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Calcutta HC declines urgent hearing of PIL seeking protection for women in Sandeshkhali

OpIndia Staff
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Calcutta HC declines urgent hearing of PIL seeking protection for women in Sandeshkhali

On Monday, the Calcutta High Court declined to prioritise a PIL for an urgent hearing, which sought protection for women residing in the Sandeshkhali area amid allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by individuals affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress. Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, leading a division bench, inquired whether the petitioner held an elected position such as MLA or panchayat pradhan, or if they were a resident of Sandeshkhali, stressing that merely attaching newspaper reports to the petition would not suffice.

The Chief Justice informed the petitioner’s lawyer that the essential criteria for a PIL must be met for consideration. Despite the lawyer’s plea for an urgent hearing regarding the public interest litigation (PIL) aimed at safeguarding women villagers of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, the division bench, also including Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, verbally conveyed its inability to expedite the petition.

The bench explained that as another bench was already scheduled to address a matter concerning Sandeshkhali, simultaneous proceedings could not be entertained. They advised the lawyer to observe the proceedings before Justice Kaushik Chanda’s court, where a related petition regarding Sandeshkhali was listed for a hearing, and if independent evidence existed, to request intervention in that proceeding.

Certain villages in Sandeshkhali’s community development block II in the North 24 Parganas district have witnessed protests due to allegations of sexual misconduct by some local TMC leaders and their associates, as well as land grabbing from villagers.

The Background of the Controversy

On 8th February this year, hundreds of women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets to protest against land grabbing, non-payment of wages and sexual violence committed by Trinamool Congress goon Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The women attacked Shahjahan’s illicitly obtained properties and set fire to a poultry farm owned by Shiba Prasad Hazra. They also surrounded the Sandeshkali police station and demanded the immediate arrest of the trio. The agitation in the village lasted for 3 days.

During that time, the TMC goons retaliated and the police acted as mute spectators. In several cases, the cops themselves resorted to harassment of the women. It had come to light that the residents were the subject of sexual violence by the TMC for a long time.

On 10th February, the local police imposed Section 144 in various areas in Sandeshkhali and also banned the use of the Internet in 16 panchayats scattered over the two blocks of Sandeshkhali-I and Sandeshkhali-II.

In a bid to pacify the angry villagers of Sandeshkhali, the TMC leadership suspended Uttam Sardar from the party for six years. The suspended TMC leader and Zilla Parishad member was subsequently arrested in the Sandeshkhali police station area.

The Mamata Banerjee-led-TMC government arrested a former CPI(M) MLA named Nirpada Sardar in connection to the case on 11th February. BJP leader Vikas Singh, who happens to be the Convenor of the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, was also arrested in connection to the women’s protest against TMC goons.

On Friday (17th February), the police arrested TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra over land grabbing and sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali. The primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan, is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

Chhattisgarh: Gausevak Sadhram Yadav murdered in ISIS-style in Kawardha, FIR under UAPA filed against Ayaz, Idris, Rafiq and 3 others

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Gausevak Sadhram Yadav murdered in ISIS-style in Kawardha, FIR under UAPA filed against Ayaz, Idris, Rafiq and 3 others

Days after a Hindu youth named Sadhram Yadav was brutally murdered in Chhttisgarh’s Kawardha, the police booked six accused in the case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Following his return from Kashmir, Ayaz Khan and his accomplices killed the 50-year-old Gausevak by slitting his throat in the style of the Islamic terrorist group ISIS. This was done in an attempt to incite fear before the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Six persons, including Ayaz, Idrish, Mehtab, and Sheikh Rafiq, murdered Gausevak Sadhram Yadav on 20th January in Lalpur village of Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, by slitting his throat like ISIS terrorists.

The police have imposed Section 16 of the UAPA on the six accused in the case. The terrorist connection between Ayaz and Idris has also been uncovered. Moreover, there is information regarding Ayaz visiting Kashmir and Idris meeting some suspects. According to media sources, UAPA was invoked for the first time in a case other than against Naxalites in the state.  

The accused had deliberately quarrelled with Sadhram Yadav and murdered him in ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ style. Kawardha residents were outraged following Sadhram’s horrific murder. Meanwhile, the police have arrested the accused and the administration has bulldozed their houses.

Following the investigation, the police imposed a UAPA section against the accused. According to Kawardha SP Abhishek Pallav, one of the murder accused, Ayaz, often travelled to Kashmir, and evidence has been found of Idris being in contact with dubious people.

