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Delhi Police raids MeToo accused Sanjay Rajoura in Newsclick China funding case: His Anti-Hindu comments, association with portals like NewsLaundry, Quint and more

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police raids MeToo accused Sanjay Rajoura in Newsclick China funding case: His Anti-Hindu comments, association with portals like NewsLaundry, Quint and more

On 3rd October, Delhi Police raided several locations in connection with the online portal NewsClick, which had received several crores in funding from China. One of the locations raided was of comedian-cum-satirist Sanjay Rajoura, who has worked for NewsClick in the past. He is one of the three members of “Aisi Taisi Democracy”. Rajoura, who has a history of making Hinduphobic comments, faced a police complaint in 2020 for mocking Hindu deities. In 2021, Rajoura faced Me Too allegations. Rajoura has also appeared on The Quint, Newslaundry and other leftist platforms.

Sanjay Rajoura mocked Hindus especially Brahmins and Rajputs

X (formerly Twitter) user Ankur Singh shared screenshots of a few of his posts of Rajoura on social media that clearly showed his bias towards Hindus, especially Brahmins and Rajputs. In one of the posts from 2017, Rajoura called for beating Brahmins with shoes. At that time, Rajoura used the X handle “UrbanTucchha”. “Tucchha” is a word used in both Hindi and Punjabi that has several meanings, such as “worthless” or “someone with a bad character”.

Source: X/iAnkurSingh

In several tweets, he has mocked the Rajput community and called them illicit children of Mughals.

Source: X/iAnkurSingh

In 2017, Rajoura, no longer on X, got into a feud with another X user, GappistanRadio and threatened to beat him up. Later, he deleted the tweets.

Source: X/alok_bhatt

Sanjay Rajoura mocked Hindu deities

In May 2020, a complaint was filed against Rajoura for derogatory comments against Bhagwan Ganesha and Bhagwan Shiva during the “Azaadi Tour” of Aisi Taisi Democracy. Hindu activist Ramesh Solanki filed the complaint with Mumba Police.

In a video clip, Rajoura can be heard mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement about the advancement of science and medicine in ancient India. “He said the first plastic surgery took place in India. Do you know whose? Of Ganesh. Even if I believe that the world’s first plastic surgery took place in India, at least you could’ve done a good job. This shows how you shouldn’t do such things after smoking up,” he said to an audience roaring with laughter.

Me Too accusations against Sanjay Rajoura

In September 2021, a woman who used an alias, Tara, accused Rajoura of sexual misconduct. She revealed that Rajoura had reportedly coerced her into having oral sex in a public place despite her reservations. She also accused him of requesting nudes from her and posting an unsolicited nude image of a woman, proposing a threesome.

She wrote that she kept overlooking the advances for months since she admired the comedian for his work. His public persona clouded her judgement, she admitted. She was intimidated by the fact that Rajoura knew many influential people from the film fraternity. She alleged that Rajoura would ask her to send him unsafe and naked pictures. Even when she told him it was too soon or made excuses expressing hesitancy, he persisted and found loopholes in her reasons. She further revealed how Rajoura coerced her into performing oral sex at a public place.

Sanjay Rajoura appeared on several leftist portals

Newslaundry started a program titled “Yeh Bhi Theek Hai” with Sanjay Rajoura and Kunal Kamra in July 2022. Eight episodes of the program were released by the portal, where they discussed secularism, comedy, free speech and religion in India. Both Kamra and Rajoura were hired for the program by Newslaundry despite their controversial background.

He appeared on The Quint as well. He has written two articles in The Quint titled “Kanwar Yatra: Are India’s Public Spaces Only for the Rich?” and “The India Vir Das Forgot About: An Open Letter to Comics on Caste”. In the report on Kanwar Yatra, he presented himself as if he supported the Kanwariyas but subtly called them unruly and stated they could become violent anytime.

As Abhisar Sharma gets raided, here is what his link to China-funded NewsClick was and what ED had said about the portal’s funding

OpIndia Staff
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As Abhisar Sharma gets raided, here is what his link to China-funded NewsClick was and what ED had said about the portal’s funding

On Tuesday, October 3, Delhi Police raided several locations in connection with the online portal NewsClick. The home of television journalist turned YouTuber Abhisar Sharma was one of the places seized by the Delhi Police in connection with the Newsclick matter. Abhisar Sharma took to X (formerly Twitter) to report that the Delhi Police showed up at his home and confiscated his laptop and phone.

As reported, the places of several journalists associated with Newsclick, including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi have been raided by the police.

The action by the Delhi Police comes a couple of years after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the home of NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha. In February 2021, ED found several incriminating documents and suspicious financial transactions from the residence of Purkayastha. Also, 10 more locations related to the PPK NEWS CLICK Studio Private Limited were raided by the ED.

ED raids at NewClick in 2021

According to the sources in ED, NewsClick had received Rs.10 crore under Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from an American company. Interestingly, NewsClick’s owner Prabir Purkayastha has no idea for what purpose the American company transferred the money to his company’s account. He could not give any proof of work that he has done for the particular company.

Further investigation revealed that another US-based company gave them Rs.20 crore and marked it as ‘Export Remittance’. The money was transferred because NewsClick had uploaded content on a portal named People’s Dispatch.

