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Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar slaps party worker for putting his hand around Shivakumar’s shoulder during campaigning, video goes viral

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Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar slaps party worker for putting his hand around Shivakumar’s shoulder during campaigning, video goes viral

During his campaign trail, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar slapped a party worker in Haveri, Karnataka, sparking a fresh controversy. The incident was caught on camera in which the Karnataka CM could be seen hitting a party worker after he put his hands around his shoulder trying to pose for a picture. After the video went viral, BJP slammed the leader for his action.

As per the information received, the worker in the video is a Congress Municipal member Allauddin Maniar. 

The incident reportedly took place when Shivakumar was campaigning for Congress Lok Sabha candidate Vinoda Asooti in Savanur town. In the viral video, he appears to be exiting a vehicle which is surrounded by a crowd of party workers. Subsequently, a Congress worker attempts to put his hands around Shivakumar’s shoulders, prompting the latter to slap him. After the Police officials intervened, Shivakumar walked away.

BJP leaders launched a scathing attack on the Congress leader asserting that this was not the first time when Shivakumar assaulted his party workers. 

BJP leader and Head of the party’s IT cell, Amit Malviya condemned the incident. Sharing the video, he criticised Shivakumar’s actions and highlighted previous instances where Shivakumar allegedly assaulted Congress workers. 

Taking to X, he wrote, “Karnataka’s DCM, DK Shivakumar, slaps Congress Municipal Member Allauddin Maniar, while campaigning in Savanur town of Haveri. This is not the first time DK has assaulted a Congress worker. His crime? He happened to put his hands on DK Shivakumar’s shoulder, when the latter stepped out of the car.” 

He added, “I wonder why do Congress workers even want to work for the Congress? Their leaders slap them, humiliate them, don’t give them tickets to contest (all of them are cornered by family members)… Is it for the corruption money they make on the side? No self-respect?” 

Additionally, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla slammed the grand old party claiming that the reason for these incidents is the “Nawabi mindset of Congress”. 

He wrote, “First Congress’ Jeevan Reddy slaps an elderly woman! Now DK Shivkumar slaps a congress worker. Nawabi mindset of Congress. Congress ki pehchaan – janta aur worker ka apman. Imagine if they are like this before elections what will they do after! Threaten voters, Abuse them, Beat them. Muhabbat Ki dukaan !!?? ECI pls act.” 

Earlier, T. Jeevan Reddy, a senior Congress leader and candidate from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, sparked controversy when a video surfaced showing him slapping a woman during campaigning in a village within the Armur Assembly segment.

Jeevan Reddy reportedly slapped a woman, a laborer under the rural employment guarantee scheme, after she stated her intention to vote for the ‘flower’ symbol in the May 13 election. The BJP’s symbol is the lotus, a flower.

Hamas Megaphones would not have freedom of expression: Netanyahu govt shuts down Al Jazeera in Israel, issues orders to close offices and confiscate equipment  

OpIndia Staff
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Hamas Megaphones would not have freedom of expression: Netanyahu govt shuts down Al Jazeera in Israel, issues orders to close offices and confiscate equipment  

On Sunday (5th May), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government authorised the shutdown of Al Jazeera News Networks’ operations in the Jewish nation-state. This comes after his cabinet unanimously authorised the closure of Al Jazeera’s operations in line with a law passed by the Knesset in April. It allowed the government temporary closure of foreign media outlets deemed to be harming national security. According to Reuters, the Israeli cabinet asserted that the Qatari television network “threatened national security”. 

The cabinet approved the decision in line with a law passed in April by the Knesset, allowing the government to temporarily shut down Al Jazeera in Israel. The so-called Al Jazeera law allowed the govt to prevent foreign news networks from operating in Israel if they are deemed by the security services to be harming national security. After the law was passed, PM Netanyahu had said that Qatar-funded Al Jazeera will no longer be allowed to broadcast from Israel.

