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Australian navy divers injured by sonar pulses after Chinese destroyer came near it despite warnings and deployed powerful sonar

OpIndia Staff
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Australian navy divers injured by sonar pulses after Chinese destroyer came near it despite warnings and deployed powerful sonar

On Saturday (18th November) Australia’s government conveyed serious apprehensions to China following a perilous encounter between an Australian navy vessel and a Chinese warship that resulted in injuries to Australian military divers. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles termed the interaction as “unsafe and unprofessional.”

On 14th November, the HMAS Toowoomba, a long-range frigate of the Australian Navy, which was heading towards a scheduled port visit, had to stop within Japan’s exclusive economic zone after fishing got entangled with its propellers. Navy divers dived into the eater to clear the fishing nets from the propellers. During this time, a destroyer of the Chinese navy that was operating nearby headed towards the Australian ship and deployed its powerful sonar, injuring the divers.

According to Marles, despite notifying the Chinese warship of the ongoing diving operation and requesting it to maintain a safe distance, the PLA-N destroyer (DDG-139) closed in at an uncomfortably close range and deployed its hull-mounted sonar.

After the Australian crew noticed the approaching Chinese vessel, they reiterated the request to maintain distance, and the Chinese vessel acknowledged the same, but still continued heading towards the frigate. The Chinese destroyer then started operating its sonar, the pulses of which hit the divers, forcing them to surface. The divers were assessed after they came up, and they had sustained minor injuries, likely from sonar pulses.

“Soon after, it was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar in a manner that posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water,” stated Marles. The Defense Minister emphasised that such conduct was both “unsafe and unprofessional.”

The Chinese embassy in Australia has not yet responded to requests for comment. Medical assessments revealed minor injuries to the ears of the divers, likely caused by the destroyer’s sonar pulses.

Marles asserted, “Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner,” underlining the Australian government’s commitment to the safety and well-being of Australian military personnel.

The Diving Medical Advisory Committee, an independent London-based organisation, has previously warned about the potential dangers of sonar sound waves, which can cause divers to suffer dizziness, hearing damage, and organ damage.

The incident occurred during Operation Argos, where the Australian ship was enforcing sanctions against North Korea as part of a regional presence deployment.

Notably, while the incident took place on Tuesday, the Australian govt chose to disclose it on Saturday, after PM Anthony Albanese met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in San Fransisco. It is not known if Albanese discussed the matter with Xi. Deputy PM Richard Marles, who is the acting PM as Albanese is visiting the US, said that the federal government had expressed “serious concerns” to the Chinese government.

In recent years, China has become more assertive in the Indo-Pacific region, heightening security ties with countries like the Solomon Islands. Australia, a close ally of the United States, conducted war games earlier this year involving over 30,000 troops in response to China’s growing regional influence.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, amid the maritime incident, revealed that he had invited China’s Premier Li Qiang to visit Australia. Despite recent positive meetings between Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the maritime incident underscores the complexities in the Australia-China relationship.

Albanese, who visited Beijing in early November, discussed the possibility of Premier Li visiting Australia in the coming year. Additionally, he urged Xi to lift remaining trade restrictions on Australian products. China is Australia’s largest trading partner, and diplomatic relations faced challenges in 2020 due to economic pressures imposed by Beijing.

Australia’s change in leadership has led to a thaw in relations, with China removing most restrictions since Albanese assumed office in May 2022.

Madhya Pradesh: Political fight between two groups in Jabalpur portrayed online as an attack on Sikhs

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Political fight between two groups in Jabalpur portrayed online as an attack on Sikhs

On Friday (17th November), a video of a confrontation between two groups was falsely presented as a hate crime against the Sikh community by a Hindu mob.

The incident reportedly took place in Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh. A Sikh man in a scooter was assaulted by a group of men, the video of which went viral on social media.

Prominent fake news peddlers attempted to give a communal spin to the incident. “Sikh was attacked by a Hindu mob…Nobody is safe under BJP ruled government unless he is a BJP supporter,” claimed Islamist X handle ‘RheA’.

Screengrab of the tweet

Another Islamist claimed, “First Muslim, then Dalit and now Sikh.”

Screengrab of the tweet

“Madhya Pradesh – Sikh attacked by Hindu mob in Jabalpur. While raising religious slogans, people badly beat up a person from the Sikh community,” tweeted one ‘mdirfan997’.

