As many as nine soldiers of the Indian Army were killed and one was injured after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Ladakh, defence officials said on Saturday.
According to officials, the accident occurred around 6.30 pm. “The troops were moving from Karu garrison to Kyari near Leh,” they added.
Further information is awaited.
This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Actor Rajnikanth on Saturday, August 19, arrived at the residence of Yogi Adityanath to meet the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. The legendary actor met the UP CM and greeted him by touching his feet, a video of which quickly went viral on the internet.
The actor arrived in the city on Friday night for the screening of his film ‘Jailer’, which was attended by UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
#WATCH | Actor Rajinikanth meets Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath at his residence in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/KOWEyBxHVO
— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2023
No sooner did the video of Rajinikanth bowing down to Yogi Adityanath started doing the rounds on social media than several leftwing supporters had a meltdown over one of the most famous superstars paying obeisance to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
“Appalled by the spineless, hypocritical coward Rajini for falling at the feet of a hate monger. A new low!” tweeted an X user.
#Rajinikanth bows down to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.
— raja sekhar.g (@Rajasek08221567) August 19, 2023
Appalled by the spineless, hypocritical coward Rajini for falling at the feet of a hate monger. A new low! ???♂️
Another X (formerly Twitter) user could not bring herself to terms with the fact that Rajinikanth bowed in deferential respect to Uttar Pradesh CM.
Rajinikanth touches UP CM Yogi Adityanath's feet. Whyyyyyy nooooo!!
— Narayani M (@NarayaniM1) August 19, 2023
Many social media users began attacking Rajinikanth for his gesture toward Yogi Adityanath.
72 Years old Superstar Rajinikanth touching feet of 52 Years old Yogi Adityanath.
— Tushar (@xyztusharr) August 19, 2023
Such a down grade of Thalaivar
Rajinikanth have been ruling the film industry from past 5 decades and have huge fanbase.#Rajinikanth #YogiAdityanath #Thalaivar #UttarPradesh #Yogi #JAILER pic.twitter.com/7sr1UWnh19
wtf thalaivar https://t.co/HfvSwAnLqu pic.twitter.com/3KWI7i4BC2
— AshMethRose (@methroska) August 19, 2023
Touching a politician's feet, how low has this man fallen too. Rajnikanth has become a joke.#Jailer#YogiAdityanath https://t.co/7BPQfuyMOU
— Human (@1amongthehumans) August 19, 2023
In the meantime, Rajinikanth conveyed his enthusiasm regarding the overwhelmingly positive reception his film has received from the audience, as well as its remarkable success. “… It feels like a divine blessing that the movie is achieving such success,” he shared with ANI.
Previously, Rajinikanth had been in Ranchi, Jharkhand, where he also embarked on a visit to the renowned Chhinnamasta Temple within the state on Friday, engaging in prayers. He dedicated an hour to meditation at the ‘Yagoda Ashram’ in Ranchi, followed by a meeting with Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya, lauded the actor for his exceptional acting prowess, stating, “I also had the opportunity to watch a film titled ‘Jailer’. I’ve seen many of Rajinikanth’s movies, and he’s such a skilled actor that even if the movie lacks substantial content, his performance elevates the film’s significance.”
‘Jailer,’ which made its theatrical debut on August 10, has taken the box office by storm, making a significant impact. The movie’s cumulative earnings in India over eight days amounted to Rs 235.65 crore (as of August 17). The film saw a multilingual release, including versions in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
In ‘Jailer,’ Rajinikanth portrays a character driven by the desire for vengeance over the loss of his police officer son. Notably, the film features pivotal cameo appearances by Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar, and Jackie Shroff.
A shocking instance of love jihad has come to light from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Here, a man named Moin Khan, a resident of Jalupura entrapped a young woman and two minor girls of age 14 and 17 respectively. He kept them hostage and raped them. He also took money from his friends who proceeded to sexually assault the 14-year-old. She was held captive by him for around a month.
The accused has been arrested and his minor friends who are below the age of 18 have been apprehended and sent to the child reform home. He introduced himself as Monu to both of the victims. Therefore, the police are also looking into the matter from the perspective of love jihad.
