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Persecution of minorities continues in Bangladesh, Hindu man charged with ‘blasphemy’ for sharing song about Lalon ‘Fakir’

OpIndia Staff
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Persecution of minorities continues in Bangladesh, Hindu man charged with ‘blasphemy’ for sharing song about Lalon ‘Fakir’

On Sunday (28th April), a Hindu businessman named Sanjoy Rakhit was arrested for supposedly ‘hurting’ the religious sentiments of the Muslim community by sharing a song about 18th-century Bengali mystic Lalon Fakir.

The incident took place in Shariatpur in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh. Rakhit had posted on his Facebook account,” Sunnat e Khatna dile jodi hoye Musalman, tahole Nari jaatir ki hoy Bidhan (If circumcision is the way to become a Muslim for a man, then, what rule applies for women)“

The lines were taken from the song ‘Sab Loke Koy Lalan Ki Jaat Sansare (Everyone says what is the Faith of Lalon)’, written by popular Bengali folk singer Kartik Das Baul in 2016.

Screengrab of the Facebook post of Sanjoy Rakhit

The 40-year-old Sanjoy Rakhit was arrested from his residence in Sariatpur on Sunday (28th April) afternoon under Section 54 of The Code of Criminal Procedure in Bangladesh, which allows for arrest without a warrant.

The Hindu man was thereafter charged for hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community on Facebook. Based on oral complaints by the Muslims, the police sent Rakhit to Sariatpur district jail.

Previously, a Muslim mob reached outside the house of the Hindu man and created a state of unrest.

While speaking about the matter, Officer-in-Charge of the Vedarganj Police station Mintu Mandal told Dhaka Post that a young man was arrested for insulting the rules of Islam.

SP (Shariatpur) Mahbubul Alam remarked, “To avoid any kind of chaos, we arrested the person and brought him to the police station and later he was sent to jail through the court under Section 54. There is still anger among people in the area. Policemen are keeping vigil to prevent any untoward situation.”

The Hindu businessman was produced before a local court on Monday (29th April), following which he was granted bail. In the meantime, several Bangladeshis have expressed support for Sanjoy Rakhit and asked the cops to arrest them for reiterating the lyrics of the Lalon song.

In March this year, OpIndia reported how Islamists are now eyeing to encroach upon the Kantajew temple and Chandranath Mandir in Bangladesh.

Lalon Fakir, popularly known as Lalon Shah, was a prominent Bengali Baul saint. He is considered one of the greatest spiritual and musical figures in the history of Bengal.

He composed numerous songs, known as Baul songs or Lalon Geeti, which are characterised by their spiritual depth, poetic beauty, and social commentary. His songs often explore themes of love, humanity, the search for truth, and the unity of all religions.

Egypt: Angered over approval for a new church, Islamists set fire to houses of Coptic Christians, hundreds of villagers attacked

OpIndia Staff
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Egypt: Angered over approval for a new church, Islamists set fire to houses of Coptic Christians, hundreds of villagers attacked

In Egypt’s southern Minya province, several houses of local Coptic Christians were set on fire on the 23rd of April by local Muslims over the construction of a new church.

The incident unfolded in the Minya Province village of Al-Fawakher, which is home to some 3,000 Christian families who follow the Coptic Orthodox Church. Reports state that the local Islamists had recently responded adversely to the Coptic community getting approval to erect a new church.

Speaking to The Arab News, a source said: “The attacks are believed to have been triggered by an attempt to build a new church in Al-Fawakher village. The report further states that when “religious fanatics failed to expel Christians from their homes as punishment,” they “burned down their houses while they were still inside.”

Social media users shared videos of mobs celebrating in front of burning buildings. According to the advocacy group Copts United, “extremists attacked Coptic homes with stones and chants, and a number were set on fire, amid the screams of women and children.” It further stated that after the attacks started, security personnel did not arrive at the spot for “a long time”.

Coptic Bishop Anba Macarius said in a statement on 24th April that “security forces arrived and brought the situation under control, arresting the instigators. The state agencies will compensate those affected and hold the perpetrators accountable,” stating that “calm prevails in the village now.”

The burning down of Christian houses is the latest instance of sectarian violence directed at Egypt’s minority of Coptic Christians, who have long been persecuted and subject to legal discrimination. It is against the law to convert from Islam, Christians are not allowed to hold high positions, and terror attacks on churches are common, especially in Minya.

