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‘I think Sharad Pawar will send his daughter Supriya Sule to fight for Hamas in Gaza’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

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‘I think Sharad Pawar will send his daughter Supriya Sule to fight for Hamas in Gaza’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is currently in the middle of a political furore over his remarks criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for standing with Israel in their war against the terrorist organisation Hamas.

Reacting to Pawar’s remarks, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave a bizarre response to Sharad Pawar’s comment and said it seems like the NCP chief will send his daughter Supriya Sule to Gaza to fight for Hamas.

“I think Sharad Pawar will send Supriya (Sule) to Gaza to fight for Hamas,” responded Sarma when questioned about NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s alleged remarks regarding India’s position on the Israel-Palestine issue.

Earlier, expressing solidarity with Israel over the rocket strikes launched by Hamas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on October 7 that India’s thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,” PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).

A heated political exchange emerged on Wednesday surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, with leaders from various parties expressing contrasting views. Union Minister Piyush Goyal also expressed his dismay at Pawar’s remarks, emphasising the need to condemn terrorism worldwide. Goyal pointed out that Pawar had held prominent positions in the government during critical security incidents.

“It is very disturbing when a senior leader like Sharad Pawar makes preposterous statements on India’s stand on a terror attack in Israel. The menace of terrorism has to be condemned in all forms, in any part of the world. It is a pity that a person who has been India’s Defence Minister as well as a Chief Minister many times has such a casual view of issues relating to terror,” he posted on X.

“Pawar ji was a part of the same Government that shed tears on the Batla House encounter and slept while there were terror attacks on Indian soil. This rotten mindset has to stop. I hope Pawar ji at least now, thinks of the nation first,” he said further.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also reacted to Pawar’s remarks and said that the country has never changed its position on this issue but has “always strongly opposed terrorism”.

“India has never changed its position on the Israel-Palestine dispute. However, at the same time, India has been consistently against and has always strongly opposed terrorism in any form and against anyone,” Fadnavis said in a post on ‘X’.

Fadnavis said that India followed the footsteps of other nations in the world in condemning the killing of innocent civilians in Israel and Sharad Pawar should also take the same stand against terrorism.

“When the entire world has condemned the killing of innocent people in Israel and India did the same, Shri Sharad Pawar ji should also speak in the same language against terrorism,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Earlier, addressing a gathering of party workers in Mumbai, the NCP chief said that while all former Prime Ministers of India have taken a firm stand supporting Palestine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

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

AIMIM leader Md Farhan moves to the court against Rahul Gandhi for naming his dog ‘Noorie’, says ‘religious sentiments hurt’

OpIndia Staff
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AIMIM leader Md Farhan moves to the court against Rahul Gandhi for naming his dog ‘Noorie’, says ‘religious sentiments hurt’

On Thursday (18th October), an AIMIM leader from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Mohammad Farhan, filed a complaint in a municipal court against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Farhan accused Gandhi of gifting a dog named ‘Noorie’ to his mother Sonia Gandhi and hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims by giving the dog a Muslim name. 

Mohammad Farhan, leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), stated that the dog’s name offended him and his community because the word ‘Noorie’ is especially tied to Islam and is mentioned in the Quran. The judicial magistrate’s office confirmed the development and said that the AIMIM leader had approached the court.

According to Farhan’s attorney, Muhammad Ali, they went to the Judicial Magistrate Aviral Singh’s court on Monday (16th October) in an attempt to file a formal complaint against Rahul Gandhi under IPC Section 295 A, which deals with offending religious sentiments.

The AIMIM leader is said to have learned the dog’s name from a variety of sources, including Rahul Gandhi’s YouTube channel, Facebook page, and newspapers.

The lawyer claimed that despite Farhan having encouraged Rahul Gandhi to rename the dog and issue a public apology through newspapers and TV channels, it had no impact on him.

The lawyer further confirmed that the court has asked the AIMIM leader to appear before the Court to issue his statement in the case on November 8. He also said that within the coming few days, Gandhi can also be summoned by the court.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted a video of himself on YouTube traveling to Goa and meeting a Goan family, who gave him a puppy. He surprised his mother with the gift by flying the dog to his residence in New Delhi.

