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Bombay HC suspends the life sentence of Nijam Asgar Hashmi,ย who beheaded his Hindu girlfriend’s cousin; grants him bail

OpIndia Staff
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Bombay HC suspends the life sentence of Nijam Asgar Hashmi,ย who beheaded his Hindu girlfriend’s cousin; grants him bail

On 18th April the life sentence of Nijam Asgar Hashmi, who beheaded 20-year-old Umesh Ingale, the cousin of his girlfriend Geetanjali Ingale, was suspended by the Bombay High Court and granted bail. The last-seen theory was deemed unfeasible by a bench of Justices AS Gadkari and Shyam C. Chandak, who claimed that it was prima facie impossible to accept that the weapon used to kill the victim, which was unearthed at the accused’s instance from a ditch with water up to the knee contained human blood.

The court pronounced, “It is important to note here that, though the weapon used in the present crime was recovered from a ditch/pond in the presence of P.W.2, from a place filled with water up to knee level, the Chemical Analyser Report mentions that, human blood was found on the said weapon. Prima facie we cannot accept the prosecution case to that extent.”

The police apprehended then-19-year-old Nizam Asgar Hashmi on the charges of murdering Umesh Ingale in 2018 because he didn’t like the latter’s closeness with his cousin, who was also the culprit’s girlfriend. On 19th June 2018, a man’s decapitated and partially nude body was discovered by several labourers close to Punyadham Ashram in Pune’s Kondhwa Budruk neighbourhood. A bloodstained T-shirt and a sandal were also found within fifty feet of the radius.

The deceased was attacked with a sharp object, resulting in injuries to his hands and abdomen. The assailant then undressed his clothes to obscure the proof. During the investigation, the severed head and the murder weapon were discovered in a canal.

The prosecution stated that the perpetrator asked Umesh Ingale to have “sheer khurma” with him on the occasion of Eid and had intended to get rid of him. According to the prosecution, Nijam Asgar Hashmi savagely attacked the young man while he was eating and then disfigured his body to hide his identity. On 30th September 2023, the Pune Sessions court declared him guilty of murder in violation of Section 302 and evidence disappearance in violation of Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to life in jail after 24 witnesses testified during the trial.

The prosecution asserted that on 19th June 2018 at around 7:50 pm Nijam Hashmi and Umesh Ingale were visible in CCTV footage close to the location where the dismembered body came to light. The corpse was found around three days after the two were last seen together which was a significant amount of time gap, according to the bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Shyam Chandak.

“Applicant has been behind bars since the date of his arrest i.e. 21st June 2018 and has undergone more than 5 years and 6 months in incarceration as of today. Given the above during the pendency of the Appeal we are inclined to suspend the sentence of the Applicant and enlarge him on bail,” the bench noted.

The two used to visit Balaji Fitness Club situated at Bibawewadi. Umesh Ingale left home on 16th June 2018 to go there but he never came back. He and Nijam Hashmi were captured together on CCTV footage and seen by a witness on the same day. Authorities found the Hindu man’s PAN card and cell phone in a ditch next to a canal along with the murder weapon, a “Sattur” after Nijam Hashmi revealed it.

The weapon, per his lawyer Sana Raees Khan, surfaced four days after the incident in a pond that was knee-deep in water, yet it still had bloodstains on it. She added that the weapon’s blood did not match the deceased’s, based on the chemical analysis findings.

Nijam Asgar Hashmi appealed against the conviction and filed an interim application seeking suspension of sentence and release on bail. After his arrest, Nijam Hashmi has been imprisoned for more than five years and six months. The court determined to give him bail while his appeal was pending in light of these considerations.

The court provided him bail contingent upon the submission of a Rs. 50,000 PR bond and one or two financially stable local sureties in an equivalent amount. He is also required to report to the Kondhawa Police Station in Pune on the first Monday of every month for the first year, and then every third month afterwards. If bail restrictions are violated twice in a row, the prosecution is free to request that the bail be cancelled.

Watching child pornography may not be an offence, but children being used in pornography will be an offence: Supreme Court bench led by CJI

OpIndia Staff
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Watching child pornography may not be an offence, but children being used in pornography will be an offence: Supreme Court bench led by CJI

On 19th April, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on an appeal that contested the Madras High Court’s ruling that downloading and possessing child pornography was not illegal under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The bench, which consisted of Justice JB Pardiwala and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud heard arguments from both sides before reserving its judgement. However, the bench noted, “Watching child porn may not be an offence but children being used in pornography will be an offence and is a matter of serious concern.”

The court added, “Watching pornography may not be an offence, but the High Court has said watching child pornography is also not an offence. A child watching porn may not be an offence, but a child being used in pornography will be an offence. Anyway, we will look into it. We will pass orders.” The NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) “Just Right for Children Alliance” and New Delhi-based “Bachpan Bachao Andolan” were presenting a case before the apex court, contesting the verdict of the Madras High Court in the POCSO case pertaining to the downloading of child pornography.

