On Friday (23rd February), YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh resorted to peddling fake news about the Delhi police amid the ongoing ‘farmers protest’ in the National Capital.
The propaganda artist shared a picture from 2016 and claimed that it was taken during the demonstrations carried out by ‘farmers’. Singh accused the Delhi police of brutally hitting a farmer’s face with pellets.
In a tweet, the YouTuber claimed, “It is difficult to even see this picture. The image is of a boy who was injured during the ongoing farmers’ protest.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Shyam Meera Singh, image via X/ Lala
However, nothing can be farther from the truth. The image belongs to a man named Mohammad Imran Parray. The picture was clicked by the Associated Press on 13th July 2016.
At the time of clicking the image, Parray was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Srinagar after being hit by pellets during violent protests in the Kashmir Valley.
Nonetheless, this did not stop Shyam Meera Singh from posting the 8-year-old image and falsely claiming that it was taken during the ongoing farmers’ protest. His tweet was further amplified by former ‘radio jockey’ Sayema.
ये तस्वीर अभी के किसान आंदोलन की नहीं है। कृपया इसे शेयर ना करें। ये तस्वीर जुलाई 2016 की है। तस्वीर में- Mohammad Imran Parray हैं। जो कश्मीर से हैं। चेहरे पर पैलेट गन के निशान हैं। जैसे अभी किसान आंदोलन के दौरान किसानों के शरीर पर मेडिकल जाँच में भी प्रूव हुए। pic.twitter.com/Xc6R4CQgeA
The YouTuber did not bother to verify the picture or make a simple reverse image search before making the unsubstantiated claims. This was despite the fact that such disinformation has the potential to trigger untoward incidents of violence and create a law and order situation.
Following outrage on social media, the controversial YouTuber posted, “This picture is not from the ongoing farmers’ protest. Please do not share this. This picture is from July 2016. The picture is of Mohammad Imran Parray, Who is from Kashmir. There are marks of pellet guns on his face. During the farmers’ movement, it was also proved in the medical examination of the bodies of the farmers.”
As expected, Shyam Meera Singh did not post any apology for peddling fake news. Earlier, he was directed to remove ‘defamatory tweets’ and videos against convicted rape and murder accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
It must be mentioned that several X (formerly Twitter) accounts have previously been withheld for peddling fake news. It is about time that similar action is taken against the likes of Shyam Meera Singh and Sayema for peddling disinformation.
The multinational fast-food company McDonald’s has come under fire from the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for using imitation cheese in place of genuine products in burgers and nuggets, according to a report in The Times of India. The franchise has decided to remove the term “cheese” from several menu items at their eatery located in Ahmednagar after the license of one of its outlets was suspended. The FDA is pushing the business to implement corrective action on the state and national levels.
The purpose of cheese analogues, referred to as cheese substitutes is to mimic the flavour, consistency and utility of conventional dairy cheese. The alternatives, which are reportedly found in multiple McDonald’s products, usually replace dairy or milk fat with less expensive vegetable oil. The food regulatory organisation accused the corporation of “misleading” consumers into believing they were eating real cheese by employing cheese substitutes without properly disclosing this information on food labels or electronic display boards.
FDA commissioner Abhimanyu Kale informed the media house that leaving out information of this significance is deceptive to customers and could lead to negative health effects. He revealed, “During the inspection, our officers did not find any mention of cheese analogues anywhere. Items like ‘cheese nuggets’, ‘cheesy dip’, and ‘cheeseburger’ were being labelled as such without indicating that the cheese was a substitute. Most other fast-food pizza and burger joints could be indulging in the same practice. We plan to investigate these chains as well.”
An examination of McDonald’s Kedgaon branch in Ahmednagar in October last year marked the beginning of the action against the company. After finding that at least eight items, cheesy nuggets, McCheese veg burger, McCheese non-veg burger, corn and cheeseburger, cheesy Italian veg and blueberry cheesecake contained cheese analogues, the food inspector served a show-cause notice to the establishment.