“I’d like you all to meet the newest and the cutest member of our family, our little pup, Noorie. She flew in from Goa straight into our arms and has become the light of our lives. Unconditional love and uncompromising loyalty, there is so much this beautiful animal can teach us!” Gandhi could be heard saying in the video.

‘Spreading atheist fitnah, Allah is the only God’: Followers of Mohammad Zubair abuse Alt News founder Pratik Sinha after he claims there is no God

OpIndia Staff
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‘Spreading atheist fitnah, Allah is the only God’: Followers of Mohammad Zubair abuse Alt News founder Pratik Sinha after he claims there is no God

On 18th October, co-founder of dubious web portal Alt News, Pratik Sinha, claimed in a post on X that “there is no God”. His statement came while trying to support the Palestinian cause on social media. However, his attempt misfired as followers of his associate and co-founder of Alt News, Mohammed Zubair, accused him of misinformation and abused him.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sinha said, “Reminder: There is no god. Religion is a made-up thing. There is no one keeping account of the atrocities humans are committing on other humans. No one is keeping track of who’s good and who’s evil. American Presidents who have historically overseen the most amount of killing of innocent civilians across the world live very long lives. George Bush, the inventor of the fiction called WMD, is 77 and continues to live a healthy, hearty life while having authorised the killings of thousands.” (sic)

Source: X

Followers of Mohammad Zubair, who put a target on former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for quoting Islamic text during a debate, got irked by the post and called him out.

An X user, Mukarram, said Sinha was “spreading atheists fitnah in the name of fact-checking”. (sic)

Source: X

X user Azzhar Malik urged everyone not to donate to Alt News. Notably, every time Zubair put a target on a Hindu leader like Nupur Sharma or something favouring Islamists, the donations towards Alt News skyrocketed.

Source: X

X user escapereality47 questioned if Pratik Sinha was in a mood of getting abused on social media.

Source: X

Another X user, Sarfaraz Ahmed, wrote, “It’s your opinion, But we believe in “The God” Only one. I think you will also accept when you read the history of cruelty like Changez Khan, etc. One time world knows about his supremacy now what? Nobody knows where his grave is. So Every cruel person will be history as unknown.” (sic)

Source: X

X user EkUrdistani wrote, “This world is temporary and only a test. No one is punished during the test anywhere. Examiner waits till results day to pass and fail someone. Hell and Heaven are eternal and have many tiers. So act accordingly.” (sic)

Source: X

X user Asad Khan replied to Sinha’s post and said, “We believe there is, and all these evildoings are being jotted down perfectly, nothing is being neglected. Punishment and justice are sometimes delivered in this life or the hereafter, but there are no two thoughts about it not happening.” (sic)

Source: X

Another X user, Abu Moin, said, “Reminder: There is Allah, The ONE and Only, Creator and sustainer. All religions are man-made except Islam, which has been ordained and sent by Allah SWT. There are servants of Allah(Angels) who keep an account of every deed and will be held to account on ‘THE DAY’. Bushes, Netanyahu’s and Macrons leading healthy and hearty lives without being held to account is a testimony to man made system of Liberal-secular world order being incapable of delivering Justice and humanity need Islam for Justice to prevail.” (sic) He then urged him to contact Zubair for further clarification.

Source: X

Mohammad Zubair put a target on Nupur Sharma

In May 2022, former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma got agitated by the comments of Islamist panellist Taslim Ahmed Rehmani on Bhagwan Shiv and quoted Islamic texts in retaliation. However, Alt News‘ co-founder and fake news peddler himself cunningly edited the video to depict Sharma as a ‘blasphemer’. He ran an international campaign to put a target on her back, resulting in severe backlash against her. As a result, the BJP suspended her from the party, and she had to go into hiding. Because of the act of Mohammed Zubair, there were protests across the country, and Islamists killed Hindus for supporting Nupur Sharma. Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, Rajasthan, was beheaded by Islamists for supporting Sharma. Umesh Kolhe from Amravati, Maharashtra, was also killed for the same reason.

