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Patna, Bihar: Govt official brutally beaten by goons claiming to be Lalu Yadav’s relatives, sent to Delhi for treatment

OpIndia Staff
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Patna, Bihar: Govt official brutally beaten by goons claiming to be Lalu Yadav’s relatives, sent to Delhi for treatment

In Bihar, an incident of assault on a government official has surfaced where the accused are allegedly relatives of Lalu Yadav. The incident occurred in Patna on Tuesday (16th January), and the official, named Arvind Kumar Singh, was taken to Delhi for further treatment.

Tanuj Yadav and Nayan Yadav, sons of RJD leader Nagendra have been identified as the accused in this case. The victim Arvind Singh is from Gopalganj district and works as an executive officer for the state government.

Singh has been reported to have suffered major eye injuries as well as multiple other wounds. However, authorities blamed the event on driving rage between the two parties.

Vijay Kumar Singh, the victim’s brother and an eyewitness in the case, stated that his brother Arvind had come to Patna for personal reasons.

Vijay stated that he and his brother were on their way to the Boring Road area when some men stopped their car and started asking for their car keys. The miscreants assaulted Arvind with an iron rod as he attempted to intervene. 

Vijay stated that the person who assaulted his brother was saying that he is the son of Nagendra Yadav. As per media reports, Nagendra Yadav is a RJD leader and a relative of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav. However, A report in Live Hindustan mentions quoting RJD sources that Nagendra Yadav has no family relations with Lalu Yadav.

“We were on the way from Gola Road to our Boring Canal Road residence around 9.20 p.m. on Tuesday when goons stopped our SUV and hit its bonnet. When my brother Arvind Kumar Singh stepped down from the SUV to talk, they attacked him with iron rods. All the accused were in an inebriated condition at the time of the incident. One of the attackers revealed his name as Tanuj Yadav, son of Nagendra Yadav, and that Lalu Prasad Yadav was his grandfather and we could do whatever we wanted,” the victim’s brother Vijay Singh said.

The victim has attained severe injuries on his head and his eyes. He is undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Confirming the incident, Danapur ASP Abhinav Dheeman said, “We received information about a brawl taking place at Gola road under Rupaspur police station. Our team immediately went there. One of the persons named Arvind Kumar Singh, who tried to intervene in the matter, was brutally assaulted by the goons. He was critically injured in this attack. He was taken to Paras Hospital where doctors referred him to New Delhi for better treatment. We have registered an FIR and are making efforts to identify and arrest the accused.”

Reports stated that Tanuj Yadav and his brother Nayan Yadav, along with a dozen other people have been booked by the police for involvement in the assault.

“Have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism”: India issues statement on Iranian airstrikes on Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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“Have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism”: India issues statement on Iranian airstrikes on Pakistan

In a statement issued on the airstrikes by Iran on two sites in Pakistan’s border areas on 17th January, India said that it is a matter between Iran and Pakistan and that it has an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

“This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defense,” the statement read.

On 17th January Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group with drones and missiles inside Pakistan’s territorial borders.

Two “important headquarters” of Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) in Pakistan were “destroyed,” Al Arabiya News reported citing Tasnim News Agency.

The strikes were concentrated in an area in Pakistan’s Balochistan where “one of the largest headquarters” of Jaish al-Adl was located.

Following Iran’s launch of a barrage of missiles on Pakistan, Islamabad expelled the Iranian ambassador and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.

Iran then issued a statement saying that the air attacks in Pakistan targeted an “Iranian terrorist group” and Tehran government had asked Pakistan several times to take action on the group.

In a latest development, Pakistan has reportedly launched retaliatory strikes on Iran hitting multiple ‘militant’ targets.

Terming Iranian missile attacks on terrorist locations in Pakistan as an “illegal act”, Pakistan claimed it has the right to respond to such attacks.

