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‘Hindus targeted with impunity’: BJP says homes and religious places attacked in West Bengal’s Murshidabad, party shares video

OpIndia Staff
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‘Hindus targeted with impunity’: BJP says homes and religious places attacked in West Bengal’s Murshidabad, party shares video

On Saturday (13th April), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari informed that miscreants vandalised religious places in Maujampur and Mirzapur in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

While taking to X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “They are even targeting homes of innocent people and carrying out unabated destruction. The power supply has been disconnected to aid the devastation.”

Suvendu Adhikari also sought the urgent intervention of the Election Commission, the Assistant Director General of Police (Law and Order) and the Chief Secretary. He requested them to stop the vandalism and restore normalcy in the area.

He had also posted a video of the incident. On Sunday (April 14) morning, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya said, “Yesterday, massive riots erupted at Maujampur and Mirzapur, under Beldanga Police Station, in Bengal’s Murshidabad district.”

“People’s homes and religious places were vandalised. All this is happening under the watch of Mamata Banerjee, also the Home Minister of West Bengal,” he pointed out.

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform that Hindus were being targeted with impunity and sought help from the Election Commission.

She wrote, “Unacceptable! Rampant destruction of Religious Places & homes in Maujampur & Mirzapur, Murshidabad, reflects the failure of Mamata Banerjee’s TMC regime. Hindus targeted with impunity. Immediate intervention needed to safeguard lives & restore order.”

The official X handle of the Bengal unit of BJP also posted, “Immediate action is critical! Religious Places & homes in Maujampur & Mirzapur, Murshidabad, are under attack. Power supply deliberately cut to escalate the devastation.”

“Hindus targeted in West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee’s regime,” it added.

While seeking intervention from the Election Commission and West Bengal police, the BJP said, “Restoration of normalcy is imperative. The safety of citizens should be the top priority.”

In March this year, OpIndia reported about 5 incidents of attacks on BJP workers, carried out by goons associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress party.

Agents of candidates allowed to accompany election official team: ECI clarifies after Congress alleged presence of BJP worker during home voting in Bengaluru

OpIndia Staff
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Agents of candidates allowed to accompany election official team: ECI clarifies after Congress alleged presence of BJP worker during home voting in Bengaluru

The Election Commission of India has clarified that agents of all candidates in a constituency can accompany the team of election officials visiting houses of voters for home voting. The clarification came after Bengaluru’s Congress candidate Mansoor Ali Khan complained that a BJP worker accompanied ECI officials during home voting.

As per ECI rules introduced from this Lok Sabha election, voters aged above 85 years and Persons with Disabilities can vote from their homes. Accordingly, voting using postal ballots by such voters have begun. There are over 81 lakh 85+ aged voters and over 90 lakh PwD voters registered across the country. ECI team are visiting the houses of such voters carrying ballot boxes to collect votes on ballot papers.

The Congress candidate filed a complaint with the ECI alleging that a BJP worker named Kiran Naidu accompanied ECI officials to around seven houses during home voting. It was alleged that a revenue inspector who was deputed on election duty brought along a BJP worker while visiting houses of voters for home voting.

Responding to these allegations, the Election Commission of India has clarified that agents of a candidate from recognised political parties can visit the houses of voters along with the ECI officials for home voting.

The spokesperson of the ECI issued the clarification responding to a tweet by Congress supporter Ankit Mayank containing a video showing a ECI team visiting a house for home voting. In the video, some people are seen confronting the ECI team, questioning them over the presence of an alleged BJP agent. The spokesperson of the ECI said that it is already clarified in the Myth vs Reality section of the website of ECI.

The myth says, “Political Party agents cannot accompany polling teams during the process of home voting.”

But the reality is, as per Election Commission website, “Contesting candidates of recognised political parties are provided a list of electors availing home voting facility. As per procedure, all candidates are informed the schedule of the visits of the polling teams, in advance, and if they wish, they can depute representative to accompany polling teams after intimation in Form 10 to Returning Officer.”

Therefore, it is clear that if the candidates of recognised parties want, they can depute an agent to accompany the home voting team, to ensure that there is no wrongdoing in the process. Notably, candidates are allowed to depute their agents in polling booths, EVM strong rooms, and counting centres, which an integral part of the election process to ensure transparency, and to remove any possible doubt about the election process. The agents need sign relevant documents, like seals pun on EVM boxes and strong rooms after they are locked, which is verified when they are opened. This ensures that the boxes and EVMs are not opened before they reach the counting centres. Moreover, agent keep a constant vigil on the strong room where the EVMs are kept till the counting, and the Election Commission makes necessary arrangements for this, including CCTV monitors.

Similar to all these exercises, agents of candidates are also allowed in home voting process. It seems the Congress candidate from Bengaluru was not aware of this procedure, and filed a complaint.

However, the chief electoral officer of Karnataka has clarified that no agent was present while visiting the houses for home voting in Ward 108 of Rajaji Nagar Assembly Constituency of Bengaluru South PC. The CEO posted on X that there were no authorized party agents from any party present, and the person in question is a local and there was no undue influence. The election officer also clarified that secrecy of voting was not violated due to the presence of the person.

