Home Blog Page 1122

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi announces party’s support to AIADMK, says it has promised to never ally with BJP and oppose CAA, NPR, NRC

OpIndia Staff
-
0
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi announces party’s support to AIADMK, says it has promised to never ally with BJP and oppose CAA, NPR, NRC

On Saturday (13th April), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi announced that his party will support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the coming Lok Sabha elections and state Assembly elections later.

Taking to X, Owaisi claimed that the Dravidian party has committed that it will never ally with the BJP in the future and has also assured that it will oppose the CAA, NRC, and NPR. 

The AIMIM Chief wrote, “AIADMK has refused to ally with BJP and has committed to never allying with it in the future. It has also assured that it will oppose CAA, NPR & NRC. Therefore, AIMIM extends its support to AIADMK in the coming Lok Sabha elections.” 

He added that their alliance with the Dravidian party will also continue for the Assembly elections which will be held in 2026. On their part, the AIADMK has retweeted his post from its official X account, in a bid to confirm the reports of their alliance with the AIMIM.

It is pertinent to note that the relationship between the AIADMK and the BJP suffered a nosedive with the Dravidian party alleging BJP state Chief K Annamalai of making controversial remarks against the party’s former stalwarts. It also alleged that the BJP leadership in the state had been insulting them.

Later, the AIADMK exited the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in September last year. For several years, the Dravidian party had been facing a leadership crisis between the EPS and OPS factions. Currently, EPS is leading the remaining AIADMK. 

Following its split from NDA, AIADMK was up against the BJP to woo as many smaller regional players to their fold going into the Lok Sabha elections. However, the BJP courted predominant players in the form of alliance with Ramadoss-led Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Tamil Maanila Congress among others. The BJP has exuberated confidence regarding a surge in vote share and securing decent seats in these polls to fulfill NDA’s dream of ‘Abki bar, 400 par’.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats and it will go for elections in a single phase on 19th April in a seemingly tripolar fight between BJP-led NDA, DMK-Congress, and AIADMK-AIMIM alliances. 

Iran-Israel tensions: Vehicle blows up near Iranian embassy in Damascus, Iran seizes Israeli-linked ship with 17 Indians near Strait of Hormuz

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Iran-Israel tensions: Vehicle blows up near Iranian embassy in Damascus, Iran seizes Israeli-linked ship with 17 Indians near Strait of Hormuz

Syrian state media reported that an explosive device detonated in a car in an upscale neighbourhood of Damascus, quoting a police source on 13th April. Damascus occasionally experiences similar instances including bombings that target civilian or military vehicles. The blast’s intended target and perpetrator continue to be unknown, however, suspected Israeli planes were allegedly behind it. The incident unfolded amid rising tensions in the capital of Syria as a result of Iran’s threat to retaliate for an attack on a structure inside the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus.

After the attack on 1st April, Tehran’s embassy in Damascus lost its consular annex and seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two to three senior commanders were killed. Syria’s official SANA news agency cited a Damascus police command source and stated, “The explosion heard a short while ago in the Mazzeh area resulted from an explosive device detonating in a car in al-Huda square.”

It also stated that no injuries had occurred. The incident transpired in the Mazzeh area which is home to Iran’s foreign missions and embassies. Both Damascus and Tehran accuse Israel of orchestrating the consular raid. The strike happened against the backdrop of the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas which started with the terrorist group’s unprecedented attack on Israel on 7th October.

Meanwhile, a cargo ship with ties to Israel was apprehended by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on 13th April near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the state-run Iranian news agency IRNA. The development transpired days after Tehran threatened to outlaw marine activity in the region. According to IRNA, the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries was boarded by a Revolutionary Guards helicopter and brought into Iranian territorial seas. A vessel was reportedly boarded and confiscated by “regional authorities” in the Hormuz Strait which separates Iran and the United Arab Emirates per earlier reports by shipping security agencies.

Zodiac Maritime’s affiliate Gortal Shipping has leased the Aries to multinational shipping company MSC, which is in charge of all vessel operations, per a statement from Zodiac Maritime. Eyal Ofer, an Israeli businessman, owns a portion of Zodiac. As Israel and its ally the United States have been fighting Iranian-aligned forces in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen regularly since the beginning of Israel’s assault in Gaza in October, there has been an increase in regional tensions. A video showed the attack earlier reported by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

As per reports, 17 Indians are on board the ship seized by Iranian forces. India is already in touch with the Iranian authorities to ensure security, welfare and the early release of the Indians, govt of India sources said. “We are aware that a cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’ has been taken control by Iran. We have learnt that there are 17 Indian nationals onboard,” said a govt source.

