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Did Qatar’s Ambassador organise Rahul Gandhi’s Hudson seminar, also attended by Hinduphobic Sunita Viswanath of HfHR? New revelations deepen suspicions about his 2023 US visit

Jinit Jain
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Did Qatar’s Ambassador organise Rahul Gandhi’s Hudson seminar, also attended by Hinduphobic Sunita Viswanath of HfHR? New revelations deepen suspicions about his 2023 US visit

In the labyrinthine world of international diplomacy and political intrigue, few revelations stir the pot quite like a casual conversation between two commentators that peels back layers of secrecy. A recent clip from a discussion between Professor Muqtedar Khan, an Indian-American academic known for his insights on Islam and global affairs, and Dr. Qamar Cheema, a Pakistani “strategic analyst”, has thrust a spotlight on an underreported facet of Rahul Gandhi’s 2023 US visit. 

Speaking with Pakistani commentator Qamar Cheema, Khan recalled arriving at the think tank only to find the gates locked. The reason? A seminar by Rahul Gandhi was underway.

In a recent exchange which is going viral on social media and rightfully ringing alarm bells in the Indian diplomatic circles, Khan could be casually hurling metaphoric grenades as he revealed that the seminar featuring Gandhi at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, during his 2023 visit was organized by none other than Qatar’s Ambassador to the United States, Sheikh Meshaal bin Hamad Al-Thani. 

Khan recalls about his meet with Al-Thani at the Hudson Institute. As he waited, a limousine pulled up. Out stepped a man who also sought entry. The two were allowed in together. Inside, the man revealed his identity: he was none other than the Qatar Ambassador to the United States. More strikingly, he told Khan that he had organised Rahul Gandhi’s seminar at the Hudson Institute.

For those piecing together the puzzle of Gandhi’s 10-day tour in June 2023, a trip that preceded PM Modi’s high-profile state visit, these words are figuratively dynamite.

Rahul Gandhi in Hudson Institute alongside Hinduphobic Sunita Vishwanath

The Hudson event, whose pictures shared on X later showed Gandhi sitting alongside Sunita Viswanath, co-founder of the controversial Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), already raised eyebrows for its alignment with anti-India narratives. Viswanath’s organization, backed by George Soros’s Open Society Foundations and intertwined with Islamist advocacy groups like the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an entity with alleged ties to terror-linked outfits such as Jamaat-e-Islami, painted a picture of a platform hostile to India’s nationalist trajectory. 

Sunita Viswanath’s Hinduphobia exposed

Rahul Gandhi’s presence alongside Sunita Viswanath was not incidental. Her record of Hinduphobic activism and pro-Islamism is well established. Last year, The Wire had published her op-ed on Janmashtami, in which she grotesquely compared the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza to the trials of Krishna and the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, even likening Israel to Kansa. By twisting Hindu epics to justify sympathy for Hamas, a terrorist outfit responsible for massacring Israeli civilians, Sunita insulted Sanatan Dharma and whitewashed jihadist violence.

Her organisation Hindus for Human Rights has repeatedly used Hindu symbols to delegitimise Hindu identity. In February 2024, HfHR hosted an event at UC Berkeley titled “Zionism and Hindu Supremacy: Partners Against Pluralism,”equating Hindu identity with “supremacy” and pairing it with far-left demonisation of Zionism. Speakers included members of Jewish Voice for Peace, a Soros-funded group notorious for anti-Israel boycotts. This was not an exception, HfHR has endorsed the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference, spread disinformation on CAA and NRC that fueled the 2020 Delhi riots, and even released a “toolkit” to malign India during PM Modi’s 2023 US visit.

According to OSINT group DisinfoLab, HfHR was created in 2019 by IAMC and OFMI, Islamist advocacy groups with ties to Jamaat-e-Islami networks. Sunita herself co-founded Women for Afghan Women, funded by Soros’s Open Society Foundations. In India, HfHR’s official account has already been withheld by X (Twitter) for violating laws with its anti-Hindu propaganda. Simply put, Viswanath has built her career on attacking Hinduism, smearing India, and aligning with Islamist and Soros-backed lobbies. For Rahul Gandhi to sit beside her and echo her talking points at Hudson Institute was not coincidence; it was complicity.

IAMC and the Islamist nexus, and Qatar’s alarming role

IAMC, for instance, has lobbied aggressively against India at forums like the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, peddling tales of minority persecution that echo Gandhi’s own rhetoric on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

But the Qatari ambassador’s involvement? That elevates the speculation from eyebrow-raising to outright alarming. Qatar, a diminutive Gulf powerhouse with outsized influence, is no stranger to controversy. It hosts the political office of Hamas, a designated terrorist group by several nations, and has been accused of funneling funds to Islamist causes worldwide. Ambassador Al-Thani, a seasoned diplomat from the ruling Al-Thani family, assumed his post in Washington in 2016 amid a regional blockade by Saudi Arabia and allies over Qatar’s alleged support for extremism. Yet, here he is, reportedly orchestrating an event for India’s opposition leader. Why? What strings were pulled behind the scenes, and what whispers exchanged in closed doors might have shaped the discourse?

Familiar tropes, Foreign agendas

This nugget only deepens the long-held suspicions about the intent of Gandhi’s 2023 US odyssey. Ostensibly a speaking tour to engage the diaspora and “think tanks,” it veered into territory that now reeks of subversion. Gandhi’s addresses at venues like the National Press Club, Stanford University, and the Hudson Institute were laced with familiar tropes: demonising Hindutva, whitewashing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), an offshoot of Jinnah’s partition-pushing Muslim League, as “secular,” and decrying the BJP as communal while positioning Congress as the beacon of peace. 