Senior attorney HS Phoolka who was representing the two organisations invoked the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act. “The POCSO Act says that if any video or photo is there, you need to delete the same. And in this case, the accused was constantly watching the video. He watched it for two years, according to the report of NETMEG. The first video was before the amendment, but the second was after the amendment,” he argued.

“Someone receiving the video on WhatsApp is not an offence,” the CJI questioned in response and Justice Pardiwala further inquired, “Is it an offence to keep the video on his mobile phone for two years?” The respondent’s attorney clarified, “The video in question was auto-downloaded in WhatsApp. This file comes to WhatsApp and is auto-downloaded if the WhatsApp setting is kept on by an individual.”

The highest court highlighted that in order to avoid legal repercussions, such content should be immediately erased or destroyed if it ends up in someone’s inbox. According to applicable laws, failing to do so could constitute an offence under relevant laws. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been given permission by the Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter and provide written arguments by 22nd April.

The top court was considering the arguments made by the lawyer for the individual who was charged with downloading child pornography that he reportedly received on 14th June 2019. He claimed that the content on his WhatsApp had downloaded on its own.

The bench also looked into the 2019 POCSO Act change. The CJI noted, “After the amendment, this becomes an offence. How can you not know that this video is there on your phone,” after examining the amendment. The court then reserved its decision after hearing arguments from both sides. “Arguments concluded, and judgment reserved,” the court announced.

The Madras High Court determined in January of this year that downloading child pornography does not violate the Information Technology Act or the POCSO because it is done “in privacy without affecting or influencing anyone else.” The case against a 28-year-old man, S Harish charged with downloading child pornographic material to his cellphone was dropped by the High Court.

Just Rights for Children Alliance and Bachpan Bachao Andolan requested the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling of the High Court, contending that it would promote child pornography and be detrimental to children’s welfare. The petition mentioned, “The impression is given to the general public that downloading and possessing child pornography is not an offence, which would increase the demand for child pornography and encourage people to involve innocent children in pornography.”

Congress in Kerala is pro-BJP: I.N.D.I. Alliance member CPM’s leader MV Jayarajan

ANI
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Congress in Kerala is pro-BJP: I.N.D.I. Alliance member CPM’s leader MV Jayarajan

The CPM candidate from Kannur Lok Sabha seat, MV Jayarajan, alleged that the Congress in Kerala is pro-BJP and claimed that the Kerala Congress chief is willing to join the BJP.

He also said that 39 leaders in Kerala have left the Congress and joined the BJP.

“The main enemy is BJP. We are attacking BJP but Congress leaders are joining BJP, which is the main issue here. 39 leaders in Kerala have already left Congress and joined BJP. The real situation here in Kerala is that the political line of the Congress is also pro-BJP. The CM is attacking the political attitude of Congress. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president himself is ready to join the BJP, which is why the CM is attacking that policy of Congress,” Jayarajan told ANI on Friday.

Earlier, on Thursday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan questioned the secular credentials of the Congress, adding that the party is “degenerating into the BJP’s B team.”

Although the Left parties and the Congress are part of a larger INDIA bloc, they are opposed to each other in Kerala, where the Congress is currently in opposition as part of the UDF alliance.

While voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories, all 20 constituencies in Kerala will go to the polls on April 26 in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the Congress party had won 15 seats, its allies, the Indian Union Muslim League, won two seats, the Revolutionary Socialist Party won one, and the Kerala Congress (M) won one seat. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) won one seat in Alappuzha.

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

US: Islamists and left liberals hijack Holi in the name of ‘fighting Hindutva’. Read how a similar event from 2020 was tied to anti-CAA violence

OpIndia Staff
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US: Islamists and left liberals hijack Holi in the name of ‘fighting Hindutva’. Read how a similar event from 2020 was tied to anti-CAA violence

With a sinister objective to hijack Hindu festivals, left-liberals and Islamists at the Oberlin College in Ohio state of the United States have organised an event dubbed ‘Holi Against Hindutva’ on Sunday (21st April).

The controversial programme is being held jointly by the ‘Asian American Alliance (AAA)’ and ‘Muslim Students Association (MSA)’ at the Hallock Auditorium of the private liberal arts college.

“Join us for a teach-in on Hindu nationalism in the US and India, its violent implications for Muslims worldwide and connections to Zionism. No prior knowledge necessary,” the event synopsis read.

One of the speakers at the ‘Holi against Hindutva’ event happens to be Pranay Somayajula – the Director of Research at the pro-Islamist outfit Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR).