“We are in touch with the Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi, to ensure security, welfare and early release of Indian nationals,” the source further added.

Iran has vowed to fight back after the 1st April attack in Damascus. On 12th April, US President Joe Biden stated that he anticipated Iran attacking Israel “sooner, rather than later” and he cautioned Tehran against pushing further. “Iran will bear consequences for choosing to escalate this situation any further,” announced Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. The remark came in response to reports of the seizure of MSC Aries.

The Revolutionary Guards’ naval chief, Alireza Tangsiri, declared on 9th April that the strait of Hormuz might be closed if required. He claimed that Iran perceived Israel’s establishment of diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates through the “Abraham Accords” in 2020 which were mediated by the United States as a threat. The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has been attacking ships in the Red Sea for months, ostensibly to avenge Israel’s campaign in Gaza by targeting Israeli-affiliated vessels, thereby disrupting international trade.

According to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week, Israel “must be punished and it shall be”calling the move equivalent to an attack on Iranian territory. The Pentagon has declared that Israel was to blame, although Tel Aviv has not acknowledged it. “It has been a week that the Zionists are in complete panic and are on alert. They don’t know what Iran wants to do, so they and their supporters are terrified,” voiced Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He added, “This psychological, media and political war is more terrifying for them than the war itself because they are waiting for an attack every night and many of them have fled and gone to shelters.”

As retaliation for the attacks on shipping, the United States and the United Kingdom launched operations against Houthi targets. The Joint Maritime Information Center, which is overseen by a naval alliance led by the West, advised ships that plan to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most vital energy corridors in the world, to proceed with caution and avoid stopping. Iran did not immediately disclose that it had seized any vessels, and state media did not report on the incident either. However, in the midst of continued tensions with the West over its rapidly progressing nuclear program, Iran has engaged in a series of ship seizures and attacks on vessels since 2019.

The Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf’s tiny opening through which a fifth of the world’s oil travels, is close to the Gulf of Oman. Fujairah is a major port in the area for ships to pick up supplies, trade out crew or take on new oil cargo. It is located on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates. Many explosions and hijackings have occurred in the waters off Fujairah since 2019. The US Navy accused Iran of attacking ships with limpet mines and causing damage to tankers.

CPI-based retail inflation eases to a 10-month low, stands at 4.85% for March 2024, Industrial output at a 4-month high

OpIndia Staff
-
0
CPI-based retail inflation eases to a 10-month low, stands at 4.85% for March 2024, Industrial output at a 4-month high

In a development that signals positive momentum for the Indian economy, India’s retail inflation witnessed a notable easing. It has come down to a 10-month low of 4.85% on an annual basis in March 2024, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 12th April. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation is the lowest since May 2023. In February this year, it was 5.09% and the same was 5.66% in March last year.

With this, the Modi-led NDA government has improved its inflation track record against the UPA era which was marred with high inflation fluctuating in double digits in several months. The White paper released by the Finance Ministry in February this year highlighted how NDA faired better on the parameter of inflation. 

As per official data, the CAGR of inflation between FY04 – FY14 during the Congress-led UPA era stood at 8.2%. However, the NDA government has brought this down to 5.0% between FY14 – FY23. 

In further signs of buoyancy towards the end of the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, the industrial output rose to a four-month high. As per official data, factory output measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 5.7% in February, up from 4.14% in January and 4.3% in December. 

The latest data shows a more stable pricing environment, potentially offering relief to households in their daily expenses. The decline in food inflation also played a role in moderating overall inflation and it has come down to 8.52%, down from 8.66% in February. Additionally, the food and beverages inflation stood at 7.68 per cent in March, lower than 7.76 per cent in February.

Likewise, urban inflation decreased to 4.14% in March from 4.78 per cent in February, rural inflation has increased to 5.45% compared to 4.34% in February. This disparity may reflect variations in consumption patterns and supply chain dynamics across different regions.

Meanwhile, fuel and light inflation fell further from -0.77% in February to -3.24% in March. Housing inflation has dropped to 2.77% from 2.88%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile components such as food and fuel, remained steady at 3.5 per cent. 