Screengrab of the tweet

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also amplified the incident and asked the Madhya Pradesh Police to take action.

The Truth about the Incident

Contrary to claims on social media, the scuffle took place between a politician (the Sikh man seen in the video) and members of the opposite political party during Vidhan Sabha polling in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. There was no ‘communal angle’ in the incident.

Secretary of the Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA), Tejinder Singh Renu, informed, “A video circulated widely on social media (screenshots shared) is from Jabalpur; but it has nothing to do with #Hindu #Sikh enmity.”

“Yesterday there were elections in Madhya Pradesh and this incident happened in the Madan Mahal area. The Sikh man being thrashed is a political leader of the area and the men beating him mercilessly are from another political party,” he added.

Tejinder Singh Renu pointed out how the mob attacked one man and not other Sikhs in the vicinity. “The level of Political rivalry getting so low is extremely saddening. Please do not spread lies of Sikh Hindu enmity,” he concluded.

It’s high time to shoot and kill Netanyahu without a trial, Hamas not terrorists: Kerala Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan’s shocking comments

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It’s high time to shoot and kill Netanyahu without a trial, Hamas not terrorists: Kerala Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan’s shocking comments

According to veteran Congress leader from Kerala, Rajmohan Unnithan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal who is conducting genocide in Palestine and it is time to shoot and murder him without a trial. The startling remarks were made during an anti-Israel demonstration and gathering hosted by the Kasaragod United Muslim Jama-ath, a group of mosques in and around the town of Kasaragod.

The Lok Sabha member claimed that the Sunni terrorist organisation Islamic Resistance Movement, commonly known as Hamas which is in control of the Gaza Strip, turned to violence in order to defend its people, land and lives. “They are not terrorists. If anyone portrays Hamas as terrorists, it is time to strongly react to them.” The event took place in the vicinity of Kasaragod’s Malik Dinar Mosque which is the country’s second-oldest mosque.

He charged that the United States slaughtered tens of thousands of Arabs or Muslims in Iraq, seventy thousand Muslims in Afghanistan and innocent people in Korea and Vietnam. “But America’s greed for war has not been satiated. That is what we are seeing in Palestine. Those who kill lakhs of people are patriots, but those who kill someone to protect their own land are extremists. If they are extremists, each of us is with the extremists.”

He voiced, “After World War II, something called the Nuremberg trials was used for those engaged in war crimes. In the Nuremberg trials, war criminals were shot dead without a trial. It’s high time a Nuremberg model trial is carried out. Benjamin Netanyahu is standing before the world as a war criminal. It’s high time to shoot and kill Netanyahu without a trial because that’s the level of cruelty he is doing.” He emphasised that punishment should be meted out to individuals who violate every provision of the Geneva Convention.

Mahatma Gandhi made India’s stance on Palestine known prior to the independence. The Kasaragod MP mentioned, “In 1938, Mahatma Gandhi wrote in Harijan magazine that like America is for Americans, England for the English and France for the French, Palestine is for the Palestinians.” India recognised Palestine as a nation under Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister. “At Indira Gandhi’s funeral, I remember Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat sobbing during the funeral procession in Delhi. He said his sister was gone. India had an emotional bond with Palestine.”

He even expressed his displeasure about being an Indian. “Now, I am ashamed to have been born in India. Is our Prime Minister not ashamed to back the US? Today Rishi Sunak, a person of Indian origin is the prime minister of the UK. But I am ashamed of him. The Indian Prime Minister has shamed India by agreeing to become a vassal of the US and the UK.”

He suggested that people worldwide should band together to put an end to the devastation in Gaza. “If the Islamic world comes together, even a speck of Benjamin Netanyahu will not be found. But they are peace-loving people. They have patience and self-restraint. Hamas took up arms because their patience was tested time and again.”

On 23 November, amidst the current Israel-Hamas conflict, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) is scheduled to stage a protest at the Kozhikode beach to express sympathy with the Palestinian people. The anti-Israel assembly is going to be inaugurated by KC Venugopal, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee.

Starling statements by other Islamic leaders at the rally

Twaqa Ahmed Azhari Kasiyarakam, an Islamic scholar and qazi from Keezhur and Mangaluru urged the assembly to ignore anyone who referred to Hamas as a terrorist group. “Jews are one of the most blessed communities in the world. They are known for their intelligence and shrewdness. But they are showing their true colours in Gaza. He prayed to God for the people of Gaza to be granted justice and bravery and for wisdom and protection to be accorded to the Hamas forces. “We should be emotionally involved with them in the war.”

