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After doing Kushasana you are going for Vipassana which can be done in jail: BJP slams Arvind Kejriwal for skipping ED summon

Gopal Tiwari
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After doing Kushasana you are going for Vipassana which can be done in jail: BJP slams Arvind Kejriwal for skipping ED summon

BJP on Thursday (21st December) slammed AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal for skipping the summons sent to him by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor scam. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Sambit Patra said that Arvind and accountability can never travel together.

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning on 21st December, left for a 10-day ‘Vipassana’ meditation camp in Punjab on 20th December. As a result, he will not attend the questioning by ED in the Delhi Liquor Policy scam case. Taking a dig at this, Sambit Patra said, “Kejriwal is trying to hide behind Vipassana. Kusashana and Vipassana can never travel together.” Kusashana means bad governance.

Sambit Patra said that Arvind Kejriwal finds some other reason every time ED issues a summons to him. Sambit Patra sarcastically said, “He (Arvind Kejriwal) is going for Vipassana and how come ED dare to call him for a probe? Great, Arvind Kejriwal. Sometimes you will skip the probe because of Diwali. Sometimes you will be away in elections saying that you are the star campaigner of your party. For these reasons, you stay away from governance and your responsibilities.”

Sambit Patra further said, “Arvind and accountability will never travel together. Kejriwal and Kartavya (duty) will never travel together. If you have performed Kushasana (bad governance) then you will go to jail. We are not saying that you might be arrested but your ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi Marlena said it. They even held a referendum to check if the government of Delhi will be operated from the Tihar jail. You first did Kushasana and now you are going for Vipassana. There are provisions of Vipassana in the Indian jails so that people can change their corrupt mindset.”

Arvind Kejriwal is a Vipassana practitioner

According to officials, Arvind Kejriwal takes a 10-day ‘Vipassana’ course every year and this year he is going to be a part of such camp in Anandgarh village of Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district till 30th December. ‘Vipassana’ is an ancient Indian meditation technique wherein practitioners refrain from speaking or using gestures for a prolonged amount of time to improve their mental health. The chief minister has been a longtime practitioner of the aforementioned meditation and has travelled to numerous locations, including Bengaluru and Jaipur to practice it.

Delhi Liquor Scam

The Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–22 which granted licenses to liquor dealers is accused of enabling cartelization and favouring some dealers who had reportedly paid bribes to AAP leaders for it. The policy was then abandoned and the lieutenant governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena directed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) look into the matter. The ED then filed a complaint under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).

Notably, the AAP chief would be missing his second consecutive deposition before the Enforcement Directorate. He was summoned by the national agency last month to appear before the agency on 2nd November but he ignored the request, claiming his hectic campaign schedule. He added that he couldn’t attend the summons since he was a star campaigner and state elections were approaching. He asked the agency to revoke the summons adding that it was “motivated and issued for extraneous considerations.”

‘Our neighbour has reached the moon, we are yet to even rise from the ground’: Nawaz Sharif compares India and Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Our neighbour has reached the moon, we are yet to even rise from the ground’: Nawaz Sharif compares India and Pakistan

On 20th December, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif once again praised India, a day after he stated that neither India nor the United States of America were to blame for Pakistan’s economic decline. At a public speech he declared that while India had reached the moon, his own country is yet to raise from the ground level. The three-time prime minister of Pakistan was alluding to India’s lunar expedition, Chandrayaan-3.

He had applauded India’s moon expedition a few months prior and now with his nation experiencing severe socioeconomic hardship, the former prime minister has once more emphasised the potential of India’s space program. Furthermore, he discussed the economic development of India as well as the 2023 G20 summit. He remarked, “We have been responsible for our own downfall, otherwise this nation would have reached a different place. Our neighbours have reached the moon but we haven’t even risen from the ground so far. It can’t keep going on like this.” 

While addressing his party as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chairman, he made a jab at the military by charging that neither India nor the United States was to blame for Pakistan’s current predicament. “Today where Pakistan has reached (in terms of the state of the economy) this is not done by India, the US or even Afghanistan. In fact, we shot ourselves in our own foot. They (a reference to the military) imposed a selected (government) on this nation by rigging the 2018 polls and it led to the suffering of the people and the downfall of the economy,” Sharif stated.