“The Home Voting Process is duly informed to all the Political Parties and Candidates and is conducted with utmost transparency,” the Karnataka CEO added.

Unknown gunmen strike again in Pakistan: Amir Sarfaraz alias Tamba who was convicted of killing Sarabjit Singh in jail shot dead in Lahore

OpIndia Staff
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Unknown gunmen strike again in Pakistan: Amir Sarfaraz alias Tamba who was convicted of killing Sarabjit Singh in jail shot dead in Lahore

On Sunday (14th April), unknown gunmen killed Amir Sarfaraz alias Tamba in Lahore Pakistan. Amir Sarfaraz alias Tamba was the man responsible for killing Indian national Sarabjit Singh in the Kot Lakhpat jail of Pakistan in 2013. Two unknown assailants shot Amir Sarfaraz dead in Lahore, as per reports. He was convicted in Sarabjit Singh’s murder. Later, a Lahore court set him free in December 2018.

According to a report by Samaa TV of Pakistan quoting police, the shooting took place in the Ganga Street area of Islampura where two suspects on a motorcycle entered underworld don Tamba’s house and opened fire on him. Police said he was hit by four bullets, shot twice in the chest and twice in the legs.

Amir Sarfaraz’s brother Junaid Sarfaraz said that Tamba was present in the upper storey of the house where he was shot. “One attacker was wearing a helmet and the other was wearing a mask,” he mentioned in the FIR filed.

He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance, but he died in the hospital during the treatment. Hospital sources said he died due to excessive bleeding, confirming that he was hit by four bullets. The death of Aamir Sarfaraz alias Tamba was later confirmed by his family sources.

The family also claimed he had been receiving threats for some time, adding that two unidentified motorcyclists entered the house and opened fire on him.

Police reached the house and cordoned off the area in search of the assailants. A case in the assassination has been registered in Islampura police station on the complaint of his brother Junaid Sarfaraz.

Notably, several terrorists waging war against India have been killed in Pakistan in the last few months in Pakistan. Several criminals and terrorists have been killed by unknown gunmen in Pakistan, creating speculations about the involvement of Indian intelligence agencies. A recent report by the Guardian claimed that the killings were executed on the orders of the Indian govt. However, the govt of India has denied the allegations.

Sarabjit Singh was an Indian national jailed in Pakistan. He was arrested as a suspected Indian spy in Pakistan. Charges of terrorism and snooping were levelled against him. Sarabjit Singh was incarcerated in the Kot Lakhpat jail of Pakistan He was killed in a fight inside this jail in 2013.

Sarabjit Singh was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 1990 on fake charges of carrying out bombings in Lahore and Faisalabad. He was accused of being a spy for India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). However, Singh maintained his innocence throughout the trial and asserted that he was wrongly implicated.

His case went through several legal proceedings over the years, with appeals made by his family and supporters for his release or clemency. There were also claims and counter-claims about his identity, with some suggesting that he was mistaken for another person with a similar name who was involved in the bombings.

Despite international appeals for clemency, including from the Indian government and human rights organisations, Sarabjit Singh was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court in 1991. However, his execution was repeatedly postponed, and his case continued to be a point of contention between India and Pakistan.

In 2013, Sarabjit Singh died in a Pakistani hospital after being attacked by fellow inmates in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat prison. His death sparked outrage in India, with many believing that he was targeted because of his Indian nationality and the contentious relationship between India and Pakistan. Now, unknown gunmen have killed his killer.

TMC MP Sagarika Ghose’s husband Rajdeep Sardesai greeted with Modi-Modi chants in Bengaluru, video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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TMC MP Sagarika Ghose’s husband Rajdeep Sardesai greeted with Modi-Modi chants in Bengaluru, video goes viral

On Sunday (14th April), a clip featuring India Today journalist and husband of TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, Rajdeep Sardesai, circulated on social media. In the viral video, Sardesai is seen surrounded by a crowd of Modi supporters who can be heard greeting him with Modi-Modi chants and slogans of Jai Shri Ram. Sardesai, who has courted controversies in the past for alleged meltdown, ‘heckling’ and ‘clashing’ with Modi supporters, is then seen hastily trying to leave the scene.

Sharing the clip, popular X user, Ankur Singh wrote, “How Bengaluru welcomed @sardesairajdeep.. Rajdeep’s Expression says it all,” with laughing emojis. Incidentally, Sardesai was greeted in the same manner when he visited Karnataka five years ago.

Another popular handle ‘Keh Ke Peheno’ reacted, “Can you feel the pain of Rajdeep Sardesai?”

While the said video has not been uploaded to the official India Today platform or Sardesai’s YouTube channel, the incident captured in the viral video seemingly occurred today morning (14th April) during his slated election coverage, the ‘Election on My Plate’ series in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 

As per the information received, the incident purportedly unfolded near Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore a little after 8 AM. Notably, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya had organised a ‘RUN 4 Namo’ program and the said incident reportedly took place during this event.