Islamic orator Ahmed Kabeer Baqavi, chairman of the Hamdan Foundation which provides courses on the Quran and the teachings of the Islamic Prophet justified the Holocaust and declared that the killings of women and newborns at the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza explained the reason Nazi Fuhrer Adolf Hitler massacred Jews. “In this evening, if you feel slight respect for a slight moment for Adolf Hitler, the cruellest man the world has seen.”

He added that in addition to Nazi Germany, the US, France, and Hungary also executed thousands of Jews and stressed, “People started killing Jews. Why? Because of their actions.” He proclaimed that Israel was established by the US and the UK to dispose of “waste that washed up on their land.”

He compared Indian freedom fighters Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh’s demand for violent resistance against the British to that of Hamas. He incorporated that Yasser Arafat advocated for nonviolent resistance much like Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi.

K Ali Kutty Musliyar, general secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulamaor, an organisation of Sunni-Shafi’i scholars in northern Kerala was the main speaker and remarked that the fact that women, children and the elderly all attended the rally made the event lovely.

The meeting’s intention, per Kasaragod MLA N A Nellikkunnu who presided over it, was to pray for Gaza. A K M Ashraf, the Majeshwar MLA also spoke briefly and reaffirmed his support for the Palestinian people. Members of the mosques connected to the Kasaragod United Muslim Jama-ath marched in support of the Gazans from Pullikkunnu to Malik Dinar Nagar before the meeting.

Israel Hamas War

There have been thousands of deaths in the Israel-Hamas conflict which entered Day 43. War erupted when Hamas attacked Israel murdering civilians everywhere they went, including inside houses. The Israeli army has begun attacking the Gaza Strip and certain areas of Palestine in retaliation. Israeli police announced on 18 November that at least 364 people had been killed at the Nova music festival on 7 October by Hamas terrorists.

UP: FIR filed against several companies for selling products with fake Halal certificates, reports claim Yogi govt may ban Halal certification

OpIndia Staff
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UP: FIR filed against several companies for selling products with fake Halal certificates, reports claim Yogi govt may ban Halal certification

On Saturday, November 18, the Uttar Pradesh police registered an FIR against several companies selling “Halal certified” products using forged documents. It has also been reported that the CM Yogi Adityanath-led state government is contemplating a ban on Halal certification in the state.

On the complaint lodged by an Aishbagh resident named Shailendra Kumar Sharma, an FIR has been registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj Kotwali against companies named Halala India Private Limited Chennai, Jamiat Ulema Hind Halal Trust Delhi, Halal Council of India Mumbai and Jamiat Ulema in Mumbai. These companies were selling products such as bathing soaps, spices, snacks, dairy and garments with fake Halal certifications. Lucknow Police has registered against the accused under sections 120b/153a/298, 384, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 505 of IPC. The police are investigating the matter.

The complainant alleged that the accused companies were giving fake Halal certificates to companies belonging to Muslims in exchange for money to increase their sales, encashing the religious sentiments of Muslims. These certificates are issued without complying with the prescribed standards and in violation of law. Complainant Shailendra Sharma expressed his apprehension that the profit earned in crores through this fake Halal certification conspiracy is being used in funding terror activities of terror outfits and anti-national groups.

“An anti-social conspiracy is being hatched against a particular religious community and their products. Halal certificate is being given even for the sale of vegetarian products like cosmetics, oil, soap, toothpaste, honey etc. whereas no such certificate is required for vegetarian items,” the FIR stated.

Meanwhile, media reports are claiming that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is mulling over banning Halal certification in the state. It is pertinent to note that the government has not issued any statement in this regard.

About Halal

The term Halal is used for products, services or systems which are considered lawful (Tayeib) or permissible under the Islamic Shariah law that do not consist of or contain any part that is considered unlawful (haram) according to Islamic law, and/or the actions permitted by Shariah law without punishment imposed on the doer.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah defends son Yathindra in ‘cash for posting’ scam, demands public apology from HD Kumaraswamy for allegations

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah defends son Yathindra in ‘cash for posting’ scam, demands public apology from HD Kumaraswamy for allegations

The ‘cash for posting’ scam has created a massive political row in Karnataka where Congress, its chief minister Siddaramaiah, and his son Yathindra have been put on the backfoot over their alleged involvement in the scam. The CM has now jumped in to defend his MLA son after the controversy broke, and targeted the opposition for making false charges against them.