McDonald’s license was suspended because their explanation was considered inadequate after they contested the FDA action. Subsequently, the FDA commissioner issued a directive highlighting the need for unambiguous labelling, with font size and colour distinguishable from ordinary cheese. Furthermore, he asked that nutritional information including the quantity of fat and protein among other things should be displayed for items that contain alternatives.
According to Abhimanyu Kale, nutritional details should be presented on display boards that occupy up to 40% of the space in restaurants. He added, “Menu cards should clearly state the use of analogues, addressing allergen concerns, and diet concerns such as the presence of higher trans-fat.”
McDonald’s claimed in a letter to the FDA in December that they had renamed the products by taking the word “cheese” out. They rebranded the McCheese veggie burger as cheddar delight burger, blueberry cheesecake as blueberry cake and cheesy nuggets as veggie nuggets. The new names are being posted at select locations in Santacruz, Kurla and Bhendi Bazar. However, McDonald’s denied utilizing substitutes when they were questioned about it.
“Regarding the removal of the word ‘cheese’ from our menu at McDonald’s stores in Maharashtra, we want to reassure our customers that we use only real, quality cheese in all our products containing cheese. We are actively working with the relevant authorities on this matter,” a spokesperson from McDonald’s India (W&S) told The Times of India. The business released letters from their cheese suppliers stating that Dlecta Foods Pvt Ltd is the manufacturer of the cheese sauce used in frozen cheese nuggets and claiming it is not a counterfeit.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at nearly half-a-dozen locations in West Bengal in its fresh ongoing investigation against absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan in connection with the alleged land-grabbing case.
The raids are still underway at the premises of the TMC leader and other suspects in the case. The agency conducted these raids a day after it issued fresh summons to Shahjahan to join investigation on February 29.
As per agency sources, these raids are part of a new Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) linked with Shahjahan in land grabbing matter.
Accompanied by central forces, the ED officials launched the search operation since early morning.
Last month, the federal agency also conducted two separate raids on multiple location on different dates in connection with Public Distribution System (PDS) scam case. Those places included the residence of Shahjahan’s residence in Sandeshkhali.
The agency is learnt to have conducted raids at the properties of a West Bengal businessman associated with Shahjahan. The searches took place at his home in Howrah and at other sites in Sandeshkhali.
Many women in Sandeshkhali, located in the North 24 Parganas district, have made allegations against the influential figure Shajahan and his associates from the Trinamool Congress, accusing them of land grabbing and sexual assault under duress. A significant protest is currently taking place in Sandeshkhali, calling for his arrest.
On one similar search operation conducted on January 5, the ED officials were attacked while on their way to carry out raids at Shahjahan and fellow TMC leader Shankar Adhya’s residences in the North 24 Parganas district.
Nearly 200 locals, believed to be supporters of the TMC leader, encircled the officials and armed paramilitary forces then, preventing them from raiding Shahjahan’s residence. Two ED officials were injured in the incident.
The incident led to a political blame game, with the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders criticising state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government raising questions over law and order situation, while the TMC blamed the agency for provoking the locals.
The incident led the Ministry of Home Affairs to seek a detailed report from the West Bengal government regarding the attacks.
Shahjahan continues to evade capture, with both state police and Central agencies unable to locate him. Recently, the Calcutta High Court instructed a collaborative Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and West Bengal Police to investigate an assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali.
The SIT, consisting of personnel from both agencies, has been mandated to present its findings by February 12, as per the Court’s directive.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On 23rd February the Haryana Police announced that they will not invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against farmer leaders at present protesting at the state border. The development transpired a few hours after the authorities announced that farmer leaders would face the consequences of their actions under the strict law.
“This is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the National Security Act on a few farm union leaders of district Ambala has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked. Haryana Police appeals to the protestors and their leaders to maintain peace and cooperate with the authorities in maintaining law and order,” stated Sibash Kabiraj, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ambala Range.
