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BSF installs beehives on the India-Bangladesh border fence to curb crimes and generate income for locals

OpIndia Staff
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BSF installs beehives on the India-Bangladesh border fence to curb crimes and generate income for locals

In a unique experiment, the Border Security Force (BSF) has installed beehives on the India-Bangladesh border fence in West Bengal, news agency PTI reported on 5th November (Sunday). This serves multiple purposes, first, it stops instances of cutting the fence for cattle smuggling and illegal immigration, and curbs other crimes. Moreover, it will also generate livelihood for the locals.

Informing about the unique initiative, a senior BSF officer said that the first-of-its-kind initiative was launched recently by the BSF’s 32nd battalion in the border areas of Nadia district. The aim of the initiative is to ensure border security and help the local populace through apiculture, the officer added. 

The India-Bangladesh border is 4,096 kilometres long, and West Bengal makes up approximately 2,217 kilometres of this border. Other states that share borders with Bangladesh are Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

As per the PTI report, BSF has roped in the Ayush ministry for the project. On its part, the ministry has provided the BSF with the beehives and required expertise to fix those on the alloy-made “smart fence”.

It is important to note that the BSF is the designated central force that has been tasked with guarding the India-Bangladesh front. Additionally, the “Vibrant Village Programme” which was launched recently by the Union government aims to ensure all-round development of the far-flung and remotely-located regions on the front. 

The Commandant of the 32nd BSF battalion, Sujeet Kumar has conceptualised the idea. Speaking with PTI, the BSF Commandant said that the force has undertaken the initiative under the Centre’s “Vibrant Village Programme” (VVP). It has gone a step further by requesting the Ayush ministry to provide it with medicinal plants that bear flowers and can be planted around these bee boxes so that the bees can pollinate in abundance, he added.

Kumar said, “The idea of tying beehives to the India-Bangladesh border fence was launched on November 2. The BSF will ensure that these bee boxes are accessible to the locals engaged in apiculture and there has been a very warm response from the villagers to this initiative.” 

According to the officials, the border areas under the South Bengal frontier of the BSF in Nadia district are prone to cross-border crimes like cattle, gold, silver, and narcotics smuggling. There have been instances in the past when miscreants and smugglers have either cut or attempted to cut the fence for their illegal activities, the officials added.

A BSF official asserted that the beehives on the fence will be a deterrent for the smugglers trying to cut the fence as any such attempt will disturb the bees and a swarm attack of the bees can seriously injure them. 

An official, on the condition of anonymity, said that while the exact numbers cannot be disclosed, the bee boxes are being put on the fence using a wooden support frame at regular intervals and in smuggling-prone vulnerable areas. 

The official added that the Ayush ministry has also provided the BSF with saplings of medicinal plants. These include plants like tulsi, ekangi, satmuli, ashwagandha, and aloe vera. The security personnel, along with the locals, are planting these saplings in the border areas.

Additionally, Mustard saplings have also been planted. A public camp was recently held in the Kadipur village of Nadia. At the camp, the locals were informed that the honey that they extracted from these beehives would be sold through the established setup and shops of the BSF Wives’ Welfare Association. The officials added that the profits made from the sale of the honey will go to the locals. 

According to Ayush ministry officials, they learned from the locals that Mango trees in the area do not bear good-quality fruits. But with this new initiative, the Ministry officials told BSF that due to beekeeping in the border area, these (mango) plants could start producing good-quality fruits, which will help increase the income of the villagers.

Honeybees hover above flowers to gather nourishment. In their role as pollinators, they have a vital role in the cultivation of numerous crops essential to nourishing the world’s population. Bees are accountable for pollinating nearly all global crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Quoting Ayush Ministry experts, the officials pointed out that it has been estimated that without bees, global crop yields could decrease by up to 35 percent. 

Nuking Gaza is an option, population should go to Ireland or deserts: says Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, PM Netanyahu and others slam him

OpIndia Staff
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Nuking Gaza is an option, population should go to Ireland or deserts: says Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, PM Netanyahu and others slam him

According to a minister from the Otzma Yehudit party, Israel could deploy a nuclear bomb to attack the Gaza Strip as one of its options in the ongoing war. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu responded, “This is one of the possibilities,” when asked if dropping an atomic bomb on the enclave is a viable option in an interview with Radio Kol Berama.