The 17-year-old girl registered a police complaint against him at Sadar police station in Jaipur. She informed the police that she had left the house after an altercation with her mother. Meanwhile, Moin Khan met her in the Sindhi Camp area and told her that his name was Monu.
He lured her to a hotel under the pretence of help and raped her there. She somehow managed to escape from him the following day and made it home where she narrated the entire ordeal to her mother. Afterwards, her mother took her to the Sadar police station to file a rape case.
The girl revealed to the authorities that another minor was taken hostage in a room in the same hotel where she was subjected to rape. She too was sexually violated by Moin Khan and his accomplices. The police reached the establishment located in Jalupura based on this information and captured Khan.
The police released the 14-year-old girl who was trapped there. She then disclosed that her elder sister had brought her to Jaipur about a month ago and left her with the perpetrator. She stated that her sibling was already familiar with him.
The adolescent said that her parents got divorced when she was 3-year-old. She lived with her mother while her sister moved in with her father. She went to stay with him some time ago, but he used to get drunk and beat both girls.
Her sister took her to Jaipur as a result and left her with the culprit. He sexually assaulted and imprisoned her in a hotel room just two days after her elder sister’s return. She unveiled that he forbade her from leaving the room as well as thrashed her.
One day he had two of his friends with him and after collecting about Rs 2500 from them, he handed her over to them. Furthermore, she was taken by both of them to a cafe in Lal Kothi where she was gang raped. They warned her that there would be negative repercussions if she notified anybody about the horrific episode.
According to the police, apart from these two minor girls, Moin Khan’s relationship with a young woman has also come to the fore. They are investigating the possibility that he made multiple more victims similar to the two minors.
The Madras High Court recently stayed legal actions taken against Poet and Assistant Director P Vigneshwaran, also known as Viduthalai Sigappi, for his recital of a poem that portrays Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Lakshman as manual scavengers.
The accusation against Vigneshwaran pertains to an incident on April 30, 2023, during which he recited a poem at an event. In the poem, he portrayed Lord Ram, Hanuman, and Lakshman as manual scavengers. The poem further depicted Goddess Sita sealing a manhole while the others worked inside, and subsequently departing for Sri Lanka, leaving behind a note urging readers not to unseal the manhole.
Alleging that the poem had the potential to hurt the religious sentiments of a significant section of Hindus and constituted a derogatory act against Hinduism, a legal case was filed following a complaint by Suresh Parthasarathy, a prominent figure in the Bharath Hindu Munnani. The charges were raised under Sections 153, 153(1)(a), 295A, 505(1), and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code.
In an attempt to stop the legal proceedings against him, Vigneshwaran asserted that his motive was not to cause harm to any individual or religious belief. Rather, the aim was to highlight the challenging circumstances faced by manual scavengers and women, he claimed. He further added that the poem had been presented at a literary gathering organised by a movement dedicated to combatting caste-based discrimination. Thus, he argued that the poem’s intent needed to be interpreted in light of this context.
Furthermore, he contended that expressing the struggles endured by those coerced into manual scavenging through a literary composition should not be construed as an offence. He maintained that this act was indeed safeguarded by the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in Article 19(1)(a).
In his affidavit, Vigneshwaran stated that even if the claims made in the complaint were to be considered at face value and wholly accepted, they would not amount to an offence. He argued that the legal system in India has evolved a forward-looking legal doctrine aimed at safeguarding artistic freedom of expression. Drawing upon several rulings by the Supreme Court, he further emphasised that the First Information Report (FIR) should be dismissed as it constituted an improper exploitation of the legal process.
Vigneshwaran further highlighted that the fundamental prerequisites necessary for invoking Sections 153, 153A, and 295A of the Indian Penal Code were not present in the present circumstances. He clarified that although the poem he recited did feature characters named after Hindu deities or mythical beings, it abstained from containing any allusions to other faiths or any material that could potentially inflame conflicts or cultivate feelings of strife, enmity, or resentment among different religious groups.
The Central Government will soon put together the Bureau of Port Security towards upgrading security across all ports in the country, informed Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday.
