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BJP in Telangana was on the rise last year, but has stagnated recently: What the issues are and how it may change the political scene in the state

S. Sudhir Kumar
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BJP in Telangana was on the rise last year, but has stagnated recently: What the issues are and how it may change the political scene in the state

“A week is a long time in politics.” is a popular quote often used by many commentators to describe the sudden change in fortunes of leaders and political parties. The politics of Telangana present a perfect case study of this popular quote. Even though things haven’t changed literally in a week,  it is indeed a wonderful case study as to how drastically the fortunes of all political parties have changed from the last time we analysed the political situation here.

After the debacle in 2018 (winning 1 out of the 119 MLA seats), the BJP tremendously picked up just within 4 months to win 4 out of the 17 MP seats in Telangana in 2019. The BJP then appointed a newly elected MP (and a Sangh member for a long time) Bandi Sanjay Kumar as the President of the state unit. The BJP won 2 important MLA bypolls in 2020 and 2021; lost a tightly contested bypoll in 2022; increased their strength from 4 to 49 in GHMC in 2020; and won a tightly contested Teachers Constituency MLC election in 2023. The Party President had embarked on a phase-wise padayatra. The success of this padayatra found a special mention by the Prime Minister himself, who asked other state units to emulate this. The MIM and BRS were even forced to celebrate the Telangana Liberation Day because of an astute move by Amit Shah as Home Minister. 

The rise of the BJP coincided very well with the massive decline of the Congress party. 12 out of the 18 MLAs that won in the 2018 elections jumped ship to BRS by mid-2019! Congress party was not registering their presence in any of the elections ever since (after winning 3 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections). The all-important Munugode by-poll happened while the BJ Yatra was in Telangana and yet Congress failed to get their deposit back in a seat that it held just a few months back! 

At a time like this, when BJP was on the rise and the Congress was on the decline, rumours began to float that the BJP state unit would be getting a new President in place of the then incumbent, Bandi Sanjay Kumar. The BJP got inflicted with the problem that the Congress continuously has – infighting! 

Senior leaders of other parties who joined the BJP were unhappy with Bandi Sanjay. They made a beeline to Delhi and complained to Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda. The subsequent phases of the padayatra weren’t happening now. Attempts of truce seem to be failing and it was getting very clear that all the advantage that BJP has gained is slowly beginning to wash away. The party’s central leadership finally gave in to the demands of these leaders. Bandi Sanjay Kumar was replaced by Kishan Reddy, who is also a cabinet minister in the central government. Rumours were afloat that Bandi Sanjay would be accommodated in the central cabinet as MoS but eventually, he was made a General Secretary of the National BJP (a powerful post nonetheless). 

While the BJP was busy with this infighting, the Congress suddenly started to revive. The win in the Karnataka elections in May 2023 came as a big fillip to the fortunes of the party in Telangana, very unexpectedly! Around this time, a former MP and a former minister were expelled from the BRS party by KCR. They belonged to the Khammam district. BJP has been traditionally poor in this district. Everyone was hopeful that these two leaders would enter the BJP giving it a much-needed boost. However, the BJP failed to woo these two leaders and the Congress Party grabbed that opportunity. And with this joining, now an influx has begun into the Congress party (when just about 6 months ago, there was a line to join the BJP!). To keep up the tempo, the Congress party chose to announce 6 Guarantees for Telangana (on similar lines to what they did for Karnataka) – which pretty much means that they have released their manifesto. 

Meanwhile, KCR, the CM and supremo of the BRS party, has announced candidates for 115 seats out of the 119 seats. He had made a similar early announcement in the 2018 elections too. In 2023, he is contesting from two different constituencies, which in itself is an indication that he is not very strong in his existing constituency. Contesting from two different constituencies is generally done for two reasons – Either to show that they are covering different regions in the state/country, or they are not confident about retaining the existing seat. In KCR’s case, both the constituencies he has chosen are very close to each other – which only indicates that he is not confident of winning the current one. As expected, there were dissidents in the party after the announcement of the candidates. So severe was some dissidence, that KCR had to induct an MLC into his cabinet in a hurriedly convened swearing-in ceremony, just 3 months before the election!  