Siddaramaiah called the former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy “desperate for attention.” The Karnataka CM stated, “Medically it is termed as Histrionic Personality Disorder. Better to address it soon than never.” He argued that the Janta Dal Secular president had mastered the art of conspiracy theories.

“With just the name of ‘Vivekananda’, he is trying to fabricate stories. We had issued a clarification that the phone call was about the development of schools using CSR funds and had released the document also. The document which was released was signed off by Mysuru Taluk BEO Vivekananda. Conversation over the phone was about this Vivekananda who had signed off the list of schools for development”, Siddaramaiah said.

The CM said that multiple individuals can share the same name and put forth an example to further prove his point. “Former BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy was sentenced in a cheque bounce case. Did we say it was H D Kumaraswamy,” he questioned and added, “When Kumaraswamy ridiculed himself by calling ‘Yellidyappa Nikhil’ did everyone with the name Nikhil answer Kumaraswamy?”

Siddaramaiah further asked the JDS leader to apologise and remarked, ” There is still a chance for Kumaraswamy to accept his mistake and publicly apologise for his failed attempt. Instead of building up on lies, he should end it with an apology.”

Opposition attacks Siddaramaiah and Yathindra

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Janta Dal Secular joined forces to attack the Congress and dubbed CM’s son Yathindra as the “shadow chief minister.” The BJP called the chief minister a liar and asked, “Why was Vivekananda, who was heard on the phone call transferred immediately? It has been proven that the shadow CM told you over the phone that only the five names given by him should be considered which is related to the transfer scam. Need more evidence that the transfer business is rampant in the state?”

BJP demanded an inquiry into the clip and remarked, “CM Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s interference is going on everywhere in the state Congress government. It has been witnessed by our own eyes. Legal action should be taken regarding this. The viral video should be investigated and Siddaramaiah should resign as CM.”

HD Kumaraswamy already sought the resignation of the Congress chief minister and voiced, “Shame on you.” He pointed out, “This video clip is proof that the job posting for money ‘cash for posting’ scam has been going on in Karnataka uncontrollably and shamelessly. Karnataka Congress Government recovery business has come to the fore. The Karnataka collection king father and collection prince son have changed the Chief Minister’s Office into an extortion office. This has happened in the open, and one can guess what is happening behind closed doors.”

What is cash for posting’ scam

The accusation against Siddaramaiah’s son first surfaced when HD Kumaraswamy posted a clip on social media in which Yathindra can be heard stating, “Hello Appa (Father), Vivekananda! To where? No, I didn’t give that. Give it (phone) to Mahadeva. I had given only five. Mahadeva, why are you giving something? Who has given that? Nothing but whatever 4-5 I have given that alone should be done.” However, the Chief Minister responded by countering that Kumaraswamy had manufactured assertions based on a phone conversation he had with his son over the Varuna constituency.

Elon Musk warns of suspension from X for calls of genocide, says using terms like ‘from the river to the sea’ implies genocide calls

OpIndia Staff
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Elon Musk warns of suspension from X for calls of genocide, says using terms like ‘from the river to the sea’ implies genocide calls

On Saturday (18th November) X owner Elon Musk reiterated that the use of terms like ‘from the river to the sea’ implies genocide and using such terms may result in the suspension of X accounts. Notably, ‘from the river to the sea’ is a part of the full slogan ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. This refers to the land between the Jordan River, which forms the border between Israel and Jordan, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Elon Musk agreed that this slogan essentially means a call for genocide of the Jewish people living in Israel.

Elon Musk was replying to evolutionary biologist Colin Wright’s X post dated 15th November in which Wright said, “Decolonization is the woke version of jihad, and it should be viewed and treated that way. Remember, when Hamas terrorists were slaughtering Israeli civilians in the name of jihad on October 7, we were told by the woke that “this is what decolonization looks like.” When they tell us decolonization looks like jihad, we should believe them.”

In his response to this, Elon Musk wrote on 16th November, “Yes, “decolonization” necessarily implies a Jewish genocide, thus it is unacceptable to any reasonable person.”

