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Prevention of Indian High Commissioner from entering Gurdwara in Scotland: India raises the matter with the UK Foreign Office

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India has raised with the United Kingdom foreign office and the police the incident in which its High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was prevented from entering a gurdwara in Scotland, according to government sources.

“Doraiswami was on Friday stopped by a few radicals from entering a gurdwara in Glasgow. The Indian High Commissioner decided to leave instead of getting into an argument,” as per the sources.

According to a purported video posted on the Instagram channel of ‘Sikh Youth UK’ a man reportedly a pro-Khalistani activist was seen blocking Doraiswami from entering the Glasgow gurdwara located on Albert Drive.

This comes amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday has condemned the incident.

“I strongly condemn this (that Vikram Doraiswami was allegedly stopped from entering a gurdwara in Scotland). Anyone from any religion or community can come here (gurdwara). We are not that religion that believes in violence instead we are among those who are saviours of humanity. Sikhs are the saviours. PM Modi has praised the work of our community. Sikhs are represented everywhere in the world. The safest place for the Sikhs in the world is in India…,”

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also condemned the action. SGPC General Secretary Grewal said that the UK Envoy should not have been stopped from entering the gurdwara and that gurdwaras are for every religion.

Meanwhile, in the purported video posted on social media by the ‘Sikh Youth UK’,  a protestor is heard saying, “They are hurting Sikhs in Canada and other places, every Sikh should protest against any Indian Ambassador like we did here in Glasgow.”

The ‘Sikh Youth UK’ claims that there is an ongoing ban on Indian officials visiting the gurdwara in their official capacities.

The video shows two men near the High Commissioner’s car in the parking area. One of them is seen attempting to open the car door, which has been locked from the inside. The purported video then shows the high commissioner’s car leaving the gurdwara premises. The video then shows another man speaking to the camera that this is how any Indian ambassador or any Indian government official who visits the Gurdwara will be treated.

“We know what games they are playing, what’s happening in Canada. The Canadian PM has openly condemned India and expelled Indian diplomats,” he said.

Meanwhile, a formal reaction from the Indian High Commission in London and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the incident is awaited.

The UK incident comes amid a growing strain in India-Canada ties following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations regarding the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it “absurd” and “motivated.”

Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Nijjar. 


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

Gujarat: International drug racket operating from Canada busted in Ahmedabad, used dark web to smuggle drugs into India by hiding them in books and toys

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On Saturday (30 September), the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime and Customs Department busted an international racket which was allegedly involved in drug trafficking in India. The racket used to smuggle drugs into India by hiding them in books and toys. They were reportedly using social media and the dark web to smuggle drugs. It was being operated from Canada and the United States.  

During the search operation, the Cybercrime and customs officials confiscated drugs worth approximately Rs 50 lakh at Ahmedabad Airport. As per the officials, the drug traffickers were using different modus operandi for drugs delivery. They were using social media and the dark web for their illicit operations. The officials added that a thorough investigation into the matter is underway. 

According to media reports, an international courier company, operating from Canada and the United States, is alleged to be running an International drugs racket. It used social media and the dark web to supply drugs that were hidden in books and toys. 

The seizures include Cocaine weighing 2.31 gms. In the domestic market, it is said to be in the tune of Rs 2,31,000. The officials also seized high-quality international cannabis weighing 5.970kg. The seized cannabis is said to be worth Rs 46,08,015 in the International market.

The traffickers reportedly used to soak the pages of these books in drugs. Once these books were smuggled into India, the pages were then crushed to prepare the drugs that were to be used at parties. 

Apparently, the Ahmedabad Cyber Unit and Customs Department seized a significant quantity of such books and toys. They have also traced drug peddlers and buyers involved in this International drug racket.

According to official statement, Ahmedabad Cyber Crime said, “Ahmedabad Cyber Crime and Customs Department busted an international racket allegedly supplying drugs using the dark web and social media.” 

It added, “Cocaine weighing 2.31 gms worth Rs 2,31,000 in the domestic market along with high-quality international cannabis weighing 5.970kg worth Rs 46,08,015 in the International market has been seized. Drugs were hidden in toys and pages of books. The consignment was ordered from abroad through international courier companies. Further investigation is underway.” 

MP: Hindu kids forced to perform in hijab on Islamic songs on Eid in pvt school in Guna; teacher and principal suspended after Hindu outfits outrage

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On 27 September, a day before Eid Milad-un-Nabi, a dance programme was organised in which all students, including Hindus, were made to wear the hijab and sing Islamic songs in a private school located in Guna, Madhya Pradesh. The incident caused a huge uproar, with several members of Hindu outfits reaching the school to protest against the school management.