Following the government decision, PM Netanyahu and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi released a joint press release. In the press release, Netanyahu described the Qatari-funded news channel as a mouthpiece of Hamas.  

He said, “Al Jazeera’s journalists have harmed Israeli security and incited against IDF soldiers. The time has come to eject Hamas’s mouthpiece from our country.” Taking to X, he wrote in Hebrew, “The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel.”

Following the cabinet decision, Minister Shlomo Karhi signed four orders implementing the ban and said that “megaphones for Hamas” would not have freedom of expression in Israel.

The Communications Minister signed four orders to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations

As per the first order, Al Jazeera’s offices in West and East Jerusalem will now be closed down. A separate order instructed television providers to stop broadcasting the Al Jazeera channel. The third order instructed that the channel’s broadcast equipment, including cell phones, except those for personal use should be confiscated. 

Additionally, Al Jazeera’s workstations, cameras, microphones, servers, laptops, external hard drives, video compression equipment, and wireless broadcast equipment will also be confiscated as per this order.  

The fourth order instructed television, cell phone, and internet providers to block access to Al Jazeera’s English and Arabic language websites.

After signing the orders, Karhi said, “Too much time has passed and there have been too many unnecessary legal hurdles in order to finally stop the well-oiled incitement machine of Al Jazeera, which harms the security of the state.” 

He added, “We will act immediately against those who use freedom of the press to harm Israeli security and IDF troops, and incite to terrorism at a time of war.”

Speaking to Reuters, the head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Walid Omary described the Israel government’s decision as “dangerous” and motivated by political rather than professional considerations. Omary added that the network’s legal team was preparing a response.

The legal debate and politics

The vote to close Al Jazeera was postponed on Thursday. The National Unity party which boycotted the Sunday’s vote, claimed that the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet (Intelligence agencies in Israel) expressed concerns that shutting down the Qatari-backed channel could negatively impact the hostage negotiations with Hamas terrorists. 

While the vote in the cabinet was unanimous, the National Unity Party, led by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, had boycotted it. After the decision was approved, the party claimed it supported the measure but expressed concern that the timing could harm the hostage negotiations.

Economy Minister Nir Barkat described the Qatari network as “the biggest engine of antisemitism in the world,” and welcomed the decision.

Meanwhile, an order to close a foreign news channel must undergo judicial review by the president of a district court within 24 hours. The court then has three days to determine whether the order will be enacted. According to the temporary law passed in April, foreign media networks can be closed for a 45-day period, which can then be renewed. It was passed as a temporary law and is set to expire on 31st July or earlier, if the government lifts the declaration of an emergency situation.

According to The Times of Israel, the House of Representatives in Israel, Knesset, passed a law on 1st April that gave the government temporary powers to prevent foreign news networks from operating in Israel. The government can ban the channel if it believes its presence in the country harms national security. The law was passed 71 to 10 in its second and third readings. 

Following the general vote, Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi said the channel would be closed soon. 

In line with the legal requirement, the Israeli Minister asserted on Sunday (5th May) that the decision was made “after supporting position papers were received and the prime minister was convinced, in accordance with the law” in reference to the law’s requirements that the security services issue professional opinions that the outlet in question poses a threat to national security.

British actor Bernard Hill, who played King Theoden in ‘Lord of the Rings’ and Captain Smith in ‘Titanic’, passes away

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British actor Bernard Hill, who played King Theoden in ‘Lord of the Rings’ and Captain Smith in ‘Titanic’, passes away

Bernard Hill, the esteemed British actor whose compelling performances graced some of the most iconic films of recent decades, including ‘Titanic’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, has died at the age of 79.

Actor and singer Barbara Dickson confirmed the news on X by sharing a black and white picture of herself with the late actor and wrote, “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975. A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x #bernardhill”.

Born in Manchester, England, Hill rose to prominence with his portrayal of Yosser Hughes in the acclaimed BBC TV drama ‘Boys from the Blackstuff.’

