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Congress tosses Reetam Singh under the bus: Party confirms he was a ‘war room coordinator’, but claims the fake video was shared ‘in a personal capacity’

OpIndia Staff
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Congress tosses Reetam Singh under the bus: Party confirms he was a ‘war room coordinator’, but claims the fake video was shared ‘in a personal capacity’

On 30th April, Congress confirmed that Reetam Singh, a man arrested for sharing a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding reservation, was indeed the party’s war room coordination. However, reacting to the fake video he posted, Congress leader and chairperson of the Assam Congress media cell Bedabrata Borah said the post was done by Reetam in a personal capacity and had nothing to do with the party. Congress Party appeared to have thrown Reetam Singh under the bus to save itself from the backlash.

Speaking to Times Now, Borah said that the party has raised the issue of arresting their war room coordinator late at night. He confirmed that Reetam was in judicial custody. When asked about the video, he said, “It was a personal matter. It is not related to Congress. Whatever he has done, he did in his capacity. However, he is Congress’s war room coordinator. Whatever he posted on Facebook or Twitter was done in his capacity.”

The party condemned the arrest and claimed that he was arrested for criticising the government’s policies that were detrimental to democracy. Borah said, “Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah has also condemned the arrest of Reetam Singh and demanded his immediate release.”

Speaking to IANS, he added, “Reetam Singh was arrested for a tweet; however, no action was taken against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after he issued a provocative statement to set ablaze Sonia Gandhi’s house in the national capital. Thirty cases are pending against Badruddin Ajmal, yet he has not been arrested. The BJP’s way of functioning is a threat to democracy.”

HM Shah criticised Congress for sharing a fake video

Reacting to the fake video, Union Home Minister Amit Shah played both real and fake video during a press conference and said, “Giving quota on religious lines is unfair and cannot be allowed. We have already removed it in Karnataka. This was what I had said in the video. The fake video twisted it to say the BJP will scrap all reservations.” He added that the BJP would not remove reservations for SC, ST and OBC and would not allow anyone to do so. “This is Modi’s gaurantee,” he added.

HM Shah said, “Rahul Gandhi says that if the BJP gets 400 seats, it will remove reservations. I want to say that we had a full majority for two terms, but Narendra Modi is a supporter of reservation. I want to say that it is a Modi guarantee that neither will the BJP remove reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs nor will it allow anyone to do so.”

“The Congress has now resorted to misleading citizens with fake videos out of panic and fear of defeat. The right to reservations in the country belongs to SC, ST, and OBC brothers and sisters, and as long as the BJP government is in office, no one can change it. The INDI Alliance has given reservations to Muslims, reducing the share of SCs, STs, and OBCs. Congress is misleading people by editing a speech of mine in which I committed to abolishing the unconstitutional reservations for Muslims. Directions have been issued to the police to address this issue as per the law. If you come across any such fake video anywhere, please inform us about the details of the disseminator. We will take strict action against the culprits,” HM Shah said in a post on X.

Reetam Singh, one of the fake news peddlers on social media arrested in a doctored video case, has a history of not only sharing fake news but also threatening people. In fact, he has been threatening OpIndia’s editor-in-chief Nupur J Sharma for years. He tried to doxx and leak the address and other personal details of Nupur J Sharma after OpIndia reported that he was linked to anti-CAA protests.

Is Congress planning Shiva vs Ram? Kharge promotes Chhattisgarh candidate Shivakumar Dahariya saying ‘Shiva can give a tough fight to Ram’

OpIndia Staff
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Is Congress planning Shiva vs Ram? Kharge promotes Chhattisgarh candidate Shivakumar Dahariya saying ‘Shiva can give a tough fight to Ram’

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made a controversial statement during a rally in Chhattisgarh’s Jangir-Champa constituency. While promoting Congress candidate Shivakumar Dahariya, Kharge emphasised his name ‘Shiva’ and remarked that he could rightly compete with Ram.

“His name is Shiva and Kumar. He can give a tough fight to Ram because he is a Shiva. Even my name is Mallikarjun, which means Shiva,” Kharge said, a video of which has gone viral on the internet, with many raising questions over whether Congress intends to divide the Hindu votaries with Shiva and Ram reference. 