Meanwhile, several users said that the recent incident reminded them of the infamous Madison Square episode involving Rajdeep Sardesai.

Regarding the recent incident, an X user wrote, “Bechara Boxer of Madison Square (crying emojis). See the reception he’s got in Bengaluru. Kitna DARD. Just look at his expressions. Ek toh Modi Modi Modi ke naare Upar se Jai Sri Ram. Great job by Rajdeep to control his natural BOXING tendencies.” 

For those unversed, it is alleged that journalist Rajdeep Sardesai suffered a meltdown when he was amongst a crowd of Modi supporters in Madison Square in the United States. It is also alleged that he had a physical altercation with the crowd when he couldn’t bear the pro-Modi and critical remarks against him.  

Sardesai, who claims to champion the cause of ‘Journalism’, has been notorious for launching unhinged tirades against Narendra Modi since the time he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, prompting the latter to congratulate him for “repeatedly abusing Modi” which could secure him a Rajya Sabha seat. 

(Video Source – @rose_k01)

Modi and hosts of poll pundits have pointed out that the easy way to success among the left is to incessantly hurl abuses at PM Modi. 

‘BJP has fielded a prostitute from Mandi to turn parliament into a brothel’: Bihar politician Rudra Pratap Kushwaha attacks Kangana Ranaut with sexist remarks

OpIndia Staff
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‘BJP has fielded a prostitute from Mandi to turn parliament into a brothel’: Bihar politician Rudra Pratap Kushwaha attacks Kangana Ranaut with sexist remarks

Rudra Pratap Kushwaha, known for his frequent controversial remarks, has once again sparked controversy. This time, during the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, he has directed a barrage of criticism towards BJP candidate and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut. His comments not only targeted Ranaut but also took aim at the BJP and the nation’s highest legislative body, the Parliament, likening it to a ‘brothel’. Furthermore, he issued sexist remarks against Kangana Ranaut and called her a prostitute.

Rudra Pratap Kushwaha was speaking to a media person on the nomination of Kangana Ranaut as a BJP candidate from Mandi in a highly objectionable manner. He said, “A prostitute has been given a ticket in Mandi. This BJP is sending such a woman to the Parliament House to fool the backward society and they will open a brothel there in the parliament. They will show such a woman to other MPs and transfer their votes in exchange. These people have a similar history right from the beginning. We will request Modi ji and Shah ji to give Sunny Leone the ministry of women and youth.”

The journalist interviewing him protested how can he use such words for a woman, Rudra Pratap Kushwaha insisted that Kangana Ranaut does not deserve any respect as a woman because of her costumes in movies. When the journalist said that those visuals were from movies, the politician continued to attack Ranaut over her movie dresses. During this, when the journalist said that ‘an FIR will be filed against you’ for such comments, Rudra Pratap said that he was not afraid of the FIR.

Senior journalist Mamta Tripathi took to social media platform X and reacted to this. She wrote, “A ticket has been given to a prostitute from Mandi. These BJP people will open a brothel in the parliament and get the votes by showing such a woman. How is this man still standing on his feet Narendra Modi Sir? Men like Rudrapratap Kushwaha who do not know how to respect women should be taught in their language. You curse them (women) when they are Rajput, you abuse them when they are Brahmins. In the whole country, only nonsense is being talked about women’s safety, sisters and daughters. Every day such ignorant people are inventing new ways to say anything like that.”


Rudra Pratap Kushwaha has previously been in the news earlier also due to his controversial remarks. In one such video, he was talking about killing and chasing away Brahmins. He said, “Now, there will not be any Hindu-Muslim riot in the country. Rather, there will be a backwards versus forwards riot in the country. Rudra Pratap Kushwaha will do it to chase you people away from this land of Bharat. You have made a joke out of it. No Hindu is in danger. No Muslim is in danger. Neither Geeta nor the Quran is in danger. Remove the glasses of religion from your eyes and see. You will find that the entire Hindustan is under threat because of these 2 per cent Brahmins. Chase away these 2 per cent Brahmins and kill them. Muslims are our brothers.”

In another video, he was observed advocating for the expulsion and eradication of Brahmins from the country as a means of running the nation, suggesting it is unnecessary to drive out Muslims.

Rudra Pratap Kushwaha also objected to the triple talaq law for Muslim women. He called PM Modi the son of a Muslim. He also questioned the powers of Lord Shiva. He also showed his hatred for the Ram Mandir. To demean religion, Rudra Pratap Kushwaha says that due to religion, the backward class could not study, and in such a situation, he will work to set this religion on fire.

Kushwaha also questioned the gods and goddesses of Hindus, saying, “These deities including Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, they are all called the masters of the universe; If these people are the masters of the universe, then why were they born in India, not in China and Japan?”

Rudra Pratap Kushwaha is the national president of the Yuva Vichar Manch organisation. He frequently makes statements targeting Brahmins. He has been known to label Dalits supporting Brahmins as illegitimate offspring of Brahmins. Kushwaha suggests that Dalits should regard Muslims as brothers due to the historical significance of the Mughal dynasty. He advocates for the elimination and expulsion of Brahmins. Furthermore, he implies that those who stand by Brahmins lack strength and masculinity.