Sources revealed that Purkayastha also took Rs.1.5 crore rupees in the name of maintenance. Interestingly, he had hired a ninth-class pass electrician for maintenance at his office. The money he took was without any documentation, which made it impossible for him to explain the transaction to ED.

Reportedly, the ED raided the premises of the NewsClick founder in the year 2021 when ‘journalist’ Abhisar Sharma was working for the portal.

During the investigation, the ED also revealed that another NewsClick employee had received Rs.52 lakh from an American company. The same person was said to have connections with CPI as he worked in the IT cell of CPI and managed the Twitter accounts of CPI leaders.

NewsClick, is financed by Chinese Communist Party supporter

Recently in August this year, a report published by The New York Times exposed the ties of an American businessman with the Chinese government and his financial support to an Indian leftist propaganda outlet, NewsClick.

A millionaire named Neville Roy Singham was funding several news publications across the world (including India) to peddle Chinese propaganda, the report stated. “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr. Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide,” the article read.

The publication pointed out that Singham has been successful in disseminating Chinese government talking points under the pretext of ‘progressive advocacy’ in countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. Neville Roy Singham, who holds strong ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is at the forefront of China’s smokeless war.

During its investigation, the American newspaper found that Neville Roy Singham had financed an India-based leftist propaganda outlet named NewsClick. It noted that the news outlet had repeated the talking points of the CCP in the past.

“In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. “China’s history continues to inspire the working classes,” one video said,” noted The New York Times.

Abhisar Sharma peddling anti-India narrative through NewsClick

‘Journalist’ Abhisar Sharma whose premise was raided by the Delhi Police this morning is known for spreading fake news and peddling anti-India narrative. In September 2019, he used morphed images of journalists from other media houses to peddle fake news and narratives during the Chandrayaan 2 mission. He had edited images of the content of a show to target Aaj Tak journalist Chitra Tripathi. He had launched a fake connection between the show host, Aaj Tak journalist Chitra Tripathi, and PM Modi when no reference to PM Modi was made in the show.

Also, in that year, Sharma, through the propaganda website NewsClick’s YouTube channel went on a deranged rant against cows. So much so that he even declared that cows had become a cause of ‘terror and fear’ for some in India. He furthered the lies by saying how cows are one of the primary reasons for mob lynching in India. He mentioned that in the name of ‘gau raksha’, minorities and Dalits were being terrorized. 

Recently in May 2022, he in a NewClck’s YouTube video joined the race to demean the Hindu culture of India and praised the country only for the Taj Mahal built by the Mughal Emperor. Sharma in the video further blatantly stated that the country of India was known worldwide because of the Taj Mahal and that there was no Shiv Mandir before the Taj Mahal. 

He slipped by saying that the Taj Mahal was the only identity of India. He forgot that India has been known as the land of temples for centuries and that there are many religious temples, monuments, and marvelous structures other than the Taj Mahal that are the identity of the country.

It must be mentioned that Abhisar Sharma is featured regularly on NewsClick videos wherein he is seen either defending the Congress party or furthering anti-India narratives. The Chinese government is infamous for swaying public opinion in its favour through its propaganda machinery, which ranges from educational institutes to media publications, and NewsClick evidently happens to be one of them.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raises the issue of Chinese financing of NewsClick in Parliament

Notably, on August 7 this year, the government happened to take cognizance of Chinese funding to NewsClick after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue in Parliament. He cited the report published by the New York Times and said, “Chinese goods are being sold at Rahul Gandhi’s nafrat ki dukaan (hate shop). The New York Times has published an interesting report. About Rs 38 crores have been received by organizations such as NewsClick. The report by the newspaper also reiterated the findings of the Enforcement Directorate. NewsClick is a part of the anti-India, tukde tukde gang. (Prabir) Purkayastha is the owner.”

The BJP leader said that funds accumulated by the NewsClick owner were routed to Maoists, Naxalites, and propaganda artists such as (Abhisar) Sharma, Rohini Singh, and Swati Chaturvedi. He added that the Chinese government is also spending money to create an anti-India narrative.

Nishikant Dubey also exposed the ties of the Congress Party with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He accused the grand old party of being in talks with China during the infamous 2017 Dokhlam standoff.

NewsClick was paid to defend China’s handling of COVID-19

During the COVID-19 spread, it was reported how Prabir Purkayastha and the NewsClick team were introduced to Chinese handlers by American businessman Neville Roy Singham for defending China’s handling of COVID-19.

The email exchanges dated March 30, 2020, on China’s handling of COVID-19 between Prabir and Singham were shared by Zee News journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, days after New York Times investigation said that Singham was using its network of nonprofits and media organizations spread across the world to propagate Chinese propaganda.

In the email exchanges shared by Sudhir Chaudhary, Roy is seen introducing the NewsClick team to the Chinese handlers based out of China to provide information that would help them show China in a positive light in handling the coronavirus outbreak.

According to its website, NewsClick is an independent ‘media’ agency dedicated to covering news from India and around the world with a focus on ‘progressive’ causes. It was established in 2009.