It is worth noting that several senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, had declined an invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir organised on January 22, 2024. 


The decision ignited a political firestorm, with the BJP accusing the main opposition party of standing against Lord Ram and the beliefs of millions. Congress had once even questioned the existence of Lord Ram. It had allied with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, a party whose leaders have often made hateful remarks against Sanatana Dharma, most notably Udhayanidhi Stalin, who had last year compared Sanatana Dharma to dengue and malaria that “need to be eradicated”.

Telangana: How Congress fooled the public, once again, in the name of 6 guarantees they gave during assembly elections

S. Sudhir Kumar
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Telangana: How Congress fooled the public, once again, in the name of 6 guarantees they gave during assembly elections

In the run-up to the Assembly elections of Telangana, the Congress announced 6 guarantees for the people of Telangana. As elections started nearing, current Telangana CM Revanth Reddy repeatedly promised that he will implement ALL guarantees within 100 days of coming to power. The conviction in his tone was believed by the people of Telangana, and they voted the Congress to power.

First of all, what are these 6 guarantees? Below is a variant of the info-graphic that Congress used in all newspaper ads and through all their official handles.

Image via Telangana Congress X handle

It is a very well-designed info-graphic that gives you the first impression that there are actually only 6 guarantees in the promise. A second look, and you will realise how the Congress scammed you even with something as simple as a number! A closer perusal of the document shows that the actual guarantees being promised are 13 in number, and not 6! Almost every “Guarantee” has sub-guarantees included in them.

  • Guarantee # 1 is titled Mahalakshmi, and has a total of 3 sub-guarantees.
  • Guarantee # 2 is titled Rythu Bharosa, and has a total of 3 sub-guarantees.
  • Guarantee # 3 is titled Yuva Vikasam, and has a total of 2 sub-guarantees.
  • Guarantee # 4 is titled Indiramma Indlu, and has a total of 2 sub-guarantees.
  • Guarantee # 5 is titled Gruha Jyothi, and is the only guarantee with no sub-guarantees!
  • Guarantee # 6 is titled Cheyutha, and has a total of 2 sub-guarantees.

It is now very clear that Revanth Reddy wanted to get away with implementing any 6 out of these 13 Guarantees within 100 days and claim that he kept his promise. I must say, it was a very innovative way of doing a scam! Now, let’s take a look if he actually executed this intelligent scam. The Congress government completed 100 days on March 17th, 2024. The election code kicked in on March 16th, 2024. In the above info-graphic:

  • Guarantee (1) has 3 sub-guarantees.
    • The 2500/- per month to every woman scheme, has NOT been started at all.
    • Oher 2 Sub-Guarantees are being implemented.
  • Guarantees number (2) and (3) have NOT even started.
  • Guarantee (4) has 2-sub guarantees.
    • The “250 sq.yards plot for all movement fighters” has NOT been initiated at all.
    • The “House site and 5 lakh for people not having own house” is only PARTIALLY started now (announced only in the 1st week of March for a limited set of people)
  • Guarantee (5) has been announced and is being implemented from March 1st.
  • Guarantee (6) has 2 sub-guarantees.
    • The “4000 rupees monthly pension” has NOT been started at all.
    • The increase in health insurance was perhaps the easiest one to implement and is under implementation now

So, that essentially means that only 4 out of the promised 13 guarantees (in 100 days) are currently being fully implemented. If you want to give credit for partially implemented promise, then Congress is implementing only 4.25 out of the promised 13 guarantees! Let’s for a moment not even delve into this much detail and just go by the slogan “6 Guarantees” that were promised in 100 days. Even among those, only 4 are being implemented which is a clear violation of the vehement promise CM Revanth Reddy gave before the elections.

Outside of these 6 Guarantees, Revanth Reddy also promised a loan waiver program for the farmers, again within 100 days. Caught openly with this lie, Revanth Reddy now promised a new date for only this promise – August 15th!

