Since the early hours of Monday (21 August), the Punjab Police have arrested several leaders of 16 farmer unions throughout the state. Reportedly, these farmer unions are being led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC). As per media reports, the Police have carried out these preventive arrests ahead of protests these farmer unions have announced in state capital Chandigarh on the 22nd of August.
The arrested farmer leaders include Sarvan Singh Pandher who is the state president of KMSC; Baldeep Singh, the press secretary of BKU (Krantikari faction); Kanwardilip Singh, the state press secretary of KMSC; Chamkaur Singh and Borh Singh, both leaders of BKU (Behramke faction).
The police raids are still ongoing and more farmer leaders may be arrested in these subsequent raids, as per media reports.
The Police action has been carried out a day before the scheduled protest announced by these farmer unions in Chandigarh. On August 22, they called for a major protest against the non-payment of relief measures to the flood-affected farmers.
Although several members of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have condemned the preventive arrests of the leaders of these farmer unions, these unions are not a part of the SKM coalition.
Prior to the arrests, senior officers of Chandigarh and Punjab Police held negotiations with the functionaries of these farmer unions till Sunday night. The delegation of farmers was led by Sarvan Singh Pandher (state President KMSC) whereas the official team was led by Chandigarh DGP Praveer Ranjan and Punjab Police ADGP Arpit Shukla. Additionally, two officers from Haryana Police were also present at the meeting. But the negotiations failed to achieve anything substantive.
Later on Sunday night, the leaders of the farmer unions met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit who assured them that he would ask the officers of both Punjab and Haryana to hear their grievances.
In the wake of failed negotiations on Sunday night, Punjab Police reportedly went on an arrest spree and arrested several farmer leaders on Monday morning.
In recent times, the North Indian states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Uttarakhand have been lashed by heavy rains and flooding. According to an estimate by farmer leaders, farmers in these regions have suffered a loss of more than Rs 20,000 crore due to inundation and flooding of their fields.
The state president of Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union, Suresh Koth said that the farmers have not received any concrete answer from the government. He claimed that farmers are being harassed by this government. As a result, various farmer unions have appealed for Gherao and would stage a protest on 22nd August in Chandigarh. Around 20,000 farmers from different states are expected to participate in this protest.
PM Modi will leave tomorrow to attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa’s Johannesburg. PM Modi will be there in the African nation for 3 days, from the 22nd to the 24th of August. Amid big speculations about meetings and declarations, the Chinese foreign ministry has hinted that there may have been a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.
As per reports, China’s ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong, told while speaking to the media, “I am confident that as two nations, two countries, we will have direct talks, direct meetings. I cannot say there is tension between us, but as neighboring countries we have many common interests at the same time we have some problems.”
Xi Jinping will be reaching Johannesburg on August 21, a day before PM Modi. No official declaration or mention of a possible bilateral meeting has been done from the Indian side.
#WATCH | PM @narendramodi to be on a three-day visit to Johannesburg, South Africa from 22nd to 24th August.
PM Modi will participate in the 15th BRICS Summit. The Summit will provide an opportunity to review the progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping and… pic.twitter.com/Ko1JV3rF5n
If the bilateral meeting happens between PM Modi and Xi Jinping, it will be a major event because the last time the two leaders met, was a brief encounter in November 20202, in Bali, Indonesia during the G20 summit. Tensions have been running high between the 2 countries since May 2020 when clashes between troops in Galwan resulted in the deaths of 20 soldiers from India and dozens of PLA troops.
What is BRICS, and why it is gaining attention now
A Goldman Sachs economist named Jim O’Neill first used the term ‘BRIC’ to describe the major emerging economies of the global south, Brazil, Russia, India, and China. He predicted that these nations will have the potential to drive the world economy in the 21st century.
After the global financial crisis in 2008, the discussion around the declining Western influence, the weakening of the Western financial hegemony, and the emergence of the global South gained prominence. In 2009, the leaders of the BRIC met for the first time in Yekaterinburg, Russia. India’s then PM Manmohan Singh, Russia’s then Presiden Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Brazil’s then and current President Lula DeSilva attended the summit on Medvedev’s invitation. 2 years later, South Africa joined the grouping, making it ‘BRICS’.
Leaders of Brazil, Russia, China, and India at the first BRIC summit in Russia, 2009
Contrary to anticipations though, the grouping has not achieved much steam in the past years. It remained on the sidelines of global politics, and the anticipated anti-West push in the financial and geopolitical arena never really materialized in any solid form.
Together the BRICS nations account for 42% of the global population, more than 3 billion people. They account for over 26% of the global economy and have a combined GDP of over 23 trillion USD. The BRICS nations control over 30% of the world’s territory and 18% of global trade.
Speaking at the Global South Summit in January this year, PM Modi emphasized that with three-quarters of the global population, the Global South needs to have an equivalent voice.
Though a lot was expected of the BRICS, the group has so far remained largely silent. The possibility of a cohesive alliance between the world’s non-Western major economies has been idealistically projected as immensely powerful, but the BRICS nations are yet to assert that power together, unlike the G7.
The BRICS has been always about countering Western hegemony. One of the major achievements of the alliance has been the foundation of the financial institutions to counter the IMF, like the New Development Bank. The NDB has financed multiple projects in the BRICS nations. It allows the usage of national currencies and does not impose its specific rules and regulations on the policies of the concerned nation, unlike the IMF.
A combined BRICS currency? Russia has been pushing for it
Brazil had last year floated the idea of a combined BRICS currency. A lot of speculations have been made about a combined BRICS currency, aimed at the de-dollarisation of the world, especially the global south.
Russian media and political powers ran the idea for weeks before the BRICS summit. Russian government channels even went so far as insinuating that the BRICS nations are already in agreement over launching a new currency backed by gold, unlike the credit-backed US dollar.
the countries that currently make up the #BRICS are going to launch a new gold-backed world currency on the market. There are currently 41 countries that have formally applied to join the BRICS. #BRICS#russia#Africa#NWOpic.twitter.com/95u62B8vVb
Chinese media has been also running positively speculative stories about a possible BRICS currency.
However, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar clarified in July that there is no plan as such for a combined BRICS currency, and currencies are expected to remain a national issue for participating nations.
The CFO of BRICS News Development Bank Leslie Maasdorp also dismissed the idea, stating that there is no such suggestion as of now.
As per the latest news, host South Africa has clarified that the idea of a combined BRICS currency is off the table. The new Development Bank has disbursed only $33 billion worth of loans so far in its existence, roughly one-third of what the IMF has disbursed in a year.
India’s reluctance to support a BRICS currency holds much significance, because with a rapidly growing GDP, the sheer scale of its market, and its current stand as one of the world’s top 5 economies, India is hoping to increase the influence of its own currency. It does not need the financial support of BRICS to fuel its economy and has been on excellent trade terms with the USA and Europe.
China wants to expand quickly, India is hesitant
Over 40 nations have so far applied to be a part of the BRICS, including major powers like the UAE, Indonesia, Egypt, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia. China, which already enjoys a considerable economic heft in Africa, has been quite bullish on expanding the BRICS. Russia, currently isolated by most Western powers due to the war in Ukraine, has been seeking ways to expand its influence, establish better relations with non-Western powers and spread its influence in the Global South.
India, however, has been reluctant to let other countries in. Primarily because it is wary of China. India and China, despite booming trade partnerships, are hostile neighbors and have a tense land border, the most recent military conflict being in 2020.
India is wary that a stronger China with stronger ties with major powers in an expanded BRICS will reduce the group to a Chinese tool of global dominance, at the cost of Indian interests. India has been forging a stronger than ever bilateral relationship with the USA keeping the same China-wariness in mind.
Brazil has similar concerns too. Brazil has been against expansion in the BRICS, fearing a dilution of its own interests and voice.
The agenda for the 15th Summit in Johannesburg is ‘BRICS in Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism’.
Security interests and economic growth to be India’s top agendas
As PM Modi is set to start his journey to Johannesburg, India’s main focus is going to be the security interests of member states, food security, and fight against terrorism.
India’s ‘security interests’ are currently in conflict with China’s territorial expansion plans, and as the two Asian giants share a 3500 km land border, the security interests are paramount. The tension at the LAC remains a major thorn in the way of normalization of India-China relations and its ripples are bound to be felt in the BRICS summit too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the summit at Johannesburg. He has an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court due to the war in Ukraine. Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This will be the first in-person BRICS Summit after the pandemic. Invitations have been sent to 67 foreign leaders across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. The UN Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union have been invited too.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) successfully executed yet another major rescue operation on Monday (21 August). It came out as a lifesaver for Indian nationals who were held captive by an armed local mafia group in Libya’s Zwara City. Evidently, 17 Indian nationals, who were recently released from Tripoli jail and were stuck in life-threatening situations for almost 6 months in Libya, were repatriated following sustained efforts by MEA officials.
VIDEO | 17 Indian youths, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, who were released from Tripoli Jail in Libya last month, returned to Delhi on Sunday night. They were in Libya for the past six months because of unscrupulous travel agents who duped them on the pretext of sending them to… pic.twitter.com/BhoXOJibrQ
The rescued individuals mostly hail from Punjab and Haryana. They were trafficked from India after some fraudulent agents duped them on the pretext of sending them to Italy. Additionally, the fraud agents also skimmed 13 lakhs each from them.
Taking to X, Indian Embassy in Tunisia confirmed the details of the rescue operation and lauded the Indian Embassy to Libya for the successful repatriation.
The post read, “The Embassy of India to Libya successfully repatriated 17 Indian Nationals from Punjab and Haryana (on 19 August 2023), who were detained in Libya since February 2023. The Indians safely reached India on 20 August 2023 by Gulf Air flight at 2030 hrs.”
The Embassy of India to Libya successfully repatriated 17 Indian Nationals from Punjab and Haryana (on 19 August 2023), who were detained in Libya since February 2023. The Indians safely reached India on 20 August 2023 by Gulf Air flight at 2030 hrs. pic.twitter.com/gnRysnZaw5
The evacuation efforts were carried out by MEA and the Indian Embassy in Tunis. They made all the arrangements including emergency certificates, exit visas, and tickets for their safe return. Following their continuous efforts, the stranded Indian nationals were safely brought back to India late on the 20th of August.
@IndiainTunisia secured the release of the 17 Indian nationals by efforts through various channels and agencies from the mafia and then arranged Emergency certificates, exit visas and tickets for the safe return of the Indians. pic.twitter.com/NIyw3HpLHo
In February 2023, on the false pretext of lucrative jobs in Italy, Indian nationals were illegally trafficked to Libya’s Zwara city via Dubai and Egypt. In Zwara City, they were held captive by an armed group and were kept deprived of basic amenities and physically assaulted.
However, much later on the 26th of May, 2023, the family members of the stranded Indian nationals informed the Indian Embassy in Tunis about the case.
Immediately after that, the MEA swung into action, and along with the Libyan authorities rescued the Indian nationals on the 13th of June. However, they were kept in their custody in Tripoli given that they had illegally entered the country.
Since the matter came to their knowledge, the Indian Embassy maintained constant communication with the families of the individuals held captive in Libya. Throughout the months of May and June, they consistently pursued the issue with Libyan authorities. Additionally, the Embassy in Tunis initiated contact with Libyan authorities through informal channels to discuss the release of the Indian nationals.
Subsequently, the Embassy officials carried out all legal procedures and secured their consular access. As a result of it, they also secured their release from detention.
According to media reports, the high-level intervention from Indian Ambassador in Tunis and senior MEA officials from New Delhi convinced Libyan authorities to release the Indian nationals. Meanwhile, while they were in Libya, the Indian embassy took care of the stranded Indian nationals. This included providing essential food items, medicines, and clothes. Furthermore, the Indian embassy facilitated and covered the expenses for their return tickets to India.
