On Thursday (4th January), the Supreme Court of India came down heavily on two Calcutta High Court Judges who asked adolescent girls to ‘control sexual urges’ so that they are not deemed ‘loser’ by society.
A 2-Judge Bench of Justice A S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan deemed the observations by the Calcutta High Court as ‘problematic’ and also questioned the legal principles involved in the judgment.
“It’s not only about these observations, but the findings of the court. Writing such judgments is absolutely wrong. What kind of principles the judges have invoked! In case of settlement, there is a series of judgment on that,” Justice AS Oka noted.
He emphasised, “But here, the court has said that the POCSO section should be amended and as the section is not amended, they will exercise power under Section 482.”
On being pointed out about other ‘problematic’ paragraphs in the Calcutta High Court Judgment, the Judge said, “Every paragraph is problematic. We have marked all the paragraphs.”
Judges not expected to preach/ express personal views: Supreme Court
Earlier on 8th December last year, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the Calcutta High Court order and remarked, “In an appeal against conviction, the high court was called upon to decide only the merits of the appeal and nothing else.”
“Prima facie, we are of the view that, in such a case, the judges are not expected to either express their personal views or preach,” it added. The apex courted noted that the observations by the Calcutta High Court were ‘objectionable’ and ‘completely unwarranted.’
It pointed out that the observations also violated the rights of adolescents, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution under Article 21.
The Background of the Controversy
On 18th October last year, a 2-Judge Bench of the Calcutta High delivered a verdict, overturning the conviction of a 25-year-old man accused of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
While doing so, Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen listed out specific duties for adolescent boys and girls. The court ruled,
“It is the duty or obligation of every female adolescent to (i) Protect her right to the integrity of her body, (ii) Protect her dignity and self-worth, (iii) Thrive for the overall development of her self-transcending gender barriers, (iv) Control sexual urge or urges as in the eyes of the society she is the loser when she gives in to enjoy the sexual pleasure of hardly two minutes, (v) Protect her right to autonomy of her body and her privacy.It is the duty of a male adolescent to respect the aforesaid duties of a young girl or woman and he should train his mind to respect a woman, her self-worth, her dignity and privacy, and her right to autonomy of her body.
“We do not want our adolescents to do anything that shall push them from the dark to the darker side of life. It is normal for each adolescent to seek the company of the opposite sex, but it is not normal for them to engage in sex devoid of any commitment and dedication. Sex shall come automatically to them when they grow self-reliant, economically independent and a person which they dreamt one day to be, it concluded,” the Judges had said.
Last year, former US President Donald Trump was indicted on four charges in connection to the January 6 Capitol riot. He’s been charged with conspiracy to defraud the government, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
Now, Fox News Digital has reported that the high-ranking prosecutor on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team, who brought the indictment against the US former president and 2024 GOP (Grand Old Party) frontrunner Donald Trump, had previously urged the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to stop probing into the Clinton Foundation in 2016.
The report by Special Counsel John Durham named Ray Hulser, the former head of the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section (PIN), as the person who declined prosecution of the Clinton Foundation in 2016.
Ray Hulser is a part of Smith’s team which is currently investigating former President Donald Trump. Ray Hulser and Jack Smith are collaborating to imprison former president Donald Trump for alleged offences related to the 6th January 2021 Capitol Hills riots when the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. was attacked by a mob of supporters of then-U.S. president Donald Trump two months after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. At least 5 people died in the ensuing chaos and its aftermath.
According to a report by Durham published in May 2023, in late 2014, the FBI started looking into accusations from a “well-placed” confidential source that two foreign countries were attempting to make illicit donations in exchange for influence with Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign.
According to the report, early in 2016 the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Little Rock, Arkansas, and New York field offices all initiated inquiries into the Clinton Foundation for “possible criminal activity.”
During a meeting on February 1, 2016, however, Hulser declined to press charges, stating that there was ‘insufficient predication’ for the field offices to launch at least one investigation. Several FBI officials along with Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell were also present there.
In an interview with John Durham, he stated that the FBI briefing was inadequately presented and that at least one investigation was not well projected as it relied on assertions found in a book. The latter also “downplayed information provided by the New York Field Office CHS (confidential human source) and recalled that the amount involved in the financial reporting was de minimis,” per the investigation. John Durham’s staff did, however, go over the financial documents to “understand the allegations.”
The report proclaimed that a specific commercial “industry likely engaged a federal public official in a flow of benefits scheme, namely, large monetary contributions were made to a non-profit, under both direct and indirect control of the federal public official, in exchange for favourable government action and/or influence.”
The case originated from an intelligence product and corroborating financial reporting.
According to accusations presented in journalist Peter Schweizer’s 2015 book- Clinton Cash, the Clintons’ Foundation accepted millions of dollars in donations from foreign governments hoping to influence American foreign policy when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. This information served as the basis for one of the inquiries.