Caught in a quagmire over his unkept promise, Revanth Reddy is using a new strategy. He is openly telling people that if they don’t vote for the Congress party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, then it will be very difficult for him to provide these “guarantees”. It is a really strange argument but it is also not surprising because this has been the Congress DNA – to threaten voters with dire consequence for trusting them in the first place. The voters trusted Revanth Reddy when he said he will fulfill ALL guarantees within 100 days. Voters are obviously angry that he did NOT keep his promise. Instead of apologising to them, Revanth is threatening them that if they don’t vote for Congress, they will not get the other guarantees as well!

Revanth Reddy has been constantly claiming that the Lok Sabha election is a referendum on his 4-month rule. The media also went gaga over him and his working style. Revanth Reddy is also going national, with his appearances on various channels, and is eloquently explaining Rahul Gandhi’s divisive agenda in these interviews! The hard reality is that the Congress has yet again cheated people with false promises and is now threatening the very same people with dire consequence. After all, old habits die hard!

Amit Shah doctored video row: Jignesh Mevani’s PA and AAP worker arrested; complaint filed against 16 including INC, NCP (Sharad Pawar) workers

OpIndia Staff
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Amit Shah doctored video row: Jignesh Mevani’s PA and AAP worker arrested; complaint filed against 16 including INC, NCP (Sharad Pawar) workers

At least two members associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress respectively have been arrested in connection with the alleged fabricated video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The arrested persons, identified as Satish Vansola and RV Varia, were arrested on Tuesday (30th April) by Ahmedabad’s Cyber Crime Department. Vansola is the personal assistant to Congress leader Jignesh Mevani.

Lavina Sinha, DCP, Zone-1, Ahmedabad, stated that an edited video of the Union Home Minister was posted on social media from two Facebook profiles. “We have filed an FIR under sections 505A, 1B, 469, 153A and IT Act.”

She stated that the videos were posted on the Facebook profiles of two persons named Satish Vansola and RB Bariya. “We nabbed both of the suspects yesterday. The primary inquiry revealed that they are affiliated with political parties. An additional investigation is underway,” she added.

According to BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya, a video of Amit Shah was manipulated to distort his comments on Telangana’s Muslim minority quotas.

“Congress is spreading an edited video which is completely fake and has the potential to cause large-scale violence. Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about removing the unconstitutional reservation given to Muslims, based on religion, after reducing the share of SCs/STs and OBCs. This fake video has been posted by several Congress spokespersons. They must be prepared for legal consequences,” Malviya said in an X post.

On Tuesday, the Union Home Minister also slammed the Congress, stating that the opposition should contest elections based on manifestos rather than bogus videos. Shah stated that politics has reached a new low under Rahul Gandhi.

Mumbai Police also books 16 Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar) supporters in the case

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have filed a case against the Maharashtra Youth Congress social media handle and 16 people for allegedly spreading a deepfake video of Shah.

Mumbai BJP functionary Pratik Karpe is said to have filed a case at the Bandra Kurla Complex cyber police station on Monday (29th April). OpIndia has obtained the said complaint copy. 

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah never made any statement about cancelling reservations to SC/ST or OBC, this video is fake. Publishing such fake videos is an attempt to malign and tarnish Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with the Bharatiya Janata Party and an attempt to create a rift among various sections of the society. And hence, if certain anti-social elements are resorting to attempts to spoil the harmony and peace in society by indulging in such malicious deeds, immediate action must be taken against them,” Karpe said while exclusively talking to OpIndia.

The 16 persons booked by the Maharashtra Police include Congress supporters and NCP (Sharad Pawar) supporters.

Meanwhile, Jignesh Mevani claimed he could not endorse such fraudulent videos or propaganda. “I condemn all such actions, but no one should be targeted during elections. Satish (Vansola) is like a brother to me, and I am delighted to have him as a friend. However, he is never the type of person who intentionally commits something awful. I’ve known him for six years,” the Gujarat Congress leader said.

On Monday (29th April), the Delhi police summoned Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on May 1 for questioning on the issue. According to the reports, notices issued to five Telangana Congress members, including its president Reddy, who posted the video on X, were sent to the CM’s office and the party office at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday by Delhi Police’s Special Cell.

They have been asked to appear with their mobile phones, laptops, tablets, or any other electronic equipment used to make, publish, and tweet the video on their X accounts.