Specially-abled bride complains about inconvenience caused at the marriage registrar’s office, Devendra Fadnavis apologises and vows to fix the issue

OpIndia Staff
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Specially-abled bride complains about inconvenience caused at the marriage registrar’s office, Devendra Fadnavis apologises and vows to fix the issue

On Wednesday (18th October), a specially-abled woman named Virali Modi posted on social media platform X about the inconvenience caused to her at the marriage registrar’s office in the Khar area of Mumbai. Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took cognisance of her complaint and vowed to fix the issue she had highlighted.

Virali Modi registered her marriage at the Khar office on Monday (16th October). She brought it to public notice that there is no provision of lifts for specially-abled persons although the office is located on the second floor of the building. Moreover, the officers did not come down the stairs to sign the necessary documents for the wheelchair-bound woman who also works as a disability rights activist.

Virali Modi wrote, “I am disabled and I got married at the Registrar’s Office at Khar Mumbai on 16/10/23. The office was on the 2nd floor without a lift. They wouldn’t come downstairs for the signatures and I had to be carried up two flights of stairs to get married.”

As the TEDx speaker described this ordeal on X, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis himself took cognisance and replied to her saying that appropriate action in this regard would be taken.

Devendra Fadnavis wrote, “First of all many congratulations on the new beginnings and wishing you both a very happy and a beautiful married life! Also, I really am sorry for the inconvenience caused to you. I have personally taken cognisance and will take corrective and appropriate action.”

The marriage registrar’s office at Khar in Mumbai is located in an old building. Buildings in that era would seldom have lifts, but now Devendra Fadnavis is looking to fix this issue.

Ram Mandir: 51-inch Balswaroop idol to be handed over to the Temple trust by 31st October

OpIndia Staff
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Ram Mandir: 51-inch Balswaroop idol to be handed over to the Temple trust by 31st October

The decades-long wait of Hindu devotees is going to end in January 2024. The construction work of the Bhavya Ram Mandir at Ram Janmabhoomi is progressing rapidly. In May, the Ram Janmabhoomi temple trust announced that three sculptors are making the Ram Lalla statue to be placed in the Garbhagriha. 

A member of one of the three teams, Vipin Bhadouriya recently informed that the 51-inch tall Balswaroop idol will be handed over to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple trust by 31st October. 

Bhadouriya asserted, “The statue of Ramlalla, which will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya’s Ram temple, is almost complete and will be handed over to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust by 31st October.” 

Bhadouriya has been working around the clock with his mentor, Ganesh Bhatt, who is an eminent sculptor from Karnataka. Regarding Ramlalla’s idol, Bhadouriya noted, “Our idol made of black stone will be the world’s most beautiful statue of Lord Ram, more beautiful than what was imagined. The beauty of the idol would leave people mesmerised.” 

He further highlighted that the idol depicts a balswaroop Ram, as a five-year-old, standing on a lotus, carrying a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. Additionally, the statue would also have fine carvings and designs. All signs related to Lord Ram are carved on the statue which will be 51 inches tall.

Bhadouriya added, “I am happy that our efforts have yielded some good results. Our work is on the verge of completion. After some finishing touches, the idol will be handed over to the trust by the end of this month.” 

(Image Source – X handle of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerthshetra @ShriRamTeerth)

However, he is not the only one who is preparing the Ram Lalla idol. In May, General Secretary Champat Rai said, “The construction work of the idol of Ram Lalla has started. Dr Ganesh Bhatt from Karnataka, Satya Narayan Pandey from Jaipur, and Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka are making idols at three different places on three different stones.” 

According to the Trust officials, the finest Ram Lalla idol would be placed in the ‘garbhagriha’, while the remaining two would be placed in another temple. The Ram Lalla idols are being made based on the sketch of internationally acclaimed artist Vasudeo Kamath. He hails from Karnataka’s Karkala town and his paintings from the Ramayana series are acclaimed worldwide.

Meanwhile, out of the three sculptors, two — Bhadouriya and his mentor Bhatt, and Arun Yogiraj from Mysore – have used ‘Krishna Shila’ (black stone) from Karnataka to carve the Ram Lalla idol. Krishna Shila is found in the vicinity of Karkala, a small town in Karnataka, approximately 60 kilometers away from Mangalore.