However, predictions “based on source reporting that identified foreign governments that had made, or offered to make, contributions to the Foundation in exchange for favourable or preferential treatment from Clinton” were included in the investigations conducted in New York and Little Rock.
The Durham report noted that three different FBI field offices started investigating the Clinton Foundation, indicating a perceived need for coordination meetings between the field offices, FBI Headquarters, and relevant U.S. Attorney’s offices as well as components from the main Justice Department.
The report went on to say that Hulser ‘declined prosecution’ on behalf of the Public Integrity Section. However, he made it clear that his decision was not binding on the various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices or FBI field divisions.
But despite making progress, all of the investigations were shut down by higher-ranking authorities, Durham found.
During the February 1 meeting, Durham spoke with an acting section chief from the FBI’s Office of General Counsel, whom Durham did not name. He had described the Justice Department’s response as “hostile.”
Three weeks later, on February 22, a second meeting was held, and according to the report, Andrew McCabe, the FBI’s deputy director at the time, directed the field offices to close their cases.
Notably, McCabe himself has ties to the Clintons. While McCabe was director of the FBI DC field office, his wife Jill was courted to run for the state senate in March 2015 by Clinton associate and adviser Terry McAuliffe of Virginia.
Now, Hulser is a part of Jack Smith’s prosecution team, which has been embroiled in a bitter back and forth with Trump’s legal team ever since the former president was indicted last year.
On August 1, 2023, an indictment of former President Donald J Trump levelled four criminal counts against him over his efforts to stay in power after the 2020 election including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct a congressional proceeding and conspiracy to violate rights.
The obstruction charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while convictions on the conspiracy to violate rights and defraud the government would carry up to five years each.
The 45-page indictment said Trump was ‘determined to remain in power’ despite ‘having lost.’
A cargo ship, ‘MV LILA NORFOLK’ has been hijacked late last evening near the coast of Somalia and is being closely watched by the Indian Navy which has rushed a warship towards it, military officials said on Friday.
The hijacked ship has 15 Indians on board and communication has been established with the crew.
As per military officials, the information about the ship being hijacked off Somalia coast was received on Thursday evening. Moreover, the Indian Navy aircraft have been keeping a watch on the ship.
Additionally, the Indian Navy warship INS Chennai is moving towards the hijacked vessel to tackle the situation.
The Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed Platforms responded swiftly to the hijacking attempt on board a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier after it received a message on the UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on Thursday evening, the Indian Navy said in an official statement on Friday.
In response to the situation, the Indian Navy launched an Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and diverted INS Chennai, deployed for maritime security operations, to assist the vessel.
The aircraft overflew the vessel on Friday morning and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew.
As per the Indian Navy, Naval aircraft is continuously monitoring the movement of the vessel and Indian warship INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance.
The overall situation is being closely monitored in coordination with other agencies and MNFs in the area, Indian Navy said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
All eyes are set on the holy city of Ayodhya as the Ram Lalla idol will be consecrated here on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several distinguished guests. Families of thousands of karsevaks who gave their lives for Ram Mandir have also been invited. Among numerous such Rambhakt karsevaks was one Sanjay Kumar Singh.
On November 2, 1990, Sanjay Kumar Singh sacrificed his life in the massacre carried out by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government. Sanjay Singh could not even be seen for the last time by the family. He was cremated on the banks of the same Saryu, on which he struggled for Lord Ram’s temple. His fellow karsevaks immersed his ashes in the sacred Saryu River, returning only with his memories.
Singh’s 35-year-old daughter who lives on Dahod Road in Banswara, Rajasthan, has been invited to Ram Lalla’s consecration ceremony. She is the daughter of the same Sanjay Singh who, along with five other Karsevaks sacrificed his life on November 2, 1990, during government-ordered firing on Karsevaks. Smriti lived with her father in Kanti Sain, or Muzaffarpur, Bihar. His father was the Bhartiya Janata Party’s divisional vice president.
According to a Bhaskar report, Sanjay Kumar Singh left his house quietly on October 30, 1990, leaving two daughters and his wife behind. He had left his two infant daughters, two-year-old Smriti and two-month-old Kriti, with his wife. The government was on high alert to ensure that no karsevak reached Ayodhya. In such a scenario, he travelled from Gonda to Ayodhya with other Karsevaks, traversing fields and barns.
In Ayodhya, he was joined by his friend Naresh Kumar. They both joined the karsevaks who arrived in Ayodhya under the leadership of Uma Bharti. Karsevaks marched in the direction of the Hanuman Garhi Temple. Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav government ordered firing on them. Bullets fired from behind their backs killed five Karsevaks.
Sanjay Singh’s family received the invitation for Ram Mandir consecration ceremony (Image credit: Bhaskar)
Sanjay Kumar Singh was one of the five martyrs on that fateful day. Sanjay Kumar Singh’s mortal remains never reached his home. His last rites were performed on the banks of the river Saryu. His ashes were immersed in the holy river. The campaign for a Ram temple continued. On December 6, 1992, the Babri structure was demolished.