Even as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tried to extract political mileage by blaming the BJP for staging an ink attack against its own candidate from Ghosi, Dara Singh Chauhan, it has now come to the fore that the assailant was a member of Samajwadi Party and had pictures with many several senior party leaders.
Ghosi Ink Attack
The Ghosi assembly by-polls campaign took a negative twist on Sunday afternoon, as a young individual splashed ink on Dara Singh Chauhan, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, in the Adari area of Mau district. Following the assault, the perpetrator managed to flee the scene.
Chauhan blamed Samajwadi Party for the attack. “These people (SP) are capable of anything, much bigger crimes and hence this ink attack is nothing by their standards. This also shows that the SP has read the writings on the wall. The popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.P. chief minister Yogi Adityanath is now making the SP nervous,” he said.
The SP brushed aside the BJP’s accusation. Rajendra Chaudhary, the national secretary and state spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party, suggested, “It’s possible that, for political gain, certain individuals affiliated with the BJP orchestrated the attack.”
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav blames BJP for staging an attack against its candidate
Hours later, a man identifying as Abhimanyu Yadav surrendered himself to the police at the Kopaganj police station for the ink attack. Yadav, however, claimed that he threw ink at the direction of BJP leaders.
Promptly later, Akhilesh Yadav took to Twitter, accusing the BJP of staging an attack against its own candidate.
“When the person who threw ink in Ghosi himself confessed that it was done by the BJP people, then what more to say now? Now look ahead, one can’t what BJP would do in the face of an imminent defeat,” Yadav tweeted.
Assailant Abhimanyu Yadav and his links to Samajwadi Party and leaders
Even as Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the assailant was working at the behest of the BJP, the social media accounts of the accused revealed his connections with the Samajwadi Party. On Facebook, Abhimanyu Yadav mentions in his bio that he works at the Samajwadi Party, puncturing claims that the ink attack against Dara Singh Chauhan was the handiwork of BJP leaders.
Moreover, the profile picture of Abhimanyu Yadav has him shaking hands with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, along with other party leaders.
Yadav has been actively using social media platforms to campaign for Samajwadi Party leaders and share pictures with them. He also regularly attends party meets and events, as evident from his Facebook profile page.
Recently, on August 4, just a couple of weeks before the ink attack, Abhimanyu shared a reel on Facebook showing Samajwadi Party workers with the party leader Vineet Kushwaha.
The purported Facebook page of Abhimanyu Yadav puts paid to the claims made by him and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav that BJP leaders had engineered an attack against their own leader and how the entire episode may have been a well-thought-out conspiracy to discredit the BJP by getting the assailant surrender before the police and having him blame the saffron party.
Days after Islamists went on a rampage and attacked the Christian community in Jarnawala in the Faislabad district of Punjab, popular Pakistani YouTuber Junaid Akram exposed the extremist mindset prevalent in his country.
While speaking about the incident, he said, “Besides churches, several Christian graveyards were vandalised during the incident. We do not let them (religious minorities) live in peace when they are alive and have now decided to not let them rest in peace as well.”
“All of this is a manifestation of ignorance and wrong history,” he emphasised. Junaid Akram recounted asking a Parsi tuition mate about his country of origin since he was under the impression that only Muslims could be from Pakistan. This was despite his schooling in a Christian convent school and a family of literate people.
The popular YouTuber also said that he believed that Hindus of Pakistan support India during cricket matches. “This was my thought process despite attending such a good school…This was the level of brainwashing,” he lamented.
Junaid Akram said that his Hindu friends would lament about not being able to build new temples in Pakistan. He was initially in denial but later learnt that there were no new temples and those that existed were built 100-200 years ago.
He pointed out the case of the Islamabad temple, the boundary wall of which was destroyed by a radical Islamist. “Till the time we will glorify in your syllabus that Mahmud Ghaznavi looted and attacked Somnath temple 17 times, attacks on churches and temples in Pakistan will continue unabated,” he added.
Dehumanisation of religious minorities in Pakistan
Junaid Akram said, “We need to change what we are teaching. At least then, there is the scope of moving forward.” He pointed out how other nations provide equal opportunities to everyone, unlike in Pakistan.
He also objected to the dehumanisation and attempts to strip religious minorities of their identity. The YouTuber said that Christians and Hindus are often referred to as non-Muslims instead of their particular religious identity.
“How will you feel if someone calls you non-Christian/ non-Jewish in the US or non-Hindu in India instead of Muslim?” Akram inquired.
Junaid Akram questions trigger-happy Pakistanis
He questioned the violent and trigger-happy mindset of Pakistanis when it comes to blasphemy allegations.
“We are operating with a mindset that the blasphemy allegations are true so that we can set his house on fire or loot his house, destroy his churches and vandalise his cemetery,” he further emphasised. Junaid Akram said, “It appears as if we are waiting for a provocation (chingari).
He pointed out the case of a Christian child, who was seen wearing a Pakistan-Independence Day-themed T-shirt on August 16 i.e. the day of the Jarnawala incident. “Think of this child. He wrote this shirt without knowing the people of the same country would burn his home down. “
Muslims want space everywhere, reluctant to give space to others
The YouTuber added that Christians, affected in the Jarnawala incident, had to take refuge in paddy fields to save their lives. “This is happening in 2023,” he said.
Junaid Akram highlighted the glaring hypocrisy of his community across the globe. “We want space everywhere but are reluctant to give others (religious minotiries) the same space in Pakistan, not even allowing them to stay alive,” he emphaised.
“The situation is so grim that many have to hide their identity,” he shed light on the plight of Christian community in Pakistan. Akram said that his co-worker Amir Shehzad was a Christian but he did not let anyone know about his religious affiliation. It was only during Christmas that the YouTuber learnt about the Faith of Shehzad.
