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BJP increases vote share in Telangana but fails to win even as anger brewed against KCR: How it got the chemistry wrong, not mathematics

S. Sudhir Kumar
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BJP increases vote share in Telangana but fails to win even as anger brewed against KCR: How it got the chemistry wrong, not mathematics

At one of the pre-2019 meetings in Hyderabad, a BJP karyakarta stood up and asked the leader presiding that meeting – All these years, we have been dancing in front of the party office to celebrate victories in other states. When will we dance at our office to celebrate our victories in our state? The hall reverberated with claps, specifically at the tone and manner in which the question was posed – a tone steeped in anguish yet passionate to put everything at stake so that he could dance for the said reason. 

For many decades leading up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, this dance eluded the karyakarta. Hence the anguish. They saw real hope post-2014. Hence the excitement. The passion was always there. It was the direction that they were looking for. And the karyakartas got their first opportunity to dance when the BJP won an unprecedented 4 Lok Sabha seats for the first time in Telangana. The first step towards the ultimate dream of capturing power in Telangana was made. Bandi Sanjay Kumar was made President of the party. The second step was made. The party won the all-important Dubbaka bye-poll. Third step. The party stormed the GHMC polls in an unprecedented manner. Fourth step. 

The party President started his padayatra, right from Owaisi’s bastion. He stood right before Charminar and made thousands of karyakartas chant Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram and Jai Shree Ram – something people thought was never possible. Yeah yeah – he got “communal” and all that. But you need to know about Owaisi’s bastion to understand the monumental scale of what the karyakarta felt when Bandi Sanjay did what he did, on the day he started his padayatra. Fifth step. A big leap.  

KCR fired one of his best lieutenants – Eatata Rajendar. The BJP convinced him to join them. He did and won the all-important Huzurabad bye-election. The stride of the steps was just increasing. The BJP held its national executive in Hyderabad and then held a massive public meeting – the crowd was so huge that the Prime Minister was pleasantly surprised and patted Bandi Sanjay on his back for it. Small gesture, but gave much-needed fuel to continue the pace of the steps being taken for the ultimate goal – power in Telangana in 2023. 

A Congress MLA resigned and joined the BJP, thus prompting a bye-election. Rahul Gandhi’s famed BJ Yatra was passing through the state when this bye-election was happening. KCR sent 80 of its MLAs to this one constituency to defeat the BJP. Against such strong odds, the BJP still put up a great fight despite losing this seat. A setback but definitely not the end of the road. Mysteriously, very mysteriously, this setback became the end of the road for the BJP’s rise in the state!

The karyakarta was flabbergasted when Bandi Sanjay’s term was not extended after his 3-year term ended in March 2023. Yes, missteps were made. The mighty BJP could have easily groomed Bandi Sanjay better when certain issues were being brought to the fore. It is still an abiding mystery why the central unit of the party could not find the right resources to groom a fledgling state unit. It’s not as if this is something new for a party like the BJP. They have tremendous experience and accessibility to resources to handle situations like this. The backlash from the karyakarta at removing Bandi Sanjay from the position wasn’t anticipated by the central unit. I find it very hard to believe though – for a party like the BJP that thrives on feedback, it is tough to believe that they didn’t anticipate this. 

For a party like the BJP that did what they did in MP and Chhattisgarh, it is indeed a mystery as to why they gave up on Telangana. Yes, we can list out all the missteps the party took in the run-up to the 2023 elections. We can talk about the mathematics of the election. In fact, I started this article to explain the mathematics behind BJP’s loss. Using the below graphic, I wanted to explain how the party that took GHMC by storm in 2020 has failed woefully in 2023 in the exact same area. 

I wanted to refer to the increase in overall vote percentage for the party; the victory in the northern areas of Telangana etc. And then I read this beautiful post written by a Twitter handle – Gems of KCR. This is when it dawned upon me that the BJP lost this election because it faltered on chemistry, not on the mathematics of the election. 