According to Copts United, a similar attack over church construction took place in another village on Friday. The government of Egypt has been accused of underestimating the number of Christians in the 111 million-person nation—between 5 and 15%. The majority are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which has its origins in the early church.

The Hindu’s deputy editor claims ‘while corporate loans are written off, properties of middle-class defaulters are being auctioned’: Here is what she won’t tell you

Anurag
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The Hindu’s deputy editor claims ‘while corporate loans are written off, properties of middle-class defaulters are being auctioned’: Here is what she won’t tell you

On 28th April, Deputy Editor of The Hindu, Vijaita Singh, got confused between “written-off” and “waived-off” loans. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Vijaita Singh targeted banks for auctioning off properties of the loan defaulters and asserted that such actions were being taken while corporate loans were “written-off”. Though she wrote “written-off”, it was clear that The Hindu’s deputy editor does not know the difference between waiving-off loans and writing-off loans.

She wrote, “While  corporate loans are written off, homes and land of middle-class people who default on loans are attached and auctioned by banks. List of properties to be auctioned by Canara Bank in Bihar.”

She also shared a photograph of The Indian Express’s 28th April issue where auction notices were published. The pending amount of the loans that were not paid varied between Rs 4 lakhs and a little over 1 crore.

It has been years since Vijaita has been confused about the two terms. In November 2016, a week after demonetisation, she wrote on Twitter (now X), “While you and me prove our patriotism by standing in queues, SBI writes off loan of wilful defaulters,Vijay Malya’s 1201 cr loan waived off!”

However, a little research of her timeline revealed an interesting fact. Vijaita Singh appears to be well-informed about the usage of terms “waived-off” and “written-off”. Interestingly, in 2019, she quoted a report in The Hindu and wrote, “Despite spending over ₹19,000 crore on farm loan waiver, a total of 12,021 farmers have died in the State due to suicide between 2015 and 2018, the Maharashtra government said in Assembly on Friday.”

Contradictory understanding of terms on the timeline of Vijaita Singh on social media

Using the correct terminology indicates Vijaita Singh understands the difference. Then what could be the reason behind the misleading post she made on X on 28th April? Sensationalisation of reporting? Ethics of journalism categorically oppose the sensationalisation of media reporting as it can have adverse effects on the public and may manipulate the truth. This is exactly what has happened here. In journalism, the sensationalisation of a topic is an editorial tactic to draw the attention of the viewers and has the potential to mislead people.

Difference between write-off and waive-off

The ‘write-off’ is a process of balance sheet cleaning up exercise undertaken by banks to depict the real status of the bank’s assets and liabilities. The write-offs are not loan waivers as claimed by Rahul Gandhi. The banks usually write off loans (an asset to the bank) given to borrowers, which have now shown signs of weakness.

If banks fail to write-off these loans, it is reflected as a high-quality asset and the returns-on-assets should be classified as an income to the bank. However, the quality of a defaulted loan has deteriorated for some time now, which results in giving the wrong picture of the true assets of the bank.

Secondly, if a loan is not written-off and is continued as a healthy asset at a time when it actually is a Non-Performing Asset (NPA), then banks can continue to book interest income on the loan, on the accrual basis of accounting.

Write-offs are a purely technical, accounting entry. Loans, which may not be repaid by the borrower in the normal course of business are written off. Even when these loans are written off, various recovery procedures like recovery suits filed before the Debt Recovery Tribunal and action initiated under SARFAESI Act continue. Hence, the writing-off a loan is not simply a ‘waive-off’.

In addition to these differences, not all the loans that are being restructured by ‘writing-off’ are provisioned during the current regime this year. The scheduled commercial banks have in the past, also in the current fiscal, may have written-off loans that are given by the banks in the UPA era. Loans writing-off is a normal banking operation, that is continuously undertaken every fiscal year by the banks to clean their balance sheet for accounting tax-related issues.

Banks recovered over Rs 10 lakh crores from bad loans in nine years

In July 2023, Finance Ministry informed Lok Sabha that between fiscal years 2014 to 2023, scheduled commercial banks recovered around Rs 10 lakh crores of NPAs or bad loans. The information by the Finance Ministry was provided in Lok Sabha as a response to an unstarred question by MP Gnanthiraviam S and MP Vijaykumar alias Vijay Vasanth.

Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad stated that according to the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) data, the amount owed by scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) to corporate company borrowers who are classified as non-performing assets (NPA) and have an outstanding amount of Rs 1,000 crore or more was Rs 1,03,975 crore as of March 31, 2023.

It is evident that though it is a slow process under which the commercial banks recover loans but the recovery was on track. Interestingly, it was reported in February 2022 that Rs 18,000 crores were recovered from fugitives Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. All these loans were NPAs and despite them being outside India, the recovery process continued.

By the time this report was published, Vijaita had not corrected herself or written any follow-up comment.

Uttarakhand govt files criminal complaint against Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna, halts production of 14 ‘medicines’: Know what are the restricted products

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand govt files criminal complaint against Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna, halts production of 14 ‘medicines’: Know what are the restricted products

On Monday (29th April), the Uttarakhand government informed the Supreme Court that it has revoked licences for 14 products offered by Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy. The declaration included an apology from the State Licencing Authority (SLA) and a commitment that it would not perform any deliberate or willful act that would violate any Supreme Court orders.

According to an affidavit filed by the state through Dr Mithilesh Kumar, joint director of the State Licencing Authority, Ayurvedic and Unani Services, an order issued on 15th April to Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Limited conveyed that the manufacturing licences for 14 products were suspended immediately. The ban was imposed due to persistent violations of regulations, including misleading ads, as outlined in Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945.

The products whose licence has been suspended are Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, Bp Grit, Madhugrit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold and Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop.

Many of the products are very popular in the market and have been sold as effective ‘treatments’ for a number of diseases, including cold, cough, bronchitis and diabetes.

Patanjali and Divya Pharmacy have been directed to stop manufacturing the mentioned products immediately and submit the original formulation sheets to the SLA’s Deputy Director.

Moreover, the affidavit stated that on the 16th of April, the drug inspector/district ayurvedic and unani officer in Haridwar filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Judicial Magistrate against Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, Divya Pharmacy, and Patanjali Ayurved Limited under sections 3, 4, and 7 of the DMR Act.

In the affidavit filed in court, the SLA tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology for any inadvertent and unintended noncompliance with the Supreme Court’s directions and stated that he is 55 years old and has five years of service remaining.

The case against Patanjali Ayurved

The case against Patanjali Ayurved originated from a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association in August 2022. The association was triggered by an ad that sparked controversy by questioning allopathic medicine’s efficacy. The IMA accused Patanjali of contributing to vaccine hesitancy and spreading misinformation about the efficacy of its products.

During the hearing, Justice Amanullah cautioned Patanjali against making false claims about curing diseases and warned about imposing fines for such claims. However, despite court orders, Patanjali allegedly continued false advertising, leading to contempt notices and a ban on their medicinal product advertisements. As Patanjali allegedly failed to comply with the orders, it prompted criticism from the court for their inadequate apologies and demanding a comprehensive explanation for their actions. OpIndia’s detailed report on the matter can be checked here.

Congress aide who agitated to deny development in Chhattisgarh gets Goldman Environmental Prize, which was earlier given to Medha Patkar who denied water to Gujarat for years

OpIndia Staff
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Congress aide who agitated to deny development in Chhattisgarh gets Goldman Environmental Prize, which was earlier given to Medha Patkar who denied water to Gujarat for years

Alok Shukla, the convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), is set to receive the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize on Monday (29th April).

He is apparently being honoured for his efforts in safeguarding Hasdeo Arand, a vast expanse of highly dense forest in central India covering 170,000 hectares, which is threatened by the presence of 23 coal blocks.

“Alok Shukla spearheaded a community-driven initiative that effectively preserved 445,000 acres of biodiverse forests, thwarting plans for 21 coal mines in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In July 2022, the government scrapped the proposals for these coal mines in Hasdeo Aranya, renowned for its pristine forests, often referred to as the lungs of Chhattisgarh and recognized as one of India’s largest contiguous forested areas,” stated the Goldman Environmental Prize on Monday.

