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2-minute interview with MK Stalin after 3 years of wait: ‘Neutral journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai, who had danced on AAP victory, now plays drums for the opposition

अनुपम कुमार सिंह
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2-minute interview with MK Stalin after 3 years of wait: ‘Neutral journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai, who had danced on AAP victory, now plays drums for the opposition

A large section of the nation’s media frequently refers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a dictator in an attempt to undermine his democratic credentials and unparalleled popularity. Germany-based YouTuber Dhruv Rathee even created a propaganda video to demonstrate how India is turning to dictatorship rather from its democratic moorings.

Ravish Kumar met Dhruv Rathee recently, presumwbly to cash in on the popularity that Rathee enjoys substantial popularity among Congress supporters who are desperately throwing their weight anyone and everyone who helps them in stopping the Modi juggernaut. Rajdeep Sardesai has also been engaged in propaganda for many years. Initially, they targeted Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots and attempted to portray him as ‘Hitler’ for not holding a press conference.

The issue is that having a press conference by the prime minister is no longer relevant in this day and age, as there are so many outlets, including TV, YouTube and other social media platforms that can be utilised to convey the message. PM Modi is even connected to the remotest parts of India through his radio show. This class of alleged journalists regularly praise the opposition leaders and degrade the prime minister over press conferences that have no relevance in this time and age of social media and pervasive connectivity. They constantly change their ‘heroes.’

Rajdeep Sardesai’s wife Sagarika Ghosh, a former journalist turned TMC Rajya Sabha MP, for instance, wrote that strangers were smiling at each other when Arvind Kejriwal won in Delhi. Barkha Dutt remembered her photographic skills after Uddhav Thackeray triumphed in Maharashtra. Similarly, this section of media plays the role of “courtier” for Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav at different times.

Now, Rajdeep Sardesai had a chance to speak with MK Stalin, the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. This was an opportunity, as Rajdeep Sardesai himself claimed was granted three minutes after three years of waiting. That interview concluded in just two minutes as well. Rajdeep Sardesai asked him some questions about the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. How come Rajdeep Sardesai refrained from labelling the leader who granted an interview for the first time in three years as a dictator?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did his first interview with Thanthi TV, a Tamil TV channel prior to the general election. Although this illustrated that how much he cherishes the nation’s geographical diversity, Rajdeep Sardesai remained silent on it. MK Stalin, however, referred to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as his primary competitor in his interview and rejected the Modi influence in Tamil Nadu. Rajdeep Sardesai’s joyous expression at the beginning of the interview is noteworthy.

While speaking about MK Stalin, Rajdeep Sardesai was unable to conceal his joy. In this interview, MK Stalin claimed to secure all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu. He declared that since his party came to power in the state, all the promises have been fulfilled and the new programs have significantly benefited women. He announced a landslide victory in Tamil Nadu. PM Modi, he alleged, was disseminating lies in his speeches.

After Rajdeep Sardesia spoke about the allegations of nepotism and corruption made against the chief minister by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he brought up the topic of electoral bonds and said nothing more. Everyone is now aware of the amount of money donated to each party since all electoral bond data is available to the public. The ‘Future Gaming’ company which generated a lot of stir had donated the most money to DMK. Moreover, this list included all parties and not only the BJP.

The most striking thing about this interview is that Rajdeep Sardesai neglected to inquire about Annamalai, the BJP’s state president in Tamil Nadu and an upcoming leader in the southern state. Once an IPS officer, Annamalai is now so prominent in Tamil Nadu that he is discussed in the national media. He frequently attends conferences, rallies and padayatras with BJP workers. They are putting in a lot of effort at work. However, out of fear that MK Stalin might become upset, Rajdeep Sardesai did not even bring up his name.

Three years and just a two-minute interaction. Now, what more could poor Rajdeep Sadesai have done and asked? The fact that he is content with this two-minute interview is different because an opposition leader was in front of him. He did not belong to the BJP, hence Rajdeep Sardesai will abstain from calling MK Stalin a tyrant on social media. Indeed, there are a lot of cuts in the video. The two-minute video has multiple edits. People are now asking Rajdeep Sardesai what he had for lunch. He interviewed Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan while eating fish.

