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Crackdown on fraudulent and coerced conversions in Chhattisgarh as state government prepares to present religious conversion bill

OpIndia Staff
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Crackdown on fraudulent and coerced conversions in Chhattisgarh as state government prepares to present religious conversion bill

The Chhattisgarh state government is set to present a religious conversion bill in the assembly. The draft of the bill – Chhattisgarh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Bill – is ready and it has strict regulations regarding religious conversion to ensure that no fraudulent conversion or conversion by coercion takes place.

As per the draft, informing the district magistrate’s office 60 days before conversion will be mandatory according to the new law. The police will also have to verify the intent of the conversion. The much-awaited law was promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and it has drafted the bill for the same within months of coming to power.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the bill has various provisions to prohibit fraudulent religious conversions. According to the draft, individuals seeking to convert to another religion must complete a personal information form and submit it to the District Magistrate at least 60 days before the intended conversion date. Subsequently, the DM’s office will ask for a police assessment to determine the purpose behind the conversion. Additionally, those officiating the conversion ceremony must also submit a form at least one month in advance.

The draft bill mentions that religious conversion “cannot be done from one religion to another by the use or practice of abuse, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage”. If the District Magistrate finds any case of religious conversion of this type, the conversion will be deemed illegal as per the provisions in this bill.

According to the bill’s proposal, individuals who undergo conversion will need to complete an additional declaration form within 60 days post-conversion and appear before the District Magistrate for authentication. Failure to comply may result in the conversion being classified as illegal. Furthermore, the District Magistrate is required to publicly display a copy of the declaration on the office notice board until confirmation is obtained. The DM will also maintain a registry of all conversions.

If there is an objection, a relative by blood or adoption of the individual undergoing conversion can file a First Information Report (FIR). The draft bill specifies that such cases will be non-bailable and adjudicated by a sessions court. Individuals who unlawfully convert minors, women, or individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes will be subject to imprisonment ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of ten years, along with a mandatory fine of at least Rs 25,000. In cases of mass conversion, the penalty will be imprisonment for a minimum of three years to a maximum of ten years, accompanied by a fine of Rs 50,000. Additionally, the court has the authority to grant compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh to victims of religious conversion.

The responsibility of proving that conversion was lawful will rest on the individual who performed the rituals. The legislation does not pertain to individuals seeking to revert to their previous religion. Fraudulent and coercive religious conversion of Hindu tribals to Christianity is one of the biggest social problems in Chhattisgarh. The state has long been subjected to demands from the RSS for an anti-conversion law. A law to halt the conversion was demanded by the RSS and its affiliates. Along with this, the RSS and its allies started a movement calling for the delisting of tribals who became Christians.

The “Ghar Wapsi” campaign in the Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh was initially promoted by the late Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo, hailing from the former Royal family of Jashpur. Dilip Singh Judeo is the political Guru of Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who also hails from Jashpur. After becoming the chief minister, Sai said, “Judeo ji started the Ghar Wapsi campaign in Jashpur due to which our district is protected. Otherwise, the second biggest church in Asia is in our district and conversion takes place rapidly. Though he was a king, he washed the feet of converted people and brought them back to Hinduism, and today his son is carrying forward this work.”

In December 2023, Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao stated in an exclusive interview with News18 that the conversion of the tribal population to Christianity by missionaries operating throughout the state has been a significant problem. He added that it needs to be addressed with appropriate government action. Now, as promised, the BJP government is bringing in a strict law to curb forced religious conversion.