His depiction of Hughes, a proud yet desperate man grappling with unemployment in ‘Liverpool’ during the early 1980s, earned him widespread recognition for his exceptional acting skills.

However, it was Hill’s roles in two monumental blockbusters that solidified his status as a household name.

In James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ (1997), he portrayed Captain Edward Smith, the stoic yet tragic commander of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. His performance added depth to the historical figure, capturing both the nobility and the tragic oversight of the captain.

Similarly, in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, Hill portrayed King Theoden of Rohan. His portrayal of the manipulated monarch’s transformation into a courageous leader resonated with audiences, particularly in memorable battle scenes like the Battle of Helm’s Deep.

Throughout his career, Hill displayed versatility across various genres and platforms, showcasing his dedication to the craft of acting.

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

Uttar Pradesh: Tahir Ali, his associate gang rape girl in forest till she lost consciousness, gets shot in leg during encounter with police, hunt on for other accused

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Tahir Ali, his associate gang rape girl in forest till she lost consciousness, gets shot in leg during encounter with police, hunt on for other accused

An encounter between the police and miscreants took place on the morning of 4th May in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district in which a man named Tahir Ali was shot in the leg. He has been arrested and sent to jail after medical treatment. An illegal pistol and cartridges have been recovered from him. He is a history-sheeter and has a total of 13 cases against him. He and his accomplice raped a 20-year-old girl on 2nd May. She fainted due to the brutal sexual assault and sought help from the villagers in her naked condition. Now, the authorities are searching for the other man.

The case pertains to the Sahjanwa police station neighbourhood of Gorakhpur district. This case belongs to the Sahjanwa police station area of Gorakhpur district. A complaint was submitted here on 3rd May by the father of the victim who is originally from Jiyanpur, Azamgarh. He stated that a day earlier his daughter had left home at 7 pm without telling anyone following a disagreement with her family. He searched for her all night among their relatives and friends. The next morning he came to know that she was in the Sahjanwa region and immediately reached there.

She narrated her entire ordeal after seeing her father. She recounted that she met a young man when she walked out of her residence out of fury. He seduced her and brought her to Gorakhpur. Tahir Ali had reportedly tricked her in the name of securing a job in Gorakhpur. On the night of 2nd May, he took her to a forest in Sahjanwa and he had also called one of his friends there. Both of them then proceeded to sexually violate her throughout the night. They abused her on a riverside within the forested area after administering an intoxicating substance.

Later, the person who brought the young woman from Azamgarh to Gorakhpur was identified as Tahir Ali. According to media reports, Tahir Ali and another accused scratched her entire body during the night. She passed out in the forest from the repeated rape after which they left her unconscious and absconded from there. The girl found herself in a nude state when she regained consciousness and went to a nearby hamlet in the same condition where she was helped by the villagers. She was dressed and the matter was reported to the police.

The girl’s father was notified by the authorities and they registered a First Information Report under Section 376(D) for gang-rape of the Indian Penal Code on his complaint. Tahir Ali was recognized as the primary offender case by the cops who launched a search operation for him on 4th May. His location was discovered to be in Ranukhor village and the police surrounded him. He started firing after seeing the cops and one of the retaliatory shots struck his leg.

The police apprehended the injured Tahir Ali. He was admitted to the hospital and thrown behind bars afterwards. Tahir Ali is a native of Khalilabad of Sant Kabirnagar district. A hunt is on for the second culprit. According to the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gorakhpur, the police are investigating the matter and taking necessary action. Police seized a .315 bore pistol, three cartridge shells and one cartridge from his possession. OpIndia has a copy of the complaint.

Congress leader BL Mungekar spreads fake news that President Murmu was present when PM Modi filed nomination, claims someone else tweeted it after the lie was caught

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader BL Mungekar spreads fake news that President Murmu was present when PM Modi filed nomination, claims someone else tweeted it after the lie was caught

Congress leader and Former Rajya Sabha MP BL Mungekar has landed himself in trouble for sharing fake news. Notably, in a post on X (Twitter) which has now been deleted, the Congress leader claimed that President Droupadi Murmu was present when Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. 