According to the popular OSINT handle โ€˜Disinfo Labโ€™, HfHR was formed in the year 2019 by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI).

Interestingly, the three organisations had formed another outfit called the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA). As per an article in The Hindu, the Alliance for Justice and Accountability had been at the forefront of leading demonstrations against the visit of PM Modi to Houston on September 22, 2019.

Hindus for Human Rights endorsed Dismantle Global Hindutva

In 2021, โ€˜Hindus for Human Rightsโ€™ also endorsed the anti-Hindu event โ€˜Dismantling Global Hindutvaโ€™ conference. It also came up with a โ€œspecial toolkitโ€ to propagate against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his State visit to the US in June 2023.

In October 2023, the X (formerly Twitter) account of HfHR was withheld in India in response to a legal demand.

‘Holi Against Hindutva’ event and anti-Hindu Delhi riots

OpIndia had previously reported about nefarious attempts (here and here) to appropriate the annual Hindu festival of Holi for political propaganda.

In 2020, a controversial outfit called โ€˜Students Against Hindutvaโ€™ (SAH) organised ‘Holi against Hindutva’ events across several universities in the United States.

SAH had also written to the US Congress and spread numerous lies about the nature of Hindutva, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The letter was edited by one Zaid Ahmed, a member of Yale Muslim Student Association.

Ziad Ahmedโ€™s tweet

On his social media account, the link to his personal website was mentioned. Thus, we took a detour and explored it. We shall elaborate on what we learned about Ziad Ahmed later on but before all of that, we need to understand the political context first.

โ€˜Students Against Hindutvaโ€™ (SAH), which organised the ‘Holi against Hindutva’ event, is also associated with pro-Islamist outfits such as ‘South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)’ and ‘Stand With Kashmir(SWH).

OpIndia had previously exposed how SAALT has several Pakistanis on its Board of Directors, including Amina Khan (ex-senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy under President Bill Clinton) and Darakshan Raja (founder of Justice For Muslims Collective).

Anti-CAA poster designed by SWK and shared by Farhan Akhtar,

Stand with Kashmir (SWK), on the other hand, is known for amplifying the Pakistani narrative on the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit has previously labelled Indiaโ€™s military presence in Kashmir an โ€˜occupationโ€™ and ignored the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits.

During the infamous anti-CAA protests, Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar shared a misleading poster designed by SWK.

It is important to note that Farhan Akhtar shared the work of propaganda on 18th December 2019, precisely a week after Ziad Ahmed announced the launch of โ€˜Holi Against Hindutvaโ€™.

A portion of SAHโ€™s Open Letter

Interestingly, a leftist propaganda portal by the name of ‘Teen Vogue’ had also endorsed the ‘Holi against Hindutva’ event organised by Students against Hindutva (SAH).

An article published on the website of Teen Vogue, repeated the talking points of the SAH and used the picture of ‘jihad supporting’ Jamia Millia Islamia student Ladeeda Sakhaloon. It was later replaced following outrage on social media.

OpIndia had also found that SAH had compiled โ€˜informationโ€™ against the CAA from far-left sources, the same โ€˜organizers and collectivesโ€™ that were inciting protests across India.

The ‘resources section’ of their website also featured petitions, open letters, leftist opinion pieces and places where people can donate to support the students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Milia Islamia.

‘Students Against Hindutva had compiled a list of protests against the CAA across India . The list even included โ€˜CAA Protest Helperโ€™ which was apparently a โ€˜Legal Services Clinicโ€™ where people could find legal help if they ran into any trouble during any protests against the CAA.

In addition, a โ€˜protest scheduleโ€™ and a running list of protests in the USA, UK, Germany, South Africa, Japan, Canada and other countries were also provided.

From: SAHโ€™s website

‘Students Against Hindutva’ had admitted, on its home page, about lobbying with the financial donations received by it.

The outfit stated, โ€œOur growing inter-campus coalition plans to campaign through protesting, sharing informational material, holding on-campus teach-ins, lobbying, and coordinating other events to raise awareness. Any donations to our fundraiser would be greatly appreciated and will help us continue to organize in support of protestors on the front lines.โ€

From the conduct of the SAH, it was pretty clear that the organization was working towards undermining Indian interests. In addition to supporting the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in India, it also sought to lobby against Indian national interests, presumably in the USA.

Holi Against Hindutva redux in 2022

Two years later in 2022, a similar event was organised online by โ€˜Hindus for Human Rights(HfHR)’, โ€˜Students against Hindutva Ideology (SAHI)โ€™ and โ€˜Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus.โ€™

Screengrab of the event

The โ€˜Holi Against Hindutvaโ€™ continues to remain an active conspiracy hatched against the Hindu diaspora by Liberal fundamentalism which has garnered support from South Asian Islamists and left-liberals.