The anger against KCR was real (we explained in multiple articles here on OpIndia why people are angry). So real that the voter did not mind choosing the Congress party over KCR when it was the BJP that was responsible for the increasing anti-incumbency. The chemistry that the party built in the 2019 to 2022 was mysteriously broken in 2023. This election is BJP’s loss more than the Congress’s victory (not to take away credit, but Congress’s rise only coincided with BJP’s downfall). The karyakarta who wanted to dance the ultimate step in 2023 will now have to wait till for 2028 for the next chance. 

As Congress supports ‘special rights’ to Muslims, BJP leader Bommai hits out, says Siddaramaiah is diverting SC,ST funds, indulging in minority appeasement

ANI
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As Congress supports ‘special rights’ to Muslims, BJP leader Bommai hits out, says Siddaramaiah is diverting SC,ST funds, indulging in minority appeasement

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday accused the state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of indulging minority appeasement politics while doing “injustice” to Dalits and tribal communities. 

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah yesterday expressed his support for granting special rights to minorities in terms of national resources. However, many see this move as nothing more than appeasement politics aimed at securing votes,” Bommai posted on X. 

“It appears that the CM has forgotten his duty to ensure justice for all citizens. It is worth noting that there already exist departments and organizations such as the Wakf Board, Minority Commission, and Minority Corporation, which receive funds for various programs aimed at minority development,” he added. 

Bommai said that the CM’s statement suggesting the prioritization of one community over others was highly condemnable. He alleged that Siddaramaiah government diverted funds to other schemes reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs). 

“By diverting funds reserved for the development of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), and Special Component Plan (SCP) into guarantee schemes, the CM has done great injustice to these oppressed communities,” Bommai asserted. 

“Additionally, Siddaramaiah has promised further grants for Muslims, which is seen as a clear instance of appeasement politics. Not only will this bankrupt the state treasury, but it will also lead to social differentiation,” he added. 

He said that it is essential to ensure justice and equal opportunities for all citizens “rather than engaging in divisive policies that prioritize one community over others”. 

“This approach not only harms the overall development of the state but also disrupts social harmony. It is crucial for the CM to reconsider his statements and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society,” Bommai 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)

TMC leader calls Syama Prasad’s slogan ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ a ‘political slogan’, HM Amit Shah hits out: Read about the war of words in LS

ANI
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TMC leader calls Syama Prasad’s slogan ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ a ‘political slogan’, HM Amit Shah hits out: Read about the war of words in LS

While replying to TMC MP Saugata Ray on J-K bills debate in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah countered him asking how can a country have two PMs, two constitutions and two flags?

The Lok Sabha was debating on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

“How can a country have two PMs, two constitutions and two flags? Those who did this, they did wrong. PM Modi corrected it. We have been saying since 1950 that there should be ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ (One Prime Minister, one flag and one Constitution) in the country, and we did it.” Shah said in Lok Sabha. 

Lok Sabha member Sougata Ray remarked during the discussion on The Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha.

“Let me start with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir since Amit Shah took over as Home Minister. One of the major steps taken by him was to abrogate Article 370 and then convert the states of Jammu and Kashmir to Union Territories. First Jammu and Kashmir and second, Ladakh. Earlier, Union Territories were converted into States and here, Amit Shah converted the states into Union Territories. What have you achieved?” he added.

“If there is no Legislative Assembly, then why are you making the changes? Have a Legislative Assembly and then make it. I don’t know what the hurry is; the hurry should be to hold the elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

“They abrogated Article 370 just to fulfil the BJP promise: ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ (One Prime Minister, one flag and one Constitution). This was the slogan at the time of Shayama Prasad, this is not for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as this was a political statement and was his slogan,” he said.

Syama Prasad Mukherjee, who was India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that earlier in Jammu and Kashmir, their were stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir but today there are no such incidents.

“Earlier there were stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir. Today there are no such incidents. Today, not only at Lal Chowk but the Indian flag is hoisted in every lane in Kashmir,” Thakur said. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 26, 2023. It amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act of 2004.