The incident transpired in Prince Public School located in the Cantt area of Guna where an event was hosted in the institution on 27 September. A video of the same went viral on social media in which the minors, donned in hijabs, were witnessed singing and dancing to Islamic songs.

A small student is also seen standing at the bcak and dancing with a placard in his hand. It has a picture of a mosque drawn on it.

Their movements and actions throughout the dance performance resembled the gestures of offering the Namaz (Muslim prayer). The participants looked like kindergarden children whereas other kids were observed sitting in front of the stage.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists accused that all the pupils who were made to participate in the event were Hindus and were compelled to appear in attires which looked like the burqa and the hijab. Furthermore, they were made to sing qawwalis like “Bhar Do Jholi Meri Ya Muhammad” during the programme, according to council employees.

Members of Hindu organisations arrived at the school to protest after the footage gained traction online and demanded action against the school. Workers from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and other Hindu groups demonstrated outside the educational facility and questioned why a similar celebration was not scheduled for the recently concluded Ganesh Chaturthi.

The school management apologised to the Hindu activists after noticing the outrage and provided them with the assurance that no such activity would be held in the future. Subsequently, the teacher who organised the programme and the principal of the school were removed by the school administration.

Notably, Hindu girls have previously been asked to adhere to the practices and traditions of another religion. News of religious conversion and the teaching of the Namaz to Hindu students in the ‘Ganga Jamuna School‘ situated in Damoh in Madhya Pradesh surfaced earlier this year. A major controversy broke out over the issue which resulted in the cancellation of recognition of the educational facility along with the arrest of some perpetrators.

US House of Representatives session starts with a Sikh prayer for the first time in history

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In a historic first, the session of the US House of Representatives began with a Sikh prayer. 

A Sikh granthi offered prayers before the commencement of proceedings of the House on Friday (local time). 

“Today we are here for a very historic event. Today for the first time ever in the history of US Congress, the House session started with a Sikh prayer. Giani Jaswinder Singh offered the prayer. So, this is a very, very happy occasion for the Sikh community, for the whole global Sikh community…” the media spokesman of Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast Harjinder Singh said.

“We prayed for the members of this Congress who are working for the protection of the free world and all the Americans over here. We wish and pray for the whole of humanity as one race. So this was the message that was given. And so that’s really the universal message of Sikhism” he said

Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar had on Friday launched the formation of a new Congressional Caucus aimed at protecting the interests of Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains living in the US.

The Caucus aims at addressing cultural misunderstandings and promoting interfaith dialogue and harmony. It supports initiatives to promote Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain Americans’ well-being, education and empowerment.

The newly formed Caucus has bipartisan support from both, Republicans and Democrats, and more than 27 US lawmakers have supported it.

Addressing the event in Washington DC, Thanedar said, “I am profoundly honoured to stand before you at this pivotal juncture. We are not merely congregating to initiate another caucus, we are assembling to pioneer a movement, one that strives for understanding, inclusion, and affirmative policy actions. A movement that says every faith, every culture, and every community has a place in America, the land of free and the home of the brave”.

“My name is Shri Thanedar and I am a proof of America’s diversity in Congress,” he added.

The US Congressman further said that the launch of the Caucus is a commitment to stand against religious discrimination, and cultivate a nation where diversity is not just “tolerated, but celebrated”.

The developments come amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.


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

Scotland: Khalistanis prevent Indian High Commissioner to UK from entering Gurdwara in Glasgow, attempt to barge into his car, SGPC justifies the attack

On Friday (September 29), a mob of Khalistani stopped Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, from visiting a Gurudwara in Glasgow city of Scotland.

The incident transpired outside the Glasgow Gurdwara on Albert Drive when Doraiswami was going to attend a scheduled meeting with the Gurdwara committee. A video of the incident has emerged on social media, showing Khalistan extremists gathering near the Indian diplomat’s car.

In the video, they could be seen preventing Doraiswami from entering the gurdwara. The Khalistanis told the Indian High Commissioner to the UK that he was “not welcome”. Following this, the Indian diplomat decided to leave.

In a massive security breach, a Khalistani extremist tried to forcibly enter the car of Vikram Doraiswami. Although the doors were locked from inside, the man was seen pulling the handle of the vehicle.