Liberals supporting Sharma call raids a ‘threat’ to Freedom of Press

After the current raids, several liberals supporting NewsClick and ‘Journalist’ Abhisar Sharma are crying copious amounts of tears. They are calling the current raids an ‘attack’ on Freedom of Press. Propagandist Rohini Singh, Self-proclaimed Muslim journalist from The Wire, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Rajdeep Sardesai, Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of Islamic propaganda outlet AltNews questioned the action and declared that the government was “crossing all limits” by conducting raids in the given case.

It is pertinent to note that all the individuals who are being raided currently have been spreading anti-India propaganda for a very long time. None of them were prosecuted for their opinions and views and the raids were not because the government of India willy-nilly decided to prosecute those who are journalists.

The individuals being raided were or are connected to NewsClick which is under scanner for taking money from a hostile nation – China – to further their state propaganda in India and against the sovereignty of India.

Made In India Malaria vaccines: WHO recommends second vaccine R21/Matrix-M for use in African countries, SII to produce

ANI
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Made In India Malaria vaccines: WHO recommends second vaccine R21/Matrix-M for use in African countries, SII to produce

The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India has been recommended for use by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after meeting required safety, quality and effectiveness standards, ANI reported.

Following a rigorous, detailed scientific review by the WHO’s independent advisory body, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG), the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been recommended for use.

“The recommendation was based on pre-clinical and clinical trial data which showed good safety and high efficacy in four countries, at sites with both seasonal and perennial malaria transmission, making it the world’s second-ever WHO recommended vaccine for preventing malaria in children,” Serum Institute of India said in a statement.

The vaccine was developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and Serum Institute of India with support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (‘EDCTP’), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (‘EIB’).

To date, the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been licensed for use in Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

“In combination with public health measures such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, this vaccine can help save and improve the lives of millions of children and their families,” SII added.

The vaccine has recently reached the primary one-year endpoint in a pivotal large-scale Phase III clinical trial – funded mainly by the Serum Institute of India, with Oxford University as the regulatory sponsor – including 4,800 children across Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania. The Phase III trial results are under peer review before publication.

Dr Lisa Stockdale, Senior Immunologist, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford said “Today’s news is a testament to the work of our small but dedicated team and means we have another tool with which to fight this disease that kills over half a million people every year. However, further work is critical to establish not just that the vaccine works, but to understand more about how it works, and apply that knowledge to future vaccines.”

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, said “For far too long, malaria has threatened the lives of billions of people across the globe, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable amongst us. This is why the WHO recommendation and approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine marks a huge milestone on our journey to combat this life-threatening disease, showing what exactly can be achieved when the public and private sector, scientists and researchers, all work together towards a shared goal.”

“As we continue to work together to create a healthier, more equitable world for everyone, I am incredibly proud of the part that the Serum Institute of India has played in developing the R21 malaria vaccine. We look forward to scaling up the vaccine production to ensure that it is accessible to those who need it the most,” Adar Poonawalla added.

Serum Institute of India further said that with the approval and recommendations by the WHO, additional regulatory approvals are expected to follow shortly and R21/Matrix-M vaccine doses could be ready to begin wider roll-out as early as next year.

The R21/Matrix-M is a second vaccine that has been developed by Oxford University and will be supplied by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and is qualified by WHO.

In April this year, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, got regulatory approval for usage by the government of Ghana.

SII has already established manufacturing capabilities for 200 million doses annually. R21/Matrix-M is a low-dose vaccine that is given to children between 5 to 36 months. It has been consistently meeting the WHO standards of 75% efficacy.

Indian companies to supply Malaria vaccines

On 5th July Gavi, the vaccine alliance, announced that twelve African countries are set to receive 18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine in the next two years.

By 2026, the annual demand for malaria vaccine will reach 40-60 million doses and by 2030 it will reach 80-100 million doses. Bharat Biotech will be supplying the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine in the future.

In 2021, GSK, the British pharma giant that worked for over 3 decades with nonprofit group PATH, announced that the manufacturing of the protein part of the malaria vaccine RTS, S/AS01 will be transferred to India’s Bharat Biotech.

“Helping secure the long-term future of the only vaccine available by working with an established leader like Bharat Biotech is vital for the continued fight against this devastating disease,” GSK’s Thomas Breuer had said then.

Hyderabad’s Bharat Biotech is currently the sole supplier of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine and is expected to remain so till 2029.

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

As TMC protests to hide their own MNREGA corruption, Saket Gokhale’s video being pushed by Delhi police surfaces: Here is what the police say

OpIndia Staff
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As TMC protests to hide their own MNREGA corruption, Saket Gokhale’s video being pushed by Delhi police surfaces: Here is what the police say

On Monday (October 2), a video of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale being pushed by a Delhi police personnel went viral on social media.

The development took place during a dharna (demonstration) at Samadhi Sthal by the TMC against the Centre’s decision to not release funds for the MNREGA scheme in light of rampant corruption in West Bengal.

In a tweet, the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the TMC claimed, “The BJP-led Central Government’s disregard for people’s welfare is undeniable!”

“In a blatant display of hostility, not only did police officials and site authorities attempt to disrupt our peaceful dharna, but they also resorted to aggressive actions against our National Spokesperson, Saket Gokhale. REPREHENSIBLE,” it further alleged.