Elections are due in December 2023. We are nearing October 2023. BRS party has announced candidates for 115/119 seats. Congress party has announced its manifesto in the form of 6 Guarantees. The BJP is yet to do any of this. The BJP, which was on the rise at this time last year, has now stagnated because of the developments over the past 6 months. The 2023 elections looked like a fight between BRS and BJP, just about a year back. It is now a fight between BRS, Congress and BJP (MIM will win their 7 seats). In a 3-way contest, the only beneficiary will be KCR. We now need to wait and watch what will unfold in the next two months. 

Iraq: 100 killed, over 150 injured as fire engulfs a wedding celebration in Nineveh

ANI
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Iraq: 100 killed, over 150 injured as fire engulfs a wedding celebration in Nineveh

At least 100 people were killed as a fire broke out during a wedding party in northern Iraq, reported CNN citing the Iraqi state news agency INA.  

Reportedly, 150 people have been injured in the blaze, according to local authorities, the media outlet said.

The deadly fire took place in the Hamdaniya district of northeast Nineveh governorate. The mishap was set off by candles, and other flammable materials used during the celebration, the Iraqi Civil Defense said.

Nineveh governor Najm Al-Jubouri said that the injured were taken to hospitals in Ninevah and the Kurdistan region. 

“There is no final count of the deceased and injured yet,” Al-Jubouri said, reported CNN citing INA. Videos from the site showed thick smoke billowing out of the Al Haytham Wedding Hall while crowds and ambulances gathered outside the venue. 

According to a wedding guest, the bride and groom were safe but devasted, CNN reported. 

“The bride and groom are fine. I was just with them now, but their condition is devastating due to what happened to people here,” the guest told the private Iraqi channel Alawla TV. 

The wedding hall was covered with highly flammable Ecobond panels that violated safety instructions requirements, CNN reported citing Iraqi Civil Defense. 

“The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when fire breaks out,” the Civil Defense statement said.

Following the incident, Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani directed his cabinet to assist the affected people, according to a statement from his office. 

Moreover, Sudani has been in contact with the Nineveh governor about the fatal incident and ordered a full mobilization to aid the victims, reported CNN citing INA.

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

Poland experts rule out Russian hand in Przewodów incident last year, say it was a Ukrainian missile that killed Polish citizens

OpIndia Staff
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Poland experts rule out Russian hand in Przewodów incident last year, say it was a Ukrainian missile that killed Polish citizens

On 26th September, Polish investigators said the missile that fell in Przewodów, killing two farmers in November last year, was Ukrainian and not Russian as previously by many. A report published in Poland’s newspaper Rzeczpospolita daily cited sources suggesting Russia did not have the missile in the region that could have reached Poland resulting in the tragic incident.

Notably, Ukraine has not cooperated in the investigation. The Polish investigators have made their own findings about the incident that happened on 15th November last year. Reportedly, a missile fell on a former peat factory and killed two farmers. The investigators have concluded that Russian involvement in the missile launch is unlikely. However, Ukraine has not yet provided Poland with any investigation materials.

“We have indeed obtained an opinion, but due to its confidential nature, we do not disclose its content,” said Łukasz Łapczyński, spokesperson for the National Prosecutor’s Office, to “Rzeczpospolita.” He added, “At the current stage of the investigation, investigative activities in the country have been exhausted. We have sent a request for legal assistance to Ukraine and are awaiting a response”.

Sources indicate that the opinion was formed using various sources, including comprehensive and confidential findings from domestic agencies. Experts from the Military Institute of Armament Technology secured the explosion site in Przewodów and endorsed the findings.

Investigators found that the missile that landed on Przewodów was a Russian-made S-300 5-W-55 anti-aircraft missile. The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office has determined the specific location from which the missile was fired, though this location is heavily guarded. On 15th November, a significant amount of shelling took place in western Ukraine, including a coal power plant near Lviv. Anti-aircraft missiles were launched from Ukraine in pairs in response. One missile successfully hit the intended target, while the other missed the target.

“In such a situation, when the rocket is at a certain altitude, its mechanisms should cause it to self-destruct. This did not happen. Why, it is not known,” said experts familiar with the investigation’s findings.

Shortly after discovering the torn parts, the prosecutor’s office pointed to the S-300 missile. They said, “This missile ranges from 75 km to 90 km. At that time, the Russian positions were in a place where no Russian missile could have reached Przewodów. They ruled out that it was launched from Belarus. Even assuming that Russian missiles were located in Belarus, the straight-line distance from where they were to Przewodów is 150 km. Moreover, the Russians do not have such missiles in Belarus.”

