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Dear Rahul Gandhi, House Number 0 is not ‘Vote Chori’, it is how ECI ensures that even homeless people, who are eligible voters, can vote

Aditi
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Dear Rahul Gandhi, House Number 0 is not ‘Vote Chori’, it is how ECI ensures that even homeless people, who are eligible voters, can vote

After the recent ruckus created by Congress Rahul Gandhi, with his baseless allegations of fake voters being included by the Election Commission of India in electoral rolls, ‘House Number 0’ has become a subject of public curiosity.

In a press conference held about two weeks ago, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the ECI, in collusion with the BJP, had included lakhs of fake voters in electoral rolls across the states. He claimed that many of these voters had a ‘0’ mentioned in place of their house addresses in their voter IDs, instead of specific addresses, and therefore, these were fake voters. To substantiate his allegations, Rahul Gandhi displayed a long document, which he claimed was the electoral roll of the Mahadevpura constituency in Karnataka, and pointed out several voters with house number 0 included therein.

A pointwise rebuttal of Gandhi’s claims was presented by the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, in a press brief on Sunday (17th August). Commenting on the issue of house number 0, the CEC explained that this was a norm followed by the ECI to include homeless people and people who do not have a clearly defined address.

The Election Commission often assigns ‘House Number 0’ or ‘notional addresses’ to include voters without well-defined or permanent residential addresses, such as homeless people, those whose houses have no official numbering, or those who failed to enter their full addresses in electoral forms. Similarly, multiple voters having the same residential addresses can be found in cases of joint families, shared housing or rented accommodations, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

The practice of assigning a notional address started in 2013

The practice of assigning house number 0 started in 2013, when the Election Commission decided to provide voter ID cards to homeless people. The decision was first implemented in Delhi, wherein voter ID cards were issued to homeless people for the first time.

A Block District Officer (BDO) told The Indian Express that to be enrolled as a voter, a homeless person is required to fill out Form 6 and provide residence proof of the shelter home he or she lives in, along with their date of birth. After the form is submitted, a BLO visits the address provided by the applicant for verification.

Homeless voters with house number ‘0’ in Delhi

The Indian Express spoke to some voters in the national capital, who have 0 written in place of their house address in their voter IDs. A 67-year-old migrant from West Bengal, Apurba Chatterjee, who works at a store at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, told the media outlet that he stays in a shelter home in Shankar Gali Sita Ram Bazaar, but his house address on his voter ID shows a ‘0’. “I had cast my vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the Delhi Assembly elections held this February,” Chatterjee reportedly said.

Another homeless person in his 40s, living in the Rain Basera Bangla Sahib shelter, also told the media outlet that he even opened a bank account using the house address ‘0’. The person reportedly moved from his previous Vasant Kunj residence to the shelter after some personal tragedy. He said that he has cast votes in all elections since 2013 using his voter ID, which mentions his house address as ‘0’.

Darshana, another homeless person, got her voter ID made while living in a shelter in the national capital. Darshana does not have an Aadhaar Card. She came to Delhi from Punjab years ago after her family abandoned her. She earns a living using a weighing machine. She is said to have voted in the last two Lok Sabha elections.

Voters with the House number ‘0’ in Rahul Gandhi’s own constituency

The practice is not limited to Delhi. Voters with house numbers marked as ‘0’ exist in all constituencies, including the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, which has been a stronghold of the Gandhi family. The Rae Bareli constituency has many voters with house numbers marked as ‘0’ and numerous voters with a common address. Does that mean that Rahul Gandhi won his seat using fake voters?

Voters with house number ‘0’ in Karnataka

About a week ago, videos of many voters with house number ‘0’ in the Mahadevpura constituency in Karnataka emerged. In the videos, the voters displayed their voter ID cards, which showed their house addresses marked as ‘0’. Some of these voters had been living in the area for 10-15 years. They said that their houses did not have numbers; therefore, ECI officials mentioned ‘0’ in place of the house number in their voter IDs. Their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) also mentioned house number 0 in the address field.

Notably, despite ECI clearly asking Rahul Gandhi to file a formal complaint containing his allegations so that an investigation can be initiated, the Leader of the Opposition has not so far filed any formal complaint with any authority. CEC Gyanesh Kumar pointed out during his press brief that Gandhi did not submit any evidence to support his allegations. The question remains as to why Rahul Gandhi, who created a national uproar with allegations of electoral fraud, does not want the allegations to be investigated.

Wang Yi’s visit and India’s strategies in a multipolar world: As Trump tariffs align Russia-China-India closer, Modi govt is treading with caution

Dr. Prosenjit Nath
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Wang Yi’s visit and India’s strategies in a multipolar world: As Trump tariffs align Russia-China-India closer, Modi govt is treading with caution

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit to India, capped by an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has set off ripples in global diplomatic circles. Rarely does a foreign minister receive such treatment from India’s leadership, and rarely is such a meeting publicly highlighted by New Delhi with such deliberation.

This was not a routine protocol call but a carefully crafted signal. As the world order drifts deeper into disorder, the meeting reflects both pragmatism and symbolism: a calculated reset between the world’s second-largest and soon-to-be third-largest economies, with India reopening channels where interests overlap, but without dropping its guard.

It is engagement, yes, but stripped of illusions.

What makes Wang Yi’s visit significant is not merely that he held the 24th round of Special Representatives talks on the boundary issue with NSA Ajit Doval or that he sat down with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The defining moment will be his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, a privilege usually reserved for heads of state.

That gesture is India’s way of saying it will engage China as an equal, not as a subordinate, and that Washington should take note. The message to the Americans is clear: their reckless, transactional foreign policy risks driving friends like India closer to their adversaries.