These weren’t just slips; they dovetailed neatly with the agendas of his hosts. At Hudson, flanked by Viswanath, Gandhi amplified narratives that HfHR and IAMC have pushed for years, differentiating “Hinduism” from “Hindutva” to demonize the latter, stoking fears over NRC and CAA that fueled the 2020 Delhi riots, and aligning with Soros-funded campaigns against India’s economic pillars like the Adani Group.

The secret White House visit?

The secret White House visit, as reported by Seema Sirohi in The Economic Times, adds another layer of opacity. Tucked amid effusive praise for Gandhi’s “maturity” on foreign policy, the article revealed a covert trip that bypassed India’s Ministry of External Affairs and government protocols. For an opposition figure to slip into the Biden administration’s lair without fanfare raises red flags: Who did he meet? What assurances or agendas were brokered? 

Commentators like those from HinduACTion pointed out the event’s ties to “Pakistan proxies,” including Khalistani and Kashmiri Islamist elements, while journalists like Sunanda Vashisht lamented the lack of details on his White House interlocutors. Entrepreneurs in the US diaspora even speculated about election meddling in India’s 2024 polls, evoking regime-change whispers.

A pattern of seeking foreign intervention

Gandhi’s track record only fuels the fire. His pleas for Western intervention aren’t new. In a 2023 Cambridge speech, he peddled misinformation to beg Europe and the US to “restore democracy” in India, ignoring robust electoral processes. Back in 2021, during a Harvard Kennedy School interaction, he prodded Ambassador Nicholas Burns for American commentary on India’s “internal matters,” leaving the host stunned. 

These aren’t isolated; recall his 2018 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, where he later admitted to secret meetings with Chinese ministers post-Doklam standoff, or his post-event chats with Chinese envoys. Such patterns suggest a willingness to court foreign powers at India’s expense, all in service of domestic political gains.

The coordinated push: Qatar, Soros, and Islamist lobbies

Now, layer in Qatar’s role. As a key US ally, hosting the Al Udeid Air Base and mediating in Afghanistan, Qatar wields soft power through energy ties and Al Jazeera’s global reach. Its funding of Islamist networks, from the Muslim Brotherhood to Hamas, positions it as a counterweight to India’s Gulf partnerships. Why would its ambassador facilitate Gandhi’s platform, especially alongside Soros proxies and IAMC figures like those linked to Minhaj Khan? The Javits Centre event in New York, promoted via registration forms tied to radical mosques and ICNA affiliates (with terror glorification histories), underscores the Islamist undercurrents.

Speculatively, this points to a coordinated push: Qatar providing the diplomatic grease, Soros the financial muscle, and US-based lobbies the amplification. Behind closed doors at Hudson or the White House, discussions might have ranged from undermining Modi’s foreign policy, perhaps on Kashmir or CAA, to laying groundwork for post-2024 scenarios. Gandhi’s alignment with these actors mirrors Congress’s broader dalliances, like Salil Shetty of Soros’s Open Society Foundations joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, or endorsing anti-CAA protests that spiraled into violence.

A symposium of anti-India influences

In a nation rising as a global counterweight to China, such foreign entanglements aren’t just suspicious; they’re a potential breach of sovereignty. The Khan-Cheema clip, circulating virally on X, revives these ghosts two years later, reminding us that Gandhi’s US trip wasn’t a harmless jaunt. It was a symposium of influences, with Qatar’s ambassador as a pivotal host.

Until transparency pierces the veil, the doubts will fester: Was this diplomacy, or something far more insidious?

Election Commission clarifies Rahul Gandhi’s ‘6,018 votes deleted’ claim, says FIR already filed for 5,994 incorrect and rejected applications

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission clarifies Rahul Gandhi’s ‘6,018 votes deleted’ claim, says FIR already filed for 5,994 incorrect and rejected applications

The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has issued a detailed clarification on Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that 6,018 ‘Congress votes’ were deleted in the Aland constituency in Karnataka in 2023. The Congress leader had claimed that 6,018 applications were filed impersonating voters and these applications were filed automatically using mobile numbers from outside Karnataka.

Responding to this, the CEO of Karnataka said that while 6018 applications were indeed received for deletion of voters, only 24 of them were found to be genuine.  The rest 5,994 incorrect applications were rejected and not deleted, and an FIR was filed against the fraudulent applications.

The CEO stated 6,018 applications in Form 7 were submitted online using various apps such as NVSP, VHA, GARUDA apps during December 2022. Suspecting the genuineness of such a large number of applications submitted online for deletion of elector names in Aland assembly constituency, verification of each application was conducted.

After the verification, only 24 applications were found to be genuine and the rest 5,994 were found to be incorrect, which were rejected and the names were not removed from voter list.

Moreover, based on the inquiry findings by respective BLOs, an FIR was lodged with the Inspector of Police, Aland Police Station, Kalaburagi district on 21 February 2023.

The statement added that based on the instructions given by ECI, the CEO, Kanataka has handed over all the available information with ECI to Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi for completing the investigation. This information includes details of the objectors who filed the deletion requests, including Form Reference Number, name of the Objector, his EPIC number and mobile number used for log-in and mobile number provided by the Objector for processing, software application medium, IP address, applicant place, Form submission date and time, and user creation date.

