There has been a recent controversy about offering namaz in an open area at Gujarat University’s NRI housing where a conflict emerged between Muslim students from abroad and local students. Now, Gujarat University (GU) is taking strong measures regarding the incident. Seven Afghan students have reportedly been asked to leave the university. They were staying in the university dormitory unlawfully. They have completed their education but continued to live in the hostel and have now received orders to vacate the premises. Five students have already left the university.
The Afghanistan embassy has also received information about the notice directing the students to leave the dorm. Over a hundred international students are enrolled in the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs. This included seven Afghan students who extended their stay in the hostel citing frivolous excuses which is prohibited under university regulations. The university administration learned about it and took appropriate measures.
According to representatives of Gujarat University, these students had finished their coursework but were using the hostel under the pretext of obtaining transcripts or certificates. However, a student is not permitted to remain in the hostel after concluding the course, per university regulations. The seven pupils also fell into this category. It was also mentioned that out of the seven students, four have completed their studies and three have only administrative work pending.
The Gujarat University Chancellor, Dr. Nirja Gupta reported that the seven Afghan students belong to the alumni group. They were lodging at the hostel on account of trivial justifications. Now, arrangements have been made for these pupils to leave the hostel and return to their country because they are now former students. Furthermore, according to the Chancellor, two of the seven students are expected to follow the directive while the other five have already departed from the institution.
Dispute over offering namaz in the university
A brawl broke out on 16th March between international and local students over performing namaz in a public place in A Block of the university hostel, sparking a major row. One of the local Hindu students attempted to convince the Muslim international students not to offer namaz in public. However, a foreign student assaulted a local student and as the situation escalated local students retaliated by attacking the international pupils.
The Ministry of External Affairs also took action following this occurrence. The institution was visited by delegations from Afghanistan and Gambia. The foreign students were moved to the new dormitories after the university administration and the delegation discussed all the issues. Now, the students living there illegally have been given a notice to go back to their country.
On Sunday (7th April), the Aam Aadmi Party leaders are observing a day-long ‘Samuhik Upwas’ (mass hunger strike) to register a protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and the National Convenor of AAP Arvind Kejriwal. Fast generally means not eating and drinking anything, but AAP leader Sanjay Singh, recently relesaed from jail, was seen drinking water while addressing the party workers, attracting ridicule on social media.
While addressing the gathering of party leaders and supporters, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh repeated the same tropes to target the Modi government and BJP claiming the probe to be a ‘witch-hunt’. He alleged that only 4 out of 456 witnesses had named Arvind Kejriwal, so how could he be the kingpin of the scam, arguing that hence he is ‘innocent’ and will remain Delhi CM? However, during his address, he was interrupted by AAP leader and Former Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar, the accused in the fake degree scam.
After Tomar handed a water bottle to Singh, he drank from it and asked his supporters loudly if they had come there without eating anything, saying, ‘Jor se bolo yaar, Kha kar nahi aye ho kya.’ Responding to someone’s interjection that they were fasting, he said, ‘I too am fasting.
Following the incident, the AAP Rajya Sabha MP found himself at the center of online backlash from netizens, who criticised his action during the party’s fast in support of Arvind Kejriwal. The specific occurrence can be seen at around 35 minutes into live streaming started by the party’s official YouTube channel.
AAP holds day-long 'mass fast' to protest Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.
Sharing the clip of AAP leader drinking during “Samuhik Upwas”, popular X user Bala wrote, “What kind of fasting is this @SanjayAzadSln? APiyas are capable of doing fraud anywhere & everywhere.”
Responding to the post, one user quipped, “They meant ‘we will eat fast and drink fast’”.
They meant "we will eat fast and drink fast"
— Peacefully Political ?? (@peacefullypolit) April 7, 2024
Another popular X user wrote, “The Aam Aadmi party had announced Roza for Kejriwal. Sanjay Singh who has gained 6 kg weight in jail broke his Roza while addressing the gathering.”
The Aam Aadmi party had announced Roza for Kejriwal. Sanjay Singh who has gained 6 kg weight in jail broke his Roza while addressing the gathering. ??? pic.twitter.com/VdtgaXa9uv
— Mr Sinha (Modi's family) (@MrSinha_) April 7, 2024
Taking a dig at the AAP, BJP’s Delhi unit tweeted, “AAP’s fast is going on. Sanjay Singh is asking after drinking water – haven’t you eaten before? Activists – Raising their hands and saying yes.” The saffron party is also holding a counter-protest in Delhi, “Sharab se sheesh Mahal” against the AAP.
AAP का उपवास चल रहा है ?