CBA and its sinister agenda

In 2009, the Ministry of Environment classified Hasdeo Arand as a “No-Go” area for mining due to its abundant forest cover. However, it was later reopened for mining as the policy regarding this classification was not yet finalized.

Nevertheless, the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA) continued collaborating with tribal communities to advocate for and pressure the government to declare Hasdeo Arand free from mining activities.

Following significant opposition from local communities, the Chhattisgarh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in July 2022, designating an expanse of nearly 1700 square kilometres within the Hasdeo forests as free from mining activities.

BJP resumed stalled mining projects

It is noteworthy that Shukla was awarded the prize months after the BJP returned to power in Chhattisgarh last year and started the long-stalled mining projects in the state. 

The move predictably drew the ire of many in the state, including Shukla, who organised a demonstration in Raipur and presented a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu and Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan, appealing for their intervention to protect the rights of Adivasis in the Hasdeo Aranya forest region, which is safeguarded under Schedule V of the Constitution.

Deo Sai, the inaugural tribal Chief Minister of the State, which harbours 7.5 per cent of India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population, defended the move stating that the choice to pursue coal mining and tree felling was initiated during the Congress regime, and the current activities represent a continuation of that decision.

Congress leads in large-scale deforestation

Notably, deforestation has become a contentious political issue in Chhattisgarh, with both the Congress and the BJP trading accusations regarding deforestation associated with mining operations during their periods in opposition. While the Congress points fingers at the BJP for rapid deforestation, official records reveal that in 2022, under Congress rule, 41 hectares of trees were cleared, with permission granted for an additional 93 hectares in November 2023, just before the BJP assumed power in the state.

Nevertheless, the Goldman Environmental Prize bestowed upon Alok Shukla has underscored the looming threat posed by international influences on India’s energy security and economic progress.

Alok Shukla, linked with the Congress party, rose to prominence through vigorous social media campaigns targeting the Rajasthan government’s mining endeavours in Chhattisgarh, where numerous coal blocks operate unhindered. Notably, he has conspicuously omitted addressing the activities of entities such as the Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited, as well as private miners like the Jindal and Vedanta groups. His actions, aimed at unsettling the energy stability of states like Rajasthan, raise concerns, particularly given its proximity to Pakistan.

Alok Shukla targets Rajasthan government

Despite attempting to incite tribal opposition to Rajasthan’s mining projects in the Hasdeo Forests, Shukla diverted his course when local support for Rajasthan’s energy initiatives became evident.

Strategically selecting Alok Shukla from Chhattisgarh, India’s leading coal-producing state, for the Goldman Awards highlights a desperate attempt to grant him recognition, evident in the substantial prize money of two lakh US dollars (approximately Rs 1.70 crore). However, his impact on the ground remains minimal compared to his social media clamour. His sponsored online campaign against Rajasthan’s legitimate mining efforts persists, crucial for ensuring affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply to its populace of eight crores.

Collaborating closely with former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Shukla played a significant role in weakening the Congress party in Chhattisgarh. While his social media activism garnered international attention, including coverage from outlets like the BBC, its repercussions were severe. His actions resulted in the loss of three assembly seats in the Surguja district and eroded tribal support for Congress in other constituencies, dealing a substantial blow to the party’s electoral base.

For some time, international interest groups have opposed India’s infrastructure development projects, with Shukla’s accolade from the Goldman Awards being another testament to this. Shukla’s association with organizations linked to the controversial Centre for Policy Research grants brought his name to the forefront. Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the Foreign Contribution Act (FCRA) license of the Centre for Policy Research last year, with the Income Tax Department also scrutinising its activities. Coincidentally, Shukla was summoned by the IT Department regarding transactions in 2022.

‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ activist Medha Patkar was also a recipient of the dubious Goldman Prize

It’s worth recalling that Medha Patkar, an advocate against the Narmada Project and a supporter of Shukla’s cause, is also a recipient of the Goldman Award. It’s worth recalling that Medha Patkar, an advocate against the Narmada Project and a supporter of Shukla’s cause, is also a recipient of the Goldman Award. Medha Patkar is best known for her ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ against the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. The protest contributed to the years-long postponement of the Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada River.

For suspected money laundering during the “Narmada Bachao Andolan,” the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed an FIR against activist Medha Patkar on April 5 this year. In addition to the ED, investigations into Patkar’s shady dealings have also been initiated by the Department of Revenue Intelligence and the Income Tax Department.