In the post peddling falsehoods, Mungekar had attacked the President claiming that by joining PM Modi’s nominations, she has brought disgrace to her position. He also urged ECI to take action in this matter. He posted a photograph, where PM Modi is seen handing over nomination papers to an officer, accompanied by Draupadi Murmu and a large number of NDA leaders.

(Congress leader later deleted the post that made false claims that President Murmu was present when PM Modi filed his nomination papers)

Bhalchandra Laxman Mungekar wrote in the tweet, “While filing the election nomination form of Shri Narendra Modi, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu’s presence is a gross violation of the Election Code of Conduct. She too has brought a disgrace to her position. The Election Commission of India must take an appropriate action in the matter.”

However, the claims that President Murmu joined PM Modi when he filed his nomination papers are false and fake news. The picture and the incident that is being used to peddle the allegations date back to June 2022 when NDA leaders accompanied their candidate Droupadi Murmu to file her nomination papers for elections for the post of India’s President. Incidentally, Congress had opposed NDA pick Murmu’s candidature and had fielded Yashwant Sinha. 

On 24 June 2022, PM Modi shared several pictures from filing the nomination, one of which was part of the Congress leader’s post peddling fake news. 

Hours after sharing the false claims, Congress leader Mungekar claimed that someone else made the post from his handle and also extended an apology. 

Claiming that he has gained access to his Twitter handle, Mungekar wrote, “I’ve just got back the access to my Twitter account. A tweet with misinformation was published by someone from my handle. Sincere apologies.” With this, he gave the familiar excuse of ‘my account was hacked / my nephew tweeted that’ after he was caught peddling fake news.

It is notable that, PM Modi has not filed his nomination papers from his Varanasi constituency or any other constituency till now. In fact, nominations for the constituency have not even started. Varanasi will vote in the last and seventh phase of the polls on 1 June. The Election Commission will issue the gazette notification for the 7th phase elections on 7 May, and only after that, the candidates will be able to file their nominations for the 57 constituencies in the last phase, including Varanasi. As per reports, PM Modi is slated to file his nomination from Varanasi on 14th May, the last date for filing nominations.

Apart from being a Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader, Mungekar is an Economist who has previously served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. He was also a member of the Planning Commission of India. 

The development comes at a time when Congress leaders, its IT cell, and its ecosystem are embroiled in legal troubles for sharing a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and peddling fake news about BJP abolishing SC, ST, and OBC reservation if voted to power. While a few X handles have been withheld in India for sharing the fake video, Police have also arrested several Congress leaders and functionaries of its IT cell. 

‘Attack on IAF convoy stuntbaazi, pre-planned to help BJP’: Former Punjab CM and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi makes controversial remark

OpIndia Staff
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‘Attack on IAF convoy stuntbaazi, pre-planned to help BJP’: Former Punjab CM and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi makes controversial remark

On Sunday (5th May), Congress leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi stoked a fresh controversy after he alleged that the recent terror attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy was a pre-election stunt by the BJP. Notably, the terror attack on an IAF convoy unfolded yesterday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district and the security forces are carrying out a manhunt to neutralise the terrorists. 

Claiming that these are not terror attacks, the Congress leader described it as “Stuntbaazi” alleging that the BJP orchestrated such incidents to sway elections. He further alleged that such attacks are premeditated and executed to bolster the electoral prospects of the BJP. 

Speaking with reporters in Jalandhar, Punjab, Channi said, “This is stuntbaazi. When elections come, such stunts are done to make the BJP win. These are pre-planned attacks, there is no truth in them…” 

Similar attacks happened during the last general elections, Channi added, in an apparent reference to the falsehoods and opposition propaganda that the BJP conspired Pulwama terrorist attack to win elections in 2019. He went further to allege that the BJP knows how to kill people and then play politics on these killings.