संजय सिंह पानी पी कर पूछ रहे हैं – खा कर नहीं आए हो क्या?
Several users also mocked the Aam Aadmi Party claiming that on one hand, it claims that its leaders are having a hard time in jail, facing health concerns and losing weight, but the fact is that AAP leader Sanjay Singh reportedly gained 6 kgs of weight during his stay in jail.
While the Tihar jail had refuted claims about the worsening health condition of jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, it also shared Sanjay Singh’s medical report which showed improvement in his health while he was in jail.
During his six-month stay in Tihar jail, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who recently got bail in the Delhi Liquor Policy case, showed improvement in health. His weight went up from 76 kg to 82 kg, and his blood pressure levels decreased from 153/103 to 136/70 mm Hg between October 2023 and April 2024, according to medical reports.
In March, a Delhi court had instructed the concerned authorities to ensure that Singh receives a nutritious diet and bottled drinking water. This came after the MP alleged inadequate basic amenities, such as clean water, proper food, and hygienic living conditions, during his court appearances outside Delhi.
Meanwhile, contrary to the AAP leader’s claim, Arvind Kejriwal has been allowed access to home-cooked food and various amenities like electric kettle, books, table, chair, etc in Tihar jail cell.
The Delhi CM is currently in judicial custody following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate last month in the Delhi liquor policy scam case. The party has claimed that its leaders are ‘innocent’ and alleges that the scam didn’t happen in the drafting, and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021 which was hastily scrapped following criticism rather it happened afterward.
In the wee hours of 6th April, a 29-year-old man, identified as Anas Qureshi, allegedly stabbed his 27-year-old female friend, identified as Ekta, to death in the Sunny Enclave area of Kharar in district SAS Nagar, Punjab. As per reports, he entered her house on the intervening nights of 5th April and 6th April.
The girl was living with her family, and on the night of the incident, they had gone to attend a Jagran. The victim returned home late at night from work while her family was at the jagran, and Anas followed her to the house. After some time, he was seen on CCTV footage coming out in different clothes. He escaped in the victim’s car but met with an accident 80 km away near Shahbad, Haryana.
Anas is a native of Uttar Pradesh. After the accident, the accused was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32, Chandigarh. He is in critical condition. Reports suggest that he lived in a rented accommodation in Sector 38, Chandigarh and owned an eating joint in the same market.
Source: Dainik Bhaskar
The victim was serving as a manager in a multi-national company in Mohali. She shifted to Sunny Enclave six months ago with her family, including her mother, an elder, and a younger brother. The family had gone for Jagran on the day of the incident and stayed back for the night. Her younger brother told police she had asked her to come for Jagran, but she refused and said Anas was coming to meet her. After completing her office shift, she returned home at around 2:30 AM, and Anas was seen following her.
Anas left the house three hours later in different clothes. Meanwhile, he was seen taking some alcohol bottles with him. He took Ekta’s car and tried to escape but met with an accident.
The family was informed about the accident at around 6 AM, and the person driving the car was critically injured. They immediately called Ekta, but she did not pick up her phone. The family rushed back home and found that the doors were open. Upon entering the house, they found Ekta’s dead body in a pool of blood on the first floor near the bed. She was stabbed multiple times in the neck with a sharp weapon.
Reportedly, Ekta and Anas have been in a relationship for four years. They met at the company where Ekta was working. Ekta had informed her family that the relationship had not been on good terms for some time. Anas was allegedly mentally harassing her. Her brother Rohit, who filed a complaint in the matter, told the police that Anas attended his wedding too.
Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, DSP Karan Singh Sandhu said a police team was watching Anas at the hospital. Once his health gets better, the police will take him into custody and further investigate the matter to find the reason behind the murder. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, “He will be taken into custody once he gets discharged from the hospital, following which we will seek his remand to know the exact reason behind the murder. There was no sign of forcible entry or struggle. The murder weapon also remains untraced.”
Speaking to Hindustan Times, the investigating officer said, “We are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind the murder. The incident came to the fore after the victim didn’t answer repeated calls from her maternal uncle, following which he went home to check on her, only to find her lying in a blood pool. The inconsolable family then informed the police around 9.30 AM, after which a forensic team was also rushed to collect crucial evidence.”
Ekta’s dead body has been moved to Kharar Civil Hospital for autopsy—the accused as been booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On Sunday (7th April), Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged everyone to watch the 1.5-hour-long interview of Madhavi Latha, the BJP candidate who has been fielded against AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi from the Muslim-majority Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency.