Ukraine had tried to blame Russia for its own missile hitting Poland, in attempt to get direct NATO involvement

On 16th November last year, OpIndia published a report detailing the incident in which it was explained that the missile was most likely Ukrainian and not Russian. The United States and Western allies said in a statement that the matter is under investigation but could not confirm the missile’s origin. Notably, the Russian defense ministry had denied the allegations too. At that time, Poland had remained cautious about the origin of the missile.

Poland President Andrzej Duda remained cautious with his words and did not confirm the missile’s origin back in November 2022 when there was a collective push to peddle claims that it was a Russian attack. He said the Poland officials were not sure about the origin and manufacturer of the missile. He added that the missile was “most probably” Russian-made but was not verified. Calling it a difficult situation, Duda said, “We are acting with calm”.

It is notable here that the S-300 missile systems were developed by the former Soviet Union and the Ukrainian military has been using them in the war.

President Biden convened an emergency meeting of world leaders

Following the reports of the explosion in Poland, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, chaired an emergency meeting of NATO leaders. Following the meeting, Biden said in a statement that it was “unlikely” that the missile originated from Russia based on its trajectory.

It is notable here that Poland is a NATO country. A Russian missile hitting Poland and killing Polish citizens could have had grave ramifications in the war.

Associated Press had fired its journalist for falsely claiming it was a Russian missile

On November 15, the Associated Press published a story that Russian-fired missiles cross into Poland causing an explosion killing two people. However, the newswire was compelled to retract the story after it turned out that the explosion was caused due projectiles fired by Ukraine. Later, it was reported by Confider that AP had fired James LaPorta, its investigative journalist who reported the said story. 

AP’s correction retracting its earlier claim on the missile hitting Poland

Poland stopped sending arms to Ukraine

Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has recently announced that Poland will halt arms exports to Ukraine due to the ongoing trade dispute between the two countries and concerns about Russian aggression. Poland is now focusing on modernizing its military capabilities, although the government spokesman has clarified that previously agreed-upon ammunition and armaments will still be provided. Notably, elections are scheduled in Poland for 15th October, and the government is facing pressure from the far-right groups. The party claims that Poland is not receiving enough gratitude for supporting Ukraine and accepting Ukrainian refugees.

On Tuesday (19 September), Polish President Andrzej Duda compared Ukraine to a drowning man dragging others down while defending his government’s decision to impose a grain embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products. During a media briefing outside the UN headquarters in New York, he targeted Ukraine for going against them at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and challenging their decision to ban grain imports from Kyiv.

Poland, along with other countries, imposed a ban on importing Ukrainian grain. They have stated that it is necessary to safeguard their local farmers. However, this decision has caused tension and complaints at the World Trade Organization. While Polish and Ukrainian officials are working towards a solution, Ukraine has retracted its complaint against Slovakia as both sides strive to find a resolution. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has suggested that countries opposing Ukraine on this issue may indirectly benefit Russia, leading to diplomatic tensions between Poland and Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s decision to sue Poland and Zelenskyy’s repeatedly offensive statements have created a backlash among Polish citizens and there is public anger over Ukraine’s behavior against Poland despite all the help they provide.

Kerala: YouTuber Shakir Subhan alias Mallu Traveler booked for molesting a Saudi woman, Atheer Al Amriyah in Ernakulam. Here is what she said

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: YouTuber Shakir Subhan alias Mallu Traveler booked for molesting a Saudi woman, Atheer Al Amriyah in Ernakulam. Here is what she said

In the Ernakulam district of Kerala, YouTuber Shakir Subhan popularly known as “Mallu Traveler” has been booked after a Saudi Arabian citizen alleged that the YouTuber tried to molest her on September 13 under the pretext of an interview. While the vlogger is currently in the United Kingdom, a lookout notice has reportedly been issued against him by the Kerala Police.

The Saudi woman alleged that the incident transpired on September 13, when she along with her partner went to interview the accused vlogger/YouTuber at a luxury hotel in Ernakulam. The victim alleged that Shakir Subhan had invited her along with her partner to his hotel room where he molested her.

Taking to X (formerly, Twitter), complainant Atheer Al Amriyah narrated the sequence of events and said, “We went to meet Shakhir for casual talk at the hotel lobby. Then Shakir invited us to his room. While we were in his room, (my partner) went outside, and Shakhir molested me. He touched my hands and forcibly pushed me to bed. He touched my breasts and kissed my cheeks. I pushed him away and stood up, when he came back again, he rubbed his private part to my body,” the Saudi national said.