The Act provides for reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes.

The key features of the Bill comprise socially and educationally backward classes that include people residing in villages declared as socially and educationally backwards by the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, people residing in areas adjoining the Actual Line of Control and International Border, and weak and under-privileged classes (social castes), as notified.

The government may make inclusions or exclusions from the category of weak and under-privileged classes, on the recommendations of a Commission.

The Bill substitutes weak and under-privileged classes with other backward classes as declared by the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The definition of weak and underprivileged classes is deleted from the Act.

The Second Schedule of the Representation of the People Act of 1950 provides for the number of seats in legislative assemblies. The 2019 Act amended the Second Schedule of the 1950 Act to specify the total number of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to be 83.

It reserved six seats for Scheduled Castes. No seats were reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The Bill increases the total number of seats to 90. It also reserves seven seats for Scheduled Castes and nine seats for Scheduled Tribes.

The Bill adds that the Lieutenant Governor may nominate up to two members from the Kashmiri migrant community to the Legislative Assembly. One of the nominated members must be a woman. Migrants are defined as persons who migrated from the Kashmir Valley or any other part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir after November 1, 1989 and are registered with the Relief Commissioner.

Migrants also include individuals who have not been registered due to being in government service in any moving office, having left for work, or possessing immovable property at the place from where they migrated but are unable to reside there due to disturbed conditions.

The Bill adds that the Lieutenant Governor may nominate to the Legislative Assembly one member representing displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Displaced persons refer to individuals who left or were displaced from their place of residence in Pakistani-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and continue to reside outside such place.

Such displacement should have taken place in 1947-48, 1965, or 1971 due to civil disturbances or fear of such disturbances. These include successors-in-interest of such persons. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Gangster associated with Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for the murder of Karni Sena chief. Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Gangster associated with Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for the murder of Karni Sena chief. Here is what we know so far

Hours after Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot dead on Tuesday (5th December), a gangster named Rohit Godara claimed responsibility for the murder of the National President of Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena.

As per a report by India Today, Rohit Godara took to Facebook to inform that he and his gang murdered the chief of Karni Sena. “We take complete responsibility for the killing. We commissioned this murder,” the gangster said in the purported Facebook post.

Godara claimed that Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi used to help the enemies of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang. “He was working to strengthen our foes,” the post read. The gangster also warned other enemies to wait for their turn.

Purported Facebook post of Rohit Gadora, sourced from India Today

According to a report by India Today, Rohit Godara is a native of Rajasthan. The gangster has reportedly been on the run from law enforcement authorities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has lodged criminal charges and is taking measures to apprehend him.

Rohit Godara has over 32 serious cases registered against him since 2010. He is infamous for his involvement with the underworld, extorting money to the tune of ₹5 crores- ₹17 crores from various businessmen in his native State.

Before murdering the Karni Sena chief, he was responsible for the killing of a gangster named Raju Theth in 2022. Rohit Godara’s name had also been raised in connection to the murder of singer Siddhu Moosewala.

As per India Today, he fled the country in June last year and moved to Dubai using a fake passport. Rohit Godara is currently believed to be in Canada. A red corner notice was issued against him.

On Tuesday (5th December), Karni Sena National President Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was gunned down by assailants in Jaipur. The CCTV footage of the incident has now gone viral on social media.

As per the viral video, multiple bullets were fired at the Karni Sena leader. He was rushed to Metro Mass Hospital in Jaipur but was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

Madhya Pradesh: Valik Pathan attacks BJP workers for celebrating victory, wife Shabnam throws boiling water from roof, son attacks with knife

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Valik Pathan attacks BJP workers for celebrating victory, wife Shabnam throws boiling water from roof, son attacks with knife

On 4th December, Madhya Pradesh Police booked four members of one Vakil Pathan’s family on charges of throwing boiling water and assaulting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers during a victory procession. As per the reports, the victory march was held after BJP won the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections with 163 out of 230 seats.

