Home Blog Page 1638

‘If not Rabri then should I make your wife the CM’: Lalu Yadav launches personal attack on Union Minister Nityanand Rai

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘If not Rabri then should I make your wife the CM’: Lalu Yadav launches personal attack on Union Minister Nityanand Rai

On Tuesday, 14th November, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav attended the Govardhan Puja ceremony organised at the ISKCON temple in Patna, Bihar. On this occasion, Lalu Prasad Yadav lashed out at the BJP and its leaders, including the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Ram Kripal Yadav.

“If not Rabri Devi then should I have made your wife the CM,” the RJD supremo took a dig at the Union Minister accusing him of plotting ways to become the Bihar CM.

Lalu’s reaction came after Nityanand Rai, during the “Yaduvanshi Milan Samaroh” event organised by BJP on the occasion of Govardhan Puja, questioned what work the RJD did for the upliftment of the Yadav community during its 15 years in power. Notably, Rai cited the recently released report of the caste survey which stated that less than 2 per cent of the OBC group’s total population was in government jobs.

The Union Minister had further lambasted Prasad for not entrusting “any Yadav leader within his party” with the CM’s post when the RJD supremo stepped down, faced with imminent arrest in fodder scam cases, and was succeeded by his wife Rabri Devi.

Miffed by the facts stated by the Union minister, Lalu Yadav alleged that Nityanand Rai had first approached him with a request to take him into his party and only after Lalu Prasad turned down his request did he join the BJP. Further hitting out at the BJP, which has frequently mocked Lalu Yadav for doing nothing for the upliftment of women during 15 years of RJD rule in the state except for anointing his wife Rabri Devi on the chief ministerial chair, the RJD chief said that if it hadn’t been for Rabri Devi, RJD party would have ceased to exist and the Nitish Kumar-Tejashwi Yadav alliance government would not have been formed in Bihar.

Lalu Yadav further claimed that if he fielded his son Tej Pratap Yadav in the elections, then Nityanand Rai’s bail would be confiscated. 

RJD president Lalu Prasad, who became the chief minister of Bihar in 1990, had made his wife Rabri Devi the chief minister when he had to go to jail in 1997 in connection with a multi-crore fodder scam case. Her chief ministerial tenure even exceeds that of Lalu Prasad’s seven-year tenure.

Further hitting out at BJP’s ‘Yaduvanshi Milan Samaroh’ that was held at the Bapu Sabhagar auditorium in the city, on the occasion of Govardhan Puja, a festival associated with Lord Krishna whose descendants are the Yadavs, Lalu Yadav accused BJP of creating a rift between the Yadav community.

Lalu, further targeted his former confidant Ram Kripal Yadav, claiming that he in the past ran an unlawful land-grabbing racket. Lalu claimed that Ram Kripal Yadav used his position and clout to illegally usurp properties, including hotels and land from the poor.

Ram Kripal Yadav is a former member of Rashtriya Janata Dal and a close confidant of Lalu Yadav who later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Ram Kripal had quit the RJD before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and won on a BJP ticket from Pataliputra, defeating Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti.

Meanwhile, apart from RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, many leaders including Shivanand Tiwari, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, Minister Surendra Prasad Yadav, Bhola Yadav were present on the stage during the program organised by Shri Krishna Chetna Samiti at the ISKCON temple in Patna, Bihar.

Shahid Afridi, who was laughing at Abdul Razzaq’s vulgar comment against Aishwarya Rai, says he laughed and clapped without listening to what Razzaq said

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Shahid Afridi, who was laughing at Abdul Razzaq’s vulgar comment against Aishwarya Rai, says he laughed and clapped without listening to what Razzaq said

On 12th November, former Pakistani Cricketer Abdul Razzaq made a vulgar comment while drawing a bizarre parallel between marrying Aishwarya Rai and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). After Razzaq’s comment, his fellow ex-cricketers on stage, Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul laughed and clapped in appreciation of Razzaq’s derogatory comment. Now, however, Shahid Afridi has tried to defend himself by saying that he laughed without listening to what Abdul Razzaq said.