He is a member of attorney Itamar Ben Gvir’s party and has no influence over the war cabinet that is in charge of waging war against the terrorist organisation Hamas nor does he sit on the security cabinet that makes decisions during times of conflict.

Furthermore, he expressed his opposition to humanitarian assistance entering Gaza throughout the interview and mentioned that “there is no such thing as uninvolved civilians in Gaza” and that “we wouldn’t hand the Nazis humanitarian aid.”

He was in favour of reclaiming the Strip’s land and re-establishing the Israeli community in the region. When asked what would happen to the Palestinian people, he replied, “The monsters in Gaza should find a solution by themselves. They can go to Ireland or the deserts.” He declared that anyone flying a Palestinian or Hamas flag “shouldn’t continue living on the face of the earth” and that the northern strip has no right to exist.

However, his utterances were denounced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Amichai Eliyahu’s words are detached from reality. Israel and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) are acting in accordance with the highest standards of international law in order to prevent harm to uninvolved people, and we will continue to do that all the way to victory,” he conveyed in a statement.

Moreover, opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticised the Heritage Minister and labelled his comments as “a horrifying and insane remark by an irresponsible minister.” He remarked, “He offended the families of the (241 Gaza) captives, offended Israeli society and harmed our international standing. The presence of the extremists in the government endangers us and the success of the war goals, defeating Hamas and returning the hostages.” He urged the Prime Minister to sack him and added, “Netanyahu must fire him this morning.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant characterised Amichai Eliyahu’s words as “baseless” and noted that it’s “good that these aren’t the people in charge of Israel’s security.”

However, the Heritage Minister came to the defence of his controversial comments and dubbed them “metaphorical.” He wrote, “However, a strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely required, which will clarify to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile.”

He stressed that democratic states have no other option but to utilise this approach to combat terrorism. “At the same time, it is clear that the State of Israel is committed to doing everything possible to return the hostages safe and sound.”

Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s proposal to temporarily pause the offensive for humanitarian reasons has been rejected by Israel even during his current visit to the region. Instead, it declared that Hamas was “encountering the full force” of its armed forces.

‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Fu*k Joe Biden’: Islamists raise anti-Semitic slogans during pro-Palestine rally outside White House

OpIndia Staff
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‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Fu*k Joe Biden’: Islamists raise anti-Semitic slogans during pro-Palestine rally outside White House

On Saturday (4th November), thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside the White House in Washington D.C. and vandalised the gates. The unruly protestors painted the White House gates with red paint before attempting to scale the fence around the President’s residence.

The protesting mob raised anti-semitic slogans like “From river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. Moreover, the protestors also raised “Allahu Akbar”, “Fu*k Joe Biden” slogans while accusing the US president of supporting the alleged genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

In a blatant display of hatred for Israel and the Jews, the pro-Hamas protesters chanted, “We don’t want a Jewish state. We want ’48!” referring to the 1948 Arab-Israel War. 

Moreover, the Palestinian flag-yielding mob also vandalised prominent monuments including statues on Saturday. The pro-Palestine protestors covered the General Marquis de Lafayette Statue in nearby Lafayette Park with graffiti and Palestinian flags.

The protesting mob also screamed, “Long live the Intifada,” an Arabic term used to refer to Palestinian struggles, notably conflicts that lasted from 1987 to 1993 and from 2000 to around 2005 and killed thousands.

ANSWER coalition organised the anti-Israel demonstrations

The pro-Palestine protest was organised by “Act Now to Stop War and End Racism or simply the ANSWER coalition. In a press release issued on 3rd November, the ANSWER coalition said that “the US capital is gearing up for the largest mobilization in support of Palestine in the country’s history. Tens of thousands of activists are boarding buses from cities as far as Chicago, Houston, and Tampa to participate in the historic march.”

In another press statement, the ANSWER coalition said that over 450 organizations had endorsed the “National March on Washington”.

While the ANSWER coalition on its website says that at its core the ‘coalition’ includes “a partnership between Arab and non-Arab activists, fought a long and successful battle against excluding the Palestinian struggle for self-determination from the anti-war and peace movement”, the protestors on Saturday raised “From river to the sea, Palestine will be free” slogans.

This slogan has often been projected by Islamists like Rashida Tlaib among others as a slogan of ‘resistance’ and ‘self-determination’ and whatnot, it is said to be inspired by the Arabic slogan “Min il-maya lal maya, Falasteen 3arabiye” which means “From the river to the sea, Palestine is Arab”. This slogan calls for the removal or murder of all Jews from the region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Notably, the US government has been backing Israel in its war against Hamas terrorists. The US House of Representatives approved a bill for $14.3 billion in aid to Israel in its fight against the terrorist group.