Additionally, the Former Punjab CM also alleged that the BJP wants to crush farmers to crush Punjab.

It is pertinent to note that Channi’s remarks are in stark contrast to those of Congress President Malikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.  

Yesterday, Kharge condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district and extended condolences over the death of one IAF personnel who lost his life in the attack. 

Taking to X, Kharge wrote, “Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism.” 

Condemning the terrorist attack, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The cowardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad. I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his bereaved family. I hope that the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible.” 

The terror attack on the IAF convoy

On Saturday evening (4th May), terrorists ambushed the convoy of the Indian Air Force at Sanai village in Surankote in Poonch district. One IAF personnel lost his life while four sustained injuries in the attack. According to the officials, one of the four personnel who were injured in the attack is said to be in critical condition, while the remaining three are stable. 


Meanwhile, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a joint operation and are carrying out a massive search and cordon operation to locate the terrorists involved in the attack. As per reports, terrorists are believed to have fled into a forest after the attack.

Pulwama terror attack

On February 14, 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to Srinagar via National Highway 44 came under a suicide bombing attack in  Pulwama. 22-year-old Adil Ahmad Dar, a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist from Kakapora in Jammu and Kashmir, rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying the CRPF personnel. 40 of our jawans were killed in action in that cowardly terror attack.

The terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. They also posted a video of the Islamic terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar, who had joined the outfit a year before. In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Pakistan was responsible for assisting terrorist attacks and that JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar had been “given the freedom to target India.”

However, the ghastly terror attack was not spared by certain opposition leaders and political parties who tried to give a clean chit to Pakistan and the terrorists involved.

The opposition leaders tried to pin the blame on Narendra Modi instead and tried to spin conspiracy theories around the attack. 

On 27th August 2023, the Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray alleged that the BJP conspired Pulwama terror attack to win the Lok Sabha elections 2019 in a rally in Hingoli in Maharashtra. 

Earlier, on 21st July 2023, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tried to pass off the 2019  Pulwama terror attack as a ‘staged incident’ at her Martyr’s Day rally at Esplanade in Kolkata.

In her speech, Banerjee claimed, “I will tell the students and the youth that the BJP is planning to pull off staged events such as Pulwama (terror attack).” 

“They are planning to create fake, staged videos like in movies. They will stage dramas, shoot videos, and defame Bengal. This is their conspiracy,” she brazened it out.

Radhika Khera resigns from Congress, says she was locked in a room after Ayodhya visit: Read about the mistreatment and denial of justice to her

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Radhika Khera resigns from Congress, says she was locked in a room after Ayodhya visit: Read about the mistreatment and denial of justice to her

In another blow to Congress amid Lok Sabha elections, party leader Radhika Khera resigned from the primary membership of the party after she alleged mistreatment by party members.

In her letter to the AICC, the Congress leader alleged that justice was denied to her after the mistreatment by party members as she visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

“It is an established truth since ancient times that those who support religion have been opposed. Examples of this range from Hiranyakashipu to Ravana and Kansa. At present, some people are opposing those who take the name of Lord Shri Ram in the same way. For every Hindu, the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram holds great significance with its sacredness and while every Hindu considers his life successful just by seeing Ram Lalla, some people are opposing it.

The party to which I have given more than 22 years of my life, where I worked with full honesty from NSUI to AICC’s media department, today I have to face such intense opposition because I couldn’t stop myself from visiting Ram Lalla in Ayodhya,” she said in her letter.

“The opposition to this noble work of mine reached such a level that justice was denied to me in the incident that happened to me in the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress office. I have always fought for the justice of others from every platform, but when it came to my justice, I found myself defeated in the party. Being a devotee of Lord Shri Ram and a woman, I am deeply hurt,” the Congress leader added.

She further said that she has taken this step after justice was denied to her even after informing all the top leaders.

“I have taken this step today as I am hurt by the fact that I did not get justice even after informing all the top leaders,” Khera said.