In the video, the Trinamool Congress spokesperson was seen being pushed by a Delhi police personnel while another cop tried to pacify a visibly agitated Saket Gokhale. A man in the background could be heard saying, “Dhakka kesa diya (How dare you push me).”

It is unclear whether the voice heard in the video was that of Saket Gokhale. In a tweet, he claimed, “Delhi Police attacked our peaceful dharna at Raj Ghat today led by Abhishek Banerjee, demanding that Modi Govt release pending 15,000 cr dues of MGNREGA workers in West Bengal.”

“Modi Govt used violence at Gandhi ji’s samadhi hours after Modi paid lip service to his ideals. We ALL remained peaceful & followed Gandhi ji. Here’s Addl DCP Tomar manhandling me due to ‘orders from above’,” Gokhale brazened out.

In a statement, the Delhi police said that the TMC leaders were requested to vacate the Samadhi Sthal peacefully. “On this very important day of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, thousands of people were visiting Rajghat – the Samadhi Sthal – to pay homage,” it noted.

“TMC leaders were requested not to sit at Samadhi Sthal. Despite repeated requests, they were not listening. Due to that public entry was affected and that resulted in a gathering of people around Samadhi Sthal. Therefore, to avoid public inconvenience as well as in the interest of their own safety, TMC leaders were requested to vacate the samadhi Sthal peacefully,” the statement read.

Corruption in MNREGA scheme in West Bengal

As per the norms of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, a job cardholder can directly approach the panchayat or other implementing agencies for work and is entitled to get at least 100 days of work.

However, in West Bengal, a large number of Trinamool officials in rural areas have been accused of placing ineligible people, including family members, on PMAY beneficiary lists.

The list of PMAY beneficiaries in Bengal was discovered to be filled with wealthy individuals with ties to the ruling party, as well as children, wives, and close relatives of Trinamool functionaries.

Similarly, Trinamool employees in rural organizations have been accused of distorting MGNREGA beneficiary lists, generating bogus job cards, and misrepresenting records of assets produced under the scheme in order to siphon off funds, among other violations.

The Union administration suspended fund disbursement after central audit teams discovered these large-scale errors and malfeasance.

NewsClick China funding: Fresh case lodged under UAPA, Delhi Police special cell searches premises with forensic team at multiple locations, Teesta Setalvad raided too

OpIndia Staff
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NewsClick China funding: Fresh case lodged under UAPA, Delhi Police special cell searches premises with forensic team at multiple locations, Teesta Setalvad raided too

After raids by the Delhi Police early on Tuesday, 3rd October, news has surfaced that Abhisar Sharma, Urmilesh, former NDTV Managing Editor Aunindyo Chakraborty, and others have been detained, in the case related to foreign funding from China. As per reports, raids were underway at 30 different locations, all related to individuals related to NewsClick.

It is notable here that the news of detained journalists is yet to be confirmed. Republic TV reported that 8 journalists are being raided, apart from the official premises related to NewsClick. The journalists currently facing raid are expected to be taken to the Delhi Police special cell office later in the day.

Indian Express reported that comedian Sanjay Rajaura was taken to Delhi Police special cell office at Lodhi Colony. More individuals are expected to be detained and questioned.

As per some reports, multiple journalists related to NewsClick have been detained by the Delhi Police in the case as they raids continue. Earlier, Abhisar Sharma had tweeted that the police have raided his premises and have taken away his laptop and phone.

The Delhi Police has registered a fresh case under UAPA, other than the ED case, as per reports. UAPA is related to charges under terrorist activities and terror funding. if UAPA sections are applied, the case is going to be very difficult for the NewsClick and concerned individuals. A forensic team of the Delhi Police is also on site, seizing pieces of evidence, Republic reported.

As per reports, some of the evidence uncovered during the ED investigation demanded premises of investigation that are beyond the authority of the ED. Hence a fresh case has been filed under UAPA and a Delhi Police investigation has been initiated.

It is pertinent to note that NewsClick has been under the scanner for illicit foreign funding since the year 2021 – when Abhisar Sharma was working for the portal as well. Teesta Setalvad and Gautam Navlakha were also accused of taking funds form China that were obtained through newsClick.

Reports have surfaced that Teesta Setalvad’s property in Mumbai is also being raided by Delhi Police.

Earlier on August 22, the Delhi High Court issued notice to news portal NewsClick’s Editor in Chief Prabir Purkayastha on a plea filed by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EoW), seeking direction to vacate its interim order asking the probe agency not to take any coercive action against the news site, news agency ANI reported.

The high court, on July 7, 2021, passed an order directing that Prabir Purkayastha shall not be arrested, adding, however, that he will have to cooperate with the investigation as and when required by the investigating officer.

Enforcement Directorate says NewsClick received funds from US-based companies worth crores

The investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unveiled that an overseas fund amounting to Rs. 38.05 crores was deceitfully injected into NewsClick over a span of three years.

The received funds purportedly found their way to numerous contentious journalists, among them Gautam Navlakha and individuals associated with Teesta Setalvad.

Under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a thorough search at the premises of PPK Newsclick Studio, its affiliated entities, as well as the directors and shareholders (consisting of ten entities) situated in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) in February 2021.

Throughout the course of the search, foreign currency, documents indicating wrongdoing, and digital proof were confiscated.