It is pertinent to note that the moderation in retail inflation comes amid other positive economic indicators. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for March showed robust growth. This uptick in industrial activity suggests underlying strength in the economy, potentially contributing to a more balanced inflation outlook. Overall, the moderation in retail inflation, particularly in food prices, coupled with strong industrial growth, paints a favourable picture of the economy’s resilience amidst ongoing global uncertainties.

The latest inflation data comes a week after the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 5th April announced the decision to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the seventh consecutive time. 

In a further relief, the RBI Governor had said that the retail inflation projections for FY25 have been reduced to 4.5% from earlier 4.7%.

(With Inputs from ANI)

‘What is the need to go to Ram Mandir?’: Patliputra RJD candidate and Lalu Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti claims only capitalists were invited to Pran Pratishtha

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘What is the need to go to Ram Mandir?’: Patliputra RJD candidate and Lalu Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti claims only capitalists were invited to Pran Pratishtha

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav has nominated his eldest daughter, Misa Bharti, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Pataliputra, Bihar. She is set to face off against the BJP’s Ram Kripal Yadav, who has previously defeated her in both the 2014 and 2019 elections. Ram Kripal Yadav, a former Deputy Mayor of Patna Municipal Corporation, has also served as a three-time MP from the Patna Lok Sabha constituency. However, during the election campaign, Misa Bharti stirred controversy with her remarks on the recently constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Misa Bharti said, “What is the need to go to Ram Mandir? We have the Harihar Baba temple in Sonepur, where my entire family has sought blessings after worship. As the elections are underway, I’ll also be visiting temples, including the Ram Mandir, which is in our country only. Lord Ram is a deity for all of us, not just Modi ji.”

Notably, Hariharnath Temple is located in Sonepur. Misa Bharti has earlier talked about sending Prime Minister Narendra Modi to jail. Misa Bharti repeated the same old anti-Modi rhetoric in her speech. She said that the four Shankaracharyas were not invited to the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony, and all the capitalists were invited there.

It is pertinent to note that the Shankaracharyas of Sringeri and Kanchi Math praised the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. Many poor common people, especially karsevaks, also attended the program. In her speech, Misa Bharti also promised to build a trauma centre, Gandhi Ashram and library in Pataliputra constituency.

Notably, on the occasion of Ram Navami, ‘Surya Tilak’ of Ramlala is also to be performed on Wednesday (17th April 2024). For this, experts from IIT Roorkee have prepared the technology. In the Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency, Lalu Yadav faced a defeat at the hands of his former colleague Ranjan Yadav in 2009. However, in the subsequent election, Ranjan Yadav fell to third place. It’s worth noting that both times Ranjan Yadav contested the elections from the JDU.

Patanjali Issue is a reflection on the ethics of our medical fraternity

Ratan Sharda
-
0
Patanjali Issue is a reflection on the ethics of our medical fraternity

April 10, 2024, will be remembered as a day when Supreme Court judges used harsh violent words that have never been spoken in the annals of the judiciary, not even against terrorists and serial killers. Patanjali faces strict penalties because of unrealistic and untested claims it made about its medicines, based on a complaint by IMA – a voluntary body of doctors that has no statutory standing. Some people are confused between IMA and MCI (the statutory body of doctors).

First my disclaimer – I used to be impressed with the success of Baba Ramdev in his quest to popularise yoga and create awareness among the common people. Suddenly you found millions of people doing some yoga or the other on the ground, at home and most of them benefitted. I was very happy to see his success in selling Ayurvedic formulations and other popular Ayurvedic medicines, helping common citizens take advantage of 5000 year old healing system. His foray into FMCG with aggressive pricing saw him beat MNCs at their own game. This success made him a target of envy. Pharma and FMCG lobby began their sly campaigns against him but no wrong was found by competent authorities in his manufacturing facilities.  

However, I was unhappy when Baba Ramdev went into avoidable consumer products, perhaps, led down the garden path by her selfish ‘chelas’. Entering the arena of textiles, garments, unhealthy bakery products etc went against his proclaimed goal. I was dismayed and disillusioned when he took over a sick soya unit. Ayurveda rejects any kind of processed food but he promoted soya products only for profits. Biggest problem was his mouth. He could not control his speech and paid a price. If Baba spoke less and let his products do the talk, he could have been more effective.