He didn’t ask Mamata Banerjee about the violence during the West Bengal election since doing so would have prevented him from eating “Rasgulla.” Later, it was discovered that “Rasgulla” can occasionally be used in place of an MP for the upper house. Rajdeep Sardesai routinely expresses confidence in the opposition leaders regarding their victory. Notwithstanding his spouse’s status as a Rajya Sabha MP, he continues to allege impartiality.

Watch another Rajdeep Sardesai video in which he was pounding the drum for the AIADMK-SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) election campaign. He appeared to be “jumping” or almost ” leaping ” in this footage. It meant that even if he beats the drum for a political party, he is still ‘fair’ but if someone talks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public welfare initiatives, they turn into a ‘godi media.’ This gang of journalists has been playing this game for a long time.

It’s nothing because in 2020, following the Aam Aadmi Party’s success in the Delhi assembly election, Rajdeep Sardesai was so delighted that he began to dance in his television studio. The same bunch of journalists create a sorrowful environment when the BJP wins anywhere. Can we count on them to provide us with honest news? He’s no stranger to dubious journalism. He has danced for the opposition before and now he is playing the drums for them.

Gross misuse of power by Police machinery: Supreme Court expresses shock over Police tutoring witnesses, asks Tamil Nadu DGP to take action against erring Police officers

OpIndia Staff
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Gross misuse of power by Police machinery: Supreme Court expresses shock over Police tutoring witnesses, asks Tamil Nadu DGP to take action against erring Police officers

On Friday (5th April), the Supreme Court rebuked Tamil Nadu police for tutoring witnesses in a murder case, noting that this amounts to “gross misuse of power by the Police machinery”. After slamming the Police, the apex court directed Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police (DGP) to initiate a probe and take action against the erring police officials in accordance with the law. The court asserted that the police can’t be allowed to tutor the witnesses.

The bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal made the above remarks while quashing the verdicts of the High Court and a trial court that convicted and sentenced two persons in a 2007 murder case. 

Expressing shock over Police tutoring witnesses, the bench remarked, “This kind of interference by the Police with the judicial process, to say the least, is shocking. This amounts to gross misuse of power by the Police machinery. The Police cannot be allowed to tutor the prosecution witness. This conduct becomes more serious as other eyewitnesses, though available, were withheld.” 

The court also expressed surprise that both the trial court and the Madras High Court had overlooked that the Police had tutored the witnesses during the trial phase in this case. 

It observed, “We are surprised that both the Courts overlooked this critical aspect.” 

Subsequently, the bench asked the Tamil Nadu DGP to initiate a probe against the erring Police officials. The Court ordered, “Needless to add, appropriate action shall be initiated against the erring officials in accordance with the law.” 

After examining the trial court records, the bench pointed out that a day before the testimony of five prosecution witnesses was recorded, they were called to the police station and tutored how to depose in a particular manner adding that this raised questions on the genuineness of the prosecution. 

It stated, “One can reasonably imagine the effect of ‘teaching’ the witnesses inside a Police Station. This is a blatant act by the police to tutor the material prosecution witnesses. All of them were interested witnesses. Their evidence will have to be discarded as there is a distinct possibility that the said witnesses were tutored by the police on the earlier day.”

While overturning the verdict of the lower courts, the court remarked, “Therefore, adverse inference must be drawn against the prosecution. Hence, there is a serious doubt created about the genuineness of the prosecution case.”

The case pertains to a murder case that occured in 2007. Manikandan and Sivakumar, the two suspects, were accused of murdering an individual named Balamurugan on October 4, 2007. Balamurugan was killed after a dispute erupted over the delivery of idlis at his home by Manikandan.

‘NIA orchestrated the attack, case being probed involved chocolate bomb blast’: Mamata Banerjee downplays assault on NIA by TMC supporters

OpIndia Staff
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‘NIA orchestrated the attack, case being probed involved chocolate bomb blast’: Mamata Banerjee downplays assault on NIA by TMC supporters

Hours after supporters of a TMC leader launched an unprovoked attack on a National Investigation Agency (NIA) agency team in Bhupatinagar village in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a clean chit to the attackers.

While speaking about the matter during a public meeting in Balurghat, she claimed, “They are trying to beat us with CBI, NIA, Income Tax and ED…When I was exiting the Hemtabad village, the journalists repeated the talking points of the NIA, CBI and ED.”