The practice of Nawaz Sharif adopting a progressive stance toward India is not new. He compared the two nations in a similar way after India launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the south side of the moon. “Today Pakistan’s prime minister goes country to country to beg for funds while India has reached the moon and is holding G20 meetings. Why Pakistan couldn’t achieve the feats India did. Who is responsible for this here?”

Notably, Nawaz Sharif has appeared pro-India before the general elections which are set to take place on 8th February next year following repeated delays. He has been hiding out in London since 2019 and has long desired to return to Pakistan’s political scene. After he was granted a five-year diplomatic passport by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in November last year, rumours began to circulate regarding his imminent return to Pakistan.

Later, Islamabad High Court cleared him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mill corruption case. The decision was made public by the two-judge panel which included Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. He had also been exonerated by the same bench in the Avenfield property matter last month.

His return to Pakistan was made possible by his acquittal in both instances, nevertheless, he still needs to clear one more obstacle. The Panama Papers lawsuit has resulted in the Supreme Court removing him from office. According to the top court’s interpretation of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, the disqualification is permanent.

Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Captain (retd.) Muhammad Safdar who is the husband of Maryam Nawaz disclosed on 20th December that the politician will be running for office from the Mansehra area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He informed the media that by 21st December will be turning in his nomination papers for the “NA 15 Mansehra-cum-Torghar constituency” seat in the National Assembly.

This will be Nawaz Sharif’s fourth attempt to become prime minister of Pakistan. He held the position of the country’s premier for three terms from 1990–1993, 1997–1998 and 2013–2017.

After ‘Samosa Caucus’, ‘Hindu Caucus’ formed in the US Congress, read what it is and how it will advocate Hindu issues & interests in the USA

OpIndia Staff
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After ‘Samosa Caucus’, ‘Hindu Caucus’ formed in the US Congress, read what it is and how it will advocate Hindu issues & interests in the USA

The “Samosa Caucus,” a group of Indian-origin representatives in the US Congress, is known for addressing issues related to India. Following a similar framework, the US Congress has recently announced the formation of the Hindu Caucus. This new group of lawmakers is dedicated to advancing and protecting the interests of the Hindu community.

Like other caucuses, the Hindu Caucus comprises members from various political parties, coming together over a shared interest. These caucuses operate much like ‘pressure groups,’ exerting influence within the legislative process to champion specific causes. By forming a caucus, these lawmakers can effectively address and support issues relevant to their communities, in this case, focusing on legislation that benefits Hindus.

Members of these caucuses collaborate to introduce legislation in Congress that aligns with and supports the interests they represent. The formation of such caucuses can be based on a variety of factors, including foreign policy interests, religious affiliations, ethnic backgrounds, or other specific group concerns. The primary objective of these groups is to rally as much support as possible for the causes or communities they are dedicated to.

For quite some time, there has been a concerted effort to establish a Hindu caucus in the US. This initiative recently gained momentum with Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar championing the cause. The formal establishment of the Hindu Caucus has now been officially announced by US Congressmen Pete Sessions and Elyse Stefanic.

Under the leadership of Chair Elysei Stefanik, the caucus is set to focus on safeguarding the rights of Hindu minorities in America. Concurrently, it aims to promote and uphold the values inherent to the Indian-American Hindu community.

The Hindu Caucus is established to represent Hindus originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, as well as those in the United States and the Netherlands. Additionally, this caucus is committed to advocating for the interests of Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, encompassing a broader spectrum of religious communities.

The caucus, which includes several members beyond Stefanic, will champion policies that promote open trade, advocate for minimal government intervention, emphasize fiscal prudence, support family values, and endorse a foreign policy that stands against authoritarian regimes.

Speaking at its formation, Congressman Pete Sessions said, “The formation of the Hindu Caucus in Congress is an important step toward recognising and amplifying the voice of the Hindu-American community in our nation’s capital. We are committed to addressing their concerns, showcasing their contributions and ensuring that their vision finds a voice at the highest levels of government.”

About 35 lakh Hindus live in America. Most of them are Indians or of Indian origin. Hindus from many other countries also live in America. American Hindus constitute about 1% of the total population. This is an influential class of America.

Hindus are one of America’s most educated religious groups. According to research by the Pew Research Center, 77% of Hindus living in the US are graduates. This is more than any other religious group. Hindus are also one of the highest earners in America. Hindus earn more than any average American family.