After providing the requested information, meetings were also conducted by the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka with the Investigating Officer and Cyber Security experts of the Police to review the progress of the investigation. The probe is still going on and election officials have been providing any other assistance/information/documents required by investigators.

Earlier in the day, the ECI had already debunked Rahul Gandhi’s claims, clarifying that nobody can delete any voter from voter list online.

Form 7

The Form 7 is used to delete a voter’s name from voter list of a constituency, or to object to inclusion of a voter in the voter list of a constituency. Voters can file Form 7 themselves for deletion of their name from voter list, when they shift constituencies, so that their names can be added to the new constituency.

Third parties also can register objection to a voter already registered in the voter roll, or can file objection to the proposed inclusion of an entry in the electoral roll of the constituency, if they suspect that person to be an illegal voter in that constituency.

Filing of such third-party deletion request does not result in automatic removal of the name from the voter list. The Election Commission hears the affected the voter first, and takes any action only after that.

SEBI dismisses Hindenburg Research allegations against Adani group, says flagged transactions were legal under laws of that time

OpIndia Staff
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SEBI dismisses Hindenburg Research allegations against Adani group, says flagged transactions were legal under laws of that time

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday dismissed allegations of stock manipulation against Gautam Adani and his group of companies made by U.S. short-seller Hindenburg Research. In its conclusion, SEBI said that there is no violation of listing agreement or SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR). It added that the impugned transactions do not qualify as “related party transactions”.

The SEBI said that reading of Listing Agreement and SEBI (LODR) Regulations reveals that transactions between a listed company with unrelated party is not covered within the definition of “related party transactions” as it existed during the time when impugned transactions took place. However, it was included specifically after a 2021 amendment.

Hindenburg had alleged that Adani entities used Milestone and Rehvar as conduits to funnel money, avoiding disclosure as related party loans. SEBI found that while funds were indeed rotated via Milestone and Rehvar, all loans were genuine, interest-bearing, and repaid. At the time, the LODR definition of RPTs did not cover such indirect transactions. While an amendment in 2021 included such transactions, it was prospective, not retrospective.

SEBI added that the Supreme Court had rejected the plea of the petitioner and held that procedure followed in arriving at the current shape of regulations is not tainted with any illegality. The Supreme Court had also said that no valid grounds have been raised to direct SEBI to revoke its amendments to the SEBI(LODR) Regulations.

SEBI said that there is no violation of Section 12A of the SEBI Act and SEBI-Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market) (PFUTP) Regulations as alleged. It concluded that no fraud, misrepresentation, or siphoning of funds was proven and all funds were returned with interest. Therefore, the allegations in Show cause Notice were not established.

SEBI concluded that no liability or penalties were imposed on Adani Group entities or individuals and the proceedings were disposed of without directions. Allegations against Gautam Adani, Rajesh Adani, and CFO Jugeshinder Singh were not sustained, as there was no evidence of deliberate concealment or fraud.

In January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, leading to a significant drop in the company’s stock price. After that, SEBI had launched a probe on Adani group companies, including Adani Ports, Adani Power and Adani Enterprises.

After the SEBI report, Gautam Adani posted on X: “After an exhaustive investigation, SEBI has reaffirmed what we have always maintained, that the Hindenburg claims were baseless. Transparency and integrity have always defined the Adani Group.”

He added, “We deeply feel the pain of the investors who lost money because of this fraudulent and motivated report. Those who spread false narratives owe the nation an apology.”

The Adani group has repeatedly denied all the accusations in the Hindenburg Research report.  

SC bench under CJI Gavai suspends jail sentence of Christian pastor Edwin Pigarez convicted of raping minor girl, grants bail saying he has already spent 10 years in jail

OpIndia Staff
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SC bench under CJI Gavai suspends jail sentence of Christian pastor Edwin Pigarez convicted of raping minor girl, grants bail saying he has already spent 10 years in jail

On Thursday (17th September), the Supreme Court bench comprising CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chauhan suspended the jail sentence of a Christian pastor Father Edwin Pigarez, who was convicted of raping a minor girl.

The apex court grant bail to Edwin Pigarez even as his appeals against the High Court’s conviction ruling are still pending. The court said that the appellant has already undergone imprisonment for almost 10 years. 

“…even if this Court accepts the sentence of 20 imposed by the High Court, the applicant/appellant has still undergone half of the sentence,” the court said.

Considering that the convict had served 10 years in jail, the court suspended his sentence and granted him bail till the time his pending appeals in the High Court are not heard.

“We are inclined to suspend the sentence of the applicant/appellant, during the pendency of the appeal(s). The appellant is directed to be released on bail in connection with Sessions Case No.`203 of 2016, on such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Trial Court,” the court said.

Notably, in February last year, the Kerala High Court upheld Pigarez’s conviction. Edwin Pigarez was convicted for repeated rape and sexual assault of a minor girl in his parish. The court, however, reduced the sentence imposed upon him by the Special Court from life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life to rigorous imprisonment of twenty years without remission.

TMC MP Saket Gokhale claims Modi govt borrowed ₹8 lakh crores from foreign banks in 7 years, hides crucial details from reply to his own question: Here are the facts

Shraddha Pandey
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TMC MP Saket Gokhale claims Modi govt borrowed ₹8 lakh crores from foreign banks in 7 years, hides crucial details from reply to his own question: Here are the facts

Money laundering scam accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale, notorious for peddling fake news, has come up with yet another piece of half-truths and disinformation to attack the Modi government over foreign borrowing.