Houthis-US conflict deepens: Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group hits US-owned ship after “global terrorist” re-designation by America

OpIndia Staff
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Houthis-US conflict deepens: Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group hits US-owned ship after “global terrorist” re-designation by America

On Wednesday (17th January), Iran-backed Houthis attacked a US cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden after the US announced the re-designation of Houthis as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”

While the Houthis claimed they fired missiles at the “Genco Picardy” bulk carrier, ending in a “direct hit,” the US  military said the vessel was struck by a drone on Wednesday evening.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) security agency said that a drone struck a vessel in the Gulf of Aden immediately after the Houthis threatened more assaults on vessels. Yahya Sarea, a Houthi military spokesman, said the group’s naval forces hit a US ship dubbed the Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden with “a number of appropriate missiles”.

In televised statements, Sarea vowed that the group would continue its attacks in self-defence and support of Palestinians in Gaza in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. He added that the attack was a response to “the American-British aggression against our country”.

Taking to X, UKMTO said that a “vessel has been hit on the port side by an Uncrewed Aerial System”.

In another post, UKMTO informed that a fire on board had been extinguished and the “vessel and crew are safe”.

In an X post, US Central Command informed that they had conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were ready to fire in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on 17th January at around 11:59 pm.

“…These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves. These strikes, along with other actions we have taken, will degrade the Houthi’s capabilities to continue their reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden,” US Central Command posted.

US re-designates Houthis as a terrorist organisation

On January 17th, the US government relisted Houthis as a “specially designated global terrorist” group in response to a series of attacks launched by Houthi terrorists on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Houthis’ continuous targeting of commercial ships, including that of the US, triggered the country to launch counterattacks.

As reported earlier, the United States and the United Kingdom have targeted more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iran-backed group attacked 27 commercial vessels in the Red Sea. On Monday (16th January), a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile hit a US-owned and operated cargo ship.

On Wednesday, US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan said that the “unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.”

“Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions,” Sullivan said.

However, Sullivan added that the US would re-evaluate the SDGT designation of Houthis if the group stops its attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Notably, the Houthis have been fighting a civil war since 2014 against Yemen’s government. The govt is getting help from a coalition of Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but the Houthis enjoy domestic support and the assistance of Iran and Hezbollah. They declare themselves to be part of the Iranian-led “axis of resistance” against Israel, the US and the wider West. It considers itself to be an ally of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran-Pakistan conflict: Pakistan launches strikes in Iran, claims to hit ‘militant’ targets inside the Persian country

OpIndia Staff
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Iran-Pakistan conflict: Pakistan launches strikes in Iran, claims to hit ‘militant’ targets inside the Persian country

On 17th January, after Iran’s deadly missile and drone strike in Balochistan, Pakistan reportedly struck back. Quoting multiple Pakistani sources, India Today reported that Pakistan has launched air strikes, hitting multiple ‘militant’ targets within Iranian territory. Terming Iranian missile attacks on terrorist locations in Pakistan as an “illegal act”, Pakistan claimed it has the right to respond to such attacks.

Terror attack in Iran

Soon after Iran attacked terror organisations in Pakistan, an army official was reportedly shot dead by terrorists in Iran. The incident occurred in southeastern Iran, next to Pakistan and Afghanistan. As per reports, the deceased official was part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The investigating agencies in Iran are attempting to apprehend the culprits behind the attack.

Pakistan condemned the Iranian attack on its soil

Notably, Pakistan condemned Iran for the missile and drone strike in Pakistani territories. Two children were reportedly dead, and three others were injured in the strikes. Pakistan called it an “unprovoked violation” of its sovereignty and airspace. India’s hostile neighbour further claimed that the Iranian attack was against international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

India called it a matter between Iran and Pakistan

Replying to a media query on the Iran-Pakistan conflict, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said, “This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defense.”

Iran admitted to strikes in Pakistan

Iranian foreign minister admitted to missile and drone strikes in Pakistani territory. On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Iran’s FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the strikes in Pakistan targeted an “Iranian terrorist group”, and that the Tehran government had asked Pakistan several times to take action on the group. “The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted,” he said.

Pakistan expelled Tehran’s envoy

Following the attack, Pakistan expelled the Tehran envoy and recalled its ambassador. “Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran, may not return for the time being,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad.