Christians forced to hide their Faith in Pakistan, future generations doomed
“How will you feel if you have to live in Canada with the alias of John Smith?” Junaid Akram asked. He added, “We have created an environment where they have to hide their identity. They are helpless and scared…”
“Imagine you are sitting at home and a mob of 500 attacks your house and burns it down… You have to run away and take refuge in a far-off place…This is exactly what’s happening here but since it is being done to others (minorities), you are not bothered,” the Youtuber highlighted.
He stated, “This kind of system first destroys minorities and then other factions of the majority…The most heartbreaking thing about the incident was the involvement of kids…They were armed with sticks and involved in destroying the furniture of the church.”
“It shows that the next generation is also doomed…We need to rehabilitate, educate them else this country will keep burning and the world will go much ahead of us,” Junaid Akram concluded.
An issue involving the felicitation of a class 10 girl from a government school in Kheralu village of Gujarat’s Mehsana district has been going viral over social media platforms. The girl and her family members have claimed that she was not awarded by the school for belonging to the Muslim community.
The girl and her parents, while talking to several media houses, claimed that the girl had secured first rank in the school but she was not felicitated by the school on purpose. The parents believe the girl was not awarded for belonging to the Muslim community. They also alleged that the girl who stood second in the school was felicitated and honoured but the achievement of their daughter was deliberately ignored on religious grounds.
The issue went viral over social media after several left-liberal Islamists escalated the matter and blamed the school for religious bias. Further, several media channels like The Wire, The Quint, Maktoob Media, Millat Times, etc picked up the story and questioned the school management and the state government.
Zee News published a report in Gujarati with a suggestive title that roughly read, “Hate spread in school: Second ranker felicitated, topper ignored’. The report said that the Muslim topper girl identified as Arnaz Banu was to be felicitated on August 15 this year but instead, the girl who ranked second was honoured. The topper girl felt ignored by the incident and began crying out of shame. She then narrated the incident to her family members who later alleged that she was not felicitated because of her religion.
screenshot of Zee news report
The girl’s father, while talking to the media, claimed, “My daughter was not honoured because she belongs to the Muslim community. Instead, the girl who ranked second was felicitated on stage. This is injustice happening to us just because we belong to the minority community.”
Further, many YouTube channels helped spread the ‘news’ and made similar claims. One journalist, Devanshi Joshi of the JAMAVAT channel, alleged that the government school in Khelaru village of Gujarat’s Mehsana district was engaging in religious bias. “The state, the country is creating an atmosphere of hatred and discrimination against a girl child because she is a Muslim,” Joshi said further blaming the society.
Islamists also raised their voices on social media against the school and the government and furthered the claims made by the Muslim girl and her parents. They also blatantly slammed PM Modi and ridiculed his idea of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas’.
गुजरात के मेहसाणा के खेरालु गाँव में स्वतंत्रता दिवस के अवसर पर कक्षा 10 के टॉपर्स बच्चों को सम्मानित किया जाना था। जिसमें पहले नम्बर के छात्र की जगह पर सीधा दूसरे नम्बर के छात्र को बुला कर सम्मानित किया गया। पहले नम्बर वाले को बुलाया ही नहीं गया। जानते हैं क्यूँ ? वजह सिर्फ इतनी… pic.twitter.com/3GWCQDnHCs
#Gujarat Arnazbanu is a class 10 Topper in 'Shri K. T. Patel Smriti Vidyalaya' in Mehsana Dist. went to the school function organized to felicitate the Class 10 & 12 toppers on 15th August.
Surprisingly the school denied the award to her & gave it to the 2nd ranked student.… pic.twitter.com/iHIoczcyXv
OpIndia dug out the truth- Arnaz Banu is no longer part of the school
Team OpIndia talked to the school management about the issue. The school management refuted the allegations of any religious bias and said that the matter has been given a religious angle deliberately. “There is no religious angle to the issue. The program which is being talked about was a small, unofficial one. The teachers contributed and organised the program to motivate the students for further studies. The girl in question, Arnaz Banu, ranked first in the term 2022-2023. She has now passed out and is no longer enrolled in the school. The program was organised only for students who are currently part of the school. The other students were felicitated to motivate them for upcoming examinations,” the Principal of K T Patel School said.
He further added, “Arnaz Banu went to a different school after passing out her 10th class whereas the second ranker girl who was felicitated in the unofficial program continues to study in our school. She is currently in 11th standard. The teachers had organised the program only for the students who are currently part of the school to motivate them for further exams and studies.”
The Principal also said that the official felicitation program in the school is organised every year on January 26 and that Arnaz Banu will be felicitated by the school next year on January 26.
The girl will officially be felicitated on January 26
Sources associated with the school also informed that the majority of the population of the said village is Muslim and some local Muslims of the village also believe that there is no religious angle in the incident. Why such claims are being made on behalf of the girl student and her guardian is still beyond people’s understanding. It is also learned that a delegation of prominent people from the village will soon visit the school to bring out the facts regarding the incident.
The principal of the school, meanwhile, reiterated that the program was organised on a very small scale and that it was unofficial. “The teachers organised the program to motivate the students who are currently part of the school. Arnaz Banu after passing her 10th standard has secured admission in another school. However, she will be felicitated officially next year on January 26,” he affirmed.
The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR against BJP President JP Nadda filed during the election campaign in the state earlier this year, calling the complaint vague.
The single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna stated that allowing further investigation into the case will become a classic case of the abuse of the legal process, and will expose how a reckless registration of crime was allowed.
“The complaint does not say that the petitioner had interfered with the free exercise of anyone’s electoral right. It also doesn’t say that the petitioner is guilty of personation as defined under Section 171D of the IPC in the elections”, justice M Nagaprasanna stated.
“The allegation is that the Code of Conduct has been violated by the petitioner, on speaking at a public gathering on 07-05-2023 by threatening the voters. The complaint is so vague that it would daunt vagueness itself. On such a vague complaint which is loosely made against the petitioner, the crime in Crime No.89 of 2023 is registered and the ‘Damocles sword of crime’ is left hanging on the petitioner projecting it to be an offence,” the Court stated, as per LawBeat.