Speaking at the 19th Maritime States Development Council meeting held at Gujarat’s Kevadia district, Minister Sonowal unveiled a vision for India’s maritime sector, outlining key initiatives that promise a transformative impact.
He also highlighted the Government’s focus on sustainable development and shared about the Ministry’s ambitious plan to develop Hydrogen Hubs across the Central Government and State Government ports.
He said, “All Central Government and State Government ports will explore the possibility of creating Hydrogen Hubs.”
Minister Sonowal added that Deendayal Port Authority has already finalised MoUs worth Rs 1.68 lakh crore for this venture. In addition, Sonowal announced, emphasising the country’s commitment to quadrupling its port capacity under the Amrit Kaal Vision for Ports.
He underlined that all major ports have prepared their Port Master Plans for 2047, and states are also getting their Port Master Plans for 2047 ready.
“The total country’s Port capacity will increase from existing around 2,600 MTPA to more than 10,000 MTPA in 2047,” he said.
Sonowal added, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MoPSW is marking new achievements. He always believes in better cooperation, and the Maritime States Development Council emerges as a critical mechanism of cooperation and plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our Nation’s maritime sector.”
The Minister also alluded to India’s growing maritime stature and the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit 2023.
The Union Minister announced that all maritime states and Union Territories will participate in the GMIS 2023, making it one of the largest summits in the country.
Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 17th-19th October 2023. GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector-focused event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India’s maritime sector.
Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions of 2016 and 2021, this third edition of the summit aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors.
Delegates from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the summit with exhibitors and investors from various domains of the maritime sector, the Minister said.
Besides, the Minister underscored that the country’s maritime sector is currently poised for substantial growth, with investment opportunities identified to be more than 10 lakh crore.
He stressed that this burgeoning financial prospect is more than an economic boom, it symbolises an opportunity to generate employment for over 15 lakh youths in the country, intertwining economic advancement with social empowerment.
In alignment with this vision, the role of private players is being progressively augmented, with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) terminals currently handling about 50 per cent of the cargo at major ports and efforts underway to raise their share to approximately 85 per cent in the coming decades. This strategic move towards privatisation is expected to enhance efficiency and facilitate the scaling of operations.
Furthermore, there is a discernible focus on enhancing cargo movement on India’s National Waterways, which witnessed a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in the last fiscal year.
Ambitious targets have been set to achieve a substantial quantum of 500 MTPA by 2047, underlining the government’s commitment to leveraging the maritime sector as a catalyst for comprehensive national growth.
Sonowal alluded to the Sagarmala Programme, noting that over the past eight years, the strategic initiatives of the Sagarmala Programme have significantly enhanced port capacity, connectivity, and operational efficiency, driving down costs, shortening vessel turnaround times, accommodating larger ships, and elevating the strategic relevance of Indian ports in the South Asian region.
Sonowal encouraged all Coastal States and Union Territories Governments to offer unwavering support to MoPSW, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Railways in expediting these vital projects.
On Day Two, discussions were made upon the various development agendas related to the implementation of Sagarmala Programme, Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat, Development of National Waterways, Challenges and opportunities for promotion of RoPax/ Ferries, Urban Passenger Waterways Transportation, Road & Rail port connectivity, Success stories of Coastal States & UTs and Issues/ Challenges faced by State Maritime Boards.
The two-day 19th Maritime State Development Council meeting at Kevadia, Gujarat, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to enhance better coordination between major and notified ports, State Maritime Boards, State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) concluded today.
MSDC is an apex advisory body constituted in May 1997 to develop the Maritime Sector. It aims to ensure the integrated development of Major and other notified ports.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Saturday (19 August), the barbs of words between alliance partners – Congress and AAP – spiralled exponentially. In a fresh development in the ongoing political feud between so-called alliance partners, Congress has thrown an open challenge to Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to have a public debate on the achievements of governments of both parties.
Apparently, Congress media department head Pawan Khera made this direct attack on their arch-nemesis turned ally while responding to a media report that highlighted AAP’s recent attack against Congress government in Chhattisgarh.