‘We see people convert to Islam, but nobody converts to Hinduism’: Director Vanga reveals why Bobby Deol’s character in Animal is Muslim

OpIndia Staff
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‘We see people convert to Islam, but nobody converts to Hinduism’: Director Vanga reveals why Bobby Deol’s character in Animal is Muslim

After strongly retorting to negative reviews and allegations of spreading ‘toxic masculinity’ by some ‘illiterate’ and ‘uneducated’ critics, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, director of the recently hit film, ‘Animal’ has now managed to silence the leftist-liberals and Islamist cabal which has been attempting to construct an anti-Muslim narrative around his film.

It’s interesting to note that a lot of so-called liberals, pseudo-seculars and Islamists have taken offence at the filmmaker for depicting Bobby Deol’s character’s religion as ‘Muslim.’ These people have never raised an eyebrow when a Hindu is shown as the antagonist in any given movie. In fact, they would dismiss it as ‘poetic licence’ and send Hindus on a guilt trip if they dared to protest what they would consider to be the ‘freedom’ of any artist or writer.

Dismissing this skewed narrative, Vanga in an interview with Galatta Plus, said that people often undergo conversions after having experienced setbacks, and that’s what Abrar did. Vanga stated to have personally witnessed the tendency of vulnerable people to gravitate to superstition and religion. In the movie, Abrar becomes silent due to the stress he endured following the death of his grandfather. He later turns against Ranvijay after learning of his brother’s death. Subsequently, their relationship is discovered.

Notably, in the film, Abrar, the character essayed by Bobby Deol, is the cousin of the protagonist, Rannvijay Singh (played by Ranbir Kapoor). 

Further explaining his rationale behind depicting Bobby Deol’s character ‘Muslim,’ Vanga said that we often see a lot of people converting to Islam and Christianity but seldom do we see anybody converting to Hinduism. Moreover, it provided him with a rationale to create Abrar as a character with several wives.

We see a lot of people converting to Islam and Christianity; we never see anybody converting to Hinduism: Animal director explains his rationale for depicting Bobby Deol’s religion as Muslim

He said, “I’ve seen people, when they enter a zone of zero confidence, people will come and say to them, ‘Go to a church, or go to a baba, he’ll give some taweez, change your name…’ I’ve seen people changing their religion because so much has happened to them. At a low point, they feel like it’s a new birth, it’s a change of identity completely… We see a lot of people converting to Islam and Christianity; we never see anybody converting to Hinduism. So, I thought I’ll use this, because you can get multiple wives in Islam. I can have multiple cousins with different faces; the drama will be bigger. That’s the only reason Vanga told Galatta Plus adding, “there was no intention to show a Muslim in a bad light.”

Islamists and leftist liberals criticise ‘Animal’ makers for being ‘anti-Muslim’

It’s interesting to note that since its December 1 release, Sandeep Vanga’s film Animal has generated conversation for both right and wrong reasons. Film critics have harshly criticized the Ranbir Kapoor starrer despite the film’s remarkable domestic and international box office performance, citing the director’s misogynistic approach. Following criticism that it glorified misogyny, several leftist liberals and Islamists on social media are now criticizing the director for supposedly harbouring “Islamophobia.”

“What is Bollywood’s obsession with portraying Muslims as absolute psychos. Can they focus on their own Hindu mobs in India. Their second obsession is violence against women. Their third obsession is with Pakistan. Hate really sells, tragic,” wrote an X user going by the handle @zay9797_

“I just saw a snippet of Bobby Deol in Animal and I can’t believe my eyes. They’ve shown him as a pervert Muslim. The fact that these actors agree to take on such roles shows the hatred in their own hearts. Flop nepo kid. His brother is just as bad. What’s their obsession with us,” she added in her subsequent post.

A few other Islamists also took offence to the filmmaker showing the religion of Bobby Deol’s character ‘Muslim’.

Islamist social media channel Muslim Spaces also looked visibly angry at the makers of the movie for depicting Bobby Deol’s character as ‘Muslim.’ The anti-Hindu channel which has obviously, never been offended when a ‘Hindu’ is depicted as the antagonist in a film, bemoaned, “Animal connects with pro-Hindutva incels (‘trads’ in Indian context) at a visceral level. It brings to life some of their pet fantasies.”

Animal’s Sandeep Reddy Vanga calls his critics ‘uneducated’, asks them to ‘teach English in China’

Notably, in a separate interaction with Galatta Plus, Vanga had earlier dismissed the charge that the film is promoting Misogyny in which he referred to the critics as ‘Jokers’. 