He said in a tweet, “Madhavi Latha Ji, your ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ episode is exceptional. You’ve made very solid points and also done so with logic and passion. My best wishes to you. I also urge everyone to watch the repeat telecast of this programme at 10 AM or 10 PM today. You all will find it very informative.”
A social worker by profession, Madhavi Latha has been tasked by the saffron party to take AIMIM head-on in its bastion of Hyderabad. Her interview with journalist Rajat Sharma in ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ programme was first aired on India TV on Saturday (6th April).
मोदी जी मुझे निडर होकर सच बोलने की हिम्मत आपसे ही मिली है और हमारी पार्टी का आदर्श #SabkaSathSabkaVikas ही मेरी प्रेरणा है। हम आखिरी सांस तक आपके दिखाए रास्ते पर चलेंगे और इस बार हैदराबाद लोक सभा में भाजपा की जीत सुनिश्चित करेंगे। #AbkiBaar400Baar#HumSabModiJiKaParivar
— Kompella Madhavi Latha (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Kompella_MLatha) April 7, 2024
At the very onset, the BJP candidate took the blessings of Kashi Visvesvaraya and Lord Shankara and promised to speak nothing but the truth during the programme.
When journalist Rajat Sharma inquired about her image of being ‘Lady Singham’ and ‘Lady Don’, Madhavi Latha emphasised that it is the need of the hour in Telanga politics. “It is necessary and I am proud of that,” she was heard saying.
She expressed contentment over her ‘tough image’, adding that it has instilled a sense of confidence in her supporters and their pursuit of truth.
100 Hindu houses now reduced to 5: Madhavi Latha
During the programme, Rajat Sharma showcased pictures of her childhood before the audience. Madhavi Latha became nostalgic and recounted how a flood in 1998 destroyed her old albums.
The BJP candidate informed that she was raised in an area, which falls under the Yakatpura Vidhan Sabha constituency in Old Hyderabad. She lamented that the impoverished condition of the area had not changed in the past 25 years.
“The area gets flooded like old times whenever there is rainfall. There are no proper schools and colleges,” she emphasised. Madhavi Latha also said that appeasement politics in the name of secularism has rendered the Muslims equally poor as the Hindus.
She informed that the communal riots in the area led to the exodus of Hindus from Yakatpura Vidhan Sabha constituency in Old Hyderabad. “Hindus pehela 100 the, aaj sirf 5 Hindu ghar hai (There were 100 Hindu houses before but now they are around 5 in the area),” she lamented.
On being asked by Rajat Sharma about the image of Hyderabad as a major metropolis, Madhavi Latha promptly responded, “The Hyderabad you know as IT hub is the capital city of Telangana. The Hyderabad I am talking about is the Parliamentary constituency of 7 Vidhan Sabha constituencies.”
BJP candidate rubbished claims of being anti-Muslim
During the 1.5-hour-long interview, Rajat Sharma quizzed the BJP candidate about her comments involving the Muslim community. He also read about comments by AIMIM, labelling her as ‘anti-Muslim.’
While dismissing such allegations, Madhavi Latha pointed out that she has been vocal about poor Muslim families sending their children to madrassas instead of regular schools.
“There are Maulanas who have threatened to break my legs when I went to visit these Islamic seminaries,” she informed. Despite threats of physical harm, the BJP candidate continued to strive for justice for Muslim women.
She has also spoken in support of the Triple Talaq law and pointed out how some Muslim women have been forced to bear several children against their wishes.
“Mazhab ka naam lekar ya gaalat karte hain, Quran ya nahin kehte hai ki aapko Talaq, Talaq, Talaq ek saath kehna chahiye (They take the name of religion and commit atrocities. Quran does not permit a Muslim to give Talaq instantly),” she emphasied.
Madhavi Latha pointed out that all schemes of the Indian government cater to all sections of society, including Muslims and none have been barred from benefitting
Jabse aayi Madhavi Latha, tabse Asad bhai lapata
At about 27 minutes into the ‘AAP ki Adalat’ programme, Madhavi Latha was asked about the challenge of breaching the AIMIM bastion of Hyderabad. “If we get bogus votes like Owaisi, then, we will win for 4000 years at a stretch,” she said.
While asking Rajat Sharma to wait for the right time, the BJP candidate emphasised, “Dekhte rahein harakar rahungi (Keep watching. I will defeat Asaduddin Owaisi).”
Journalist Rajat Sharma pointed out how her supporters have been elated ever since her candidature was announced by the BJP from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency.
“Jabse aayi Madhavi Latha, tabse Azad Bhai lapata (Asaduddin Owaisi has been missing ever since Madhavi Latha came into the election fray),” he pointed out one of the election slogans.