She further said that, despite her efforts to push him away, Shakir Subhan continued to molest her. “I pushed him away from me and asked, ‘Why are you touching my body without my permission?’ ‘I am a man,’ he answered. I’m feeling horny and want to have sex with you.’ I went away from him,” she added.

She continued by saying she did not inform her partner about her assault immediately out of concern that he would fight with the accused. However, she informed her partner about the conduct of the accused vlogger later. 

She further stated that she reported the matter to the Saudi embassy in Delhi and the Saudi consulate in Mumbai, in addition to filing a police complaint.

The accused vlogger was charged with outraging a woman’s modesty under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Ernakulam Central police station. Vlogger Shakir Subhan alias Mallu Traveler has over 2.71 M subscribers on YouTube. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly attempted to outrage the modesty of the Saudi national.

The complainant further stated in the video that she never expected to be involved in such an incident in India saying that India treats guests as Gods. She also urged other women, particularly from Kerala, to speak up if they have faced similar incidents by Shakir Subhan or any other person and seek help from the police.

“Malayalis accepted me as their daughter-in-law and Indians consider guests as equal to god, as I hear this ‘Atithi devo bhava’. This happened to me in India, I never thought such an incident would happen to me in such a country. This is the very first time that anyone has dared to touch my body without my permission. I have a message for girls, especially those in Kerala. If you have been molested by Shakir or anyone else, please do not hesitate to speak up and go to the police,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shakir Subhan aka Mallu Traveler has reportedly refuted the allegations levelled by the Saudi woman calling it “hundred percent fake”. He added that he will counter the complaint with appropriate facts.

Canada’s Speaker of the Parliament resigns after global backlash over celebrating a Nazi war criminal, claims it was a ‘mistake’

OpIndia Staff
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Canada’s Speaker of the Parliament resigns after global backlash over celebrating a Nazi war criminal, claims it was a ‘mistake’

On 26th September, Canada’s Speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota, resigned after facing backlash over celebrating Nazi soldier Yaroslav Hunka. In his address to the House while resigning, Rota said he had made a mistake. Interestingly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all the Canadian MPs threw Rota under the bus after being globally criticised for celebrating a Nazi in the Parliament despite the fact that Canada has a long history of housing Nazi war criminals.

“I have acted as your humble servant, carrying out the important responsibilities of this position to the very best of my abilities. The work of this House is above any of us. Therefore, I must step down as your Speaker. I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognising an individual in the House.”

He added that his actions have “caused pain to individuals and communities,” including Jewish people, Poles and “other survivors of Nazi atrocities.” As Rota has resigned from the post, the MPs must pick another presiding officer soon to ensure the House of Commons can continue its function. Till a new speaker is elected, the deputy speaker will serve the house.

Justin Trudeau’s government threw the Speaker under the bus

On 24th September, Canadian Parliament speaker Anthony Rota apologised for celebrating a Nazi, Yaroslav Hunka, who had participated in the genocide against Jews during World War II. In his statement, Rota claimed that he was made aware of more information on Hunka that “caused” him to regret the decision to celebrate him. Furthermore, he claimed no one in the Parliament or among the Ukrainian delegation was aware of his intentions to celebrate Hunka during his address. As he apologised for the “mistake” everyone in Trudeau-led government threw him under the bus and washed their hands from the matter.

Trudeau said, “Obviously, it is extremely upsetting that this happened. The speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologised. But this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and, by extension, to all Canadians. I think particularly the Jewish MPs and all members of the Jewish community across the country commemorating Yom Kippur today.”

In the same breath, he also blamed Russia for the mistake Canada’s Parliament made. He added, “I think it’s gonna be really important that all of us push back against Russian propaganda and disinformation and continue our steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine as we did last week by announcing further measures to stand with Ukraine in Russia’s illegal war against it.”

Poland sought extradition of Nazi soldier Yaroslav Hunka

On 26th September, Poland upped its ante against Canada for honouring the Nazi war criminal, Yaroslav Hunka, and giving him a standing ovation in their Parliament on 22 September. Notably, the Polish ambassador to Canada lambasted the Canadian government for missing out on mentioning the Polish people in their apologies and asserted that neither Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor the Parliament speaker Anthony Rota has done enough on this issue. 

Additionally, the Polish Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czamek, wrote a letter to Karol Nawrockl, President of the Institute of National Remembrance – Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation, Warsaw and informed that he is taking steps to seek Hunka’s extradition to Poland. 