Haryana | Sibash Kabiraj, IGP Ambala Range says, "This is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the National Security Act on few farm union leaders of district Ambala has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked.…
Amid a stand-off with the farmers, who are protesting with their demands, Haryana Police in Ambala District has said that any loss to the government and private property during the protest will be compensated by attaching the property and seizure of bank accounts of the protestors.
On February 22, the Haryana police had shared a press release stating that farmer union leaders who are inciting protestors to break barricades and damage properties, and attack police personnel, will have to face provisions under the National Security Act.
“Proceedings have been initiated under the NSA National Security Act 1980/NSA against the chief officials of farmer organizations and the agitators,” the Ambala police said on X sharing a press release yesterday.
They added that 2 police officials have died so far on duty and another has suffered a brain hemorrhage. Over 30 police personnel have been injured in the violence carried out by the protesting farmers.
On Friday (23rd February), early in the morning, Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MLA Lasya Nanditha (age 37) died in a road accident on Patancheru ORR (Outer Ring Road) in Telangana’s Sangareddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad. She succumbed to serious injuries as her car crashed into the road divider.
Veteran Shiv Sena leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi passed away in Mumbai in the wee hours of Friday. He was 86 years old. He was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai on 21st February after a cardiac arrest. Joshi was Maharashtra’s chief minister from 1995 to 1999.
BRS MLA G Lasya Nanditha’s car met with an accident on Nehru Outer Ring Road in Hyderabad. She was elected as a BRS MLA from Secunderabad Cantonment constituency. MLA Lasya Nanditha’s car uncontrollably collided with the divider. In the picture revealed after the accident, it can be seen that the front part of her car has been shattered.
Telangana | BRS MLA from Secunderabad Cantonment, Lasya Nanditha died in a car accident at Patancheru ORR this morning when her car hit a divider.
Her driver has also suffered serious injuries in this road accident. Nandita was the daughter of five-time MLA G Sayanna. G Sayanna represented the Secunderabad Cantonment constituency five times. Sayanna passed away in February 2023, after which BRS gave Lasya Nandita a ticket from Secunderabad in the assembly elections held in Telangana.
She had a narrow escape in a road accident in Narketpally, Nalgonda district, on 13th February, just 10 days ago. She suffered minor injuries in that incident but a guard accompanying her her had lost his life. She was going to Nalgonda to attend the public meeting of former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao when that incident occurred.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy posted on X, “The untimely death of Secunderabad Cantonment legislator Lasya Nandita left me deeply shocked. I had a close relationship with Nandita’s father Late Sayanna. He passed away in the same month last year. It is very sad that Nandita also died suddenly in the same month this year. My deepest condolences to their family. I pray to God to rest her soul in peace.”
కంటోన్మెంట్ శాసన సభ్యురాలు లాస్య నందిత అకాలమరణం నన్ను తీవ్ర దిగ్భ్రాంతికి గురి చేసింది.
నందిత తండ్రి స్వర్గీయ సాయన్న గారితో నాకు సన్నిహిత సంబంధం ఉండేది. ఆయన గత ఏడాది ఇదే నెలలో స్వర్గస్తులవడం… ఇదే నెలలో నందిత కూడా ఆకస్మికంగా మరణం చెందడం అత్యంత విషాదకరం.
KT Rao – the working president of the BRS – shared his 10-day-old photographs with Lasya Nandita and wrote in an X post, “This was about a week ago. Just now heard the tragic & shocking news that Lasya is no more!! Woke up to the devastating loss of the young legislator who was a very good leader in the making My heartfelt prayers for strength to her family and friends in this terrible & difficult time.”
This was about a week ago. Just now heard the absolutely tragic & shocking news that Lasya is no more !!
Woke up to the devastating loss of the young legislator who was a very good leader in the making
My heartfelt prayers for strength to her family and friends in this terrible… https://t.co/CqpfrxMweU
Maharashtra’s former chief minister and veteran Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi passed away at 3 a.m. on Friday (23rd February). He was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai after he had a cardiac arrest on 21st February. He was 86. Manohar Joshi had closely worked with Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray since the inception of Shiv Sena in 1966. He was the first chief minister of the Hindutva alliance.