Israel has declared at the beginning of the war its intent to eradicate Hamas from Gaza once and for all as it advances further into Gaza targeting terror infrastructure.

Uttarakhand: More than 700 Hindu students taking Islamic education in Madrasas; shocking details revealed in reports submitted to NCPCR

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand: More than 700 Hindu students taking Islamic education in Madrasas; shocking details revealed in reports submitted to NCPCR

In a series of unfolding revelations concerning the operation of madrasas in Uttarakhand, a startling truth has emerged once again. Shockingly, it has been discovered that over 700 Hindu students are currently receiving Islamic education within the state’s madrasas.

A report in this regard has been presented to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights by the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Council. This report has prompted the Commission to address the matter by conveying their concerns to the Uttarakhand government in a formal letter.

When asked for information, Rajendra Singh, director of the Uttarakhand Madarsa Education Council, informed the chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights that 749 Hindu students are studying in 30 madrasas in Uttarakhand. There are a total of 7,399 students in these 30 madrasas.

Of these, 21 madrasas are in Haridwar, 9 in Udham Singh Nagar and 1 madrasa in Goular Ghati Ramnagar of Nainital district. Madrasas are at Jwalapur, Bahadrabad, Laksar, Tilakpuri, Mahawatpur, Roorkee, Mangalore etc. in Haridwar. There are also madrasas in Dak Bungalow Khera, Nai Basti, Laxmipur, Jaspur, Kela Khera in the Bajpur area, Ganeshpura, Mahua Khera of Kashipur etc. in the Udham Singh Nagar district.

There is a lack of government basic secondary education in these areas because government schools here have been closed due to fewer children. All these areas are such that after the formation of the state, they became Muslim-dominated and madrasas started opening here.

Interestingly, the district administrations of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital did not take any initiative to admit these Hindu children to any school under the RTE Act. Apart from the Dehradun and Nainital districts, there are many places where the survey is yet to be done.

In the local madrasas, a significant number of Hindu children are compelled to receive Islamic education. Priyanka Kanungo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, wrote a letter on November 2, 2023, to the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand’s Minority Affairs requesting detailed information on this matter.

The letter sought to understand the underlying reasons why Hindu children are being sent to these institutions. The NCPCR has urged for a comprehensive report to be submitted by November 9, 2023, regarding this issue.

Bharatiya Janata Party state president Mahendra Bhatt said, “Several madrasas have reportedly included the names of Hindu children in their enrollment drive to inflate student numbers and secure increased funding. In light of this, we have engaged in discussions with the chief minister, emphasising the need for stringent measures to be taken, considering the nature of Islamic education being imparted in these madrasas.”

Uttarakhand Madarsa Board Chairman Shamoon Qasmi said, “Primary education is already being provided in madrasas, aligning with the education policy of India, and this is a common practice across most madrasas. Despite the lack of awareness among some individuals, we have still advocated for an investigation to be conducted into this matter.”

He added, “Prompted by a letter from the Commission, we have called for an inquiry to ensure that madrasas are not solely perceived as centres of learning for one religion. Our aim is to promote inclusivity, fostering an environment where not only Muslim children but also Hindu children can receive education. We are actively working towards creating such an inclusive atmosphere.”

Population of Muslims and Yadavs deliberately inflated in Bihar caste survey: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

OpIndia Staff
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Population of Muslims and Yadavs deliberately inflated in Bihar caste survey: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

On 5th November (Sunday), Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government. He accused the Mahagathbandhan government of deliberately inflating the population of Muslims and Yadavs in the recently conducted caste census as part of its “appeasement politics”. It is important to note that Muslims and Yadavs are seen as the core voter bases of RJD and other alliance partners in the opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. 

He said, “Population of Muslims, Yadavs deliberately shown more in Bihar caste survey as part of appeasement politics.” 

He made this remark while addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur district. BJP leader Shah added that the decision to conduct the caste survey in the state was taken when Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) was part of the NDA. 