Canadian Parliament celebrated Nazi soldier

On 22nd September, the Canadian House of Commons gave a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, a former Nazi war criminal. Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, introduced him as a hero who fought for Ukraine’s freedom from Russia. The 98-year-old war veteran, however, was a member of a SS unit, the 14th SS-Volunteer Division “Galicia”, established in 1943 by the Nazis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present during the occasion.

Notably, SS was the main paramilitary group under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany and was primarily responsible for tunning Holocaust operations. 14th SS-Volunteer Division Galicia was made up of volunteers, which means that Yaroslav Hunka joined the unit on his own will, and was not conscripted.

Manipur: Two Meitei students who had gone missing since July reportedly killed, images go viral, CBI to probe

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: Two Meitei students who had gone missing since July reportedly killed, images go viral, CBI to probe

Two Imphal locals, Hijam Linthoingami (17) and Phijam Hemjit (20), who had gone missing since July 6, 2023, have been reportedly killed as two photographs surfaced online, confirming their tragic demise.

In one of the images that has gone viral, the two students were depicted seated on a grassy area, with two armed men visible in the background. Another picture, circulating across social media platforms, showed the bodies of the two students lying on grass.

In response to this distressing revelation, the state government swiftly announced its commitment to taking decisive action against those responsible. The students were recognized as Hijam Linthoingambi, aged 17, and Phijam Hemjit, aged 20.

Following the circulation of the images online, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh provided assurance to the public, affirming that prompt and resolute measures would be taken against individuals implicated in the abduction and tragic loss of the students.

A statement released by the Chief Minister’s secretariat conveyed, “The state government has become aware that images of the two missing students, Phijam Hemjit, aged 20, and Hijam Linthoingambi, aged 17, who disappeared in July 2023, have appeared on social media.”

The statement mentioned, “The state police, working in conjunction with central security agencies, are actively engaged in an investigation to ascertain the details of their disappearance and to uncover those responsible for the tragic demise of the two students. Security forces have initiated search operations to apprehend the culprits.”

 In response to this distressing situation, the government assures the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the kidnapping and killing of Phijam Hemjit and HijamLinthoingambi. The government is committed to ensuring justice prevails and will impose severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime.

The Chief Minister’s secretariat conveyed that the government has encouraged the public to remain patient and allow the authorities to manage the investigation.

On September 26, news surfaced that the state government had handed over the investigation regarding the disappearance of the two students to the CBI.

Reports say that the two students were abducted by Kuki militants. Protests have now erupted in the state again following the tragic news about the murder of the two students. Students have taken to the streets demanding justice.

The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state of Manipur has already resulted in more than 100 fatalities and thousands of displaced residents.

The first clashes occurred on 3 May following a “Tribal Solidarity March” organised by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in the hill areas to oppose the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Tensions rose in April as a result of a Manipur High Court decision ordering the state administration to make a decision regarding the Scheduled Tribe status issue.

‘False and unsubstantiated’: ISKCON refutes Maneka Gandhi’s allegations of selling cows to butchers

OpIndia Staff
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‘False and unsubstantiated’: ISKCON refutes Maneka Gandhi’s allegations of selling cows to butchers

On Tuesday (26 September), ISKCON rejected the allegations made by Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi against their organisation calling it unsubstantiated and false. Taking to X, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) issued an official statement emphasising that it exercises a high standard of cow protection and care. 

It asserted that it serves cows and bulls till their last breaths and it doesn’t sell them to butchers.  

The National Spokesperson of ISKCON, Yudhistir Govinda Das said, “Response to the unsubstantiated and false statements of Smt Maneka Gandhi. ISKCON has been at the forefront of cow and bull protection and care not just in India but globally. The cows and bulls are served for their life not sold to butchers as alleged.” 

The official statement noted that a video of Maneka Gandhi where she is making allegations against ISKCON and its cow care standards has come to their notice adding that the allegations are false. 

In its official statement, ISKCON pointed out that it runs several Goshalas and serves many cows, many of which were rescued from getting slaughtered. It added that it has done cow protection in countries where beef is consumed as a staple diet. 

The letter states, “ISKCON has pioneered cow protection in many parts of the world where beef is a staple diet. Within India, ISKCON runs more than 60 Goshalas protecting hundreds of sacred cows and bulls and providing personalized care for their entire lifetime. Many of the cows presently served in ISKCON’s goshalas were brought to us after being found abandoned, injured, or rescued from being slaughtered.” 