Manohar Joshi was known for his Kohinoor Technical Institute. He started as a tutor and established a grand network of branches of his technical coaching institute pan Maharashtra. For his background as a trainer, he was fondly called Joshi Sir in the political circles as well. His tenure as a chief minister of Maharashtra was known for significant achievements like the iconic Mumbai-Pune Expressway – the first of its kind in the country, Slum Area Redevelopment Schemes, Employment Guarantee Schemes, and most importantly crumbling the underworld in Mumbai with the help of a dashing home minister Gopinath Munde.
Manohar Joshi was the most important face of Shiv Sena in Delhi during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004. Manohar Joshi worked as the Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises from 1999 to 2002. He also served as the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2002 to 2004. He was a Rajya Sabha member from 2006 to 2012.
Maharashtra’s chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde posted on X, “Very sad to hear the news of the death of former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, senior leader Manohar Joshi sir. A disciplined and firm leader who had great loyalty to Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and contributed wholeheartedly to building the Maharashtra he envisioned has passed away.”
Eknath Shinde further said in his post, “He had a deep affection for Maharashtra, Marathi people. He is recognised as a scholarly and cultured face in Maharashtra politics. Joshi Sir was very humble, moderate, courteous and disciplined. His achievements and contributions in the political, social and educational fields of Maharashtra brought about radical changes. He was passionate about the field of education. That is why he turned the youth towards education through Kohinoor Technical Institute.”
महाराष्ट्राचे माजी मुख्यमंत्री, ज्येष्ठ नेते मनोहर जोशी सरांच्या निधनाचे वृत्त ऐकून अतिशय दुःख झाले. शिवसेनाप्रमुख बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांच्यावर प्रचंड निष्ठा असलेले आणि त्यांना अपेक्षित महाराष्ट्र घडवण्यासाठी मनापासून योगदान देणारे एक शिस्तबध्द आणि खंबीर नेतृत्व काळाच्या पडद्याआड… pic.twitter.com/rM33OboPhh
CM Eknath Shinde added, “Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government was led by Joshi Sir. He had a knack for taking everyone along and respecting everyone’s roles while working in an alliance. He had vast experience working in various positions such as corporator of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Mayor, Member of Legislative Council, MLA, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, MP, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Speaker of Lok Sabha and Member of Rajya Sabha. I consider it my fortune that I got the opportunity to work under his guidance in Shiv Sena.”
In the end, Eknath Shinde wrote, “Today we have lost a staunch, true Shiv Sainik who was true to the views of Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. May his soul rest in peace, this is the prayer to God. We share the grief of the Joshi family. Our emotional tribute to him!”
On Friday (23rd February), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared a Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job for the sister of farmer protestor Shubhkaran Singh, who reportedly died at the Khanauri border point. While farmer protestors claim that Singh died in police firing, Haryana Police had denied firing.
Taking to X, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced, “Financial assistance of Rs 1 crore will be given by the Punjab Government to the family of Shubhakaran Singh, who was martyred during the farmers’ protest at Khanauri border, and his younger sister will be given a government job. Appropriate legal action will be taken against the culprits.. They are performing their duty.”
खनौरी बॉर्डर पर किसान आंदोलन के दौरान शहीद हुए शुभकरन सिंह के परिवार को पंजाब सरकार की ओर से 1 करोड़ रुपये की आर्थिक सहायता और उनकी छोटी बहन को सरकारी नौकरी दी जाएगी.. दोषियों के खिलाफ उचित कानूनी कार्रवाई की जाएगी ..फर्ज निभा रहे हैं…
According to reports, 21-year-old Shubhkaran Singh, a Bathinda local, was slain and 12 police officers were injured in clashes at the Khanauri border post on the Punjab-Haryana border on 21st February. The incident transpired as several protesting farmers attempted to approach the barricades.