“They were asking me about the attack in Bhupatinagar. Tell me who orchestrated the attack? The women in the village did not carry out the attack. The NIA engineered it,” Mamata Banerjee brazened out.

“The traitor (Gaddar) knows that he will lose the elections so they are going house to house and harassing people,” the TMC supremo claimed without furnishing any evidence.

It must be mentioned that the NIA team had visited the Bhupatinagar village to probe a bomb blast, which took place in December 2022 and claimed the lives of three people. Mamata Banerjee was quick to dismiss the gravity of the situation and dubbed it ‘chocolate bomb blast’.

“In 2022, a chocolate bomb (firecrackers burnt during the occasion of Diwali) exploded at a house,” she was heard saying. In visuals shared on social media by the news agency ANI at that time, it could be seen that the blast caused significant damage to the building (which would not have been possible had it been chocolate bombs).

It however did not stop the West Bengal Chief Minister from comparing the high-intensity explosion to the act of burning firecrackers.

Mamata Banerjee accuses NIA of ‘committing atrocities’ on women

During her speech, Mamata Banerjee also claimed that NIA officials intruded into the homes of women of Bhupatinagar village and committed atrocities on them.

“Now, if the NIA goes to the house of women late at night to commit atrocities (atyachar), will the women wear bangles and do nothing about it? Won’t they defend their honour and dignity?” she brazened out.

“You want to enter people’s houses at night. You want to arrest all booth Presidents of the TMC. We do not want an Election Commission that works for the BJP and changes officers deployed by our government,” she alleged.

“Why is the EC not stopping the atrocities of the ED, CBI and the Income Tax Department? The State police will maintain security and law and order in the State throughout the year but the BSF, CISF, and CRPF will take over all operations during the elections?” Mamata Banerjee continued to fear monger about central forces.

Mamata Banerjee further claimed, “NIA and CBI are like brothers to the BJP. ED and Income Tax Department are the funding boxes of the BJP.

“Baseless”: India rubbishes Ottawa’s allegations of ‘election interference’ in Canadian elections

OpIndia Staff
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“Baseless”: India rubbishes Ottawa’s allegations of ‘election interference’ in Canadian elections

India has strongly rejected the allegations of Indian interference in the Canadian general elections, rubbishing it as “baseless”. Incidentally, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that the core issue has been the other way around stating that it is Canada that has been interfering in the internal affairs of India.

The country’s stern response comes a day after a report in the Canadian media alleged India’s interference in previous elections held in Canada. 

Notably on 5th April (Friday), the Canadian media reported that the country’s spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has alleged that India and Pakistan attempted to “interfere” in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections in Canada.  

Earlier this week, on 4th April, the CSIS released certain documents in which it claimed that the Government of India had tried to use its proxy agency in Canada in 2021, as per an unclassified summary written by the CSIS.

These documents by the CSIS alleging India’s interference were tabled as part of the Federal Commission of Inquiry which has been inquiring about “possible meddling” by India, China, Russia, and other countries in the 2019 and 2021 elections, the CBC reported.

While India has rejected the allegations describing them as “baseless”, the Canadian intelligence agency’s director had also stated that the intelligence can’t be necessarily treated as “fact”. 

Conspicuously, the Canadian media report pointed out that CSIS Director David Vigneault clarified that intelligence is not necessarily fact, hence, it may require further investigation while all documents caution about the summaries being possibly uncorroborated, single-sourced, or incomplete. 

India has maintained its stance which it cleared in February this year. Back then, responding to media reports, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said, “We have seen media reports about the Canadian commission inquiring into. We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections.” 

He added, “It is not the government of India’s policy to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries. In fact, quite on the reverse, it is Canada which has been interfering in our internal affairs.” 

Furthermore, the developments come amid strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remark in his parliament accusing India of the killing of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. India had rejected the allegations and has constantly pressed Canada to show ‘any evidence’ to back its allegations against India. Nearly 6 months after Trudeau aired the allegations against India, Canada has yet to produce any evidence in this regard, prompting a senior leader of his ally country, New Zealand to ask, “Where is the evidence?”

In March this year, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters had asked Canada to show evidence, if it had any, that could link India with the alleged murder of the Khalistani terrorist, Nijjar.  

Despite New Zealand being an integral member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, he cast doubt on the “quality” and “reliability” of information shared by the intelligence group. 