On 17th September 2025, the TMC MP published a long post on X, and claimed that in the last seven years, the Modi government has “heavily” borrowed money from international banks to fund various projects. Saket Gokhale claimed that the Central government took Rs 91 billion from foreign banks as loans in the 7-8 years. Gokhale relied on a response by Minister of Finance’s Department of Economic Affairs to his question asked in the Rajya Sabha in December 2023.

“Modi Govt’s shocking foreign borrowing Over the last 7 years, the Modi Govt has HEAVILY borrowed money from international banks to fund projects that Modi announces during elections. The amount? India has borrowed $91 BILLION (₹8,035,300 CRORES) from foreign banks in JUST 7 years. Foreign debt of ₹8 LAKH CRORE in 8 years means an average of ₹1.2 LAKH CRORE PER YEAR. On this amount, India pays an annual interest of ₹45,000 crore. That’s ONLY the interest. The repayment of the actual loan principal is separate,” the TMC MP posted.

In his attempt to give the readers an idea of the magnitude the loan taken and interests to be paid on it, Gokhale said, “Just the annual interest of ₹45,000 crore paid on this foreign debt (2018 onwards) is equal to India’s ENTIRE annual budget on higher education. Today, for Modi’s birthday, the govt will announce mega projects as “gifts” to the people. Every time there’s a state election, Modi makes regular campaign visits and announces projects worth lakhs of crores. For the last 11 years, the Modi Govt has bled people through taxes. If that wasn’t enough, Modi Govt has been HEAVILY borrowing money from foreign institutions. Who will shoulder the burden of this HUGE foreign debt? Yup – it’s you.”

The controversial TMC leader insinuated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking loans from foreign banks to announce projects ahead of elections and forgets his promises post elections while the Indian people pay the price.

“…Modi will keep announcing jumlas before every election. He will promise lakhs of crores as “gifts to the people” as if he’s spending money from his pocket. The sad truth, however, is that the people of India are paying heavily for Modi’s election promises. The sadder part? Once the election is over, Modi’s promises are forgotten. India is borrowing billions of dollars just for funding Modi’s false election promises. And the people of India will be repaying this foreign debt for decades to come.” Gokhale added.

The Trinamool Congress MP attached cropped portions of the Ministry of Finance’s reply to his query in the Rajya Sabha. However, either Gokhale deliberately withheld the complete truth laid bare in the Modi government’s response to his question or the TMC MP has divorced common sense.

Has Modi government taken Rs 8 lakh crore foreign debt?

Back in 2023, Gokhale had asked three questions: (a) the number of loan pacts signed by Government with foreign multilateral financial institutions and foreign banks since January 2018 till date for infrastructure projects along with details of each; (b) the total amount of these loans availed by Government from foreign multilateral financial institutions and foreign banks since January 2018 till date along with the rate of interest on each loan; and (c) the current total outstanding amount from these loans that is yet to be repaid to foreign multilateral financial institutions and foreign banks by Government?

In response to this, the Central government elaborated the empirical details of loan pacts signed by Government with foreign multilateral financial institutions and foreign banks since January 2018 till date along with total amount of these loans availed by Government and the rate of interest on each loan.

While the second image attached to Gokhale’s post which states details of the loan currency, outstanding LC, outstanding INR and outsanding USD, has its numbers correct, the TMC MP passed off the data as loans taken solely by the Central government.

However, these loans were not taken only by the Central government but also by various state governments, including West Bengal’s TMC government. As per the said answer to Gokhale’s unstarred question asked in the Rajya Sabha in 2023, the Central Government has taken $15.23 billion, Maharashtra government $2.90 billion, Tamil Nadu government $1.80 billion, Rajasthan government $1.36 billion, Madhya Pradesh government $1.10 billion, Andhra Pradesh: $1.09 billion, Chhattisgarh: $0.46 billion, Uttar Pradesh: $0.42 billion, Karnataka: $0.40 billion, West Bengal: $0.38 billion, Assam: $0.36 billion, Himachal Pradesh: $0.35 billion, Bihar:$0.31 billion, Kerala: $0.22 billion, Punjab: $0.24 billion, Tripura: $0.28 billion, Odisha: $0.22 billion, and Uttarakhand government has taken $0.23 billion from external sources.

Interestingly, in his desperation to attack the Modi government, Gokhale quickly presented cherrypicked data without complete information and proper context. However, skipped to look at the deplorable condition of the state ruled by his own party.

The outstanding liabilities of West Bengal to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is 38 percent as of March 2024. This is one of the highest debts to GSDP ratio in large states. In February this year, it was reported that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal will close the fiscal year 2025-26 with an accumulated debt pegged at around Rs 7.72 lakh crore. This is 9.21 per cent higher than the figure of Rs 6,30,783.50 as on 31st March 2025, and as per the revised estimates for 2024-25.

Back in 2022, the TMC government diverted mid-day meal funds to pay compensation to the victims of Botui violence. The Central government’s report revealed that over 16 crore midday meals worth “more than Rs 100 crore” being “over-reported” by the West Bengal administration between April and September 2022. From SSC scam, PDS scam to cattle smuggling scam among others, West Bengal’s economy is going through a crisis and yet, its MP has the audacity to peddle disinformation to malign the Central government.

The wild conspiracy theories and fake claims of Saket Gokhale

Amidst the anti-CAA protests in January 2020, Gokhale had claimed that the Delhi Police permitted him to hold a rally and chant “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko.” The RTI activist did not exhibit any proof or approval letter from the Delhi police that could substantiate his claims.