Empowering India’s youth, schemes for the poor, putting an end to appeasement politics: Here is why the BJP Lok Sabha manifesto is a game changer

Dibakar Dutta
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Empowering India’s youth, schemes for the poor, putting an end to appeasement politics: Here is why the BJP Lok Sabha manifesto is a game changer

On Sunday (14th April), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its 69-page manifesto [pdf] for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled to commence on 19th April this year.

Unlike the manifestos of the Congress party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the BJP laid out a clear vision to take the nation forward on the path of progress and development.

While steering away from appeasement politics, the saffron party emphasised its plans to build large-scale infrastructure and revolutionise manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare.

Support for India’s poor

At the very onset, the BJP promised to continue to provide food security for over 80 crore Indian citizens. On page 11 of its manifesto, it stated, “We have provided free ration to 80+ crore citizens since 2020. We will continue to provide free ration for the next five years under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.”

The party assured to continue its scheme (Ayushman Bharat) of providing free health treatment up to ₹5 lakh to poor families. Additionally, BJP has promised to expand the scheme to cover senior citizens (page 20 of the manifesto) and transgenders (page 34 of the manifesto).

It has also vowed to extend the PM Awas Yojana (affordable housing for all) from the existing 4 crore beneficiaries to all the poor families (garib parivar) who still do not have access to quality housing. (Page 12 of the manifesto).

A special emphasis has also been laid on the ‘Har Ghar Nal se Jal’ Yojana (piped drinking water for all), which aims to provide water to all houses in cities, towns and villages and prevent water wastage.

“We have empowered one crore rural women to become Lakhpati Didis. We will now empower three crore rural women to become Lakhpati Didis,” the BJP said on page 15 of its manifesto.

The party has also promised to create a digital university and provide industry-focused free courses that will help upskill low-income families (Page 59 of the manifesto)

Alleviating the distress of the middle class

“The last 10 years have seen a large number of families join the ranks of the neo-middle class due to a steady increase in the incomes of all citizens. It is our responsibility to help them grow further while giving them enough support to stabilise their standard of living,” Page 13 of the manifesto reads.

BJP has promised to strengthen the RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) Act of 2016 and make the real estate sector further transparent and citizen-friendly. It has assured to help middle-class families realise the dream of owning a house through regulatory reforms and ease of registration and construction.

The saffron party has also vowed to help expand the startup ecosystem to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, promote quality education through the creation of new IITs, AIIMs and IIMS, and use technology to ensure ease of living for middle-class families. (Page 14 of the manifesto)

“We have provided subsidised medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and also established 315 new medical colleges across the country. We will continue to expand these services for our middle-class families to ensure accessible high-quality healthcare services,” the BJP noted.

Empowering the youth of India

In its manifesto, the party has talked in detail about its vision to empower the youth of this country. “We have successfully established Bharat among the top 3 Startup Ecosystems through various interventions ranging from Atal Tinkering Labs, Hackathon, Startup India and Start-Up India Seed Fund,” Page 18 of the manifesto says.

The BJP has promised to ensure funding of startups through the expansion of the ‘Startup India Seed Fund Scheme’ and ‘Startup Credit Guarantee Scheme.’

To support the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s youth, the party has assured to expand financial credit schemes such as the Mudra loan limit (Tarun category) from ₹10 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs (applies to entrepreneurs who have successfully repaid previous loans).

Impetus on Education

The BJP has laid strong emphasis on the National Educational Policy, which was enacted in 2020 to provide quality education to children.

Page 60 of the manifesto reads, “For this, we will strengthen the network of PM SHRI Schools, Ekalavya Schools and other such schools as per NEP to make them world-class. We will work towards a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio from pre-school to secondary level.”

“We will achieve 100% implementation of ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ through the AutomatedPermanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) to store academic qualifications, credit scores and certificates, among others for students from pre-primary to higher education,” it further added.

On Page 57 of the manifesto, it assured to increase the number of AIIMS and medical colleges, besides enhancing the seats for Undergraduate and Postgraduate medical education.

Support for the farmers

The BJP has dedicated four pages of its manifesto (Pages 22-25) to discussing ways to uplift the condition of farmers and revolutionising India’s agricultural sector.

This includes the promise of annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 (PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana), an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for major crops, quicker redressal of grievances about crop insurance, strengthening natural farming and incentivising crop diversification.

The BJP is keen on positioning India as the ‘Nutri-hub of the world’, promoting the cultivation of millets (Shree Anna), expanding irrigation facilities for farmers (PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana), launching Krishi Infrastructure Mission, developing a network of grain storage facilities in rural areas, expanding access to nano urea and ensuring high-yielding seeds.

Strengthening MSMEs and small businesses

On Page 31 of its manifesto, the BJP announced, “We will encourage small traders and MSMEs to adopt ONDC and expand their businesses using the power of technology.”