Peters had said, “..look, sometimes when you’re hearing Five-Eyes information, you’re hearing it and saying nothing. It is coming past you. You don’t know the value or the quality of it, but you’re pleased to have it. You don’t know whether there is going to be substantial material value or nothing.”

He added, “As a trained lawyer, I look okay, so where’s the case? Where’s the evidence? Where’s the finding right here, right now? Well, there isn’t one.” 

His remarks were in line with the CSIS Director who also asserted that “intelligence inputs” can’t be treated as fact as it has to be corroborated in multiple ways. Some intelligence agencies had earned notoriety for ‘falsifying intel’ to achieve pre-determined end goal, the most infamous being the ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ claim to invade Iraq. 

Enforcement Directorate files complaint after AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan skips six summons in Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case

OpIndia Staff
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Enforcement Directorate files complaint after AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan skips six summons in Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case

On 5th April, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached Rouse Avenue Court against Amanatullah Khan, an MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for failing to appear as required by the central agency in a money laundering case related to irregularities in hiring employees and leasing property for the Delhi Waqf Board. He was summoned to be questioned on the 23rd and 31st of January, the 9th, 19th and 26th of February and the 4th of March, but he has not complied, according to the agency.

ED invoked sections 190 and 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code for filing a complaint in the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Divya Malhotra against the AAP leader for failure to cooperate with the summons under Section 50 (power to issue summons) of the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act and refusal to participate in the inquiry. Divya Malhotra, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), scheduled a hearing for 6th April.

The court had earlier denied Amanatullah Khan‘s request for anticipatory release in this matter. He is accused of obtaining “huge proceeds of crime” in cash through the unauthorized hiring of employees, per the agency’s case. He then invested the money to buy real estate under the identities of his associates.

Three of his suspected colleagues were among the five accused against whom the ED had issued a chargesheet in November 2023. The chargesheet did not include Amanatullah Khan as an accused party. According to the agency, properties were bought on his instruction. The chargesheet asserted, “It is further revealed that out of Rs 36 crore, Rs 8 crore mentioned to be transacted directly by Khan in cash.”

The Delhi government suffered financial losses and the lawmaker made illicit gains when he illegally appointed people to the Delhi Waqf Board against non-approved and non-existent vacancies, based on a 2016 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case that prompted the ED to launch its investigation. It was also stated that he had illegally leased away Waqf Board properties.

The ED then filed charges against him for money laundering. The federal agency maintained that the AAP MLA used his connections to buy real estate in order to launder his illicit wealth. He previously sought anticipatory relief from a Delhi court, however, the motion was denied on 1st March. Later, on 11th March, the Delhi High Court denied his application for anticipatory bail.

The issue is related to a property in Okhla valued at Rs 36 crore that was purchased using illegal monies at the behest of the AAP MLA who handed over Rs 8 crore in cash. The ED took into consideration prior First Information Reports that had been filed by the Delhi Police, CBI and Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) during the inquiry. The agency provided proof of a monetary transaction of Rs 27 crore and declared that the property was purchased at the politican’s request.

Zeeshan Haider, his partnership company Skypower, Javed Imam Siddiqui, Dawood Nasir and Qausar Imam Siddiqui were all included in the chargesheet that the ED had launched in the case. The charge included Amanatullah Khan’s improper appointment to the Delhi Waqf Board chairmanship.

“Congress manifesto reflects the same mindset of the Muslim League”: PM Modi lambasts Congress for corruption, ‘fighting against Shakti’

OpIndia Staff
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“Congress manifesto reflects the same mindset of the Muslim League”: PM Modi lambasts Congress for corruption, ‘fighting against Shakti’

On Saturday (6th April), Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and the I.N.D.I. Alliance stressing that they prioritise and stand for “Commission” (corruption/extortion).

Addressing a rally in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, he slammed the grand old party charging it with ruining the career of Indian youth in the guise of its election manifesto. He appealed to the voters stating that the I.N.D.I. alliance wants to ruin the careers of their wards arguing that with reservations in jobs, they want to do corruption in the recruitment process. 

He took a dig at the Congress party’s election manifesto released a day earlier. He asserted that the party that was once led by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi is now cut off from the public. He added that its election manifesto reveals that it now has the same mindset that the Muslim league had during the time of partition. He emphasised that the rest of the Congress is dominated by the leftists.