He later made amends to his insidious claims and alleged that the police requested him to re-schedule his protest after February 8 that year in light of the Model Code of Conduct.

Without verifying the details of the case, left-wing propaganda site The Wire, and Congress mouthpiece National Herald published his claims to suggest that Delhi police found nothing objectionable with the slogans.

Forced by circumstances, the Delhi police took to Twitter to expose the lie being peddled by Gokhale.

While dubbing the claims as baseless and false, the DCP New Delhi said, “It is hereby clarified that no permission to hold a protest on 02.02.2020 has been given to Sh. Saket Gokhale. A copy of his request letter is being circulated in social media as permission, which is not the case.”

In June 2020, Saket Gokhale peddled wild conspiracy theories about a ‘ventilator scam’ after the first batch of ventilators procured using the PM CARES fund was made available to hospitals.

In a seven-part thread, Gokhale alleged that ₹750+ crore had gone ‘missing’ from the funds allotted for procuring ventilators under the PM CARES fund.

Soon, other Congress minions spread the same as gospel truth and claimed that there was a ‘ventilator scam’ underway.

All the fake claims were then debunked by the CMD of BEL (Bharat Electronic Limited), a professional Defence electronics company in India. In February 2021, BEL filed a ₹1 crore defamation suit against the RTI activist for spreading lies.

On August 14, 2020, the Wall Street Journal published a report alleging that a senior executive of the social media giant Facebook was allegedly favouring the ruling BJP government. Soon after, Ankhi Das, the public policy director of Facebook, came under attack by the Congress party and its trolls.

Saket Gokhale was one of those who insinuated that Ankhi Das had links with RSS-affiliated groups. He claimed that Ankhi Das had “attended sessions” of the World Organization of Students & Youth (WOSY), a youth group, which is led by her sister, Rashmi Das.

The TMC spokesman also said that WOSY’s office was located in the same building as an RSS outfit in Delhi.

In a hurry to target Ankhi Das, Gokhale went on to post an image of the WOSY event to claim that the public policy Director of Facebook was attending the event. However, the image was that of Ankhi Das’ twin sister Dr Rashmi Das.

In a statement, WOSY had threatened legal action against Gokhale for peddling misinformation. It added that Dr Rashmi Das’ association with WOSY was purely voluntary and aimed to spread the concept of ‘Vasudeva Kuttambakam’ among international students living in India.

In April 2021, he was caught peddling lies to defend the Maharashtra government’s harassment of Bruck Pharma director over Remdesivir supply. He later complained with Maharashtra Home Minister about how Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis or the BJP, as private players, could obtain a crucial drug when its sale is allowed only to the state government.

In September 2024, Gokhale claimed that the cost of construction of these trains has been increased to 50%. He alleged a ‘quid pro quo corruption’ on the part of the Modi government. He claimed that the number of trains has been decreased to 133 in the new contract and that the cost of making one train has increased to ₹436 crores from ₹290 crores. However, the lies of Saket Gokhale were soon debunked by the Ministry of Railways, which highlighted a missing fact in his propaganda-laden tweet.

CJI Gavai claims ‘he respects all religions’ after drawing flak over “go pray” remark on Lord Vishnu idol plea

OpIndia Staff
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CJI Gavai claims ‘he respects all religions’ after drawing flak over “go pray” remark on Lord Vishnu idol plea

The Chief Justice of India (CJI), BR Gavai, on Thursday (18th September), responded to the social media outrage over his anti-Hindu remarks that came while dismissing a plea seeking restoration of a 7-foot-long beheaded structure of Lord Vishnu in the Javari temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho.

CJI Gavai ‘clarified’ that he respects all religions. The comments came during the post-lunch session of the CJI-led bench at the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Somehow, the Solicitor General of India (SGI), Tushar Mehta, who was also present at the court, jumped to defend the CJI and said that he has known CJI Gavai for the last ten years and knows very well that the CJI visits all religious places. Mehta added that these days, things are blown out of proportion on social media. “Newtons’ law says that every action has an equal reaction. Now every action has a disproportionate social media reaction,” Mehta said.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who was also present at the court, agreed with the aforesaid view and added that lawyers suffer every day due to such kinds of portrayals of issues on social media. Not to forget, Sibal has a track record of fighting cases, from Ram Mandir to Waqf Bill, against the interests of Hindus and India.

As reported earlier, on 16th September 2025, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih heard the matter.

The petitioner, a devotee named Rakesh Dalal, argued that restoring the idol was not merely about archaeology but about faith, dignity, and the fundamental right of Hindus to worship their deities in wholeness. While dismissing the plea, CJI Gavai made unnecessary oral remarks against the Hindu faith by blending sarcasm and mockery.

“This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now,” the CJI told the petitioner.

While the sentiments of the Hindu community were hurt, the CJI today trivialised his outrageous remarks, suggesting that regardless of what he said in mockery of the Hindu deity, people should believe that he respects all religions.

Punjab’s ‘backbone of the economy’ faces exodus: Vigilantes and Panchayats rally against migrant workers after 5-year-old boy’s murder in Hoshiarpur – here is what you need to know

Anurag
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Punjab’s ‘backbone of the economy’ faces exodus: Vigilantes and Panchayats rally against migrant workers after 5-year-old boy’s murder in Hoshiarpur – here is what you need to know

After a 5-year-old boy’s murder in Hoshiarpur allegedly by a migrant worker, Punjab’s panchayats and vigilantes have moved against migrant labourers, demanding their removal from the state. Seeing the severe backlash, industry leaders have written to the Chief Minister of the state, calling the migrant workers the ‘backbone of the economy’. They have warned that the state cannot afford an exodus during paddy season.