Stating that it has high standards of cow care/protection, the organisation added that it has been trying to revive the culture of cow worship and giving training to farmers on cow care techniques. 

It added, “In recent times, ISKCON has begun training programs for the farmers and rural households on cow care techniques to help revive the culture of cow worship and care as was the case in previous generations. Several ISKCON Goshalas are recognised and lauded for their high cow-care standards by the Government or association of Goshalas.” 

ISKCON added that they were surprised by Maneka Gandhi’s statements against them. 

In another tweet, ISKCON’s national spokesperson Das included a letter from a Veterinary doctor to highlight that even at their Anantapur Goshala, they serve many bulls and non-milking cows to refute Gandhi’s allegations against the particular Goshala.  

Sharing the document, it stated, “The Goshalas serve 76 bulls and 246 non-milking cows alongside milking cows with love and devotion.” 

ISKCON issued a statement as earlier social media was rife with videos where the Member of Parliament from Sultanpur, Maneka Gandhi alleged that ISKCON is one of the biggest frauds in the country. In the video, she stated that it gets several benefits from governments to run Goshalas but when she visited ISKCON’s Anantapur Gaushala, there were no non-milking cows, no calves in the entire dairy.

Afterward, she alleged that ISKCON sold these non-milking cows to butchers. “Probably no one has sold as many cattle to butchers as they did,” she added.

How Justin Trudeau hounded a small, independent news platform even as he waxes eloquent about freedom of speech and expression

Dibakar Dutta
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How Justin Trudeau hounded a small, independent news platform even as he waxes eloquent about freedom of speech and expression

Rebel News, a Canada-based independent news outfit, has been under the scanner of the Justin Trudeau-led-government for its critical stories about the Canadian Prime Minister and his policies.

Prior to the 2019 federal election in Canada, Rebel News’ founder Ezra Levant wrote a 137-page long book titled ‘The Libranos: What the Media Won’t Tell You about Justin Trudeau’s Corruption.’

The book detailed allegations of corruption in the Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau. The cover picture of the book even had a picture of the Canadian Prime Minister and his Ministers in the trademark style of the American TV series ‘Sopranos’.

Lawn sign promoting ‘The Libranos’ book by Ezra Levant

In order to spread the word about his book amid the 2019 federal election in Canada, the Rebel News founder adopted a ‘guerrilla marketing campaign.‘ Ezra Levant distributed lawn signs with the cover of ‘The Libranos.’

After his book received an overwhelming response in Canada, the Trudeau government used the election apparatus of the country to hound him. The Commissioner of Canada Elections ruled that the use of lawn signs by Ezra Levant to promote his political book somehow amounted to ‘third-party election advertising.’

The founder of Rebel News was even quizzed for not registering his media company with the Canadian government as a ‘third party election advertiser.’

According to the National Post, the Canada Elections Act makes it mandatory for third parties to register and declare election advertising on spending a certain minimal amount.

The Commissioner of Canada Election thus claimed that Rebel News violated election norms and fined them $3000. Ezra Levant rubbished the decision and pointed out, “It’s not a political campaign plan; it’s a journalistic campaign plan. Our competitors aren’t the Liberals. Our competitors are the Media Party.”

He added, “That enraged Trudeau — especially when it became a best seller. So Elections Canada assigned more than a dozen staff to investigate me and prosecute me. They’ve been hounding me for four years. They have already fined me thousands of dollars. And I’ve had to spend $100,000 in legal fees.

The founder of Rebel News emphasised that although several books were published about Justin Trudeau at that time, it was only his book and advertising strategy that faced the wrath of the Commissioner of Canada Election.

On September 21 this year, Ezra Levant filed an appeal before the federal court against the fine levied on him for supposed ‘illegal third party election advertising.’

Counsel for Rebel News, Aaron Rosenberg, argued, “(We are) one of the few media outlets that is meaningfully scrutinizing public figures in Canada, especially the prime minister. We’re talking about a prominent Canadian author (Levant) who has shaped political discourse in this country.”

The matter came up for hearing before Justice Cecily Strickland. She noted, “The publication of the book is not really the issue, it’s the promotion of the book by way of the lawn signs.” After hearing both sides on September 21, 2023, the federal court judge reserved her decision in the case.