Through his retorting post, Congress leader Khera asked Kejriwal why does he need to go to Raipur? The outright premise of the argument seemingly hinted that the Congress leader wanted AAP to remind that it doesn’t want the Kejriwal-led outfit to enter its political territory. To dispel any doubt, the Congress leader argued that their challenge in the state is against BJP, and for that reason, AAP should stay out of it.
In his post, Khera said, “Why go to Raipur? The performance of our Chattisgarh govt will be compared with the previous Raman Singh govt.”
Why go to Raipur? Performance of our Chattisgarh govt will be compared with the previous Raman Singh govt.
— Pawan Khera ?? (@Pawankhera) August 19, 2023
Let us choose a sector of your choice and compare the performance of Congress government in Delhi vs your govt here.
Ready for a debate?
रायपुर की उड़ान भरने से पहले… https://t.co/0wqOaOdOJO
Going further, the Congress leader threw an open challenge at AAP and asked the Kejriwal-led outfit whether they are ready for a debate to discuss deliverables by the earlier Congress government in Delhi vis-a-vis the current AAP government led by CM Kejriwal.
Khera said, “Let us choose a sector of your choice and compare the performance of the Congress government in Delhi vs your govt here. Ready for a debate?”
In a sharply worded criticism, he lambasted AAP claiming that Delhi is heading toward destitution under Kejriwal’s misgovernance.
Notably, the report that the Congress leader had quoted in his tweets pointed out that AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal targeted their alliance partner Congress in the Raipur rally where he claimed that government schools are in ‘terrible’ condition.
In his Raipur rally, Kejriwal said, “Before coming here, I was reading a report. bura haal hai sarkari schools ka (government schools are in terrible condition). Many schools have been shut down by them (the ruling Congress regime), while in others, there is only a single teacher for ten classes.”
Delhi CM Kejriwal and Punjab CM Mann in their addresses accused the Congress government in Chhattisgarh of indulging in rampant corruption. After targeting their alliance partner Congress, they claimed that only they can give a corruption-free government in the state. However, this contentious claim has no takers in Congress, AAP’s recent ally.
Earlier in the day, on 19 August, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit distanced himself and the party from AAP’s demand for full statetood. He categorically stated that Arvind Kejriwal only wants to use power to save himself from Corruption allegations. And now, Congress media department in-charge, Pawan Khera too has hinted that Delhi is in facing dire consequences of electing AAP.
The rift between alliance partners Congress and AAP has reached a new height with leaders of both parties accusing each other of indulging in rampant corruption. Evidently, on Saturday (19 August), AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann blamed the Congress government for deeply entrenched corruption in the poll-bound state of Chhattisgarh.
AAP Senior leaders addressed a rally in Raipur to campaign against the incumbent Congress government, which is ironically their alliance partner at the National level. Addressing the party workers at the Townhall, Kejriwal slammed the state government and said that government schools in Chhattisgarh are in a ‘terrible’ condition.
He said, “Before coming here, I was reading a report. bura haal hai sarkari schools ka (government schools are in terrible condition). Many schools have been shut down by them (the ruling Congress regime), while in others, there is only a single teacher for ten classes.”
He added, “Many teachers have not received their salaries for months… teachers are being made to everything except teaching. ”
Kejriwal argued that the incumbent Congress government is badly rattled by the large gathering AAP has amassed in its election rallies. Accusing the state government of canceling permission for larger halls, Kejriwal asked the party workers to cancel (uproot) the Congress government in the upcoming assembly elections.
हमने 2-3 बड़े Hall लेने की कोशिश की लेकिन सरकार ने Cancel कर दिया।
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 19, 2023
इस बार आप सरकार को कैंसिल कर देना।
– CM @ArvindKejriwal #ChhattisgarhMaangeKejriwal pic.twitter.com/FiG60uABhm
During his address, Punjab CM Mann too highlighted that corruption is all pervasive under the Congress government and vowed that if AAP successfully topples the Bhupesh Bhaghel government in the state, they will make Chhattisgarh a corruption-free state.