According to the officials, the most attractive and durable sculptures are made with Krishna Shila as it is one of the finest stones used for sculpting. A trust official said, “The stone, weighing 10 tonnes, 6 feet wide, 4 feet thick, and almost one foot long, was specially brought from Nellikaru village in Karkala, almost a month ago.” 

Whereas the third team comprising Satya Narayan Pandey and his son Shilpi from Jaipur is carving the Ram Lalla statue from ‘A-class’ stone or marble from Makrana. 

Regarding the usage of Makrana marble, Officials said, “Makrana marble is used for its durability, translucency and fine grains. It is ‘weatherproof’, as it is resistant to erosion and weathering, which makes it ideal for outdoor sculptures and statues.”

However, it is important to note that the trust is not using the two Shaligram stones, weighing 14 and 26 tonnes, which arrived from Nepal on 2nd January, for the construction of the Ram Lalla idol.

Regarding this Champat Rai said, “The two Devshilas were gifted to us by Nepal. These stones were calcite and quartzite and were procured from the Gandaki River in the Muktinath area of the Himalayan region. However, after consulting many seers, priests, and experts, the trust decided not to use the Devshila from Nepal. It was a difficult decision to take.” The trust has not yet finalised what will be done with Devshila.

(Image Source – X handle of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi TeerthShetra)

Further, the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust officials also elaborated on the procedure that will be followed prior to the consecration (pran pratishtha) ceremony of the idol, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take part, on 22nd January.

According to the officials, a grand procession will be taken out through the streets of Ayodhya and the Ram Lalla idol will be placed on a special chariot that is under construction. 

The trust officials said, “The scholars from Kashi will worship River Saryu and give a holy dip to the idol amid the chants of special mantras and hymns. On the final day, the idol will be installed in the garbhagriha.”

US sanctions 10 Hamas members and its international financial networks over surprise attack on Israel

OpIndia Staff
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US sanctions 10 Hamas members and its international financial networks over surprise attack on Israel

On 18th October (Wednesday), the United States announced sanctions against a group of 10 Hamas-linked entities and financial networks across Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, and Qatar. The sanctions are aimed at disrupting the funding of the Palestinian Islamist terror outfit, Hamas.

As per the official press release of the US Treasury, this action targets six individuals managing assets in a secret Hamas investment portfolio, a Qatar-based financial facilitator with close ties to the Iranian regime, two members of the terror outfit including a key Hamas commander, and a Gaza-based virtual currency exchange and its operator.

In its official statement, the U.S. Department of Treasury said, “The sanctions, imposed under a terrorism-related executive order, targeted nine individuals and one entity based in Gaza and elsewhere including Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, and Qatar.” 

Regarding sanctioning Hamas, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas’s financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children.” 

She asserted that the U.S. Treasury has a long history of effectively disrupting terror finance and we will not hesitate to use our tools against Hamas. She added, “We will continue to take all steps necessary to deny Hamas terrorists the ability to raise and use funds to carry out atrocities and terrorise the people of Israel.” 

As per the US Treasury Press release, the six Hamas operatives are part of Hamas’s investment network in Turkey and Algeria. The sanctioned operatives include –

  1. Musa Muhammad Salim Dudin (Dudin). West Bank-based Dudin manages Hamas’s Political Bureau and Investment Office and is responsible for negotiations to free Hamas members in prison.
  2. Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair (Hamza) is a Sudan-based Hamas financier. He has managed numerous companies in Hamas’s investment portfolio. Previously, he was involved in the transfer of almost $20 million to Hamas. He has facilitated funds for Hamas through a network of large companies in Sudan. 
  3. Amer Kamal Sharif Alshawa (Alshawa) – He is based in Turkey and is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Trend GYO. He has served as a board member on several Hamas investment portfolio companies. 
  4. Ahmed Sadu Jahleb (Jahleb) – Jahleb is also based in Turkey and serves as the Hamas investment portfolio secretary. He coordinates various activities for Hamas-controlled companies and Hamas officials. 
  5. Aiman Ahmad Al-Duwaik (al-Duwaik) – Algeria-based al-Duwaik is a senior Hamas investment portfolio manager. 
  6. Walid Mohammed Mustafa Jadallah (Jadallah) – Turkey-based Jadallah, also serves on the boards of several investment portfolio companies along with al-Duwaik. 