While speaking about the incident, one such Khalistani informed that they found out that the Indian diplomat was set to arrive at the Glasgow Gurdwara for a meeting.

“A few people turned up and told him he was not welcome,” he said adding that there was a ‘slight confrontation. “I don’t think the gurdwara committee is too happy about what happened. But Indian officials are not welcome in any gurdwara in the UK. We are fed up with the UK-India collusion,” the Khalistani continued.

“The recent tensions since Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing have led to British Sikhs being targeted. This is to do with Avtar Singh Khanda and Jagtar Singh Johal too,” he further added. He asserted that none of the Indian officials should be “greeted” when they visit the Gurdwaras in their official capacity.

This incident came months after the attack on the Indian High Commission in London. It is worth recalling that on March 19, 2023, pro-Khalistan terrorists stormed the Indian High Commission in London and removed the tricolour from the premises.

A man was seen ascending the building’s walls and taking down the Indian flag as cries of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ raised. He then waved the Khalistani flag jubilantly while Indian officials at the building seized the tricolour from the man.

In the meantime, SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal was seen justifying the attack on the Indian envoy.

“People of England, they are upset with the illegal arrest of Jaggi Johal. That is the reason all of this is happening… We want to ask the Indian Embassy that any kind of tension should not be created… If something like this has happened with an ambassador in a Gurudwara, it affects the reputation of Sikhs…” he remarked.

“Earlier, an ambassador was beaten, we don’t support it… The reputation of Sikhs is affected all over the world…There is no restriction on entering any Gurudwara. But I don’t know what their reasons were. To avoid any tensions created because of his (Vikram Doraiswami) visit, they must have stopped him…” he brazened it out.

Uttar Pradesh: Javed launches violent attack on devotees at Baba Bodheshwar Temple in Unnao, eight injured

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In a shocking incident that unfolded at the historic Baba Bodheshwar Mahadev temple in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, a man named Javed launched a violent attack on devotees gathered at the temple on Friday, September 29th. Armed with a lathi, Javed stormed the temple premises during the auspicious occasion of Bhadrapad Purnima, brutally assaulting devotees and leaving eight of them injured. The incident took place at around 10:30 AM.

The attack occurred at noon, catching worshippers by surprise as they were engrossed in their prayers to the revered Shivling in the temple courtyard. Among the injured were Milan Singh, Kailash Singh, and retired revenue officer Krishna Kumar Tiwari, along with five others. The severity of the attack prompted the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel stationed at the temple to subdue Javed and hand him over to the police.

Prompt police response led to Javed’s arrest, and he has been charged with attempted murder under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code based on the FIR filed by devotee Milan Singh. He has been remanded to judicial custody as police investigate the motive behind the attack.

According to reports, Javed, the assailant, is undergoing treatment for mental health issues, further adding to the perplexity surrounding the incident.

The injured devotees received medical treatment at the local hospital, with one of them, Krishna Kumar Tiwari, being referred to Lucknow’s King George Medical University due to the seriousness of his condition.

Police officer Rushikant Shukla said, “Today, on 29th September 2023, a youth attacked devotees at the Bodheshwar temple with a stick. The incident took place in the Bangarmau police station area. A case in this regard is registered in the Bangarmau police station. The accused is arrested and further legal procedure is underway.”

The incident has raised concerns about temple security, prompting BJP MLA Shrikant Katiyar to visit the injured at the community health centre in Bangarmau and urge authorities to take strict action in the case.

Notably, this temple had previously been the site of violence a decade ago when unidentified assailants fatally wounded the chief priest, Chaitanya Maharaj, on September 13, 2013.

‘All Indian Muslims have Hindu ancestors, India was never a Muslim country’: Bihar Sunni Waqf Board chairman admits during an interview

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On Friday, September 29, Bihar Sunni Waqf Board chairman Irshadullah courted controversy among his brethren after he admitted the common Hindu ancestry of everyone living in India including Indian Muslims. Speaking to a news channel, Irshadullah said that all Indian Muslims are converted from Hinduism. He added that the ancestors of Indian Muslims are Hindus and that no Muslims came to India from outside, nor was India ever a Muslim country.

“All the Muslims in Hindustan were converted from Hindus only. Our ancestors are Hindus. None of the Indian Muslims came from outside,” Irshadullah said.

The Bihar Sunni Waqf Board chairman showered praises on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government’s work for done for the “minorities”. He further called Nitish Kumar the third most popular political leader in the country.