Upon meticulous examination of the gathered evidence, it was uncovered that there were dubious transactions involving foreign inward remittances. Specifically, Rs. 9.59 crore was introduced through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and an additional Rs. 28.46 crore was purportedly generated through the export of services.

The ED Investigation brought to light that Prabir Purkayastha, the Director of Newsclick, had been acquainted with Neville Roy Singham of Worldwide Media Holdings LLC (Limited Liability Company) since 2017.

Based on the digital evidence seized, it was revealed that Prabir, in collaboration with Neville Roy Singham, who is reportedly linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC), had orchestrated a complex scheme.

To elaborate, the allegations suggest that Prabir Purkayastha and his associates, in an effort to secure a fund of Rs. 9.59 crores from a Chinese entity with significant emphasis, established a legal façade of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Furthermore, it is claimed that Neville Roy Singham had earlier transferred funds to Prabir under the pretext of consultancy fees, ostensibly to propagate a “leftist ideology”.

Both Prabir Purkayastha and the personnel at Newsclick Studio have been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the receipt of Rs. 28.46 crore from foreign sources, as per reports.

NewsClick and China link

After the ED investigation in 2021, an investigation by the New York Times in August 2023 uncovered an ecosystem of activist organisations, non-profits, shell corporations, and their intimate ties to China and Chinese propaganda. Notably, Neville Roy Singham is at the heart of this network. The article read, “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.”

It was highlighted that he has been successful in spreading talking points from the communist administration in nations including India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States under the guise of progressive advocacy. The report pointed out, “In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points.”

This is a developing story.

Liberal ‘journalists’ start whining after raids on people connected to China-funded NewsClick, talk about ‘freedom of press’ when issue is about sovereignty of India

OpIndia Staff
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Liberal ‘journalists’ start whining after raids on people connected to China-funded NewsClick, talk about ‘freedom of press’ when issue is about sovereignty of India

On the morning of the 3rd of October 2023, several individuals connected to the online portal NewsClick were raided for illicit foreign funds, including from US organisations and Chinese organisations. Several journalists including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty and Sohail Hashmi. All the journalists raided have links with NewsClick.

As soon as the news of the raids emerged, the usual suspects started crying copious amounts of tears. The trope they used while tweeting leaves nobody surprised – according to them – the raids proved that the freedom of the press was under threat in India.

While the raids were being conducted, the Left ecosystem went on overdrive to pull the wool over people’s eyes and claim that any investigation of individuals who seem to have benefitted from illicit funding from a hostile nation to further propaganda against India was an attack on the free press.

Propagandist Rohini Singh, who fancies herself as a journalist, claimed that the news of the raids indicates that journalism is the greatest crime in India. It is pertinent to note that Rohini Singh’s name had even featured in the Radia Tapes controversy and has been in the habit of pushing not just political propaganda but also blatant fake news.

Self-proclaimed Muslim journalist from The Wire, who often shields Islamists, furthers fake news and pushes anti-Hindu propaganda, also toed the same line. Arfa Khanum Sherwani tweeted the report from The Wire with the question – “Mother of democracy, anyone?”.

Rajdeep Sardesai, the self-proclaimed vulture who gave a political context to the brutal murder of Prashant Poojari (a Hindu murdered by PFI Jihadis) and expressed his excitement about covering the Parliament terrorist attack, scripted history by getting his tweet right only after 1 edit.

In his tweet, Rajdeep said, “Breaking story this morning: Delhi police special cell raids homes of several journalists/writers associated with Newsclick website. Take away mobiles and laptops.. interrogation on. No warrant/FIR shown yet. Since when did journalists become state ‘enemies’ in a democracy?”

Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of Islamic propaganda outlet AltNews and whose partner dog-whistles against Hindu women on a regular basis, along with trying to whitewash Jihadi crimes, also declared that the government was “crossing all limits”.

It is pertinent to note that all the individuals who are being raided currently have been spreading anti-India propaganda for a very long time. None of them were prosecuted for their opinions and views and the raids are not because the government of India willy nilly decided to prosecute those who are journalists.

The individuals being raided were or are connected to NewsClick which is under scanner for taking money from a hostile nation – China – to further their state propaganda in India and against the sovereignty of India.

An investigation by the New York Times in August 2023 uncovered an ecosystem of activist organisations, non-profits, shell corporations, and their intimate ties to China and Chinese propaganda. Notably, Neville Roy Singham is at the heart of this network. The article read, “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.”

It was highlighted that he has been successful in spreading talking points from the communist administration in nations including India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States under the guise of progressive advocacy. The report pointed out, “In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points.”

Through this global ecosystem of activists and non-governmental organisations, China, which has been attempting to assert its economic and global might for quite some time, has created a system that covertly promotes the Chinese people and reiterates the official line. It showed how the country has been able to deflect criticism of its violations of human rights from around the world and how its position on global issues is woven into international discourses owing to this network.

Further, even before the New York Times investigation, NewsClick was already under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate in India.

The investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unveiled that an overseas fund amounting to Rs. 38.05 crores was deceitfully injected into NewsClick over a span of three years. The received funds purportedly found their way to numerous contentious journalists, among them Gautam Navlakha and individuals associated with Teesta Setalvad. Under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a thorough search at the premises of PPK Newsclick Studio, its affiliated entities, as well as the directors and shareholders (consisting of ten entities) situated in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). Throughout the course of the search at that time, foreign currency, documents indicating wrongdoing, and digital proof were confiscated.

Upon meticulous examination of the gathered evidence, it was uncovered that there were dubious transactions involving foreign inward remittances. Specifically, Rs. 9.59 crore was introduced through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and an additional Rs. 28.46 crore was purportedly generated through the export of services. The ED Investigation brought to light that Prabir Purkayastha, the Director of Newsclick, had been acquainted with Neville Roy Singham of Worldwide Media Holdings LLC (Limited Liability Company) since 2017.

During the questioning, Prabir allegedly stated that he had no knowledge about Navielle’s company. After the NYT story, it was proven that Prabir had clearly lied to the investigation agencies in 2021. In fact, even during the ED investigation, Prabir’s lie did not hold.

Based on the digital evidence seized, it was revealed that Prabir, in collaboration with Neville Roy Singham, who is reportedly linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC), had orchestrated a complex scheme. To elaborate, the allegations suggest that Prabir Purkayastha and his associates, in an effort to secure a fund of Rs. 9.59 crores from a Chinese entity with significant emphasis, established a legal façade of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Furthermore, it is claimed that Neville Roy Singham had earlier transferred funds to Prabir under the pretext of consultancy fees, ostensibly to propagate a “leftist ideology”. Both Prabir Purkayastha and the personnel at Newsclick Studio have been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the receipt of Rs. 28.46 crore from foreign sources.

The overview of the investigation clearly reveals that NewsClick was accepting illegal funds from abroad and a large part of the fund was in lieu of spreading anti-India commentary. This is the classic example of undermining the sovereignty of a nation and manipulating the people to believe propaganda against their own nation. In a democracy, it is essential that people are allowed to elect their representatives without the interference of foreign powers who wish to undermine national interests. While those like Rajdeep Sardesai and Pratik Sinha cry copious amounts of tears, these elementary facts are pushed under the rug by those who support foreign interference in India’s democracy simply because they don’t like the outcome of the said democracy.

Rajdeep claimed that ‘journalists cannot be considered the enemy of the state’. He is patently wrong. Any individual can be considered an enemy of the state if they have accepted funds from a hostile nation to undermine the democracy of India. In fact, if the law did not take its course for a specific set of individuals (journalists) who are undermining India’s sovereignty simply because of what they do for a living (journalism – apparently), that would be the very definition of a dysfunctional democracy where the law is unequally applied to citizens.

Any individual accepting money to undermine India’s democracy by a foreign power is liable to be prosecuted. Whether that individual is a plumber, an army man, a police official, a politician or a journalist – is inconsequential. In fact, journalists, who fancy themselves as one of the pillars of democracy must be far more ashamed of undermining the very democracy they claim to uphold after accepting money from foreign powers.

Those “liberals” whining today are not whining because India’s democracy has been compromised. They are upset because the treachery of some elements from the journalist class, who have peddled their paid propaganda against India under the garb of neutrality and the freedom of the press – are being investigated and exposed for what they truly are – pens for hire.

Delhi Police raids residence of Abhisar Sharma, Prabir Purkayastha and others related to China-funded NewsClick, laptop and phone confiscated

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police raids residence of Abhisar Sharma, Prabir Purkayastha and others related to China-funded NewsClick, laptop and phone confiscated

On the 3rd of October 2023 morning, it was reported that the Delhi Police had raided several locations in connection with the online portal NewsClick, which had received several crores in funding from China.

One of the locations raided by the Delhi Police in connection with the Newsclick scandal was that of television journalist turned YouTuber Abhisar Sharma.

Abhisar Sharma took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform that the Delhi Police had landed at his residence and was confiscating his laptop and phone.

According to reports, several individuals have been raided – all of them connected to NewsClick. “Police raids Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty and Sohail Hashmi’s places this morning. Phones and laptops taken. Some of them taken to police station. All of them associated with Newsclick”, one journalist tweeted.

It is pertinent to note that NewsClick has been under the scanner for illicit foreign funding since the year 2021 – when Abhisar Sharma was working for the portal as well.

Enforcement Directorate says NewsClick received funds from US-based companies worth crores

The investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unveiled that an overseas fund amounting to Rs. 38.05 crores was deceitfully injected into NewsClick over a span of three years.

The received funds purportedly found their way to numerous contentious journalists, among them Gautam Navlakha and individuals associated with Teesta Setalvad.

Under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a thorough search at the premises of PPK Newsclick Studio, its affiliated entities, as well as the directors and shareholders (consisting of ten entities) situated in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).

Throughout the course of the search, foreign currency, documents indicating wrongdoing, and digital proof were confiscated.

Upon meticulous examination of the gathered evidence, it was uncovered that there were dubious transactions involving foreign inward remittances. Specifically, Rs. 9.59 crore was introduced through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and an additional Rs. 28.46 crore was purportedly generated through the export of services.

The ED Investigation brought to light that Prabir Purkayastha, the Director of Newsclick, had been acquainted with Neville Roy Singham of Worldwide Media Holdings LLC (Limited Liability Company) since 2017.