Two Hamas operatives sanctioned are – 

  1. Muhammad Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah (Nasrallah), is a longtime Hamas operative who is based in Qatar. He has close ties with Iranian elements. As per the press release, he recently was involved in the transfer of tens of millions of dollars to Hamas, including Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassim Brigades.
  2. Ayman Nofal (Nofal) was a member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassim Brigades. He was reportedly killed in an airstrike on Tuesday (17th October).

Two entities that were fundraising through virtual currency for Hamas have also been sanctioned. This includes a Gaza-based business Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company (Buy Cash). It provides money transfer and virtual currency exchange services, including Bitcoin. Buy Cash has been sanctioned “for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Hamas.” 

While Ahmed M. M. Alaqad (Alaqad), who is based in Gaza, has acted as Buy Cash’s representative and owner of the Buy Cash financial exchange. As per the executive order, he has also been sanctioned. 

The sanctions have been announced in the wake of the attack on a Gaza hospital. Presenting aerial pictures, radar, and telephonic conversation between two Hamas terrorists, Israel revealed that the attack took place after a Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s rocket misfired and struck the hospital’s parking lot killing several civilians. 

The sanctions have been announced right after U.S. President Joe Biden met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to terror-struck Israel. During the meeting, Biden asserted that it was the other side (PIJ) that had hit the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza which was followed by the announcement of sanctions against Hamas-linked entities.  

Kanpur: St Aloysius’ School teacher suspended for attempting to convert a minor Hindu boy and pressurises him for having physical relations

OpIndia Staff
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Kanpur: St Aloysius’ School teacher suspended for attempting to convert a minor Hindu boy and pressurises him for having physical relations

On Tuesday (17th October), a lady teacher from a missionary school in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) was suspended for allegedly pressuring a Class 10 student to engage in physical relations. The student’s father has accused the teacher of attempting to influence his son’s religious beliefs, aiming to convert him from Hinduism to Christianity. Subsequently, ABVP activists held a protest march on October 16th, demanding legal action against the teacher. The school administration responded by suspending the accused teacher.

The incident took place at St. Aloysius’ High School in the Kanpur Cantt police station area. The victim is a class 10 student of St. Aloysius’ High School. According to the victim’s family, their son, who believes in Hinduism, would get irritated even by the ringing of bells during Puja and worship in their house. For about a year, he had stopped respecting gods and goddesses. When the family asked the reason for this, he did not give any satisfactory answer.

Roughly four months ago, upon returning home from school, the child’s parents noticed that his Shikha, a sacred lock of hair, had been cut off. After thorough questioning, the boy revealed that a female teacher from the school had taken him to a church and cut off the Shikha. According to the victim’s father, a recent examination of his son’s phone revealed that the female teacher had been engaging in late-night conversations with the boy. These chats reportedly included the teacher sending explicit messages to the child, pressuring him to engage in physical relations.

The accused teacher, who has been teaching at the school for nearly 37 years, is approximately 60 years old and nearing retirement. The family of the victim has labelled the incident as a ploy to convert their child under the guise of affection. The parents alleged that the children were being brainwashed in the school by calling Hindus beggars. The principal of the school, Walter D’Silva, is said to be the mastermind of this conspiracy of conversion.

Moreover, it has been alleged that the husband and brother of the accused teacher were also complicit in this purported conspiracy. The teacher’s husband and brother also teach in the same school.

The victim’s father had lodged a complaint with the police on 11th October 2023. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad alleged that the school administration wants to suppress the matter, due to which the registration of the FIR is being delayed. On 16th October, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested over the incident.

The protest march was led by ABVP’s state organisation minister Anshul Vidyarthi. The ABVP demanded strict action against the school administration. The victim’s father also joined the procession. After this march, the school administration suspended the female teacher.

According to the student’s father, P White, a teacher at the school, told his son that Hindus are beggars. Additionally, there were purported restrictions within the school, including a ban on applying tilak on the forehead and tying kalava on the wrist.