JP Nadda had filed a writ petition in the case against the FIR. The court allowed it, and added that considering Sections 171C, 171D, and 171F of the IPC if the complaint and FIR is allowed, what would unmistakably emerge is, “reckless registration of crime and a loosely laid offense”.
The FIR against Nadda was filed at Harapanahalli police station on May 9, accusing Nadda of violating the model code of conduct and ‘threatening voters’.
On May 7, JP Nadda held an election rally in Karnataka’s Vijayanagara district. In his speech at Harapanahalli’s IB Circle, the BJP chief reportedly stated that if the BJP loses the elections, the voters may be deprived of the benefits of central government schemes.
The complaint against Nadda was registered by the officials of the Election Vigilance Division in Karnataka, accusing Nadda of violating the model code of conduct. During the hearing in the High Court, the state government’s counsel tried to pursue the court to allow an investigation and remit the case back to the magistrate. However, the court ruled that the complaint itself is too vague and asserted that the case should be nipped in the bud.
On 20th August, the founder of dubious organisation Miles2Smile, Aasif Mujtaba, shared a thread on X (formerly Twitter) accusing the Government of Haryana of demolishing structures that his organisation built over three years. He said that he felt like going to a war zone after visiting Firozpur Jhirka in district Nuh of Haryana. A total of 106 structures built by his organisation were razed down following a crackdown on illegal structures by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) Haryana Government.
He wrote, “Returning from #FirozpurJhirka at #Nuh feels like coming back from a war zone. One of the villages of #FirozpurJhirka, called #DoodhGhati, looks like an earthquake-affected area. In the entirety of 3.5 years of our relief works through #Miles2smile, I have never seen the devastation of this scale by bulldozing. A total of 106 structures(semi-permanent) were razed to the ground by the administration.”
Ahmad, a moazzin in the local mosque was living in the area for almost a decade. His house was bulldozed & everything was crushed in the rubble. + pic.twitter.com/FIDVePG22U
He claimed that the people of Doodh Ghati, whose organisation provided “semi-permanent” structures, were not given time to take household goods from the house. In another tweet, he claimed that the belongings in the structure built by his organisation Miles2Smile were crushed under the bulldozer during an anti-encroachment drive by the administration.
Through @miles2smile_ we have started relief & rehabilitation work in the village. We have also made lists as per priority and are hoping to relocate & rebuild houses of some of the families. pic.twitter.com/nKk22nAVYi
He accused the administration of pulling people out of bed and bulldozing the illegal structures. Aasif has restarted the “relief” work in the village, aiming to relocate and rebuild the houses for the “affected”.
In one of the campaigns for Nuh, M2S has already collected the targetted amount of 2.52 lakhs. While Aasif is running a campaign after the demolition of illegal structures in Nagina of Nuh, it has to be pointed out that the rioters burnt an oil mill belonging to a BJP leader in Nagina during Nuh Violence. BJP’s Shiv Kumar Arya’s shop was looted and burnt to ashes. He suffered losses worth Rs 1.5 cr+.
Source: Miles2Smile
What is Miles2Smile
Miles2Smile Foundation is a dubious organisation that gained popularity for its “relief work” for illegal Rohingyas and Muslim victims of the Delhi anti-Hindu riots in 2020. From time to time, the organisation has raised funds via its campaigns and built semi-permanent structures, arranged education for illegal Rohingyas’ children and more. In general terms, it claims to be an organisation that provides relief and rehabilitation to distressed individuals or groups and educational upliftment of the marginalised and underprivileged.
Several other left-liberal ‘journalists’, including propaganda portal Alt News’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair also shared the links of the alleged fundraisers asking people to fund M2S campaigns.
Miles2Smile came into existence after anti-Hindu riots in Delhi to support “Muslim Victims”. From medical camps to “legal aid” to the Muslims, the organisation has been proactively supporting Muslims and illegal Rohingya immigrants. In 2022, it was claimed actor Hritik Roshan donated to the organisation, but it was later debunked.
Miles2Smiles work with Rohingyas and work specifically in Nuh
In April 2022, OpIndia reported that the organisation had set up a learning centre at a Rohingya camp at Nuh in Haryana. The organisation had raised funds for the construction work for the Rohingya Refugees at Nuh in Haryana and had also built housing units, he claimed on Twitter in January this year. It is worth noting that Nuh belongs to Mewat in Haryana, the region that is notoriously known as “Mini Pakistan”, where tales of abduction, rapes and forced conversions of Hindus have been routinely reported.
Besides learning centres for illegal Rohingya Muslims settled in the county, the Miles2Smiles had also started a fundraising event to enrol around 150 Rohingya kids on the centre to make them learn English, Maths, Science, and Computers along with Urdu and Arabic. Strangely, the foundation had also arranged Quran classes for the Rohingya kids at the refugee camps at Nuh, Haryana.
In March 2022, Aasif Mujtaba tweeted that it was heart-wrenching for him to witness the atrocities and genocide being allegedly committed against the Rohingya Muslims and expressed happiness for working with them in Nuh and Delhi.
Did Miles2Smiles build houses illegally?
Days after Islamists unleashed violence in the Nuh district of Haryana, the BJP-led State government cracked down on the illegal encroachments of over 200 rioters on Thursday, 3rd August 2023. The demolition drive continued for a couple of days, after which the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the process.
On 17th August, In an affidavit submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Nuh district Dhirendra Khadgata refuted allegations of “pick and choose policy” with regard to the recent demolition drive conducted by the state administration against illegal construction in the district.
DC informed that most of the encroachers were issued notices pertaining to their illegal constructions between two to six years back. The affidavit stated that five departments, public authorities, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) had undertaken routine demolition drives in their respective areas in Nuh till 7th August.