Elon Musk reiterated this on 18th November and posted, “As I said earlier this week, “decolonization”, “from the river to the sea” and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide. Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension.”

Explaining his stand further in one of his replies to comments on this post, Elon Musk wrote, “I am sticking to my principles! As for any fake advocacy groups who seek to suppress free speech, they should remember that karma is real.”

In a separate post on 18th November, Elon Musk said, “At the risk of stating the obvious, anyone advocating the genocide of any group will be suspended from this platform.”

Elon Musk, the proprietor of X, has recently faced controversy over a series of remarks that have been labelled as antisemitic by several organisations, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Musk drew criticism for endorsing an antisemitic post on X, wherein some accusations were made, alleging that Jewish individuals were promoting hatred against white people. “You have said the actual truth,” stated Musk, while posting from his personal account on X.

What is the meaning of the contentious slogan ‘From the River to the sea’?

The phrase “From the river to the sea” is a condensed version of the complete slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. It specifically alludes to the territory situated between the Jordan River, marking the eastern border of Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

People raising this slogan want the land between the two boundaries to be free of Jewish people. They want the entire land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea to be Palestine, which means they want the elimination of the state Israel. This is clearly a call of genocide of Jews, essentially another Holocaust.

Image Source: Britannica Encyclopedia for Kids

Elon Musk has expressed the view that this slogan could be interpreted as advocating for the elimination of the Jewish population residing in Israel. He has therefore called it a call for ethnic cleansing of Jews living there.

The Islamist ideology behind the slogan ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ is often seen as an intent of genocide. In 1966, Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian leader and father of the country’s current dictator, stated, “We shall only accept war and the restoration of the usurped land to oust you, aggressors, and throw you into the sea for good.”

Terrorist outfit Hamas, responsible for the deaths of 1,400 people on 7 October, asserts its rejection of Israel with the statement, “Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea,” as outlined in the organisation’s 2017 constitution.

PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Australia’s Deputy PM Richard Marles, and several Chief Ministers to watch the Cricket World Cup Final in Ahmedabad

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Australia’s Deputy PM Richard Marles, and several Chief Ministers to watch the Cricket World Cup Final in Ahmedabad

On Sunday (19th November), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will be watching the Cricket World Cup 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat government confirmed on Saturday (18th November). 

According to official confirmation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a host of other Central Ministers and Chief Ministers, including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, will also be attending the much-awaited final on Sunday.  

Confirming the same, Gyanendra Singh Malik, Police Commissioner of Ahmedabad said, “Indian PM (Narendra Modi) will come to watch the Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia (tomorrow).”

The City Commissioner added that the PM will be accompanied by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah while several Ministers and Chief Ministers will also be in attendance for the finals. 

During the press conference, the commissioner urged cricket fans attending tomorrow’s game between India and Australia to use the Metro for transportation. He added that security measures are being heightened due to the arrival of VIP dignitaries, aiming to prevent traffic congestion. Over 100,000 spectators are anticipated at the venue tomorrow.

Additionally, taking to X, the Gujarat CM posted, “Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia as well as dignitaries including Central Government Ministers and Chief Ministers of other states are also expected to come to Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium to watch this final match.” 

Meanwhile, the Surya Kiran aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force will showcase a spectacular air show above the stadium ahead of the match. The Indian Air Force team has conducted rehearsals for the past two days. Additionally, various artists will deliver special performances before and during the match.

Seen as cricket diplomacy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Australian PM Anthony Albanese were in attendance on the opening day of the fourth Test match between India and Australia in March, this year.

“We will do what happened on October 7th again and again”: Muslim student threatens Jewish students in Ireland’s University College debate on Palestine

OpIndia Staff
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“We will do what happened on October 7th again and again”: Muslim student threatens Jewish students in Ireland’s University College debate on Palestine

On 17th November (Friday), the University College debate in Ireland’s capital Dublin on the ongoing Palestine conflict witnessed chaotic scenes with some Muslim students shouting down Jewish students and reportedly threatening them of large-scale violence. Several videos of the chaotic debate have gone viral on the internet. Many X users while sharing the anti-semitic incident asserted that the pro-Palestine students gave threats that they will repeat the horrific terror attacks of 7th October against Israel again and again while chanting “Allahu Akbar”, as can be heard from the viral videos.