“During the Kar Seva, a bullet was fired on the orders of the then government and he died. After this, his family faced a lot of trouble, but now Ram Lalla consecration is happening there, they are happy with it,” said Arvind Singh, a friend of Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Sanjay Singh’s wife has also passed away. His elder daughter Smriti has been invited to Ram Lalla’s consecration ceremony. She intends to take part in this programme with her family. She says that if her younger sister had been invited, she would have come with her family as well. She said after getting the invitation, “Had my mother been alive on this auspicious occasion, the happiness would have been double. My father had gone to the holy land of Ayodhya with the dream of building a Ram temple. I have also received an invitation to attend the Pran Pratistha.”
In Sanjay Singh’s hometown of Kanti Sain, a trust has been established in his honour. A statue of Singh has also been installed in his village. A park is also being constructed. This park will also be dedicated to the public following the consecration of the Ram temple. “My friend’s sacrifice will not be in vain,” says Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh, President of the Sanjay Singh Memorial Trust. Arvind Singh has also served as a karsevak in the Ram Mandir movement alongside Sanjay Singh.
As 22nd January is approaching, the holy city of Ayodhya is decked up for the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Shri Ram Mandir. The construction of Shri Ram’s holy abode is ongoing in full swing and preparations for the grand welcome of the God are underway. As the temple town gears up for welcoming Lord Ram, Swati Goel Sharma of Swarajya has reported about an interesting ritual that dates back to the installation of Ram Lalla and continues to this day.
Following India’s independence from British rule, an event changed the course of the centuries-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri structure dispute in Ayodhya in favour of the Hindu community. Back in December 1949, a idol of Lord Ram appeared inside the Babri structure.
The installation of the Ram Lalla’s idol in the Babri edifice was less of a “miracle” and more of a story of human genius and eternal devotion.
For more than a century, Ayodhya’s saints had diligently sought to reclaim the disputed site, which is a sacred Hindu place of worship before the construction of a mosque by Babur’s general, Mir Baqi in 1528. In their reclamation efforts, the Hindu saints planned to place an image of Lord Ram beneath the central dome of the Babri Masjid, perform “pran pratishtha,” and declare it “achal” (immovable).
Mahant Abhiram was the priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, a small temple built on a chabutra just outside the domes of the Babri structure, as well as the head priest of Ayodhya’s historic Hanuman Garhi temple. Das used to reside near the Singhdwar of the Hanuman Garhi Temple. Notably, the chabutra was used by Hindus to offer prayers and prasad to Shri Ram. It is said that Mahant Abhiram often dreamed about a grand Ram Mandir “replacing” the Babri ‘Masjid’. The plan was prepared, and the auspicious Tithi of Shukla Tritiya of the Hindu calendar’s Poush month, which fell on December 22, was chosen to execute it.
According to the Swarajyareport, continuous hymn singing, or akhand kirtan and Ramcharitmanas recitations began outside the illegal Babri structure weeks before the placement of Ram Lalla’s image, causing tension among local Muslims. The Muslims then approached the district magistrate, who ordered an investigation by the city magistrate. Thakur Gurudutt, the city magistrate, directed the sadhus to stop their activities but was told that his orders were overlooked.
Amarnath Pandey, 62, a resident of Panji Tola, told Swati Goel Sharma that visiting sadhus, including those from Gorakhshpeeth, questioned the local Mahants about limiting Ramcharitmanas recitations to Hanuman Garhi and not holding them at Ram Janmabhoomi. Pandey recalled his father telling him that the Mahants encouraged the public to attend the recitations in large numbers, ensuring a crowd of at least 1,008 people at all times. “The Mahants said low attendance would hurt their goal of reclaiming Ram Janmabhoomi and leave them humiliated,” Pandey said.
In conversation with Sharma, Shakti Singh, grandson of Thakur Gurudutt said that since a 1934 communal clash, Hindus had been barred from the Babri structure’s domes, which were secured with an iron gate and a Muslim man used to guard the site during the night.
Entering the mosque and placing Shri Ram’s idol was fraught with danger, however, Ram Bhakts have been no cowards in facing any danger to uphold the honour of their God. A sadhu named Ram Das was given a bag containing a idol of Lord Ram and ritual items such as diya-batti, a bell and camphor on the midnight of 22nd-23rd December 1949. He, however, was confronted by the Muslim guard at the Babri site. Ram Das is said to have injured the guard with the bell and proceeded to install the image of Lord Ram and perform the pooja rituals.
Meanwhile, announcements were made that Lord Hanuman had summoned his devotees to Hanuman Garhi Temple. Achyut Shukla told Swarajya that some others, including Mahants Abhiram and Paramhans, secured Shri Ram’s idol with iron nails and mesh, making it difficult to remove.