He has excellent clinical trial facilities and laboratories too. However, overselling ‘Coronil’ became an albatross around his neck. IMA latched on to this chance. At that time many other pharma companies were selling products for ‘immunity’ and so on with tall claims. I know of many people who got cured with Coronil, saving lot of money. Isn’t it a fact that millions of Indians survived Covid with the help of age-old recipes of different kinds of ‘kaadhas’ and other immunity-boosting substances.

I know of lakhs of RSS workers and other good Samaritans who served the society fearlessly during those months, following ayurveda practices of pranayama, gargling, jal-neti, and consuming ‘kaadha’. Very few succumbed to Covid and much lesser numbers died of Covid. Imagine if we Bharatiyas did not have the benefit of traditional remedies,  could the allopathy community have managed this disaster with limited resources?

No system is infallible

Surely Ayurveda practitioners make mistakes, Ramdev also made mistakes. Why are allopathy practitioners not questioned even now after so much is known now? Vicks 500 was banned. AstraZeneca faces a case for serious problems post Covid vaccine. J&J paid 48 million USD for its cancer-causing talcum powder. Was it stopped immediately in India?

I fell sick with Covid19 in first wave and I was in ICU for 8 days. I was saved by Remsidivir, God’s own gift to mankind at that time. But, by the time of phase 2, it became an outcast!

Allopathy practitioners’ and pharma companies’ antipathy for traditional systems

A pharmacology scientist in USA once asked me, “How come Allopathy born just two centuries back is mainstream and Ayurveda that is around for 5000 years is Alternative medicine?” It is obvious that allopathy practitioners have strong reservations and animosity for traditional medicines that are around for thousands of years and kept people healthy. I will not get into details; but request you to read Dharampal’s book on “Science and Technology in India in 18th Century”. Why did not IMA kind of organisations ever research or presented the wonderful medical achievements of our ancestors and never put up statues of rishis like Sushrut or Charak while western world acknowledged their contribution to medicine? You find a statue of Sushrut in Australia but not in IMA or MCI premises!

To help you find an answer, I will quote Dr Jayalal (the then Chairman of IMA) here, courtesy of Firstpost –

“The most common system is modern medicine based on scientific evidence. The government of India, because of their cultural value and traditional belief in the Hindutva, believes in a system called Ayurveda,” he said in a  recent interview with Christianity Today.

“For the last three or four years, they have tried to replace modern medicine with this. Now, you will have to study this alongside Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, homoeopathy, yoga, and naturopathy […]They want to make it one nation, one system of medicine. Next, they will want to make it one religion. This is also based on the Sanskrit language, which is always traditionally based on the Hindu principles. This is an indirect way for the government to introduce the language of Sanskrit and language of Hindutva into the minds of the people,” he said in the interview. […] “I am able to see, even amid persecution, even amid difficulties, even amid the control by the government, even among the restrictions we face in openly proclaiming the message, by various means and ways, Christianity is growing.”

Was it this hate for ‘Hindu’ medicine that made him move the courts against Patanjali, because we don’t remember him or IMA rushing to courts against other manufacturers? He is not a lone voice. I have heard many doctors oppose government’s efforts to create an integrated view of health industry for affordable healthcare – not just curative but preventive too. Allopathy begins with ‘cure’, Ayurveda starts with prevention. As inheritors of our great scientific knowledge, we need to get over this blind pro-western bias.

Selective Ethics 

IMA’s grouse against Patanjali shows that it cares for people and is like a watchdog of medical ethics. Does it fulfil this duty? Around last year a young man Revant Himatsingka was sent a strong legal notice from the topmost legal firm of India for calling out their client’s health drink by highlighting its contents as appearing on its wrapper. IMA never came out to support the poor man. It was NCPCR that filed a complaint against the company as it was a matter of children’s health. After some months, the MNC quietly reduced the sugar content by about 15%.

Fair & Lovely cream was forced to change its name to Glowing & Lovely; not because IMA intervened, but because USA agencies raised a ruckus over racist bias in its advertisements. I can go on and on. Health drinks containing dangerous levels of caffeine and sugar, soft drinks advertising adventurous life but containing carcinogenic contents, OTC tablets claiming great efficacy against cold and cough, proteins and other nutraceuticals claiming healthy body, toothpaste giving pearly white teeth within a few brush strokes. The list is endless.

I do not recall any forceful intervention from IMA. Is it because IMA gets sponsorships from the FMCG and Pharma industries? Is it because they charge fees for endorsing FMCG products to raise funds, incidentally, without disclosing to the consumers that they are not an authorised government agency but a private association?