“We will rejuvenate and reposition Khadi as a national and global brand for sustainable lifestyle and undertake structural reforms to achieve these objectives…We will transform Bharat into the global hub for toy manufacturing, leveraging our skilled workforce and rich cultural heritage to produce innovative and high-quality toys,” it further added.

The party has also promised to simplify access to the GST portal, launch insurance products for small and MSME traders, access to capital and reduction of compliances for such businesses.

“We will launch an initiative to foster balanced regional development across all districts of the country. Brand, promotion and exports of One District One Product (ODOP) products will be encouraged under the initiative,” it said on Page 43 of the manifesto.

Making India a global leader

Contrary to its rival Congress and CPIM, the BJP has laid out its vision to make India a global leader. “We are committed to seeking permanent membership in the UN Security Council to elevate Bharat’s position in global decision making,” reads Page 35 of the manifesto.

It has also assured to lead India in global fight against terrorism and terror financing. “We will continue our efforts to create a consensus among all members of the United Nations on the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism and other such efforts to combat terrorism,” the BJP announced.

“We will build upon the success of the ‘No Money for Terror’ conference to develop better coordination on countering terrorism financing,” it further added. The BJP has also vowed to lead India in global humanitarian assistance, build strategic partnerships and expand diplomatic relations with countries.

To reinforce India’s soft power in the world, the saffron party has reiterated its commitment to promote yoga and Ayurveda to the world. “The role of Bharat’s Digital Public Infrastructure in revolutionising public service delivery is appreciated all over the world. We will work towards sharing this technology with partner countries,” it added (Page 37 of the manifesto).

On Page 40 of its manifesto, the BJP stated that it would strive to make India the 3rd largest economy in the world through the implementation of the right policies, focused execution and meticulous planning.

Preserving India’s rich culture and heritage

In its manifesto, the BJP has also assured to preserve and promote India’s rich culture and heritage. We will relentlessly work towards bringing back Bharatiya idols and artefacts that were taken away illegally from Bharat,” the party stated.

Most importantly, it has vowed to promote the legacy of Lord Ram. “Ramayan is celebrated across the world, particularly in South and South-East Asia. We will launch a global outreach program for documenting and promoting the tangible and intangible legacy of Lord Ram
in all countries. We will celebrate Ramayan Utsav with great fervour across the globe to commemorate the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla,” the BJP announced.

On Page 52 of its manifesto, the party reiterated its commitment towards holistic development of Ayodhya, digitisation of Bharatiya manuscripts and establishment of Bharatiya Sanskriti Kosh.

“We will promote select destinations across Bharat as preferred venues to showcase the richness of Bharatiya weddings, highlighting the vibrant traditions, and supporting cultural exchanges,” the BJP added.

Upholding India’s sovereignty

The saffron party has declared that it will defend the interests of the nation from all threats of terror. “The Surgical Strikes of 2016 and the Air Strikes of 2019 are examples of our dedicated efforts towards countering terrorism. We are committed to defend Bharat’s citizens and interests at home and abroad from all threats of terrorism,” the BJP emphasised (Page 38 of the manifesto).

It has announced to further strengthen the country’s paramilitary forces to counter left-wing extremism. The BJP also said that it will ensure the implementation of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) to ensure justice for citizens.

Page 63 of the manifesto reads, “We will continue our efforts to address the issues in the disturbed areas and remove AFSPA in a phased
manner. We will further work towards resolution of inter-state border disputes amongst Northeastern states through sustained efforts.”

Ensuring social justice

The BJP has reiterated its commitment to confer citizenship to persecuted religious minorities who have fled from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and illegally staying in India on or before 31st December 2014.

“We have taken the historic step of enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and will implement it to confer citizenship to all eligible persons,” reads Page 39 of the manifesto. The party has vowed to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country and ensure social justice.

Page 54 of the manifesto clearly says, “BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time Bharat adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonising them with the modern times.”

Focus on development

On Page 45 of its manifesto, the BJP said that once it is elected to power, the design, manufacturing and installation of the indigenously developed Kavach Train Protection System will be expanded in a mission mode.

“We will strengthen the modern road connectivity ecosystem to 15,000 km of access-controlled highways. We will construct ring roads around major cities to improve mobility and decongest cities,” the party pointed out.

It has also unveiled plans to expand 5G networks, develop 6G technology, connect 2 lakh gram panchayats to BharatNet, make high-speed internet access for all (Page 48 of the manifesto) and position India as South Asia’s leading aviation ecosystem.

On Page 49 of the manifesto, the party stated, “We will achieve energy independence for Bharat by 2047 and reduce petroleum imports through a mix of electric mobility, network of charging stations, renewable energy production and improving energy efficiency.”

Creating a Vikshit Bharat

In its manifesto, the BJP also laid out ambitious plans to realise the dream of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ by 2047. The plans include setting up a committee to turn ‘One Nation, One Election’ into reality (Page 55 of the manifesto).

The party has also highlighted its intention to host the 2036 Olympic Games in India and develop necessary infrastructure to host major sporting events. (Page 61 of the manifesto)

Other promises include the launch of Gaganyaan (human spaceflight mission), the establishment of Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), creation of an Anusandhan Fund with ₹1 lakh crore to promote scientific research.