The next morning, rumours spread like fire that a miracle unfolded last night. “The story went like this: late at night, the Muslim guard at the ‘mosque’ witnessed a blinding light, so bright that he lost his vision for some time. Moments later, the light dimmed and he saw a child playing under the central dome. After witnessing the miracle, the guard fell unconscious. When he awoke, the Ram Lalla idol and worship materials were present,” Swarajya report reads.
Jawaharlal Nehru ordered the removal of Ram Lalla’s idol, how local officials cleverly resisted
As the miracle infuriated the local Muslims, they informed Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s office in New Delhi about the incident. Subsequently, Nehru entrusted Govind Ballabh Pant, then chief minister of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), with removing the idols and locking the Babri structure again. Nehru reportedly sent a note to the Uttar Pradesh government, directing the administration to remove the idols of Ram Lalla immediately from the precincts of the Babri edifice. The note had mysteriously vanished in 2005.
While Nehru was bent on getting the idols removed, Thakur Gurudutt prevented Pant from entering Ayodhya. When Pant reached Faizabad, Gurudatt asked him to go back saying that there could be a threat to his life and riots might erupt. Although Pant returned, he was angered by this and said that only those who could ensure his security deserved to be in service.
Days before resigning, Thakur Gurudutt initiated proceedings under Section 145 of the CrPC, ordering the attachment of the Babri structure and effectively restricting the entry of Muslims there. After he tendered his resignation, Gurudutt was made to vacate his government residence. It is said that his grandfather’s luggage was thrown out of the house. The Swrajya report says that the same Lorpur House had served as the meeting point for planning the event. Later, Gurudutt joined the Bhartiya Jana Sangh and became the party’s Faizabad district chief.
Portraits of Mahant Paramhans and Thakur Gurudutt kept near the entrance of VHP’s Mandir Nirmal Karyashala (Image credit: Swarajya)
Interestingly, the District Magistrate of Faizabad, K.K. Nayar played a significant role in stalling the orders to remove the Ram Lalla image from the disputed site. Nayar said that since the site was ‘disturbed’, removing the idol of Lord Ram could trigger riots in the city.
Nayar told the central and state government that there was a popular demand to open the Temple’s gates. He also appeared distressed that a popular slogan had become “Nayar anyay karna chhod do, Nayar Bhagwan ka phatak khol do.”
The outcome of Nayar’s efforts was that the idols were not removed and remained in the same spot they were originally placed. Later, on January 19, 1950, an injunction was issued preventing the government from removing them, which was later upheld by the High Court five years later. Although permission to conduct worship was granted, the inner courtyard was locked. After Nayar resigned from his post, he joined the Bhartiya Jana Sangh and became a member of parliament from Baharaich in 1967 receiving 100,203 votes. A comprehensive OpIndia report on KK Nayar’s role in the cause of Dharma can be read here.
Amarnath Pandey told Swarajya that the local Hindus pressured the administration to allow offering Bhog to Bhagwan Ram and slogans like “Bhagwan ka tala kholo, Bhagwan hamare bhookhe hain” (‘open the locks of Babri, our God is hungry’)” were raised. Following this, a bhandari (cook) was allowed inside the Babri structure.
On 23rd December 1949, an FIR was registered over the break-in, installation of the Ram Lalla image and the subsequent gathering of Hindus. The FIR named Ram Das, one Ram Shukla Das and later, Mahant Abhiram Das, Mahant Ram Chandra Das Param Hans and Mahant Vrindavan Das as accused.
According to the FIR, the accused placed an idol of Lord Ram and wrote ‘Sita Ram’ on the mosque’s outer and inner walls. Early in the morning, a crowd of 5,000-6,000 people chanting bhajans gathered at the site and attempted to enter the Babri structure.
The miracle of human ingenuity celebrated to this date as “Bhagwan Pratakya Mahotsav”
Since the image of Ram Lalla was placed in the masjid premise in 1950, an annual celebration called “Bhagwant Prakatya Mahotsav” has been held in Ayodhya uninterrupted.
A picture from the celebration of ‘Bhagwan Prakatya Mahotsav’ in Ayodhya in the 1990s (Image credit: Swarajya)
A grand shobha yatra is taken out in the sacred city, with children dressed as Lord Ram and his three brothers – Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan before ending at Ram Janmabhoomi, where a pooja of Lord Ram’s idol installed there is performed. According to Achyut Shukla, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Sewa Samiti, the murti of Ram Lalla was presented by a princess from a royal family from Balrampur.
Notably, this year the Shukla Tritiya of the Poush month, the Tithi that was chosen to place Shri Ram’s idol at the disputed site is falling on January 14. On this day, the rituals at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence in addition to the observance of the “Prakatya Mahotsav”.