During his appearance on Samaa TV, the former Pakistan captain Afridi said, “We were on stage, and Razzaq said something. I didn’t understand, I was just laughing randomly. I knew the mic was in Razzaq’s hand, he would say something, he is very fond of such comments.”

Shahid Afridi further tried to cover up his embarrassment by saying, “After returning home, someone shared the clip with me and then I heard what Razzaq has said. That is when I heard what Razzaq actually said, I laughed randomly on stage. Then I felt strange.”

Afridi further said that he will send a message to Abdul Razzaq and will ask him to say sorry to everyone. Afridi said that it was a bad joke and that nobody should joke about such things, even though he found it hilarious while he was on stage with Abdul Razzaq.

Earlier, Abdul Razzaq, while attending an event at the Karachi Marriott Hotel with former Pakistani crickets who were part of the T20 team that won the 2009 World Cup, ridiculed the intentions of PCB by dragging Indian actress Aishwarya Rai into an uncalled-for statement, reflecting the deep-seated Hinduphobia and misogyny endemic to Pakistan society.

Razzaq said, “If you think that I will get married to Aishwarya (Rai) and then have good and virtuous kids, then that can never happen. So you have to correct your intentions first.”

Razzaq shared the stage with Shoaib Malik, who happens to be married to Indian Tennis star Sania Mirza. Other cricketers present on the stage were Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Misbah Ul-Haq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Kamran Akmal.

‘We are safe’: Labourer trapped inside collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel speaks to son confirming safety of 40 men, SDRF plans to rescue them using 900 mm pipes

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘We are safe’: Labourer trapped inside collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel speaks to son confirming safety of 40 men, SDRF plans to rescue them using 900 mm pipes

The SDRF is leading efforts to rescue 40 workers trapped inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi. Amid the rescue efforts, on 14th November, one of the trapped workers, Gabbar Singh Negi, spoke to his son, confirming their safety.

Speaking to the news agency PTI, Negi’s son Akash said, “I was allowed to speak to my father for a few seconds using the pipe through which oxygen is being supplied to the stranded workers.”

“He said they were safe. He asked us not to worry as the company is with them,” Akash added. Akash was also accompanied by his uncle Maharaj Singh Negi at the accident site when he spoke to his father.

Rescue teams have effectively established communication with the workers using Walkie-Talkies. While the initial contact was made through a note on a piece of paper, the rescuers later succeeded in establishing a connection using radio handsets.

According to Maharaj Singh Negi, he convinced the policemen who were initially reluctant to let them talk with those trapped inside. Negi added that when he convinced the inspector that hearing from a relative would comfort the stranded labourers as well as the concerned family members, and strengthen their hope for a safe rescue, the policeman relented and he sent Akash to speak to his father. 

Maharaj Singh Negi added that the authorities told him not to worry as the tunnel was unclogged. They added that it is empty 2 kms beyond the point where the labourers are trapped. 

The officials said, “A part of the tunnel being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway caved in on Sunday morning (12th November) following a landslide.”

Meanwhile, the officials added that rescue workers on Tuesday (14th November) began the process of inserting wide steel pipes through the rubble of the collapsed under-construction tunnel on the Chardham route to bring out the 40 labourers trapped inside for two days now.

The rescue plan involves pushing through 900-mm diameter sections of mild steel pipes one after the other into the debris using drilling equipment. The width is wide enough for the trapped men to squeeze through, by boring a hole into the heap of debris. 

(The 900 mm wide pipes will facilitate the construction of a passageway for rescuing the trapped workers from the tunnel, Image Source – India Today)

The aim is to establish an escape passage for the workers. Officials have ensured that the workers are secure and receiving essential supplies such as oxygen, water, food packets, and medicines through tubes. 

A Disaster response official said, “They have a buffer of around 400 metres to walk and breathe.” 

Efforts are underway to construct an escape route to reach the workers who are trapped, and the distance is approximately 40 meters. According to officials, they have successfully removed around 21 meters of the slab blocking the tunnel, but there is still a 19-meter passage that needs to be cleared.