Beijing came bearing tangible assurances that go beyond diplomatic niceties. For months, Chinese restrictions on exports of key equipment and raw materials had threatened India’s infrastructure and industrial plans. Now, after Wang’s visit, Beijing has promised to resume supplies of tunnel boring machines critical for metro and highway projects, lift curbs on rare earth magnets indispensable for electric vehicles and renewable energy, and restart exports of speciality fertilisers essential for Indian agriculture.

These are not empty words but strategic concessions, designed to rebuild a modicum of economic trust. They address three of India’s most pressing vulnerabilities: construction, green technology, and food security. China knows exactly where to press and where to relax, and India has extracted these assurances with care.

The thaw is not limited to supply chains. Talks also touched upon resuming direct flights, restoring border trade, and easing visa restrictions, all suspended since the Galwan clashes of 2020. Yet nobody is under any illusion that mistrust has evaporated. Tens of thousands of troops still stand deployed along the Line of Actual Control.

Neither India nor China want a war, but Eastern Ladakh still remains an issue, India won’t compromise on sovereignty

Roughly 50,000-60,000 soldiers from each side remain in high alert positions in eastern Ladakh. Neither India nor China wants a shooting war, but neither will yield on sovereignty. The military reality underscores the fragile nature of this reset. Although trade and flights may resume, the mistrust along the Himalayas remains unwavering.

India also knows that Beijing’s embrace is never singular. Wang Yi’s next stops are Pakistan and Afghanistan. There, he will pitch for expanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghan territory, strengthen Beijing’s hold over Islamabad, and court the Taliban regime with promises of counterterrorism cooperation and economic connectivity. For India, this is the clearest reminder that China’s reset is transactional, not transformational.

Beijing will simultaneously talk peace in Delhi and plot encirclement through Islamabad and Kabul. That is why India continues to invest in “Neighbourhood First,” deepen ties in Africa, and strengthen its strategic presence across the Indian Ocean counterweights to China’s ambitions.

Timing is the key

The timing of Wang’s visit is no coincidence. It comes precisely when Washington is applying its version of coercion on India. President Donald Trump’s administration has slapped punitive tariffs on Indian exports, ranging from 25 percent to 50 percent, with additional penalties designed to punish India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.

In Delhi, this is viewed as nothing less than “tariff terror.” It is not partnership but pressure, not cooperation but coercion. Until recently, India-U.S. ties were at their peak, with defense pacts, Quad cooperation, and a shared Indo-Pacific vision. Today, America’s crude attempt to arm-twist India on energy security is pushing Delhi to diversify its options.

Wang Yi’s reception in Delhi, therefore, was also a subtle message to Washington: if America tries to box India in, New Delhi will chart its path, even if that means opening guarded doors to Beijing.

Not softening, it is strategic diplomacy

Critics may ask if India is now softening toward China. The answer lies in the details. India is not surrendering its core interests. Sensitive sectors such as defense and telecommunications remain closed to Chinese investments. The Quad partnership remains intact.

Military exercises with Japan, Australia, and the U.S. continue. What India is doing is managing risks intelligently, accepting economic concessions where they help, but refusing to compromise on sovereignty or strategic autonomy. By carefully publicising Wang Yi’s meeting with Modi, India projected confidence and equality, not submission.

This diplomacy is choreographed for a larger stage. Modi’s upcoming trip to China for the SCO summit, possible bilateral meetings with Xi Jinping, and onward travels to Japan will showcase India’s multipolar engagement. If the much-rumored Modi-Xi-Putin trilateral at the SCO summit takes place, the symbolism will be unmistakable: India will not be dragged into America’s camp, nor will it be absorbed into China’s orbit.

It will remain an independent, sovereign pole in a multipolar world. That is civilizational sovereignty in practice, the hallmark of Modi’s foreign policy.

Wang Yi’s visit is less about friendship and more about realpolitik. China is offering economic carrots to test India’s responses; India is accepting what helps but refusing to lower its guard. America is resorting to tariff sticks that only harden Indian resolve. In this triangular power game, Delhi is pursuing its script flexibility without illusions, engagement without surrender, and independence without apology.

The world may see Wang Yi’s visit as a thaw in India-China relations, but it is better understood as an assertion of India’s autonomy. The boundary remains contested, the mistrust remains deep, and China’s ties with Pakistan remain toxic.

Yet India is willing to talk, extract concessions, and buy itself breathing space, all while preparing for the long strategic competition ahead. In this balancing act, Modi’s government has made one thing clear: India will not be dictated to by Washington, manipulated by Beijing, or confined by either power. The message is simple but unmistakable: India is nobody’s pawn.

Massive win for the Himanta govt as Gauhati High Court directs illegal encroachers to vacate reserve forest land in Assam: Here is what you should know

OpIndia Staff
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Massive win for the Himanta govt as Gauhati High Court directs illegal encroachers to vacate reserve forest land in Assam: Here is what you should know

On Monday (18th August), the Gauhati High Court ruled in favour of evicting families that have illegally encroached upon Doyang and Nambor reserve forests in Golaghat district of Assam.

The verdict was delivered by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury.

The Bench was hearing petitions that were filed by 74 people, living in Doyang and Nambor reserve forests. They had previously been served notices by the Golaghat district administration to vacate the forest land within 7 days.

The illegal encroachers thereafter moved the Gauhati High Court, challenging the notices served to them.

They alleged that the notices violated provisions of the Assam Land Policy of 2019, Assam Land and Revenue Regulation of 1886 and an order of the Supreme Court dated 13th December 2024.

On 5th August this year, the Division Bench had given 10 days to the petitioners to provide documentary evidence of their land rights.

After the petitioners failed to furnish evidence, the Gauhati High Court on Monday ruled that the petitioners must vacate the forest reserves by Sunday (24th August) or get evicted by the Golaghat district administration.