‘I will do everything in my power to oppose his candidature’: AAP leader Waqar Choudhary accuses party’s East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar of serving him pork

OpIndia Staff
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‘I will do everything in my power to oppose his candidature’: AAP leader Waqar Choudhary accuses party’s East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar of serving him pork

On 18th April, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Mohammed Waqar Choudhary released a video statement on Instagram saying that AAP’s Lok Sabha Elections 2024 candidate and sitting MLA Kuldeep Kumar offered him pork. He said that Kumar’s actions hurt him deeply and demanded party leaders to remove Kumar as cadidate from East Delhi. “Otherwise, I will do everything in my power to oppose his candidature,” Choudhary said.

In his video statement, Waqar Choudhary said, “I am feeling very hurt since Kuldeep Kumar offered me ‘Jangli’ meat. I am unable to sleep. I am unable to find peace. This is why I made this video so that you all know the reality. A day before yesterday, Nitin and me went back to Kuldeep’s office after completing the work at Okhla at around 12:30 AM. I was starving. I asked him if there was something to eat. He said there was non-veg and offered me to eat. I asked what was there in non-veg. He said it does not matter as all non-veg are same. I got suspicious.”

“Earlier, Kuldeep Kumar had asked me if I eat ‘Jangli’ meat. I told him such humour is not in good taste. At that time, he straightforward offered me and said what difference it would make if I eat ‘Jangli’ meat. I want to tell him with heavy heart that Kuldeep Kumar, you have narrow mind. You are offering a Muslim ‘Jangli’ meat. If we take its name, our prayers are not accepted for 40 days. You want to feed me, a Haji, such meat? You should be ashamed. I want to ask the top leadership to replace Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi. Bring some other candidate. We will win,” he said.

In the extended version of the video that is going viral on X, Waqar adds that if party did not remove Kuldeep’s cadidature from East Delhi, he would revolt against him and do whatever he could to oppose him.

The next day, he came live on Facebook and Instagram. He alleged that AAP workers threatened him and sent him abusive messages for coming out against Kuldeep Kumar. He further added that he was asked how much money he took from the Bharatiya Janata Party to speak against Kumar. He said, “I am not someone who takes money, but I am someone who spends money on party work.”

He further added that he has a recording of the incident when he asked him if he eats pork at his house and if he would share it with relevant people. Speaking about AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal being in jail, he said, “Because of the top leadership in jail, these people are abusing and threatening me. If Kejriwal had not been in jail he would have understood my pain, a party worker’s pain.”

On the same day, Waqar Choudhary released another video outside DCP Office, East District, Delhi, and said, “I am getting threat calls and messages continously. I fear my life. I have filed a complaint at DCP Office and the DCP assured me that they will take care of the security of me and my family.”

On 25th April, Waqar led a march comprising of AAP workers and supporters against Kuldeep Kumar in the East Delhi constituency.

On 29th April, Waqar held a press conference with AIMIM Delhi State President Shoaib Jamai and accused AAP and BJP of using Muslims for their own benefits. He said, “Both the parties are same. They insult Muslims to get votes.”

Lok Sabha Elections 2024

Two phases of voting for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 have completed so far. Next phase of polling will take place in 6th phase on 25th May. The last phase of voting will take place on 1st June and the results will be announced on 4th June 2024.

Kerala: Rules flouted, terrorists, murderers, and religious extremists kept together in same block in Thiruvananthapuram Jail during Ramzan – Report

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Rules flouted, terrorists, murderers, and religious extremists kept together in same block in Thiruvananthapuram Jail during Ramzan – Report

In a shocking development, local media in Kerala have stated that hardcore terrorists, murderers, and members of religious extremist organisations stayed together in the same block in the Central Jail during Ramzan, flouting jail rules. The reports have also made serious allegations against the Jail administration. The administration has been accused of letting the ‘religious extremism classes’ take place as well as “providing” facilities like ‘furniture’ for the meetings, allowing drug money to flow, and also of ‘financial’ quid pro quo. 

Alleging that the Thiruvananthapuram Central Jail is turning into a hub for ‘Religious extremism classes’, the reports added that Muslim prisoners stayed in the same block for 32 days on the occasion of Ramzan which was in direct violation of prison rules. During that time, they were provided an opportunity to organise. Flouting jail rules, the terrorists were reportedly allowed to live in same cell. It is further alleged that the gatherings used to take place to give classes on religious extremism as well as terror-related activities. 