Appropriating a Hindu festival for protest not only targets Hindus worldwide but also meddles with Indiaโ€™s sovereign interests.

“False illusion is being created”: Ajmer Sharif Dargah Dewan over opposition’s allegation of changing constitution

ANI
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“False illusion is being created”: Ajmer Sharif Dargah Dewan over opposition’s allegation of changing constitution

Hitting out at the opposition over its allegation that the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to change the Constitution, Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, spiritual head and Dewan at Ajmer Sharif Dargah said on Saturday said that a false illusion is being created and making amendments is different and it cannot be linked to changing the constitution.

“The Constitution was made in 1950. How many amendments have been made in the Parliament since then? In the interest of nation and public, if amendments are needed, they will be done. A false illusion is being created. Was the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975 not an amendment? Making amendments cannot be linked to changing the Constitution,” he said.

Further, praising the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government, Syed Zainul said that the country has been progressing in the last 10 years and the position that country has achieved in the world is the contribution of the present government.

“The country has been progressing in the last 10 years. The position that the country has achieved in the world is the contribution of the present government. The public should also see who is taking our country towards progress and then use their vote based on this,” spiritual head at Ajmer Sharif Dargah said.

On being asked if Ram Mandir would be an issue in the elections, Syed Zainul Abedin said that Ram temple can be an issue but it cannot be linked to elections.

“Ram temple was built only after the decision of the Supreme Court. There is no point in taking credit in this. The public understands this thing. When the SC has given its decision then there is no point in getting hurt over it,” he said.

Also, speaking on the Citizenship Amendment Act, he said, “When our country was divided into two parts, people went and settled in different places in the world. Now when they have to come back, where will they go? They will come to their old country only. This law has been brought only to give them citizenship.”

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

Did you know that almost 1 Billion people are playing Online Games?

OpIndia Staff
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Did you know that almost 1 Billion people are playing Online Games?

The rise in online gaming popularity has transformed it into a global phenomenon, boasting a massive industry with millions of players immersed in diverse virtual worlds. Assertions proclaiming that a staggering 1 billion individuals are actively participating in online gaming have become prevalent, underscoring this sector’s profound expansion and impact. In this article, we will look into the validity of these statistics, dissecting the trends and ramifications associated with such claims. Through meticulous examination of sources and data accuracy, we aim to clarify the scope and significance of online gaming, from card games like online rummy to multiplayer online battle arenas.

What the Stats Say

The claim that 1 billion individuals engage in online gaming raises eyebrows and demands investigation. According to recent data, the online games industry indeed boasts impressive figures. In 2023, global revenues from online gaming reached an astounding $26.14 billion, marking a 9.8 per cent growth compared to the previous year. This rise was further catalysed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed individuals worldwide to seek solace and entertainment through digital platforms.

It’s estimated that there are approximately 1.1 billion online gamers worldwide. Notably, countries such as India, China, South Korea, and Japan stand out for their significant online gaming reach among the population. However, despite the normalisation of growth trends post-pandemic, online gaming continues to retain its popularity, attracting millions of players globally.

How Gaming Genres Are Changing

The landscape of online gaming has undergone a remarkable evolution in recent years, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. While classic PC and console-based genres such as massively multiplayer games (MMOs) and competitive first-person shooters laid the groundwork, the emergence of casual social gaming in the early 2010s marked a significant turning point.

The rise of free-to-play (F2P) multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) like Dota 2 and League of Legends further propelled the genre into the mainstream. However, the emergence of mobile connectivity and the widespread use of smartphones have truly changed online gaming. With cross-platform titles gaining prominence, mobile gaming has emerged as a dominant force, catering to a diverse audience previously hindered by accessibility barriers.

For example, the emergence of online rummy through dedicated rummy apps shows how gaming genres continue to adapt to meet the changing demands of players, blending traditional gameplay with modern accessibility and convenience.

The Dominance of Online Multiplayer Games

While single-player games retain their allure, online multiplayer experiences have emerged as the predominant choice for gamers worldwide. Titles such as CS:GO, PUBG, Dota 2, and GTA V command massive audiences, reflecting the growing preference for interconnected gaming experiences. Most top-ranking games on platforms like Steam are either online or feature robust online components, highlighting the industry’s collective shift towards connectivity and social interaction.

Integration of Traditional Games into Online Platforms

One notable example of the convergence between traditional and online gaming is the popularity of online rummy. Traditionally a card game enjoyed by enthusiasts across the globe, rummy has seamlessly transitioned into the digital realm, attracting millions of players through dedicated rummy app platforms.

โ€‹Accessibility and Social Engagement: The appeal of online rummy lies in its accessibility and social engagement features. Players can enjoy the game at their convenience, connecting with friends and fellow enthusiasts irrespective of geographical boundaries. Moreover, the advent of real-time multiplayer functionality enhances the immersive experience, replicating the camaraderie and competitiveness of traditional rummy sessions in a virtual environment.