Aam Aadmi Party campaigns against Congress in Chhattisgarh, vows to make 'corruption free Chhattisgarh' #AAP #Congress #Chhattisgarh #ArvindKejriwal
— Republic (@republic) August 19, 2023
Tune in-https://t.co/5C8MAHsMNQ pic.twitter.com/TLpIOQSIxN
Earlier, in the day, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit called AAP leaders ‘mice’. He also alleged that Arvind Kejriwal wants to misuse power to shield himself from anti-corruption probes. He said, “The kind of power Kejriwal wants for transfers, postings, to save himself from an anti-corruption branch, is not ethical.”
Since its inception, the Congress-AAP alliance under the banner I.N.D.I.A., has been caught in stormy waters. First, it was the dilly-dallying of Congress and AAP’s blackmailing over the issue of the Delhi Services Bill, but this week, tensions have escalated between the two on the issue of seat sharing row.
After Congress leader Alka Lamba stated that the grand old party will fight on all seven seats in Delhi, the birthing place of its alliance partner AAP. It was seen as a clear bid of sidelining their coalition partner AAP. Afterward, on Friday, 18 August, AAP’s state President Naveen Paliwal announced that his party, AAP will contest all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan.
Now, escalating the assault, AAP’s two seniormost leaders Delhi and Punjab Chief Minister have opened a new front against Congress’ state government. This also becomes a major betrayal as it is coming at a time when the Baghel government is facing stiff opposition and flakes on the issue of the recent expose of back-to-back corruption scams in the state.
Two days ago, certain media reports alleged that a Chinese man had defrauded 1200 individuals in Gujarat, amassing Rs 1400 crore through deceitful means. In response, the Gujarat Police issued a formal statement aimed at providing clarifications on the matter. The police authorities clarified that the actual extent of the scam doesn’t amount to Rs 1400 crore, but rather stands at Rs 3 crore, and they are actively pursuing the case.
Regarding the purported involvement of the Chinese individual, the police refuted these claims, stating that no such person has set foot in Gujarat, categorising the news as unsubstantiated and that the actual scam took place through a fantasy gaming app.
The Gujarat Police has categorically dismissed the claims about a Chinese individual arriving in Banaskantha and orchestrating a fraud amounting to Rs 1400 crore, deeming them without merit. As the investigation into the incident unfolded, law enforcement established that 1175 individuals fell victim to the scheme, resulting in a collective loss of Rs 3 crore 54 lakhs 64 thousand and 828. In response, the State Cyber Crime and CID took action by freezing a total of 620 bank accounts associated with the case.
Contrary to reports, there is no substantiated evidence to support claims that a Chinese individual by the name of Wu Chuanbo was present in India between 2020 and 2022, including a stay in Patan during which he allegedly engaged with local residents and enticed them with monetary offers. The police have officially clarified that such an individual of Chinese origin has never visited Gujarat. The individual in question, whose name is Wu Chuanbo alias Chamber, hails from the Shenzhen province of China.
His documented whereabouts indicate a period of residence in Delhi from 2017 to 2019, after which he returned to China in 2019 and has not revisited India since. The reported scam transpired from December 2021 to June 2022, during which Wu Chuanbo was not within Indian territory. It is noteworthy that Interpol has initiated Red Corner Notice proceedings against him as per police updates.
The police have cautioned individuals who, via social media, are commenting on the crime without ensuring the accuracy of their claims and insinuating police involvement. The police have emphasised that those making such statements must substantiate their allegations or be prepared to face legal consequences.
Additionally, the police clarified that a football fantasy gaming app named Dani Data enticed individuals by promising to refund their invested funds along with a 0.75 per cent profit, all based on wagering on a 3:3 football match outcome. However, the app was subsequently removed from the Google Play Store, failing to fulfil its promise of returning the invested funds. A case pertaining to this incident was formally lodged at the Palanpur cyber crime police station in June 2022. Subsequently, upon discovering that numerous others had also fallen prey to the scheme, the investigation was transferred to the CID for further inquiry.