The family also claims to have faced pressure to suppress the matter. Vikrant Agnihotri, an office bearer of ABVP, alleged that the school’s syllabus includes a chapter featuring great personalities of the freedom struggle, where a cross symbol is prominently displayed.

According to Kanpur Police, the matter is being investigated. No arrest has been made so far. Police said in a X post that further action will be taken on the basis of the facts revealed after the investigation.

‘Preposterous…Rotten Mindset’: Union Minister Piyush Goyal slams Sharad Pawar for his remarks on India’s stand on the Israel-Hamas war

OpIndia Staff
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‘Preposterous…Rotten Mindset’: Union Minister Piyush Goyal slams Sharad Pawar for his remarks on India’s stand on the Israel-Hamas war

On 18th October (Wednesday), Union Minister Piyush Goyal slammed NCP chief Sharad Pawar for his ‘preposterous’ statements on India’s stand on the terrorist attack that took place on 7th October in Israel. Taking to X, he asserted that terrorism should be condemned in all its forms. He added that it is a pity that senior politician like Sharad Pawar who had assumed several key positions in various governments has a “casual view” on issues relating to terrorism.

He tweeted, “It is very disturbing when a senior leader like Sharad Pawar makes preposterous statements on India’s stand on a terror attack in Israel. The menace of terrorism has to be condemned in all forms, in any part of the world. It is a pity that a person who has been India’s Defence Minister as well as a Chief Minister many times has such a casual view of issues relating to terror.”

Further in his post, Goyal slammed NCP Chief Sharad Pawar pointing out that he was part of the UPA government which didn’t act tough on terror attacks that killed innocent Indians. He also highlighted that the then-UPA government sympathised with the terrorists who were killed in the Batla House encounter episode. He further lambasted Pawar saying that “this rotten mindset has to stop” and advised him to think of the nation first. 

He added, “Pawar was a part of the same Government that shed tears on the Batla House encounter and slept while there were terror attacks on Indian soil. This rotten mindset has to stop. I hope Pawar at least now, thinks of the nation first.” 

Goyal made this remark in the wake of statements given by Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on the ongoing developments in the Middle East. 

On 15th October (Sunday), while addressing a gathering of NCP workers in Mumbai, Pawar argued that India always stood for the cause of Palestine. He added that former Prime Ministers of India also “stood firmly with Palestine”.

Accusing Israel of being an ‘oppressor’ and a guilty party for the recent turn of events, Pawar claimed that PM Modi shouldn’t have stood with Israel after it faced one of the worst terrorist attacks in recent history in which more than 1,300 unsuspecting Israelis have been killed.  

Pawar ranted, “It is very unfortunate that for the first time, our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) stood with Israel, leaving the real issue over there. He neglected the real issue. We should be clear about our stand. The stand of the NCP should be clear. We stand by the people who originally belonged to that land.” 

It is important to note that he made this remark claiming that India changed its earlier stance after PM Modi condemned the terrorist attacks on Israel, hours after it unfolded on 7th October. 

Following the 7th October terrorist attack, PM Modi expressed solidarity with Israel and condemned the “terrorist attacks” there. PM Modi tweeted, “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.” 

Later, on 10th October, PM Modi reiterated his stance when he received a phone call from his Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. PM Modi said the people of India stand firmly with Israel and expressed strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms. 

However, it is important to note that on 18th October (Wednesday) PM Modi expressed condolences at the loss of lives in the Gaza hospital explosion. He also expressed concern over the mounting civilian casualties in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war adding that those behind such deaths should be “held responsible”.

Pakistan: Court sends Hindu girl to shelter home after escaping from her kidnappers; her requests to be sent to her family turned down

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Court sends Hindu girl to shelter home after escaping from her kidnappers; her requests to be sent to her family turned down

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan continues to be an infernal place for its religious minorities particularly Hindus whose innumerable sufferings have no end in sight. The country’s police, judiciary and executive act as instruments to strengthen the hands of the extremists and facilitate the exploitation of Hindus. In the latest incident, a Hindu girl named Reeta Meghwar managed to escape from the clutches of Islamists in Sindh’s Badin. Ashiq Ahmadani had abducted her two months earlier and even authorities failed to locate her during the time.