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act, and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” Baloch said, adding that Islamabad had conveyed the message to the Iranian government.

Iran attacked terror group in Pakistan

On 16th January, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group with drones and missiles inside Pakistan’s territorial borders, as per reports. Two important headquarters of Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) in Pakistan were destroyed, Al Arabiya News reported, citing Tasnim News Agency.

The strikes were concentrated in an area in Pakistan’s Balochistan where “one of the largest headquarters” of Jaish al-Adl was located, the report said.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a “terrorist” organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, Al Arabiya News reported. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Baluchistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, according to Al Arabiya News reported.

Passengers eating dinner on tarmac: Aviation authorities impose a fine of Rs 1.2 crore on IndiGo, 90 lakhs on Mumbai Airport

OpIndia Staff
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Passengers eating dinner on tarmac: Aviation authorities impose a fine of Rs 1.2 crore on IndiGo, 90 lakhs on Mumbai Airport

On Wednesday (17th January), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) imposed a fine of Rs 1.2 crore on IndiGo and Rs 60 lakh on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI Airport). A video of passengers eating on the tarmac at the Airport had gone viral. Additionally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakhs on the Mumbai Airport.

The action was taken in connection to this case after the regulatory authority received a dissatisfactory reply from the CSMI Airport to the show cause notice. The CSMI Airport failed to abide by the prescribed safety requirements. Notably, on 15th January, passengers were seen sitting on the airport’s tarmac and having dinner after facing a delay of over 12 hours for an IndiGo flight. Air India and SpiceJet were also penalised for violating norms.

Why was Airport fined?

The BCAS has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.2 Crore on IndiGo. The DGCA penalised the Mumbai Airport for Rs 30 lakhs while the BCAS imposed a fine of Rs 60 lakhs on the airport raising the fine amount to Rs 90 lakhs. On Wednesday, show cause notices were issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to both IndiGo and Mumbai Airport following the viral circulation of a video depicting passengers sitting on the tarmac and having meals. In this notice, the ministry said, “If replies are not received in the given time, then enforcement action, including financial penalty, will be initiated.” As the responses received to this notice were dissatisfactory, the authorities imposed the fine.

The ministry attributed responsibility to both Mumbai Airport and IndiGo for the incident. It accused them of not being “proactive in anticipating the situation and making the appropriate facilitation arrangements for passengers at the airport.” The notice further read, “The aircraft was allotted a remote bay C-33 (instead of a Contact Stand – an aircraft parking stand that is suitable for walking passengers to and from an aircraft from an allocated boarding gate), which further added to passenger woes and deprived them the opportunity to avail basic facilities like restrooms and refreshments at the terminal.”

Why was the IndiGo fined?

The ministry additionally stated that the flight operation occurred without considering “passenger convenience, laid down security norms, and operational issues.” In the show cause notice served to IndiGo, the authorities said, “Indigo allowed disembarkation of passengers from flight 6E 2195 onto the apron and then boarded them on to flight 6E 2091 on 15.01.2024 at Mumbai airport, without following the procedure of security screening, which violates the above-mentioned orders. Further, the incident was not reported to BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) by the aircraft operator, which is attributed to a violation of Rule 51 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023.”

IndiGo previously announced conducting an internal inquiry into the incident. Following the imposition of the substantial fine, the airline has yet to respond. In a statement, IndiGo stated, “The Airport Security Group (ASG) of Mumbai was also not forewarned about the situation.” The video of this incident came hours after a clip of a cabin crew being assaulted by a passenger over the delay in take-off had gone viral on the internet. Now the DGCA and BCAS have fined the Mumbai Airport and the IndiGo Airline involved in this incident.

Not only IndiGo, but SpiceJet and Air India were also fined

DGCA has also imposed a fine on SpiceJet and Air India. Both have been asked to pay Rs 30 lakh each. Their flights were delayed due to fog in Delhi. They were not prepared for fog, due to which the DGCA has fined them. These airlines are alleged to have not deployed CAT III trained pilots on duty during foggy days. CAT III certified pilots are trained to fly flights even in low light.