Reportedly, Irshadullah also attacked All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi by calling him the “B team” of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). He also asked Owaisi to spare the Muslims of the country adding that the AIMIM supremo is working on the lines of the BJP.

Irshadullah, while taking a dig at Owaisi stated that for the welfare of minorities, construction of a multipurpose Waqf building on the land of eight Waqf estates in Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, Kishanganj, and Darbhanga at the cost of Rs 114 crore in Bihar, construction on the land of a Waqf estate in Samastipur, and Nalanda is ongoing. In addition, the development of minority residential schools is underway in many districts.

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad made a similar admission

In August this year, a video featuring Ghulam Nabi Azad went viral wherein the former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is seen admitting the common Hindu ancestry of everyone living in India including Indian Muslims. He was seen making this statement as he addressed a program in a higher secondary school in the Chiralla town of the Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir where a significant number of Muslims were present.

The viral video clip is from a speech he gave in a program held on 9th August 2023.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar accused of playing appeasement politics

On September 28, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar offered ‘chadar’ at Khanquah Mujibiya Dargah in Patna. Taking a dig at the Bihar CM over his recent visit to Khanquah-e-Mujibiya in Patna’s Phulwari Sharif, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that Nitish Kumar’s visit to the dargah was a “political gimmick” and his “stunt” would barely affect Muslim voters.

It may be recalled that on 17th February 2023, Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar said that those who want to make India a Hindu nation want to destroy the country. “People of every religion and sect live here. If one wants to do this (make India ‘Hindu-Rashtra’) then one wants to destroy the country. We should only adhere to what the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi said. He was killed eventually. We are following the path of Gandhiji,” the Bihar CM was quoted as saying.

Bihar: Acid thrown on Ganpati Visarjan procession passing through Muslim dominated area in Motihari, 3 injured

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On Friday, September 29th, a chaotic incident occurred during the Ganpati Visarjan procession in Motihari, Bihar. In the midst of the procession, unidentified individuals reportedly hurled acid at participants, resulting in injuries to three individuals.

The procession of Ganpati Visarjan was taken out in the city. As soon as it left Dwardevi Chowk and reached Madhuban Cantonment Chowk on Meena Bazar main road, some miscreants threw acid at the procession. Meena Bazar is a Muslim-dominated area of the city. An acid-like liquid was found lying on the road.

Following the acid attack, participants of the Ganpati Visarjan procession took a stand, demanding the swift apprehension of those responsible. The incident led to a blockage of Madhuban Cantonment Chowk in Motihari for approximately an hour.

Subsequently, several local BJP leaders arrived at the scene and encouraged the Ganpati Visarjan procession to continue. After this, the idol was immersed with the help of the police.

The police officers present at the location have provided assurances regarding the arrest of the wrongdoers. As a precautionary measure, a substantial police presence was deployed along the main road. Superintendent of Police Kantesh Kumar Mishra said that the number of people injured in the attack was not known. He said that the police were searching for the attackers.

The Motihari police took to X to inform about the incident. It said that the situation in the area has been brought under control and the idol immersion has been completed under police protection. The police said that the matter is being investigated and urged individuals not to fall for rumours.

According to reports, three individuals were reportedly injured in the acid attack, however, the police did not confirm this.

Knowing about the incident, senior police officials promptly arrived at the scene. A large number of police forces including Assistant Superintendent of Police Sriraj, Nagar Police Station Police Inspector Vishwamohan Chaudhary, Kanchan Bhaskar of Chhatauni and Avnish Kumar of Mufassil Police Station reached the spot. They appealed to the public to uphold peace and gave their assurance that the individuals responsible for the attack would be arrested. However, no one has yet been arrested.

Attacks on Hindu processions by Muslims are frequently seen at various places in the country. On 29th September, an incident of stone-pelting and arson occurred during a Shaurya Yatra organised by Hindu organisations in the Selamba area of Gujarat’s Narmada district. As the yatra procession was passing through, a group of individuals from the Muslim community reportedly rushed in and began hurling stones. Simultaneously, arson also took place wherein a few shops were torched.

I defy you to show me discrimination: S Jaishankar rubbishes claims of institutional prejudice against minorities in India

Weighing in on the state of minorities in India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday dismissed concerns around discrimination on grounds of religion saying everything had become fairer.