SC has opened up a larger issue of ethics of profiteering of pharmaceutical and FMCG manufacturers. Should only Patanjali be made an example in this game of overselling and outrageous advertisements by many companies that are virtually a fraud on customers – some ably supported with endorsements from organisations like IMA? This profiteering by companies by fooling the gullible customer must stop.

I think, with this case, the Supreme Court has done a yeoman service to the common citizen, its harsh unparliamentary language notwithstanding. But it is not enough to ‘rip apart’ Patanjali and government officers who kept their eyes and ears blissfully shut. I think, I speak for everyone when I appeal to the courts to set up a committee under its supervision or direct the Ministry of Health to set up a watchdog committee that keeps an eagle-like watch on Pharma, Ayurveda and FMCG companies’ exploitation of consumer ignorance.

Andhra Pradesh: Farooq kills mentally challenged Hindu man for insurance money, buries victim with the help of his family

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Andhra Pradesh: Farooq kills mentally challenged Hindu man for insurance money, buries victim with the help of his family

A food grains trader, identified as Farooq Basha, has murdered a mentally challenged Hindu man to claim insurance money of ₹50 lakhs. The incident took place on 1st April this year in Pamulapadu mandal in the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh.

As per a report by Deccan Chronicle, Basha had not been paying the debt of ₹1 crore that he owed to local farmers. He therefore decided to fake his death and claim insurance money.

The accused lured a mentally challenged Hindu man, identified as Setty Prathap, to his food grains warehouse in Pamulapadu mandal. After locking the victim inside the warehouse, Basha set it ablaze.

Prathap, a resident of Chelimella village, was killed in the fire. Interestingly, Basha’s family aided in engineering the murder plot and presenting it as a ‘fire mishap.’

Soon after killing the victim, Basha’s family dialled the Pamulapadu police and claimed that a fire accident had taken place in the warehouse. The police reached the spot and recovered the body of a man.

The family identified it as the dead body of Farooq Basha and the police handed over the body to them after conducting the panchnama. Basha’s family then buried the body of the mentally challenged Hindu man Setty Prathap.

Three days after the incident (4th April), the police received a complaint from a woman named Swaroopa, the victim’s wife. She informed the police that Prathap had been missing since 1st April.

The cops showed her the clothes recovered from the warehouse of Farooq Basha. Following confirmation from Swaroopa that it belonged to her missing husband, the police registered a case against Basha and his family.

According to the Deccan Chronicle, Bahsa had been hiding in Hyderabad after orchestrating the murder of the mentally challenged Hindu man to evade paying debt to the farmers and wrongfully obtaining insurance money of ₹50 lakhs.

A manhunt has been launched to arrest the perpetrator. Sub-Inspector Ashok told the newspaper, “We will reveal the full details soon.”

Pakistani Army storms into Police station on Eid, thrashes and humiliates Police personnel, makes them kneel amidst dramatic scenes in Punjab province

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pakistani Army storms into Police station on Eid, thrashes and humiliates Police personnel, makes them kneel amidst dramatic scenes in Punjab province

In a major internal crisis in Pakistan, its army and Police department recently had a violent clash in Punjab province’s Bahawalnagar during the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. Several videos of the clash have surfaced on social media in which Army personnel can be seen storming a police station. The Pakistan Army personnel then went on to brutally assault cops, humiliate them, and make them kneel as the injured cops were seen bleeding. As per Pakistan media reports, the drama unfolded on the day when the Islamic nation was marking Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

In a sarcastic jibe, Foreign affairs expert, Sushant Sareen described it as “another successful conquest of the Pakistan Army.”

Following the violent clash, the Pakistan Army and Punjab police announced a joint investigation, after a string of videos of the clash went viral. As per Pakistan outlets, the clash erupted after local police recovered an illegal weapon from the relative of a soldier and detained him.

Meanwhile, both the Pakistan security institutions, Army and Police, downplayed the clashes. While the Punjab Police said fake propaganda was being spread on social media, the Army called it a “face-off”, however, the videos of the clash show otherwise. 

In one such viral video, three Pakistani policemen are seen kneeling on the ground. In the video, they can be heard pleading before the army personnel to leave them and stop humiliating and torturing them. In another video, a man can be seen lying on the ground with a bleeding nose. In many of these videos, the army personnel are seen stomping on cops lying on the ground. 