Observations made by the Gauhati High Court

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury directed the Assam government to take stringent measures to prevent further illegal entry and settlement in Doyang and Nambor reserve forests.

The court ruled, “A proper check mechanism needs to be put in place which would prevent any illegal entry in reserve forest area. It could be by way of checking the entry points, putting barbed wires at porous borders and setting up of functional check posts.”

“All this (measures) would become effective only if the officers and persons managing such check posts do their job honestly and efficiently. If ever any such illegal entry is found, necessary penal action should be initiated against the officials,” it further added.

The Judges directed the government to come up with regulations and institutional mechanisms that preserve forests and penalise forest officers who allow illegal or unauthorised entry to forest reserves.

They called for constant surveillance of reserve forest areas to uphold ecological balance. The Gauhati High Court noted that enough time was given to the petitioners to vacate the Doyang and Nambor reserve forests.

It issued a future guideline of 15 days’ notice, followed by a period of another 15 days for encroachers to vacate government-owned land.

The Himanta Biswa Sarma government has so far cleared 1 lakh bighas of land from illegal encroachers.

‘Aamir locked me up in home for a year, family pressured me to marry my aunt’: Faissal Khan’s explosive revelations

OpIndia Staff
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‘Aamir locked me up in home for a year, family pressured me to marry my aunt’: Faissal Khan’s explosive revelations

Actor Faissal Khan, best remembered for his role in Mela and more recently for his public fallout with brother Aamir Khan, has once again stirred controversy with explosive claims against his family. Days after officially cutting all ties with them, Faissal called his life since 2005 “a nightmare,” pointing to years of mistreatment, a bruising legal battle in 2016, and even pressure to marry his mother’s cousin, his own aunt.

Revealing details of the alleged family demand, Faissal said, “I was busy with work and not at all interested. My refusal led to endless fights, so I chose to distance myself. Even my mother was furious that I wouldn’t marry my aunt.”

The feud worsened, he claimed, after he wrote a letter exposing uncomfortable truths about his siblings. He alleged that Aamir had a child out of wedlock with journalist Jessica Hines while living with Kiran Rao, and that his sister Nikhat had been married multiple times. “They all turned against me and wanted me declared insane,” Faissal alleged.

In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Faissal alleged that his family branded him schizophrenic, calling him “mad” and a danger to society. He further claimed that Aamir once confined him in their Mumbai home for over a year, forcing him to take medication and even stationing guards outside his room.

Past allegations leveled by Faissal against Aamir

This isn’t the first time Faissal has accused his family of conspiring against him. In a 2020 interview with Bollywood Hungama, while preparing for his directorial debut, he insisted he never suffered from mental illness and was wrongly branded schizophrenic. He claimed he was forcibly given heavy medication, kept under house arrest for a year, and pressured to surrender his signatory rights. A court battle followed, and JJ Hospital eventually deemed him mentally fit.

“I was never depressed or schizophrenic. My family assumed I was ill, locked me up, and gave me illegal medication,”Faissal had said, adding that he eventually fled home to reclaim his independence.

He also recounted feeling humiliated at Aamir Khan’s 50th birthday party, alleging that filmmaker Karan Johar insulted him publicly because of his “flop” status. Speaking about the film industry at large, Faissal lashed out at nepotism and groupism, calling Bollywood no different from “Kalyug.”

Interestingly, Aamir Khan had offered a very different account back in 2007, claiming doctors at JJ Hospital had indeed declared Faissal mentally ill and that he had even sought custody of him, though the court eventually granted it to their father.

Modi govt plans three shipbuilding clusters at the cost of 75,000 crore on east and west coasts of India, discussions between domestic and foreign companies underway

Rukma Rathore
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Modi govt plans three shipbuilding clusters at the cost of 75,000 crore on east and west coasts of India, discussions between domestic and foreign companies underway

The Modi government has been taking concerted effort to develop India into a prominent maritime hub for shipbuilding. The centre is now considering investing ₹75,000 crore in the three new shipyards that are expected to be built along its east and west coasts, in a yet another significant step in this direction, reported Mint. The yards would be able to build and fix ships after the investment which is spread out over four to five years.

The union ports ministry informed, “The government is seeking to set up three greenfield shipbuilding clusters and support the existing shipyards carry out brownfield expansion. Overall, the government is targeting about ₹25,000 crore investment per greenfield cluster, which may be subject to significant changes based on the final locations and the shipyard sizes.”

According to the government, five states are negotiating with domestic and international shipbuilders to determine the best sites for the facilities. A shipbreaking plant might also be located at one of the shipyards, providing materials for production. “MoPSW (Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways) is also finalizing schemes to support these clusters (greenfield). For the brownfield expansion of existing yards, there is a scheme under finalization to support the expansion efforts of all the yards,” the ministry conveyed.

Greenfield manufacturing signifies the creation of facilities entirely anew, in contrast, brownfield relates to the development of current structures. The anticipated total sum of ₹75,000 is projected to be sourced from central government and multiple firms. Indian state-run companies had been seeking to collaborate with international shipbuilders and were looking to Korea and Japan for shipbuilding projects.

While current public sector shipbuilders are independently negotiating joint partnerships with Korean companies, discussions are underway with Japanese and Korean shipbuilders regarding participation in Indian clusters.

Massive boost to “Make in India”

The shipbuilding initiative is part of the government’s strategy to manufacture ships of all sizes domestically and to foster the development of cargo ships that are built, owned, and flagged in India. At present, the country’s share in the global shipbuilding market is below 1%. The government aims to increase the proportion of Indian-built ships in the national fleet from the current 5% to 7% by 2030 and to staggering 69% by 2047.

According to shipping secretary T.K. Ramachandran, five potential sites in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra are being evaluated for the creation of shipbuilding clusters. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Odisha have been selected for the first three where land identification and notification for the project has been completed swiftly. These states have also formed special purpose vehicles and commissioned a techno-economic feasibility report (TEFR) for the same.