According to Kawardha SP, when Ayaz Khan was arrested and his phone was searched, information about his multiple trips to Jammu and Kashmir was found. When a team from Chhattisgarh was sent to Jammu and Kashmir, links to terrorists were also revealed. Information has been received regarding another accused Idris Khan talking to the suspected individuals, the officer said.

Meanwhile, Hindu organisations are calling for strict action on the matter. Gausevak Sadhram Yadav’s wife recently returned a government cheque for Rs 5 lakh. Sadhram Yadav’s wife stated that she does not want assistance, but rather stern action against the murderers of her husband.

Uttarakhand: Govt razes illegal house of Fardeen who along with Rauf attacked a Hindu girl for refusing to withdraw molestation case

श्रवण शुक्ल
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Uttarakhand: Govt razes illegal house of Fardeen who along with Rauf attacked a Hindu girl for refusing to withdraw molestation case

On Thursday, February 15, the administration of Kashipur in Uttarakhand’s Uddham Singh Nagar district ran a bulldozer over the house of a youth named Fardeen Mohammad, the prime accused in the recent attack on a Hindu girl in Mohalla Khalsa.

Fardeen’s house was demolished after the government discovered during the investigation that he built an unauthorized house on government land.

Speaking about the demolition, tehsildar Pankaj Chandola said the action was justified as the accused’s house was built on encroached land.

Notably, three days before the administration razed Fardeen Mohammad’s house, he and his accomplice Rauf had fatally attacked a 17-year-old minor Hindu girl named Pooja with a sharp fodder cutter, while she was on her way to her coaching class. The accused fled leaving the girl bleeding on the streets. The commuters rushed her to a nearby hospital. However, the incident was caught on the CCTV camera installed on the road which helped the police identify and arrest the accused.

According to reports, Fardeena and Rauf attacked the girl since she was refusing to withdraw a molestation case that she and her family members had previously lodged against Fardeen. Fardeen had been arrested in the molestation case and was out on bail when he attacked Pooja.

Reportedly, after the attack, Fardeen’s family members visited Pooja’s house and threatened her parents to withdraw the molestation case filed against their son.

Upon learning about the attack, members of various Hindu organisations reached the police station and demanded swift action against the perpetrators. The police, in turn, filed a case against the duo and arrested them.

The incident

The incident took place in the Khalsa locality of Kashipur Kotwali area of Udham Singh Nagar at around 4.15 pm on Monday (February 12, 2024). Pooja along with her sisters were going to their tuition class when Fardeen and Rauf arrived on a bike. Fardeen dragged Pooja and forced her to sit on his bike, but she resisted his attempts by pushing him aside. Pooja and her sisters moved on but the duo kept following them on the bike and when the girls reached the Gurudwara near the powerhouse in Mohalla PakkaKot, Fardeen attacked Pooja on her head with a sharp knife generally used to cut fodder. Pooja was badly injured in the attack.

Fardeen’s family members stood and watched him attack the victim

Notably, when Fardeen launched the attack on Pooja, his father Rizwan and his brothers Bilal, Aaqib, Anas and Afridi were also standing there but none of them stopped Fardeen from attacking the girl. Several people passing by rushed to the scene hearing Pooja scream in pain. Seeing people gather, Fardeen and Rauf threatened the victim and fled the scene.

The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital in a critical condition from where she was referred to LD Bhatt Sub District Hospital. After receiving information about the attack, members of several Hindu organizations reached the police station and demanded the arrest of the accused. BJP MLA Arvind Pandey also met the victim and assured her justice.

Accused’s kin threatened the victim’s family

Following the attack, Fardeen’s family members and relatives, including his mother Baby, maternal uncles Taju and Firoz, three aunts and another relative named Sahil, reached the victim’s home where they threatened her parents and pressured them to withdraw the molestation cases registered against Fardeen.

Notably, Fardeen had been harassing the victim for the last four years. Based on the complaint of her parents, the police registered three cases of molestation and harassment against Fardeen in 2019, 2021, and 2022 respectively. In fact, Fardeen had also gone to jail, but this did not deter him from harassing the victim. He was out on bail when he attacked the victim.

The police have, meanwhile, registered a case against Fardeen under IPC sections 147, 307, 323, 354, 452, 504 and 506. Speaking to OpIndia, Senior Sub Inspector Pradeep Mishra posted at the Kotwali said that both the main accused have been arrested. Investigation in the case is underway and other arrests will also be made soon.