“It is pertinent to mention here that the Department of Town & Country Planning had detected unauthorised constructions in the form of shops, masjids, and foundations of structures at DPC level,” the affidavit stated.
According to the 400-page affidavit, a total of 354 people were affected by the demolition drive in Nuh, of whom 71 were Hindus and 283 were Muslims. Furthermore, it was stated that out of the 38 shops demolished, 55 per cent belonged to Hindus. It was mentioned that a total of 443 properties were demolished, of which 162 were permanent while 281 were temporary. The affidavit emphasised that caste, creed, or religious considerations had no bearing on the government’s decisions.
According to the affidavit, the district had a total population of 10,89,263, of which 79.20 per cent were Muslims and 20.37 per cent were Hindus, according to the 2011 Census. “The 2011 Census demonstrates unequivocally that Nuh is a district with a Muslim majority. Furthermore, 14,21,933 people are anticipated to live in Nuh in 2023. It is important to note that Muslims make up approximately 87% of the population in Ferozepur Jhirka and Punhana tehsil in Nuh district, respectively”, the affidavit stated.
As the government has categorically said the structures were illegal, does that mean the organisation did not take prior permission to build the structures as part of the “relief work” for the illegal immigrants in Nuh? Miles2Smile’s found is evidently admitting indirectly that the “semi-permanent” structures were indeed illegal as the government demolished them after serving notices more than two years ago. Notably, his “relief work” was reported in 2021 by OpIndia, which syncs with the Government’s affidavit that the encroachment was going on for over two years.
Rohingyas arrested for Nuh violence
According to reports, there are approximately two thousand Rohingyas currently residing in Nuh, and a large number of them possess UN-issued refugee cards. They have again attracted attention due to their involvement in the recent violence in Nuh on 31st July. The police have registered more than 20 cases and arrested around 25 Rohingya refugees.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the UN had given all of them refugee identity cards. Most of the Rohingyas living in Nuh are from Myanmar’s Rakhine state. After the violence in 2017, they came to Nuh through many routes in India.
Following the emergence of a Rohingya link to the Nuh violence, the district administration has initiated a comprehensive inquiry. Two Rohingya Muslims were caught with an Aadhar card and other documents during the investigation. According to a police official, their investigation unveiled the presence of approximately 2000 Rohingya families within the district, whose identification documents will undergo thorough scrutiny. The process of obtaining Aadhaar cards for this populace will also be subjected to investigation. The administration employed a bulldozer to raze around 200 slums in Tavdu, where these Rohingya families resided.
The investigation has brought to light the participation of numerous Rohingya families residing in both Nuh and its neighbouring villages in the recent outbreak of violence. The apprehension of Saifullah and Mehboob has effectively jolted the administration awake from its previous slumber. Notably, the 200 slums situated in Tavdu were constructed on land belonging to the Haryana Urban Development Authority. In the aftermath of the violence, the administration demolished these slums.
In March 2021, it was reported that Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had been raising the issue of Rohingyas in the country for a very long time. They have specifically pointed out that thousands of illegal Rohingyas were present in Nuh. According to a 2021 Jagran report, 2 thousand Rohingyas live in Mewat district alone. However, the VHP does not believe these numbers. The national spokesperson of the VHP, Vinod Bansal, claims that their numbers are in lakhs. Most Rohingyas living in Haryana reportedly settled in Mewat (Nuh), Faridabad, Gurugram, Palwal and Yamunanagar districts. Other districts in the state also have Rohingya Muslims, but it is difficult to trace them since most of them have forged IDs like Aadhar cards, Ration cards and voter cards.
Background on Nuh violence
On 31st July, a mob of hundreds of Muslim rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat of Haryana. At least six people, including innocent 4 Hindus and two policemen, were killed as a result of the riots.
Furthermore, a cyber crime police station was attacked in Nuh. Police officials were injured. Home guards were killed. The rioters first shot one of the Bajrang Dal activists, Abhishek, then his throat was slit, and his head was crushed, leading to his death.
During the investigation into the riots, OpIndia accessed over 25 FIRs and complaints that provided a clearer picture of what happened during the violence. Based on information available via FIRs, complaints and witnesses, the attack appeared pre-planned. OpIndia came across several videos posted two days before the Jalabhishek Yatra instigating Muslims against Hindus.
Muslims have claimed the riots happened because of Bajrang Dal activist and Gau Rakshak Monu Manesar. Old videos of Manesar were circulated to instigate Muslims, saying he was going to Nuh on that day. The video that was mostly circulated was from October 2022. Detailed reports can be checked here.
OpIndia’s complete Mewat Shobha Yatra Attack coverage can be checked here.
‘Historian’ Audrey Truschke, who has a history of anti-Hindu propaganda, received a rude shock on Friday (August 18) when none turned up for her event at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago.
She was scheduled to speak on issues such as ‘censorship’, ‘free speech’ ‘disinformation’ and supposed ‘threats and harassment from right-wing groups’ alongside other anti-India propagandists such as Sunita Vishwanath and Rasheed Ahmed.
Although the event titled ‘The Importance of Freedom of Speech to Defend Human Rights ‘was conducted virtually, Truschke was greeted with empty chairs and vacant halls.
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) August 20, 2023
In a tweet, the Coaliation of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) wrote, “LOL! Attendees at @InterfaithWorld voted down peddlers of propaganda, #Hinduphobia and outright lies. Crickets at the hate fest featuring #AudreyTruschke, #EqualityLabs, Indian American Muslim Council, Hindus for Human Rights and FIACONA.”
“Hopefully the professor has learned that it is hard to sell hate if no one is buying it,” the Hindu advocacy group tweeted. In another tweet, CoHNA informed that there was a huge turnout for the President of the advocacy group at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago.
“In contrast, after attempting to cancel CoHNA president Nikunj Trivedi from speaking about a sacred Hindu symbol, the Swastika session was a full house with a powerful and diverse panel of experts and attendees in a standing room only session. Truth sells itself.