PM Modi said, “The Congress which fought for independence ended decades ago. The Congress that is left now neither has policies in the interest of the country nor a vision for nation-building. The kind of manifesto released by Congress yesterday proves that today’s Congress is completely cut off from the hopes and aspirations of today’s India. The same thinking is reflected in the Congress manifesto which was there in the Muslim League during the freedom movement. The Congress manifesto completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League and whatever part of it is left is completely dominated by the leftists. Congress is nowhere to be seen in this.”

PM Modi added that the I.N.D.I. alliance is desperate and rattled adding that its leaders can’t even say that they are coming to power. They are fighting this election just to stop the BJP from achieving the coveted 370 figure, he noted.  

Slamming the SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi took a swipe at Samajwadi Party stating that it can’t even field candidates properly. Notably, SP has repeatedly changed/swapped its candidates hours after announcing the candidate for several seats. Likewise, PM Modi added that Congress is finding it hard to find candidates to contest on seats that were once considered its strongholds. PM Modi lauded CM Yogi Adityanath for maintaining law and order and coming down heavily on miscreants and criminals in the state.

 
He further stated, “This is the first election I am witnessing where the opposition is contesting not to win but to contain the BJP below 370 seats and NDA 400. Samajwadi Party is in such a condition that they have to change the candidates every hour and for Congress, it is even worse, they aren’t finding candidates, even at their strongholds… ‘Do ladkon ki film jo pichali baar flop ho chuki hai, un do ladkon ki film ko in logon ne fir se release kiya hai’…”

PM Modi lambasted the I.N.D.I. alliance over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Shakti remark. He said, “This is the place of Maa Shakti, this is the place of worshipping Maa Shakti. We are a country which never ignores worshipping Shakti. However, it is the country’s misfortune that people of the I.N.D.I. alliance are openly challenging that their fight is against Shakti.”

He said, “Today, it is an auspicious occasion. Today is BJP’s foundation day. BJP has won people’s trust, it has won people’s hearts. What is the reason behind it? The biggest reason is that BJP works on ‘Rashtraniti’ and not ‘Rajniti’.”

PM Modi stated that while the BJP-led NDA government is working to fight the menace of Corruption, I.N.D.I. alliance is working hand in hand to save corrupts. He said, “I say “Bharastachar hatao’, wo bolte hai, ‘Bharastachari bachao’.” It is ‘Modi ki guarantee’ that the decisive and stern action against corruption will continue, the Prime Minister assured. 

Officer injured, vehicle damaged: NIA issues statement after mob attacked its team in West Bengal while arresting 2 TMC leaders in blast case

OpIndia Staff
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Officer injured, vehicle damaged: NIA issues statement after mob attacked its team in West Bengal while arresting 2 TMC leaders in blast case

In the East Medinipur district of Bengal, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team conducting a raid related to a 2022 bomb blast case was assaulted on Saturday (6th April). An officer from the anti-terror agency sustained injuries during the attack in the Bhupatinagar locality in the East Medinipur district. The team’s vehicle was vandalised by a sudden mob, leading to the breaking of its windscreen. The NIA arrested two key conspirators of the blast case during this raid. Notably, both the arrested accused are from West Bengal’s ruling party TMC.

In a video of the incident that was widely shared on social media, locals were purportedly seen gathering around a vehicle, trying to stop the NIA team from taking the suspect along with them. The villagers also pelted the vehicle with stones, sources added.

After the incident, a statement in this regard has been issued by the agency from its X handle. In this statement, the agency said, “In a breakthrough in West Bengal’s Bhupatinagar blast case, in which three persons were killed in December 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested two key conspirators amid stiff resistance from an unruly crowd in the state’s East Medinipore district.”

It added, “The duo, Balai Charan Maity and Manobrata Jana, were arrested after extensive searches at five locations, including the house of Jana, where a crowd of local residents tried to obstruct the NIA team. One NIA team member suffered a minor injury and the agency’s official vehicle was also damaged as some miscreants in the crowd assaulted them.”

Giving more details about the attack, the NIA said in its statement, “The aggressive crowd tried to stop the NIA team and its security component from moving towards Bhupatinagar police station to complete the arrest formalities. NIA has complained to the local police station in this regard. Manobrata Jana, and the other arrested accused, identified as Balai Charan Maity, were found to have conspired to manufacture and explode crude bombs to spread terror.”