In another viral video, two cops are seen running to save their lives inside a police station but the Pakistani Army ultimately nabs them. 

According to a PTI report, the injured police personnel were taken to a nearby hospital but interestingly, their medico-legal examination was not shared.

What led to the violent clash between Pakistan Army and Police

As per Pakistani media reports, on 7th April, an ASI and an SHO (station house officer) of Madressah police raided the house of one Mohammad Anwar. They went there to arrest his son Rafaqat as he allegedly possessed an unlicensed pistol. 

However, Anwar’s other son Mohammad Khaleel, who is an Army official, along with his family members held the two policemen as hostages. Incidentally, the video of the same was also uploaded on social media. 

Later on, a police team reached Anwar’s residence to rescue their police officers – SHO and ASI. It is alleged that the police team went on to torture Anwar’s family members and arrested him and his sons. Police also ransacked their house. The videos of this had also gone viral. 

Later, the Madressah police booked 23 family members of Mohammad Anwar following police attack on them. However, when the Bahawalnagar district police officer learned about the matter, they conducted an inquiry, and the ASI and SHO who led the controversial raid on Anwar’s house were arrested. They have been charged with illegal detention and also for holding the soldier at the police station for more than 24 hours rather than presenting him before a magistrate.

Citing sources, PTI reported that the Punjab police personnel allegedly demanded money from those detained for their release. 

Ugly scenes erupted after Eid prayers on 11th April when around 50 to 60 Army personnel from the Bahawalnagar Brigade, in 10 vehicles, stormed the Madressah police station. In their bid to release the arrested army official and his family members, the Army men went on to severely torture the cops.

In a statement, the Punjab Police downplayed the incident, alleging that it was taken out of context and exaggerated. The statement said, “Fake propaganda is being made on social media… The episode is being presented in a way to imply that there has been fighting between the Pakistan Army and Punjab Police.” 

“When the unverified videos went viral, both institutions launched a joint investigation. Officers from both institutions reviewed the facts and peacefully resolved the matter,” Punjab Police added. 

According to Dawn’s report, four personnel of Madressah police, including the station house officer, have been booked and arrested.

The media affairs wing of the Pakistani Army called the Bahawalnagar incident “unfortunate”. It said that the incident was promptly addressed and resolved through collaborative efforts of military and police authorities. 

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “Despite this, certain factions with vested motives started fanning vitriolic propaganda on social media to create divisions between state institutions and government departments.”

‘President not invited for Ram Mandir inauguration because she is Adivasi’: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi peddles vicious lies during election campaign

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘President not invited for Ram Mandir inauguration because she is Adivasi’: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi peddles vicious lies during election campaign

On Saturday (13th April), Congress scion Rahul Gandhi courted controversy after he falsely claimed that President Draupadi Murmu was not invited to the Pran Prathistha ceremony of Ram Mandir for virtue of being an Adivasi.

He made the outrageous remarks during a public meeting in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. At about 34:50 minutes into the event, Rahul Gandhi alleged, “During the inauguration of Ram Mandir, the President of India, who is an Adivasi, was told that she could not come to the programme.”

“They had told her not to come for the Pran Prathistha of the Ram Mandir. Why? Because she is an Adivasi. This is the only reason,” he claimed.

The Congress scion did not stop here and continued to peddle lies. “This is the message that PM Modi gave to the country that we will not let an Adivasi visit Ram Mandir on the occasion of its inauguration. This is their mindset,” he brazened out.

The truth is that President Murmu was formally invited by a delegation representing the Ram Temple Trust to attend the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

The invitation was extended on 12th January this year by a delegation comprising Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Ram Lal, and Ram Mandir construction committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra.

However, President Murmu had said that she would soon decide the time to visit Ayodhya. In fact, on 21st January, the President hailed the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony and sent heartfelt wishes to the Prime Minister for making the temple appear into reality.

“The nationwide celebratory atmosphere around the inauguration of the grand temple of Prabhu Shri Ram at Ayodhya Dham is an uninhibited expression of the eternal soul of India. We all are fortunate to witness the commencement of a new cycle in resurgence of our nation,” President Murmu was quoted as saying.

The President also appreciated ‘Maa Shabri’s’ reference made by PM Modi in his address before the inauguration of the Ram Mandir.