Contribution to the Global Gaming Landscape: Online rummy is a microcosm of the broader online gaming landscape, showcasing the industry’s capacity to adapt traditional pastimes to modern technological platforms. Its integration into mobile apps and web-based platforms exemplifies the democratisation of gaming, catering to diverse demographics and fostering community engagement on a global scale.

What’s Expected in the Future

In the future, the online games industry is poised for continued growth and innovation. Projections suggest a substantial increase in revenue, with estimates indicating a surge from $26.14 billion in 2023 to $32.56 billion by 2027. Moreover, worldwide online gamers are expected to rise to 1.25 billion by 2027. This growth trajectory is particularly noteworthy considering that in 2019, the global count stood at 840 million gamers, indicating a substantial increase over a relatively short period.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while claiming that 1 billion people are actively engaged in online gaming may seem astonishing, the statistics and market trends support this assertion. With revenues soaring, player counts escalating, and technological innovations driving unprecedented growth, the online games industry continues to redefine entertainment paradigms on a global scale. Moreover, integrating traditional games like rummy into online platforms underscores the industry’s adaptability and inclusivity, offering diverse gaming experiences to an ever-expanding audience. Thus, while the precise figure may fluctuate, the general storyline remains clear: online gaming is not just a pastime but a cultural phenomenon with a billion-strong community at its helm.

He even ate eggs during the Navratri: BJPโ€™s Shazia Ilmi makes big claim amid row over Arvind Kejriwalโ€™s food in jail

ANI
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He even ate eggs during the Navratri: BJPโ€™s Shazia Ilmi makes big claim amid row over Arvind Kejriwalโ€™s food in jail

Taking a swipe at jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, amid allegations that he has been deliberately tucking into Aaloo Poori (a popular breakfast meal in North India) and sweets, while also taking sugar with his tea to press for bail citing inflated blood sugar levels; BJP leader Shazia Ilmi on Friday claimed the AAP convenor even wolfed down eggs during Navratri despite being clinically diabetic.

During his submissions before the court earlier, the counsel for the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), which arrested the Delhi CM in connection with the excise policy case, claimed that he had been deliberately departing from his normal and clinically advised diet to make a stronger case for bail, citing elevated sugar levels.

Addressing media persons on Friday, Shazia said, “I believe Kejriwal is mindful of what he should or shouldn’t eat for someone who is a diabetic. However, what surprised me is that he even ate eggs during the Navratras. I thought he avoided eggs during Navratri as is customary. However, ultimately, it’s a matter of his personal choice whether he wants to have eggs during Navratri or not.”

Hitting back at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which claimed earlier that Kejriwal’s health concerns were being deliberately ignored, the BJP spokesperson added, “Why would a responsible government agency bring harm to someone it is mandated to protect? I believe we need to avoid making such statements.”

The ED claimed on Thursday that Kejriwal, who has failed to get any legal reprieve, with his prayers for bail being turned down, has been consuming home-cooked food with high sugar content to deliberately jack up his blood sugar levels.

ED’s Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain submitted that Kejriwal was consuming mangoes, sweets, tea with high sugar and Aaloo Poori, among other items, adding that it was a deliberate ploy to prepare the ground to seek bail.

Refuting AAP claims that the jailed CM was being denied insulin, Shazia added, “As the prison manual stipulates, an inmate cannot be administered an injection in jail. A medical assistant has been assigned to him, who administers him with insulin as prescribed. So, to say that he is being denied insulin is false. The jail administration has confirmed as much.”

On allegations that Kejriwal could be poisoned through the food he was being served behind bars, Shazia said, “Since his detention, he’s only had jail food for two days. Otherwise, he has only been having food brought from his home. He, himself, put in a request for homecooked food, which was approved.”

“Anyone with type-2 diabetes would not consume mangoes. He has had diabetes for a long time now. He knows what he should eat and what he shouldn’t,” Shazia added.

Amid claims that his medical needs were being deliberately ignored, the BJP spokesperson reminded AAP that the administration of jails comes within the ambit of the Delhi government.

“It should also be noted in this context that the administration of jails comes within the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. (AAP Rajya Sabha MP) Sanjay Singh was treated well in jail before being released (on bail). Therefore, I believe these allegations are entirely baseless,” Shazia said.

To the ED counsel’s contention that his client was consuming food with high sugar intake, advocate Vivek Jain, who is arguing for the AAP convenor, said toffees and other sugary items are often given to diabetics to maintain their sugar levels.

Kejriwal is currently in extended judicial custody after being arrested in the excise police case on March 21.