Detailing the bomb blast incident under probe, the NIA said in its statement, “Three persons were killed in the December 2022 explosion in the house of one Rajkumar Manna in village Naruabilla, District East Medinipur, West Bengal. Manna himself was seriously in the blast, along with two others, Biswajit Gayen and Buddhadeb Manna. All three succumbed to their injuries later.”

The agency added, “The State police initially registered an FIR on 3rd December 2022 against the three men killed in the explosion but the provisions of the Explosive Substances Act were not applied. Subsequently, a writ petition was filed before the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta with a prayer for invoking the relevant sections of the Act and transferring the case to NIA. NIA took over the case on 4th June 2023, as per the High Court order dated 21st March 2023, and re-registered it as RC 16/2023/NIA/DLI under various sections of the law, including the Explosive Substances Act.”

The anti-terror probe agency further said, “During the investigation, NIA uncovered the role of several other accused in the case, including the arrested accused, Manobrata Jana of village Naruabila, and Balai Charan Maity of Ninaruya Analberia. The two men had actively participated in the conspiracy to make crude bombs and had extended support for the same, NIA had found in its probe, which led to today’s searches and arrests. The arrested accused will be produced before the Special NIA Court, Kolkata, as per law, Investigations in the case are continuing.”

NIA officials detained two local TMC leaders, known as Manobrata Jana and Balai Charan Maity, in connection with the bomb blast case. While returning to Kolkata, the vehicle transporting them came under attack. A senior police official said, “Locals gheraoed the vehicle and pelted stones at it. The NIA has said one of its officers was also injured. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also lodged a police complaint in this regard.”

The NIA had summoned eight Trinamool Congress leaders to present themselves before its officers on Saturday for questioning regarding a blast that occurred in Bhupatinagar, East Medinipur district of West Bengal, in 2022. These leaders had previously ignored summonses directing them to visit the NIA office in Kolkata’s New Town on 28th March.

On 3rd December 2022, an explosion destroyed a makeshift house with a thatched roof in Bhupatinagar, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Meanwhile, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh accused the opposition BJP of orchestrating the NIA’s actions. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted on X to denounce the assault on the NIA officials, stating that the law and order situation in West Bengal has completely deteriorated.

He posted, “The NIA Team, probing the Bhupatinagar Bomb Blast Case has come under attack at Bhupatinagar in the Bhagabanpur Assembly Constituency, of Purba Medinipur District. The Law and Order structure of West Bengal has crumbled completely and since the control is right now with the Election Commission of India, it’s high time that the Election Commission of India should take proper action against the Officer in Charge of Bhupatinagar Police Station, SDPO Contai, SP of Purba Medinipur District and the DG of WB Police.”

He added, “It is due to Mamata Banerjee’s repeated instigation that even after the ED Officials were attacked at Sandeshkhali, the TMC Leaders could still dare to attack the NIA Officers. She recently spoke ill about the NIA at the political event at Mathabhanga, in the Cooch Behar district. The NIA team went to apprehend Balai Maity and others who didn’t cooperate after receiving the summons. Instead, these TMC Leaders were busy planning how to attack the National Investigation Agency Officers.”

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee condemned the assault in Midnapore on Saturday. Describing it as “outrageous,” the BJP candidate from West Bengal’s Hooghly stated, “This blatant disregard for law and order is unacceptable.”

Punjab: 55-year-old woman assaulted, paraded semi-naked by daughter-in-law’s family; were angry over their daughter’s love marriage

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: 55-year-old woman assaulted, paraded semi-naked by daughter-in-law’s family; were angry over their daughter’s love marriage

A shocking incident has surfaced from Valtoha village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran where a 55-year-old woman was paraded in a semi-nude state by the family of her daughter-in-law on 31st March because they were enraged over the girl’s love marriage. The accused filmed her as she was paraded in the streets of the hamlet. They also snatched the clothes she picked in a futile attempt to cover herself. The victim tried to protect herself from the humiliation and hid in shops. Afterwards, they released entire the recording to social media.

The authorities didn’t file a case against the offenders earlier and were forced to do so after the footage gained traction online. Valtoha police station submitted a case against three named and two anonymous individuals. Raj Lali Gill, the chairperson of the Punjab Women Commission, announced that she has spoken with senior officers and strict action will be taken in the matter.