The idol of Shri Ram Lalla (Lord Ram in his childlike form) will be consecrated on 22nd January. On January 22, Shri Ram will be seated in his divinely grand temple in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Thursday (4th January), the Malegaon Police in Maharashtra’s Nashik district booked Sushma Andhare from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) for giving a derogatory speech insulting Lord Rama. The Police booked her under section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Team OpIndia has obtained the FIR copy and the video of the hateful speech. As per the FIR copy, the derogatory speech came to light only after the complainant, Aman Pardeshi, saw the speech’s video accidentally on one India TV YouTube channel on 26th December.
In the video, the woman questioned Lord Rama for allegedly not trusting Goddess Sita and sending her into exile. “I don’t want a husband like Lord Rama. Who wants a husband like Lord Rama who showed mistrust of his wife and sent her to exile while she was 7 months pregnant? If people raised questions about Goddess Sita’s character for being in Ravana’s captivity for years, why did nobody question Lord Rama’s character? He was also alone in the jungle while she was held hostage, right?” Andhare said in the speech.
FIR copy obtained by OpIndia
She added that Goddess Sita was sad in Ravana’s captivity but Lord Rama at that time in the jungle was eating half-eaten fruits with Shabri. “Sita didn’t raise questions then? Neither did the society. Lord Rama has set the standard of demeaning women since then and treating them worse than lower caste people. I won’t worship such a man,” she said, as mentioned in the FIR.
The FIR further states that the accused Uddhav Sena leader also used derogatory words about Lord Krishna. She questioned why people worship Lord Krishna even when he ‘molested’ women during his life. “He (Lord Krishna) used to watch women while they showered, he used to steal their clothes and molest them in the markets,” she said as mentioned in the FIR.
The complainant demanded strict punishment against the accused.
It is to be noted that Andhare belongs to the Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena. Earlier, party leader Sanjay Raut had shown disrespect towards the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya scheduled to take place on 22nd January. He had called the ceremony a private event by BJP and also had said that there was no devotion in the event.
“This is all politics, who wants to attend an event by the BJP? This is not a national event. This is BJP’s program, this is BJP’s rally. ‘Usme pavitrata kahan hai?’…We will visit (Ayodhya) after BJP’s program is over,” Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying.
Also, NCP’s Jitendra Awhad had courted a massive controversy after he claimed that Lord Ram used to eat meat and he belonged to ‘Bahujans’. “Ram is ours. Ram belongs to the Bahujans. Ram who hunts and eats is ours, we belong to the Bahujans. When you people go to make us all vegetarian, we follow the ideals of Ram and today we eat mutton. This is the ideal of Ram. Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian,” Awhad said while addressing an event in Maharashtra’s Shirdi on Wednesday.
However, later he apologized for hurting religious sentiments but stated that he stands by his statement and there are mentions of Lord Ram eating meat in the Valmiki Ramayan. NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress are in coalition in Maharashtra and none of these party members seem to be happy ahead of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya scheduled to take place on 22nd January.
On Friday (5th January), a team comprising officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CRPF, and journalists was attacked and their vehicles were targeted in Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The incident occurred when the ED team reached to execute a raid on the residence of Shahjahan Sheikh – a block-level official of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) – as part of an investigation into the ration scam.
#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal: A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attacked during a raid in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.
The agency commenced raids early on Friday morning at the properties of two block-level leaders, Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, along with their relatives in North 24 Parganas, under the protection of central security forces. Over 200 residents reportedly encircled the ED officials and the central armed paramilitary forces that were accompanying the ED team.
According to reports, as the ED team attempted to enter Shajahan Sheikh’s house following multiple unanswered calls, a large group of men and women converged at the location, raising slogans. They also assaulted the officials and damaged their vehicles. The presence of Shahjahan Sheikh or his family members inside the house at that time could not be ascertained.
A news correspondent of News18 Bangla was also reportedly attacked. His car was also damaged and the camera of the journalist crew was also broken by these goons. Due to the assault by Shahjahan Sheikh’s supporters on the ED officials, the planned raid on the TMC leader could not be completed.
Meanwhile the BJP has alleged the involvement of Rohingyas in the attack.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari wrote on his X handle, “Horrific. The Law and order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles. ED Officials & CRPF Jawans brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting Raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s house. I doubt that Rohingyas are present among the anti-national attackers. I urge the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Director of ED and CRPF to take cognizance of this grave situation and take appropriate action to crush this anarchy. NIA should also probe this matter.”
Horrific. The Law & Order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles.
ED Officials & CRPF Jawans brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting Raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's house. I doubt that Rohingyas are present amongst the Anti National… pic.twitter.com/XHboQsBVSX
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) January 5, 2024
West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, “There are complaints and corruption charges against all of them. Naturally, ED will take action. It is quite obvious. The attack on ED in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali shows what the Rohingya are doing to the law and order in the state.”