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

Mumbai: Man arrested for booking cab under gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Salaman Khan’s residence

ANI
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Mumbai: Man arrested for booking cab under gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Salaman Khan’s residence

A 20-year-old youth has been arrested for booking a cab from Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s residence in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, said police on Friday.

According to Mumbai police, the accused has been identified as Rohit Tyagi, a 20-year-old man from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Sharing details, police said that the accused had booked a cab in the name of Lawrence Vishnoi from Galaxy Apartment, the house of actor Salman Khan, to the Bandra Police Station.

“When the cab driver reached Galaxy Apartment at Salman Khan’s house and asked the watchman there about the booking, the watchman who was stunned at first, immediately informed about the booking to the nearby Bandra Police Station,” said police.

Acting on the same, Bandra Police of Mumbai interrogated the cab driver and tracked the information about the person who booked the cab online.

“The person who booked the cab turned out to be a 20-year-old student from Ghaziabad, identified as Rohit Tyagi,” said the police.

The police further said that during the investigation it was revealed that the accused had booked the cab in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as a prank.

The police registered a case against the accused and arrested him from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

He was thereafter brought to Mumbai and presented before the court after which he was sent to the custody of Bandra Police for two days.

Further details into the matter are awaited.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Kutch Police arrested the two accused persons and handed them to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Later, a city court sent the two accused to the custody of the Mumbai Crime Branch until April 25 in connection with the firing incident.

The accused, identified as Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21) from Bihar, were presented before the court after a medical examination.

The two men, who came on a motorbike, fired four rounds outside the Galaxy Apartments, where the actor resides, around 5 am on Sunday and fled.CCTV footage showed that both accused sported caps and carried backpacks.

The clip also showed them firing in the direction of the actor’s home.

After the arrest of the accused, Kutch DSP AR Zankant said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Notably, since November 2022, Salman’s security level has been elevated to Y-Plus after threats from gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar.

The actor was also authorised to carry a personal firearm and has also acquired a new armoured vehicle for added protection.

On Monday, Salman’s brother Arbaaz Khan stated on the family’s behalf, saying they all have been affected due to the ‘disturbing’ firing incident.

He also shared that the family was fully cooperating with the Mumbai Police in the ongoing probe into the incident.

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

‘Would they say same thing if it was their daughter’: Congress leader Niranjan Hiremath calls out his party leaders for denying Love Jihad angle in his daughter Neha’s killing

OpIndia Staff
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‘Would they say same thing if it was their daughter’: Congress leader Niranjan Hiremath calls out his party leaders for denying Love Jihad angle in his daughter Neha’s killing

The horrific murder of Neha Hiremath, the Karnataka-born daughter of Congress leader Niranjan Hiremath, by her jiltedย lover Fayaz has sparked massive statewide outrageย and brought attention to the perilous phenomenon of Love Jihadย plaguing society. The devastated father has himself acknowledged on national television that his daughter has fallen prey to thisย treacherous ploy. He also voiced his discontent and vexationย with the leaders of his own party for negating theย Love Jihad angleย in his daughter’s case.

He requested HM G Parameshwar and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to exercise caution and retract their comments that downplayed the religious angle inย his daughter’s horrific death and instead attributed it to ‘personal reasons’.

Retorting strongly to Home Minister G Parameshwar’s remarks where he denied any religious angle in the case and suggested that the murder of Neha Hiremath stemmed from a mutual love relationship gone awry, Niranjan Hiremath said on Friday, that by making such remarks, the Home Minister is tainting his daughter’s image.

“By making such statements, my daughterโ€™s honour should not be tainted, because I know my daughter well. I am a Congress corporator, I am not from some other party. Our Home Minister has given such statements due to wrong information. I request the Home Minister to correct his statement. If you want to get votes by giving such statements, it is not right. I am a peopleโ€™s representative, I am your partyโ€™s representative and I’m not from any other party. It has happened in my own house, so how can I protectย otherย people?” Niranjan Hiremath told reporters.

Notably, the Karnataka Home Minister had asserted that it was a case of mutual love between the victim and the perpetrator. He recounted that when the girl decided to end the relationship and walk away, the accused resorted to violence. “I don’t see love jihad there,” Parameshwar stated firmly.

Similarly, the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also said that the Hubbali campus murder occurred due to personal reasons.

“Whatever murder happened is due to personal reasons. The law and order situation is very good in Karnataka, It is our duty to maintain law and order and we are doing it,” the CM said.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Niranjan Hiremath had emphatically stated that his daughter had fallen prey to Love Jihad. In fact, concerned by the alarming rise in Love Jihad cases across the nation, the Congress leader urged parents to exercise caution and keep a careful eye on their daughter’s whereabouts.