Farmer Protests: Fourth round of talks between Centre and farmer unions from Punjab to take place on Sunday, BKU (Tikait) extends support

OpIndia Staff
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Farmer Protests: Fourth round of talks between Centre and farmer unions from Punjab to take place on Sunday, BKU (Tikait) extends support

On 18th February, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai will meet farmer union leaders from Punjab for the fourth round of talks. The previous three meetings to resolve the impasse were inconclusive. The last meeting between Centre and the farmers took place on 15th February. The protesting farmers started marching towards Delhi on Tuesday, 13th February, but Haryana Police stopped them at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

Before the fourth round of talks, union leader Sarwan Singh Pandher asked the Central Government to issue an ordinance for the MSP Guarantee. He said, “The entire country is looking towards PM Modi to gather courage and take firm decisions on MSP and loan interest waiver. We hope to get good news from tomorrow’s meeting. We haven’t yet taken back our decision to go to Delhi, but if the central government accepts our demands, the matter will be solved here itself. The ball is in the government’s court.”

Pandher added that farmers grow wheat and rice as there is no price guarantee on pulses and oil seeds. “If we get guarantees, who stops us from producing them,” he said. Jagjit Singh Dallwal echoed the demand for an ordinance on the MSP Guarantee. He said, “If the government wants to bring an ordinance on MSP, why is it delaying?”

Meanwhile, BKU (Charuni) and BKU leader Rakesh Tikait announced support for the ongoing farmer protests. Tikait said further protests would take place in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand on 21st February if the demands are not met.

Internet suspension continues in Haryana

Meanwhile, the Haryana government has extended the ban on mobile internet for two more days in seven districts till 19th February, given farmer protests. Mobile internet will remain suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa.

Sit-in protests outside BJP leaders’ residences in Punjab

Meanwhile, several sit-in protests were held outside the residents of BJP leaders across Haryana. BKU (Charuni) faction also took out a tractor march in the state. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) also held a sit-in protest at the borders of Punjab and outside residents of Amarinder Singh in Patiala, Sunil Jakhar in Abohar and Kewal Singh Dillon in Barnala. 

Prices to go up in Delhi due to protests

Amidst the farmer protests, the prices of vegetables are rising in the national capital. As per ANI’s report, the price of vegetables has spiked in Delhi. A vegetable trader told the news agency, “The price of carrots has increased by ₹4 in the last 15 days after supply from Punjab was disrupted following farmers’ protest. This could lead to a rise in the price of vegetables. This issue between the farmers and the government should end soon.”

However, another trader said there was no immediate effect, but if the protests continue, the supply from UP, Ganganagar, Pune and other regions will be affected. He said, “There is no impact on the prices of vegetables currently. Suppose protests continue, and there are more road blockages. In that case, the supply of vegetables from UP, Ganganagar, Pune, etc. may get affected, leading to a possible hike in the price of some vegetables.”

Why are farmers protesting

The farmers are protesting to get their demands fulfilled by the Union Government, including a legal guarantee of MSP, implementation of Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and labourers, debt waiver, no hike in electricity traffic, withdrawal of police cases, reinstatement of Land Acquisition Act, 2012, compensation for the families of farmers who allegedly died during 2020-21 protests and more.

Sandeshkhali unrest: TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra arrested, rape charges added to FIR after a woman records statement before magistrate

OpIndia Staff
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Sandeshkhali unrest: TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra arrested, rape charges added to FIR after a woman records statement before magistrate

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shibu Prasad Hazra, who was “missing” after women of Sandeshkhali alleged systemic rape and sexual assault, was arrested on Saturday (17th February). Hazra is the TMC Block President and was named in the initial complaints by the Sandeshkhali women along with two others Uttam Sardar and the main accused Sheikh Shajahan. Hazra was arrested from a hideout in Sandeshkhali and will be produced before a local court on Sunday. He has been booked for rape and other charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Police said that Hazra and another TMC member have been accused of rape and sexual abuse by women in Sandeshkhali.

This is the second major arrest in the case as earlier the West Bengal Police had arrested Uttam Sardar. However, the main accused Sheikh Shajahan remains absconding. So far, the police have arrested a total of 18 accused in connection with the Sandeshkhali land grabbing, institutional rape, and sexual assault case among other allegations by local women.

Additionally, after a survivor gave statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the police have expanded the charges to include Sections 376D (gangrape) and 307 (attempt to murder).

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).