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

75 delegates from election management bodies of 23 countries: Largest ever global delegation to witness India’s general elections

OpIndia Staff
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75 delegates from election management bodies of 23 countries: Largest ever global delegation to witness India’s general elections

75 international delegates from election management bodies (EMBs) of 23 countries have arrived in India to witness the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Election Commission of India invited them to India to foster a culture of transparency and reiterate its commitment to high standards of electoral practices amidst the democratic nations, CEC Rajiv Kumar said. Additionally, media representatives from Bhutan and Israel have also arrived.

The delegates will witness the world’s largest election as part of the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP), which was inaugurated in Delhi on Sunday in the presence of CEC Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. The program seeks to familiarise foreign Election Management Bodies (EMBs) with the nuances of India’s electoral system as well as the best practices used by the largest democracy in the world. Among the 75 delegates, over ten are chairmen and the chief equivalent of chief election commissioners of the different countries.

“This is in line with our established policy of disclosing, working from the position of strength that we have nothing to hide. So we are inviting them,” Chief Election Commissioner Kumar said.

Sharing details of the event, the Election Commission posted on Twitter, “CEC Rajiv Kumar addresses over 75 international delegates from 23 EMBs at the inaugural session of International Election Visitors Prog held today at New Delhi. Delegates given an overview of various facets of gigantic election exercise in world’s largest democracy!”

The 23 countries from where the delegates have come are Bhutan, Mongolia, Australia, Madagascar, Fiji, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Moldova, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cambodia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chile, Uzbekistan, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Namibia. The delegates will visit 6 states to witness first-hand the conduct of Indian elections in the coming phase, the third phase.

The delegates will split into groups to visit six states—Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh to observe polls and related preparedness in various constituencies. The programme will end on the 9th of May, 2024. The program will familiarise foreign EMB delegates with the nuances of India’s electoral system as well as the best practices in Indian election.

CEC Kumar said that more delegates may visit during the subsequent phases of the elections.

Rajiv Kumar while addressing the delegates, remarked that the contribution of the Indian electoral space and work done by the Election Commission of India, holds a significant portion of the world democratic space.  In terms of process and capacity it generates, what can be legitimately called, ‘democratic surpluses’ is of a huge significance in the otherwise growing concerns of shrinkage of or decline of democratic spaces worldwide.

Kumar further said that the Indian elections space is unique, as neither electoral registration is compulsory nor voting is mandatory.  Therefore, the ECI is required to operate in an entirely persuasive space, inviting the citizens to volunteer to become part of electoral roll and, thereafter, through systematic voter awareness programme, to motivate them to exercise their franchise.  He said “It would be axiomatic to say that the credibility of the processes that we undertake is validated through the sheer turnout at elections and the near saturation of electoral rolls in terms of Elector-population ratio.”

Commenting on the scale of the electoral exercise in India, he said that a 970 million strong electorate will be welcomed by over 15 million polling personnel at over 1 million Polling Stations spread across the country. Shri Kumar added that diversity of the nation’s electorate can be witnessed in its full expression by the visiting delegates at the Polling Stations. He added that India is a country of festivals and invited the delegates to experience the festival of democracy first-hand.

On the sidelines of the event, the Commission also held bilateral interactions with the Chief Election Commissioners of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal along with their delegation.

Earlier in the day, delegates were briefed on various aspects of Indian General Elections 2024 including EVM-VVPAT, IT initiatives, role of media and social media. The briefing session chaired by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma included an overview of Elections by R.K. Gupta, Deputy Election Commissioner followed by a presentation on EVM-VVPAT by Nitesh Kumar, Sr. Deputy Election Commissioner. A presentation on the IT Initiatives of the ECI by eeta Verma, Director General (IT) and Media and social media by Anuj Chandak, Joint Director (Media) was part of the session.