Speaking at an event in Washington DC on Friday, Jaishankar said, “Today, since you brought up the issue of minorities in India, What is the test really of fair and good governance or of the balance of a society? It would be whether in terms of the amenities, the benefits, the access, the rights, do you discriminate or not and in every society in the world, at some point, there’s been some discrimination on some basis. If you look at India today, it’s a society today where there is a tremendous change taking place, the biggest change happening today in India is the creation of a social welfare system in a society that has less than USD 3,000 per capita income.”

On India increasingly asserting itself on the international fora, Jaishankar said, “Nobody has done that in the world before…Now, when you look at the benefits of that, you look at housing, you look at health, you look at food, you look at finance, you look at educational access, health access.”

“I defy you to show me discrimination. In fact, the more digital we have become, the more faceless the governance has become. Actually, it’s become fairer,” he added.

“But as I said this is a globalised world. There will be people, you will have people gripe about it and much of the griping is political. Let me be very frank with you because we have also had a culture of vote banks and there are sections who had in their own eyes a certain privilege…and it’s a phenomenon,” Jaishankar said during an interaction at the Hudson Institute in the US.

Describing India as an absorber of best practices during the event, Jaishankar hailed the country’s success in digital payment saying, “If you are going shopping in India today, you can leave your wallet behind but you can’t leave your phone behind, because most likely the person you’re buying something from will not accept cash, and will want you to pull out your phone, look at the QR code, and make a cashless payment. Last year we clocked 90 billion cashless financial payments. Just for reference, the US was about 3 (billion), and China was 17.6 (billion). This year, we probably would exceed. I saw the June figures, it was 9 billion transactions in June alone. Street vendors today will have a QR code on their cart and say, just make your payment there.”

He also highlighted how India’s advocacy of Yoga over the last decade has “improved” Global Health. Further, the EAM underscored India’s increasing footprints in the global economy and its increasing trade with the Middle East.

“We have to understand today that as India becomes a larger consumer, a bigger economy, our salience in the Middle East countries calculations, especially the Gulf economies, is that much higher. We are the largest trade partner of the UAE and we would be among probably the top three of the Saudis,” Jaishankar said.

Earlier this week, the External Affairs Minister met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly session in New York City. The two appreciated the rapid progress in India, UAE bilateral cooperation and valued regular exchange of perspectives on regional and global issues.

“Always a pleasure to meet FM @ABZayed of UAE, this time in New York. Appreciate the rapid progress in our bilateral cooperation. Value our regular exchange of perspectives on regional and global issues,” EAM Jaishankar wrote on X.

UAE and India along with Saudi Arabia, the US and European Union (EU), had recently announced an ambitious infrastructure plan — the ‘India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor’. This initiative launched at the G20 summit in New Delhi, seeks to reshape the trade route between the Gulf, Europe and South Asia, connecting them by rail and sea links.

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

Congress workers attack actress Archana Gautam and her father during their visit to party headquarters. Here is what happened

On Friday (30th September), Archana Gautam came forward with disturbing allegations. The actress informed that she and her father were physically assaulted during her visit to the Congress headquarters in Delhi.

Archana Gautam, known for her appearances on reality shows such as Bigg Boss 16 and Khatron Ke Khiladi, pointed out that the individuals responsible for this violence were affiliated with the Congress party.

A video capturing the incident went viral on social media where she could be seen surrounded by several people yelling at her. Archana Gautam, accompanied by her father, visited the Congress office in Delhi on Friday (30th September).

However, she was denied entry. Archana Gautam alleged that she was physically assaulted by Congress workers present there. She shared with the media that her purpose for being there was to extend congratulations to the party’s national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi, in recognition of the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Archana Gautam said, “I was going to the Congress party office. But I was stopped. I was then manhandled, abused and beaten up outside the office. My father rescued me and he took me in the car and left. But I’m not going to sit still.”

She added, “If the Congress party behaves like this with an actress like me, what about others? I’m not going to shut up. We will continue the fight. What happened to me was shocking and the behaviour of Congress workers was wrong.”

Gautam Budh, Archana Gautam’s father, is expected to take legal action in Meerut concerning the incident. Additionally, he may choose to address the media to shed further light on the situation.

Back in March 2022, Gautam Budh lodged a formal complaint against Sandeep Kumar, the personal assistant to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, alleging that he had issued death threats to Archana Gautam.

In the complaint, Archana Gautam’s father mentioned that his daughter had been subjected to death threats, alongside the use of derogatory caste-based language.

The actress’ association with the Congress party began in November 2021, following which she contested unsuccessfully in the 2022 UP Assembly Elections from the Hastinapur constituency.