According to a Pioneer report, Patkar’s NGO received a donation of roughly Rs 1.2 crores within a year of its foundation in 2004 but managed to elude authorities for almost 17 years.

The investigation raised several concerns regarding the payments. According to records obtained by Pioneer, the NGO received the funds on June 18, 2005, from 20 different sources in a single day. Surprisingly, the amount of all 20 donations was the same, which was Rs 5,96,294. Pallavi Prabhaar Bhalekar, one of the donors, was a minor at the time the donations were transferred.

Punjab Police files FIR against the YouTube channel that compared Raghav Chadha with Vijay Mallya and claimed AAP sold election tickets

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab Police files FIR against the YouTube channel that compared Raghav Chadha with Vijay Mallya and claimed AAP sold election tickets

A YouTube channel has landed in trouble for making a video on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha who is currently abroad for eye-related treatment. The Punjab Police has filed an FIR against the channel named, ‘Capital TV’, at Shimlapuri police station in Ludhiana. The FIR has accused the channel of defaming the AAP leader and running “misleading content” on the Delhi liquor scam.

The channel had also claimed that AAP has been selling election tickets.

The FIR against ‘Capital TV’ was filed on the complaint of Vikas Prashar. He is the son of the AAP candidate from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat, Ashok Pappi Prashar. The complainant has accused the channel of using defamatory and “misleading content”.

According to the complaint, the YouTube channel was running “misleading and scandalous content” against AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who is currently in England. The complaint states that by allegedly equating him with fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, the channel had tarnished the image of the AAP leader.  

The complainant Vikas has accused the channel of defaming Chadha by “equating him with Mallya” and of calling “Chadha a Khalistani supporter after he met UK MP, Preet Gill”. The channel has also been accused of spreading “fake news on drug-peddling in Punjab”, and inciting ‘religious sentiments’. 

The complainant added that “such videos are disturbing the public peace and harmony and need to be deleted immediately”.

Regarding the case, DCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said, “The FIR has been registered on the basis of the complaint. A probe has been initiated.”

Content of the FIR

As per the FIR, the channel made claims that “Vijay Mallya fled to the UK after taking public money, and similarly, a Rajya Sabha member left for England, claiming it was for eye treatment.”

According to the FIR, when Raghav Chadha met British MP, Preet Gill, he was called a Khalistani. It has also accused the channel of spreading fake news on the drug problem in Punjab. As per the FIR, this would increase mutual enmity between different groups and harm public peace and harmony. 

The complaint reads, “The statements/contents of false videos on Capital TV channel and others shall harm the public peace and harmony…and is likely to promote enmity between different groups in the country on grounds of religion, caste, race, and community.” 

The FIR has been registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups based on religion), 469 (forgery), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code and section 66 of the Information Technology Act.

AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadda has been in England for a while. He went there for eye treatment, along with his wife, actress Parineeti Chopra, who later returned to India.

Meanwhile, there has been a lot of turmoil in the Aam Aadmi Party since Raghav Chadha went abroad. Incidentally, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the liquor scam case, but netizens and political analysts have noted a lack of vocal response from Raghav Chadha regarding these issues. 

Nonetheless, a similar action against another YouTube channel was reported earlier this year. In February, the Punjab police arrested YouTuber Rachit Kaushik from Uttar Pradesh on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity based on religion. However, Kaushik, the founder of Sab Loktantra claimed that he was targeted for “exposing Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP government in Punjab”.

‘Clip is of mock polls’: ECI rubbishes viral video of a person casting five consecutive votes to BJP in Assam as false and misleading

OpIndia Staff
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‘Clip is of mock polls’: ECI rubbishes viral video of a person casting five consecutive votes to BJP in Assam as false and misleading

Social media influencer Neha Singh Rathore has courted another controversy as the Election Commission of India has pointed out that she was peddling fake news through a misleading post. Notably, the ECI attached a screenshot of her post to highlight that the claims she made in the post were “false” and “misleading”. 

While she shared a video to allege election ‘rigging’ during the actual voting procedure, ECI revealed that the video was taken during a mock poll. In her misleading post, she further insinuated that there is a glitch in the EVMs as it is only voting for one party which will help the BJP achieve its target of winning 400 seats. She went further to claim that people should send flowers in the obituary of the Election Commission.