Madhavi Latha speaks on Akbaruddin Owaisi
The BJP candidate did not mince words before attacking Akbaruddin Owaisi, the AIMIM leader infamous for making genocidal speech against the Hindu community.
Madhavi Latha pointed out the sacrifices made by Hindus to protect Hyderabad from the onslaught of Razakars belonging to AIMIM.
“Vesa toh Akbaruddin ne 2-3 goliya khayi hai, par humara dada-pardada toh Hindustan ke top o ka samna kiya hai (Akbaruddin was shot 2-3 times. Our fathers and grandfathers in Hindustan had to brave cannon fire),” she said with a sense of pride.
Madhavi Latha promised, “Abhi Akbaruddin ka gad hilega (We will now shake the bastion of Akbaruddin Owaisi)”
At about halfway into the interview, the BJP candidate highlighted how AIMIM has been using the contentious issue of ‘beef’ to consolidate the Muslim vote bank.
She read out a newspaper cutting, wherein the party claimed that Muslims would not be able to eat beef if AIMIM is not voted to power. “Have you seen anyone write in their manifesto that you will not be allowed to eat chicken if you do not vote for us?” she mocked the Owaisi-led party.
“Ek hi kaam hai – gumrah, gumrah, gumrah (AIMIM has only one job i.e. to mislead the people), Madhavi Latha stated. She also read out a fatwa, which said that Muslims must obey the rules of the land.
The BJP candidate pointed out that the cow is a scared animal for the Hindu community and its slaughter is illegal (in most States). She urged AIMIM to follow the Islamic fatwa and Quranic teachings and adhere to the laws and dietary restrictions of India.
Madhavi Latha also lashed out at AIMIM for brainwashing the Muslim community in the name of beef and the disputed Babri Masjid. “Jinnah nahin jinnah ke baap nikal rahein idhaar (They are turning out to be the father of Mohammed Ali Jinnah),” she added.
‘Mera muh toh nahin chup kara sakenge’: Madhavi Latha
During her interview on ‘Aap ki Adalat’, Madhavi Latha also junked claims about AIMIM being the B-team of the BJP. She pointed out how the Congress, BRS and the TDP in Telangana have been working in tandem with the Owaisi-led party.
“Like we take blessings at the Bhagya Lakshmi Mandir, they take blessings from AIMIM and Owaisi,” she informed. The BJP candidate made it crystal clear that no amount of intimidation can stop her from speaking the truth.
“Mera muh toh nahin chup kara sakenge (They will not be able to shut me up),” she added.
On being asked by journalist Rajat Sharma about the need to speak on the affairs of the Muslim community, Madhavi Latha stated, “I am a citizen of this country. This gives me the right to interfere in the pain of any woman or citizen.”
BJP candidate slams Asaduddin Owaisi
She did not hold back from showing a mirror to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. “Uniform Civil Code mein bedroom kaha aagaya sahab (How did the discussion of bedroom come into picture on the topic of Uniform Civil Code), she said while reacting to his ill-informed comments on UCC.
On being told about Owaisi’s allegations that UCC will strip Muslims of their religious identity, Madhavi Latha responded, “Keval Asad ji ki pehchan nikal jayegi (Only the identity of Asaduddin Owaisi will be exposed).“
She also reacted to his comments about making a hijab-wearing Muslim girl the Prime Minister of India. While attacking his patriarchal mindset, she said, “Pradhan Mantri banna ke baad bhi, aurat ka surat kisiko dekhna nahin chahiye (Even after a woman becomes Prime Minister, she is still not allowed to show her face/ uphold her identity).”
Madhavi Latha also slammed Owaisi for refraining to refer to the land of India as his ‘Maa.’ She lambasted him for sympathising with an ISIS terrorist and recently deceased gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari.
The BJP candidate also spoke at length about the role of AIMIM and its Razakars in tormenting the Hindus before the liberation of Hyderabad.
“Razakar chale gaye, Qasim Razvi ke wafadar reh gaye (Razakars have gone, but the loyalists of Qasim Razvi are left behind)…As long as they do not leave India, the development of Muslims of India won’t take place,” she said.
“They will not just lose in the Hyderabad Parliamentary constituency but wherever they contest elections in India. Hindus and Muslims will unite and defeat them,” Madhavi Latha underlined.
She also accused Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother of ignoring the plight of mosques in Hyderabad and remaining fixated on the disputed Babri Masjid, which was built atop a majestic Ram temple. “They broke a mosque, joined hands with builders and built apartments in Hyderabad,” Madhavi Latha continued.