In over a week, while Punjab faces the aftermath of massive floods ruining fields across 4 lakh acres, this negative sentiment against migrant workers has sprung up once again. This is not the first time Punjabis have demanded the removal of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from the state. Such demands and resolutions have been passed by panchayats multiple times following incidents where migrant workers were involved in criminal activity.

The big picture – why this story matters now

The gruesome murder of a 5-year-old boy in Hoshiarpur has triggered widespread outrage and a wave of hostility against migrant workers in Punjab, especially those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Panchayat resolutions, vigilante warnings and anti-migrant rhetoric have created an atmosphere of fear in Punjab, just as the paddy procurement season peaks. Industry associations and traders insist that Punjab’s economy cannot function without migrants, who dominate both agricultural labour and industrial work. They argue that while the crime must be punished, blanket blame will harm businesses, farming and social stability.

What happened in Hoshiarpur – the timeline so far

On 9th September, 5-year-old boy, Harveer alias Billa, was abducted from outside his house in New Deep Nagar locality of Hoshiarpur. Police were informed by the family members after they could not spot the child. Upon investigating the CCTV footage, the police found that the boy was taken away on a scooter. Police traced the vehicle and arrested a migrant labourer identified as Manke Yadav from Uttar Pradesh. Yadav was living in the Subzi Mandi area in Hoshiarpur.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police, Sandeep Kumar Malik, Yadav was intoxicated at the time of the arrest. During questioning, he confessed to kidnapping, sodomising and killing the child. The boy’s body was recovered by the police the next morning at a cremation ground in Pur Hiran. A case was registered against Yadav and the police promised strict action in the matter.

The brutal crime sent shockwaves through the community. Images of the grieving family were circulated widely on social media, which intensified public anger. Politicians visited the family and demanded swift justice. Police emphasised that there were previous cases against the accused which were also being examined. The brutality of the incident provided fertile ground for demands that migrants be strictly monitored, even as officials, including the Chief Minister of the state, Bhagwant Mann, cautioned against generalising an entire workforce on the basis of one crime.

From grief to glare – how villages responded

In the days following the incident, over 25 panchayats in Hoshiarpur and adjoining districts passed resolutions against migrant workers. The directives varied but had a common theme, which was restricting residence rights for those without Punjab-issued documents. Some villages ordered that migrants without valid papers must leave the state within a week. There have been reports of migrant workers leaving the state in large numbers fearing the backlash.

Notably, some villages have said that migrant workers may be allowed to stay in tubewell rooms in the fields but not in residential parts of the village. Panchayats also resolved to deny Aadhaar or voter cards to migrants, to ban house rentals, and in some cases even to bar marriages between locals and outsiders.

In Bathinda, panchayats like Gehari Bhagi went further, ruling that migrants cannot buy property or register documents with local addresses. Farmers employing migrants were told to take full responsibility for them.

According to media reports, legal experts have warned that such resolutions are unconstitutional, given the fundamental rights of Indian citizens to live and work anywhere in the country. However, the pressure from panchayats has created a climate of anxiety among thousands of workers who power Punjab’s fields, mandis and factories.

‘Pravasi bhagao, Punjab bachao’ videos and past campaigns

While these resolutions came as formal decisions, vigilante threats have also surfaced in Ludhiana and Bathinda. There are videos on social media where vigilantes are seen pushing for the mass exodus of migrant workers. Street vendors from other states are being warned to pack up and leave. In Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar of Ludhiana, police had to intervene to prevent escalation in one such incident.

On social media, videos bearing the slogan “pravasi bhagao, Punjab bachao” have gained traction. These clips, often shared by self-styled vigilantes, demand that migrants leave villages and highlight grievances ranging from cultural differences to alleged law-and-order problems.

Reportedly, Amritpal Singh Mehron, the prime accused in the murder of digital content creator Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, has jumped into the controversy. He has reportedly contacted the victim’s father. In a video on Facebook, he was heard offering the victim’s father help in case he wanted “out of court” justice. The authenticity of the video could not be verified. Mehron had fled the country after murdering Kumari.

Such rhetoric carries echoes of earlier “outsider” campaigns seen in states like Maharashtra, and even Punjab itself, where past panchayats in Fatehgarh Sahib and SAS Nagar issued similar restrictions last year. The pattern is familiar. Anger after a local incident spills into broad-brush hostility against migrants, but the economic fallout eventually forces reconsideration. The present cycle risks repeating that history, with Punjab’s agriculture and industry already showing signs of strain amid devastating floods.

Are these resolutions lawful?

While grief over the Hoshiarpur case is understandable, experts say the diktats from panchayats risk breaching the Constitution. India is a federal union where citizens can reside and seek work across states. Any blanket move to deny Aadhaar, voter registration, or accommodation based on origin is unlawful.

This has been echoed by CM Mann. While he condemned the murder in a statement, Mann cautioned that discrimination cannot be tolerated. He said, “Punjabis run businesses in Raipur and control much of Kolkata’s transport sector. Tomorrow, they too could face retaliation. Such discrimination cannot be accepted.”

Industry alarm – ‘backbone of economy’

Industry bodies in Punjab have also raised an urgent red flag. Ludhiana-based industrialist and president of the World MSME Forum, Badish Jindal, recently wrote to the CM stressing that migrant workers are the “backbone of Punjab’s industries, farms, shops and households”.