(Graphic version of details of Rescue operation, Credits – India Today)

The officials said that a platform is being prepared for an auger machine to drill horizontally, and push the pipes through the debris and evacuate the workers. 

All essential material and machinery required for the daring operation has been transported to the site. Additionally, experts from the irrigation department are now actively participating in the operation.

The 4.5-km tunnel located on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway, connecting Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi, constitutes a significant segment of the Chardham project. Once completed, it would reduce the distance by 26 kms.

Initial reports indicate that a landslide in the area may have caused the collapse, however, officials state that an investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the incident.

‘Nothing new’: Bihar Education Minister after sand mafia tractor mows down a cop and leaves a home guard critical

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Nothing new’: Bihar Education Minister after sand mafia tractor mows down a cop and leaves a home guard critical

On 14th November (Tuesday), a police sub-inspector was allegedly moved down by a tractor transporting sand illegally near Mahulia Tand village in Bihar’s Jamui district. Two people were also injured in the incident, including a home guard. They have been admitted to a hospital. According to the police one home guard who was injured in the incident is said to be critical. 

However, Bihar Education Minister Chandra Shekhar made a shocking and insensitive remark after learning about the incident. Speaking to India Today, he said, “Such incidents are nothing new.” He argued that such incidents keep happening. Such incidents have happened in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in the past, he added. However, the Minister did try to balance it out and added that the accused in the case would be given punishment as per the law.

(Left) Mortal remains of the deceased Bihar cop; (Right) Home guard also injured (Source: Republic)

The deceased inspector has been identified as Prabhat Ranjan, a resident of Siwan district. He was in charge of Garhi Police Station. ”He was rushed to a nearby Hospital where doctors said he was brought dead,” as per police.

The injured home guard has been identified as Rajesh Kumar. “He was admitted to a private clinic in the city where his condition is said to be critical,” police said.

Police said, “Garhi police station in-charge mowed down allegedly by a tractor carrying sand illegally, one Home Guard also injured in the incident in Mahulia Tand village of Jamui district.” They added that upon receiving the word, police officials reached the spot and started investigating the matter.

Following the incident, Jamui SP, Shaurya Suman said that one person named Mithilesh Kumar, who was involved in the incident, was arrested. 

However, the driver of the tractor, identified as Krishna, is absconding. Meanwhile, police officials have seized the tractor and are making efforts to nab the driver. 

Launching a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the killing of a cop by a sand mafia’s tractor, Jamui MP Chirag Paswan stressed that the incident raises questions about his leadership. 

He also asked why no “concrete steps” have been taken against sand smugglers in the state. He further added, “Illegal sand mining is causing people to die by drowning in the river, while uncontrollable vehicles are crushing the security forces”.

After a brief halt during the SC hearing, stubble burning in Punjab is back with a vengeance as Delhi chokes: 1600 fires raging across the state

Anurag
-
0
After a brief halt during the SC hearing, stubble burning in Punjab is back with a vengeance as Delhi chokes: 1600 fires raging across the state

On 13th November, 1,624 incidents of stubble burning were reported in the state of Punjab. A day earlier, on Diwali, that is, 12th November, there were 987 incidents of stubble burning reported in the North Indian state. Interestingly, these incidents had dropped to merely 6 just days back when the Supreme Court of India heard about pollution in Delhi. During the hearing, the apex court categorically blamed stubble burning in Punjab for the poor Air Quality Index in Delhi.

Created by OpIndia. Source: gis-prsc.punjab.gov.in

However, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government, Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi, and other stakeholders, including the media, are hell-bent on giving clean chit to the farmers of Punjab who are choking the people of Delhi with pollution. Instead of controlling the farmers, they blamed Diwali and Hindus for the pollution.

In a previous report, OpIndia explained how AQI in Delhi was better after Diwali was celebrated in full swing by bursting tons of fireworks compared to AQI earlier, which was worse due to stubble burning in Punjab. The report can be checked here.

OpIndia used satellite data from NASA and data provided by the Punjab Government to determine how stubble-burning incidents have dipped and increased between 4th November 2023 and 13th November 2023.