The incident occurred on the night of 3rd December when the BJP workers passed through the house of Vakil Pathan during a procession to celebrate the victory of BJP’s candidate Mahendra Hardia. Pathan objected to the procession and argued with the BJP workers. He then abused and assaulted them. During the arguments between Pathan’s family and BJP workers, his son Sheru attacked the workers with a knife. Furthermore, he asked his wife, Shabnam, to throw boiling water on BJP workers from the roof of their house.

A case was registered at Khajrana Police station against Pathan, his wife and two sons, Sheru and Shakeel, under Sections 294 (obscene act), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means) and 506 (intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Khajrana Police Station in-charge Umrao Singh called it a small matter and assured it was being investigated.

According to an India Today report, despite the brutal attack against the BJP workers, the police seem to be downplaying the incident. “The dispute is not a big one. The matter is being investigated,” Khajrana police station in-charge Umrao Singh said.

‘Congress lost Rajasthan because they ignored Karni Sena’: What Karni Sena President Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi said only two days before he was shot dead

OpIndia Staff
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‘Congress lost Rajasthan because they ignored Karni Sena’: What Karni Sena President Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi said only two days before he was shot dead

The murder of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, the national president of Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, has sent shockwaves across the country. The murder comes two days after the Rajput leader blamed the Congress for its defeat in the Rajasthan assembly elections.

On 3rd December, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Congress’s wrong ticket distribution and ignoring the Karni Sena has resulted in its shameful defeat.

He wrote, “Congress’s wrong ticket distribution and ignoring the Karni Sena led to the shameful defeat of the party in the 2023 Rajasthan elections. It stood at the fifth number in my constituency in Bhadra with a total of 3,669 (votes). High command should take notice.”

Meanwhile, a video of the attack has gone viral on social media showing two assailants sitting with Gogamedi and his aide in a house, which was reportedly his own. The assailants can be seen getting up and brandish their guns and begin firing shots at Gogamedi and his aide.

While Gogamedia falls to the ground, his aide tries to tackle the situation but is fired at again and is injured even as he runs behind one of the shooters.

Notably, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on 3rd December had claimed that according to his sources, the Congress ecosystem is planning an all out revenge against Rajasthan in 1st 100 days of BJP govt.

He wrote, “They will do this by manufacturing & concocting fake & manufactured stories & tasking various mafia, anti-social elements to vitiate the atmosphere by committing various crimes to show Rajasthan in bad light. I request all Rajasthanis to be on vigil against such elements.”

Meanwhile, BJP Rajasthan Chief CP Joshi said that an attempt is being made to disturb the atmosphere in the state. He said that Gogamedi had several times demanded security from the police.

“I am shocked to hear about the murder of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi. An attempt is being made to create an atmosphere of violence. Sukhdev ji had requested police protection following threats. It is a matter of investigation as to why he wasn’t given protection. I have requested the police to take action and immediately arrest the accused. This is the result of the last 5 years of governance in the state,” CP Joshi said.

Sachin Pilot was being followed and his phone was tapped: Here is what Ashok Gehlot’s OSD said, widening rift in Rajasthan Congress

OpIndia Staff
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Sachin Pilot was being followed and his phone was tapped: Here is what Ashok Gehlot’s OSD said, widening rift in Rajasthan Congress

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot who recently lost in the Rajasthan Assembly Elections, could face more troubles as he has been accused of tapping the phone of Sachin Pilot and snooping on him. While responding to a query, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot admitted that Sachin Pilot’s movements were being followed and his phone was tapped. 

As per a News18 report, Gehlot’s OSD Lokesh Sharma made serious allegations against the former CM of Rajasthan. Sharma said that Gehlot was tracking the movement and communication of Congress leader Sachin Pilot. He was asked whether Sachin Pilot’s phone was being tapped and were his movements followed as has been alleged by the supporters of the Congress leader. Responding to the query, Sharma said, “It’s common knowledge for sure that where he was going, who he was meeting, who he was speaking to was kept track of.”