During the questioning, Prabir allegedly stated that he had no knowledge about Navielle’s company.

Based on the digital evidence seized, it was revealed that Prabir, in collaboration with Neville Roy Singham, who is reportedly linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC), had orchestrated a complex scheme.

To elaborate, the allegations suggest that Prabir Purkayastha and his associates, in an effort to secure a fund of Rs. 9.59 crores from a Chinese entity with significant emphasis, established a legal façade of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Furthermore, it is claimed that Neville Roy Singham had earlier transferred funds to Prabir under the pretext of consultancy fees, ostensibly to propagate a “leftist ideology”.

Both Prabir Purkayastha and the personnel at Newsclick Studio have been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the receipt of Rs. 28.46 crore from foreign sources.

NewsClick and its China link

After the ED investigation in 2021, an investigation by the New York Times in August 2023 uncovered an ecosystem of activist organisations, non-profits, shell corporations, and their intimate ties to China and Chinese propaganda. Notably, Neville Roy Singham is at the heart of this network. The article read, “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.”

It was highlighted that he has been successful in spreading talking points from the communist administration in nations including India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States under the guise of progressive advocacy. The report pointed out, “In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points.”

Through this global ecosystem of activists and non-governmental organisations, China, which has been attempting to assert its economic and global might for quite some time, has created a system that covertly promotes the Chinese people and reiterates the official line. It showed how the country has been able to deflect criticism of its violations of human rights from around the world and how its position on global issues is woven into international discourses owing to this network.

‘Missing brain cells’: The Print columnist Shivam Vij trolled for asking why 15.5 per cent of upper caste in Bihar has a 50 per cent quota

Amit Kelkar
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‘Missing brain cells’: The Print columnist Shivam Vij trolled for asking why 15.5 per cent of upper caste in Bihar has a 50 per cent quota

Intelligence has never been the forte of The Print columnist and self-described ‘liberal’ Shivam Vij, who recently had an embarrassing moment when he shot himself in the foot in an attempt to attack the upper caste population living in Bihar.

Vij, who seems intellectually challenged if his utterances on X, formerly known as Twitter, are considered a credible indicator of his mental fitness, recently questioned why 15.5 per cent of the upper caste population in Bihar commands a 50 per cent quota in reservations.

Taking to X, Vij shared the results of the Bihar caste census released by the JDU-RJD government earlier today. The author, who has authored columns for various portals, including Shekhar Gupta’s The Print, provided a percentage-wise caste breakdown of different communities living in Bihar.

The EBC forms 36 per cent of Bihar’s population, Backward classes 27 per cent, Scheduled Castes 19 per cent, Upper castes 15.5 per cent, and Scheduled Tribes 1.8 per cent. Shivam’s gripe, however, was with the Upper Castes that form 15.5 per cent of the total population living in Bihar.

In a display of hilarious tomfoolery, Vij asked why 15.5 per cent of the population has 50 per cent of the quota. And before long, a raft of X users descended on his timeline and on the social media platform to point out the glaring flaw in his logic.

Popular X user Gabbbar Singh took a dig at Vij, referring to him as the JNU humanities expert and highlighting his dimwittedness. The user rightly pointed out that everyone, including the reserved classes, can fight for the remaining 50 per cent unreserved.

For the unversed, the Indian law sanctions 50 per cent of reservations for reserved classes such as ST, SC, OBC, NT, and other castes, while the remaining 50 per cent is unreserved, wherein everyone, including general category applicants and those belonging to the reserved classes, can compete based on the merit.

But Vij assumed that just because the law mandates 50 per cent reservations to reserved castes and groups, it meant the remaining 50 per cent is reserved exclusively for upper castes.

Now, such examples of foolishness are why leftwing ‘liberals’ are fast losing credibility among the masses. When they can’t process something as fundamental as basic math, one would be naturally inclined to harbour reservations over their understanding of complex topics such as geopolitical issues, scientific discoveries, and inter-community dynamics. 

Social media users troll Shivam Vij

The disdain for Vij and his class of ‘intellectuals’ was visible on X, where users mocked The Print columnist for his inability to comprehend fundamental mathematics.

An X user quoted Shivam’s tweet saying, “Missing brain cells.”

“Gazab c**tiya hai bhai tu”, said an X user over Vij’s tweet.

“Akal jab bhagwan baat rhe the tb sabse peeche khade the kya? Ki mili he nhi paayi? (When God was distributing wisdom, were you standing last in the queue)” asked another user.

Many others tried to knock sense in him, pointing out that there is a difference between open and reserved seats. 

But any attempts to bring him to reason appeared futile as Vij doubled down his spectacular buffoonery. He rambled on why the SC had come up with only a 50 per cent reservation figure and not 49.5 or any other. He further claimed that OBC, ST, and SC couldn’t get the seats in the 50 per cent unreserved or general seats, although he did not furnish proof to back his astounding claim.

If there is one reason why India’s education system needs an urgent overhaul, Vij’s tweet attached below provides a compelling case. Vij claimed that SC, ST, and OBC seats are converted into general because suitable candidates cannot be found. He then goes on to claim that raising the quota limit to 75 per cent would result in the implementation of the 50 per cent reservations.