On 4th November, 1,360 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 5th November, 3,230 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 6th November, 2,060 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 7th November, 1,515 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 8th November, 2,003 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. On this day, the Supreme Court of India started hearing matters related to pollution in Delhi.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 9th November, 639 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. On 9th November and 10th November, the apex court categorically blamed stubble burning for the pollution in Delhi. The court asked Punjab to take responsibility and questioned the intentions of the government of Punjab led by AAP as it failed to stop stubble burning.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 10th November, just 6 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. Evidently, the scolding worked for a couple of days as there were only six reported incidents of stubble burning in the state.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 11th November, 104 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. The incidents increased slightly the next day, but it was far from the previous records.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 12th November, 987 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. However, on the morning of Diwali, stubble-burning incidents saw an increase by nine times compared to the previous day.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

On 13th November, 1,624 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. While AAP leaders, especially the environment minister of Delhi, Gopal Rai, blamed Diwali and Hindus for worsening air quality in the national capital, the stubble-burning incidents almost doubled from the previous day in Punjab.

Source: NASA/FIRMS

Based on the wind patterns, it can be observed that the air is currently flowing from Punjab towards Delhi. It is expected that the pollution caused by stubble burning will take a few days to reach Delhi, further deteriorating the air quality index (AQI). Diwali would have already passed by the time this happened, and the AQI data indicates that the air pollution was not as severe as it was when stubble burning was affecting it before the rains.

Source: Windy

In such a scenario, it raises the question as to whom Gopal Rai and others would hold responsible for the deteriorating air quality. In most probability, it will be Diwali and Hindus who will get the blame. Farmers, on the other hand, will once again get a free pass. They will keep burning stubble and choke the people of Delhi without any fear of the law of the apex court.

‘Being in the army is worse than being on OnlyFans’: Ex-pornstar Mia Khalifa reshares her old remark, leaves Netizens fuming

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Being in the army is worse than being on OnlyFans’: Ex-pornstar Mia Khalifa reshares her old remark, leaves Netizens fuming

Former pornstar Mia Khalifa has come under fire on social media after she reposted her year-old comment in which she stated that “being in the army is worse than being on OnlyFans”. On Saturday, November 11, the former adult actor took to X, formally Twitter, to repost the clip from the late-night talk show Ziwe in the US in which she appeared in July 2022.

Last year while speaking on the talk show, Khalifa said, “So we have OnlyFans, and then we have the sex work industry, and then we have like actors. Is there a difference between these industries or are we all fundamentally selling our bodies in some way?” asked host Ziwe Fumudoh. Mia Khalifa replied, “Honestly, I think that selling your body, like if we are going by that definition, being in the army is worse than being on OnlyFans. You’re selling your body to the government.”

She reshared the old clip while responding to a post from comedian Marcella Arguello.

On November 11, the comedian took to X to share his views on the Isreal-Hamas war. He wrote, “Who else remembers being against the Iraq war and people being like oh wow so you don’t SUPPORT OUR TROOPS?!?! And then having the most dumb conversation about being anti American when you were just anti killing innocent people. Anyway this feels like that.”

Irked by his pro-Israeli and anti-American remark, the ex-pornstar, who has been actively backing Hamas terrorists since the Hamas launched an unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7, reshared the TikTok video on X (formerly Twitter). The clip featured Khalifa delivering her controversial comment, seamlessly transitioning to a shot of a major sitting in a vehicle, visibly perturbed.

Since sharing the old video, the former adult actor has faced sharp criticism from several X users for humiliating the army personnel by making a bizarre comparison.

“Says the woman who is allowed to expose herself for cash based on the freedoms provided by our service members. You’ve never sacrificed a thing for anyone other than yourself. You are a sad excuse for a person,” commented an X user.

“Your selling your body in the army for a Country you believe in. This makes ZERO sense. You are “sacraficing” and offering your ABILITIES to a Country that you want to defend. Not sure what you are defending on Onlyfans with your body or human Ablities,” remarked another user.

PlayBoy, Shapiro fires ex-porn star Mia Khalifa for supporting Hamas terrorists

Mia Khalifa has been extremely active since Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel’s territory.