He said, “Despite talking to so many women we still haven’t received any such (rape) complaints. A woman has given a statement before the magistrate. We have added it to the FIR.”

Sheikh Shahjahan, the prime accused in this case, who is also the prime accused in the violent attack on the Enforcement Directorate personnel in Sandeshkhali, is still ‘absconding’ even after a month and a half of that incident.

On opposition’s criticism, State Police DG Rajeev Kumar blamed the ED, questioning why the central agency has not arrested Shahjahan after the attack.

He claimed that when the state police started an investigation against the accused, the ED stopped the investigation. 

The DG further claimed that the police had not received any complaint before 8th February and said, “We have not received any complaint from Sandeshkhali before February 8. Since then, we have received all complaints, everything is being investigated. The women of Sandeshkhali can approach the police without fear and express their views.”

Sandeshkhali horror

Tensions have been high in Sandeshkhali since January when local women staged protests demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan and his accomplices. 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”.

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.

Halder said, “Criminals in the state have joined hands with the government there.”

A BJP central team also visited Sandeshkhali on Friday and a Congress delegation is due to visit today (Saturday). The 6-member BJP delegation constituted by the party’s national president, JP Nadda, to visit Sandeshkhali was stopped by the police in West Bengal on Friday.

Earlier on Wednesday (14th February), West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose submitted a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs over the Sandeshkhali protests. The report held the West Bengal police responsible for colluding with “rowdy elements” in Sandeshkhali. 

According to reports, the Governor visited the affected area on Monday and discussed with the protesting women. Governor Bose stated in the report that the local people are calling for the establishment of either a Special Task Force or a Special Investigation Team to investigate their claims of sexual harassment involving TMC leaders.

‘Misused his post to solicit funds from abroad’: Sufi Islamic Board writes a letter to FM Nirmala Sitharaman, ED against Tamil Nadu Wakf Board chairman

OpIndia Staff
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‘Misused his post to solicit funds from abroad’: Sufi Islamic Board writes a letter to FM Nirmala Sitharaman, ED against Tamil Nadu Wakf Board chairman

The Sufi Islamic Board in Tamil Nadu has written a letter addressed to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Enforcement Directorate officials against Mr Abdul Rahman, the chairman of the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board, alleging that there are “mysterious activities” underway at the Wakf Board under his chairmanship. The Board has alleged that Rahman has been misusing his post to solicit funds to purportedly fund a medical college.

“It is submitted that from the start of 2022, it was widely publicised that under the aegis of Mr Abdul Rahman, Chairman, of Tamilnadu Waqf Board, the construction of a medical college and Hospital at Veppur, Tiruchy was on the anvil. Further, Mr Abdul Rahman has been abusing/using his public statutory post to solicit donations for the proposed Medical College,” the complaint by the Islamic Sufi Board read.

The Islamic Sufi Board contended that Rahman has conducted many meetings across the state and solicited Rs 300 crores for the said college.

Alleging that Rahman has also solicited funds from abroad, the complaint reads, “Mr. Abdur Rahman knowing fully well that he would not be given NOC to visit abroad for such a purpose, came up a with representation dated 27-10-2022 with a contrived excuse that he proposed to go to Umrah, Saudi Arabia and believing the same to be true the Principal Secretary to Government – Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes & Minorities Welfare Department accorded No Objection Certificate NOC GO. (RT) No. 16 dated 22-11-2022.”

The complaint also asserted that Mr Rahman had used the ruse of going to Umrah to solicit funds from abroad. “It is pertinent to note that the GO permitted Mr Abdul Rahman to visit only Mecca and Madinah for Umrah but instead on 3-12-2022, he visited UAD to solicit funds On 14-12-2022, he even addressed a meeting in Jeddah on the proposed Medical College and social media was flooded with posts advertising the meeting and touting it as a discussion meeting on the proposed Medical College. The post also claimed that the building works have commenced. This shows that he has used Umrah as a ruse and has induced the Government to accord NOC which is a valuable security and has thus committed cheating,” the complaint further added.