As per reports, around 84 such hardcore terrorists, anti-India, and anti-social elements were allowed to stay together in one block on religious grounds. The hardcore inmates allowed to gather in one place included terrorists, inmates convicted in cases of treason, individuals convicted in murder cases, terrorists involved in the Ranjit Srinivasan murder case which is under NIA investigation, other murder suspects, and members of religious extremist groups. It also included inmates who had been convicted in drug and murder cases, inmates who hail from other states, and those who came from countries like Bangladesh and were caught in terrorist activities, all of them were allowed to organise in one place. 

During these gatherings in the month of Ramzan, the terrorists reportedly took classes. It is said that they were giving classes to exterminate people of other religions, fight against the country, and eliminate specific individuals. They have also made shocking revelations that the convicts also discussed carrying out terrorist activities after their prison sentences were over. 

The reports have also accused the jail administration of providing many facilities to these hardcore convicts inside the jail. They allegedly provided all the facilities including furniture for the meetings. The inmates are also reportedly getting huge financial help from outside.

As per reports, if these hardcore terrorists and criminals organised on religious and political lines or tried to riot in the jail, instead of taking action, the jail administration allegedly provided facilities to them. 

According to the reports, the developments of these terrorists and hardcore criminals in the prison have left other inmates in fear. They are being forced to fall into the trap of the gangs of these hardcore convicts.

On 12th April, the inmates of the fourth block of the jail, who were not ready to gather together and pray, were brutally assaulted. Although the victims complained in writing, the authorities did not take any action.

The reports noted that some inmates had filed complaints about these incidents but the jail authorities did not act. 

It is pertinent to note that the reports added that the opportunity to get together for the class continued even after Ramzan. However, reports also mentioned that such illegal treatment was not given in prison during Ramzan fasting in previous years. 

‘Karnataka govt knew, they sat on Prajwal Revanna videos for months’: Amit Shah questions Congress, JDS suspends Devegowda’s grandson from party

OpIndia Staff
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‘Karnataka govt knew, they sat on Prajwal Revanna videos for months’: Amit Shah questions Congress, JDS suspends Devegowda’s grandson from party

On Tuesday (30th April), Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress-led Karnataka government for its tardiness in acting on complaints of sexual misconduct against Janata Dal-Secular leader Prajwal Revanna.

During a media interaction in Guwahati, Minister Shah said: “BJP’s stand is clear that we stand with the ‘Matr Shakti’ of the country. I want to ask Congress, whose government is there? The government is of Congress Party. Why they have not taken any action till now? We do not have to take action on this as this is a law and order issue of the state, state government has to take action on it…”

Amit Shah added that the BJP is in support of an investigation into the matter and the JD(S) has called a meeting of its core committee to decide what steps to be taken.

“We are in favour of the investigation and our partner JD(S) has also announced to take action against it. Today there is a meeting of their core committee and steps will be taken…” Shah said.

Reacting to Priyanka Gandhi raising questions against the alleged inaction by the Modi government against Prajwal Revanna, Shah said, that instead of questioning PM Modi she should question Karnataka CM Siddaramiah since law and order is a state subject. “What is your [Congress] government doing? Why there is no investigation?” Shah said.

Notably, “public order” and “police” are State subjects as listed by the Indian Constitution’s Seventh Schedule. The respective State Governments are in responsible for upholding law and order, safeguarding citizens’ lives and property, and combating crimes against women.

JDS suspends Hassan MP and current candidate Prajwal Revanna from Party

The JDS has announced the suspension of sitting Hassan MP and their current candidate for the seat Prajwal Revanna from the party in view of the sexual harassment scandal against him. The reports multiple of videos in circulation allegedly involving multiple women, including the staff and servants at the residence of the Revanna family has been the primary reason behind the suspension.

JDS notice on suspension of Prajwal Revanna, image via Ashwini Shripad on X

Earlier today, Prajwal’s uncle and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy had announced that appropriate action will be taken by the party’s core committee after due discussion.