If 50 per cent of reservations do not yield candidates required to fill the reserved seats, as claimed by Vij, how is 75 per cent of reservations going to be of any help?

Nevertheless, such fallacies in arguments have been a hallmark of Shivam Vij’s brand of journalism, which is replete with frivolous analyses, denial of reality, pathetic understanding of basic concepts, and a perverse desire to back oneself even when called out for intellectual dishonesty. With his refusal to accept his mistakes in this case, Vij demonstrates that he is perhaps among those journalists who try to distort facts to support their preconceived notions rather than allow factual accuracy to inform their inferences.

Carpooling is not banned in Bengaluru, people can use commercial vehicles with yellow number plates for carpooling: Karnataka Transport Minister

OpIndia Staff
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Carpooling is not banned in Bengaluru, people can use commercial vehicles with yellow number plates for carpooling: Karnataka Transport Minister

On Monday (2 October), Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy dismissed reports that the state government has imposed a ban on carpooling in the state and called it ‘false news’. He said that the government has not issued any such order but stakeholders will need to take permission to operate such carpooling services.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Reddy asserted that Commercial Vehicles with yellow number plates can be used for carpooling. He added that carpooling in non-commercial private vehicles with white number plates is illegal. 

The Karnataka Transport Minister Reddy said, “Carpooling is not banned, it is false news. First, let them take permission. When they have not taken the permission where is the question of banning? Everyone should follow the rules and regulations. It is illegal to use non-commercial private vehicles with white number plates for carpooling purposes. Commercial Vehicles with yellow number plates can be used for carpooling by following appropriate guidelines.”

Earlier, stating that carpooling affected their daily earnings, several taxi associations had complained against carpooling and submitted a demand to the state government to take action against them.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Reddy said, “According to the Motor Vehicles Act, it is illegal. Among the 32 demands of several transport unions, banning carpooling was also one. The argument is that whiteboard vehicles which are for private use are being used for commercial purposes. If they are using private vehicles for commercial purposes, then they will need to get permission.” 

This comes a day after BJP leader and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya wrote a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to revisit the rules of Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, and requested the government not to ban carpooling in the state. 

In his open letter to the state CM, Tejasvi Surya asserted, “While it is the Government of Karnataka’s contention that private vehicles cannot be used for commercial purposes, it must also be remembered that the law needs to be amended as per the changing times. As far as carriage of persons in private or contract vehicles is concerned, the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, are outdated and are insufficient to meet the needs of the present day.”  

He highlighted that the public transport infrastructure in Bengaluru is not able to cater to its population and reiterated that carpooling could be the solution to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Notably, Carpooling is considered an effective step to reduce the number of vehicles on roads and limit pollution. Basically, it is an activity where several officer workers or acquaintances commuting to the same places regularly use one car for travelling purposes. Meanwhile, Bengaluru, the IT city has the highest traffic density for any major city in the country.

Major accident averted on Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express, stones and rods were kept on railway tracks in a potential derailing attempt

OpIndia Staff
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Major accident averted on Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express, stones and rods were kept on railway tracks in a potential derailing attempt

On Monday (October 2), the driver of the Udaipur-Jaipur bound Vande Bharat Express averted a major mishap by applying the emergency brake to foil a potential derailing attempt. As per official information, the crew onboard the Vande Bharat Express noticed that stones and fish plates were kept on the railway track. 

A video, possibly shot by railway employees, is doing rounds on the internet in which the stones on railway tracks and rods fixed in plates can be clearly seen.   

Notably, the incident raised concerns of possible sabotage. It took place at around 9:53 AM between Gangrar and Soniana railway stations in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan. Following the incident, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) registered a case under the Railways Act. 

Regarding the incident, a railway official said, “As the train passed Gangrar, Loco Pilot Mubarak Husain observed an alarming sight on the tracks – two iron rods, each approximately one foot long, were maliciously placed on the rails.” 

The official added, “These iron rods were affixed to a joggle plate, a component used for connecting railway tracks. Additionally, stones had been deliberately stacked on the rails, posing a grave danger to the passengers on board.” 

The official assured that an FIR has been registered in this case and a comprehensive investigation will be conducted to hold the culprit responsible for this act of sabotage. 

“An FIR has been registered against the unknown accused at the Gangrar GRP police station under the relevant section of IPC, and a comprehensive investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the culprits responsible for this act of sabotage,” the railway official said.

After getting the information, DSC Ajmer, IPF Bhilwara, PWI Gangarar, local Police, and GRP officials visited the spot. 

Taking to X, the North Western Railway zone issued an official statement saying, “Today, in front of Vande Bharat Express going from Jaipur to Udaipur, between Gangrar and Soniana stations, anti-social elements have tried to damage the train by placing stones and iron rods on the railway track. Strictest action is being taken by the Railway Administration against anti-social elements and the culprits will not be spared.” 

The Udaipur-Jaipur bound Vande Bharat Express was recently introduced by the North-Western Railways Ajmer Division. On 24 September, PM Modi virtually flagged off its inaugural run.

Meanwhile, this Vande Bharat is covered under the “14-minute miracle” scheme which was launched on October 1 at Terminal Stations across Indian Railways as part of the ‘Swachhata-Hi-Seva’ campaign.

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