The group said Rahman also violated the government permission that restricted his travel to Mecca by visiting UAE and Jeddah.

“Abdul Rahman has not upheld the honour of the Indian National Flag and Symbol for which a FIR CR. NO 339/2022 has been lodged by the North Beach Police Station, Chennai and hence he cannot be expected to uphold the dignity and honour of India and not indulge in acts prejudicial to the sovereignty of India,” the complaint letter addressed to the Finance Minister, ED officials read.

The group stated that by visiting countries that he was not permitted to, Mr Rahman has committed offences that fall under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, besides violating the terms of the NOC he had procured to visit Mecca for performing Umrah.

It also added that Mr Rahman is not authorised to receive foreign contributions being a Public Servant and an office bearer of the Indian Union Muslim League under 3(1)(c) and (e) of FCRA 2010. In addition to this, prosecution is pending against him in Chennai’s North Beach Police Station, Cr NO 339/2022 due to which he is prohibited from receiving any contribution vide Section12(4)(e) of FCRA 2010, the group added.

“Thus the disobedience to the conditions mentioned in the GO (RT) NO: 196 dated 22-11-22 tended to affect the monetary safety of the Country and Mr. Abdur Rahman by violating the condition of the NOC has committed an offence under Section 188 IPC,” the complaint further added.

The Sufi Board also alleged that the chairman had worked as a liaison agent for several past and present politicians, helping them to funnel their black money through business partners in Dubai and make their investments. All such activities were carried out in the name and guise of “Quaide Millath Tamil Peravai”, there is no role for the descendants of Quaide Millath Late. Ismail Sahib. He further established his business contacts in Malaysia and some other Southeast Asian Countries known to him only, the Board said.

Earlier in September 2022, an FIR was lodged against Abdul Rahman, the head of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, accusing him of displaying disrespect towards the national flag and emblem.

The FIR stems from a complaint filed by Ajmal Khan, who alleges that Rahman, since assuming the role of chairman, has consistently shown disregard for the Tricolour by displaying it on his official vehicle.

Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya and lyricist-poet Sampooran Singh Kalra aka Gulzar selected for 58th Jnanpith Award for achievements in Sanskrit and Urdu

OpIndia Staff
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Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya and lyricist-poet Sampooran Singh Kalra aka Gulzar selected for 58th Jnanpith Award for achievements in Sanskrit and Urdu

On Saturday (17th February), the Jnanpith selection committee announced that Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and lyricist Sampooran Singh Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar, have been selected as the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award.

Instituted in 1944, the Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually to recognise outstanding contributions to Indian literature.

In a statement, the Jnanpith selection committee said, “It has been decided to give the award (for 2023) to eminent writers from two languages: Sanskrit litterateur Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and well-known Urdu litterateur Shri Gulzar.”

The award is being presented for the second time in recognition of achievements in the Sanskrit language and for the fifth time in honour of accomplishments in Urdu. It includes a cash prize of Rs 21 lakh, a Vagdevi statue, and a citation. In 2022, the award was bestowed upon Goan writer Damodar Mauzo. The committee chaired by Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Rai selects recipients for this award.

Swami Rambhadracharya is the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot. He is the renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator, and author of more than 240 books and texts, including four epics. Additionally, his testimony citing Hindu scriptures before the Honourable courts played a key role in the Ayodhya Ram Janambhoomi case. 

He is currently one of the four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect, a title which he has held since 1982. He is a polyglot who speaks 22 languages and is a poet and writer in several Indian languages including Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili. In 2015, he received the Padma Vibhushan award. 

Lyricist and Urdu poet, Sampooran Singh Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002, Padma Bhushan in 2004, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013, and at least five National Film awards for his works. He has also penned lyrics for many Bollywood movies.

In a statement, the Bharatiya Jnanpith said, “Along with his long film journey, Gulzar has been setting new milestones in the field of literature. In poetry, he invented a new genre ‘Triveni’ which is a non-mukaffa poem of three lines. Gulzar has always created something new through his poetry. For some time now he has also been paying serious attention to children’s poetry.”