Uttarakhand: Kids taught namaz in the name of Eid event at play school, parents and Hindu outfits protest, principal denies accusations

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttarakhand: Kids taught namaz in the name of Eid event at play school, parents and Hindu outfits protest, principal denies accusations

On 10th April, a playschool in Roorkee, Uttarakhand organised an event on Eid al-Fitr where small children were taught how to read namaz, the videos of which became viral on social media. Now, parents of the students have filed a police complaint and accused the institution of coercing the impressionable minds of young kids. However, the school has refuted the allegations.

The matter pertained to the Learning Ladder Play School located in the Civil Lines area in Roorkee. Two female teachers were observed wearing hijabs and offering namaz in front of the little kids in the footage. The Learning Ladder is written on the t-shirts of the pupils witnessed sitting in the clip. A small girl is also donning a hijab in the 14-second video.

After the video came out, several parents contacted the Roorkee police station. Speaking to the media, the parent of a student at the school stated that his daughter had been present when namaz was being taught. He added that they contacted the school administration but they brushed it off as a program. He further asked why his daughter was taught namaz when she was a Hindu. According to him, no such event had been planned in the previous three years, but it happened this time. He informed that he submitted a police report and requested that a case be launched in the matter.

The workers of Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad also protested against the occurrence. A complainant pointed out that the purpose of the school is to educate students, not to convert them. He asserted there was a jihadist conspiracy being supported by the institution. Another person charged that the school is manipulating the kids to perform namaz. OpIndia also spoke to Ruchi Handa, Principal of Learning Ladder School in this matter.

“The school organized an Eid Milan event for Upper KG children on 10th April 2024. The parents were also given this notification beforehand. The kids were not taught namaz but were told about how Eid is celebrated. We conveyed to the youngsters that people who celebrate Eid pray first and then embrace others,” she alleged. The principal claimed that the video from the program was made viral online to highlight the namaz.

She mentioned that the institution had provided a clarification concerning the police complaint and also taken down the footage. She claimed that the school hosts similar occasions regularly to teach the students about diverse festivals from various religions. She promised to be careful in such sensitive matters in the future. OpIndia also talked with the Roodekee police and was informed that a complaint has been received and an investigation is underway.

Government instructs e-commerce platforms to remove drinks and beverages including Bournvita from ‘Health Drink’ category

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Government instructs e-commerce platforms to remove drinks and beverages including Bournvita from ‘Health Drink’ category

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has instructed all e-commerce platforms to remove beverages, such as Bournvita, from the classification of ‘health drink’ on their websites and platforms. This notification was published on 10th April. The instructions issued by the ministry came after the FSSAI, on 2nd April, asked all e-commerce companies to ensure appropriate categorisation of food products sold on their websites.

The FSSAI’s reaction followed observations of food items licensed as ‘proprietary food’, such as Dairy-based Beverage Mix, Cereal-based Beverage Mix, and Malt Based Beverage, being marketed on e-commerce platforms under misleading categories like ‘health drink’ or ‘energy drink’.

The ministry cited a finding by the child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights that there is no beverage category called Health Drink under the rules.

The statement by the ministry said, “National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CPCR Act, 2005, concluded that there is no “Health Drink defined under FSS Act 2006, Rules and regulations as submitted by FSSAl and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.”

It added, “Therefore, FSSAI has advised all e-commerce companies to promptly rectify this misclassification by removing or de-linking such drinks or beverages from the category of ‘health drinks/energy drinks’ on their websites and placing such products in the appropriate category as provided under the extant law.”

The statement further said, “Proprietary foods are items of food that are not standardised in food safety and standards (food product standards and food additives) regulations and food safety and standards (health supplements, nutraceuticals, food for special dietary use, food for special medical purpose, functional food, and novel food) regulations, but use standardised ingredients.”

The ministry made it clear that the corrective measures aim to improve clarity and transparency regarding the characteristics and functional attributes of the products. This ensures that consumers can make informed decisions without being misled by inaccurate information.

Asking e-commerce websites not to put dairy, cereal or malt-based beverages under the Health Drink’ or Energy Drink’ category, the FSSAI on 2nd April said that the term ‘Health Drink’ has not been defined in the food laws of India. On the other hand, the term ‘Energy Drinks’ is allowed to be used only for the products licensed under the Food Category System (FCS) and the carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavoured drinks.

1...1,1211,1221,123...7,606Page 1,122 of 7,606