Lambasting the opposition parties, Shah added, “There are two types of ‘JAM’. For BJP, JAM – Jan Dhan account, Aadhaar, and Mobile. For the Bihar government, JAM – ‘Jativad’ and ‘Parivarvad’, ‘Apradh’, and Minority appeasement. The alliance partners call themselves the well-wishers of backward classes. The decision to conduct the survey was taken when the BJP was a part of Nitish Kumar’s government. Congress always boycotted and opposed the backward society. Whereas PM Modi always respected the backward society.”

However, in 2022, Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) broke ties with the BJP. It soon joined the Mahagathbandhan alliance comprising Congress, RJD, and Left parties.

During his rally, Shah further slammed the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc, of which both JD(U) and RJD are key members. He stressed that the only agenda of the bloc is to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking a jibe at Nitish Kumar, the Home Minister stressed that Nitish Kumar should stop dreaming about becoming the next Prime Minister. The I.N.D.I. alliance did not even make him its convener. He added that the JD(U) leader was responsible for ‘Gundaraaj’ in the state.

The Union Home Minister rebuked RJD supremo Lalu Yadav saying, “RJD and JDU were not in support of removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. He had said that if Article 370 is removed, rivers of blood will flow. Lalu ji, leave the rivers of blood, no one had the courage to throw pebbles.”

Shah slammed the Bihar government adding that these are people running family shops, one wants to become the Prime Minister and the other wants to make his son the Chief Minister.

Senior BJP leader asserted, “I have come to tell both of them, Nitish Babu, leave the Prime Minister, the INDI Alliance people did not even make you the convener. You don’t belong anywhere. Oil and water never come together, they remain separate.” 

Further in his rally, Shah also emphasised that the BJP would win all 40 seats in Bihar in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Karnataka: Woman deputy director of geology department stabbed to death at Bengaluru home, investigation underway

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Woman deputy director of geology department stabbed to death at Bengaluru home, investigation underway

A female government official appointed as deputy director of the Karnataka geology department was hacked to death at her Bengaluru residence on 4 November (Saturday) by unidentified individuals. The deceased had been identified as K S Pratima, a 37 to 43-year-old senior geologist employed by the mines and geology department.

The tragedy happened in Kuvempu Nagar, Doddakallasandra where she lived with her child in a leased home on the first floor of a building. The incident was discovered on the morning of 5 November and was reported to have transpired late on Saturday night after she returned home, according to the authorities.

Her husband was visiting his hometown of Teerthahalli and she was by herself at home when the attack occurred. The incident was brought before Bengaluru’s Subramanya Pura Police Station.

Officials informed that she was strangulated before her throat was slit by the accused. The victim’s brother had called her on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and he went to see her when he didn’t hear back. “When he came to visit, he found the body. We have checked the CCTV at the entrance of the road,” a police officer said.

Suresh, a neighbour of the woman mentioned, “She has been living there for eight years and she was living with her son. This is a rented house. She was doing well with everyone, there were no problems with anyone.”

Rahul Kumar Shahapurwad, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Bengaluru South addressed the media and revealed, “As usual, around 8 pm on Saturday, the deceased Pratima returned home. As she did not respond to phone calls last night and this morning, her elder brother came to her house to check and get to know about her murder. He informed the police.”

He proclaimed, “Forensic and technical teams are at work on the spot. Three teams have been formed for investigation. We will be able to share further information, once we get to know exactly what happened.” He added that there had been no jewellery or valuables taken from her home.

Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah remarked that he would look into the matter further and that the motive for the murder was still unclear. “I just got to know about it. We will inquire into it. It seems that she was staying alone (in Bengaluru), while her husband was in his native village. The reason is not yet known, we will inquire into it.”

Cops noted that efforts are currently being made to track down the attackers and a case has been launched regarding the instance.  They believed that the murder might have been committed by people she knew. According to preliminary assessments, it is assumed that the officer’s death was ordered by those engaged in illicit mining. Police continue to inquire into the matter and a formal statement is still pending.

Karnataka has long been plagued by the threat of unauthorised sand mining. Despite the state government’s promises to take action, illegal mining in coastal areas persists unabatedly.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves Maternity, Child Care and Adoption Leaves for women soldiers, sailors & air warriors in Armed Forces

OpIndia Staff
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves Maternity, Child Care and Adoption Leaves for women soldiers, sailors & air warriors in Armed Forces

On Sunday (5th November), the Ministry of Defence informed that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for an extension of the rules for Maternity, Child Care and Child Adoption Leaves for women soldiers, sailors and air warriors in the Indian Armed Forces tantamount to their officer counterparts.