On Monday (9th October), ‘Playboy’ terminated its relationship with ex-pornstar Mia Khalifa. In a mail to the Playboy Creator Community, the company said that it had terminated all relations with Mia over the “disgusting and reprehensible” comments that she made in the context of Hamas’ attack on Israel. They also shared the letter sent to Mia terminating her contract.

Playboy is not the first one to terminate Mia Khalifa. Earlier, Canadian broadcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro also fired her. In a post quoted by Shapiro, Mia mentioned Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters in Palestine” and urged them to record videos in horizontal format.

Mia Khalifa poked her nose in India’s internal matters

While her support for Hamas terrorists is understandable, as she is Lebanese, it was an eye-rolling moment back in 2021 when she tried to poke her nose into India’s internal matters.

The ex-porn star supported the farmers’ protests in February 2021 and said, “What in the human rights violations is going on? They cut the internet around New Delhi?#FarmersProtest” The former internationally-acclaimed pornstar had also shared a picture of anti-farm law protestors, where one of them could be seen holding a placard saying, “Stop Killing farmers.” On X.

Bollywood toolkit to defame Diwali? Varun Dhawan, Neha Sharma and others share an old post to blame Diwali for pollution in Mumbai and Delhi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bollywood toolkit to defame Diwali? Varun Dhawan, Neha Sharma and others share an old post to blame Diwali for pollution in Mumbai and Delhi

On 14th November, several actors and actresses from Bollywood shared an old post on NDTV to propagate a conspiracy blaming Diwali for poor air quality in Delhi and Mumbai. In a post on 8th November, NDTV shared images of Delhi and Mumbai side-by-side with the caption, “AirQuality in Delhi dipped to ‘Severe’ on Wednesday. Mumbai pollution has also worsened, joining Delhi among the world’s most polluted cities last weekend.”

The actors and actresses, including Varun Dhawan, Fahmaan Khan, Neha Sharma, and Jiya Shankar, shared the story on 14th November, blaming Diwali for the poor AQI. X user Befitting Facts spotted the Instagram stories.

Neha Sharma, who has appeared in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Punjabi films, was among the first who shared the post. In her story, she wrote, “Happy Diwali and now we can’t even breathe…” She failed to comprehend that Diwali was not on 7th November but on 12th November, and the images were from 8th November and not 13th November. Without checking the facts, she went ahead and blamed the Hindu festival Diwali for the poor AQI.

Source: Instagram

Next in the line was Bollywood actor and son of famous Masala film director David Dhavan, Varun Dhavan, who chose not to caption the story. While he stayed on the safer side, he did participate in the campaign that appears to be a part of the anti-Diwali toolkit.

Source: Instagram

Following Neha and Varun’s footsteps, Bigg Boss fame Jiya Shankar shared the post by NDTV with the caption “Happy Diwali”. Though she did not write “we cannot breathe” like Neha, Jiya did blame the Hindu festival Diwali for the poor AQI in Delhi and Mumbai without checking the date of the post by NDTV.

Source: Instagram

Television actor Fahmaan Khan, who is best known for Imlie and Mere Dad Ki Dulhan, shared the story without a caption. Khan also acted in Balaji Telefilms’ erotic web series Gandi Baat in one episode.

Source: Instagram

Curiously, all the above actors shared the same old story, giving an impression that it could be the handiwork of a PR agency that aims to defame Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights, even though the AQI levels in Delhi were much worse a week before on account of stubble burning in Punjab.

While these actors and actresses participated in the campaign against Diwali and Hindus, it is notable that Diwali fireworks did not affect the AQI of Delhi to the level that stubble burning did in the last couple of weeks. Data shows that AQI on the morning following Diwali was almost half of the AQI four days before Diwali, that is, on 8th November, the day these photographs were taken by NDTV photojournalists.

Furthermore, for a couple of days, stubble-burning incidents came down close to 100, but on the day of Diwali and the day after, farmers of Punjab resumed stubble-burning. On 13th November, there were over 1,600 incidents of stubble burning recorded in Punjab.