The woman who is a resident of Jeevan Nagar stated in her complaint that her son Akashdeep Singh had married Ramandeep Kaur, their neighbour Baldev Singh’s daughter in court. The two had left home on 24th February and tied the knot on 9th March. On 31st March the girl’s brothers and mother, Sharanjit Singh also known as Sunny, Gurcharan Singh, Kulwinder Kaur alias Mani, and two other unidentified people arrived outside their house and started shouting.

When she emerged from the house after hearing the commotion, these people tore her clothes and exposed half of her body. The girl’s brother grabbed the old lady by her hair and beat her. They assaulted her and also wanted to rip her salwar (lowers) but she somehow prevented it from happening after which they started making a video of her as she ran in the streets. She further complained that they didn’t even let her take chunni (stoll). She took shelter in stores as the accused followed and filmed her. She then moved inside a shop and the shopkeeper objected due to which the filming was eventually halted.

Meanwhile, she screamed for help after which her husband and others gathered and rescued her. The female stated that she went to the police and made a complaint on the night of 31st March, however, the cops didn’t take action against the culprits even after filing a report. They were still at their place when she returned to her house. On 1st April, she informed that the accused were at home and the police should apprehend them but to no avail and in fact the case was filed on 4th April under sections 354, 354-B, 354-D, 323, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

However, Station House Officer Sunita Rani claimed that the woman came to record a complaint on 2nd April and wanted to settle the issue with the offenders rather than initiating legal action against them. Police only launched a case after she gave her statement. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Preet Inder Singh of Bhikhiwind, based on the woman’s testimony, a case has been lodged under various sections against Sharanjit Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Kulwinder Kaur, residents of Valtoha and two unknown persons. Raids are being conducted to arrest them as they are absconding.

Furthermore, the Punjab Commission for Women has taken cognisance of the shameful occurrence in Tarn Taran and has sought a report on the action taken by the police regarding the matter.

Haryana: AAP requests permission to hold campaign rally, election commission officials reject it with abusive comment, 5 employees suspended

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: AAP requests permission to hold campaign rally, election commission officials reject it with abusive comment, 5 employees suspended

In Kaithal, Haryana, the Aam Aadmi Party had sought permission from the Election Commission to hold two programs for election campaigning. But both the applications were rejected with lewd abuse written in the comments. After the matter came to light, 5 employees working for he election commission have been suspended. AAP has said that this is a shameful incident.

AAP’s Shubham Rana had sought permission for meetings and for the use of loudspeakers. In addition to Chandna Gate of Kaithak, permission was sought for meetings and loudspeakers in ward number 9-10 and Siwan. It was reported that the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday (7th April).

However, the permission for the campaign events were denied. Moreover, in place of the reason of the rejection, the official wrote abusive words in the official letter, triggering outrage.

One comment reads – ‘Koni Dende’. This is in the Haryanvi language, which means – I will not give. However, the second comment contains abuse addressing the mother of the applicant. The party has objected to the comments made by the local office of the Election Commission officer while not allowing these meetings.

Five personnel working with the Haryana election commission have been suspended after the matter came to light, including one junior engineer and four computer operators.

OpIndia reached out to Shubham Rana to get more information in this regard. He said, “This incident is real. This permission was sought for meetings in villages. In this case, 5 people of the local election commission office have also been suspended. They are all computer operators. The local election commission official also did not rule out the possibility of a computer hack.”

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Assistant Election Officer) has directed the police to investigate the matter.

Aam Aadmi Party’s Kurukshetra Lok Sabha candidate Sushil Gupta released a video saying that BJP people are now sitting in the Election Commission’s office, who are rejecting permission to AAP to hold meetings and abusing their families. He said, “The people of the country are seeing how the Bharatiya Janata Party is making fun of democracy by killing it. The people of India will definitely answer this in the coming Lok Sabha elections.”

He added, “Strict action should be taken against administrative officers who do not respect the code of conduct. In a democracy, it is the job of the Election Commission to ensure fair elections. Time and again, such incidents are coming to light which shows that the Election Commission is failing to play its role.”