Shri Ram Lalla’s idol arrives in Ram Mandir, to be installed in the garbha griha today

OpIndia Staff
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Shri Ram Lalla’s idol arrives in Ram Mandir, to be installed in the garbha griha today

Shri Ram Lalla’s idol arrived in Ayodhya late on Wednesday evening (17th January) and was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum in the early hours of Thursday. A special puja was performed inside the sanctum sanctorum before the idol was brought inside with the help of a crane.

The idol is covered in a cloth. The idol of Shri Ram Lalla has been carved in black stone by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj and weights around 150-200 kg.

Arun Yogiraj from Mysore has used ‘Krishna Shila’ (black stone) from Karnataka to carve the Ram Lalla idol. Reportedly, Lord Ram has been depicted in the Bal Swaroop (five-year-old child).

Krishna Shila is found in the vicinity of Karkala, a small town in Karnataka, approximately 60 kilometers away from Mangalore. According to the officials, the most attractive and durable sculptures are made with Krishna Shila as it is one of the finest stones used for sculpting.

The idol reached the Ram Mandir with a procession that made a brief stop at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya. The idol will be placed inside the sanctum sanctorum today (18th January) as part of the second day of the week-long rituals leading to the Pran Pratishtha on 22nd January.

As per reports, a silver idol of Shri Ram Lalla did a round of the Ram Mandir premises on Wednesday evening garlanded with roses and marigolds. A kalash puja was also performed.

Two other idols were also sculpted for the grand consecration ceremony and now they will be placed in the temple at separate locations.

Jal Jeevan Mission scam: ED raids 8 locations in Rajasthan, ex-Minister Mahesh Joshi’s residence included

OpIndia Staff
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Jal Jeevan Mission scam: ED raids 8 locations in Rajasthan, ex-Minister Mahesh Joshi’s residence included

 The Directorate of Enforcement has conducted follow-up search operations at 8 locations in Jaipur and Banswara districts of Rajasthan under the Provisions of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in the Jal Jeevan Mission Scam, an official statement issued on Wednesday said.

The searches have been conducted on the residential premises of Mahesh Joshi, ex-Minister, PHED, Government of Rajasthan, and officials of PHED, in addition to private individuals, it said.

The official press release further stated that ED initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered by the ACB, Rajasthan, against Padamchand Jain (Shree Shyam Tubewell Company), Mahesh Mittal ( Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company) and others, including PHED officials.

Another FIR was also registered by the Rajasthan Police and Bajaj Nagar Police Station under various sections of the IPC based on a complaint alleging the “use of fake and fabricated work experience certificates by one of the suspected firms.”

“The ED investigation revealed that the said contractors were involved in securing tenders pertaining to Jal Jeevan Mission works based on purported fake work completion certificates issued by Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON) and by bribing senior PHED officials. Several middlemen and property dealers have aided the PHED officials in syphoning off the illegally earned money from the JJM scam. It has been gathered that certain properties were procured using money generated from criminal activity,” the release further said.

“During the search operations, a total of Rs 39 lakh in unaccounted cash along with various incriminating documents, including property details, digital evidence, mobiles, etc., have been seized. The total seizure in this case to date is Rs 11.42 crore, including gold OR silver worth Rs 6.50 crore,” it further said.

Further investigation is in progress, it 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)

“Hitler’s picture matches their leader”: Punjab Congress LOP Partap Singh Bajwa accuses alliance partner AAP of ‘dictatorial governance’

OpIndia Staff
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“Hitler’s picture matches their leader”: Punjab Congress LOP Partap Singh Bajwa accuses alliance partner AAP of ‘dictatorial governance’

On 17th January (Wednesday), Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa launched a scathing attack on their I.N.D.I. Alliance partner AAP. He accused the Bhagwant Mann government of practising “dictatorial governance” and went on to claim that one of their leaders looks similar to the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. 