“I am smart enough to have multiple options…,” says EAM Jaishankar at Munich Security Conference, PM Modi lauds India’s ‘strong’ foreign policy

OpIndia Staff
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“I am smart enough to have multiple options…,” says EAM Jaishankar at Munich Security Conference, PM Modi lauds India’s ‘strong’ foreign policy

February 17-18 was an eventful weekend for India as its foreign policy acumen was displayed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Saturday and earned heaps of praises from the Prime Minister at the National Convention of the BJP on Sunday.

EAM S Jaishankar on 17th February reaffirmed India’s stand and commitment to buy Russian oil despite respective sanctions on Moscow amid the military conflict with Ukraine, saying it should not be a problem for others.

In response to a query on how New Delhi was balancing its growing bilateral ties with Washington while continuing to trade with Moscow, the EAM’s confident and witty response turned all heads.

“Is that a problem, why should that be a problem? If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me. Is that a problem for others? I don’t think so, suddenly in this case. We try to explain what are the different pulls and pressures that countries have. it’s very hard to have that unidimensional relationship,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “Different countries and different relationships have different histories. If I want to look at the US and Germany, it is rooted. There is an alliance, nature to it. There is a certain history on which that relationship is grounded. In our case it’s very different, so I don’t want you to even inadvertently give the impression that we are purely unsentimentally transactional. We are not, we get along with people, we believe in things, we share things, and we agree on some things but there are time when you are located in different places have different levels of development, and different experiences all of that gets into that.”

“Life is complicated, life is differentiated. and I think it’s very important today. I agree with Antony which is, good partners provide choices, smart partners take some of the choices. But sometimes, there will be choices, you say I’ll pass on that,” he stated further.

On a lighter note, EAM S Jaishankar was heard addressing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as “Tony” while the latter addressed the EAM as “Jai”.

Germany hints Western powers should acknowledge prejudice against Global South in the past

Moreover, a sense of acknowledgement of historical wrongs appeared in German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s response to a question on division between the Global South and the Western world over several issues like sanctions on Russia over war with Ukraine.

“We have to be respectful that especially within Ukraine – and I think this is the lesson we have learned, and it was very important to speak to partners like India and so many around the world – Brazil, South Africa – that obviously in this moment when we said we need the whole international security, others asked some questions, like: Where have you been when we needed you? Or asked some questions, so actually what does it mean for the future? Do you also stand with us? And this is, I would say, maybe something you in the attitude – at least from our foreign politics from Europe to say, okay, we cannot take for granted that everybody just agrees with our European or transatlantic vision,” Baerbock said.

She added that Western democracies needed to ask themselves why the Global South cannot support them. “In our national security strategy we try to do it, talking about, for example, our colonialism past. Understanding why South Africa was mentioning the whole time their ties with Russia in the Apartheid regime. And being self-critical and saying, oh, yeah, not all democracies have stood back in time at their side, and taking that as something where we said, yes, we might have made a mistake in the past,” the German Foreign Minister said.

PM Modi hails India’s successful foreign policy

Lauding how India’s foreign policy is going strong, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (18th February) said that the world is seeing how New Delhi’s relations with many countries continue to grow stronger in trade, tourism, technology and various other aspects.

In a jibe against the critical remarks over the years on experience in foreign policy, PM Modi said that when he took the oath as India’s Prime Minister, questions were raised about him not having “experience outside a state.”

While addressing the concluding day of the National Convention of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, PM Modi said, “When I took oath in 2014, many of our critics said that what experience does Modi have outside a state. Many things were said about foreign policy.”

PM Modi’s diplomatic triumphs were widely seen, when, during the last year, he embarked on a series of diplomatic missions, fostering international collaborations, strengthening ties, and showcasing India’s commitment to global peace and development.

Not only that, as 2024 began, Prime Minister Modi made a historic visit to the UAE and Qatar as well.

“Five Arab countries gave me the highest honour of their country, this is not the honour of PM Modi but the honour of the 140 crore countrymen,” he noted.

(With agency inputs)

Chandigarh: Split in AAP ahead of fresh Mayor elections, 3 Councilors leave the party to join BJP

OpIndia Staff
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Chandigarh: Split in AAP ahead of fresh Mayor elections, 3 Councilors leave the party to join BJP

On Sunday (January 18), Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar (from BJP) resigned from his post as Mayor of the city. Now, elections will be held again for the post of Mayor in the Union Territory which is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Sonkar resigned before the hearing in the Supreme Court over his election. Meanwhile, before the fresh elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a major setback as three of its councilors have joined BJP.