As reported earlier, Shubh Karan Singh reportedly died after he was injured during a clash with police at Khanauri border. on Wednesday. He was rushed to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where an injury on his head was found. While protestors claimed that he was shot by police, the police denied firing on protestors. Reportedly, doctors said that Singh was hit by a rubber bullet. On Wednesday, Haryana Police had denied the report of the death, saying that no farmer had died.
This came after the farmer protest took a violent turn on the resumption of the Delhi Chalo march on February 21, after a brief halt. Notably, clashes broke out between protesting farmers trying to break barricades and create tear gas of their own, and security forces deployed at the Punjab-Haryana border, particularly the Khanauri border.
The US-based anti-Hindu organisation, ironically named Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), is hosting an event on Friday (23rd February) with the sinister objective of blaming Hinduism for supposedly being ‘anti-pluralism.’
In a reel posted on Facebook, HfHR informed that an event dubbed ‘Zionism and Hindu Supremacy: partners against Pluralism’ is scheduled at the Logan Media Centre in North Gate Hall of the University of California (Berkeley).
The contentious programme, aimed at spreading canards about Hinduism, will also be broadcast via Zoom.
“Be part of a dynamic discussion on the intersection of Zionism and Hindu Supremacy. Explore their roles in shaping world politics and human rights. Register for this thought-provoking event today!” the caption read.
In a tweet, HfHR said, “Register now! The complex nexus of Zionism and Hindu Supremacy, an eye-opening exploration of two potent ideologies.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Hindus for Human Rights
One of the speakers at the anti-Hindu event is Dana Bergen, a member of the ‘Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
The so-called ‘anti-Zionist’ organisation is notorious for undertaking protests and leading ‘boycott campaigns’ against the Jewish State of Israel.
As per a report by The New York Post published in October last year, far-left billionaire George Soros donated $6,50,000 to the organisation to peddle its nefarious agenda.
In February 2023, George Soros inadvertently revealed what we have known for a long time – that the billionaire is eyeing a ‘colour revolution’ in India. George Soros and his vicious ecosystem of NGOs, activists and journalists had been trying to prove PM Modi as an ‘electoral autocrat’ who needed to be ousted for the ‘greater good’ of this country. And it has been a work in progress for a long time.
In January 2020, the American billionaire committed $1 billion to start a global university to “fight nationalists” and climate change, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of our civilisation.
Controversies surrounding ‘Hindus for Human Rights’
According to the popular OSINT handle ‘Disinfo Lab’, HfHR was formed in the year 2019 by Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI).
Interestingly, the three organisations had formed another outfit called the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA). As per an article in The Hindu, the Alliance for Justice and Accountability had been at the forefront of leading demonstrations against the visit of PM Modi to Houston on September 22, 2019.
Sunita Vishwanath, the co-founder of ‘Hindus for Human Rights’ had also tried to create hysteria and panic among Indian Muslims about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019.
Sunita Vishwanath, co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights (#HfHR) is co-host of multiple events with IAMC – all ‘concerned’ about India.
Her other organization Women for Afghan Women is funded by Soros’ Open Society Foundation.
“We are especially appalled by the most recent nightmare of the Kashmiri people, and the situation of 1.9 million people in India who are rendered stateless due to the imposition of the travesty called the National Register of Citizens”
She is also the co-founder of an organisation named ‘Women for Afghan Women’, which is funded by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF)/ Open Society Institute (OSI).
In 2021, ‘Hindus for Human Rights’ also endorsed the anti-Hindu event ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ conference. It also came up with a “special toolkit” to propagate against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his State visit to the US in June 2023.
In October last year, the X (formerly Twitter) account of HfHR was withheld in India in response to a legal demand.
An outrage has erupted in Canada over a jailed serial killer becoming eligible for parole. In December 2007, Robert Pickton was convicted of the murders of six women and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
Pickton was also accused of 20 other murders, with DNA evidence linking more missing women to his pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, however, the charges were dropped since Pickton was already serving the maximum sentence. He has been accused of murdering up to 49 women and feeding the corpses to his pigs.
According to media reports, Pickton will be eligible for full parole beginning in 2027, 25 years after his first arrest on February 22, 2002.