Maharashtra: 72-year-old shopkeeper Qamar Ansari rapes 9-year-old minor after luring her with a chocolate, threatens to kill her parents if she tells anyone

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: 72-year-old shopkeeper Qamar Ansari rapes 9-year-old minor after luring her with a chocolate, threatens to kill her parents if she tells anyone

On 30th April, a 72-year-old man identified as Qamar Ansari raped a 9-year-old minor in Thane, Maharashtra. As per reports, Ansari runs a bakery shop. The victim visited the shop to buy some items. Ansari lured the little girl in the name of giving chocolate and raped her. An FIR has been registered and Ansari has been arrested by the police. The incident took place in the Mahatma Phule Chowk Police Station Area in Thane.

Qamar Ansari has run the bakery for a very long time. On 30th April, a 9-year-old minor girl came to his shop to buy milk. Reportedly, Ansari first engaged her in conversation and then lured her in the name of giving her a chocolate. He took her inside the shop where she was raped. No one else was present at the shop at the time of the incident.

After raping the minor, Ansari gave her Rs 10 to keep her mouth shut and threatened to kill her parents if she tells anyone. When the girl returned home, she narrated the whole incident to her parents. The child’s 42-year-old mother took her to the police station, filed a complaint, and demanded strict action against Ansari. An FIR was registered in the matter on 1st May and Ansari was arrested.

Inspector Shailesh Salvi spoke to the media and confirmed the incident. He said that the accused Ansari has been booked under Sections 376, 376A, 376B, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act. He was presented at the court where Ansari was sent to a two-day police remand. Later, he was sent to jail. The victim was sent for medical and counselling. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar uses SM Mushrif’s books to justify his controversial comment on Karkare’s death, read how Mushrif has been defending Islamists through his books

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar uses SM Mushrif’s books to justify his controversial comment on Karkare’s death, read how Mushrif has been defending Islamists through his books

On 4th May, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Assembly, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that the bullet that killed IPS officer Hemant Karkare was not fired by Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab but from the weapon of an ‘RSS-linked’ police officer. Karkare was one of the police officials who lost their lives during the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008. 

After facing massive backlash for his allegations, Congress leader Wadettiwar told reporters that he made the contentious remarks based on the book written by SM Mushrif. He said, “Those are not my words, I just said what was written in the book by SM Mushrif. Every information was there about the bullet by which Hemant Karkare was shot, it was not the bullet of terrorists…”

“Brahminists bombed, Muslims hanged”: SM Mushrif authored books to absolve Pakistani terrorists pinning the blame on ‘Brahminists’ for the terror attack

It is pertinent to note that SM Mushrif is a controversial former Inspector General of Police (IGP). He wrote a book titled ‘Who killed Karkare? The Real Face of Terrorism in India’, claiming that the then ATS chief Hemant Karkare was killed by “Hindu radicals”, and not the Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai on 26 November 2008 after taking a boat from Karachi. Shamsuddin Mushrif had once claimed that ‘26/11 was planned to kill Hemant Karkare‘ but later issued a clarification that the Cama attack was planned to kill Hemant Karkare. 

(Media headlines stating that SM Mushrif had alleged that the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 was planned to kill Hemant Karkare)
(SM Mushrif later clarified that the Cama attack, one of the places Pakistani terrorists attacked, was planned to kill the then ATS Chief, stressing that earlier headline by the portal was “misleading” and “damaging”)

According to SM Mushrif, Muslim terrorism in India is a figment of imagination, a facade created by the Intelligence Bureau to cover up the ‘real terrorism’ in the country perpetrated by Brahminists to establish Brahminist hegemony. He went further to allege that RSS is ‘India’s number 1 terrorist organisation’. He also wants that the secularists of the country should approach the Supreme Court and challenge the UAPA which is used against terrorists, in other heinous crimes as well as anti-national activities.