Initial viability studies have been conducted at a few of the sites and more are about to follow. According to the ministry, shipbuilders would be informed of the results and asked to invest in there.  Anshuman Magazine expressed, “A significant capital commitment under a public-private partnership model underpins the ambitious objective of becoming a leading shipbuilding power by 2047. While the challenge is massive, the opportunity is equally substantial.”

He is the chairman & CEO, India, South East Asia, Middle East & Africa, at CBRE (Global Commercial Real Estate Services), a global consulting firm. Magazine futher noted, “India is a classic example of peninsular geography, with an extensive coastline spanning nine states, which provides a distinct competitive advantage in maritime logistics across the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.”

He added, “The regional market, particularly the supply chains of emerging Southeast Asian economies, presents a huge opportunity for India to position itself as a reliable and cost-competitive alternative in the shipbuilding industry.”

Significant efforts underway

Indian authorities have visited traditional shipbuilding sites in Korea, Japan, and a few Scandinavian countries to discuss collaboration and joint ventures. Some partnerships between international shipbuilders and Indian state-owned and private sector businesses will likely be announced during the coming months.

The Maritime Development Fund, a ₹25,000 crore government-industry cooperation, was proposed in the FY26 budget to support the growth of manufacturing clusters with an emphasis on shipbuilding and breaking. Additionally, the budget suggested that the current Shipbuilding Financial Assistance (SBF) policy be redesigned to alleviate cost disadvantages and offer shipbreaking Credit Notes to assist in the purchase of ships built domestically.

Large ships have also been included to the infrastructure harmonised master list (HML) by the budget which makes it easier to buy ships. Moreover, it extends the baseline customs duty exemption for a further ten years on raw materials, components, consumables, or parts used in shipbuilding. The official government announcement is pending for these programs.

According to the government’s Maritime Vision 2030 and Vision 2047 plans, India intends to be among the top 10 and top 5 shipbuilding and ship-owning nations in the world, respectively. The goal is to invest between ₹3 to ₹3.5 lakh crore in ports, shipping and interior waterways.

The shipbuilding program would also address the trade’s fear that their competitiveness in the market will be impacted by the unpredictability and escalation of shipping costs. The volatility of freight rates brought on by black swan events including Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Red Sea crisis, the Iran-Israel conflict, among others might also be reduced with the improvement of availability of domestic shipping lines at reasonable rates.

Steering through the challenges

India is presently positioned 22nd in the worldwide shipbuilding sector. Meanwhile, China and South Korea today hold a dominant position in the global shipbuilding industry. China constructed over half of all merchant ships in the world in 2023, with a gross tonnage of (33 million GT) meaning that 51% of all merchant ships built in the globe that year were built in the country. According to reports, 62% of shipbuilding orders worldwide are placed in China.

India has been investigating collaborations with South Korea and Japan to address the challenge posed by China in a methodical and careful manner. India is also attempting to reduce its reliance on foreign ships through expanding its capacity to construct ships natively. It should be mentioned that India only owns 2% of the world’s maritime tonnage, while spending over $75 billion a year on ship leasing.

Notably, one of the biggest obstacles facing India’s shipbuilding sector has been funding. The usual lifespan of a ship is between 25 and 30 years, therefore making money is a long-term endeavour. Hence, the Modi administration chose to implement the much-needed legislative change after realising the difficulties the Indian shipbuilding industry has been suffering.

Notable announcements in the union budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared in the budget 2025-2026 that ships of a certain size will be included into the harmonised master list of infrastructure which would qualify them for financial incentives. In addition to improving fleet modernisation, this will draw private investment to the shipbuilding sector.

A Maritime Development Fund (MDF) with a corpus of 25,000 crore was also launched. Long-term funding for the nation’s marine sector, especially ship acquisition, would be made possible this amount. The central government will contribute up to 49% of the corpus with the remaining portion coming from the private sector, port authorities, other government agencies, central PSEs and financial institutions.

New massive shipbuilding clusters around the nation were also revealed in the budget. Direct financial assistance shall be given to the shipbuilders in the form of capital dredging and breakwater construction. If not offered at a low cost, this plan also suggested a 10-year rent holiday for the land.

Likewise, the central government disclosed that the investment is intended to facilitate the development of trunk infrastructure, including utilities, roads, and sewage treatment, among other things.

The Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP) 2.0 which seeks to give Indian shipyards direct financial assistance was extended in the budget. With the Shipbreaking Credit Note program, ship scrapping will be encouraged by issuing a credit note worth 40% of the scrap value which can be refunded for the purchase of new “Made in India” ships.

The development of skilled workers in the shipbuilding industry was another priority for the central government. The budget set aside particular monies for human resource development and training in this sector, striving to capitalise on India’s standing as a global leader in maritime human capital.

The funding allocated for Shipbuilding Capability Development Centres (SCDC) is intended to support the testing and assessment of shipping projects as well as the creation of novel ship design and technical solutions.

8 mega shipbuilding clusters

OpIndia previously reported how the plans to establish eight massive shipbuilding and repair clusters along India’s coastline have been revealed by the Modi administration, in July. The project is at the heart of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. It intends to directly challenge China, South Korea and Japan’s supremacy in the $220 billion global shipbuilding market by placing the country among the top five shipbuilding powers in the world by 2047.

Five greenfield hubs in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra are included in the plan. These hubs are intended to serve as integrated ecosystems for the manufacture of ships, equipment, and related services. These are complemented by three brownfield expansions that concentrate on large vessel construction and specialised ship repair at Vadinar and Kandla in Gujarat and Cochin in Kerala.