Taking to X on 22nd February, Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poillevere expressed his disappointment over Pickton getting parole as he wrote, “Today, one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, Robert Pickton, has become eligible for parole. Monsters like this should never be released from prison. Common sense Conservatives believe that mass murderers should face consecutive sentences so they only come out of jail in a box.”
Today, one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, Robert Pickton, has become eligible for parole.
Monsters like this should never be released from prison.
Common sense Conservatives believe that mass murderers should face consecutive sentences so they only come out of jail…
In a statement, Conservative leader Rob Moore said that “monsters like Pickton should never be eligible for parole.”
“Much like Paul Bernardo, the only way Robert Pickton should ever leave prison is in a coffin. Pickton’s parole eligibility means that for every two years from now until his death, he can retraumatize the families of his victims by making them explain why he must be held in prison,” Moore said.
Horrific monsters like Robert Pickton should never be eligible for parole. He deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
On Wednesday, the families of Robert Pickton’s victims held a vigil at the former pig farm.
Michele Pineault, whose daughter Stephanie Lane’s DNA was discovered on the Pickton property, said “Pickton should not walk on this earth. He doesn’t deserve to take one step out of where he is. He needs to stay where he is until he dies.”
Lorelei Williams, the cousin of a victim whose DNA was found at the pig farm said that it is disgusting that Pickton can apply for day parole.
“I already don’t trust the justice system, and this just makes me not trust it even more because of the fact that a person like this could be let out of jail, or who would apply. … I really don’t believe that he’ll be given day parole, but the fact he can apply, it’s disgusting,” Williams said.
Several Canadian netizens expressed their anger over the chances of Pickton getting a parole year after he was found guilty of second-degree murder in December 2007.
An X user wrote, “We live in a country where serial killers like Robert Pickton or Paul Bernardo have more rights than your average citizen. This is Trudeau’s Canada.”
We live in a country where serial killers like Robert Pickton or Paul Bernardo have more rights than your average citizen.
Another one wrote, “Trudeau’s criminal-friendly policies have completely destroyed Canada’s justice system. B.C. Serial Killer Robert Pickton Qualifies for Day Parole.”
Trudeau's criminal-friendly policies have completely destroyed Canada's justice system.
Notably, in December last year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was accused of attempting to dispose of evidence in the case. In a letter to the federal public safety minister, the commissioner of the RCMP, and British Columbia’s attorney general and solicitor general, the families of Pickton’s victims had written demanding that immediate steps be taken to preserve the evidence in the case.
It was reported that the RCMP was planning to dump thousands of pieces of evidence seized by police during the investigation into the gruesome murders committed by Robert Pickton on his pig farm.
Crimes of Robert Pickton and Police mishandling
Robert Pickton was a Canadian serial killer who killed women, many of whom were sex workers or Indigenous, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. He enticed ladies to his pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where he killed them. Despite evidence that a serial killer was active, his atrocities went un-investigated for many years. He was eventually captured in 2002 and convicted of six charges of murder in 2007, despite claiming to have killed 49 women in total. The case exposed systematic inadequacies in how police handled missing people, in particular sex workers and Indigenous women. An investigation revealed that police were inattentive and prejudiced in their handling of the case.
Amid a stand-off with the farmers, who are protesting with their demands, Haryana Police in Ambala District has said that any loss to the government and private property during the protest will be compensated by attaching the property and seizure of bank accounts of the protestors.
According to a release from the Ambala police, from February 13, 2024, continuous efforts are being made by the farmer organizations to break the barricade imposed on Shambhu Border by the farmers regarding their march to Delhi and daily attempts are being made to spoil the law and order by pelting stones at the police administration and creating ruckus. During this period, a lot of damage has been caused to government and private property by encroachment.
Press note by Ambala police
“The damage caused to government and private property by the agitators is being assessed. The administration had already informed/warned in this regard that if the agitators caused damage to government and private property during this movement, then this loss would be compensated by seizing their property and bank accounts. If public property is damaged by the agitators during the movement, there is an amendment in the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 (PDPP Act) under the provisions of the Supreme Court in which, the people who caused damage to public property during the movement or called for the movement and the officials of that organization are held responsible for any damage caused,” the official release said.