What will he understand about Bharat Mata: Madhavi Latha on Rahul Gandhi
Towards the end of the interview, Madhavi Latha also spoke about Congress scion Rahul Gandhi and his recent comments about fighting Shakti. She said that she is an embodiment of Shakti for virtue of being a woman, who is ready to take him head-on.
“Rahul Gandhi said the right thing – the Hindu religion is an embodiment of Shakti and he wants to fight it. I am sitting right here. For the first time in his life, he has said one thing correctly,” she said.
“Even his grandmother Indira Gandhi was Shakti. One who could not understand his grandmother cannot understand other women in the country. What will he understand about Bharat Mata?” the BJP candidate added.
Madhavi Latha concluded by saying that both AIMIM and Congress target only Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he helped realise the historical claim of the Hindu community on the Ram Mandir.
As the second round of the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan draws closer, some of these migrants have voiced concern about their uncertain fate, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported.
A number of these migrants said that Pakistan’s government, by starting the new campaign, asked Afghan migrants, even those with legal documents, to travel back to Afghanistan at an earliest.
The Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations said that officials of the ministry have held talks with Pakistan’s deputy ambassador on setting up a joint mechanism to address the challenges of Afghan migrants in Pakistan, according to TOLO News report.
Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations spokesperson Abdul Mutalib Haqqani said that the deputy ambassador of Pakistan in this meeting denied creating a deadline for the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan.
Abdul Mutalib Haqqani said, “It was requested from them that the issue of migrants is a common issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and based on this, work on a common mechanism should be done, and a committee should be established, and Afghan migrants should be gradually and honorably returned to their homeland.”
At the same time, some migrant rights activists have termed the Pakistan government’s action contrary to human rights conventions. Speaking to TOLO News, Asefa Stanikzai, a migrant rights activist, said, “Pakistan is acting against human rights conventions and immigration rules, which is due to Pakistan’s interests in political and economic issues.”
Earlier, Amnesty International called for the immediate cancellation of the plan to expel Afghan migrants from Pakistan, stressing that this plan is contrary to international human rights laws and refugee laws.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s acting minister of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs has urged Pakistan to resolve the Afghan migrants’ issue within the framework of bilateral understanding, Khaama Press reported.
Pakistan reportedly plans to begin the second phase of its expulsion of Afghan migrants from April 10 after having driven 5,35,000 of them out of the nation since November last year.
At a recent iftar event held at the Taliban-led Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, which was attended by ambassadors and representatives of various nations, Taliban-appointed Deputy PM Abdul Salam Hanafi said that over a million Afghan migrants had been forcibly and voluntarily removed from neighbouring countries, Khaama Press reported.
The first phase of expelling undocumented Afghan migrants from Pakistan began in November 2023, while the second phase, under the name of the ‘repatriation plan’ which also includes those holding citizenship cards, is set to start on April 10, according to TOLO News report.
Human rights organisations and the Taliban have criticised Pakistan’s action. However, the Pakistani government insisted that it was not directed at any one ethnic community.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A horrific case of murder has come to light from Britain where a 28-year-old man named Nicholas Metson stabbed his 26-year-old wife Holly Bramley to death. Metson then chopped her body into 224 pieces and stored them in his kitchen for a week before dumping them in a river with the help of his 28-year-old friend Joshua Hancock. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 8th April after he admitted to killing her. Holly Bramley’s remains were found on 25th March last year in the Witham river at Bassingham, Lincolnshire, eight days following a missing person report.
Following the murder, Nicholas Metson paid his friend Joshua Hancock to get rid of his wife’s remains after they were hidden in their apartment for almost a week, according to testimony given at Lincoln Crown Court. Judge Simon Hirst, who was presiding over the sentencing hearing on 5th April, was informed that the culprit never provided an explanation for the manner and motive behind the crime.
The mother and siblings of Holly Bramley presented victim impact statements in court, stating that she had been subjected to “coercive control and manipulation” by the “evil monster” and that their marriage had “broken down irretrievably.” The court heard that although the couple had tied the knot in 2021, they were about to call it quits when he killed her.
The perpetrator also had a history of abusing animals. He had previously punished his wife by brutally killing their pets, as the court heard. According to a source, he once left his spouse’s new puppy in the washing machine, where she later found it dead with the drum still turning. During other instances, the victim disclosed that Nicholas Metson murdered her hamsters by placing them in the microwave and food processor. She had also once run away from him and took her pet bunnies to a police station.
According to the source, Holly “never explained why he had done it” and they believed he had “controlled and manipulated” the victim. The source added, “She told us she loved him, but the first time I met him I took an instant dislike to him. There was just something about him.”