On page 67 of the manifesto, the party has made it clear that it will increase the share of electricity generation from non-fossil fuel sources and reach net zero emissions by 2070.

BJP is also planning to revitalise the country’s rivers and initiate a National Clean Air Program to reduce air pollution across 131 cities.

Through its manifesto, the party has successfully reached out to all sections of society with a vision to take the country on a path of economic progress and development.

Online ‘Special 26’: Scammers dupe high profile victims while posing as law enforcement officers to extort money

OpIndia Staff
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Online ‘Special 26’: Scammers dupe high profile victims while posing as law enforcement officers to extort money

Two sensational cases of Cybercrime have made headlines in less than a week, causing an alarming concern. Strikingly, a 52-year-old software engineer hailing from Bengaluru recently lost Rs 2.24 crores after he fell prey to cybercrime. As per reports, the scammers had posed as Delhi Customs and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official.

Days earlier, a Bengaluru-based woman lawyer was duped Rs 15 lakh in a similar incident. Reportedly, the scammers posed as CBI officers who made her strip on camera on the pretext of conducting ‘narcotic tests’. They later extorted money from her by threatening to release her private videos.  

Scammers posing as Delhi Customs and NCB officials defrauded Bengaluru Software engineer

According to reports, 52-year-old software engineer Kumaraswamy Sivakumar, who hails from Jakkur, received a call on 18th March. The caller posed himself as an officer from Delhi customs. They alleged that an air parcel addressed to him had been detained at Delhi Airport. It had 16 passports, 58 ATM cards, and 140 grams of Ecstacy tablets and it was sent to Delhi from Malaysia. 

The call was then transferred to another man who introduced himself as an NCB officer and forced Sivakumar to download Skype for further interaction. Later, they demanded money to resolve the fabricated case. Between 18th and 24th March, the victim Sivakumar transferred Rs 2.24 crore in eight installments via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and Immediate Payment Service (IMPS).

He, however, realised that he was cheated on 5th April and consequently went on to file a case in Bengaluru Northeast Cyber Police Station. 

Bengaluru Lawyer defrauded in a ‘FedEx scam’, made to strip for ‘narcotics test’ in over 35-hour call

Previously, a 29-year-old lawyer hailing from Bengaluru, Karnataka became a victim of ‘FedEx’ fraud. FedEx is an international courier giant. In this case, the scammers had posed as CBI officers and made her transfer around Rs 15 lakh. As per reports, the woman was forced to remain on a Skype call for over 35-hour during which she was made to strip on camera in the pretext of conducting a “narcotic test”. 

According to the police, the victim received a call from scammers who claimed that a package in her name containing illegal drugs had been delivered to Thailand. The call escalated into a nearly one-and-a-half-day-long call, during which the scammers recorded her nude and blackmailed her for ransom, threatening to sell the clipping on the dark web. The victim, a lawyer at a private firm, lost Rs 14.57 lakh over the 35-hour call, which lasted from 2:15 PM on April 3 to 1:15 AM on April 5.

Later, the victim female lawyer filed a complaint in this regard at the Bengaluru East division cybercrime police station. 

The victim received a call from the scammer who claimed to be from the customer care of FedEx, an international courier giant. He told her that a parcel in her name had been returned and she had to speak to the customer care executive. 

The person posing as a FedEx executive alleged that the parcel contained five passports, three credit cards, and 140 synthetic narcotics (MDMA) and it was sent from Mumbai to Thailand in her name. 

She was informed that because the package contained narcotics, it had been detained. If she hadn’t ordered it, she was advised to contact the cybercrime team in Mumbai to report identity theft.

In her complaint, she said, “After I confirmed that yes, I wanted to make an identity theft complaint, they transferred my call to the cybercrime team in Mumbai. The cybercrime team asked me to download Skype and enter an email ID to chat with them.” 

Later when she gave them her credentials, “I was then informed that my Aadhaar card was on high alert for human trafficking and drugs. After this, the Skype call was transferred to an alleged senior CBI officer named Abhishek Chauhan where I was asked to switch on the camera and start a conversation,” the complainant added.

The scammer posing as a CBI officer informed her that there was a case of human trafficking, money laundering, and identity theft, she said. 

She told the police, “They kept grilling me about my bank account details such as my existing balance, my annual CTC, my monthly income and my investments. I gave them all the needed information.” 

The scammers forced her to take an oath that she would not disclose any details with anyone until the investigation was completed as this was a ‘highly sensitive case’ and the fabricated case also involved police and politicians. 

They asked her to remain online with the camera on so that they could ensure that she didn’t call or text anyone. In her complaint, the victim said for an entire day, I was watched even during the night. I was asked to keep the camera on and sleep.  

As per the complaint, the scammers forced her to strip and pose on camera on the pretext of conducting ‘narcotic tests’. She added that she was threatened to continue doing it or else she and her family would be arrested in a drug case.