AAP councilors Neha Musawat, Poonam and Gurcharan Kala were given party membership by BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde. With this, BJP now has the upper hand in the Municipal Corporation. BJP now has 18 councilors in the Municipal Corporation, whereas AAP is left with only 10 councilors. Apart from this, Congress has 7 councilors and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has 1 councilor.

Councilor Gurcharan Kala, who took membership of BJP, said that AAP had been putting pressure on him. However, impressed by the works of PM Modi, Kala took membership of BJP. Neha Musawat has also made similar allegations against Aam Aadmi Party.

In Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, 36 councilors together elect the post of Mayor. After recent updates, BJP has the support of 17 councilors, 1 MP (MPs also vote in the Chandigarh Mayor elections), and the lone councilor of SAD. At the same time, AAP and Congress together have only 17 votes. It is also worth noting that on the basis of new political equations, AAP is finding it difficult to get the support of Congress, because it had recently announced to contest the Punjab-Chandigarh Lok Sabha elections alone.

The matter will also be heard in the Supreme Court today (February 19, 2024). During last elections, BJP’s Manoj Sonkar was elected Mayor in the elections held on January 30. The alliance of Aam Aadmi Party and Congress had made allegations of rigging in this election and had approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had summoned election officer Anil Masih in this case, who was accused of irregularities.

On Manoj Sonkar’s resignation, BJP clarified that after his election, the opposition was continuously creating ruckus and was not allowing the city to run properly, that is why Manoj Sonkar resigned. In the last elections, AAP had fielded Kuldeep Dholor against Manoj Sonkar, who had to face defeat.

Uttar Pradesh: Police arrest Bhondu Rehman for raping 1-year-old child in Bahraich, victim hospitalised

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Police arrest Bhondu Rehman for raping 1-year-old child in Bahraich, victim hospitalised

On Sunday (18th February), the police arrested a 50-year-old man named Bhondu Rehman for the rape of a 1-year-old child in Nanpara town in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh.

As per reports, the incident took place on Saturday (17th February) evening. The victim was playing at that time. Rehman took the child to the field under the pretext of feeding her.

He then raped the 1-year-old. After the condition of the child deteriorated, Rehman dumped her body in the field and fled the crime scene.

Upon learning about the matter, the victim’s family immediately notified the police and admitted her to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Nanpara for immediate medical attention. She was later transferred to Lucknow Medical College for better treatment.

A police team, led by Mithilesh Kumar Rai, reached the crime scene and began a probe into the matter. While speaking about the matter, Superintendent of Police (Bahraich) Vrinda Shukla informed, “An incident of rape of a 1-year-old child has come to light in Nanpara police station area.”

“The crime was committed by a 50-year-old man. The police were informed about the matter…The accused has been already arrested. Given that the girl is just 1 year old, we are transferring her to Lucknow for better treatment,” she added.

SP Shukla further emphasised, “It is a heinous crime. I will myself request the special POCSO court to fast-track the trial and punish the culprit as soon as possible.”

A case has now been registered against Bhondu Rehman under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Murder, betrayal, religion, and politics – The real shady palace intrigue of Andhra Pradesh’s YSR family that will put any fictional series to shame!

S. Sudhir Kumar
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Murder, betrayal, religion, and politics – The real shady palace intrigue of Andhra Pradesh’s YSR family that will put any fictional series to shame!

According to Dr. Sanjaya Baru, media advisor to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once wrote that whenever the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Y.S.Rajashekhar Reddy visited Delhi, Manmohan Singh always used the same welcome line – “Welcome Dr. Reddy, we are here because you are there”.

Manmohan Singh was referring to the massive victory that Congress scored in the combined Andhra Pradesh under YSR’s guidance (34/42 seats in 2004 and 33/42 in 2009). While he was still the CM, YSR died in a helicopter accident in September 2009. 

His son Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed that he would be made the Chief Minister. Sonia Gandhi was not in favor of doing so. Jagan split the party and left Congress. CBI then arrested Jagan for indulging in corruption when YSR was Chief Minister. Jagan became the leader of the opposition in 2014 and the Chief Minister in 2019. 

Up until now, I haven’t told you anything that hasn’t been widely known (outside of AP, I mean). The lesser-known aspect, outside of the state, is the amazing palace intrigue of the YSR family that will put any TV series to shame! This article intends to bring out recent happenings in this family that cover murder, betrayal, religion, and of course politics! 