She complained that she was pressurised to embrace Islam and marry a Muslim. Death threats were issued against her family by the accused if she refused to comply with the demands as she endured unimaginable torment at the hands of her abductors. She nevertheless found a way to break free from their prison and make it to the police station. Unfortunately, the police stations and the courts in Pakistan generally serve as means for the radicals to carry out such horrible crimes rather than being institutions to preserve and uphold the rule of law.

She implored the judges to allow her to be with her parents again after she was brought to court. However, the court directed her to be placed in the custody of Dar-al Aman which operates as a refuge for females. These safe shelters are usually regarded as the last resort in cases of contentious custody disputes. The girl pleaded to leave with her family, but the judges turned down the request. To put it plainly, the judiciary’s role looked dubious. She sobbed and begged to be taken home to her mother and father several times and collapsed to the ground in the courthouse courtyard in agony.

A similar instance surfaced in June of this year when a 14-year-old girl named Sohana Sharma Kumari was abducted from her home in the Benazirabad district of Sindh province. She was married off to a Muslim man after being forced to convert to Islam. Her plight was exacerbated when a Pakistani court denied her request to go back to her parents again in spite of her pleadings.

Her tutor and his associates abducted her in front of her mother at gunpoint. Her father Dilip Kumar Sharma reported her horrifying event to the authorities. Later, the victim was manipulated to release a video in which she revealed that she had become a Muslim and wed a guy of the same faith. Her parents however countered that she was a minor. Five days after her abduction and in the wake of significant social media outcry, the authorities found the victim in a house in the district.

According to reports, she gave a statement declaring that she wished to return to her family and after much wrangling a Pakistani court eventually granted her request. It allowed her to reunite with her parents, but it did not take any concrete steps towards apprehending the perpetrators.

Six French airports evacuated following threats as country remains on high alert after Islamist attack on school

OpIndia Staff
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Six French airports evacuated following threats as country remains on high alert after Islamist attack on school

On 18th October (Wednesday), Six airports across France were evacuated after they received emails issuing “threats of attack”, a police source told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Paris Beauvais, Nice, and Nantes airports were evacuated after what police described as either bomb threats or suspect packages.

According to sources privy to the matter, the evacuations at these airports near Paris were done to allow authorities to “clear up any doubts” that the threats might be real.

A spokesman for the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) confirmed that there had been “bomb threats” and “terminal evacuations” at four hubs: Lille, Lyon, Toulouse and Beauvais (north of Paris). However, the spokesman was unable to give further details immediately.

Confirming the evacuation, Lille airport tweeted, “Lille airport is being evacuated following a bomb threat. State security services are on site.”

While Nice Airport’s X account stated that it carried out security checks after finding an abandoned baggage item. However, it added that the situation has now returned to normal. 

The development comes at a time when France has been placed on the highest possible level of security alert since Friday (13th October). Earlier on 16th October (Monday), a school in northern France where a teacher was stabbed to death in an apparent Islamist attack last week was evacuated following a bomb threat. The attacker claimed allegiance to the Islamic State.

The incident took place on 13th October (Friday) when a man later identified as Mohammed Moguchkov killed Dominique Bernard. As per media reports, Bernard was a literature teacher and he was killed outside the Gambetta-Carnot school in Arras. 

Screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ during the attack, Moguchkov also went on to injure three other members of the teaching staff. The fatal knife attack took place on ‘Global Day of Jihad’ which was called by Hamas terrorists on the first Friday since the 7th October terror attack on Israel.  

Moguchkov was later detained by the police and France initiated an anti-terrorist investigation into the case as the French government described it as an “Islamist terror attack”.

Similarly, top Paris tourist attractions were also evacuated over the weekend due to fears of a potential attack. 

On 14th October (Saturday), visitors were evacuated from the Louvre Museum and Palace of Versailles for security reasons. They are two of the world’s most visited tourist attractions. Officials stated that they received a written message warning that there was a “risk to the museum and its visitors”, according to AFP. The museum decided to evacuate and close for the day in order to carry out “essential checks”.

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