Nicholas Metson also searched, “What benefits do I get if my wife has died”, and “Can someone haunt me after they die,” on the internet. Incidentally, he was earlier given a referral order in 2013 due to a domestic abuse incident involving a former partner. He also received a community order in 2016 for three offences involving the disclosure of sexual pictures with a different ex-partner. He acknowledged breaking a restraining order pertaining to the same victim a year later.
The murder and disposal of the body
On 24th March, Lincolnshire Police received a call expressing concern for the victim’s safety. When the police visited the residence the next day, it smelled strongly of bleach and there were bloodstained sheets in the bathroom and a saw on the kitchen floor which was later moved to a cupboard. Nicholas Metson told ‘a load of lies’, alleging he had no idea where his wife was and that she left five days before with females from a local mental health support organisation. At one point he even joked that “she might be hiding under the bed.”
Nicholas Metson was arrested on suspicion of murder of his wife. Moreover, two knives, a claw hammer, and garden pruners were found on the premises. On 25th March, at 6 o’clock in the evening, a local in Bassingham observed several plastic bags in the river Witham, and found a hand inside one of them.
From the bags, police divers discovered 224 pieces of the body, including her shaven head. The Home Office Pathologist spent more than thirteen hours going over everything, but because of the severe dismemberment, the pathologist was unable to determine the precise cause of death.
She was most likely killed in her bedroom by Nicholas Metson who then dissected her body in the bathtub, put her body in the kitchen pantry, and packaged her remains. He then asked his school friend Joshua Hancock early that morning to assist him in removing the body.
Nicholas Metson started dating the victim in 2016. He didn’t even allow her to see her family for years before the murder. A month ago, he entered a guilty plea to murder. He had already acknowledged plotting to dispose of the victim’s body on 25th March in order to sabotage the legal process. Joshua Hancock of Waddington, Lincolnshire entered a guilty plea to hindering a coroner’s performance of his official duties by assisting with the disposal of the remains.
Doubling down on his allegations against the Congress after changing his political stripes to saffron, BJP leader Gourav Vallabh on Sunday accused the grand old party of being in conflict with the country’s wealth creators, including industrialist and billionaire investor Gautam Adani.
In a tell-all interview with ANI on Sunday, Vallabh said he urged the Congress high command to stop criticising Gautam Adani, the chairperson of the Adani Group, after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which had opened a probe against him in connection with certain claims made by US-based short-seller Hindenburg, gave him a clean chit.
“The Congress has made a habit of going at Adani and Ambani (Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani) night and day. I did hold a press conference (while with the Congress) in which I made certain references against Adani. However, when SEBI gave Adani a clean chit (in the probe into the Hindenburg claims), I stopped airing any public statements about him. I even advised the Congress leaders to stop criticising him after the clean chit by SEBI. But they kept going at him and continue to do so,” Vallabh said.
Significantly, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, as well as senior party leaders including national president Mallikarjun Kharge, have been severely critical of Adani and Ambani, accusing them of receiving undue favours from the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He disclosed further that he decided not to represent the Congress anymore on television debates or interactions with media persons after the heavyweights in the grand old party turned down an invitation to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir on January 22, this year.
“From the time I resigned my membership of the Congress, I have been saying (in interviews with media outlets) that I repeatedly told senior leaders in my former party that we cannot remain silent to opposition to ‘Sanatana Dharma’. From the day the Congress turned down the invitation to ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, I decided against representing the Congress on television shows and debates anymore. I told all senior leaders that we need to stop criticising our wealth creators, who work hard to build their wealth while also contributing to nation-building,” the BJP leader said.
Vallabh claimed that the Congress was presently being run by the ‘personal assistants’ of former chief ministers and ministers.
In an unsparing attack on senior Congress leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, while not taking their names, Vallabh said, “The Congress is presently being run by those, who probably never fought elections to be a class monitor. A leader (Jairam Ramesh), who never put himself in the fray to even become a class monitor, has been representing the Congress in the Rajya Sabha for five terms now. He has nothing to do with the ideology of the Congress, he just wants to secure his Rajya Sabha seat. He has no ideological commitment to the party.”
Picking on Chidambaram without naming him, the former Congress leader said the party’s tally in the Lok Sabha would not have dropped to between 42 and 52 if his ideas and suggestions had any merit.