He slammed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann advising him to put up pictures of Hitler in his office. The Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa alleged that AAP’s “dictatorial governance” matches that of the Nazi leader. 

Bajwa said, “The first thing I would like to advise them is to pull down the pictures of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from their offices and replace it with Adolf Hitler. And if you carefully see the picture of Hitler, it matches with one of their (AAP) leaders.” 

As per reports, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and other party leaders were also present when Bajwa made a Hitler jibe against the AAP leader.  

Notably, the remarks came a day after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was released from jail after securing bail in a criminal intimidation case. Khaira was arrested on 4th January in connection with the intimidation case, right after being granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court concerning a 2015 drugs case.

Meanwhile, Bajwa also took to X and slammed the AAP government asserting that it can’t suppress their voice with bullying tactics.  

Bajwa tweeted, “Bhagwant Maan you and your government cannot suppress the truth and the voice of the opposition with such bullying. We will fearlessly raise our voice for the solution of the problems of the people of Punjab and against the excesses of the AAP government.” 

In another tweet, he lambasted the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in the state for failure on reverse migration. He said that each year, scores of Punjabis leave illegally for other countries by paying huge money, and reportedly Punjab incurs a hit of about Rs 70000 crore.

The tweet read, “About 70 thousand crore rupees of Punjab is going abroad every year, @BhagwantMann about Reverse Migration?”  

It is important to note that the arch-nemesis turned allies had recently announced that they will jointly contest the Mayor elections in Chandigarh. The annual election for Chandigarh Mayor will take place on 18th January. 

The announcement was made by Pawan Bansal from Congress and Raghav Chaddha from AAP’s side. 

As part of the deal, AAP will fight for the Mayor’s post while Congress will be contesting for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar Tita will be the joint candidate of AAP-Congress for the Mayor post against BJP’s Manoj Sonkar. Congress’ Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Nirmala Devi will fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor respectively. BJP has fielded Kuljeet Sandhu, and Rajinder Sharma for the posts of senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor, respectively. 

However, on the day of the announcement, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notice to the Government of Punjab and its officials on a plea filed by Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and others. In his plea, Sidhu accused AAP’s Punjab ministers of allowing illegal sand mining and indulging in corruption. 

The constant fights between alliance partners AAP and Congress in Punjab

While AAP and Congress have tried to put together a joint front at the national level, there have been constant allegations and counter-allegations between the two I.N.D.I.A. bloc partners at state level.

Punjab Congress leadership has previously denied any possibility of contesting elections with the Kejriwal-led party. On 26th December, it was reported that the majority of Punjab Congress leaders stood against the idea of an alliance with AAP for the General Elections during a meeting of Punjab’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) chaired by All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present at the meeting.

Earlier, On 17th December, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s chief and Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, expressed his desire to contest all thirteen Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one Lok Sabha seat in Chandigarh in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

State units of both parties has stated multiple times that they want to contest Lok Sabha elections alone in Punjab, leaving 0 seats for their supposed alliance partner.

We only targeted Iranian terrorists on Pakistan soil: Iranian foreign minister after Pakistan expels Iranian envoy over Iran’s missile strike in Balochistan

ANI
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We only targeted Iranian terrorists on Pakistan soil: Iranian foreign minister after Pakistan expels Iranian envoy over Iran’s missile strike in Balochistan

Amid the diplomatic standoff over Iranian airstrike on a terror camp in Balochistan, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the air attacks in Pakistan targeted an “Iranian terrorist group” and Tehran government had asked Pakistan several times to take action on the group.

“The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted,” Abdollahian said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. This group killed our security forces. We only targeted Iranian terrorist group on the soil of Pakistan.

He emphasised that while Iran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, it would not “allow the country’s national security to be compromised or played with”.

“We have no hesitation when it comes to national interests and those terrorist groups inside Pakistan” the Iranian Foreign Minister said.

Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni Muslim armed group, has previously launched attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Following Iran’s launch of a barrage of missiles on Pakistan, Islamabad on Wednesday expelled the Iranian ambassador and recalled its ambassador from Tehran, Geo News reported.

“Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad.

Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles inside Pakistan territory on late hours of Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is “completely unacceptable” and warned of serious consequences. It further said that Iran has taken this action despite the existence of several channels of communication between the two nations.

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” Baloch said, adding that Islamabad had conveyed the message to the Iranian government.” The foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a “terrorist” organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan.

Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, Al Arabiya News reported.

Sistan-Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran’s security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers, Al Arabiya News reported.

Dawn news reported that last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, while visiting the site, had urged Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases within its borders.

The attacks in Pakistan were carried out a day after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq’s Kurdistan region at what it called an Israeli “spy headquarters” and at alleged ISIS-linked targets in Syria, the report 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)

When Professor Sharda Sinha hit the road after arrest of LK Advani during Ram Rath Yatra, women were ready to celebrate Chhath at the Circuit House in Samastipur

अजीत झा
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When Professor Sharda Sinha hit the road after arrest of LK Advani during Ram Rath Yatra, women were ready to celebrate Chhath at the Circuit House in Samastipur

Petty politics has brought two major disreputes to Samastipur: the murder of Lalit Narayan Mishra and the arrest of Lal Krishna Advani.

Akhileshwar Prasad Narayan Singh, an 80-year-old, made this observation while recalling the incident in which Lal Krishna Advani was arrested from the Circuit House in Samastipur, Bihar, on the intervening night of 22nd and 23rd October 1990. Originally from Siwan, Singh was a history professor at Ram Nirikshan Atma Ram College, Samastipur (RNAR College Samastipur) at that time. He also served as the president of the BJP in Samastipur.

Speaking to OpIndia, Singh said that due to age, he has now started to forget old things. However, he still remembers the anger that was prevalent among the common people of Samastipur at that time, after Advani’s arrest. Professor Sharda Sinha says that even today, that anger fills her with thrill. Sinha has also been a history professor at Samastipur Women’s College. Currently, she resides with her daughter in Mohali, Punjab.

Professor Sharda Sinha recounts that upon hearing the news of Advani’s arrest, a large number of women took to the streets in Samastipur on the morning of October 23, 1990. Sinha herself left her two young children at home and ran to the Circuit House. She told OpIndia, “It was the day of Kharna. I was going to celebrate Chhath for the first time. The women decided that they would not go home. They would celebrate Chhath at the Circuit House itself. After this, the administration was left helpless.”

Confirming Sinha’s statement, Akhileshwar Prasad Singh added that there was a litchi orchard beside the Circuit House at that time. In it, there was a pond where women had decided to celebrate Chhath. However, after the persuasion of BJP leader Kailashpati Mishra, the women agreed to return home.

According to Singh, at that time, the means of communication were not as advanced as they are today. Those who heard the news of Advani’s arrest rushed to the Circuit House, wanting to break its gate. Following his arrest, Advani was taken from the Circuit House to the guest house at Masanjore Dam in Dumka by helicopter. Subsequently, people’s anger intensified. Kailashpati Mishra then announced a meeting at Patel Maidan. 

Recalling that gathering, Sinha recounts, “At 8 in the morning, people had gathered in Samastipur city as if there was a rally. Kailashpati Mishra pacified the crowd at Patel Maidan’s meeting. He mentioned that both governments (Bihar and Central) want something to happen so that the BJP could be defamed, and tarnished. Only after this people were pacified. Women went back home to prepare for Kharna. However, for several days thereafter, there was simmering unrest in the city of Samastipur regarding this matter. People were angered by Advani’s arrest.”

When Advani was arrested, it is worth mentioning that V.P. Singh led the central government, and Lalu Prasad Yadav was in power in Bihar. Advani had embarked on a Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya on 25th September 1990. However, before reaching his destination, late on the night of October 22, he was arrested from the Circuit House in Samastipur.

Recalling the anger that arose from the decision of the Bihar government, Professor Sharda Sinha mentions, “It is impossible to imagine what people would have done if they had met Lalu Yadav at that time. People were saying that this is a ‘parachhut’ (despicable) government. It has to pay the price.” 