In his letter, Jindal, who recently joined Aam Aadmi Party, pointed out that 80% of unskilled labour in Punjab industries are migrants. Around 8 lakh migrant workers work in Ludhiana alone, the industry hub of the state. Migrants also undertake the bulk of sowing and harvesting in agriculture.

Jindal warned that if hostility drives them out, Punjab’s industries and supply chains will collapse, harming not just state businesses but also exports routed through other states. Calling the hostility “a conspiracy to destroy Punjab,” he urged the government to discourage anti-migrant rhetoric and ensure worker safety.

On the ground – what workers and traders say

The fear has started to spread in mandis and fields across the state. Pappu Kumar Yadav, who hails from Bihar, has been working in Punjab for 15 years. Speaking to a media outlet, he said, “We earn four times more here than back home, but after the Hoshiarpur murder, hatred against migrants has spread. We live in fear.”

However, not all voices are hostile. Commission agents and industrialists insist migrants are integral. Traders at Khanna and Bhagtanwala grain markets admitted a labour shortage is already hurting operations. Some workers are considering early returns, which could stall procurement.

Ludhiana industrialist Gurmeet Singh Kular noted that many migrant families have been in Punjab for generations. TR Mishra, who migrated from Uttar Pradesh in the 1960s and now runs a factory, argued while speaking to media, “The fight should be against crime, not against people of one or two states.”

Punjab Nirman Mazdoor Union state president Ganga Prasad said in a statement while guilty must be punished, other migrants should not be targeted.

Political reactions across parties

The tragedy has also sharpened political debate on the matter. CM Mann has consistently warned against targeting migrants. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira condemned the murder but linked it to what he described as unchecked inflow of outsiders. Khaira demanded a law similar to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand that restrict land ownership and jobs to locals.

Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, meanwhile, called for stricter monitoring of migrants and blamed the AAP government for law-and-order lapses. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema demanded strict action against the accused. AAP MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal visited the bereaved family, offering financial assistance and solidarity. Political voices thus reflect a divide. Justice for the victim is universally sought, but prescriptions for migrants’ future diverge sharply.

Backbone in numbers – why migrants matter to Punjab

The scale of migrant involvement in Punjab’s economy is undeniable. It cannot be overlooked. According to reports, there are around 18 lakh migrant workers in the state. They form an overwhelming majority of unskilled labour in both industry and agriculture. In Ludhiana’s industrial belt, around eight lakh migrants power factories that produce textiles, bicycles and machine parts. In agriculture, paddy transplantation, harvesting and mandi operations depend almost entirely on workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Commission agents estimate that without migrants, procurement centres would collapse within days. Even Punjab’s household sector relies on them as domestic workers and street vendors. The slogan “backbone of economy” is not just rhetoric but a reflection of dependence.

What to watch next

As the Hoshiarpur case is still under investigation, there is a more pressing challenge, which is how the state is going to manage the fallout. Will the government intervene to nullify panchayat resolutions and reassure workers? Will industry bodies’ calls for protection translate into concrete steps?

In the coming weeks, especially during the procurement season and sowing season, it will be crucial how Punjab balances justice for the victim with stability for its economy. If migrants begin to leave in large numbers, the ripple effects will be immediate and severe.

Conclusion – punish the guilty, protect livelihoods

The murder of the 5-year-old boy has rightly caused anguish and anger among the people of Punjab. However, that should not translate into backlash against all migrants, which will compound tragedy with disruption. Industry leaders, farmers and traders stress that migrants are not outsiders but essential contributors to the state’s daily functioning. The Constitution guarantees their right to live and work in Punjab, and officials must ensure that this right is upheld.

The guilty must face the law. He must be punished swiftly and decisively. However, millions of innocent workers who keep Punjab’s wheels turning should not be made to suffer for one man’s crime. The state now faces the test of delivering both justice and fairness.

DUSU polls: Student wing of Congress takes Rahul Gandhi’s lead, peddles EVM tampering conspiracy theory in anticipation of electoral loss

OpIndia Staff
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DUSU polls: Student wing of Congress takes Rahul Gandhi’s lead, peddles EVM tampering conspiracy theory in anticipation of electoral loss

As the polling for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections is taking place today (18th September), the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress Party, borrowing from its parent party, has peddled the EVM conspiracy theory even before the voting concluded.

The NSUI Presidential Candidate Joslyn Nandita Choudhary has accused the Delhi University administration of tampering with the EVM. She even accused the university professors of colluding with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, in meddling with the voting machines. “Every EVM has blue ink marking the name of the candidate from the ABVP, from Hansraj College to Kirori Mal College. Teachers are involved in these unfair practices. I have removed the blue ink with my hands on all the EVMs,” alleged Choudhary.

“My supporters have been assaulted since day one. I want to ask the Delhi government and the world, who is responsible for the cheating I have faced over the last 4-5 hours? Who will ensure justice? Who will acknowledge all the hard work I have put in? I have worked tirelessly, not just in the last few hours, but throughout the year. I am just an ordinary student-how can someone like me contest under these conditions? This is happening with every EVM, including at Kirorimal College, where I study. I have requested teachers not to do this, but as soon as I stepped away, they marked the EVMs again,” she added.

Choudhary’s allegations of EVM tampering reiterate the conspiracy theory peddled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the several Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. This has been the Congress party’s age-old trick to blame the EVM in elections where they lose or anticipate a loss. Does this mean that the NSUI is also anticipating an electoral defeat and, therefore, started blaming the EVM even before the polling concluded?