He said, “Misogyny is disrespect to women. This is the actual definition, right? So no. Even Kabir Singh, even Animal, even me as a person. I always feel my production house name is Bhadrakali Pictures and I don’t know why people think…not too many people, only these 15-20 jokers. But it’s a wrong word to use on Kabir Singh, Animal.”

Responding to negative reviews and allegations of spreading ‘toxic masculinity’, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, director of the recently hit film, ‘Animal’ lashed out at the clique of ‘English’ critics calling them ‘illiterate’ and ‘uneducated’. In a conversation with Connect FM Cannada, Vanga admitted that negative reviews do hamper a film. 

However, he argued that the film is doing good business at the box office because of the film’s craft. It’s not because Bollywood critics like Anupama Chopra, Sucharita Tyagi, and Rajeev Masand diss his films. 

As per reports, Vanga’s Animal has done business for around Rs 522 crore in India and Rs 843 crore worldwide. It’s reportedly the biggest A-rated film ever, and behind Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan and Pathaan, Animal is the third-biggest Indian film of 2023. Meanwhile, Vanga’s upcoming directorial ventures include Prabhas’ Spirit and Allu Arjun’s untitled film.

India sends special charter flight with relief supplies as part of $1 million aid to Papua New Guinea hit by volcanic eruption

ANI
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India sends special charter flight with relief supplies as part of $1 million aid to Papua New Guinea hit by volcanic eruption

In continuation of India’s commitment to providing relief to the people of Papua New Guinea affected by the volcanic eruption, a special charter flight, loaded with supplies, took off from New Delhi on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this initiative is part of the USD 1 million aid announced by India to assist in the aftermath of the disaster. The supplies include approximately 11 tonnes of disaster relief material and 6 tonnes of medical aid.

In a post on ‘X’, the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi wrote, “India’s humanitarian assistance for the people of Papua New Guinea! Pursuant to the USD 1 mn relief assistance announced by India for the volcanic eruption affected people of Papua New Guinea, a special charter flight carrying relief supplies takes off for Port Moresby.”

The disaster relief material comprises tents, sleeping mats, hygiene kits, meals ready to eat, and water storage tanks, whereas medical aid includes essential medicines, surgical items, and sanitary pads, among other things.

“The supplies include approximately 11 tonnes of disaster relief material and 6 tonnes of medical aid. Disaster relief material comprises of tents, sleeping mats, hygiene kits, meals ready to eat, water storage tanks; & medical aid includes essential medicines, surgical items, sanitary pads, rapid antigen test kits, pregnency test kits, mosquito repellents & baby food among others,” the MEA said.

Notably, India is sending HADR (high availability disaster recovery) supplies for the people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the wake of the volcanic eruption.

A major volcanic eruption on Mount Ulawun in Papua New Guinea erupted on November 20 and forced the evacuation of over 26,000 people and created urgent humanitarian needs.

Expressing solidarity with the people of Papua New Guinea, India extended relief assistance. “As a close friend and development partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Papua New Guinea, the Government of India extends immediate relief assistance to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Papua New Guinea,” the statement said.

Ulawun, the South Pacific nation’s most active volcano, spewed smoke up to 15km (9.3 miles) in the air on November 20, the country’s Geohazards Management Division said, in its first significant blow-up in years, as reported by Al Jazeera.

India has firmly stood by Papua New Guinea during times of crisis and devastation caused by natural disasters, as it did in the wake of the earthquake that jolted the region in 2018 and the volcanic eruption in 2019.

Ulawun has repeatedly erupted since the 1700s and the last significant eruption occurred in 2019 that forced over 5,000 people to evacuate, according to Al Jazeera.

Papua New Guinea sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activities occur.

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

Ram Mandir Trust invites Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the consecration ceremony, heads of all parties to be invited

OpIndia Staff
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Ram Mandir Trust invites Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the consecration ceremony, heads of all parties to be invited

Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge, former party president and Lok Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi and leader of the party in the lower house Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have been extended invitations for the 22nd January consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya. They have each received an invitation separately. However, the three are unlikely to attend the landmark event, based on sources. Interestingly, Wayanad Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have not been invited yet.

Former prime ministers Dr Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda have also been invited. The invitations are currently being sent out and more opposition figures will receive them in the next few days. Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were reportedly invited to the ceremony by Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee and an ex-officio member of the Trust as well as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh Ram Lal and Vishva Hindu Parishad International Working President Alok Kumar.