On August 17, 2023, the Times of India published a report asserting that a Chinese national had purportedly arrived in Gujarat, orchestrating collusion with certain individuals to defraud around 1200 people and execute a fraudulent scheme amounting to Rs 1400 crore. Allegedly, he introduced an application in May 2022, engaging in investments alongside local residents. The report contended that the accused Chinese individual managed to siphon off Rs 200 crore within just two days. Consequently, after an operational span of 9 days, the application abruptly ceased functioning, subsequently revealing the deception to the victims. The report further detailed the apprehension of nine individuals in connection with the case, who are alleged to have aided the Chinese national in his actions.
Following the emergence of this news, several other media outlets carried the story, while simultaneously, the Congress party initiated its propaganda. In a recent press conference, Congress leader Pawan Khera pointed fingers at the Gujarat Police concerning this particular case. In addition to this, he directed his criticism towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. The Gujarat Congress shared the video clip along with the caption, “There has been ‘Chinese intrusion’ in Gujarat. A Chinese national in Gujarat squandered Rs 1400 crore in 9 days and disappeared. This is the incident of the time when PM Modi used to visit Gujarat frequently for election campaigns. After all, what was the police doing at that time?”
गुजरात में 'चीनी घुसपैठ' हुई है।
— Gujarat Youth Congress (@IYCGujarat) August 18, 2023
गुजरात में एक चीनी नागरिक ने 9 दिनों में 1400 करोड़ रुपये की चपत लगाई और गायब हो गया।
यह उस समय की घटना है जब PM मोदी चुनाव प्रचार के लिए अक्सर गुजरात जाया करते थे।
आखिर उस समय पुलिस क्या कर रही थी ?
: @Pawankhera जी pic.twitter.com/mJAOBi4EAT
Propaganda was also spread on social media. ‘Journalist’ Ravish Kumar tried to take a dig by posting a tweet. Referring to the ‘Godi Media’ and the IT cell – which he keeps making a hue and cry about – he said, “Now tell me Godi media and IT cell were engaged in blowing smoke, whereas the Chinese citizen went to Gujarat, it was not even known. Made an app there, didn’t even know. 1400 crores cheated and went away, didn’t even know. When China came within the border, it did not even mention its name. Did not realize. China enters the border, cheated 1400 crores by entering Gujarat? What is this happening?”
अब बताइये। गोदी मीडिया और आई टी सेल धुआँ उछालने में लगे थे इधर चीन का नागरिक गुजरात चला गया, पता ही नहीं चला। वहाँ एप बनाया, पता ही नहीं चला। 1400 करोड़ ठग कर चला गया, पता ही नहीं चला। चीन सीमा के भीतर आया तो नाम ही नहीं लिया। पता ही नहीं चला। चीन सीमा में घुस आता है, गुजरात में… https://t.co/tMWRTfOulx
— ravish kumar (@ravishndtv) August 17, 2023
However, the Gujarat Police have now come up with a clarification on this case and denied the reports.
In an affidavit submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Nuh district 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.
Nuh DC Dhirendra Khadgata, in an affidavit filed before the court on August 17, 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 August 7.
The Nuh DC stated in the affidavit that demolition work was carried out by the District Town and Country Planner in 38 locations in accordance with the procedure as laid down by the law.
“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.
The affidavit stated that a show cause notice was issued on February 25, 2021, and a personal hearing was also provided on March 3, 2021. However, it was stated that the encroachers did not submit their written reply or show up for the hearing.
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 percent 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.
To put the figures in perspective, it has been pointed out that Muslims make up more than 79% of the entire population in Nuh using data from the 2011 Census.
According to the affidavit, the district had a total population of 10,89,263, of which 79.20 percent were Muslims and 20.37 percent 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.
According to the Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav’s affidavit, up to 25 buildings totalling 116 acres, including 57 acres of cleared land, were razed in Gurugram between July 3 and August 8. Since the violence which erupted on July 31st, only one property has been demolished in Gurugram, and all of the demolished buildings were owned by Hindus. The Gurugram DC also stressed that no “pick and choose” policy based on caste, creed, religion, etc is taken into consideration by the administration while clearing the illegal encroachments.