The state governments have established Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to expedite development and land with statutory approvals and road-rail connectivity has been secured. With an objective of ₹1.5 lakh crore ($18 billion) in sectoral investments by 2030, the Union Budget 2025-2026 created a ₹25,000 crore ($3 billion) Maritime Devlopment Fund to finance ship acquisition and infrastructure.

₹18,090 crore ($2.2 billion) is set aside for subsidies under the updated Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP 2.0) which includes 30% support for ecologically conscious vessels. It is anticipated that granting large ships infrastructure status will result in a 20–25% reduction in capital expenditures.

The project’s scope is exemplified by a flagship ₹57,000 crore investment at Kandla Port that includes a VLCC shipyard for 320,000-ton oil carriers. India is establishing strategic international alliances to close technological disparities. HD Hyundai of South Korea is completing a ₹10,000 crore joint venture for container ships with Cochin Shipyard in Tamil Nadu.

While Japanese corporations Imabari and Mitsubishi are being courted for green hybrid vessel projects in Andhra Pradesh, European partners like Denmark’s Maersk and Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime are pushing projects in smart ports and green shipping.

Misleading figures, propaganda and Sanjay Kumar’s apology: How Congress weaponised flawed CSDS data against ECI

Anurag
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Misleading figures, propaganda and Sanjay Kumar’s apology: How Congress weaponised flawed CSDS data against ECI

On 18th August, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera posted a graphic on X to question the Election Commission of India. In his post, he claimed that within six months between the 2024 Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly polls, around 40% of the electorate were deleted from Ramtek and Deolali constituencies. On the other hand, Nashik West and Hingna gained around 45% of the electorate. Taking a jibe at the Election Commission, he wrote, “Next they will announce that 2 plus 2 equals 420.” The source of the data was Lokniti-CSDS.

Now-deleted post by Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera. Source: X

Notably, his post was based on the figures first pushed by Sanjay Kumar of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) who, on 17th August, posted the figures raising doubts on the working of the Election Commission of India. However, within 48 hours, the claims by both Sanjay Kumar and Congress leaders who shared the data collapsed like a house of cards.

What Sanjay Kumar had said before deleting the post

In his now-deleted post on social media platform X, Kumar spotlighted two seats as examples of abnormal surges. He claimed that for Nashik West, the Lok Sabha roll was 3,28,053 and the Assembly roll was 4,83,459, which he presented as an increase of 1,55,442 and 47.38 per cent.

Now-deleted post by Sanjay Kumar of CSDS. Source: X

Similarly, for Hingna, he claimed that the Lok Sabha roll was 3,14,605 and the Assembly roll was 4,50,414, an increase he put at 1,35,536 and 43.08 per cent.

The framing of the post suggested that the Assembly electorate had swelled beyond plausible bounds within a few months. His figures were then amplified not only by Congress and other opposition party supporters but also by Congress leaders like Pawan Khera himself to question the Election Commission’s credibility.

The apology from Sanjay Kumar

Within 48 hours, on 19th August, Sanjay Kumar took a U-turn and issued a public apology on X. He accepted that the numbers in his earlier post were incorrect. He said the error occurred because his “data team misread rows” while comparing the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2024 Assembly datasets.

He further informed in the post that the previous social media post was deleted and said there was “no intent to spread misinformation”. However, the misinformation is already out and there is a possibility that it will be used for months to come for propaganda forwards on WhatsApp and social media posts without much chance of scrutiny.

What the official data shows and why he had to apologise

His claims fell apart after he was fact-checked by several social media users. Data verified by OpIndia confirmed that Sanjay Kumar’s numbers were inflated beyond doubt.

For example, in Nashik West, Lok Sabha electorate numbers were at 4,56,319 compared to the number of electorates in Maharashtra Assembly elections which were at 4,83,719. The increase is 27,400, which is about six per cent. There is no jump of 1.5 lakh as claimed by Sanjay.

Similarly, in Hingna for Lok Sabha, the number stood at 4,24,454 and for Assembly elections, the number stood at 4,50,439. The increase is 25,298, which is far below the 43.08 per cent claimed in the viral post.

In the case of Ramtek, for Lok Sabha the number of the electorate was 2,76,827 compared to Assembly elections which stood at 2,87,301. The increase is 10,474, which is about 3.8 per cent. The chart Khera shared showed a collapse of nearly forty per cent. The official record shows a small rise.

Similarly, in the case of Deolali, for Lok Sabha, the numbers stood at 2,77,600, and for Assembly elections, it was 2,88,816. The increase is 11,216. The claim of a massive fall is false.

These four entries are enough to establish the point. The sensational percentages that travelled through politics and media were not drawn from constituency abstracts. They came from a spreadsheet that was “misread” by the “data team” of CSDS. A simple double check would have stopped the error at source.

There is a basic rule that any serious analyst must follow before publishing comparisons, that is, double check the numbers. In fact triple check, and check them again to ensure there are no mistakes. Lok Sabha and Assembly rolls are prepared for different electoral events and are revised on different schedules. If one still chooses to compare, one must match the same Assembly segment across both cycles, cite the certified counts, and explain the additions and deletions. Nothing like that was done by Sanjay Kumar’s team, which shows a lack of any groundwork. The apology reduced the fiasco to “rows misread”. The facts show that fundamental verification was missing.

BJP hits back at CSDS

The controversy around Sanjay Kumar’s misleading voter roll claims prompted a sharp counter from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Its IT Cell chief, Amit Malviya, accused the CSDS of being more than just a research institution and accused it of playing a dangerous game of narrative-building for years.

Malviya pointed to repeated infusions of foreign funds into CSDS from organisations including the Ford Foundation, IDRC Canada, DFID UK, NORAD Norway, the Hewlett Foundation and others. He suggested that these donors are not neutral but carry political agendas. According to Malviya, their interests lie in weakening India’s social fabric by nurturing division, especially within Hindu society.