Gujarat: 55-year-old woman gang-raped in Vadodara on the pretext of giving domestic work, Vakil Ahmed Pathan and two others arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: 55-year-old woman gang-raped in Vadodara on the pretext of giving domestic work, Vakil Ahmed Pathan and two others arrested

A shocking incident of alleged gang rape of a middle-aged Hindu woman came to light from Gujarat’s Vadodara on Saturday (17th February). The 55-year-old victim was gang raped when she was searching for domestic work to earn a livelihood. The accused knew about this after which she was gang-raped by the three accused on the pretext of giving her domestic work. The criminal incident took place in the Khodiyarnagar area of ​​Vadodara. 

As per reports, the main accused Vakil Ahmed Pathan is a rickshaw driver who took the woman in the rickshaw to a secluded place where he along with his accomplices Chaman Khan Pathan, and Shaukat Khan Pathan took turns raping her. After committing the crime, the accused left her and fled the crime scene. On learning about the incident, the woman’s daughter immediately informed the police, leading to the swift arrest of all three accused.

According to reports, the Hindu woman residing near the police station in Vadodara had been searching for domestic work to sustain her family’s livelihood for some time now. On Friday (16th February 2024), she was asking another woman for work near her home. Meanwhile, a nearby rickshaw driver, Vakil Ahmed Pathan, overheard their conversation and called her over. When the victim went to him hoping to get domestic work, the accused Vakil Pathan assured her stating that he knew some people who could employ her. Subsequently, he asked for her number. 

Later in the night, the accused called the victim and told her that she could find work in a bungalow and asked her to meet immediately. In need of work, she sat in the rickshaw with him to go to see the bungalow. But Vakil Ahmed Pathan took her to a deserted place in the Chhani area where his two accomplices Shaukat Khan Pathan and Chaman Pathan were already present. 

When the woman protested sensing something was wrong, the three dragged her to a nearby deserted place. The three accused then stripped her and took turns to rape her. They fled the scene after committing the crime, and the woman informed about the ordeal to her daughter. After that, her daughter rushed to the spot. From there, they called the police control room and informed them about the incident

After receiving the complaint, the police formed four teams and apprehended all three rapists. Cops were able to arrest the culprits based on CCTV footage.

After receiving the complaint, the police scanned CCTV footage of the concerned locations and identified the autorickshaw in which the woman was taken by the culprit. Based on the registration number of the autorickshaw used in the crime, police were able to nab the criminals, mastermind Vakil Pathan along with his accomplices Chaman Khan and Shaukat Pathan, within a few hours.

According to police, currently, all three accused are undergoing medical examinations along with the victim. The police also added that Chaman Khan has been previously noted for involvement in such criminal activities, while the main accused, lawyer Pathan, and Shaukat Khan Pathan are also associated with minor criminal offenses.

Shokat Khan Pathan has been previously noted for involvement in such criminal activities, while the main accused Vakil Pathan, and Shaukat Khan Pathan are also associated with minor criminal offenses.

Sharing details about the crime, M.P. Bhojani DCP said that the rickshaw driver called the woman on the pretext of giving her work and took her to a deserted place. His two friends were already standing there. All three took turns to rape her.

Rahul Gandhi leaves his yatra and heads to Wayanad from Varanasi after elephant attack fatality in his constituency, will resume his program on Sunday

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi leaves his yatra and heads to Wayanad from Varanasi after elephant attack fatality in his constituency, will resume his program on Sunday

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi abruptly halted his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on 17th February in Varanasi and left for his Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad in the southern state of Kerala. Veteran Congress leader and party’s general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh informed about the development and stated that the presence of the former party president was “required urgently” in Wayanad, in a social media post. He added that the yatra will resume on 18th February in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is reported to resume at Prayagraj on 18th February at 3 pm. Notably, Rahul Gandhi had earlier cancelled the second stage of his yatra in Jharkhand, which was scheduled to start on 14th February and rushed to the national capital to participate in the farmers’ protest. The second leg of the Congress’s alleged nationwide outreach movement the “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra” which aims to travel from Manipur to Mumbai under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Varanasi on the second day of its Uttar Pradesh phase which began on the 16th February.