Notably, the incident unfolded during a debate hosted by the University’s Literary & Historical Society. The topic of the debate was “This House believes that the West has failed Palestine.” Initially, it was a three-on-three debate but after hours of confusion it became one-on-one with Richard Boyd Barrett hailing from People Before Profit debating against Natasha Hausdorff of UK Lawyers for Israel. 

Hours before the debate, two people who were supposed to advocate against the motion pulled out of the debate. As a debater supporting Palestine’s cause was Ibrahim Halawa who was supposed to debate alongside Boyd Barrett. Halawa who hails from Firhouse in Dublin, was arrested during a protest in 2013 for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood’s (announced terror outfits by many countries) Mohamed Morsi. Halawa spent more than four years in various Cairo jails before being exonerated by an Egyptian court. 

Meanwhile, pro-Israel commentator Mark Humphrys had to back out to allow the debate to be held in one-on-one format as Natasha Hausdorff refused to debate considering Halawa’s past record. 

In several videos circulating on social media, some people can be heard shouting “get out” while many attendees are seen being escorted out of the Fitzgerald Chamber where the debate was being held.

In these videos, a man can also be heard repeatedly shouting Allahu Akbar and making aggressive gestures, which prompted the security to intervene. In an audio recording with unclear quality, there appears to be a verbal confrontation involving him and another female student. Some individuals, who have shared videos related to the incident, claim that the targeted student is of Jewish descent. However, due to the audio’s ambiguity, the exact verbal exchange could not be established.

However, an Irish NGO supporting Israel wrote, “Our speaker Natasha Hausdorff managed to give a very informative talk about Israel at a debate last night at University College Dublin before it descended into chaos when a man in the the audience began to shake his fist and shout ‘Alahu Akbar’ at an Israeli student present.”

It added, “These are clearly shocking images. Past the chaos you can clearly hear a man proudly shouting at a Jewish student, ‘we will do what happened on October 7 AGAIN and AGAIN Allah hu akbar!’ ”

However, she responded to the hecklers saying “I have only love for everyone, Jews, Muslim, do you have for me?” 

The Literary & Historical Society stated that the event had been “controlled at all times” but the post-debate Q&A finished early “due to active crowd interjections at the end” because it was difficult for speakers to be heard. “We understand that ‘chaos’ sounds better in a headline, but in reality there were simply some crowd interjections towards the end,” the L&H was quoted saying by Irish media The Journal.

Israel Hamas war

It is important to note that on 7th October thousands of Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel killing more than 1,200 while maiming thousands and taking more than 250 Israeli and foreign nationals as hostages to Gaza. The scale of brutality was the largest in the Independent history of Jewish nation which coincidentally has triggered a vicious cycle of anti-semitism throughout the world especially in ‘ivy league’ Universities and colleges. 

In its retaliation, Israel has been carrying out ground operation in Northern Gaza in what is has called as an operation to “dismantle” the terror infrastructure of Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.   

‘Congress most corrupt party, responsible for Sikh massacre’: Social worker Jaspreet Kaur refuses to accept Indira Priyadarshini Award given by Youth Congress

OpIndia Staff
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‘Congress most corrupt party, responsible for Sikh massacre’: Social worker Jaspreet Kaur refuses to accept Indira Priyadarshini Award given by Youth Congress

On Friday (17th November), Delhi-based young social worker Jaspreet Kaur refused to take the Indira Priyadarshini Award given by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) which is the youth wing of the Congress party. She shared this information from her X handle along with the screenshots of the email sent to her by the IYC national president Srinivas BV. Jaspreet Kaur runs an NGO named ‘Tejas for Change Foundation‘ in Delhi. Through her NGO, she works for poor, underprivileged, and disabled children and youth.

Jaspreet Kaur wrote in her X post, “I refuse to take Indira Priyadarshini Award as it’s from Indian Youth Congress, the most corrupt party and of course the ones who are responsible for Sikh massacre!”

The mail she received read, “Dear Awardees. We take this opportunity to inform you that the Indian Youth Congress has called for the “INDIRA PRIYADARSHINI AWARD” on November 18th, 2023 from 11:00 AM onwards at Jawahar Bhawan, New Delhi.. You are kindly requested to spare your valuable time to attend the program and grace the occasion with your presence to guide, inspire and motivate the members of Youth Congress.”