Anti-Semitic UK leader Jeremy Corbyn, who once referred to Hamas as ‘friends’, received ‘salute’ from the terror outfit in 2019

Dibakar Dutta
-
0
Anti-Semitic UK leader Jeremy Corbyn, who once referred to Hamas as ‘friends’, received ‘salute’ from the terror outfit in 2019

Former leader of the UK’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, courted controversy on Tuesday (14th November) after refusing to call Hamas a terror organisation during an interview with Piers Morgan.

Despite being asked by the journalist several times, the ex-Labour Party politician repeatedly dodged the question. It must be mentioned that Jeremy Corbyn was ousted from the party in 2020 over a row on antisemitism.

However, his tryst with anti-semitism and endorsement of radical terrorist organisations is not a new phenomenon. In 2009, Jeremy Corbyn invited terrorists belonging to the radical Islamic outfits, Hezbollah and Hamas, to the UK Parliament.

During his speech on that occasion in London, he was heard saying, “Tomorrow evening it will be my pleasure and my honour to host an event in Parliament where our friends from Hezbollah will be speaking. I’ve also invited friends from Hamas to come and speak as well…”

“The idea that an organisation that is dedicated towards the good of the Palestinian people and bringing about long-term peace and social justice and political justice in the whole region should be labelled as a terrorist organisation by the British government is really a big, big historical mistake,” he had emphasised.

Jeremy Corbyn was aware of the terror antecedents of Hamas and Hezbollah

The former UK Labour Party leader did not have any qualms before calling the terrorists ‘friends’ and even invited them to the Parliament. Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Islamic terror outfit, had carried out a deadly attack on Israel just 3 years ago in 2006, which resulted in a 34-day war.

As such, Jeremy Corbyn was well aware of the terror antecedents of Hezbollah when he claimed that it was dedicated to the cause of the Palestinian people. Similarly, Hamas has been designated as a terror organisation by the United States since 1997.

It has been governing the Gaza Strip since 2006 and has carried out several rocket and suicide bombing attacks on Israel. Jeremy Corbyn chose to ignore all of it and hail the terrorists as ‘friends.’

Jeremy Corbyn defended ‘friends’ remark, cited token apology under pressure

In a TV interview with British media ‘Channel 4’ in July 2015, Jeremy Corbyn attempted to contextualise and rationalise his choice to label Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists as ‘friends.’

“I’m saying that people I talk to, I use it in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk…I welcomed our friends from Hezbollah to have a discussion and a debate, and I said I wanted Hamas to be part of that debate. I have met Hamas in Lebanon and I’ve met Hezbollah in this country and Lebanon,” he was heard defending his 2009 remarks shamelessly.

He later tried to do ‘damage control’ and claimed that he did not agree with Hamas and Hezbollah. “What it means is that I think to bring about a peace process, you have to talk to people with whom you may profoundly disagree,” he had claimed then.

The former Labour Party leader had a sudden change of heart in 2016. During his testimony before the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee on rising anti-Semitism in the UK, he issued a token apology for his remarks made 7 years earlier.

“No. It was inclusive language I used which with hindsight I would rather not have used. I regret using those words, of course,” he claimed after coming under fire from all corners over the mainstreaming of anti-semitism within the Labour Party.

When Hamas returned the favour

Jeremy Corbyn happens to be one of the few leaders in Europe who have been endorsed by the likes of Islamic terrorists. 10 years after the former Labour Party leader called Hamas ‘friends’, they returned the favour in May 2019.

“We have received with great respect and appreciation the solidarity message sent by the British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to the participants in the mass rally,” Hamas issued a statement.

“We also salute Mr Jeremy Corbyn for his principled position in rejecting the so-called Trump plan for the Middle East,” the Gaza-based terrorists added.

As such, it makes perfect sense why the former Labour Party leader refused to dub Hamas as terror organisation during his interview with Piers Morgan.

Sand mafia tractor carrying sand illegally mows down cop in Bihar, leaves a home guard critical

ANI
-
0
Sand mafia tractor carrying sand illegally mows down cop in Bihar, leaves a home guard critical

A police Inspector was allegedly moved down by a tractor transporting sand illegally near Mahulia Tand village in Bihar’s Jamui district.