“With the issuing of the rules, the grant of such leaves to all women in the military, whether one is an officer or any other rank, will be equally applicable,” the Defence Ministry said in its statement.

According to the Defence Ministry, the move is in keeping with Singh’s aim of “inclusive participation” of all women in the armed forces, irrespective of rank.

The statement added that this measure will improve working conditions for women in the military by allowing them to better combine their professional and familial lives.

Notably, women officers currently receive 180 days of maternity leave with full pay for each child, up to a maximum of two children. Women officers are entitled to 360 days of childcare leave during their whole service tenure (if the child is under the age of 18). Moreover, a child adoption leave of 180 days is allowed following the date of the legitimate adoption of a child under the age of one year.

According to the ministry, the three services have spearheaded a paradigm change with the admission of women as soldiers, sailors, and air warriors, in line with the Narendra Modi government’s commitment to utilising “Nari Shakti”.

“From being operationally deployed in Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world to being posted on warships as well as dominating the skies, Indian women are now breaking barriers in almost every field in the Armed Forces,” the statement adds.

Taking to X, the Defence Minister’s office posted, “Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has approved a proposal for extension of the rules for Maternity, Child Care and Child Adoption Leaves for women soldiers, sailors and air warriors in the Armed Forces at par with their officer counterparts. With the issuing of the rules, the grant of such leaves to all women in the military, whether one is an officer or any other rank, will be equally applicable.”

Croatian Foreign Minister tries to kiss German counterpart during EU Conference, gets called out for ‘sexual harassment’

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Croatian Foreign Minister tries to kiss German counterpart during EU Conference, gets called out for ‘sexual harassment’

Croatia’s Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman courted controversy after he was caught awkwardly trying to kiss his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock during a group photo on Thursday (2nd November).

The video of the incident which has gone viral shows the 65-year-old Radman (65) simultaneously reaching out to shake Baerbock’s hand and leaning in trying to kiss her during a photo shoot for the European Union (EU) conference in Berlin.

However, Baerbock (42) politely dodged his attempt and turned her cheek. After the incident, she quickly turned straight towards the cameras before giggling uncomfortably.

When the photo shoot ended, Baerbock stepped away from Grlic Radman. She started talking to someone behind him, while the Croatian politician kept his eyes glued on her, reported the New York Post.

Strikingly, when Radman tried to kiss Baerbock, the remaining dignitaries present at the photo session seemed unfazed by the incident. However, Radman’s act caught the ire of several prominent leaders and social media users who called out his actions calling it shameful and ‘sexual harassment’.

Similarly, prominent women’s rights activists from Croatia also slammed the Croatian Foreign Minister. Croatian activist Rada Boric termed the act “highly inappropriate” adding that “warm greetings” were out of place for the professional relationship.

Speaking with local Croatian outlet Jutarnji List, Boric said, “It’s clear that such a relationship doesn’t exist here and that the (German) minister was left surprised with such closeness.” 

In a post on X, Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor lambasted Grlic Radman without directly mentioning his name or the incident itself. She wrote in Croatian, “Kissing women violently is also called violence, isn’t it?” Additionally, other local outlets also slammed the incident as “sexual harassment.” 

When the controversy escalated, Croatian FM Radman tried to play it down claiming that he was only trying to “warmly” greet his German counterpart. He said, “I don’t know what the problem was. We always greet each other warmly. It is a warm human approach to a colleague.” 

However, the German press agency, DPA reported that he has apologised for his conduct. As per Croatian media, Radman stated, “Maybe it was an awkward moment. If someone saw something bad in it, then I apologise to whoever took it that way.” 

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Baerbock has not commented so far on the uncomfortable display of affection, but officials around her reportedly said Grlic Radman had been late to the photo shoot and yet to say his hellos to the German foreign minister.

Speaking with German outlet Bild, insiders said that the kiss was only a “clumsy attempt to quickly greet each other.” 

Earlier, a similar incident was reported when Spain’s head of soccer Luis Rubiales received severe backlash for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the Women’s World Cup ceremony. She had later said that she was uncomfortable with Rubiales’ actions. Initially, Rubiales defended the smooch but after massive outrage, he apologised publicly and ultimately resigned.