The ABVP alleged that former DUSU President Rounak Khatri, who is from the NSUI, along with a bunch of outsiders, gained a forced entry into the Kirori Mal College of the Delhi University amid voting. A female student is said to have been assaulted during the whole ruckus. This led to the ABVP approaching the police to file a complaint.

A total of 21 candidates are contesting for the four panel positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Joint Secretary. The voting is taking place at 195 polling stations through 700 EVMs. The university has tightened security across the campus to ensure smooth elections. The voting for the DUSU elections is being held in two phases. For the students attending morning classes, the first phase of polling began at 8:30 am and continued till 1 pm. The second phase of voting will go on from 3 pm to 7:30 pm for students attending evening classes.

Kerala Congress posts video of Guwahati Post Office employee claiming to be ‘son of NrdrMd’ deleting Congress votes, deletes X post after fact checked

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala Congress posts video of Guwahati Post Office employee claiming to be ‘son of NrdrMd’ deleting Congress votes, deletes X post after fact checked

Hours after Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of ‘software driven voter deletion’ and ‘vote chori’ to benefit BJP, notorious fake news peddler Kerala Congress posted a video on ? claiming it shows a person deleting votes. However, they deleted the post after it was pointed out that the person seen entering data computer at very fast speed is an employee of Guwahati Post Office in Assam.

Kerala Congress posted the video showing the person at an office counter, entering data on the computer system at very fast speed. Several people can be seen standing in front of the counter.

The official ? handle of Kerala Congress wrote, “Like his father NrdrMd, Nagaraj works for 18 hours a day, eats mushrooms and doesn’t sleep. Here is Nagraj deleting Congress voters from voters list at 4 in the morning back to back.”

However, the person seen in the video is Bhaskar Kakati, an India Post employee posted at Meghdoot Bhavan in Guwahati, the General Police Office in Guwahati located at Panbazar area of the city. Few years ago, videos of his fast computer typing speed went viral in Assam and was covered by local news channels.

The reports had said that when other counters get crowded, people are redirected to his counter as he can dispose the requirement of people very fast. Similarly, customers also prefer his counter as their work is completed fast by him.

Kerala Congress used one such video to claim that he is Nagraj, son of NrdrMd (no prize for guessing what this name means). However, they later deleted the ? post with the video.

Assam BJP slammed Kerala Congress for dragging the name of respected Guwahati GPO clerk into their petty drama. The posted, “Congress has once again exposed its bankrupt politics! To run their propaganda, they shamelessly dragged a respected Guwahati GPO clerk—known for his honesty and lightning-fast service—into their petty drama. The man who has earned love through hard work is being mocked by a party that has never respected workers.”

Notably, ECI has already debunked Rahul Gandhi’s claims, clarifying that nobody can delete votes or voters online. Only ECI can delete voters from voter list, that too after a detailed procedure and hearing the person concerned.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath highlights UP’s rapid growth since 2017: From metro expansion in six cities to 16 airports and India’s largest expressway network

OpIndia Staff
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UP CM Yogi Adityanath highlights UP’s rapid growth since 2017: From metro expansion in six cities to 16 airports and India’s largest expressway network

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, hosted a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday, 18th September, in which he spoke on the development of the state since 2017, when his government took charge in the state. He shared how the state has transformed over the years, from metro rail expansion to new airports and a growing expressway network.

Discussing the metro initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath said, that when his government came in power in the state, not a single city in the state had an operational metro. “When we came to power, there was not a single city in Uttar Pradesh where the metro was operational. Today, the metro is running in six cities of the state,” he said.

Currently, the entire metro rail network of Uttar Pradesh is 147.446 km. The UP government has received a proposal for the Lucknow Metro Phase-1B, which will connect Charbagh with Vasantkunj. It will be an 11.165 km stretch with a estimated cost of ₹5,801.05 crore and an estimated five-year completion period after sanction.

The Lucknow Metro was opened in 2017, the year that he took office in the state. The Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation was reorganized and renamed Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation in 2018 so that it would be able to handle other metro projects in the state as well. The Kanpur Metro was opened in 2021 and was in operation within just 24 months, thus being the world’s fastest constructed and commissioned metro project.

The priority corridor of Agra Metro was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2024. Besides this, Noida metro is running and covers the bigger Delhi NCR network, which is referred to as the Aqua line.

Metro rail projects are being built or in advanced planning stages for Agra, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Meerut, with expansion intended for other cities such as Bareilly, Jhansi, and Prayagraj.

Talking about the development in aviation, the Chief Minister also stated that Uttar Pradesh had only two airports, namely one in Lucknow and another in Varanasi, before 2017.  “Today, there are 16 airports in Uttar Pradesh,” he said. He also added that the country’s largest airport, coming up in Gautam Buddh Nagar, will be operational by the end of this year. According to him, Uttar Pradesh now has the best national highway network in the country.

On the matter of expressways, Yogi Adityanath said that previously the state was much behind, but now things have changed. With the building of the Ganga Expressway, the state of Uttar Pradesh alone will get authority over seven percent of the entire expressway network of the country and will be the state with the biggest such network.

Highlighting the financial management of his government, he said that all welfare schemes for the poor being implemented across the country have contributions from both the central and state governments. “Over the past eight years, we have maintained financial discipline. Even under the FRBM limit set by the Government of India, Uttar Pradesh, despite being the most populous state, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing state economies,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh has now become the growth engine of the country. He further stated that the state’s citizens are now experiencing the benefits of the central government’s welfare schemes.

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