Justin Trudeau and his disdain for Rebel News

This is however not the first time that Justin Trudeau hounded Rebel News through government agencies. In April 2022, the Canadian government denied ‘journalism licence’ to Rebel News, claiming that only 1% of its content is news.

In September 2021, the independent news outlet was also denied accreditation for covering 2021 federal election debates but it managed to get a ruling in its favour from a federal court.

Justin Trudeau has been upfront about his disdain for Rebel News. On being asked about his attempts to censor the news outfit, he justified, “The reality is, organizations – organizations like yours – that continue to spread misinformation and disinformation on the science around vaccines…”

He blamed Rebel News for fuelling mass protests by truckers against his government. “Frankly your – I won’t call it a media organization – your group of individuals need to take accountability for some of the polarization that we’re seeing in this country,” the Canadian Prime Minister brazened it out.

Canadian Prime Minister and his hypocrisy around ‘free speech’

Justin Trudeau has been the blue-eyed hero of the global left-liberal ecosystem for supposedly championing the cause of ‘free speech’ and ‘press freedom.’

As is often the case with such ‘liberal leaders’, the Canadian Prime Minister’s crusade in support of freedom of speech is based on political convenience. In December 2020, Trudeau was lauded after he extended his support to the anti-farm law protests in India and interfered in the country’s internal affairs.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protests by farmers. The situation is concerning. And we all are very worried about family and friends; I know that’s a reality for many of you,” Trudeau had said back then.

“Let me remind you, Canada will always be ready to defend the right to peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we reached out to multiple means directly to Indian authorities to highlight our concerns,” Trudeau had remarked.

With vote bank politics in mind, Justin Trudeau had also been downplaying the rising menace of Khalistani extremism in Canada under the pretext of ‘free speech’.

However, he was quick to curb the protest by Canadian truckers against his ‘undemocratic’ Covid-19 policies. “They don’t have the right to blockade our economy, or our democracy, or our fellow citizens’ daily lives. It has to stop,” the Canadian Prime Minister had said in February 2022.

His nefarious attempts to stifle Rebel News and disrupt democratic protests against his government by Canadian truckers show that his free speech advocacy is rather selective.

Poland seeks extradition of Nazi soldier who was honoured in Canadian Parliament, wants him to face prosecution for war crimes

OpIndia Staff
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Poland seeks extradition of Nazi soldier who was honoured in Canadian Parliament, wants him to face prosecution for war crimes

On Tuesday (26 September), Poland upped its ante against Canada for honouring the Nazi soldier, Yaroslav Hunka, and giving him a standing ovation in their Parliament on 22 September. Notably, the Polish ambassador to Canada lambasted the Canadian government for missing out on mentioning the Polish people in their apologies and asserted that neither Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor the Parliament speaker Anthony Rota has done enough on this issue. 

He emphasised that the Nazi soldier should be prosecuted for the war crimes his unit committed against the Jewish and Polish communities.  

Additionally, the Polish Minister of Education and Science Przemysław Czamek wrote a letter to Karol Nawrockl, President of the Institute of National Remembrance – Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation, Warsaw. 

Taking to X, the Polish Minister shared the letter and conveyed that he has taken steps to possibly extradite the Nazi soldier to Poland. 

In the post, he said, “In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian Parliament, which involved honouring, in the presence of President Zelenskiy, a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation, I have taken steps towards the possible extradition of this man to Poland.” 

In his letter to the Commission’s President, the Polish Education Minister narrated the entire episode that transpired in the Canadian Parliament on 22 September. 

It added, “I am appealing to the President to urgently examine the documents whether Yaroslaw Hunka is wanted for crimes against the Polish Nation and Poles of Jewish origin. The features of such crimes constitute the basis for requesting his extradition to Canada.” 

Polish Ambassador seeks apology from Canadian Prime Minister and asserts that the Nazi soldier should be prosecuted

On Monday (25 September), Polish Ambassador to Canada Witold Dzielski told Canadian media CTV National News that the act of honouring the Nazi soldier Yaroslav Hunka was “deeply hurtful”. 

He added that statements by both Rota (Canadian parliament Speaker) and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau don’t go far enough. It is to be noted that following the outrage, Canadian Parliament speaker Anthony Rota apologised for celebrating a Nazi collaborator. 

He said, “Days after members of Parliament gave a standing ovation to a man who fought for a Nazi division in the Second World War, House Speaker Anthony Rota has issued a public apology – but it doesn’t go far enough to address atrocities this division performed on Polish citizens during the war.” 