Pro-Khalistani clothing line cancels orders for hoodie with artwork celebrating Indira Gandhi’s assassination, singer Shubh had held it at London concert

OpIndia Staff
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Pro-Khalistani clothing line cancels orders for hoodie with artwork celebrating Indira Gandhi’s assassination, singer Shubh had held it at London concert

On 4th October, Akaal Clothing, a pro-Khalistani clothing line that recently launched a hoodie with artwork celebrating Indira Gandhi’s assassination, announced the cancellation of all orders placed for the item. The controversial garment came to the limelight after Canadian pro-Khalistani singer Shubh held the hoodie in question during his concert in London. The hoodie sparked controversy, and Shubh was criticised on social media for celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

Pro-Khalistani clothing line Akaal Clothing announced cancellation of shipping of hoodie celebrating Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Source: Instagram.

In an Instagram story, the clothing line claimed that as the hoodie got a lot of social media attention, the officials (possibly law enforcement agencies) were apparently looking into it. They wrote, “WJKK WJKF. We deeply regret to inform you all that we’ve had to cancel the “who shot ya” drop due to unforeseen circumstances. The design on the back of the hoodie has drawn a lot of attention, including that of officials. For the safety of our customers and the continuity of our brand, we have cancelled the drop and will issue a full refund to all customers within 72 hours. We will NOT be SILENCED and will come back with a bigger and better drop.” WJKK WJKF’ means ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh’ which is a Sikh slogan.

Source: Instagram

In another story, they claimed another hoodie will be launched soon. “We cannot and will not be silenced. We appreciate all the love we’ve received,” they wrote on Instagram.

The black hoodie has bas the map of Punjab printed on the back. Inside the map, there is an illustration showing the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi by two Sikh bodyguards. Apart from this, a copy of a newspaper report on the assassination is also present inside the image of the map. The date 31/10/1984, the date when Indira Gandhi was shot dead by Khalistanis, is printed below the map.

The front of the hoodie has the logo of the Khalistani clothing line printed on it. The logo is the image of an assault rifle with the word AKAAL written over it.

The Shubh-hoodie controversy

On 29th October (local time), controversial rapper Shubh was seen holding the newly launched hoodie with artwork celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi during his concert in London. The video went viral on social media after several pro-Khalistani accounts shared the video. The hoodie was created by a pro-Khalistani clothing line, Akaal Clothing, that shared the video on their Instagram account as well.

From the video, it appears the hoodie was handed over to Shubh by someone in the audience. He looked at the artwork and then flaunted it towards the crowd. In the pro-Khalistani artwork, the date of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, which was 31st October 1984, was printed. Akaal Clothing is using the controversy around Shubh’s now-cancelled India tour to promote the recently launched hoodie.

Soon after, Shubh issued a statement through his Instagram handle. In his statement, he claimed that several articles and clothes were thrown at him during his performance, and he held up the hoodie without seeing what was on it. It is important to note here that Shubh is not denying that the hoodie indeed had the image glorifying the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

Shubh and distorted map controversy

On 23rd March 2023, Shubhneet Singh alias Shubh posted a story on his Instagram account captioned “Pray for Punjab”, showing a distorted map of India. He posted a photo of the map without the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and North-eastern states. This post was clearly an attempt to challenge the sovereignty of India and peddle the Khalistan narrative. The Canadian singer did this at a time when the Punjab Police was on the lookout to nab Khalistani terrorist Amritpal Singh. Shubh had openly supported Khalistani elements at the time.

In September, he announced his India tour in association with BookMyShow and the tour was sponsored by the Indian brand boAt. As the controversy around the distorted map resurfaced, first boAt stepped back from sponsorship, and later, BookMyShow announced that the concert was cancelled. Leading celebrities, including Indian cricketer Viral Kohli, unfollowed him on Instagram amid the backlash. Short video creating platform Moj also removed his songs.

Shubh and the artist who created the artwork remained silent for a long and spoke only after Shubh’s tour was cancelled. However, by then, it was too late, and people questioned why they remained silent and did not apologise earlier.

Terming India as his country, Shubhneet Singh said his “ancestors and Gurus did not blink an eye” when it came to making sacrifices for the country’s freedom. “India is MY country, too. I was born here. It is the land of my GURUS and my ANCESTORS, who didn’t even blink an eye to make sacrifices for the freedom of this land, for its glory, and for the family. And Punjab is my soul, Punjab is in my blood. Whatever I am today, I am because of being a Punjabi,” he said in a post on Instagram.