The Haryana unit of the Aam Aadmi Party posted, “Election Commission has become a puppet of BJP in Haryana. Permission for two events on 7 April was sought by AAP. The first one was rejected and then ‘Koni Dende’ (won’t allow) was written. The second permission was also rejected and obscene abuses against the mother were written. Can’t there be fair elections in this country? Nothing can be more shameful than the language used by the Election Commission. The people of the country will not tolerate this kind of mischief.”

Aam Aadmi Party posted, “Shameful!! Has the Election Commission recruited BJP trolls in its offices? When the AAP candidate asked permission from the Election Commission for the program So the Election Commission, abusing the AAP candidate in writing, refused to permit the event The Election Commission should tell the country that it is not responsible towards all the parties of the country; it has become only a political wing of the BJP.”

Haryana will go to polls on 25th May. Sushil Gupta himself is contesting from Kurukshetra. He is fighting the election against the BJP candidate former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. AAP state vice president Anurag Danda has termed it a dark chapter in democratic history. Sushil Gupta demanded strict action against the administrative officials for not following the code of conduct.

‘You bloody fool’, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate goes on an abusive rant against Shehzad Poonawalla in a live TV debate

OpIndia Staff
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‘You bloody fool’, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate goes on an abusive rant against Shehzad Poonawalla in a live TV debate

On Friday (5th April), Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate went on an abusive rant against BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla in a live TV debate on News18. Shrinate called him a ‘bloody fool’ and an ‘intemperate young boy’. The debate hosted by anchor Zakka Jacob was about Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks on The Guardian’s report accusing India of multiple killings outside India. Rajnath Singh had said in an interview with CNN-News 18 that ‘if a terrorist escapes from India, we will go outside to kill him’.

During this debate, Shehzad Poonawalla said that Supriya Shrinate had misnamed the Director General of Military Operations in Northern Command. He attempted to correct her with the information as to who was on that post in 2020 and who is heading it now in 2024. In response to this, Supriya Shrinate lost her cool and called Shehzad Poonawalla a ‘bloody fool’. This is seen at 31:12 in the video embedded below.

Shehzad Poonawalla took it to X and posted about the incident from his handle. He wrote, “Today Supriya Shrinate crossed all limits & abused me not once but twice on national TV. “Bloody Fool”, “intemperate young boy,” said the GAALIBAAZ who did not spare Kangana Ranaut and the people of Mandi (to date she has not identified the culprit).”

He added, “My crime: I exposed her lies on air on Rameshwaram cafe blast & the fact that she got the name of Northern Army Commander wrong in her haste! She had no answers on Karnataka HM’s statement on Pulwama too.”

He further wrote in his post, “See the video where she says the wrong name of the Northern Army Commander not once but twice (( I then go on to trap her on the point but she is too dumb to understand it and says the wrong name again so much for facts))”

Shehzad Poonawalla also mentioned how Supriya Shrinate abused him in the past in a similar fashion. He wrote, “This is not the first time she has abused me. She called me Goon on Rajdeep Sardesai’s show. She called me more names on other shows. She even insulted my aged mother once. Do we need more proof about who posted that post on Kangana Ranaut? Will ECI act on her now?”

Supriya Shrinate recently insulted Kangana Ranaut

Notably, Kangana Ranaut was at the receiving end of a particularly nasty online attack after Congress leaders and supporters targeted her with sexual innuendos and abuses following the announcement of her candidature from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh.

In a post on Instagram which has now been deleted, Congress National Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asked, “Kya bhav chal raha hai Mandi me koi batayega? (Will someone tell me what the rate system in Mandi is?)” with a particularly racy picture of Kangana Ranaut.

Supriya Shrinate’s post against Kangana Ranaut. Image Source: Screenshot of post on Supriya Shrinate’s Instagram handle

Later, Supriya Shrinate went into a defensive mode as she posted a video blaming one of her ‘team members’ for her sexist post against actor Kangana Ranaut. “Many people have access to my Facebook and Instagram accounts. One of these people had posted a very disgusting and objectionable post today,” Ms Shrinate said in a 1-minute 29-second long video posted by her on X.

Now she has abused another BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on a live TV show. Referring to the way she insulted Kangana Ranaut and later blamed it on her staff, Shehzad Poonawalla reshared the snippet of Supriya Shrinate calling him a Bloody fool and wrote in the caption of the post, “Do we need more proof on who posted that disgusting post on Kangana Ranaut from Supriya Shrinate’s account? The true face of a GAALIBAAZ!”

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