YSR’s own brother – Y.S.Vivekananda Reddy

Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy was murdered in March 2019. On April 16, 2022 – the CBI arrested Y.S.Viveka’s cousin brother – Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy as the main conspirator behind this murder! Bhaskar Reddy’s son, Avinash Reddy is the current YSRCP MP from the Kadapa constituency. Kadapa constituency has been the traditional stronghold of the YSR family – YSR represented it from 1989 to 1999. Y.S. Viveka represented it from 1999 to 2009. Y.S. Jagan represented it from 2009 to 2014. For the first time, someone outside of the direct bloodline of YSR was announced as a candidate and he won both in 2014 and 2019 from the YSRCP party. 

That MP, Y.S.Avinash Reddy, is also named by the CBI as the co-conspirator in the murder of YSR’s own brother. How come someone outside the direct bloodline of YSR was made to represent Kadapa in 2014 (and in 2019)? Enter Y.S. Jagan’s wife – Y.S. Bharati. Y.S. Bharati’s mother and Y.S.Avinash Reddy’s father are siblings! 

What is the CBI case? That Mr. Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy conspired along with his son and hired goons to hack Y.S. Vivekananda to death. Bhaskar Reddy and his son worked towards defeating Viveka in the 2017 MLC elections. And that Y.S.Avinash Reddy was amongst the first at the scene and declared to the press that this was a death by heart attack! 

Currently, the case still hasn’t been solved. Jagan, who was in opposition when the murder happened, demanded a CBI inquiry. After becoming CM, he strongly opposed it. Y.S. Viveka’s daughter had to approach the High Court to get a CBI inquiry done. She submitted a damning petition to the Court, on Jagan. All these years, Jagan routinely did an emotional drama in the Assembly with some filmy dialogues. With the damning CBI chargesheet out, it reflected very poorly on Jagan that he continues to shelter the very family that killed his own uncle. Will it have an electoral impact? Time will tell! 

YSR’s daughter – Y.S.Sharmila

After Y.S.Jagan quit the Congress, he continued his yatra across the state. The yatra was titled Odarpu Yatra (Condolence Visits) – he claimed to be visiting the homes of the people who died unable to bear the news of YSR’s death! Jagan was arrested by the CBI in corruption cases, and that’s when his sister Y.S. Sharmila entered the fray! She continued to walk in this yatra (walked ~3000 km over 10 months in 2012-13) and deliver political speeches for the entire duration that Jagan was in jail. Though she campaigned in both, she didn’t contest the 2014 and 2019 elections. 

Suddenly in early 2021, Sharmila announced that she has had huge differences with Jagan and is not on talking terms with him anymore. In leaked reports and in a detailed interview, we got to know some details of the unsavory arguments that happened between Jagan and Sharmila. She announced the setting up of a new party in Telangana – the YSRTP. She yet again walked 3000 km in Telangana but her party remained a dud. She eventually merged it with the Congress party, and is now appointed as the President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress. 

As soon as she was appointed, the loyal soldiers of Y.S.Jagan started attacking her with fierce language on social media. This led to a furious Sharmila spilling more beans about their feud – which further led to Jagan’s portrayal in a very bad light. She also claimed that she has a 50% share in the family newspaper and channel – Sakshi. All along, people assumed that this was fully owned by Jagan himself. Though Sharmila’s appointment will not revive a dead Congress in the state, her utterances in response to the attack from Jagan’s party are bound to help the opposition TDP-Jana Sena combine. Jagan’s image of being a caring human has already taken a beating with the CBI case on the murder of his uncle. With his sister now revealing hitherto unheard titbits, the elections just heated up more!

YSR’s wife – Y.S.Vijayamma

Though not a politician, she was the one who contested the Pulivendula MLA seat that YSR represented. Along with her daughter, Sharmila, she was instrumental in the YSRCP winning 15 out of 18 by-poll seats in June 2012, when Jagan was in jail. Jagan made her the Honorary President of YSRCP. However, when the feud between her son and daughter happened, she took the side of her daughter Sharmila. She resigned from the post of Honorary President of YSRCP and moved her base to stay close to her daughter Y.S. Sharmila. She resigned at a public meeting of the YSRCP cadre and the cold vibes with which Jagan handled the entire situation were there for everyone to see. The entire family recently met for the engagement of Sharmila’s son and the cold vibes at the group picture became the talk of the media for a full day! 

Where does all of this leave Y.S.Jagan?