While sharing the mock poll video as one taken during actual polling, Neha Singh Rathore wrote, “See how Bhasmasur Party is being made to cross 400. See the orgy of corruption in the festival of democracy. Send flowers of tribute to the Central Election Commission.” It is pertinent to note that she later deleted the misleading post without apologising or sharing the correct details of the incident on her timeline.  

Reacting to the misleading post, the poll body tweeted, “A video is circulated on X with false claims on the conduct of elections in #GE2024…The allegations made in this post are false & misleading. The video mentioned pertains to a mock poll in Assam, not actual poll.”

ECI added that the DEO Karimganj had already clarified about the incident. It also attached the official press release of the concerned election officer.

In the official press release, the District Election Officer (DEO) of Karimganj highlighted that the said video was taken during the mock poll and it was not a video related to the actual polling process. The officer categorically assured that there was no violation of procedure during the conduct of the actual poll. The press release further mentioned that the issue was confirmed and clarified during the scrutiny phase that took place on 27th April in the presence of contesting candidates and general observers.

The officer emphasised that the said incident during the mock poll was a gross violation of ECI guidelines of not taking phones inside the polling station and that action has been taken against the persons involved in the act.

The press release noted, “However, it is further clarified that the said incidence during mock poll was gross violation of ECI instructions on prohibition of carrying mobile phone inside the polling station. For violation of ECI instructions, disciplinary action has already been taken against the Presiding Officer and lawful action will also be taken against the polling agent who violated the instruction of not carrying the mobile phone inside the polling station.”

Sharing the press release of Karimganj DEO and Neha Rathore’s tweet, an X user wrote, “Queen of fake news Neha Rathod ji!! The Election Commission has clarified that the said video is from the mock poll when it is shown to the candidates’ agents whether the EVM is working properly or not. The legal punishment for spreading fake news related to EVM is 2 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.”

Congress worker Reetam Singh arrested for peddling fake video of Amit Shah; had previously threatened, abused, and tried to doxx OpIndia Editor Nupur Sharma: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Congress worker Reetam Singh arrested for peddling fake video of Amit Shah; had previously threatened, abused, and tried to doxx OpIndia Editor Nupur Sharma: Details

As the election campaigning is reaching a feverish pitch, the opposition, and its ecosystem, on multiple occasions, have been caught spreading misleading claims, clipped videos to run smear campaigns, and political propaganda along with fake news. In a major crackdown on misinformation/disinformation, a man named Reetam Singh, who is the “war room coordinator” in Congress’ Assam unit, was arrested on 29th April for circulating a fake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

Taking to X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed about Singh’s arrest as he wrote, “Assam police have arrested an individual named Sri Reetom Singh in connection with the fake video involving Honorable Home Minister Sri @Amit Shah.”

The details of this case can be read by clicking here. 

Nonetheless, it is pertinent to note that this is not the first time that Reetam Singh has been caught breaching Indian laws, he earned notoriety during the anti-CAA protest that broke out in 2019.

(Reetam Singh demands to compile a list of RW handles who will be sent to jail when their supportive government comes to power, says, “Sabse badla liya jayega”.)

Time and again, the former NSUI functionary has been found leading smear campaigns, unleashing online lynch mobs, issuing threats of physical harm, ‘retribution’ and doxxing the private information of dissenters, particularly targeting OpIndia’s Editor-in-Chief Nupur J Sharma. Nupur Sharma had once highlighted the role of Singh and ilks in orchestrating and fanning the anti-CAA protests, that turned violent in many places and culminated in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots 2020. 

The OpIndia Editor-in-Chief had filed a complaint against Singh on 24th December 2019 for leaking her private information to the public and issuing threats of “teaching her a lesson” and “violating her in public openly”. 

Reetam Singh had spent years targeting Nupur J Sharma for exposing his involvement in the anti-CAA protests

Notably, on 16th December 2019, OpIndia had published an article titled, “Who is instigating violence in colleges: Congress, NSUI, a sinister WhatsApp group, and anti-CAA protests”. In her article, Nupur Sharma highlighted how she observed a WhatsApp group that was coordinating and planning protests against CAA in Law Universities.  