It was scheduled to traverse through the state from 16th to 21st February and then again from 24th to 25th February. The Congress reported that the 22nd and 23rd of February were going to be rest days of the yatra. Congress secretary Rajesh Tiwari declared that the yatra would proceed as scheduled, moving from Bhadohi to Prayagraj, even though Rahul Gandhi is not present in the town.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and IT cell head Amit Malviya asserted that there is an “irreconcilable rift” over the party’s control between Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. “Everyone needs to look after their health. Priyanka Vadra was absent from Yatra 2.0 from the beginning, and she won’t be present even now when Rahul’s Yatra has reached Uttar Pradesh. It has become widely recognized that there is an unbridgeable divide between the brother and sister over who owns the party,” he commented after Priyanka Vadra informed that she couldn’t be a part of the yatra in Uttar Pradesh because she was hospitalised and will join her brother later.

Rahul Gandhi’s present trip to Wayanad occurred one day after a man named Paul passed away during the day at the Kozhikode Medical College. He was gravely hurt in another wild elephant assault on the 15th of February morning. According to a Forest official, the deceased was an eco-tourism guide employed by the Forest department and stationed at the popular tourist spot known as Kuruva Island.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Wayanad called a district-wide hartal to seek lasting solutions to the human-animal conflicts in the area. Businesses and retail stores stayed closed and automobiles skipped the district’s roadways. Locals also protested with the dead body of the victim who was trampled to death by a wild animal.

At Pulpally, the demonstration descended into violence as agitators set fire to a forest department vehicle and placed a dead cow from a reported tiger attack on top of it. Massive protests in Wayanad were sparked last week after an elephant in the Mananthavady part of the district crushed 42-year-old Aji to death.

Even as media continues to give oxygen to farmer protest, Rahul Gandhi says Adani-Ambani owned media like ANI, PTI etc not talking about farmers

OpIndia Staff
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Even as media continues to give oxygen to farmer protest, Rahul Gandhi says Adani-Ambani owned media like ANI, PTI etc not talking about farmers

As part of his relentless attack against Indian businesses, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi today claimed all media houses in India are owned by Adani and Ambani. Rahul Gandhi was in Varanasi on Saturday for his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, where he alleged that the media do not talk about the poor and the farmers because they are owned by crorepatis like Adani and Ambani.

Rahul Gandhi said, the country is facing the issue of unemployment, and there are two Indias, an India of billionaires and an India of the poor. Then he went on to say that all media houses are owned by the rich, and therefore they don’t cover the issues of the poor.

Pointing towards the media contingent covering his speech, Rahul Gandhi said, ‘Look here, this media people from ANI and all other TV, look at them. PTI, ANI, India Today, Network 10, Network 12, Network 14, tell who owns them? These belong to Adani ji, Ambani ji. They are never going to show about farmers, labourers, poor. They can’t do it, because their owners have ordered them that they can’t show about the poor of India. They can show only Narendra Modi 24 hours, not the poor.’

He then claimed that there is not a single person in the crowd who benefited from GST and demonetisation, but media house like ANI never showed it.

Rahul Gandhi’s claims of the media not covering the farmers and the poor come amid non-stop coverage of the ongoing protests by Punjab farmers demanding legal guarantee of MSP. All media houses including media houses named by Rahul Gandhi like PTI, ANI, India Today, News 18 etc have been covering the farmer protests and their demands.

While Gautam Adani’s Adani group and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group own some media ventures, not all media groups mentioned by Rahul Gandhi are owned by them or other billionaires.