Congress govt knew about the videos months ago: Says Prajwal’s driver

Meanwhile, Karthik Reddy, the former driver of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna claimed on Tuesday that Revanna’s alleged sex scandal was known to Congress leaders months prior.

Speaking to IndiaToday, the driver said that he had given Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar the pendrive months prior, on which he allegedly had multiple videos of Prajwal Revanna and his victims.

In a conversation with TimesNow, Deveraj Gowda, Advocate & Former BJP MLA said: “My client gave me a pen drive. When I saw the pen drive, there were obscene videos in it. I asked him if this video has been given to someone, and he said yes, it has been given to D. K. Shivakumar. The next morning, I wrote a letter to JP Nadda JI, Modi JI, Amit Shah Ji… about the video… I said that we have to be very careful about making an alliance with JDS because the video has already reached Congress, and during the time of the elections, it might create problems for us…”

There are allegations that the ruling government sat on the videos and did not take any action for months because they wanted to use it politically at an opportune moment just before the elections.

Prajwal Revanna flees India just before Karnataka govt announces SIT formation

As reported earlier, Prajwal Revanna fled India a day after the state of Karnataka decided to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations of rape, sexual exploitation, and the 2976 obscene videos that have allegedly surfaced. The videos surfaced on social media barely two days before the first round of Karnataka’s Lok Sabha elections on 26th April. Revanna is said to have fled to Frankfurt on the 28th morning of April from Bengaluru.

On Sunday, Revanna was charged with sexual harassment based on complaints filed by his former housekeeper. The woman stated that she was sexually abused multiple times by Revanna and his father between 2019 and 2022. His father, JD(S) leader HD Revanna has also been booked in this connection. The case has been filed under sections 354A, 354D, 506, and 509 of the IPC on charges of sexual harassment, intimidation, and demeaning of a woman’s dignity.

Assaulted, forced to clean toilets: 93 minors being trafficked from Bihar to madarsas in Saharanpur rescued in Ayodhya, 5 Maulvis arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Assaulted, forced to clean toilets: 93 minors being trafficked from Bihar to madarsas in Saharanpur rescued in Ayodhya, 5 Maulvis arrested

On Friday (26th April 2024), the Uttar Pradesh Police searched a bus on suspicion of human trafficking while it was passing through Ayodhya. The police rescued around 93 minor children who were present on the bus whose ages varied between 6 to 14 years. The Police have arrested five Maulvis in this connection. As per reports, all the children are said to be residents of Bihar’s Araria district. The Maulvis were taking them to Madarsas in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur for enrollment. However, during their investigation, the police discovered that these Madarsas were unregistered.

The Maulvis are accused of raising funds from external sources by falsely claiming that the minor children were orphans. Upon gaining the children’s trust, the authorities learned that they were subjected to inhumane treatment. Currently, the administration is conducting further investigations into the case. 

According to reports, on Friday (26th April), Police stopped a double-decker bus near Devkali, Ayodhya, on suspicion of Human trafficking. There were about 100 people onboard the bus, with 93 of them being minor children who appeared tired and distressed. 

The bus had started its journey from Araria in Bihar. During the initial interrogation, the Maulvis told the police that they were traveling to Saharanpur. They mentioned two madarsas – Madarul Uloom Rafiqia and Daare Arqam, located in the Deoband area. According to the clerics, they were taking the minors to enroll them in these two madarsas.

When the police investigated these madarsas, it was revealed that neither of them was registered. Additionally, it was also discovered that the Maulvis were raising funds from the parents of these children. However, they presented these minors as orphans to solicit funding from external sources as well.

After apprehending the clerics, the police sent the children to the Government Children’s Home in Lucknow and also informed their parents. The team from the State Child Protection Commission arrived at the Children’s Home on Sunday (28th April 2024).

When they gained the children’s trust and inquired about their well-being, the minors opened up and narrated the ordeals they had suffered in the madarsas.

The minors said that they were brutally assaulted in the madarsa. They were made to clean toilets and were threatened with dire consequences if they told anyone about it. Even when children fell ill, they were given medicine only after receiving money from home. Many children rescued in the recent incident had previously stayed in these madarsas in Saharanpur. The gates of the madarsas were closed at night, and when the minors asked them to open the gate, they were assaulted by the guards. They named Master Shahzad and Jabar as the ones who tortured them the most.