The complaint further states, “The alleged officer later blackmailed me that if I don’t give him Rs 10 lakh by 3 pm on April 5, he will sell her video to multiple people including the dark web.” 

Meanwhile, as per reports, a total of 25 people have been cheated to the tune of roughly Rs 4 crore in Bengaluru Northeast jurisdiction alone since the beginning of April.

These recurrent cases of Cybercrime have brought to the spotlight a growing trend in which scammers have adopted this modus operandi that resembles the online version of the plot shown in the old Bollywood film, ‘Special 26’. A general pattern has been observed in these cyber fraud cases, where scammers pose as law enforcement officers. They extort money from their victims by falsely alleging that the victims or their relatives are in legal trouble and can be saved if the victims release large sums of money to the scammers’ accounts. 

To prevent becoming a victim of cybercrime, it’s crucial for users to refrain from making major decisions ‘one random’ call or interaction with ‘strangers’. Even if the claims seem legitimate, it’s essential to seek assistance from law enforcement and legal professionals. It’s advisable to independently verify any legal documents claimed by individuals over time, rather than relying solely on online interactions.

For example – In instances where a random caller purports to be a law enforcement official, alleging the detention of a family member and demanding ransom for their release, it’s imperative to exercise caution. Rather than hastily succumbing to fabricated claims, it’s prudent to verify the situation by ensuring the physical presence of the purportedly detained relative and seeking confirmation from the appropriate authorities before considering any agreements.

Will not participate in any offensive operations: Biden tells Netanyahu that the US will not support any Israeli counterattack to Iran’s assault

OpIndia Staff
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Will not participate in any offensive operations: Biden tells Netanyahu that the US will not support any Israeli counterattack to Iran’s assault

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has received word from President Joe Biden that the United States will not support or participate in any Israeli counteroffensive against Iran. The two leaders spoke over the phone when the message was delivered to PM Netanyahu. Joe Biden informed that the United States will strongly oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran. The development transpired after Iran unleashed a flurry of ballistic missiles and drones into Israel on 13th April.

A senior White House official revealed that President Biden stated, “Will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran and will not support such operations,” to which the Jewish Prime Minister replied that “he understood.” Joe Biden also hailed Israeli defence against the assault from the Islamic Republic. The White House official reported that the US President also informed his counterpart that the Iranian attack was thwarted by the “joint defensive efforts” of the US, Israel and other nations in the region. “You got a win. Take the win,” Joe Biden expressed during the call.

The President reportedly mentioned, “Tonight is a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability.” A readout from the White House noted that Joe Biden voiced, “Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks, sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” before the Prime Minister.

According to US assessments, nearly every Iranian drone and missile fired into Israel has been destroyed. “No cruise missile made an impact,” the official declared, noting that nothing of “value” was damaged. Joe Biden strongly denounced the strikes carried out by “Iran and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq” in an official statement following his conversation with PM Netanyahu.

White House official release quoted the president, “At my direction, to support the defence of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defence destroyers to the region over the course of the past week. We helped Israel take down nearly all the incoming drones and missiles.” Joe Biden claimed that he reiterated Washington’s “ironclad commitment to the security of Israel” to Netanyahu.

In addition, the President announced that he would “convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack” on 14th April. He claimed, “My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders. And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

Joe Biden met with his security aides to discuss the situation shortly after Iran launched more than 200 missiles and drones into Israel. However, he and the senior advisors raised grave concerns that an “Israeli response to Iran’s attack on Israel would lead to a regional war with catastrophic consequences.”

While Biden has said that the US will not support any offensive against Iran by Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that if Iran attacks Israeli or American forces in the region, US will not hesitate to take defensive measures. He said, “We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel.”

The Israeli military asserted that the “vast majority” of Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted by its troops. It also acknowledged that several “small hits” were detected in southern Israel resulting in minimal damage to infrastructure. “More than 200 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were fired from Iran. Most of the threats were intercepted outside of Israeli airspace,” announced Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

BJP govt will expand Vande Bharat trains to every corner of country, 3 new bullet trains will run in North, South and East India: PM Modi after releasing BJP’s Sankalp Patra

ANI
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BJP govt will expand Vande Bharat trains to every corner of country, 3 new bullet trains will run in North, South and East India: PM Modi after releasing BJP’s Sankalp Patra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday promised that his government will expand Vande Bharat trains to every corner of the country and charted out the government’s plan to expand bullet train services, adding that three new trains will run in north, east and south India.

“BJP will expand Vande Bharat trains to every corner of the country. Three models of Vande Bharat will run in the country – Vande Bharat Sleeper, Vande Bharat Chaircar and Vande Bharat Metro. Today the work of the Ahmedabad Mumbai Bullet Train is going on in full swing and is almost reaching completion. In the same way, one Bullet Train will run in North India, one Bullet Train in South India and one Bullet Train in Eastern India. Survey work for this will also be started soon,” PM Modi said after the announcement of the manifesto, ‘Sankalp Patra’.

Coming down heavily on the corrupt leaders, the Prime Minister said that strict action will continue against the corrupt.