The article had also highlighted the role of the admins of this secretive anti-CAA protestors’ WhatsApp group. Incidentally, one of the admins was Reetam Singh, the man arrested today for peddling a fake video of Home Minister Amit Shah.  

Back then, Reetam Singh was associated with the student arm of the Congress party. He was the RTI Cell Coordinator for NSUI (National Students Union of India).

A day later, OpIndia had highlighted the chat exchanges in the controversial group. 

In the investigative reports, OpIndia had exposed that contrary to the claims that anti-CAA protests were “spontaneous”, there was a sinister plot to promote anarchy, and it was carefully coordinated by the Congress party. The report highlighted how it was Reetam Singh who came up with the tactics of “using girls as the first line of defense” to ensure that the ‘students’ are safe. “Police would never touch them,” he had said.

Additionally, it’s also important to remember that an intelligence report shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs had stated that some ‘political parties’, and banned radical Islamist outfits like SIMI and PFI were behind the violent protests in several places across the country. 

Soon after the article was published, Reetam Singh started targeting Nupur J Sharma for carrying the investigating report against him and his ilks. From threats of legal action to silence OpIndia’s Editor-in-Chief Nupur J Sharma, Singh went further to threaten her of causing harm – “violate her in public openly”, in case she persisted with the story. Disgruntled with the expose, he also went on to leak private information including the details of her parents and the address of Nupur J Sharma, for which the latter filed a Police complaint against him.

Post context – Congress party functionary Reetam Singh threatens OpIndia Editor-in-Chief Nupur J Sharma that he will find her just like the CIA found Bin Laden, alluding to the CIA manhunt and killing of dreaded terrorist Osama Bin Laden, a direct threat to kill her. The posts targeting Sharma continues around 5 years down the line after she published the investigative report exposing the likes of Reetam Singh in planning anti-CAA protests.

(For Congress party functionary, Reetam Singh dissenters and journalists who expose their nefarious agendas are more dangerous that ‘terrorists’, dictators, and mass murderers.)
(Singh adjudged journalists like Nupur J Sharma to rot perpetually in ‘hell’.)

Singh, associated with the Congress party, had also issued death and rape threats against Nupur Sharma on several occasions as well as name-called her with deranging slurs, including equating her with terrorists, wishing for ill/diseases to catch up to her, and threats of retribution, and ‘hell’ when their supportive government comes to power at the Centre. 

(Singh wishes his dissenters suffer worst of diseases)
(Reetam threatens Nupur J Sharma to put her in jail)

As Assam Police arrested Assam Congress’s “war room coordinator”, Reetam Singh over several charges, including circulating morphed videos of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, it appears that the law has finally caught up with him for his intimidatory, threatening, malevolent, and anti-national tendencies.

Scotland first Minister Humza Yousaf resigns two days after ‘vowing’ to face no-confidence motion

OpIndia Staff
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Scotland first Minister Humza Yousaf resigns two days after ‘vowing’ to face no-confidence motion

Scotland’s first Muslim to become First Minister, Humza Yousaf has resigned from his post after falling short of majority. The scenario developed after Humza Yousaf abruptly terminated a power-sharing deal between his Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Green Party last week, hoping to run a minority administration, however, the opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion. Yousaf will continue as the First Minister of Scotland until his successor is elected. Yousaf became Scotland’s First Minister in March 2023.

Addressing a press conference at his Bute House residence, Humza Yousaf said, “After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my party, for the government and for the country I lead, I’ve concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm. I have therefore informed the SNP’s national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader.”

Interestingly, Yousaf’s resignation came just days after he ‘vowed’ to face the two confidence motions and expressed ‘confidence’ over winning the same. However, in just two days the SNP leader backtracked and decided to resign.

“I’m quite confident, very confident in fact, that I’ll be able to win that vote of no confidence,” Yousaf said.

Last week, the Scottish arm of the Conservative Party had called Yousaf a ‘lame duck’ and said that it would topple his government.

Notably, the Yousaf-led government was facing criticism over an alleged funding scam. In April last year, the SNP’s treasurer was arrested after the police found that the  600,000 pounds ($750,000) raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017 were used for “other purposes”.