Earlier, the artist Inquisitive, who created the distorted map, played the victim and blamed Kangana Ranaut, social media and “powerheads” for the controversy. However, he stood by his creation and released another version of it.

Amandeep Singh claimed that the ‘artwork’ published on 21st March this year aimed at highlighting the blackout in Punjab and merely depicting a policeman taking the switch out of the Punjab region. The artist further mentioned that he did not intend to offend anyone while depicting the northern side of the map as faded or missing; however, he did intend to highlight this area as dark due to the blackout.

Wind not carrying smoke from Punjab to Delhi, only Haryana and UP smoke causing pollution, claims AAP minister Gopal Rai

OpIndia Staff
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Wind not carrying smoke from Punjab to Delhi, only Haryana and UP smoke causing pollution, claims AAP minister Gopal Rai

Even as air pollution in Delhi remains in severe category, AAP leaders refuse to accept that the rampant stubble burning in Punjab is partly responsible for this. On Sunday (5th November), Delhi environment minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said that the incidents of stubble burning in Punjab are halved and the smoke from the stubble burning in Punjab has no impact on the air pollution in Delhi. The AAP minister further claimed that wind is not carrying smoke from Punjab to Delhi, but smoke from stubble burning in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh was reaching Delhi which is responsible for the poor air quality index in the national capital.

Gopal Rai said, “As far as stubble burning is concerned, it is very necessary to first understand it. Because it exposes the failure of the BJP. Delhi is surrounded by the BJP-ruled states. The meteorology department of the union government says that the wind speed is very low. If the wind speed is this low, then the air pollution in north India and Delhi primarily contains vehicular pollution, dust particles, biomass pollutants, and stubble smoke”

Gopal Rai further said, “In these four factors, the stubble burning in Punjab this year is halved as compared to the last year. But the fact is that the stubble is burning. Punjab’s stubble smoke does not have as much impact on Delhi as that of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This is because there is no movement in the wind. Only if the wind blows, the smoke of Punjab will reach Delhi. Right now there is smoke all around Delhi. The smoke of stubble from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is reaching Delhi.”

On Friday (3rd November), Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles coming from Uttar Pradesh have been contributing to the deterioration of the air quality index in the national capital. Now, he has added the stubble burning incidents in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the list of factors contributing to Delhi’s pollution according to him.

Gopal Rai’s claims are not backed by data

However, since there is an AAP government in Punjab, Gopal Rai directly gave a clean chit to the stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, claiming that the number of stubble-burning incidents in Punjab has halved in a year. He also cited the low wind speed to assert that the smoke from Pujnab does not reach Delhi.

From NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System

AAP has been saying that stubble burning has come down heavily in Punjab, but satellite images show it is a complete lie. Fire maps released by NASA’s  Fire Information for Resource Management System show very high levels of fire incidents in Punjab, while such incidents are negligible in neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

While stubble incidents were seen in both Punjab and Haryana last month, it has decreased considerably in Haryana but has increased in Punjab. With the advent of the dry season, it is causing havoc in the NCR region, covering the entire region in thick fog.

In fact, Punjab has seen a sudden spike in stubble-burning incidents since October 29, while Haryana has been witnessing a downward trend largely due to strict enforcement, real-time reporting and the deployment of district and block-level enforcement teams. As many as 5,140 farm fire incidents were reported in the first three days of November.

Gopal Rai also claimed that no wind is blowing from Punjab towards Delhi, and the wind is blowing into Delhi from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh only. However, wind maps show that this is a complete lie.

Source: Earth Nullschool

The wind maps clearly show wind blowing from northwest to southeast in the north India region. So smoke from both Punjab and Haryana is reaching Delhi. But, contrary to the AAP leader’s claim, smoke from UP can’t reach Delhi at present, as the wind is blowing in the opposite direction.

Source: windy.com

Severe air pollution in Delhi

On Sunday (5th November), Delhi’s air quality index remained above 400, signifying severe air pollution. Residents of Delhi-NCR have been breathing hazardous air for days. According to CPCB data, the air quality index (AQI) at Ayanagar was 464, in Dwarka Sector-8 it was 486, in Jahangirpuri it was 473, and around IGI Airport (T3) it was 489 lately.

All emergency measures, including a restriction on polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers, and all sorts of construction, must be launched and enforced in the National Capital Region if the AQI exceeds 450, according to the Centre’s air pollution management plan.

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