“Yes, incidents are taking place on these lines. When we see incidents around us, brutality is on the rise. I feel that Love Jihad is spreading rapidly. I don’t know why are the youngsters deviating. I had one daughter and one son. They were like my two eyes. I shouldnโ€™t be telling this, but I have lost my daughter. I request that another woman/girl should not go through the same. Because we have also seen how devastated everyone is when they lose their child.”

“My house is grieving now. I donโ€™t know what kind of bad luck this is, but it has happened. I tell all the parents and mothers, that if you send your daughter to study, you also go to college, see what your daughter is doing, and if anyone is behind them. I pray that what has happened to my daughter does not happen to any other girl. Because it is sensitive these days, girls should learn,” he added.

Fifty per centย of girls will have possibilities in the future from the government, while thirty-three per centย of girls are already on the list of applicants. Girls are ahead of boys in every aspect of life; how will they learn from something like this? Thus, I begย all parents, leaders, and the state government to stop something similar from occurring. I implore them to act appropriately,” said the Congress leader.

Background of the case

24-year-old student, Neha was stabbed to death on her college campus on Thursday (18th April). The incident took place at B V Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology in Hubbali, where Neha was studying in her first year of MCA. The attacker Fayaz was a BCA student of the same college and was a classmate of Neha. He is from Savadatti in Belagavi district.

As reported earlier, Fayaz was waiting for her to come out of the college and attacked her with a knife. He stabbed her in the neck multiple times with the knife, which was caught on CCTV camera. He was covering his face with a mask. After the stabbing which left Neha profusely bleeding, the assailant fled the scene with the weapon in his hand.

The victim was rushed to the KIMS Hospital by fellow students who witnessed the horrific crime, but she died there because of the critical injuries.

The police arrested Fayaz who was on the run after the murder, and further probe is underway. The police said that he was planning to kill Neha, as he told his friends that he would finish the girl who had rejected his offer. Given that he chose to stab her in the neck, confirmed that he intended to kill her.

Role of emotional intelligence in Lok Sabha elections 2024: What’s in the voter’s heart?

Virender Kapoor
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Role of emotional intelligence in Lok Sabha elections 2024: What’s in the voter’s heart?

The election bugle has been sounded and this multi-mega event begins on 19 April- the biggest electoral exercise in the world begins.ย About 970 million people will take part in the giant elections to decide who will rule the worldโ€™s most populous nation.ย Besides political parties which are in the hundreds, there are independent candidates too. Everyone is putting his best foot forward to impress the voter to vote for him/her. Media is having a field day and lapping up every bit of information as people are glued to their screens listening to podcasts, conclave debates, and slugfests on Highly hot and lava-like debates. In short not a dull moment these days. Social media as a mammoth giant has now taken full grip on the minds of the voters.

India has more than 1.2 billion mobile phone users and 600 million smartphone users. This is a great leveller as the entire nation is tech savvy and everyone- almost everyone gets his small piece of information on his palm top twenty-four by seven, in real-time. The Digital India push by the government has made connectivity which is affordable and which works.

Predictions galore

Psephology is a discipline under political science that deals with the examination as well as the statistical analysis of elections and polls. People who practise psephology are called psephologists. Major tools that are used by them are historical voting data, campaign finance information, and other related data. Opinion polls by contacting people also play an important role in psephology. 

In short, this is a very synthetic, scientific, data-based, number-crunching exercise. It takes care of raw inputs and logical analysis. They generally do not miss out on any visible details so to speak.

People travel a lot– a learning experience

All Indians have been travelling across cities, across villages, and a common man is a keen observer- he knows what has happened and what has not happened and what is going to happen! In his heart of hearts, he knows the ball game being played in front of his eyes. Most are quiet spectators and many are vocal too. Everyone knows how much change has impacted him and the rest of the people around him- his radius of understanding may be limited but not stunted- a common man or woman may not understand Geopolitics but he understands national politics. Indians are smarter than Americans in this too.

A long long time ago- how British ruled us by targeting our culture.

If you want to break a nation it is culturally bankrupt. And if you want to unite it, it again has to be through a single thread called culture. A renaissance.

Thomas Macaulay, a British politician, delivered his speech on February 2, 1835, to prove that Indian “natives” needed to be educated in English.

He wanted to build a tribe of Indians that would defend and advance British interests. “Indian by blood and colour, but English by likes, beliefs, morality, and intellect,” would describe this people.

Look at his foresight almost 200 years ago!

 A quote from Lord Macaulay’s speech in the British Parliament on 2nd February 1835. I reproduce the quote below:

“I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”

Reversing the damage

The present administration in India is trying to bring back our self-esteem, one step at a time. A lot has been done and a lot needs to be done and at the heart of every Indian, an Indian is in his heart. The same philosophy will work and Bharat has realized it- and that will be the decisive factor- not perceived by the naked eye. This is an emotional trump card a โ€˜Brahmastraโ€™- the ultimate weapon in the nation-building arsenal.