#WATCH | On the alleged attack on ED, West Bengal BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar says, "There is a complaint & corruption charges against all of them. It is natural that ED will take action. It is quite obvious. The attack on ED in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali shows what the Rohingya… pic.twitter.com/Xwo0oKaoSA
On 26th October, ED raided the residence of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick in Kolkata in connection to a corruption case related to ration distribution. Mallick is a senior TMC leader serving as the forest minister. Previously, he held the food minister portfolio. In response to the raid, Banerjee strongly criticised the central agency and accused the BJP-led government at the centre of using such actions as part of a “broader strategy” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Interestingly, Mallick’s daughter Priyadarshini reportedly deposited Rs 3.37 crores in her bank account after the 2016 demonetisation. Being a school teacher, she draws an annual salary of 2.48 lakhs. During ED’s interrogation, she claimed to have earned the money as tuition fees. Furthermore, ED found a deposit of Rs 4.3 crores in the IDBI bank account of Mallick’s wife, Mandipa. ED arrested Mallick over an accusation of laundering Rs 95 crores using shell companies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep on the 2nd and 3rd of January, as part of his South India visit which also included programs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Prime Minister inaugurated various development projects on the Union Territory island. He also shared several photographs on X, showing that apart from attending public programs, he also participated in some adventurous activities in the scenic islands.
Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated several developmental projects in Lakshadweep
According to a press release by the Press Information Bureau, on 3rd January, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs 1150 crores in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep. The development projects cover a wide range of sectors including technology, energy, water resources, healthcare and education. The Prime Minister gave students laptops under the Laptop Scheme and gave away bicycles to school students under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. He also handed out PM Kisan Credit Cards to farmer and fishermen beneficiaries.
Our focus in Lakshadweep is to uplift lives through enhanced development. In addition to creating futuristic infrastructure, it is also about creating opportunities for better healthcare, faster internet and drinking water, while protecting as well celebrating the vibrant local… pic.twitter.com/BsXwP1mQcW
One major project is the inauguration of the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) project, which he announced in his Independence Day speech in 2020. This will lead to an increase in internet speed of more than 100 times, from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps, in the UT. This is the first Submarine Optic Fibre Cable connection for Lakshadweep.
Our Government stands committed to ensuring all-round progress of Lakshadweep. From Kavaratti, launching projects aimed at enhancing 'Ease of Living.' https://t.co/SnnhmPr0XH
PM Modi also dedicated the Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination plant at Kadmat to the nation, which will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day. Other projects dedicated to the nation include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, the first-ever battery-backed solar power project of Lakshadweep.
Had excellent interactions with the beneficiaries of various government schemes. It's inspiring to see firsthand how these initiatives are fostering better health, self-reliance, women empowerment, improved agricultural practices and more. The life journeys I heard were truly… pic.twitter.com/JEYFHb1ZaZ
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Primary Health Care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy.
Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep will boost tourism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular public figure in the world. His visit to Lakshadweep therefore brings a different dimension to the future of tourism on the island. PM Modi not only shared his views about the tourism potential of the Union Territory during his speech but also posted his experience on his X handle. His post on X included stunning photographs of the picturesque beauty of the island.
PM Narendra Modi at Lakshadweep Beach. Image Source: X handle of Narendra Modi
In his speech addressing the beneficiaries of various government schemes in Lakshadweep, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The union government is making efforts to place the Union Territory on the international tourism map. Lakshadweep has gained international recognition due to the recent G20 meeting held here. Today, India is focusing on increasing its share in the global seafood market. Lakshadweep is significantly benefitting from this.
PM Narendra Modi at Lakshadweep Beach. Image Source: X handle of Narendra Modi
PM Modi added, “A destination-specific master plan is being drafted for Lakshadweep under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Lakshadweep is home to two blue-flag beaches. Lakshadweep is turning out to be a prime destination for cruise tourism. The tourist footfalls here have increased fivefold in the last five years and we will see that it grows further.”
Comparing Lakshadweep with other similar tourist destinations, he said, “Those wanting to visit the island nations in foreign lands should once visit Lakshadweep and experience the beauty of this place. Once you witness the beauty of Lakshadweep, other destinations in the world will appear pale. I assure the people of Lakshadweep that the central government will continue to take every possible step to ensure their ease of living, ease of travel and ease of doing business. Lakshadweep will play a strong role in creating a Viksit Bharat.”
PM Modi’s tourism experience inspires millions
Apart from attending public programs, PM Narendra Modi also took part in some adventurous activities in the scenic islands. He tried snorkelling and shared photographs of the same. PM Modi also shared two underwater photographs of coral reefs and other marine life. He also shared images of enjoying some time on the beach. After PM Modi posted those images, the number of searches for the terms Lakshadweep and snorkelling skyrocketed.
For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.
During my stay, I also tried snorkelling – what an exhilarating experience it was! pic.twitter.com/rikUTGlFN7
In his X post, PM Narendra Modi wrote, “In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep’s tranquillity is also mesmerising. It allowed me to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. During my stay, I also tried snorkelling – what an exhilarating experience it was!”