For the Sankranthi festival, Y.S.Jagan spent nearly 1.5 crores worth of public money to build a temple set in his house. He had to do this because his wife, Y.S. Bharati, does not go to temples (In case you folks didn’t know – the entire family is practicing staunch Christians). This led to a political slugfest on how he is splurging money for erecting sets at his home just to accommodate his wife’s wishes. Y.S. Bharati is also his business partner in almost all of his businesses (Bharati Cements is named after her. Jagati publications, which runs the family newspaper & channel, is a word combination of Jagan and Bharati…and so on!)

In the 2019 elections, YSRCP had continuously campaigned that Chandrababu Naidu had backstabbed his father-in-law, NTR. In contrast, Y.S.Jagan was portrayed as this loving son, doting brother, and all that. That image lies shattered now. Jagan is just 52 years of age, so he will continue to play a prominent role in the politics of AP at least for 2 more decades. The family intrigue only promises to become more intriguing! 

Supreme Court halts Lok Sabha Privilege Committee summons to Bengal chief secretary and DG over mistreatment to BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court halts Lok Sabha Privilege Committee summons to Bengal chief secretary and DG over mistreatment to BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar

On 19th February, The Supreme Court paused the parliamentary panel proceedings against government officials in Bengal over a complaint by BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar.

The development came after the West Bengal government approached the Supreme Court over the Parliament’s Privilege Committee summons to the state’s Chief Secretary and Director General (DG). The committee issued the summons after a complaint was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sukant Majumdar. In its plea, the state vouched for the officials and said that the petitioners were senior government officials who managed good conduct. However, because of the committee summons, they are being projected as “perpetrators”.

Speaking to News18, Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi confirmed that the West Bengal government has filed a plea in the apex court. Singhvi is representing DG in the court on the matter. He said the state government had pleaded with the court to scratch the privilege motion against the DG.

As per the reports, Sukant Majumdar and other BJP leaders wanted to visit Sandeshkhali. However, the state police stopped them, leading to a scuffle. During the incident, Majumdar fell on the road and was hospitalized. Later, he filed a complaint against the DG, accusing him of breaching the privilege.

The notice by the Privilege Committee was sent to the DG, CS, Additional SP and SP, asking them to appear before the committee on or before 19th February. Following the notice, TMC targeted the committee of turning blind eye to the incident where TMC leader and expelled MP Mahua Moitra was “dragged” out of Krishi Bhavan or when TMC MPs were “manhandled” by Delhi police.

The state has claimed that though MPs have privilege, Majumdar was travelling as BJP state president in this case. Furthermore, reports suggest that the state has included video evidence to prove police did not “push” Majumdar, leading to him falling on the road.

Speaking to News18, Majumdar said the atrocities and misbehaviour done to him by West Bengal police was alarming. “That is why I have complained to the Privilege Committee, and the committee asked them to appear.” He accused TMC of shielding the officers at the behest of the state government. Accusing police of compromising his health, Majumdar said, “When I fainted, they did not allow my car to come out of the hotel for 20 minutes. They compromised my health. They also compromised with the security as they shifted me to the hospital that was one hour away in a police car from the location where the scuffle took place.”

Majumdar, designated Z security by the centre and J security by the state, accused the state police of allowing the escort car with CISF Jawans to accompany him to the hospital. “I am a Z category protected MP. Why have you not allowed my security personnel to move with me? If something happens in between that transportation from the hotel to the hospital, who will be responsible for that incident?” he added.

Sandeshkhali horror

Tensions have been high in Sandeshkhali since January when local women staged protests demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan and his accomplices Uttam Sardar and Shibu Prasad Hazra. The Sandeshkhali women have accused them of forcibly acquiring land, pumping saltwater into fields to render them unusable, and engaging in institutional sexual harassment. The women have accused them of sexually assaulting women “night after night and release them only when they are satisfied”.

On 8th February this year, hundreds of women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets to protest against land grabbing, non-payment of wages and sexual violence committed by Sheikh Sahajahan and his two aides. While TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra was arrested on 17th February over land grabbing and sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali, the primary accused, Sheikh Shahjahan, is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), on 16h February, after its visit to Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, submitted a report recommending the President’s rule in the state, citing complete lawlessness. The report was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu. NCSC Chairperson Arun Halder also met with the President. 

Halder said the President had assured the NCSC team that she would look into the matter and take action. The NCSC team was also allegedly misbehaved with by several police officials when it tried to enter Sandeskhali to meet with victims of sexual assault.