“It is also pertinent to mention that the government while removing encroachments/unauthorised constructions never adopted pick-and-chose policy and that too on the basis of caste, creed or religion,” the affidavit stated.
The reply was filed by the Nuh and Gurugram DCs in response to a suo motu PIL pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court with regard to the recently stayed demolition drive. It is pertinent to recall that on August 7, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the Haryana government’s demolition drive on the illegal encroachments after several people claimed that they did not receive prior notices.
The demolition drive began on August 3, three days after an Islamist mob attacked the Jalabhishek Yatra procession organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. The violent attacks claimed six lives. Vehicles were burnt and stones pelted at the VHP’s Jalabhishek Yatra as Islamists unleashed violence against the Hindus in the Muslim-dominated region of Nuh, Mewat in Haryana.
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has sought the centre’s response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which sought the decriminalisation of consensual sexual intercourse between minors aged 16 to 18.
Attorney Harsh Vibhore Singhal submitted the plea on his own behalf. It is intended to decriminalise the statutory rape statute, which is frequently invoked to prosecute boys from age 16 to 18 who engage in consensual relationships with girls from the same age group.
The PIL states that criminal sanctions are inappropriate against adolescents for consensual, non-exploitative sexual activity. Sex involving people below 18 years of age can be consensual, even if they are illegal as per law, that’s why enforcement of criminal law must reflect the rights and capacity of such persons to make informed decisions about engaging in consensual sex & their right to be heard in such matters, the PIL argues.
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and other statutory organisations that include the National Commission for Women have received notifications from the highest court’s bench comprised of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Padriwala and Justice Manoj Misra, asking them to submit their views on the matter.
The PIL placed a strong focus on bodily autonomy and says that teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 are capable of giving approval. According to it, those who have reached the aforementioned age are able to evaluate their decisions and understand the associated consequences.
It stated that adolescents possess “physiological, biological, psychological and social capacities, competence to assimilate and evaluate information to understand and comprehend risks, freedom to make informed choices to convey affirmative decisions or otherwise, and have the agency and decisional/bodily autonomy to fearlessly, freely and voluntarily do what they wish to do with their bodies.”
In the PIL, advocate Singhal stated that despite having sex with girls under 18 with explicit consent, boys under 18 are regularly booked and arrested, they are denied bail and they suffer debilitating, humiliating, denigrating, and stigmatizing questions. The PIL cites several judgements where Hich Courts have granted bail to such accused minors, saying that the POCSO never intended to punish consensual sex.
It made an effort to broaden the concept of consent and passed a writ of mandamus to turn the crime of statutory rape with no offence. A court may issue a writ of mandamus to order a public entity to carry out specific tasks which in this case is to order the government to decriminalise.
It mentioned, “Pass a writ of mandamus under Article 32 or any other direction in the nature of writ and exercise its powers under 142 to decriminalise the law of statutory rape as applied to all cases of voluntary consensual sexual contact between any 16 to <18 adolescent with another similar age adolescent and with >18 adult.”
The petitioner had earlier moved the Delhi High Court with the same petition. But the court had declined to hear it saying that it does not have the authority to adjudicate on the matter. ‘We do not have the power of 142 to frame guidelines for consensual sex, and it is best that petitioner goes to Supreme Court,’ the Delhi HC had said.
It is notable that the apex court had already asked the centre to review the age of consent for sexual relationships and the use of POCSO in such cases. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had urged the Indian Parliament in December 2022 to review the consent age under the 2012 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He highlighted how judges find it challenging to examine cases of consensual sex which involve teens due to the current definition.
He pronounced that even where consent was genuinely given, it is still illegal under the law for minors under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He noted, “In my time as a judge, I have observed that this category of case poses difficult questions for judges across the spectrum. There is a growing concern surrounding this issue which must be considered by the legislature.”
Earlier, Madras High Court had also expressed similar views, advocating a review of the POCSO Act over the issue.
At present, the age of consent for sexual relationships is 18 years, and if an adult has sex with a minor even with the consent of the minor, it is considered rape and prosecuted accordingly. On the other hand, if both the partners are minors, the boy is prosecuted under the juvenile justice act.
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