forced by circumstances, the family sent their 16-year-old daughter to a hostel.

On Friday (26th Friday) afternoon, the minor Muslim boy and his two accomplices went to the victim’s house to talk to her. When the Hindu woman refused to entertain the trio, the primary accused shot her dead and fled the crime scene.

The Muslim boy has been absconding ever since the murder. The victim was admitted to the Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital in Delhi, where she was declared dead on arrival.

According to reports, the accused had posted a video on his Instagram page wherein he was seen brandishing and firing a pistol. A case has been registered in connection to the murder of the Hindu man. The police have initiated a probe into the matter.

A large contingent of police was deployed outside the residence of the victim to prevent any untoward incident. While speaking about the matter, DCP (northwest) Jitender Meena said, “Several teams are looking for the accused. They will be arrested shortly.”

“I can’t breathe”: Another George Floyd incident in USA as a black man dies after being pinned to the ground by Ohio Police Officer

ANI
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“I can’t breathe”: Another George Floyd incident in USA as a black man dies after being pinned to the ground by Ohio Police Officer

The Ohio Police has released body camera footage of a black man who died after repeatedly telling the police officers that “I can’t breathe” as they pinned him down to arrest him, reported WKYC, a local news network in Cleveland.

The Canton Police Department released the video on Wednesday, showing the death of 53-year-old East Canton resident Frank E. Tyson. In the video released on Wednesday, the officers arrived at the scene, confronting Tyson and trying to take him into custody.

The video showed the officers struggling to arrest Tyson before one of the officers restrained him by placing his knee on the back of Tyson’s upper body. Following which, Tyson was heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.”

According to the video, after his last words, it also showed a period of five-plus minutes where he lay motionless on the floor before police checked for a pulse, WKYC reported.

However, the encounter occurred on April 18 when two officers responded to an AMVETS post on Sherrick Road Southeast in Canton Township.

Police said that Tyson ran there after crashing his car near the eastern limits of the city of Canton.

The department identified the officers involved as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch of the traffic bureau. Both were placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy, with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation currently conducting an inquiry into the case, reported WKYC.

Authorities initially acknowledged the incident on Friday last week, saying officers responded to a report of a one-vehicle crash in the 1700 block of Sherrick Road Southeast around 8:15 p.m.

Officers observed a power pole in the roadway that had been sheared in the wreck and found the vehicle nearby before being directed to the AMVETS, where Tyson was located.

In that release, police stated that Tyson struggled with the officers before they secured him and that the officers noticed he was unresponsive “shortly after securing him in handcuffs.”

Later, after performing CPR and administering multiple doses of Narcan, Tyson was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

After the video was publically released, Canton Mayor William Sherer II released a statement, saying, “Today we have released the bodycam footage of the arrest incident involving the death of Mr Frank E Tyson. I sat down with members of the Tyson family to not only allow them to see what is now being released to the public but to give them my condolences in person. As we make it through this challenging time, my goal is to be as transparent with this community as possible.”

The Mayor further said that this investigation is in the hands of BCI, and the authorities will continue to provide them with all the required information they need to do their work.

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

Congress shares edited video, falsely claims that Amit Shah promised to end reservations for SC, ST and OBC. Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Congress shares edited video, falsely claims that Amit Shah promised to end reservations for SC, ST and OBC. Here is the truth

On Saturday (27th April), the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Telangana Congress party stirred the hornet’s nest after it shared an edited video and falsely claimed that BJP leader Amit Shah has promised to end reservations for the SC, ST and the OBCs.

In a tweet, it said, “Brothers and sisters who are in the BJP, belong to the SC, ST, OBC minority and are doing politics in the name of religion, please watch this video and take a decision whether to vote for the BJP.

“Let’s teach Amit Shah, Narendra Modi’s BJP party a proper lesson for saying that they will remove the reservations of SC, ST, OBC and minorities if they come back to power with pride and arrogance while enjoying the fruits of reservation given by the Constitution of India,” Telanagana Congress continued to peddle lies.

Screengrab of the misleading tweet by Telangana Congress

“Remove BJP from power…Save the country. Let us protect the rights given to us by the Constitution. The Constitution of India should flourish,” it concluded.

The tweet by the Telangana Congress was accompanied by a video of Amit Shah, which has been maliciously edited to give the impression that the Union Home Minister wants to end caste-based reservations.

In reality, the Union Home Minister had vowed to end unconstitutional reservation for the Muslim community and give it to the SC, ST and OBCs.

During an election rally in Telangana on Thursday (25th April), Amit Shah said, “The Congress and the TRS never celebrate the Telangana Liberation Day as they are afraid of the Majlis. The BJP has decided that we will celebrate the Telangana Liberation Day because we are not afraid of Majlis.”

“The BJP has decided to abolish the Muslim reservation extended by the Congress and the TRS and give it to the SCs, STs, and the OBCs,” he further emphasised. Thus, it is clear that the BJP leader did not talk about ending reservations for the SC, ST and OBC.

Ahead of the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party has resorted to peddling fake news and creating mass hysteria among the marginalised communities to garner votes.

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