Rajiv Gandhi used INS Vikrant as a personal taxi for his Lakshadweep picnic
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep islands stands in sharp contrast to Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous picnic at Lakshadweep. PM Modi inaugurated several projects and laid the foundation stones of many others. He interacted with the people of Lakshadweep. His recreational activities like snorkelling and relaxing at the beach were also put in public to promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination.
Rajiv Gandhi enjoyed the Lakshadweep picnic with many others. Image Source: India Today
On the other hand, Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Lakshadweep was nothing but a merrymaking affair with friends and families exploiting the public facilities for personal holiday picnics. This included using an aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy INS Viraat as a personal taxi. This infamous holiday celebration by Rajiv Gandhi with his wife Sonia Gandhi, kids Rahul and Priyanka, his in-laws from Italy, and his friends from Bollywood took place in 1987. Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India at that time. PM Narendra Modi had criticised this exercise in an election rally in Delhi in May 2019.
Rajiv Gandhi having coconut water at Lakshadweep. Image Source: India Today
The holidaying group included Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi’s mother, her brother and a maternal uncle. Also present were then MP Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan and their two children, the daughter of Amitabh’s brother Ajitabh, and former minister Arun Singh’s brother Bijendra Singh’s wife and daughter.
Rajiv Gandhi stayed at this cottage in Lakshadweep. Image Source: India Today
The location for the vacation was Bangaram, a small uninhabited island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. INS Viraat, the lone carrier of the Indian navy at that time, was used to transport the Gandhi family and their companions, who moved in the Arabian Sea for 10 days for this vacation.
An aircraft carrier does not move alone in the sea, a carrier is the nerve centre of a carrier battle group and it is always surrounded by several warships. Even a submarine was present during the trip. This means huge expenditure, blatant misuse of defence resources and putting national security at potential risk.
Helicopter taking the Gandhis back to Cochin. Image Source: India Today
As the island was uninhabited, everything needed for the guests was needed to be transported from other places. The Lakshadweep administration looked after the logistics of the 10-day vacation, and their helicopter was pressed into service for this purpose. A shipment of wines and spirits arrived from the capital. In Agatti, a poultry farm with 100 chickens was established. The island contributed its specialities: Lakshadweep papaya, sapota, small yellow bananas, and guavas, along with sugar and freshly caught fish.
Amitabh Bachchan was spotted at Cochin airport. Image Source: India Today
Kavaratti dispatched butter and 100 loaves of bread, while from Cochin, a variety of items were sent including Cadbury’s chocolates, 40 crates of soft drinks, 300 bottles of mineral water, Amul Cheese, cashews, sweet limes, various condiments, 20 kg of flour, 105 kg of basmati rice, and a selection of fresh vegetables. The initial batch of non-perishable goods was shipped to Bangaram on 23rd December 1987. A second shipment followed three days later, with further restocking occurring on 1st January 1987.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshwadeep was intended to celebrate development and boost tourism, it is evident that the then-prime minister of India, a country which was then dealing with severe poverty, starvation, unemployment, and a host of other problems, was using a large portion of its defence budget for a lavish holiday for his friends and extended family.
An encounter between security forces and terrorists broke out on Friday morning in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian is underway, officials said.
In the early hours, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Chotigam area of the Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials, the encounter in the Chotigam area of Shopian district is currently underway. Police, Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials are on the spot, they said.
“Encounter has started at Chotigam area of #Shopian district. Shopian Police, Army & CRPF are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on X.
Further details are awaited. (ANI)
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
New high-profile names have emerged in the second batch of court filings related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. On Thursday (4th January), unsealed court documents revealed new details about the case. The second list names several rich and famous public figures including Bill Clinton, former US Senator George Mitchell and former US Ambassador and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
The court documents comprise 19 exhibits totalling 327 pages of previously sealed documents filed in a Manhattan federal court lawsuit filed by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
As per reports, the name of former US President Donald Trump is mentioned, but in the context that he never visited Epstein’s islands or his houses. Clinton is said to have visited Epstein’s island over 25 times. One mention cites Clinton saying he “liked the girls young”.
I know the libs were hoping, but Trump was never on Epstein island, Epstein’s NM Ranch, or his NY apartment.
Of course anyone with a brain already knew that, because if he ever was it would have leaked within .000001 seconds. Now let’s throw those who did take part in jail!!! pic.twitter.com/41mfXJIThq
The big names earlier revealed include former US President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Michael Jackson, Stephen Hawking and Alan Dershowitz. Moreover, Doug Band, a former aide to ex-President Bill Clinton, Yucaipa Companies co-founder Ron Burkle, journalists Vicky Ward and Sharon Churcher, and Eva Dubin, wife of billionaire Glenn Dubin, were among those mentioned in the new documents released on Thursday.