According to accounts, Nipendra Misra requested a meeting with Dr Manmohan Singh, but the former prime minister’s staff turned him down citing the former PM’s precarious health. Heads of all political parties have been invited along with former President Pratibha Patil for the auspicious program. Governors and chief ministers are not invited to the inauguration ceremony. However, presidents of all national political parties have been invited and many chief ministers are also the supremos of their parties.

Furthermore, the group met with former President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and invited them. According to sources, invitations have been extended to Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his Communist Party of India colleague D Raja.

As per reports, after the consecration celebration, each state would receive a set number of days to visit the temple and special trains could be arranged. Specific arrangements would be made for their reception and the chief ministers would also be asked to join the devotees from their respective states.

Large-scale preparations are underway in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony, which will feature speeches by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an estimated 8,000 attendees. The guest list for the ceremony has been “carefully crafted,” as per Champat Rai, Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, who made this statement on 18th December. A significant number of labourers involved in the construction of the temple, including S N Subrahmanyan of the L&T Group and Natarajan Chandrasekaran of the Tata Group have also been invited by the trust.

VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal revealed, “Invitations have been sent to chiefs of all national political parties and former prime ministers of the country. Those who gave us time were given invitations personally, others have been sent the invitations through post. VHP has always maintained that whoever has the belief in Shri Ram and takes pride in the cultural heritage of the country is welcome for a darshan.” 

According to a top VHP leader, there was no truth to the rumours that opposition politicians would not be invited to the sacred occasion since it was always the intention to invite every major political figure. He added, “Of course, everybody cannot be called since there is a logistical issue with how much crowd can gather for the event. That is why party presidents are being called. But all are welcome to visit Ayodhya after the ceremony.”

The Trust conveyed that invitations have been sent to all notable people who have contributed to the honour of the nation in any field as well as to saints who are highly respected in different traditions. A Tent City with six tube wells, six kitchen houses and a ten-bed hospital has been erected at the new Teerthakshetrapuram (Bag Bijaisi). The hospital has an agreement with over 150 physicians nationwide to use their services on a rotating basis. The Trust mentioned that around 4,000 saints from various sects have been invited to take part in the event.

Attendees include the spiritual leaders of important temples like Kashi Vishwanath and Vaishno Devi, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli as well as representatives of constitutional and religious organisations. Actors like Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Dipika Chikhlia and Arun Govil, film directors like Madhur Bhandarkar and businesspeople like Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani along with renowned painter Vasudev Kamat and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Director Nilesh Desai are also invited. The VHP also reached out to veteran BJP leaders like Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi who might not be able to attend owing to their health issues.

Over 1 million vehicles recalled by Japanese auto giant Toyota over airbag problem

OpIndia Staff
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Over 1 million vehicles recalled by Japanese auto giant Toyota over airbag problem

On Wednesday (December 20), Toyota announced a safety recall of over 1 million vehicles of 2020-2022 Toyota and Lexus models in the United States. The Japanese automotive behemoth has recalled its vehicles over a defect that could cause airbags not to deploy, jeopardising the safety of the occupants of the car.

Toyota stated in a notice issued on its website that a probable fault in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat of affected vehicles might cause a short circuit. As a result, the airbag system may fail to detect the presence and weight of the passenger and fail to deploy as designed.

The press release said that Toyota and Lexus dealers will evaluate the OCS sensors and, if necessary, replace them at no cost to owners. Toyota will notify customers if their vehicles are subject to the recall by the middle of February 2024.

The recall affects various models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles manufactured between 2020 and 2022. Toyota Avalons, Camrys, Highlanders, RAV4s, Siennas, and Corollas, as well as some hybrids, are included in the recall. The Lexus cars included in the recall are the ES250 sedan and the RX350 SUV among others.

It is worth recalling that in August this year, it was reported that Toyota recalled around 1,68,000 recently manufactured vehicles in the United States due to a possible fire risk. Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles from the model years 2022 and 2023 were recalled.

The company recalled 1.9 million RAV4 sport utility vehicles in the United States in November because the batteries can shift during rapid turns and potentially cause a fire.

Toyota also recalled about 751,000 Toyota Highlander SUVs in the United States on October 26 to address a problem with the tabs that secure the cars’ front lower bumper coverings. According to the company, even a slight collision could cause the bumper cover assembly to fall off, posing a danger to drivers.