According to Akhileshwar Prasad Narayan Singh, Advani was supposed to arrive in Samastipur from Hajipur on the 22nd of October. However, he reached the Circuit House around 1 AM. After that, he was arrested. He explains that there was significant enthusiasm among the people at that time regarding Advani’s Rathyatra. The society was uniting as Hindus. Samastipur stayed awake the entire night in anticipation of Advani’s arrival.

He said that seeing rising discontent among the public, the administration lodged BJP workers and activists who were led by Kailashpati Mishra in buses and took them to Muzaffarpur. After showing their arrest, they were released. However, this did not calm people’s anger. In protest against this incident, people continued to surrender themselves for arrest for the next one or two days.

It is noteworthy that Advani’s Rath Yatra was scheduled to reach Ayodhya on 30th October. Although Advani was arrested, and the rath yatra halted, the yatra ensured that the Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti (liberation) Andolan reached every household. People’s devotions were so attached that some even used to apply soil from the place where the chariot passed by onto their foreheads as a mark of devotion. 

When Advani was arrested, he was accompanied by Narendra Modi

While Lal Krishna Advani was leading the Rathyatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, Narendra Modi was its charioteer. Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of Bharat since 2014. Meanwhile, at that time Modi was the organisational general secretary of the Gujarat BJP. Notably, Modi came into prominence at the national level through this Rath Yatra.

Even when Advani was arrested in Samastipur, Modi was with him. However, only Advani was arrested and taken to the guest house in Dumka. Professor Sharda told OpIndia, “When Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, people had said that he was also with Advani at the time of his arrest. But I do not know whether he had come to Samastipur or not. I was neither inside the Circuit House nor was Modi so popular at that time. I still remember Advani gesturing his arrest with his hand.” 

Akhileshwar Prasad Narayan Singh said, “We did not recognize him at that time. But Modi ji was also with him. This fact came to light when Modi established himself in politics. However, we did not recognize him at that time.”

In his book ‘Yudh Mein Ayodhya’, Journalist Hemant Sharma has also written about Narendra Modi’s role in this Rath Yatra. He has described Modi as the strategist and architect of this journey. According to Sharma, it was Modi who was the first to formally give information regarding the route and program of the yatra on 13 September 1990. It is said that the only person who had the information about this yatra was Modi. Some information was later shared with Advani.

In the book ‘Narendra Modi: Ek Shakhsiyat, Ek Daur’, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay quotes Modi as saying, “This experience gave me an opportunity to develop my management abilities.”

Recently, Former Deputy PM LK Advani recalling the Rath Yatra stated, “At that time (in September 1990, a few days after the yantra began) I felt destiny had decided that one day a grand Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya. Now it is only a matter of time. And, a few days after the ‘rath yatra’ began, I realised I was just a ‘charioteer.’ The main messenger of the Rath Yatra was the chariot itself and was worthy of worship because it was going to Shri Ram’s birthplace Ayodhya to fulfill the sacred purpose of building the temple.”

Heaping praise at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he referred to PM Modi as “the devotee chosen by Lord Ram to renovate his temple” for overseeing the construction of the sacred place.

Advani and Modi taught Dharma is politics

For decades, the politics in independent India has been dominated by the group that nurtured the politics of appeasement. They wanted to remove the idol of Ram Lalla from Ayodhya. For them Iftar is secularism. This Jamaat also vigorously promoted the idea that religion should be kept away from politics. But this idea ruined the country. Distorted secularism. Here, it is important to note that religion is not the same as Dharma. 

Both Dharma and politics aim to establish good governance. The Rath Yatra of Advani and Modi showed India that Dharma and politics are complementary to each other and not hostile to each other. They showed that Dharma should be at the heart of politics. 

It is our good fortune that today’s India is moving forward with that idea. It is the good fortune of that tradition that has ensured that on 22 January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the host of the consecration of Ram Lalla at Bhagya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and Lal Krishna Advani, the Bhishma Pitamah of today’s Indian politics, will be its witness.

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