It further added that according to the Haryana Public Administration’s Property Recovery Act 2021, in case of damage to government property, there is a provision to compensate for the loss of public property by attaching property and confiscating bank accounts of the person causing the loss.
“In this regard, the actions taken by the administration against the agitators leaders are being implemented. If there has been any damage to any community’s property during this movement, the details of the damage can be given to the administration. Proceedings to compensate for the loss of government property during the farmers’ protest, attachment of property and seizure of bank accounts of the protestors have been initiated,” it added.
Also, the police have initiated the National Security Act (NSA) against the farmer leaders.
“Proceedings have been initiated under the NSA National Security Act 1980/NSA against the chief officials of farmer organizations and the agitators,” the Ambala police said on X.
The Ambala Police press note stated that the farmer protestors have carried out heavy stone pelting and vandalism, including attacks on police personnel. Significant damages to police vehicles, properties, and private properties have been done by the protesting farmers at the call of the farmer leaders.
They added that 2 police officials have died so far on duty and another has suffered a brain hemorrhage. Over 30 police personnel have been injured in the violence carried out by the protesting farmers.
On February 21, the Haryana Police stated that at the Data Singh-Khanauri border, the farmer protestors had sprinkled chilli powder on the dry stubble in surrounding fields and set it on fire. They had then attacked police personnel with sharp weapons, causing injuries to 12 police officials.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the protesting farmers led by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will observe a ‘Black Friday’ on Friday following the death of a farmer at Khanauri Border crossing in Sangrur district, Punjab, during the ongoing protests.
The SKM will also hold a tractor march on highways towards the national capital, said the BKU leader.
In an exclusive talk with ANI, Tikait said, “We will observe a ‘Black Friday’ tomorrow condoling the death of a farmer at the Khanauri Border crossing in Punjab. We held a tractor march yesterday as well.”
An official press statement by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a massive mobilisation of farmers across India in favour of its demands and against the “repression” of the farmers movement in the country.
According to an official statement, “The SKM General Body (GB) on Thursday decided to organise a massive mobilisation of farmers with a slew of programmes to be observed all over India in support of its demands and against the repression of the farmers’ struggle.”
Eminent jurist Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman passed on the morning of 21st February. He was also the President of the Bar Association of India from 1991 to 2010 as well as the Additional Solicitor General of India from May 1972 to June 1975. Despite all of his accomplishments and a glorious career, he was unable to shake the hypocrisy that accompanies being a left-liberal. He in an interview in 2017, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the appointment of a Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath as chief minister of India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh was “the beginning of a Hindu state.”
In the interview taken by Shekhar Gupta, Nariman had said it is a little odd that a head priest is a chief minister. He made the statement after Shekhar Gupta asked, which constitutional rights are facing most threat according to him. To this, Fali S Nariman replied that the entire constitution was under threat due to massive electoral victory of BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He said, “You see the constitution is under threat, let me be very frank. With the massive electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh, with the priest installed at the instance of the prime minister as the chief minister, with the cherry on the victory cake. So, that is a signal, and if you can’t see it, then you must be either the spokesman of the political party, or you must have your head and eyes examined”.
Notably, Yogi Adityanath became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017 following a landslide victory of BJP in the assembly elections. The interview was taken a few months after that.
Nariman said that while the BJP was entitled to choose a Hindu priest as a CM, the message was clear. When Shekhar Gupta asked if people were complacent and were not alarmed by the development, Nariman said that people were being hypocritical, not complacent. He said that people will worry what PM Modi thinks if he knows that they are criticising his decisions.
After this, Shekhar Gupta had asked, ‘Does the constitution have the strength to withstand such a statement of majority if not majoritarianism’. To this, Narimana said, “This is the problem, constitution has the strength, but the people who support the constitution don’t.” He then asked why no MPs or no journalists were asking the prime minister, whether it is true that this is the beginning of a Hindu state.