The SNP is also losing popular support after 17 years of heading the Scottish Government. YouGov, a polling firm reported earlier this month that, for the first time in a decade, the Labour Party has surpassed the SNP in voting intentions for the Westminster elections.

When Humza Yousaf was infuriated over white people holding senior posts in Scotland

Interestingly, Humza Yousaf is of Pakistani origin, where the constitution explicitly says that only Muslims can be the Prime Minister and President of the country, Yousaf in Scotland held many important government positions in the last few years. However, despite the acceptance and opportunities he received in Scotland, Yousaf has come across as a leader harbouring disdain for the Whites.

Recently, a video of Humza Yousaf lamenting over the presence of whites in most senior positions in Scotland. Although the said video was from June 2020, when Yousaf was Scotland’s Health Minister his anti-white monologue was alarming. Amidst the global outrage over American African man George Floyd’s murder, Yousaf in the barb of addressing ‘social injustice’ and lack of black people in top government positions, exposed his anti-White mindset and suggested that the white people dominate government and parliamentary positions.

“Most senior positions in Scotland are filled almost exclusively by people who are white the Lord President, Lord Justice Clerk and Solicitor General in the justice department, and the chief medical officer, chief nursing officer and chief social work adviser in the health department…Almost every trade union in this country (is) headed by people who are white. In the Scottish Government, every director general is white. Every chair of every public body is white…” Yousaf said.

Humza Yousaf was angry over white people holding top positions in government in a country which has over 90% white population.

FM Yousaf gave away Scottish people’s money to Hamas-linked UNRWA to support his co-religionists in Gaza

In March this year, Humza Yousaf gave £250,000 money to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the largest aid agency operating in Gaza. Yousaf had no qualms in squandering the Scottish taxpayer’s money to an agency having links with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which in October last year brutally killed thousands of Israeli civilians. Yousaf’s decision came despite his officials recommending donating £100,000-£200,000 to UNICEF for a water programme. Yousaf had faced severe backlash over this decision. His interference in the allocation of funds to aid agencies was seen as a conflict of interest and a breach of the ministerial code.

It is pertinent to mention here that several UNRWA staff members were accused of being involved in the 7th October terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. Following the outrage over this, the UN agency terminated the contracts of its accused employees. In February this year, the Israeli military said that it uncovered a Hamas tunnel under UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) school.

Interestingly, Yousaf’s mother-in-law and father-in-law were trapped in Gaza last year as the Hamas-Israel conflict broke out. Reports say that on November 2nd Yousaf met a delegation of UNRWA in Edinburgh as well as publicly announced the donation to UNRWA and the very next day his family was given a safe passage out of Gaza via Rafah crossing.

Navi Mumbai: Hindu woman killed, chopped into pieces and stuffed in a suitcase by lover Nizam after she finds he was already married, had a child

OpIndia Staff
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Navi Mumbai: Hindu woman killed, chopped into pieces and stuffed in a suitcase by lover Nizam after she finds he was already married, had a child

A 27-year-old woman discovered deceased and wrapped in a blanket in Uran town, Navi Mumbai last week, was reportedly engaged in a four-year relationship with the suspect, Nizam, as per a report published by CNN News 18.

Reportedly, the suspect, identified as Nizam, a taxi driver, picked up the victim, Poonam Kshirsagar, from Mankhurd and drove her to Khadavli in the Kalyan area of Thane district on April 18.

Poonam was allegedly killed on April 19, and her body was abandoned at Talekhar along Chirner-Kharpada in the Uran area. Locals discovered her decomposed remains on April 25, according to police reports.

Following an investigation, police confirmed the identity of the body as Poonam’s, whose family had filed a missing person report on April 19.

Nazim, hailing from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, has since been apprehended by the authorities.

Reportedly, Poonam was unaware of Nazim’s marital status until she discovered he was married and had a child, leading to a confrontation over the phone that escalated into a tragic incident.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha, after meeting with the victim’s family, claimed that Nizam transported her to Kalyan where he allegedly murdered her, then disposed of her body in a remote location.

Lodha, who serves as Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister, emphasized that this marks the third such incident in Mumbai and stressed the importance of addressing illegal immigrants from Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in the city.

He also pledged to ensure justice for Poonam, warning of potential unrest if swift action is not taken against the perpetrator within 24 hours.

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