“Now the poor are getting their rights and those who looted the poor are going to jail. Such strict action will continue against the corrupt, this is Modi’s guarantee. In the national interest, the BJP doesn’t walk away from taking ‘bade’ (big) and ‘kade’ (strict) decisions. For us, the country is bigger than the party,” PM Modi said.

“Nari Shakti Vandan Act has now become a law. BJP removed Article 370 and we brought CAA. We will move forward more rapidly following the mantra of Reform-Perform-Transform,” the Prime Minister added.

CAA, passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, and getting the President’s assent the following day, met with protests all across the country. The CAA came into effect on January 10, 2020.

PM Modi said that the ruling party will continue to move forward with the resolve of ‘One Nation, One Election’ and considers implementing the Uniform Civil Code significant for the country.

“We will create the necessary infrastructure and ecosystem for strengthening good governance, digital governance and data governance in the country. We will move ahead with the resolve of The BJP, in the same way, considers implementing the Uniform Civil Code significant for the country,” he said.

UCC is contemplated as a common set of laws for citizens governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, irrespective of religion, sex, gender or caste.

Notably, Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement UCC earlier this year.

He further noted that the BJP will start working on its ‘Sankalp Patra’ immediately after the result of Lok Sabha polls, i.e., June 4.

“Work on BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ will begin immediately after the June 4 results. The government has already started working on the 100-day action plan. The ambition of the people of the country is Modi’s mission. We saw the success of Chandrayaan. Now we will experience the pride of Gaganyaan. We just saw India welcoming the world to the G20 and now we will make all efforts to host the Olympics,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that the BJP will strengthen the foundation of India through three kinds of infrastructure, including social, digital and physical infrastructure.

“BJP is going to strengthen the foundation of India of the 21st century through three kinds of infrastructure – 1) social infrastructure, 2) digital infrastructure, 3) physical infrastructure. We are opening new educational institutions for social infrastructure…Under physical infrastructure, we are modernising highways, railways, airways, and waterways across the country. Under digital infrastructure, we are expanding 5G network, working on 6G and for keeping Industry 4.0 in mind we are building the digital infrastructure,” he said.

The BJP had appointed a manifesto committee headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that met twice to deliberate on its contents after the party had launched multiple exercises, including massive campaigns across the country to seek people’s suggestions before the release of the ‘Sankalp Patra’.

The BJP received over 1.5 million suggestions for its manifesto, including more than 400,000 through the NaMo app and over 1.1 million through videos.

The Lok Sabha polls in India are scheduled to take place from April 19, 2024, to June 1, 2024, to choose the 543 representatives for the 18th Lok Sabha. These elections will be conducted over seven phases, with the outcome being declared on June 4.

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: Maulana Sonu Hafiz arrested for raping a 14-year-old girl in Kanpur, the cleric gave abortion pills to the girl after three months of pregnancy

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Maulana Sonu Hafiz arrested for raping a 14-year-old girl in Kanpur, the cleric gave abortion pills to the girl after three months of pregnancy

On Sunday (14th April), Uttar Pradesh police arrested a cleric named Sonu Hafiz from Kanpur for raping a minor girl. The cleric also gave abortion pills to the victim girl after three months of pregnancy. The victim’s condition worsened due to these abortion drugs and then the girl was taken to hospital for medical treatment. Sonu Hafiz is also known as ‘Maulana‘ among local people. UP Police are probing further in this case.

This case is from the Naubasta police station area of the Kanpur South region. On 13th April, the mother of the 14-year-old minor victim complained to the police station against her neighbour Sonu Hafiz. She said in her complaint that Sonu Hafiz had been following her daughter with ill intentions for a long time. Hafiz often called the girl to his room on some pretext and used to take off all the clothes of the victim and rape her. When the child talked about complaining to her family, the accused threatened her that she would be killed along with her family.

The mother of the victim has said in her complaint that her daughter endured prolonged suffering in silence due to threats from Sonu Hafiz. Throughout this period, the victim became pregnant multiple times as a result of rape. When she told Sonu Hafiz about her pregnancies, he provided her with contraceptive pills.

At the behest of Hafiz, the victim consumed abortion pills, resulting in severe bleeding and loss of consciousness. Her family rushed her to the hospital, where they discovered she was three months pregnant.

Upon questioning by her mother, the victim revealed the entire truth, disclosing Sonu Hafiz’s involvement. As the girl’s mother prepared to lodge a police complaint, Hafiz intimidated her and her family. The girl’s mother has urged for stringent action against Sonu Hafiz.

An FIR has been lodged against Sonu Hafiz based on the complaint, charging him under sections 511, 506, 376, and 313 of the IPC along with the POCSO Act. On Sunday, 14th April 2024, the police apprehended the accused Sonu Hafiz.

OpIndia has the complaint copy. In a viral video, the victim’s mother said that she had suspected the accused Sonu Hafiz for almost a month. The accused would smile at the girl, and whenever the mother used to scold him for this, he would say that the victim girl was like a sister to him. However, while he used to rape the girl, he also used to assure her that he would marry her.

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