In his other book Brahminists Bombed, Muslims Hanged, Mushrif claimed that Muslims were framed for bomb blasts done by ‘Brahminists’. SM Mushrif went to the extent of implying that Muslims were wrongly blamed for the July 2006 Mumbai local train blasts, which killed 187 people, and by extension, that those blasts were done by ‘Brahminists’ since the title of his book was ‘Brahminists bombed, Muslims hanged’. He had said that 13 Muslims were arrested for the July 2006 Mumbai blasts but the trial court did not give them a chance to present their side. 

Mushrif implied the same in the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune when a little-known jihadi organisation had claimed responsibility for the same. Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist Mohammed Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal, a native of Bhatkal in Karnataka, was arrested on the India-Nepal border in August 2013. Currently, a trial against him is ongoing before a special court in Pune in the German Bakery blast case. 

(Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, Image Source – OpIndia Hindi)

Additionally, in December 2016, a special court had awarded a death sentence to Yasin Bhatkal, Shaikh, and three other IM terrorists in the Hyderabad twin blast case.

(Media report and details about the German Bakery blast case, excerpt from Indian Express article)

SM Mushrif not only defended the Islamist accused in the case alleging that he was wrongly framed, but also he went on to imply that Brahminists carried out the blasts. 

Further, Mushrif directly alleged that the 2014 Pharaskhana bomb blast was done by Hindu radicals and not Islamists. This claim was strongly refuted by the Investigating Officer in the case, who called Mushrif’s allegations ‘baseless’ and said that no innocents were framed and the correct procedure was followed in the investigation.

In July 2023, the Bombay High Court directed a Pune special court to timely decide on a plea filed by a lawyer Tosif Shaikh seeking a reinvestigation into the Faraskhana bomb blast case, which was closed after all the accused were killed in police encounters.

(Details about the German Bakery blast case, excerpt from Indian Express article)

It is pertinent to note that in 2018, a decade after the Mumbai terror attack, Bombay HC had refused to order a probe into former ATS chief Karkare’s death and junked a petition alleging that his killing during the 26/11 terror attack was a conspiracy hatched by “Right Wing extremists”. Incidentally, the PIL relied on S M Mushrif’s book ‘Who Killed Karkare’. Additionally, he was also summoned by the Bombay High Court in 2010 in connection for his propaganda book.

We should accept that Hindu organisations carry out bomb blasts: Retired Justice Abhay Thipsay who joined Congress after meeting Rahul Gandhi

Incidentally, Retired judge Abhay Thipsay who joined the Congress party in 2018 after his retirement, launched SM Mushrif’s propaganda book titled: “Brahminists bombed, Muslims hanged” in Pune on 13th August 2019. 

Retired Justice Thipsay was the same judge who convicted 9 out of the 17 accused in the Best Bakery case, the Supreme Court had later directed a re-trial in the case and some of the individuals convicted by Justice Thipsay were later acquitted as they were framed based on the testimony of only one witness, Zahira Sheikh, who changed her statements multiple times.  

Congress leader Thipsay claimed that the Hindus carried out the 2008 Malegaon blasts despite the fact that nothing has been proven in this case yet and it is in the trial phase. Furthermore, Islamic radicals were initially suspected to have carried out the 2008 blasts. 

(Islamists were initially found accused in the case but they were allowed to go absconding to device Saffron terror theory, Excerpt from Indian Express article)

Congress leader Thipsay further ranted that we should accept that Hindu organisations carry out bomb blasts.

With the latest contentious remarks, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has relaunched the boogie that furthers the ‘26/11 done by Hindus’ conspiracy theory devised by Pakistan. It is pertinent to note that the concocted theory was done and dusted when terrorist Ajmal Kasab and others responsible for the dastardly terror attack were delivered Justice after following due process of Indian Law. The same modus operandi of terrorists using fake identities of Hindus to give rebirth to the bogie of Hindu/Saffron terror has been exposed by the security agencies after busting several terror modules.

Furthermore, the propaganda book by SM Mushrif based on which the Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar relaunched the “RSS ki Sazish” conspiracy theory, was junked by the courts in the past. 

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