“The Congress manifesto has been drafted by the same person (Chidambaram) for the last 30 years. If his ideas had any merit or practical relevance, the Congress’s tally in the Lok Sabha wouldn’t have dropped to between 42 and 52 (seats). When I was in college, he used to defend the party on television as a spokesperson. Even today, he is the in-charge of Communications (in the Congress). He is a PA. You wouldn’t believe if I tell you that some people in the Congress, who are giving tickets for the Lok Sabha elections, can’t tell Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Trying asking them and see how they appear confused,” he added.
He added that the Congress neither understands the issues of the party’s grassroots workers nor the aspirations of voters.
Gourav, who resigned from the Congress, citing the party’s ‘lack of direction’, joined the BJP at its headquarters in the national capital.
A prominent Congress face on television debates, Vallabh said he had grown ‘uncomfortable’ with the positions articulated by the party on several issues.
“I am uncomfortable with the directionless way, in which the Congress Party is moving forward today. I can neither raise anti-Sanatan slogans nor abuse the wealth creators of the country all day long, which is why I am resigning from all posts and primary membership of Congress Party,” Vallabh posted on X.
He contested last year’s Rajasthan assembly elections from the Udaipur constituency but lost to the BJP candidate by a margin of about 32,000 votes.
This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A financial influencer (finfluencer) who was also involved in imparting training related to stock market trading has been asked to part with a little over Rs 12 crore, which it made unlawfully.
The person, Ravindra Balu Bharti, is directed to credit/deposit the money to an interest bearing Escrow Account created specifically for the purpose in a nationalized bank. The Escrow Account(s) shall create a lien in favour of SEBI and the monies kept therein shall not be released without the permission from SEBI, the regulator said in an order.
Ravindra Bharti Education Institute Pvt. Ltd. (RBEIPL):It is a company founded by Ravindra Balu Bharti in the year 2016, along with his wife, Shubhangi Bharti. The company claims to be primarily involved in imparting training/education related to stock market trading activities. RBEIPL is also having a functional website with the domain name:https://bhartisharemarket.com/.
Ravindra Balu Bharti was a Director of RBEIPL for the period commencing from February 03, 2016 to October 03, 2023. He is son of Balu Motiram, an Authorised Person of stock-broker ABC Limited.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) passed an interim order against an unregistered investment advisory named Ravindra Bharti Education Institute Private Ltd (RBEIPL), its former director Ravindra Balu Bharti and his wife Shubhangi Bharti, and current directors Rahul Ananta Gosavi, and Dhanashri Chandrakant Gosavi.
After an investigation by the market regulator SEBI, it said the noticees shall also cease and desist from offering investment advisory services from acting as or holding themselves out to be investment advisors. Also, they are restrained from buying, selling or dealing in securities, either directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever until further orders.
“An amount of INR 12,03,82,130.91 being the total unlawful gain earned from the alleged unregistered investment advisory business, shall be impounded from Noticee no. 1 (Ravindra Bharti Education Institute Private Limited),” SEBI’s order said.
Ravindra Bharti has two YouTube channels named Bharti Share Market Marathi with 10.8 lakh subscribers and Bharti Share Market – Hindi with 8.22 lakh subscribers.
The primary responsibility of a securities market regulator like SEBI is to protect the interest of investors.
The order disclosed “how the investors’ confidence has been compromised and how the systems are being abused for personal gains and attainments by entities like Noticee no. 1 by, devising mischievous ways to circumvent the provisions of laws for their personal enrichment but in detriment to the investors.”
Guaranteed returns up to 1000 per cent is a clear case of abuse of investors’ confidence in the securities market, the order observed. Investors were lured to take the advisory services by projecting returns in the range of 25 to 1000 per cent.
The investors who opted for such services were required to enter into an agreement, containing detailed terms and conditions of providing investment advisory services; fee to be paid against availing investment advisory services, expected returns on investment made on the advisory, profit sharing percentage in case the returns exceed the expected returns, it said.
“India’s capital market in the recent times has witnessed tremendous growth, characterized particularly by increasing participation of common public based on investors’ confidence. This confidence in the capital market can be sustained largely by ensuring investors protection. Disclosure and transparency are the two pillars on which market integrity rests,” the order copy read.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, Madhavi Latha, revealed a shocking incident related to the “sale of a bride” that she encountered in the area. She further asserted that females are being sold to fund the family’s sustenance. According to her, some families force their daughters into several marriages in order to receive money that is then utilized to raise the family’s other children. She was in Rajat Sharma’s popular talk show “Aap Ki Adalat” which was broadcast on 6th April.