In contrast, after attempting to cancel CoHNA president Nikunj Trivedi from speaking about a sacred Hindu symbol, the Swastika session was a full house with a powerful and diverse panel of experts and attendees in a standing room only session. ? Truth sells itself. https://t.co/OmkgONjsst
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) August 20, 2023
In an article published by Milli Chronicle, it said, “…The lack of attendees conveyed a clear message: the public is increasingly unwilling to entertain narratives perceived as potentially harmful and divisive.”
“This incident serves as a reminder that the responsibility of speakers and intellectuals extends beyond exercising the right to freedom of speech. It is crucial to approach topics with sensitivity, integrity, and a commitment to truth, in order to avoid undermining the very values they claim to defend,” it added.
I'm speaking today at 1 p.m. CST at the Parliament of World Religions (@InterfaithWorld) on human rights and free speech.
What's an academic doing at an interfaith gathering?
Well, a far-right group sued me alongside some stellar interfaith leaders. We won… Join us for more!
On Friday (August 18), ‘historian’ Audrey Truschke tweeted that she would be speaking at the Parliamnent of World’s Religions on ‘free speech’ and ‘human rights.’
“What’s an academic doing at an interfaith gathering? Well, a far-right group sued me alongside some stellar interfaith leaders. We won… Join us for more!” she claimed. Her tweet recieved poor response from her followers, which also reflected in the audience turnout for her session.
The day was July 28, 2023. I was working on an urgent news story when I got a call from an unknown number – 080 3710 1888. I usually avoid picking up unknown calls but an Amazon package was scheduled to be delivered later that day.
When I answered the call, a computer-generated voice (also called Interactive voice response/IVR) informed me that an attempt had been made to change the phone number associated with my OLA account.
I was surprised. “Why would anyone want to change the phone number of a ride-sharing app?” I thought for a second. The IVR asked me to press 1 if I approved the ‘phone number change’ or else press 2.
Screengrab of my call history
Similar attempts to break into my Facebook and Amazon accounts had been made in the past. As I was already preoccupied with work, I wanted to settle the issue as soon as possible. So, I went ahead and pressed 2 on the keypad.
The automated voice thanked me for the confirmation and asked me to enter the verification code sent to my number. At that time, I received a notification for a one-time password (OTP). So I went ahead and entered the 6-digit ‘verification code’ in the hopes of thwarting the ‘phishing’ attempt.
The IVR informed me that the ‘phone number change’ request was aborted. The call was then automatically disconnected. So, I went back to my work, only to receive one of the most distressing text messages of my life.
Screengrab of the text message received from OLA
“Payment of Rs. 10000.0 using OlaMoney Postpaid for your transaction hj2f-1d4k-le1r on www.woohoo.in is successful,” the message read. I was taken aback. I quickly installed the OLA app (which I usually uninstall after rides to save phone storage) to confirm if the message was real.
To my shock, my OLA Postpaid account was ₹10,000 short of its maximum limit of ₹15,500. The due date for the re-payment of ₹10,000 was written as August 27, 2023.
I am scammed – the reality dawned on me soon. So, I went online and quickly searched for OLA’s customer care number. It led me to the website of OLA Postpaid, where the customer care number was listed as 080 3710 1888.
Screengrab of the OLA Postpaid customer care number
I was surprised to learn that it was the same number from which the scam call originated. Until then, I was deeply embarrassed to have been randomly defrauded by an automated voice call. As a journalist and tech-savvy millennial, I did not expect such things to happen to me.
When it became clear that the fraud IVR was initiated by the official customer care number of OLA postpaid, I called the number immediately. It connected me to ‘OLA financial services’. I was able to talk to a representative of the ride-sharing company and register my complaint.
I inquired as to how such fraud calls can be made to customers from the official OLA postpaid number. She had no answer but assured me that the OLA team would investigate the matter with utmost priority.
Hey Dibakar, we want to help you with this. Please share your registered contact details via DM so that we can assist you further. https://t.co/6DHSELSc7K
Meanwhile, I also shared the story on X(formerly Twitter) and sent a Direct Message (DM) to OLA support on the micro-blogging platform. Several X (formerly Twitter) users began narrating their stories of fraud. “Exactly the same thing happened with me too,” wrote Sudesh.
Saptarshi B and Naresh Gupta were also defrauded of their OLA Postpaid money.
Exact same thing happened to me with Ola money but their response is pathetic. Now they have generated the bill as well. 2 weeks and not even a single call back @olamoney_in
X (formerly Twitter) user Aditya Singh, who lost ₹9500 in the fraud, wrote, “Their CC replies are the same every day… (They say) we are not authorised to recover funds. Already complained (to) cybercrime (department). Let’s see what will happen.”
Same scam happen with me 9500rs lost from ola postpaid theier CC replies are same everyday like ki we are not authorised to recover funds already complained in cybercrime lets see what will happen@olamoney_in@ola_supports#fraudola#stopusingola
My sister, who works as a clerk at a nationalised bank, informed me that she has received similar ‘OLA Postpaid’ fraud calls in the past. She asked me to install the app ‘TrueCaller’ as it raises alarms about such ‘fraud calls.’
In the past, I had been hesitant about using ‘TrueCaller’ due to privacy issues. After having lost ₹10,000 in one day, I was no longer worried about privacy. On installing the app, the official customer care number of OLA was flagged as ‘OLA Postpaid Scam’.
There were a dozen comments by TrueCaller users who have similarly been defrauded by IVR, originating from the number. “They first play an IVR asking you to deny the transaction and once you press 1, they send you an OTP asking you to confirm and that is where the brilliance of the scam is. DO NOT SHARE OTP AT ANY COST!” wrote one user.
Screengrab of the comments by TrueCaller users
Another user warned, “Fraud- Do not share OTP with them. change your account password if you are receiving calls from this number regarding mobile number change and asking for OTP for request cancellation.”