Clinton had threatened Vanity Fair magazine not to publish anything against his ‘good friend’ Epstein back in 2011, the second batch of documents reveal.
Jeffrey Epstein’s associates and victims were referred to as John Doe and John Dane in the court proceedings. Following the release of the first batch of documents, the names of some 170 of them have now become public. Pertinently, the mere fact that a celebrity is mentioned in the document does not imply they were involved in or were aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. There are a few references to Richardson in the new documents, including a deposition in which Giuffre claims she had been told to give him a massage. Giuffre’s claims were fabricated, according to Richardson, who died last year. In 2019, a Richardson spokesperson denied ever meeting Giuffre.
Former US Senator George Mitchell is also said to have abused Giuffre. Mitchell had also denied ever meeting her. Mitchell’s name finds limited mention in the new records.
Former US President Donald Trump is mentioned four times in the records. Trump has socialised with Epstein but is not accused of any wrongdoing. Following Epstein’s federal indictment in 2019, NBC News released video footage of the two chatting. The video was said to be from a party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 1992, shortly after Trump’s divorce. The video also showed young women surrounding the former President, whom NBC identified as Buffalo Bills cheerleaders.
Subsequently, in the video, Epstein can be seen arriving at Trump’s Florida estate, where the two can be seen conversing and gesturing at the women on the dance floor. Later, when confronted about the video, Trump stated that he, like everyone else in Palm Beach, knew Epstein.
Epstein allegedly contacted Trump after a plane diversion to Atlantic City in one of the incidents where Trump’s name appears in the records. Johanna Sjoberg, a key figure in the testimony, recounted a time when Epstein called Trump and visited one of his casinos. She, however, clarified that she never gave a massage to Trump.
Some reports mentioned that much before he entered politics, Trump had already ‘banned’ Epstein from his estates and clubs, after Epstein was once caught hitting on the daughter of one of Trump’s friends.
?TRUMP KICKED EPSTEIN OUT OF MAR-A-LAGO
Donald Trump BANNED Jeffrey Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club after Epstein began hitting on another member’s daughter
The documents made numerous references to Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modelling agent and Epstein’s close friend who committed suicide in a Paris jail last year while awaiting trial on charges of raping minor girls. Giuffre and others accused Brunel of having sexual encounters with minors and others under the pretext of modelling contracts.
Brunel’s estate was sued in California this week by a woman who claimed Brunel and others sexually assaulted her while she worked as a model in New York. The woman also claimed that she was driven to a home in Canada and held there for several days while men abused her. Meanwhile, Brunel’s lawyers have maintained his innocence, claiming that his suicide was not due to guilt but due to a sense of “injustice”.
The newly released records also name Leslie Wexner, the founder of Victoria’s Secret, The Limited, and other store chains. Epstein had managed Wexner’s money for years, but their relationship soured after Epstein was arrested and sentenced in Florida in 2006 for paying a minor girl for a sexual act. Notably, Wexner’s name appears six times in the recently released document.
Wexner admitted to being embarrassed by his ties to Epstein after his suicide. He also publicly accused Epstein of stealing “vast sums” of his fortune, but provided no details. In 2019, a lawyer appearing for Epstein’s victims said it was likely Wexner was unaware of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities.
Notably, Giuffre has alleged that she was coerced into having sex with billionaire Glenn Dubin. Dubin, however, denies the accusation. In a deposition, Giuffre stated that Maxwell “told me to go to Glenn Dubin and give him a massage, which means sex.” Meanwhile, Dubin claims to have flight records and other evidence proving Giuffre’s claims are false.
Eventually, it turned out that Dubin’s wife, Eva Andersson, former Miss Swede, dated Epstein on and off in the mid-1980s. After their relationship ended, the two remained friends. Eva and Dubin had three children. Eva testified in Maxwell’s federal trial, saying she trusted Epstein with her two young daughters and denying participating in a group sexual encounter with one of the key accusers.
Alan Dershowitz, a former Epstein attorney and retired Harvard University law professor, is mentioned around 100 times in the records. Giuffre had accused Dershowitz of sexually abusing her in Florida, New York, New Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands. It is notable that Dershowitz has denied the accusations levelled against him.
In 2022, withdrew her claim against Dershowitz saying she “may have made a mistake” in identifying him as one of the men she had sex with at Epstein or Maxwell’s request.
There is only one reference to the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the new records. Hawking’sname appears, misspelt, in an email Epstein sent offering a reward for anyone who could disprove a bogus claim that Hawking had participated in “an underage orgy.” In 2006, Hawking attended one of Epstein’s academic events. The physicist died in 2018.
Notably, Epstein killed himself in 2019 as he awaited trial for sex crimes. As per the reports, the records are one of numerous batches of files in Giuffre’s lawsuit that have been unsealed as a result of the Miami Herald’s relentless campaign to make them public.