The West has de-hyphenated India and Pakistan, Indian media needs to follow suit and not help vested interests peddle their propaganda

Arya Chetan Agrawal
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The West has de-hyphenated India and Pakistan, Indian media needs to follow suit and not help vested interests peddle their propaganda

The Indian media often enters a state of hyperactivity, whether reporting on the recently conducted elections in Pakistan or the visits of their cricket team. This persistent mindset within the Indian media detrimentally affects efforts to de-hyphenate India and Pakistan.

Commentators in the international and regional media persist in equating India and Pakistan across various parameters. While this narrative may align with Pakistan’s perspective, it distinctly undermines the Indian narrative. For instance, during the recent Pakistan election, a prominent commentator on South Asia, Aatish Taseer tweeted the following:

Tweet by Aatish Taseer

This tweet was subsequently amplified by prominent Twitter handles in India, once again hyphenating India and Pakistan in the eyes of regional and international audiences. As mentioned previously, Taseer’s tweet highlights the questionable history of Pakistan’s elections, yet inadvertently tarnishes the rich democratic legacy of India in the process.

Another story published by a leading online media portal insinuates that the Indian public holds some emotional allegiance to their Pakistani counterparts. While these efforts to hyphenate India and Pakistan persist, it becomes increasingly crucial for the Indian perspective on global issues to be forcefully articulated. Achieving this necessitates concentrated efforts both at the national and international levels.

Article published by Live Mint

For a considerable duration, the West grouped the two countries due to similarities in culture, demographics, and economic situations. The hostility between these nations was often regarded as an internal issue, even when significant problems like terrorism in Kashmir emerged; these were seen as confined to their specific region. The Western stance refrained from separating India and Pakistan, as it was hesitant to acknowledge India as a significant global player. The simplest approach was to consistently juxtapose India and Pakistan, thereby confining India’s stature and influence solely to the South Asian region.

However, two significant factors altered this perspective: 1. The 9/11 terrorist attacks; 2. India’s emergence as a global economic power after the 1990s. The 9/11 attacks reshaped the Western perception that terrorism was solely limited to India and could profoundly impact their territory. This event reversed the narrative, compelling the West—previously advocating moral solutions to the terrorism issue through bilateral talks between India and Pakistan—to invest billions in the ‘War on Terror’ within what was considered ‘enemy’ territory.

The West, recognizing Pakistan as an international concern, perceived India, a responsible and stable democracy, as a potential long-term ally. This shift significantly contributed to disassociating India and Pakistan in the eyes of Western audiences.

Another pivotal factor contributing significantly to the disassociation was India’s ascension as a major economic powerhouse following the liberalization measures of the 1990s. The growth of India’s middle class, the surge in IT exports, and the increasing purchasing power of the Indians compelled even India’s adversaries to normalize their relations.

In contrast, Pakistan experienced a series of undemocratic military takeovers and relied on multiple IMF bailout packages. Presently, Pakistan grapples with one of its severest political and economic crises, while India has been officially acknowledged as the world’s fifth-largest economy, witnessing a consistent rise in foreign reserves annually.

This stark contrast has once again prompted the global audience to view India and Pakistan through separate lenses, further reinforcing their de-hyphenation.

However, a disappointing factor persists—the Indian media, driven by the pursuit of TRP ratings, continues to disproportionately cover Pakistan, thus perpetuating the hyphenation of India and Pakistan. This portrayal misguides the global audience, creating an impression that Pakistan holds a significant interest of India.

In reality, the nuclear threat posed by Pakistan has been debunked as a bluff, trade between the two countries is minimal with negligible impact on India’s economy, and the Indian government has unequivocally articulated its stance on the Kashmir issue through the abrogation of Article 370. Despite this, the Indian media remains fixated on events such as visits by Pakistani ministers, even though the Pakistani political class lacks substantial power, with the military controlling most aspects, especially those related to India. The persistence of this mindset within the Indian media confines their focus to regional issues, disregarding the larger global perspective.

Amidst this narrative, a notable aspect has been the approach adopted by the Indian bureaucracy and government. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the current Indian government has unequivocally shifted Pakistan from being one of the most preferred nations to the least preferred. The government has been diligent in highlighting India’s growth trajectory to both domestic and international audiences, strategically avoiding excessive focus on Pakistan-related issues that might align India within the same column as Pakistan. This approach has effectively positioned India as a significant emerging power in Asia. External Affairs Minister Mr. Jaishankar has adeptly conveyed this stance on numerous platforms, both within India and on the international stage.