The Police are interrogating the arrested Maulvis and other legal action is underway in this case. As per reports, the parents of these minors were made to give it in writing that the Maulvis would not be responsible if anything untoward happened to their children. 

The administration called on their parents to Lucknow on Monday (29th April). According to Dr. Suchita Chaturvedi, a member of the State Child Rights Protection Commission, the children started crying while talking to her.

These minors said that their dream is to become doctors; however, they added that they can’t achieve this dream by studying in the madarsas. Dr. Suchita said that she would obtain written assurances from the visiting parents that these children would not be admitted to the madarsas again.

A similar incident was reported in May 2023. Back then, the Maharashtra Police had intercepted and seized a truck carrying 63 minor Muslim boys in the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. These Muslim boys, all aged between 7 to 13, belonged to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal and were brought to the city via train from Bihar.

Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece asks Muslims to practice ‘Vote Jihad’ during elections, BJP slams the attempt to misguide Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece asks Muslims to practice ‘Vote Jihad’ during elections, BJP slams the attempt to misguide Muslims

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece, Maria Alam Khan addressed a Samajwadi Party rally in the Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, 29th April, and asked Muslims to practice ‘Vote Jihad’. While addressing the people in the Imam Chowk area, Khan, in the presence of Khurshid, said that practicing ‘vote jihad’ is needed in the current situation.

“We must practice vote jihad very silently and smartly. We need not be emotional about this. We must unite to save the Constitution and that demands Vote Jihad. That is all that is in our hands. We all together need to get this Sanghi government out of power. Only then can we save the Constitution,” Maria Alam Khan could be heard saying. The video of her controversial address is making rounds on social media.

Khan further added that all those Muslims supporting the BJP-led government should be barred from the community. “There are so many people who are currently in jail due to CAA-NRC. Amid this, all those supporting the people in power should face the ire. Salman Khurshid Sir is fighting for all Muslims and we should support him. You people are our power. We all are working for your betterment. The democracy is in danger. Think of your future generations and practice vote jihad,” she added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Salman Khurshid supported the statements made by Maria Alam Khan, and said that usually ‘vote jihad’ terminology is not used in the open as people misinterpret it. Khurshid said that ‘Jihad’ just means fighting with the situation. However, he supported the claims made by Khan that said ‘vote jihad’ must be practiced.

Apart from Salman Khurshid, former Congress MLA Lewis Khurshid, State General Secretary Prakash Pradhan, District President Shakuntala Devi, and many district-level Congress leaders were present during the meeting. SP candidate Dr Naval Kishore Shakya, former MLA Pratap Singh Yadav, Ajit Katheria, and Ramprakash Kallu Yadav also were present at the gathering.

BJP’s Rakesh Tripathi took cognisance of the inciden,t and slammed the opposition for making such controversial statements. While talking exclusively to Times Now, Tripathi said that till now, people were only being made aware of ‘love jihad’, and ‘land jihad’, but now ‘vote jihad’ has also come into the picture.

“These people are trying to misguide the people by asking them to practice vote jihad. The opposition is scared due to the massive development undertaken by the Modi government, even for the minority communities. So they are making attempts to misguide the Muslims. But all these efforts will go in vain. However, strict action must be taken against such leaders who make controversial remarks,” Tripathi said.

As an Indian Ex-Muslim petitions SC to be excluded from Sharia law, this is what Islam says about Ex-Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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As an Indian Ex-Muslim petitions SC to be excluded from Sharia law, this is what Islam says about Ex-Muslims

The Supreme Court of India issued notifications to the Kerala State and Union governments on Monday (April 29th) while hearing a writ suit seeking a ruling that a person born a Muslim but ceased to be a believer is not subject to Shariat law. After lengthy arguments, the bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra issued notices on the plea, describing it as an “important issue.”

As reported earlier, the bench requested that the Attorney General of India appoint a legal officer to assist the Court. The next hearing on this matter will take place during the second week of July 2024.