Rajat Sharma asked her, “When you visit Muslim women regularly, they (Islamsist) accuse you of encouraging them to become independent and not have children,” to which she responded, “We host medical camps, give out food and medicine and provide them with blankets and food during iftar on Roza at the madrasas. We give them commodities like refrigerators, almirahs and clothes. You’ll be shocked to learn, though, that they have asked me not to tell anyone about their institutions or themselves since their neighbours have threatened them not to take assistance from outside sources.”
She unveiled, “The maulana (Muslim cleric) threatened to break the legs of my team members. Helping them requires us to keep quiet. I don’t encourage women not to procreate. All we ask them to do is bear offspring like Pandavas and not Kauravas. We remind them that you deliver children, but you are unable to meet their basic needs, which include clothing, food and education. What are you doing, then? The pain of a mother can only be felt by another mother. When you have children, make sure they become the nation’s pride. A kid who is unaware of the purpose of his birth reaches a point in life from which he is unable to return. I only share these things with them.”
Rahat Sharma then questioned, “When you talk like this the people claim that you are disparaging Hyderabad and Old City. You say that girls are put on sale there.” The BJP leader answered, “I have been working hard among poor Muslim families of Old Hyderabad to provide them with education and assistance. Fifteen days ago, a 16-year-old Muslim girl spoke from a Middle East country to her family in Hyderabad. The minor stated, ‘Mummy, arrange a big feast because I have been married off 18 times.’ She was married to a 70-year-old Arab man. This is the bitter truth. Can anybody do this to his own daughter? Where does religion come into this?”
The BJP leader added, “I have two girls. Can anyone even dare to hurt them? I tell the same thing to the women. I won’t get my girls married till they are 21 years old. I provide them with the best education possible. Where does religion come in between two mothers? Daughters belong to all of us. I only pray for a girl’s nice life, good in-laws, better husband from God. We are astounded to view the houses of Pasmanada (Muslims) on winding alleyways where sounds are confined between four walls. They marry their daughters multiple times due to their low socio-economic standing and need for money to feed their eight or nine children. Some girls are sold to put food on the table.”
Madhavi Latha is contesting the election from a BJP ticket against Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). General elections will be held in India from 19 April 2024 to 1 June 2024 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The elections will be held in seven phases and the results will be announced on 4 June 2024.
The United Kingdom’s state-owned broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), has transferred its newsroom in India along with its publishing license to a private limited company established by its Indian staff. Notably, this marks the first instance of such a move in the public service broadcaster’s global operations. The development comes less than a year after the BBC faced scrutiny from Indian tax authorities for tax evasion.
Under the new arrangement, the private limited company named “Collective Newsroom” has been established by four former BBC employees. It will start its operation from next week. The offices in India will create content in seven languages for the BBC’s digital services, including Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu.
As per reports, the BBC has applied to the Indian government for a 26% stake in this private limited company.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Collective Newsroom Rupa Jha said, “It’s unprecedented for the BBC to grant their license to publish to another entity…We will not compromise our journalism and the BBC is solidly behind us.”
Jha was the senior news editor at BBC India and is now one of the four founding shareholders of Collective Newsroom, the new entity curved out of the UK’s state-owned broadcaster.
Regarding the restructuring plan, Jha said, “There were a number of options before us. Considering that the BBC didn’t want to lose its presence in India or cut jobs, and they didn’t want it to become financially unviable, this forced us to think out of the box. Based on the legal advice the BBC was receiving, everyone was veering towards this as the viable option (of setting up the Collective).”
The new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules, introduced in 2020, imposed a 26% FDI limit in India’s digital media sector. This has prompted the broadcaster’s India operations to undergo restructuring to comply with the FDI rules.
Previously, BBC India handled editorial operations in the country, with the UK broadcaster owning over 99% of it. However, when the investment cap came into effect, companies with over 26% FDI had to reduce their foreign investment to meet the regulation by October 2021.
The BBC’s India bureau has approximately 200 staff, making it the biggest operation globally outside the UK. It started broadcasting in India in May 1940. As per reports, almost all of the 200 employees of BBC India have transitioned to the Collective Newsroom.
Last year, in February, tax authorities conducted searches at BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai to probe tax violations. The IT Dept had investigated non-compliance with transfer pricing rules and diversion of profits. The three-day-long investigation concerned international taxation and the suspected transfer of BBC revenues.
Later on 12th April 2023, the Enforcement Directorate filed a case against BBC India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) over allegations of violating foreign exchange laws.
Months later in June 2023, BBC reportedly admitted that they evaded taxes in India and were committing to pay Rs 40 crores in tax arrears.
Following the tax probe and FDI questions, the BBC has transferred its newsroom and publishing license to a private company, ‘Collective Newsroom’, established by its employees which will begin operation next week.