The Indian media must transition into a global entity, extending its reach beyond regional boundaries. However, this shift necessitates a transformation in mindset, shifting away from age-old preoccupations with domestic and regional affairs. Instead, there’s a need to cover international issues from an Indian perspective, establishing credibility among global decision-makers.

The role of the Indian media holds significant weight—both in elevating India’s image as a substantial international player and in effectively advocating the Indian narrative amid the intensifying global discourse. While it’s a reality that we cannot alter our neighbors, it’s crucial not to excessively focus on them, inadvertently elevating their status while potentially diminishing our standing as a global power.

Sandeshkhali: Woman whose complaint led to TMC leader Shibu Hazra’s arrest says her home was attacked by ‘men wearing police uniform

OpIndia Staff
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Sandeshkhali: Woman whose complaint led to TMC leader Shibu Hazra’s arrest says her home was attacked by ‘men wearing police uniform

The woman whose complaint against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shibu Prasad Hazra in Sandeshkhali, North 24-Parganas, led to his arrest, stated that several men dressed in “police clothes” had attacked her house on Saturday (17th February). The alleged attack came a day after charges of gangrape and attempt to murder were added to the case against Hazra after the woman’s deposition before the magistrate of Basirhat court.

Speaking about the attack, the complainant woman said that she was not at home when the men wearing police uniforms barged in. She said that the attackers were intoxicated, threatened her family and dug a hole in the roof of her house. Reports say that the attackers were angry with the woman for complaining of sexual assault.  

“I sent my two daughters to my relative’s house. I was in hiding fearing attack for deposing in front of the magistrates accusing Shahjahan’s two henchmen Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. The youngest daughter was at home with my elderly father-in-law as my husband has also taken refuge in a relative’s house…They first dug a hole on the thatched wall by hitting non-stop and then inserted a stick through it to beat my daughter and her grandfather,” the woman said as reported by TNIE.

Speaking to The Hindu, the complainant said, “Last night, I was not at home. A group of miscreants came and attacked the house. They hurled abuses at me and my father-in-law. They wanted to kill me. Had I been at the house at night, they would have certainly killed me.”

The woman said that after filing the complaint, the police had not provided her with any protection. “After I complained to the authorities, I thought that they would spare me, but things are becoming more difficult every day. We deserve at least some dignity,” she said.

On Sunday, Shibu Prasad Hazra was produced before the Basirhat magistrate’s court where his bail plea was rejected. Hazra was remanded to police custody for eight days. This came after police stated that Hazra is influential and that his questioning was necessary to gather evidence.

The survivor narrated how Shibaprasad and Uttam, who had been apprehended by police during the recent unrest in Sandeshkhali, had sexually assaulted her five months prior in the local party office. “I was asked to go there at night to attend a meeting. I narrated my plights before the magistrate,” she said.

Reportedly, a police team arrived at the survivor’s house to record her statement regarding the alleged attack, however, the woman did not lodge a complaint. The police have also denied receiving any complaint regarding the incident.

The survivor said that even after the arrests of TMC leaders Uttam Sardar and Shibu Prasad Hazra she did not feel safe since their supporters are roaming freely.

As reported earlier, the survivor gave a statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the police expanded the charges to include Sections 376D (gangrape) and 307 (attempt to murder). Following this, Shibu Prasad Hazra, who was “missing” after women of Sandeshkhali alleged systemic rape and sexual assault, was arrested on Saturday (17th February).

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said sections of rape have been added to the First Information Report (FIR). According to him, a woman did not make any allegations when the police spoke to her but made a statement before a magistrate under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Sandeshkhali horror

Tensions have been high in Sandeshkhali since January when local women staged protests demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan and his accomplices Uttam Sardar and Shibu Prasad Hazra. The Sandeshkhali women have accused them of forcibly acquiring land, pumping saltwater into fields to render them unusable, and engaging in institutional sexual harassment. The women have accused them of sexually assaulting women “night after night and release them only when they are satisfied”.

On 8th February this year, hundreds of women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets to protest against land grabbing, non-payment of wages and sexual violence committed by Sheikh Sahajahan and his two aides. While TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra was arrested on 17th February over land grabbing and sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali the primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan, is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Friday (16h February) after its visit to Sandeshkhali in West Bengal submitted a report recommending the President’s rule in the state citing complete lawlessness. The report was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu. NCSC Chairperson Arun Halder also met with the President. 

Halder said the President had assured the NCSC team that she would look into the matter and take action. The NCSC team was also allegedly misbehaved with by several police officials when it tried to enter Sandeskhali to meet with victims of sexual assault.

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