The writ case was filed by Safiya PM, a Kerala-based woman who serves as the general secretary of an organization of Kerala ex-Muslims. In her letter, Safiya proposes a “declaration that persons who do not want to be regulated by the Muslim Personal Law must have the right to be governed by the secular law of the country, viz, the Indian Succession Act, 1925 both in the case of intestate and testamentary succession”.

Initially, the bench was hesitant to hear the petition, citing the rationale that a non-believer would not be subject to the Shariat Act. Responding to the petitioner’s counsel Advocate Prashant Padmanabhan, CJI Chandrachud said, “The moment you are born as Muslim you are governed by the personal law. Your rights or entitlement are not governed by being a believer or non-believer.” 

The court further questioned how the Court could issue a statement stating that personal law does not apply to a person under Article 32 of the Constitution when the petitioner had not challenged any statutory provision.

During the arguments, the CJI emphasized the requirements of Section 3 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937. He stated that a person will not be controlled by the Act until they clearly declare so under this clause.

“You don’t have to seek that declaration. Because Section 3 of the Shariat Act says that unless you make a declaration, you will not be governed by the provisions of the personal law in the matter of wills, adoptions, and legacies. So if you don’t make a declaration, your father doesn’t make a declaration, they are not governed by the personal law,” the CJI noted.

However, the court recognized an issue because Section 58 of the Indian Succession Act expressly states that the Succession Act does not apply to Muslims. Nonetheless, the bench observed that the petitioner did not contest Section 58 of the Indian Succession Act.

Highlighting the existence of a legal void in such instances, CJI D Y Chandrachud declared, “There is an issue. Because if there is no proclamation, it is still void because secular law does not apply. When we first started reading it, we wondered what type of petition this is. This is a crucial point. We will issue a notice.”

While the court has decided to hear the petition filed by the ex-Muslim woman it is important to learn why the matter is being pressed so much to be heard and what the Muslim law says about the ex-Muslims.

How does Islamic law treat ex-Muslims?

As per the Islamic law, when a Muslim-born individual becomes a disbeliever of the religion, it is referred to as apostasy in Islam. Apostasy is identified when any Muslim individual declares a clear statement showing disbelief in Islam if he/she does something that implies disbelief in the religion.

Apostasy can be categorized into four types: apostasy in beliefs, words, actions, and omission. Beliefs include associating others with Allah, denying his existence, insulting Allah or the Messenger, disrespecting the Quran, prostrating idols, or not following Islam. Omissions, such as not following Islamic rituals also signify disbelief.

As per Islamic law, any individual who is a Muslim but is found showing disbelief in Islam is to be executed. The evidence of this punishment lies in the Al-Bukhari hadith in which the Prophet says, “Whoever changes his religion, execute him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 2794).

“It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim who bears witness that there is no god except Allah and that I am His Messenger, except in one of three cases: a soul for a soul (murder); a married man who commits adultery; and one who leaves his religion and splits from the jama’ah (main group of Muslims,” the Prophet says. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6878; Muslim, 1676)

However, as per the plea filed by the ex-Muslim woman in the given case, the person who leaves his/her faith in Islam, will be ousted from her community and thereafter she is not entitled to any inheritance right in her parental property. 

The petitioner sought a declaration that she would not be governed by Muslim Personal Law for any of the matters listed in Sections 2 or 3 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, but as per the reports, there is no provision in the Act or the Rules for her to obtain such a certificate.

The petitioner meanwhile also claimed that her valuable fundamental rights under Article 25 would be rendered useless by the lack of such protection from the state. The court has termed the issue as important and has said that notice will be issued in the given case.

Conclusion

The case is expected to have wider ramifications. At a time when a lot of present-generation Muslims are renouncing their faith, and the union government is keen to bring a Uniform Civil Code, the SC has taken up a controversial issue that may have wide-scale implications and may face vehement opposition from fundamentalist Muslim organisations. As seen in other cases of civil rights, like the Shah Bano case and Triple Talaq laws, the male-dominated fundamentalist Muslim lobby does not like to cede an inch when it comes to Muslim Personal Laws.

Many Muslim leaders and organisations, even so-called ‘progressive’ politicians have declared that they will not allow the Uniform Civil Code and will bat for the continuation of Muslim Personal Laws in India.

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