He then added, ‘Its the Hindu majority that gave us this constitution, 85% members of the constituent assembly, 233 out of 299 or such figure, were orthodox Hindus. Rejendra Prasad was the most orthodox of all, and they gave us this magnificent constitution.’
He continued, “One should be forthright in views, including political views, ask the prime minister, is this true what these people are now pretending to say. Is there going to be a Hindu state? Please tell us, we must know. Is there going to be an amendment of the constitution? There’s going to be some problem which the judiciary may have to face etc etc etc.
He said that no member of the parliament has asked this question when the parliament is in session.
Shekhar Gupta said that the question of Yogi becoming CM is asked in public debates, and the party replies that when he can be a 5-time MP, why he can’t be a CM. To this, Fariman replied that let Modi answer that, nobody stops him, but he is asking a different question. “But it is a little odd that he is also be a head priest, little odd”.
However, he conveniently overlooked the fact that his son Rohinton Nariman, a seasoned lawyer who was elevated to the position of a Supreme Court judge later in his career, was also a Parsi priest. Justice Nariman who retired from the apex court in 2021, is skilled in conducting Navjote ceremonies, which mark the initiation of a Zoroastrian child. He is also permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum, or innermost chamber, just like any other priest in his society.
In his book, Fali S. Nariman stated that his family was “priestly” and hence his spouse ensured that their son was ordained as a priest at the tender age of twelve. The late attorney added that his son had officiated his sister Anaheeta’s Navjote ceremony in Mumbai. Rohinton Nariman in an interview in 2021 said, “My stint as a priest, as a 12-year-old has moulded my life to a very considerable amount.”
He referred to his stay at the Agiary (Fire temple) for 28 days with only minimum facilities as the “greatest experience of his life.” He added, “Priesthood gave me discipline and chiselling of memory.” He narrated how his father had brought him to visit another legal giant, the late Jamshedji Behramji Kanga who was almost on his deathbed. “The moment my father told him he had made me a priest the old man’s eyes lit up and he beckoned me, caught me by the hand and asked how many chapters did u recite by rote.” When Justice Nariman informed him that he had done around 50 chapters, he replied, “You recited 13 chapters more than me and you have to be 13 times better than me. Kanga died two months later.”
Interestingly, Fali S Nariman who encouraged his son to become a priest and was friends with accomplished individuals who had previously held the position, exhibited a strong aversion towards PM Modi’s choice of a Hindu priest to be Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister. “The Prime Minister may deny it but that is my assumption that appointing a particular person as the chief minister is in itself an indication that he wishes to propagate a religious state,” he claimed while talking to NDTV in 2017.
He even brought up “Hindu Rashtra” which has become the Sine Qua Non of the left-liberal ecosystem’s outrage whenever something related to Hinduism comes to the fore. He bemoaned, “Is this the beginning of a Hindu state, the Prime Minister must be asked so that the people know what they should be prepared for. The Constitution is under threat. With the massive electoral victory in UP, a priest has been installed as the chief minister at the insistence of the Prime Minister is a signal and if you cannot see then either you are the spokesperson of political parties or you must have your head or eyes examined.”
However, he made a half-hearted attempt to make up for his allegations in the end by stating, “You must give it to the Prime Minister. He is quite forthright. He does not mince words and his energy is something remarkable and fantastic. I have never seen such a man. But I do not accept all the policies of the Prime Minister.”
Whether it was because he was an exceptional counsel or he was a left-liberal or even both, Fali S. Nariman unabashedly applied different yardsticks for different people. When his son was concerned, he didn’t feel that a person’s profession and faith had to be mutually exclusive. However, he was unwilling to apply the same convictions to Yogi Adityanath and considered it as an attack on India’s secular ideals.
His son acknowledged that the priesthood aided him to do better in life including his work, however, Fali S. Nariman deemed the priesthood of a Hindu as a burden and threat to the social fabric of the country. To put it in simpler terms, ‘What’s good for the goose was definitely not good for the gander,’ for the late learned lawyer.