Chhattisgarh’s new Deputy CM Arun Sao highlights rising Tribal-to-Christian conversion cases, says will get a law to stop religious conversions

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh’s new Deputy CM Arun Sao highlights rising Tribal-to-Christian conversion cases, says will get a law to stop religious conversions

Chhattisgarh’s newly elected state government is likely to pass a legislation or take administrative action to prohibit religious conversions rampant in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao stated in an exclusive interview with News18 that the conversion of the tribal population to Christianity by missionaries operating throughout the state has been a significant problem. He added that it needs to be addressed with appropriate government action.

“We have to stop the conversion of tribal population in the state. It is a crucial issue that has to be addressed. We will take whatever measures are possible in the legal framework to stop this,” said Arun Sao.

Sao stated that one of the government’s top goals is to prevent religious conversion and that pertinent decisions would be made after the government’s second cabinet meeting and the formation of the council of ministers.

Arun Sao, meanwhile, added that the government has decided to construct homes for 18 lakh low-income recipients under the PM Awas Yojana during its first cabinet meeting on December 14. “In our first cabinet meeting held last week, we decided to build houses for the poor. In the first phase, houses will be built for 18 lakh beneficiaries under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana,” he added.

The state has long been subjected to demands from the RSS for an anti-conversion law. A law to halt the conversion was demanded by the RSS and its affiliates. Along with this, the RSS and its allies started a movement calling for the delisting of tribals who became Christians.

According to Sao, the administration will carry out every recommendation made in the “Modi’s Guarantee” election manifesto. “People will get everything that the party promised before elections. We will execute all programs and schemes which were mentioned under Modi’s guarantee,” said Sao.

In response to the probe into multiple corruption cases involving former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and members of his party, Arun Sao declared, “We will adopt a zero tolerance for corruption policy. Every complaint of corruption will be recorded as a case. People’s money was embezzled. The law and order will be reinstated. Chhattisgarh will become one of the most advanced states.”

Sao carried on by expressing his gratitude to the senior leadership for choosing him to be the state’s deputy chief minister and for recognising his contributions. The state has got its first tribal chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, while Arun Sao, Deputy CM, represents the OBC community.

Gautam Navlakha, the Urban Naxal, gets bail because he only ‘intended’ to commit a terrorist act, he did not actually start putting his plan in action: What the court said

OpIndia Staff
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Gautam Navlakha, the Urban Naxal, gets bail because he only ‘intended’ to commit a terrorist act, he did not actually start putting his plan in action: What the court said

The Bombay High Court on 19th December granted bail to Bhima Koregaon violence accused Gautam Navlakha. In its order, the division bench comprising Justicce AS Gadkari and Justice SG Dige noted that Navlakha merely intended to commit the terrorist at and did not attempt the same.

The HC, in its order, stated, “In the present case, the incriminating material as adverted herein above does not in any manner prima facie leads to draw an inference that, Appellant has committed or indulged in a ‘terrorist act’ as contemplated under Section 15 of UAP Act.”

“According to us, the record prima facie indicate that, it was at the most the intention of the Appellant to commit the alleged crime and not more than it. The said intention has not been further transformed into preparation or attempt to commit a terrorist act, to attract Section 15 of the UAP Act.”

The court also stated in its order that Navlakha had not committed any covert or overt terrorist act. “Even though in the said documents, the authors of it have expressed their intention to cause fatality to the politically influential persons or to cause tremendous disturbance in the Society at large, the Appellant only being a member of the party cannot be prima facie held to be a co-conspirator to it. From the material on record, it appears to us that, no covert or overt terrorist act has been attributed to the Appellant,” the order states.

On the letter that Navlakha had written to the Judge of the US court for clemency to Ghulam Fai, the court said that it was not related to the present crime Navlakha is accused of.

The court further noted that it appeared that the letter was written by Navlakha in his individual capacity and at the most, it can be said, in the capacity of his being a party member and nothing more.

The court also referred to the point of the name ‘Gautam’ referred to in documents. The court said that prima facie it cannot be assumed that the ‘Gautam’ is the same person.

“..there is another person by name Gautam @ Kosa @ Gopanna @ Sadha, who is the Central Committee Member of the CPI (M) and therefore it cannot be safely inferred that, it is the Appellant only who has been referred to in those documents.”