According to the police one home guard who was injured in the incident is said to be critical.

The deceased inspector has been identified as Prabhat Ranjan, a resident of Siwan district.”He was rushed to a nearby Hospital where doctors said he was brought dead,” as per police.

The injured home guard has been identified as Rajesh Kumar. “He was admitted to a private clinic in the city where his condition is said to be critical,” police said.

“Garhi police station in-charge mowed down allegedly by a tractor carrying sand illegally, one Home Guard also injured in the incident in Mahulia Tand village of Jamui district,” police said.

Upon receiving the word, police officials reached the spot and started investigating the matter, they said. More details are awaited. (ANI)

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

Makers of the film ‘Pippa’ apologise after facing backlash over AR Rahman’s rendition of ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Makers of the film ‘Pippa’ apologise after facing backlash over AR Rahman’s rendition of ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’

On 13th November (Monday), the makers of the recently released film ‘Pippa’ issued a public apology in regards to the controversy surrounding AR Rahman’s rendition of ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’, originally written by Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The production house of the film, Roy Kapur Films took to their official Instagram handle to issue a public apology and clarified their stance over the entire episode.  

In their official response, the makers of the biographical war drama film claimed that their rendition was a “sincere artistic interpretation” that was done after “securing the necessary adaptation rights” from the late poet’s estate. Stating that if their rendition hurt the sentiments and caused distress they tender a sincere apology. 

Notably, music composer AR Rahman received criticism for his rendition of Nazrul Islam’s popular patriotic song ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’. After reportedly securing adaptation rights, AR Rahman recreated his own version of the song for the movie Pippa which was criticised by many including prominent Bengalis and Bangladeshi personalities like Chandra K Bose, Grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who called the “distortion of the revolutionary song an act of sacrilege”.

Similarly, Author Taslima Nasreen also pointed out that AR Rahman changed the music of the “Bengali legendary poet”. Anandbazar Online in its report quoted Bengali music director Devjyoti Mishra, reportedly a friend of AR Rahman, who called the reworked song a “nightmare”. 

The patriotic song against the British Raj was written by Kazi Nazrul in June 1922 at the request of freedom fighter Chittaranjan Das’s wife. The original tune is like a marching song whereas Rahman’s version sounds instrumental, melodious, and playful.

Further, Pippa makers in their statement added that they have deep respect for the original composition and for the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam. The makers said that Nazrul Islam’s contribution to the musical, political, and social landscape of the Indian subcontinent is immeasurable. 

On their part, they created this album as a tribute to the men and women who dedicated their lives to the liberation of Bangladesh and keeping in mind the sentiments of their struggle for freedom, peace, and justice, the statement added.

They argued that during the making of this rendition, they faithfully followed both the letter and the spirit of the license agreement for the lyrics, as duly signed with the Late Mrs. Kalyani Kazi and witnessed by Mr. Anirban Kazi.

Nonetheless, the makers stressed that they offer sincere apologies if their interpretation has ‘hurt sentiments’ or caused unintended distress. 

“We understand the emotional attachment that audiences may have to the original composition, and while all art is inherently subjective if our interpretation has hurt sentiments or caused unintended distress, we offer our sincere apologies,” the statement concluded.

The Film ‘Pippa’ starring Ishaan Khatter and Mrunal Thakur, was released on Amazon Prime Video on 10th November. It is based on real-life events that took place during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which led to the birth of Bangladesh. It has based the story on the book ‘The Burning Chaffees’ by Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta.

Moreover, the movie’s title pays homage to the amphibious war tank, the PT-76 (Palavushi Tanka), nicknamed “Pippa” for its ability to float on water akin to an empty tin of ghee. The film narrates a story of patriotism and traces the coming of age of Captain Balram Mehta (essayed by Ishaan) of the 45 Cavalry Tank Squadron. The film revolves around the valour and bravery of Balram Mehta and the Indian Armed Forces as they engage in a war for the liberation of another country.

1...1,6371,6381,639...7,651Page 1,638 of 7,651