Screenshot of the email received by Jaspreet Kaur. Image Source: X handle of Jaspreet Kaur

In an interaction with OpIndia, Jaspreet Kaur said, “I run my NGO named the ‘Tejas for Change Foundation’ in Delhi. One of my acquaintances also runs an NGO in Delhi. I was connected to him. He had told me that he wished to suggest my name for this Indira Priyadarshini Award. At that time, I did not know that this award was given by the Congress party.”

She further said, “Yesterday (17th November), I received an email at around 9:20 p.m. from a Congress email ID where I knew that the Congress party gives this award. I immediately refused to take this award. In the mail I received, there are approximately 14 to 15 other co-recipients of this award mentioned in the mail list. I do not know them. All they told me was that ‘your work and presence will inspire and motivate Congress workers’. I do not have any idea about this award other than this. I rejected it the moment I read the name Congress.”

Jaspreet Kaur is a graduate in journalism and mass communication. She also teaches the French language. She heads the ‘Tejas for Change Foundation’. It was established in Delhi in December 2022 and started its ground operations in April 2023. This NGO works for disabled children and underprivileged youths through various activities to enhance their participation in sports and to support their education.

Jaspreet Kaur said, “I know of the Congress party looking at the way they committed the genocide of Sikhs in 1984. Had I accepted this award from that party, it would be a disgraceful act towards my entire Sikh community. I don’t want to take anything from Congress at any cost.”

She added, “Many people are trolling me for this on social media. They are saying that I rejected the award because I am from the BJP. The fact is that I would never take this award in any case – whether I support a particular party or I do not support it. I am not affiliated with the BJP. But the trollers are picking up my old tweets (posts on X), screenshots of the posts, and photos. I do not belong to any party.”

Detailing more about the reasons for getting trolled, she said, “I attended a program in the campaign ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’. It was held at the Shivaji College. I was invited there as a guest NGO member. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga Ji was also present there. He is politically active. I am not. But just because I was seen in a photograph with someone like him, people started claiming that I am from the BJP. I don’t hold any post in the BJP. I support some of their policies – that is true. But I am not a BJP member.”

The Indira Priyadarshini Award is given by the Indian Youth Congress to young individuals who have made contributions to society in various fields such as social work, education, arts, culture, and sports. The award was instituted in 1995 and is given annually. Jaspreet Kaur has called Congress the most corrupt party and held it responsible for the 1984 Sikh massacre while rejecting this award.

Ajit Anjum gets almost manhandled for forcing women voters to give reactions during voting for MP assembly elections, video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Ajit Anjum gets almost manhandled for forcing women voters to give reactions during voting for MP assembly elections, video goes viral

On Friday (17th November), Madhya Pradesh underwent voting for the state assembly elections. During this, a video of anti-Modi propagandist Ajit Anjum went viral wherein he was almost manhandled for forcing women voters to give reactions. The incident took place near a polling booth in Dimni in the Muraina district of Madhya Pradesh where Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is contesting the assembly election.

In this video, Ajit Anjum is seen forcing the voter women repeatedly to answer his questions like whom they have given their vote, whose government they want in the state, etc. When a woman came out of the polling booth but did not respond to his queries, Ajit Anjum took a brief run to the two other women who left the booth earlier. Ajit Anjum followed the women in a nearby lane and started forcing them to answer to his questions. At this point, a man approached him from behind and angrily asked Ajit Anjum why he was forcing the women to talk when they were not willing to answer him.

Moments before he followed these women, another woman from the polling booth was complaining about some fake voting in the polling booth. However, when Ajit Anjum asked about whom did she vote, the woman said nothing.

Ajit Anjum is known for his anti-Modi and anti-BJP bias. Previously, he has been trolled on social media for incorrectly predicting BJP’s loss in various assembly elections including the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections where Yogi Adityanath became the chief minister of the biggest state in the country with a clear majority to BJP for the second time in a row.

Even in the current elections, Ajit Anjum roamed around at various places in Madhya Pradesh and made videos in his attempt to establish a narrative that people in the poll-bound states are not willing to vote BJP to power. However, on many such occasions, he has fallen flat on his face. In the current incident, he was almost manhandled for insisting women give answers against their will.

On Friday (17th November), Madhya Pradesh conducted elections to choose representatives for its 230-seat Assembly, while Chhattisgarh held the second and final phase of elections for its 70-seat Assembly. Madhya Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 71.26% till 5 p.m. while Chhattisgarh saw 68.15% of voters cast their votes in the second phase.

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