Following his admission, News18 reported that Sachin Pilot is likely to raise the issue at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. Pilot has stated that he would speak freely at the meeting. He said, “What Lokesh Sharma has said must be taken cognizance of and deliberated on.” 

Gehlot’s OSD, who was refused a ticket to contest in the state assembly elections, has said that Gehlot cheated the party’s high command and prevented accurate feedback from reaching the top.

He stated that he had expressed the desire to contest the elections from Bikaner and then from Bhilwara. These are the seat that Congress was losing for 20 years, but Gehlot “refused to experiment”, he added. 

Sharma also said that Congress could have easily prevented the defeat in Rajasthan if it had taken corrective measures in time. Speaking with News18, Gehlot’s OSD Sharma said, “Based on my surveys, I had told the CM that he needed to change the sitting MLAs and also pay heed to the paper leak issue mentioned by Sachin ji. Their infighting took a toll on the party in an election we could have won.” 

It is not clear how the Congress leadership will handle the infighting between the two leaders, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot but the latter has firmly expressed that he will not leave Rajasthan. As per reports, in that case, the grand old party could adopt measures as it did in 2019 and appoint Sachin Pilot as the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress President in the wake of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

Delhi Police arrest Zishan and Zubair for posing as Police officials to loot spa and massage centres, used to demand sexual favours too

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police arrest Zishan and Zubair for posing as Police officials to loot spa and massage centres, used to demand sexual favours too

On 4th December, Delhi police arrested a gang led by Zishan, who posed as police officers and used to visit massage and spa centres for sexual activities. Three suspects in connection with the case have been arrested. Other than Zishan, Zubair, Imran, Amir and Amjad were involved in the criminal activities.

As per media reports, the gang targeted spa and massage centres in Delhi, many of which were involved in illegal activities. These members would pose as Delhi Police officials during their visits and engage in looting.

Zishan, alias Shanu, orchestrated the entire gang and engaged in fraudulent activities. The gang used information available on classified ad services like Justdial to collect information for spa centres and call girls in Delhi. Using the information, they would call the establishments posing as fake customers seeking sexual services. Subsequently, they would lead the imposters posing as Delhi Police officials to conduct raids at the targeted locations.

They employed a cinematic approach for their looting endeavours. First, they would confiscate spa employees’ phones to prevent them from informing anyone from the outside about the incident. Then, they would resort to violence and assault to threaten them and extort money.

Imran posed as Constable Ashok Rana of Delhi Police, and Zishan posed as Inspector Jakir Khan. Delhi Police recovered their fake ID cards during the arrest. As per the reports, they established credibility with the spa employees using fake Delhi Police uniforms, walkie-talkies, fake ID cards and other identification documents. Zubair helped in procuring the police uniforms for the entire gang.

Reportedly, Delhi Police received calls from the victims reporting home invasions. In two separate complaints, the victims said the accused invaded their houses and looted Rs 33,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively. During the investigation, police found a printout of a police verification certificate. After tracing the document, they found that the person for whom the document was printed was from Nepal. The person revealed he obtained the certificate from Zishan in Jafrabad.

The police collaborated with Nepal authorities, and further investigation led to the arrest of Imran and the other two accused. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Ghaziabad: Teacher at Holy Trinity Church school smears student’s face with fluid for writing Jai Shri Ram, Bajrang Dal protests

OpIndia Staff
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Ghaziabad: Teacher at Holy Trinity Church school smears student’s face with fluid for writing Jai Shri Ram, Bajrang Dal protests

In a shocking case, a teacher reportedly poured fluid on the face of a student as punishment for writing Jai Shri Ram on his desk in a Ghaziabad-based missionary school on 4th December. While a report by Aaj Tak says that the fluid was whitner, Jagran says that it was ink remover.

A class 7th student named Ishant Chauhan was subjected to the alleged abuse for at least an hour and was also insulted by the teacher at the Holy Trinity Church school in Govindpuram. Moreover, before the school ended, the teacher used thinner to clean the student’s face which made his skin irritable.