He argued that the Lokniti-CSDS programme has consistently projected Hindu society through the prism of caste. On the other hand, Muslims have been presented as a monolithic bloc. CSDS has carefully avoided their own internal stratifications such as Ashraf, Ajlaf, Arzal, and others. The result, he said, is an artificial reinforcement of caste division among Hindus, giving Congress and sympathetic media convenient points every election cycle.

He also pointed out that CSDS surveys lack scientific rigour, with caste identities often guessed rather than systematically recorded, and yet newspapers of record like The Hindu and The Indian Express give their findings legitimacy. The institution, in his words, is not producing scholarship but playing strategy, manufacturing divisions and presenting them as research.

In his framing, CSDS’s errors are not innocent mistakes like “rows misread” but deliberate agenda-driven settings gone awry. He further asserted that these agendas are designed to reinforce narratives favourable to the Congress while undermining public faith in institutions like the Election Commission.

Conclusion

Pawan Khera and other Congress supporters used Sanjay Kumar’s claims to attack the Election Commission. Within 48 hours of the initial post by Sanjay Kumar, an apology came and the post was deleted. He admitted the mistake. However, Pawan Khera did not apologise. He simply deleted the post.

This must be seen as a cautionary tale. When a researcher with institutional authority publishes unverified numbers, political actors will weaponise them at once. By the time the correction arrives, the false narrative has already done its work. The responsibility therefore lies first with the source. If you plan to allege dramatic swings in electorates, you must show your tables, cite Form 20, and present the arithmetic clearly. None of this happened in this case. The result, a needless dent in public trust and a readymade talking point handed to the propagandists.

Chennai corporation officials use AI to edit photo uploaded by an individual about exposed power cables on road, claimed that the complaint was resolved

OpIndia Staff
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Chennai corporation officials use AI to edit photo uploaded by an individual about exposed power cables on road, claimed that the complaint was resolved

In an interesting incident, some Chennai Corporation officials resolved a problem of exposed power cables on a road in Chennai using Artificial Intelligence tools. Yes, you read that right!

According to The Times of India, an individual posted on X last week raising the problem of exposed power cables on Sunnambur Kolathul Road in Chennai, which was frequently used by people, including school-going children. The person tagged the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in the post to draw their attention to the problem and urged them to take action.

“Outside DAV school Pallikaranai, the walking platform is not in a good state and also has a lot of EB wires. A lot of children are using this platform to walk daily. Please take necessary action before any mishap happens @chennaicorp @Tambaram_Corp @TANGEDCO_Offcl @jvidyasagar,” wrote an X user named Kanna Palani on 13th August.

In a swift response to the complaint, the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the corporation uploaded an image on the GCC website to show that the complaint had been resolved. Interestingly, the image uploaded by the AEE was the same as the one uploaded by the X user, except that it was modified using an AI tool. The original image posted by the complainant was modified using artificial intelligence to claim that the grievance had been resolved.

Image uploaded on the GCC website (via erp.chennaicorporation.gov.in)

However, leaving aside actually resolving the problem, even the AI editing was so shoddily done that instead of removing the exposed power cables, which were the subject of the complaint, a car and other vehicles in the background were erased using a widely available AI tool.

Apparently, the official did not bother removing the shadows of the vehicles erased using the AI tool, resulting in blurred and distorted parts being visible in the background. Even a plain look at the image makes it clear that some kind of AI tool has been used to alter it.

The complainant reportedly expressed disappointment with the closure of the complaint by the GCC without redressal. As per TOI, originally, GCC had the option of escalating complaints, which were closed, to the regional deputy commissioners. But this option is not available on the portal for residents.

Notably, the concerned AEE Perungudi zone, Manoharan, denied modifying the image using AI. “It’s a highways road in the GCC zone. I forwarded it to the highways department. I did not use AI. GCC will remove the cables on its own,” the AEE was quoted as saying by the TOI. Perungudi zonal chairman SV Ravichandran clarified that the government was serious about grievance redressal and that any isolated incidents like the present one would be taken seriously. He assured that the erring officials would be punished.

On the contrary, Jayaram Venkatesan, a convenor of an NGO named Arappor Iyakkam, said that this is not the first time that the GCC has closed a complaint in this manner.

Donald Trump’s bizarre tariffs push India and China closer, the neighbours are now improving bilateral ties five years after the Galwan Valley face-off

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump’s bizarre tariffs push India and China closer, the neighbours are now improving bilateral ties five years after the Galwan Valley face-off

After a prolonged period of hostilities, India and China have renewed efforts to improve their bilateral relations as both countries face punitive US tariffs. To ease tensions ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit to be held in Tianjin, China, between August 31 and September 1, 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Delhi on Monday (18th August). In a move to repair diplomatic ties, the two leaders addressed several issues, including trade, borders, and terrorism, during their meeting.

In his opening remarks, EAM Jaishankar welcomed the two nations’ efforts to improve bilateral relations. He emphasised that differences between the two countries should not become disputes and that the relations between the two countries should be founded on mutual respect.

“Having seen a difficult period in our relationship, our two nations now seek to move ahead. This requires a candid and constructive approach from both sides. In that endeavour, we must be guided by the three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. Differences must not become disputes nor competition, conflict…” Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar remarked during the meeting in Hyderabad House.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in his remarks during the meeting, underscored the Chinese efforts to maintain peace between the two countries by maintaining peace at the border and opening the route for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra. “We maintained peace and tranquillity in the border areas and resumed the Indian pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Kailash Manasarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region,”said Yi, who arrived on a two-day visit to India at the invitation of NSA Ajit Doval.