Like Sadhguru says โ€˜India for the first time has got an Indian Prime Ministerโ€™

Emotional connect matters

Having written several books on Emotional Intelligence and conducting hundreds of talk shows and workshops, for the corporate and students and even doctors, on the subject, I have realized the superpower of emotions- which most either donโ€™t understand or at best underestimate its relevance.

How emotions play on your decision-making is a very tough thing to quantify. A very simplistic example is that no software can make two computers fall in love- and you cannot define how a man falls for a woman or vice versa! Quantifying emotions is almost impossible- till now as I understand. It is judgemental in a way. How much do you love him- on a scale of one to ten? Can you say I love him 7 or 9- anyoneโ€™s guess- and you are guessing too. Hatred is also as complicated as love. So, you say that you love him from the bottom of your heart- what does it mean?

Most of the time you say โ€˜I donโ€™t know what is going on in your headโ€™, but you may be a mind reader yet you can never correctly read a heart.

Culture is emotional

Because cultural ideas and practices are all-encompassing, people are often unaware of how their feelings are shaped by their culture. You live, you breathe your culture. It is a way of life. Therefore, emotions can feel automatic, natural, physiological, and instinctual, and yet still be primarily culturally shaped.

Even having faith in someone works at an emotional level- the chemistry between two people is not as straightforward as physics. Why and how a woman trusts a man is a Billion-dollar question with no simple answer and even a woman does not know why she trusts him and not others. โ€™kuch kuch hota haiโ€™.

At the heart of decision-making that impacts you is your heart.

There have been so many Bollywood films with titles having โ€˜dilโ€™ words in it.

โ€œDil hai ki manta nahiโ€, โ€˜Dil diya dard liyaโ€™, โ€˜dilwale Dulhaniya le jayengeโ€™ or โ€˜ Dil se mileydilโ€™. 

That is why it is very difficult or even impossible to convince a political hater to love a party or a political leader he hates- โ€˜Dil hai ki manta Nahiโ€™. If you give any logical reasoning, he will not listen.

โ€œOne ought to hold on to oneโ€™s heart; for if one lets it go, one soon loses control of the head too.โ€              

โ€• Friedrich Nietzsche

Let me say it loud and clear- patriotism is from the heart and not your head. Why do people die for a flag which is just a coloured piece of cloth? Why do millions go to the Vatican, or haj or mandir or gurudwara? You do it from your heart.

This is where computers, spreadsheets and data could fail as leadership is all about emotions.

Gut feeling- what is it, and how does it matter?

Dr Daniel J. Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and executive director of the Mindsight Institute.

During his research about how we think and how and โ€˜whereโ€™ our emotions are formed, he says:-

โ€œWe now know that the intestines, our gut, has a set of neural net processors that function like sophisticated computers. The computers we have at home are linear processors, and they can do all sorts of fancy things quickly, but the really sophisticated computers are those that are in a spider-web-like network called parallel distributed processing. We have these parallel processors called PDP models that are in our intestines and also around our hearts. So, the heartfelt feelings that we have are not just poetic metaphors of the โ€˜gut instinctโ€™ and โ€˜heartfelt feelingsโ€™ but instead are really sophisticated processors. Now, itโ€™s not rationalโ€”meaning itโ€™s not a logical thing.โ€

He further states that โ€œit is a very important way in which our whole being is processing information, and often this source of bodily wisdom is very useful when contemplating an organizationโ€™s direction. There are related areas of the prefrontal brain that communicate rapidly with each other, assessing โ€œShould I go toward or move away from this thing in front of me?โ€ All of these prefrontal areas work together in decision-making. When leaders say they listened to their guts, theyโ€™re really saying, โ€œI donโ€™t just base my decisions on logic; I actually use my whole self, which includes my gut and my heartfelt sense of reasoning.โ€

Theyโ€™re not just responding to their gut feeling, but theyโ€™re using their gut to give them an ultimate summation of where they should go. The same can be extrapolated to any living human beingโ€™s decision-making process- who he wants to go along with or who he trusts!

Who will win?

The windsock is clearly pointing towards victory for the BJP under the leadership of PM Modi.

He has not only positively influenced the heads of the people by giving a huge push towards development but has also won the hearts by resurrecting the culture and heritage. The national pride, self-esteem, dignity and cultural renaissance is a heady mix which would not be an easy task to convert to an absolute number and to put on a spreadsheet.โ€™

Therefore predicting โ€˜kitnee seatain ayengiโ€™ is very difficult. Yet heart will be the major factor.

โ€˜jisne dil jeet liyaโ€™ wo he Sikandar.โ€‹

โ€œThe best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heartโ€
โ€• Helen Keller

There is a tide in the affairs of men,ย which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.

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