He criticised the Canadian government for leaving out Poland from their apology statements. He said, “It’s wrong that Poland has been left out of these apologies considering the Nazi division in question committed mass killings of Polish citizens.”

Dzielski added, “It’s important that allies working together need to have their facts right. In some of the commentary from the leaders, from the Canadian leaders, including the recent comment on the side of Prime Minister Trudeau, the Poles were omitted from the equation.” 

He also took to X to demand an apology from the Justin Trudeau-led-government saying, “I expect an apology.”

Going ahead, the Polish ambassador argued that the Nazi soldier should be prosecuted. Regarding this, he said, “This is a person (Hunka) who participated in an organisation that was targeting Poles, was committing mass murders of Poles, not only the military personnel but also civilians. For me, such people should not be present in public life and probably should be prosecuted.”

He also reiterated that the Canadian side should get its facts right. Demanding an apology from the Canadian side, he reminded Ottawa that during the Second World War, six million Poles were murdered. Six million Poles died. Half of that group, three million, were Polish Jews. 

Regarding Yaroslav Hunka – the Nazi soldier honoured in the Canadian parliament – and his Nazi unit (SS Galicia), the Polish ambassador noted that members of this division were involved in the mass murder of Jews, Poles, and Ukrainians during World War Two. 

According to him, this division, or members of this division, were involved in the massacre of almost 1000 Polish civilians in the village of Huta Pieniacka in the Galicia region in Ukraine.

He asserted that the fact that Canada is missing out on Polish people from the apology and tragic history is deeply hurtful. 

He said, “For the Polish communities in Poland and Canada, which is one million people, this is omitting Poles, omitting Poland, and that tragic history is deeply hurtful.” 

Ram Mandir’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ to be held on January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya: Ram Mandir construction committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra

OpIndia Staff
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Ram Mandir’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ to be held on January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya: Ram Mandir construction committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra

On Tuesday (September 26), Ram Mandir construction committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra asserted that the construction of the ground floor of the three-story Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be completed by the end of December this year. Mishra also announced that the consecration (Pran Pratishtha) ceremony is expected to take place on January 22 next year.

In an interview with PTI, Mishra said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take part in an event related to the “pran pratishtha” on any day between January 20 to 24 next year. However, he added that the Prime Minister’s Office has yet to communicate the final date.

According to the Chief Priest of Ram Mandir, Acharya Satyendra Das Ji Maharaj, the rituals will be held from January 15 to January 24. A letter was written to the PMO on their behalf, and a reply has also been received. Now, it has been decided that Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Ayodhya on the 22nd of January and will take part in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Prominent seers, eminent personalities, and scores of devotees have been invited to this consecration ceremony.

Nripendra Mishra added that currently, work is underway to design a device that will be installed at the peak of the Mandir. The device will reflect the sun’s rays on the forehead of the deity in the sanctum sanctorum on the day of Ram Navami every year. He continued that it is being made in Bengaluru, and its design is being supervised by scientists. Notably, the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, and an institute in Pune have jointly created a computerised program for this. 

The Mandir trust has decided to commence the consecration of Ram Lalla after Makar Sankranti on January 14, and it will be followed by the 10-day ritual of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (blessing) of Ram Lalla. 

Earlier, in June, Ram Mandir trust member Mishra had stated that the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya would likely be opened for devotees on the 24th of January next year after the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla.

He said, ‘It was planned to complete the construction of the ground floor of the Mandir by December 2023 and the work will be completed within the stipulated time.’ 

He added that the Mandir is being constructed with a view that its structure will last for at least 1,000 years. He emphasised that ‘Pran Pratishtha’ would be undertaken in consultation with knowledgeable saints and seers.

Mishra highlighted that a committee has been formed under the leadership of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai. It is working on the details of the planned function. 

He noted that when the ceremony would take place on January 22 next year, it is expected that there would be a huge crowd. He added that the Trust has urged devotees to watch it (through television broadcast) from their homes and villages.

Meanwhile, VHP has identified over one thousand major temples in the country where live streaming will be done during the inauguration ceremony of Ram Mandir. In the last week of January 2024, ‘Ramlalla Pran Pratishta Mahotsav‘ will take place in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Ramlalla will be placed in the temple on the ground floor, which is expected to be ready by the end of this year. Around 5 lakh devotees are expected to visit Ayodhya for the festivities.

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