“We shared confidence to dispel interference, expand cooperation and to further consolidate the momentum of improvement and development of China-India relations so that while pursuing our respective rejuvenation, we can contribute to each other’s success and provide the most needed certainty to Asia and the world…”, he added. Yi is set to meet PM Modi and NSA Ajit Doval on Tuesday (19th August).

China to address India’s concerns relating to rare earths, fertilisers and boring machines

As per reports, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured EAM Jaishankar that China is addressing India’s three main concerns relating to rare earths, fertilisers and tunnel boring machines. In April this year, China put curbs on the export of seven medium to heavy rare earth elements and several magnets by mandating exporters to obtain licenses citing national security and non-proliferation concerns. The rare earth magnets form a crucial component of electric and petrol vehicles, defence equipment, and clean energy systems.

In addition to that, the delivery of three giant Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), needed for the construction of underground section of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed bullet train corridor was halted after the Chinese authorities did not provide clearance without citing any reason. The TBMs were manufactured in Guangzhou by the German tunnelling firm Herrenknecht, two of which were to be transported to India by October 2024 and the third earlier this year. The machines are vital to excavate a 21-km-long underground part of the high-speed rail corridor, from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Shilphata.

US-tariffs push India-China closer

During the discussion, EAM Jaishankar drew Yi’s attention to the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) following the Galwan Valley standoff in April-May 2020 and called for de-escalation at the border. “The basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process move forward,” Jaishankar said.

The India-China relations took a downward turn following violent clashes, which started in April-May 2020, between the Chinese and the Indian soldiers in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. At least 20 Indian soldiers, including the Commanding Officer, had attained martyrdom in the clashes. The Chinese casualties, as estimated by the Indian government, stood at 43-45.

However, faced with fresh geopolitical challenges posed by the Russia-Ukraine War and the US tariffs, the two countries have revived attempts to improve their bilateral ties and ensure regional stability.

Bangladesh: Islamists are re-classifying Hindu pilgrimage site of Chandranath Hill as ‘tourist spot’, planning to encroach upon sacred land and build mosque

Dibakar Dutta
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Bangladesh: Islamists are re-classifying Hindu pilgrimage site of Chandranath Hill as ‘tourist spot’, planning to encroach upon sacred land and build mosque

The Chandranath temple, which is located in Sitakunda in the Chittagong district of Bangladesh, is yet again faced with imminent threat of encroachment and desecration.

Islamists are re-classifying the Hindu pilgrimage site of Chandranath Hill as a ‘tourist spot’ with the intention to taking over the sacred land and building mosques and prayer halls for ‘Muslim tourists.’

For the unversed, the Chandranath Hill houses one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The Chandranath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was built in the 8th century by Hindu ruler Chandrasena.

Screengrab of the tweet by M M Saiful Islam

While a well-coordinated effort is underway to encroach upon Chandranath Hill since atleast December 2023, a renewed campaign was launched by one M M Saiful Islam on Saturday (16th August).

Saiful is a radical Islamic preacher and Chairman of ‘SKM Shoe Shop’. In a Facebook post on Saturday, he declared, “The construction of a masjid on top of Chandranath Hill is 90% confirmed. Alhamdulillah“

Saiful lamented that he was not allowed to offer ‘Namaz’ after he climbed to the top of the sacred Hindu land.

“In a country with 93% Muslim population, there can be two temples on the Chandranath Hill but not a single mosque. We, Muslims are being treated like tenants and are not even allowed to pray,” he said in his post.

Screengrab of the post by M M Saiful Islam

M M Saiful Islam then met a Deobandi extremist by the name of Harun Izhar, who has previously been associated with Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.

“Discussions are underway to build a mosque atop Sitakunda Hill…I seek the prayers of everyone to make this happen. Share this post to ensure that everyone knows about it and can pray to make our mission successful,” he said in another Facebook post.

Saiful took a pledge to build a mosque on Hindu land under any circumstances. The radical Islamic preacher declared, “I want to say this clearly. Since you did not allow me and my friend to offer Namaz, today or tomorrow, I will make sure that there is a dedicated space for Namaz on Sitakunda Hill. Inshallah.“

Screengrab of the post by M M Saiful Islam

After his hate filled posts targeted at the Hindu community went viral on Facebook, the social media platform suspended his account. M M Saiful Islam had 52000 followers at the time of his account’s suspension.

On Sunday (17th August), he confirmed the development via his another Facebook account ‘Mufit Saiful Islam’ and went on to dehumanise the Hindu community as ‘malu/ malaun.’

Since November 2024, Islamists in Bangladesh have been running a campaign called ‘TMD’ (Total Malaun Death) wherein they are advocating the eradication of Sanatan Dharma followers from the country.

In July this year, an extremist named Mohammed Abir brutally murdered a Hindu trader named Bhajan Kumar Guha and described the victim as ‘malaun’ to justify his heinous crime.

Screengrab of the Facebook post

Deobandi extremist Harun Izhar later issued a clarification in an attempt to justify his resolve to construct a mosque on a Hindu land.

He dubbed the Chandranath Hill as ‘so-called Hindu pilgrimage centre’, thereby insinuating that the status of the land is somehow disputed.

Izhar, who was previously arrested in 2021, claimed that the plan is not to build a mosque near Hindu temples but adjoining areas where Muslims go as ‘tourists.’

He said that it was within his right as a Muslim to advocate for construction of mosques and prayer sites on ‘unclaimed lands.’

The Deobandi extremist then alleged that he had helped free Hindus lands in Chittagong from encroachment to lend credence to his claim that the mosque construction is not aimed to occupy Chandranath Hill.

He further claimed that the entire controversy is a cxonspiracy of political masters of the Hindu community and ‘communal forces’ in India.

It must be mentioned that Harun Izhar is wanted in 11 cases including grenade attack in Lalkhan Bazar Madrasha, which was carried out Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh in 2013.