The PTI or Press Trust of India Ltd is actually a nonprofit company owned by a large number of Indian media houses, and not owned by any business group. PTI strongly objected to the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi on X. Responding to a video of the speech posted by the Congress party on X, PTI wrote, “Shocked to hear Rahul Gandhi say PTI is owned by Adani and Ambani. PTI is an independent, not-for-profit company. It has been jointly owned since Independence by a group of newspaper companies that derive no income from PTI’s revenue.”

Similarly, there is no evidence that Adani or Ambani owns the other news agency named by Rahul Gandhi, ANI – Asian News International.

India Today news channel is owned by TV Today Network Ltd, which in turn is a part of Living Media India Limited or the India Today Group, which was founded by Aroon Purie. TV Today Network Ltd is a listed company and almost half of it is owned by public shareholders. There is no evidence of any major shareholding by Adani and Ambani in the India Today group.

While Rahul Gandhi didn’t name NDTV, the Prannoy Roy founded media house is actually now owned by Adani Group, after AMG Media Network of Adani Group acquired the company in 2022. Similarly, while Rahul Gandhi didn’t name Network 18 – he used non-existent names like Network 10, Network 12, Network 14 – Network18 Group is actually owned by the Reliance group. Reliance Industries acquired the media conglomerate in 2014.

West Bengal: VHP moves Calcutta HC over lioness named ‘Sita’ being housed with lion named ‘Akbar’

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: VHP moves Calcutta HC over lioness named ‘Sita’ being housed with lion named ‘Akbar’

On Thursday (16th February), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) filed a plea before the Calcutta High Court after the West Bengal forest department named a lioness ‘Sita’ and kept it in the same enclosure as a lion named after Mughal tyrant ‘Akbar’.

As per reports, the felines were brought to the Safari Park in Siliguri from the Sepahijala Zoological Park in Tripura. The forest officials had claimed that the lion and lioness were re-christened even before they arrived at Siliguri on 13th February this year.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad said that the decision by the West Bengal forest officials amounted to a direct assault on the religious beliefs of the Hindu community. The Hindu outfit has demanded an immediate change to the name of the lioness ‘Sita.’

The petition read, “Vishwa Hindu Parishad has with deep anguish observed that a species of cat family has been named after the name of “SITA” the consort of Lord Rama and she is sacred deity to all Hindus across the world. Such act amounts to blasphemy and is a direct assault on the religious belief of all Hindus.”

“That to the utmost surprise of the petitioners on 14/02/2024 Uttar Banga Sambad carried a news item with the heading “Sangir khoje astir Sita” (Sita restless in search of a partner). Incidentally the male lion was given the name of “Akbar”. The said article and indicated in a lewd way and represented the news in a much objection manner which was bound to hurt the religious sentiments of all Hindus across the country,” VHP further emphasised.

The petition has now been listed for hearing before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on 20th February 2024.

Gujarat: Hindu man dragged and killed by Muslim mob in Sabarkantha; stones pelted on brother who went to collect victim’s body

Krunalsinh Rajput
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Gujarat: Hindu man dragged and killed by Muslim mob in Sabarkantha; stones pelted on brother who went to collect victim’s body

On Wednesday (14th February 14), a Muslim mob attacked a Hindu family and killed a man in Prantij in the Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. In this dispute over the transaction of money, the mob rushed to the area with a significant Hindu population and created a stir. The man trying to mediate during this scuffle was dragged away and killed by the Muslim mob. The police have registered an FIR against 17 people in this case. OpIndia reached out to the victim’s family and tried to get detailed information about the entire incident.

Subhashbhai, the younger brother of the deceased Rajubhai Bhoi, spoke to OpIndia. Describing the incident, he said, “My brother had nothing to do with the original incident. Our neighbour had a fight with some people from the local Muslim community over financial transactions. Even a week ago, he faced trouble. On 14th February, he was beaten up in the market by the accused. After that, they also came home and created a ruckus.”

‘Muslim mob dragged my brother into the dark and killed him.’