After interacting with some of the victims, I learnt that they had been defrauded from the official number of OLA as well as unofficial/ unknown numbers. My mother, who was disturbed by the development, lambasted me for sharing the verification code on call.
“I did not think of the OLA postpaid wallet when I received the call. In my mind, I wondered why someone was trying to change the phone number of my ridesharing app. Had it been a bank or third-party transaction app (such as PayTM, GPay or PhonePe), I would perhaps have been more vigilant,” I told her in my defence.
Taking the legal route
Although I was disheartened and embarrassed by the development, I knew I could not waste time and proceeded to file a cyber complaint.
First, I visited the website of the ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’, and chose ‘Financial Fraud’ from the drop-down menu of ‘Report Cyber Crime’. I accepted the terms and conditions and created a new account.
While the onboarding process is easy, the online complaint must be filled out quickly. If such a thing is not done, then, the page will get timed out and you need to start afresh. It took 3 attempts to finally register my online complaint.
Screengrab of the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
To make things easier, I will suggest compiling all screenshots, bank statements etc. in the form of a pdf. After the online complaint is registered, you will receive an acknowledgement number on your given email ID.
Within a day’s time, your complaint will be assigned to a nearby cyber crime police station and a designated police officer (the email will include phone number). Most people do not follow up after this step.
You need to physically visit the said police station and meet up with the concerned cop for the registration of the First Information Report (FIR).You will need documents such as a copy of your Aadhar card, address proof, written complaint (in the format attached in the tweet) and proof of fraud (screenshots, mail transcripts, transaction ID etc).
#Update: Submitted all required documents for the registration of FIR against @ola_supports .
I will collect the FIR copy tomorrow and approach all agencies possible. Fingers crossed! The fight is on.
— Dibakar Dutta (দিবাকর দত্ত) (@dibakardutta_) August 3, 2023
You can skip the bank statement part in this case, given that the OLA Postpaid Scam is an ‘e-wallet fraud’. Within a day’s time, you can collect a physical copy of the FIR from the said police station.
Resolution of my issue
I did not receive any help from the OLA Team for the first 3 days, except for bot replies to my tweets and generic emails. Thereafter, I was greeted with an email that read-
“We would like to inform you that, as per our technical team OTP was generated and shared for the transaction. We are sorry to let you know that we are not authorized to recover funds from a successful transaction.”
After wasting 72 hours on the issue, @olamoney_in sent me this beautiful email –
"We would like to inform you that, as per our technical team OTP was generated and shared for the transaction. We are sorry to let you know that we are not authorized to recover funds from a… pic.twitter.com/wEQPtX2l9L
— Dibakar Dutta (দিবাকর দত্ত) (@dibakardutta_) July 31, 2023
Despite being pointed out repeatedly that the OTP was shared with the IVR, originating from the official number of OLA postpaid money, the support team initially did not do anything about it. They carefully avoided responding to the mail, which highlighted this aspect and chose to focus solely on the OTP part.
In the meantime, I kept writing emails to the OLA team, highlighting the issue but to no avail. On August 7, 2023, I finally received a mail from OLA Money representative Vippu Lokesh, stating that my defrauded postpaid balance of ₹10000 has been refunded.
“Hello Dibakar, we regret the inconvenience caused. We would like to inform you that being our valuable customer we will go ahead and refund the full amount. However, moving forward please make sure that you do not share any OTP over call/SMS/IVR/Email as Ola representative will never ask you for OTP,” the mail read.
Email sent by OLA Money representative Vippu Lokesh
I was finally relieved. I quickly checked my OLA postpaid wallet and the refund was reflected in the account. I called up the OLA support number (the same one as the fraud IVR) and permanently deactivated the postpaid service with the help of their customer care executive.
Plight of other fraud victims
Another victim of the OLA Postpaid scam call, identified as Naresh Gupta, was also refunded the defrauded amount of ₹7500. While I and Gupta were among the fortunate ones to receive a full refund, the plight of other victims tells a different story.
Many of the defrauded individuals are now being harassed by OLA officials to cough up the amount, which was siphoned off in the scam. As the due dates for repayment of OLA postpaid are inching closer for the victims, they are receiving threatening calls from OLA recovery agents.
On X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Jungade narrated that he is being blackmailed and mentally harassed by OLA officials.
Siddhartha, another victim of fraud, tweeted, “My case is not resolved by Ola Money. Getting WhatsApp messages on (my) personal number from Ola folks asking to pay. Ola Money, we have already filed a cyberfraud police complaint on @Cyberdost against you and @woohoogifting both.”
My case is not resolved by @olamoney_in Gettin WhatsApp messages on personal number from Ola folks asking to pay ??@olamoney_in we have already filed cyberfraud police complaint on @Cyberdost against you and @woohoogifting both.
There are several questions that need to be addressed by OLA, pertaining to the misuse of its official customer care number and the plight of those victimised in the fraud. I have prepared a set of 8 questions that require immediate answers from the management of the ride-sharing app.
How can an automated voice call, aimed at defrauding customers, originate from the official number of OLA Postpaid?
How did the fraudsters know that the victims were OLA postpaid users? Was there a breach of customer data that we do not know of?
What is being done on OLA’s part to protect the data of the customers?
Are you aware of the cyber fraud involving OLA postpaid? If yes, what action has been taken in this regard? If no, then who should be contacted for redressal of customer grievances?
There are several postpaid/ pay later services in the markets. How have they been able to protect their customers from falling prey to fraudsters, which is not the case with OLA?
Will the victims be refunded/ compensated for the fraud originating from the official number of OLA postpaid and in cases where scamsters had access to OLA customer data?
Will OLA officials/ executives/ recovery agents stop harassing those customers who have been defrauded of OLA postpaid money until a resolution is reached?
What is the top management doing to safeguard OLA users from future cyber fraud?
Disclaimer: I have sent two emails, seeking answers to the above-mentioned questions, to OLA’s top management and itsmedia enquiry centre. No response has been received so far. The article will be updated accordingly if OLA chooses to respond to the questions