“According to us, the identity of the Appellant being the same person ‘Gautam’ is in doubt as far as those documents are concerned. At this stage prima facie we cannot presume that, ‘Gautam’ is the same person as the identity of the said ‘Gautam’ is yet to be established beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution,” the order states.

The court said that Navlakha is in “pre-trial incarceration for more than three years and eight months”.

The court stated, “The Appellant is in pre-trial incarceration for more than three years and eight months. The charge-sheet consists of about 20,000 pages in 54 Volumes and the prosecution has cited 370 witnesses in it. The learned Judge of the trial Court has submitted a report dated 18th September, 2022 stating that, it will require more than a year to frame charge. As a matter of fact, till date the trial Court has not framed charge. The possibility of trial of the Appellant being concluded in near future is very bleak.”

Bacground

The Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case pertains to an event organised at Shaniwar Wada called Elgar Parishad on December 31, 2017.

The following day, i.e January 1, 2018, large-scale violence broke out at Bhima Koregaon, where lakhs of Dalits had gathered to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon, won by the British Army—comprising mostly soldiers from the Dalit community—against the Peshwas in 1818.

A total of 16 accused were apprehended in the case including Navlakha, who is now the seventh accused to secure bail.

Moreover, Navlakha had reportedly visited the United States thrice in the period between 2010-2011 and written to a US district court judge seeking clemency for Fai, who was arrested by the FBI in 2011 on the charges of accepting funds to the tune of several million from the ISI and the Pakistan government.

“Parsis living happily in India shows Indian society does not discriminate against any religious minority”: PM Modi on future of Muslims in India

OpIndia Staff
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“Parsis living happily in India shows Indian society does not discriminate against any religious minority”: PM Modi on future of Muslims in India

In an interview with UK-based Financial Times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about India’s unity and tolerance of various religious communities with no discrimination whatsoever. PM Modi, when asked about the future of India’s Muslim ‘minority’ underscored, the economic success of the Parsi community while calling them the “religious micro-minority of India.”

“Despite facing persecution elsewhere in the world, they have found a safe haven in India, living happily and prospering. That shows that the Indian society itself has no feeling of discrimination towards any religious minority,” PM Modi told the Financial Times on Wednesday (December 20).

While FT says that PM Modi’s response does not make a mention of India’s 200 million Muslims, his mentioning of a religious micro minority, namely, the Parsis and their progress over the years reflects that the fact that Indians do not hate, oppose or discriminate against any religious minority, native or migrant legally residing in India.

Be it the Zoroastrians of Persia or the Jews of Israel, India has been safe heaven for persecuted communities around the world. It demonstrates the inclusive nature of Indian society and its Hindu traditional belief of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).

In the meanwhile, terror conspiracies to turn India into an Islamic country with prescribed deadlines have been uncovered in recent times including the now-outlawed PFI’s “India Vision 2047” document.

According to 2011 census data, Indian Muslims form the second-largest religious majority comprising approximately 14.2%. In fact, the data showed that India’s Muslim population is growing faster than the country’s Hindu population, as the Muslim population grew by around 24.6% between 2001 and 2011, compared to around 16.8% for Hindus over the same period. While the self-proclaimed champions of the rights of Muslim “minorities” are worried about the community’s ‘future’ the data raised concern over the potential population imbalance.

On being asked about claims of dissent suppression by his government, PM Modi laughed, noting that critics freely use their rights through various media outlets. He also maintained the freedom of stating facts in response to such allegations.

“There is a whole ecosystem that is using the freedom available in our country to hurl these allegations at us every day, through editorials, TV channels, social media, videos, tweets, etc. They have the right to do so. But others have an equal right to respond with facts, PM Modi said.

While discussing the aspirations of the Indian people, the prime minister pointed out that expectations had shifted over the last decade. “They realise that our nation is on the cusp of a take-off,” PM Modi remarked, pushing for accelerated progress and conveying confidence in the Bhartiya Janata Party’s ability to fulfil these aspirations. 

As reported earlier, PM Modi raised concerns over extremist activities by foreign-based banned outfits in the guise of Freedom of expression. The prime minister said, “India was deeply concerned about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas. These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence.”

PM Modi’s comments came in response to the claims made by the US of an Indian link to an alleged foiled assassination plot against terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Stating that he will “look into” any evidence, PM Modi alluded to the fact that US and Canada who have levelled allegations against India has not so far provided any evidence to back their charges against India. He, however, added that “few incidents” would not affect US-India ties.

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