Subhash further said about his brother’s murder, “While they were beating up our neighbour, my elder brother only said, ‘Why are you beating him?’. As soon as my brother said this, the mob got agitated and rushed to kill my brother with swords, pipes, and hockey sticks. My brother had intervened to mediate in the scuffle. They were 100-200 people and they dragged my brother away. Taking him about 100 feet away from the house in the dark, they beat him indiscriminately. My brother was strangled to death after he was hit by a pipe.”

‘They didn’t even let us take his corpse; they pelted stones at that time.’

It is learned that even after the murder of Rajubhai, the frenzied mob did not calm down. According to the brother of the deceased, after Rajubhai’s murder, the Muslim mob did not let the family take away the corpse. They were continuously pelting stones. Subhash further said, “My brother died on the spot. When many others tried to go to collect his body, they started pelting stones. It was raining stones so no one could reach my brother’s dead body. Finally, another of our brothers reached there, escaping from the stones somehow, and saw that my elder brother was lying dead there.”

‘Most Hindus fled from here; they want us to go as well.’

Subhash said, “There is a population of Muslims all around us here. We have to use the road passing through their area for commutation. Earlier, hindus used to live here, but due to the torture of these people, most Hindus have fled from here. At present, only the Bhoi community is living here and we are also harassed while passing by the way.”

He also alleged that Hindu boys were being beaten up by local Muslims by making them stand on the road and hurling rude abuses at them. He said, “With such torture, they tell us that all of us will have to vacate the houses from here and give those to Muslims. Our condition here is very bad. All this torture is done to get our place vacated.”

He said that 72 hours after the murder, only four persons have been arrested so far, while the rest are absconding. “We demand that the accused be arrested immediately and our brother be given justice,” he said, demanding the government and the administration. However, when OpIndia contacted the police, it was found that five persons have been arrested in the incident so far, while the search for the rest is currently underway.

According to him, after the incident, stones were pelted from the Muslim settlement on Thursday as well. The incident took place when the police personnel deployed in the area were present there. Officials also rushed to the spot as soon as the incident was reported. However, the victim’s family has alleged that they did not take any action later. Alleging that the police were scared of the accused, the brother of the deceased Rajubhai said, “We were simply told that police will take action, but nothing happened. The police are scared of them.”

Hindu organisations give a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest the accused

After the killing of a Hindu man in Prantij, there is anger among the local Hindus. On the other hand, Hindu organisations are also standing by the victim’s family. Speaking to Opindia, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Hitendra Singh Rajput said, “We have tried to share their grief by visiting the victim’s family. We are with them to ensure justice for the family. In addition, we have given a 48-hour ultimatum to the police administration. If the accused are not arrested, all Hindu organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, will take to the streets and demand justice.” He expressed his displeasure towards the police administration and said bangles would also be distributed at the police station if satisfactory work was not done.

The Hindu leader said that the demography of the area where the incident took place was also worrisome. He said that Hindus are fleeing from here and due to this, there have been repeated demands to impose the Disturbed Areas Act here. “Once again, we demand that the Disturbed Areas Act be implemented here immediately. If justice is not done, then there is a plan to launch a fierce agitation in the coming time.”

What was the case?

On February 14, 2024, a mob of the Muslim community stormed the Khodiyar Kuwa area of Prantij. One person was killed when the mob attacked a Hindu family over a money transaction. The deceased was identified as Raju Bhoi. The police registered a case against 17 people and the rest of the mob.

In this case, the police have registered a case against Ayaz Qureshi, Munaf Qureshi, Ayub Qureshi, Rashid Miyan, Imran Mian Qureshi, Maqbool Miyan Qureshi, Jani Kamruddin, Rais Miyan Mehboob Khan, Malek, Sameer, Manan Haroon, Nisar’s brother, Rafiq Bhatti, Nisar Miyan, Babu Akbar, Yunus Miyan and Firoz Mian. A case has been registered under sections 302, 323, 143, 147, 148, 149, 504, 506(2), and 427 of the IPC and section 135 of the GPA and further proceedings have been initiated.

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