The Hindu victim was crying the entire time and was made a laughing stock before his classmates by the teacher, who has been identified as Manisha Massey. The student reportedly said that he was scared about what ensued. A video shared by Zee News shows some marks of whitner on the back of the student’s head.

The incident came to light after the victim, Ishant reached home from school and his parents inquired about his messy appearance. The student narrated the entire incident to his parents who complained to the principal and said that their son could have suffered skin damage.

Speaking to Zee News, the victim narrated the incident. He said, “Yesterday we were playing and I wrote Jai Shri Ram on the desk and a Christian student complained to Mam that I wrote Jai Shri Ram on the desk and Mam put fluid on my whole face and hair. She said that you should be hurt the way the desk was hurt.”

The parents demanded strict action against the accused. The Bajrang Dal also came to the family and the student’s rescue and staged a protest. Bajrang Dal convener Gaurav Singh said that the presence of the teacher who holds such a mindset is bad for students.

He also questioned whether saying Jai Shri Ram is a crime. The police also arrived at the school. The accused teacher eventually confessed and apologised to the family and the school administration. The teacher in her apology letter claimed that she only put two dots of fluid on the student’s face and that she did not have any ill-intentions.

However, school principal Madhulika Joseph terminated the accused and issued her a letter about the same. The principal has assured the family that such incidents will not be repeated. Meanwhile, the entire incident has reportedly affected the victim mentally.

This is the second such case to emerge out of Ghaziabad. In October, an associate professor at the ABES Engineering College in Ghaziabad rebuked a student for chanting Jai Shri Ram during a college cultural festival.

Later, the teacher in question, Mamata Gautam, issued a video statement addressing the controversy, invoking her Hindu credentials to defend herself.

Khalistan Liberation Force chief and Bhindranwale’s nephew Lakhbir Singh Rode dies aged 72 in Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Khalistan Liberation Force chief and Bhindranwale’s nephew Lakhbir Singh Rode dies aged 72 in Pakistan

On 2nd December, the chief of the banned terrorist organisation Khalistani Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation, Lakhbir Singh Rode, died of cardiac arrest in Pakistan at the age of 72. He was accused of the 1985 Kanishka bombing and was listed as an “individual terrorist” under the UAPA. In 2002, he fled to Dubai and later shifted to Pakistan.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) identified him as the mastermind behind the 2021 Ludhiana court complex blast. He was involved in smuggling Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) from Pakistan.

According to Lakhbir’s brother Jasbir Singh Rode, he was unwell for the past fifteen days and underwent a bypass surgery. He also had diabetes. Rode’s family lives in Canada.

Soon after the reports of Rode’s death, Punjab Police arrested one of his alleged associates, Paramjit Singh Dhadhi. Notably, Dhadhi is a UK citizen. He was apprehended by the for his alleged involvement in terror funding and terrorist activities in Punjab. However, Rode defended Dhadhi and described him as a “friend” who regularly visited India. Jasbir claimed Dhadhi was “falsely implicated” in a terror case in 2006. Despite the arrest, he continued to visit India and was acquitted of the case in 2013. Dhadhi was detained by the authorities at the airport when he was returning to the UK.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Police, Gaurav Yadav, said, “In a breakthrough, SSOC Amritsar has arrested UK-based Paramjit Singh alias Punjab Singh alias Dhadi from Amritsar airport. An associate of Lakhbir Rode, Chief of banned terrorist outfit ISYF, Dhadi, has been involved in terror funding and other subversive activities in Punjab. The investigation is on to unearth and expose the terrorist network. Major blow to terror module attempting to disturb peace in the region.”

Recently, a report by The Intercept claimed that Indian agencies are targetting Khalistani terrorists living in Pakistan, including Lakhbir Singh Rode and his son Bhagat Singh. Rode is a relative of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. In 2021, Gurmukh Singh, the son of Jasbir Singh Rode, was arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) for receiving tiffin boxes loaded with explosives from his uncle, Lakhbir Singh Rode, in Pakistan and distributing them within Indian territory.

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