Islamists have been eyeing to capture Chandranath Hill since atleast 2023

Despite being a sacred pilgrimage destination, the Chandranath Hill has been transformed into a trekking spot by the Muslim community in the past couple of years.

In December 2023, an Islamist named Raihan Riad organised a ‘Beef Barbecue party’ at the Hindu pilgrimage destination. Several other Islamists expressed their support for desecrating the sacred Chandranath Hill.

Thereafter, the local Hindu community in Sitakunda went to the Hindu shrine and distributed pamphlets calling for the protection of the Chandranath Temple and thwarting attempts to defile the pilgrimage destination.

In a video posted on YouTube, human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger Asad Noor informed that Islamists assaulted the Hindus.

He stated that the local Muslims threatened to shove the Hindu deities in the posterior of the worshippers.

When Hindus protested against it, they were attacked by the same cabal of Islamists who were armed with sharp weapons. As per reports, a total of 10 Hindus were seriously injured during the attack.

Facebook post of Mohammed Shibbir bin Nazir, image via ‘Struggle for Hindu Existence’

In the meantime, pictures and videos of Islamists giving ‘call to prayer’ (Azaan) on the Hindu pilgrimage site had also surfaced on social media. One extremist by the name of ‘Tigers Tamim’ was seen putting his feet up on the temple walls.

In a Facebook post, one Islamist named Mohammed Shibbir Bin Nazir was seen boasting about giving Azaan on Chandranath Hill. “Inshallah, the flag of Islam will fly here soon,” he had announced.

Another extremist Innamul Haq responded to his post, “I have been to that place twice and felt the absence of a masjid at that site (Chandranath Hill). Shirk (idolatry) is still going on in that mountain.”

In February 2024, several videos came to light where scores of Muslim men, wearing skull caps, were seen roaming around the Chandranath Temple in Sitakunda and raising Islamic slogans at the Hindu pilgrimage site.

While speaking about the matter to Swarajya, an official of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said, “Since April 2023, a few clerics started organising namaz near the mandir every Friday and we have heard there are plans to build a masjid on the hill. A false narrative is also being spread that there was a mosque atop the hill and that it was demolished by Hindus to build a mandir.”

Last year, a poster calling upon the Hindu society to preserve the Chandranath temple went viral on social media. ‘Sabdhan, Rahur kobole Chandranath Dham,” it read.

Poster in Bengali pleading Hindus to preserve Chandranath Temple from ‘Rahu’

The Chandranath Temple in Chittagong is significant for the Hindu community.  It follows the Nagara architectural style, which is seen in many Hindu temples across the Indian subcontinent.

This style is characterised by a curvilinear tower (shikhara) with multiple tiers, topped by an amalaka (a circular disk-like structure) and a kalasha (a finial). 

Conspiracy theories such as the Chandranath temple was built by pulling down a mosque are being peddled to justify illegal takeover of the Hindu land.

It is now crystal clear that Islamists have taken up the cause of encoraching Chandranath Hill and build a mosque atop it on a mission-mode. With appeasement from the Muhammad Yunus regime, their nefarious campaign is likely to intensify in the coming days.

Meerut: NHAI takes action against toll booth staff for assault on army jawan, terminates company contract and imposes penalty

OpIndia Staff
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Meerut: NHAI takes action against toll booth staff for assault on army jawan, terminates company contract and imposes penalty

On 17th August, a 26-year-old Army personnel named Kapil Kavad who is with the Rajput Regiment was assaulted at a toll booth in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut. A video showing the toll booth employees attacking the soldier went viral online, leading to the arrest of six accused.

Furthermore, a case has been submitted against more than 8 persons including main accused Bittu. The cops are now seraching for the others. The shocking instance transpired at Bhuni Toll Plaza on Meerut-Karnal section of NH (National Highway)-709A.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have also taken strict action in the matter. “NHAI has imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakhs on the toll collecting agency, M/s Dharam Singh and has initiated the process of terminating & debarring the toll collection firm from future participation in toll plaza bids. NHAI strongly condemns such behaviour by the toll plaza staff and is committed to ensuring safe and seamless travel on National Highways.”

The incident happened in the Sarurpur area at the Bhuni toll plaza. Kapil is from the nearby village of Gotka. He was on vacation at home and was on his way to the Delhi airport to catch a flight to his post in Srinagar.

What happened

Kapil was stranded at the packed Bhuni toll booth with his cousin (or brother) Devendra. The former stepped out of the car and began talking to the toll booth workers, worried that he would be late for his trip. A dispute erupted when he requested them to allow him to pass because he had to catch a flight from Delhi to Srinagar at 5am and even showed them his ID as well.

However, the staff started an argument after which Bittu (32), the security supervisor at the toll plaza and a resident of Sardhana’s Chhur village, arrived shortly there and began abusing Kapil. Afterward, they started to attack him and he sustained nose injury. Devendra was also beaten as he tried to save his cousin.

The culprits were seen using a stick to assault Kapil in the footage. As one of the them hurled insults and thrashed him, the othes pinned him to a post and pulled his hands back.

“Kapil is in the Indian Army. He was returning to his post. There was a long queue at the Bhuni toll booth. He was in a hurry and he spoke to the toll booth staff. An argument began and the toll booth staff assaulted him. Following a complaint from his family, a case was registered at Sarurpur police station,” Superintendent of Police (Rural), Rakesh Kumar Mishra informed.

According to him, attempts are on to track down the other perpetrators in addition to the six who were arrested based on CCTV evidence. Ten to fifteen villagers hurried to the scene when the injured Kapil contacted his family and started a demonstration. The commotion persisted until law enforcement arrived and subdued the gathering.

After the footage went viral on social media, the event infuriated the residents who stormed the toll booth and damaged property, resulting in tensions in the area.

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