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‘Rajasthan number 1 in crime against women’: Ex-Minister Rajendra Gudha refuses to apologise for his remarks on women’s safety, was earlier sacked by Congress

OpIndia Staff
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‘Rajasthan number 1 in crime against women’: Ex-Minister Rajendra Gudha refuses to apologise for his remarks on women’s safety, was earlier sacked by Congress

Days after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot sacked Rajendra Gudha as a minister in his government, the latter has refused to apologise and stand firm on his statement in which he had criticised the state government over crimes against women.

“Why will I apologize, what was my fault? I did not say anything wrong, atrocities against women are increasing in the state. I will answer in the house. We were not allowed to speak but now I am free. He asked me to apologise but I chose to fight,” Former Rajasthan Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha said while talking to the media on Monday, July 24.

The recommendation of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to remove state minister Rajendra Singh Gudha from the state cabinet was accepted by the governor of Rajasthan on Friday with immediate effect. This comes after Gudha slammed the Congress-led state government for recent crimes against women. He questioned his own government’s efforts to combat crimes against women in Rajasthan while his colleagues condemned the violence in Manipur.

Congress legislators raised placards in protest of the violence in Manipur during the consideration of the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Bill 2023 in the state Assembly, but Gudha did not appreciate the protest and wanted accountability from his own administration for atrocities committed against women.

“The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the state assembly.

He also reiterated his statement on July 23 saying that “Rajasthan is number one when it comes to crime against women.”

“I just spoke on the incident where a 20-year-old girl died after her throat was slit in the area that comes under my Vidhan Sabha. And he (Ashok Gehlot) accused me that I am with the BJP now. I just said that we are talking about Manipur, but we must look at our state as well. Rajasthan is no.1 when it comes to crime against women… The way he sacked me is insulting, he should have asked me to resign,” Gudha was quoted as saying the other day.

He also said that he was undeterred and would continue to speak until his heart stopped beating. “Women in our state are not safe. Rajasthan is number one in atrocities on women, the reports confirm it. The state government has failed to provide security to women,” he added saying that he would reiterate his opinion even if Gehlot planned to throw him in jail.

However, several BJP leaders reacted to the removal of the Minister and slammed the state government for not being able to handle the truth. BJP MP, Rajyavardhan Rathore said, “A Rajasthan Minister spoke truth inside the Assembly House, he said that the state govt must look into the crimes happening in its own state instead of criticising incidents of other states since last 3 years Rajasthan is no.1 for crimes against women…and for this reason, he was removed from the state cabinet because Congress can’t tolerate truth, this truth was muffled by the state govt since a long time.”

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a union minister and prominent BJP figure, praised the ousted leader for having the guts to speak the truth in a media interview. He added that neither women nor ministers who speak out against the crimes committed against women in Rajasthan are safe.

The leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan State Assembly, Rajendra Rathore, stated that CM Gehlot didn’t like Gudha stating what National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) said, that Rajasthan is number one in terms of atrocities against women. 

AAP MP Sanjay Singh suspended from Rajya Sabha for remainder of monsoon session of Parliament

ANI
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AAP MP Sanjay Singh suspended from Rajya Sabha for remainder of monsoon session of Parliament

AAP member Sanjay Singh was suspended from Rajya Sabha on Monday for the remainder of the monsoon session of Parliament for “repatedly violating directions of the Chair.”

The motion for Sanjay Singh’s suspension was moved by Union Minister and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal. Chairman Jagadeep Dhankhar sought the approval of the House for the motion and said that Sanjay Singh was being suspended “for having repeatedly violated directive of the Chair”.

The AAP MP was suspended for the remaining duration of the Monsoon session during the Opposition’s protest in the House over the Manipur issue.

Dhankhar had last week cautioned Sanjay Singh saying that he will be forced to name the AAP member after he repeatedly protested against the proposed bill to replace Centre’s ordinance for control over services in Delhi. Dhankhar had cautioned the AAP member after repeatedly urging AAP members to take their seats.

AAP has been among opposition parties demanding statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on the situation in Manipur and a detailed discussion on the issue. The government had said it is prepared to discuss the situation in Manipur.

The Monsoon session of Parliament began on July 20 and will continue till August 11.

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

Supreme Court stays ASI survey at the disputed Gyanvapi Mosque structure in Varanasi till July 26

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court stays ASI survey at the disputed Gyanvapi Mosque structure in Varanasi till July 26

On Monday, July 24, the Supreme Court of India halted the ongoing Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey at the disputed Gyanvapi Mosque structure till 5 PM on 26th July. The matter was mentioned before the Apex Court by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi on behalf of the Gyanvapi Masjid Committee against Varanasi District Court’s order directing ASI to conduct a scientific survey at the disputed structure premises, excluding the sealed area where Shivling was found last year.

When the Chief Justice of India (CJI) questioned why petitioners did not approach the High Court, Ahmadi said the High Court did not agree to defer the survey. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the respondents, assured the court that the structure would not be damaged during the study as the survey was non-penetrative. Divan added the investigation was being done using methods like GPR. SG Tushar Mehta also supported the survey saying it was non-invasive.

Countering the argument, Ahmadi claimed the order mentioned “excavation” and sought “reasonable time”. CJI first listed the matter for Friday (28th July) and instructed “absolutely no invasive work”. However, Ahmadi called for a stay, claiming the western wall was being dug.

SG Tushar Mehta confirmed only measurement and photography were being conducted by ASI, and not even a brick was being touched or will be touched in the future. However, Ahmadi kept asking for a stay on the survey.

Divan called to exercise caution on the matter. He said the petitioner “must go to the HC and SG already said no excavations… the court is seized of the matter and when SC makes status quo order continues indefinitely. Earlier order is fair and balanced.”

After hearing both sides, Supreme Court gave the Muslim side time till 5 PM on 26th July to approach High Court. The court directed ASI to maintain the status quo till then.

On 24th July, a scientific survey began at Gyanvapi at 7 AM. A 30-member Archeological Survey of India (ASI) team arrived at the site early on Monday morning amid heavy police presence. 30 to 32 members from the Hindu side and the ASI, including 4 women plaintiffs and their lawyers, went to the site with the required equipment. The ASI team was divided into four parts and is working in different areas of the premises. A Varanasi court on 21st July ordered an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, excluding the “wazukhana” area which is sealed. While the survey was underway, the Muslim side approached Supreme Court seeking a stay on the survey.

In May last year, the claims of the existence of a Hindu temple underneath the disputed Gyanvapi structure were attested after videos and photos surfaced online showing Shivling inside the wazukhana of the disputed mosque, along with the motifs of Swastika, Trishul, Lotus and Hindu deities engraved on the walls of the basement.

134 illegal structures in Nainital demolished, Leftists, Islamists outrage about Pakistani national’s properties being bulldozed by HC order: Full details

OpIndia Staff
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134 illegal structures in Nainital demolished, Leftists, Islamists outrage about Pakistani national’s properties being bulldozed by HC order: Full details

On Saturday (22nd July), the Nanital administration bulldozed 134 illegal structures on King Mahmudabad’s enemy property in the Metropole locality of Nainital city of Uttarakhand. Six JCB machines were used in the operation.

Five Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies, eighty sub-inspectors and 150 women constables ensured law and order were maintained during the demolition. The property is believed to be worth ₹300 crores.

Prior to the operation, the district administration issued notice to the illegal occupants of the property and instructed them to vacate the houses. Following the notice, the encroachers approached Uttarakhand High Court seeking relief, but their plea was dismissed.

The High Court instructed the encroachers to vacate the premises, effective immediately. Despite evacuation notice from the administration and orders passed by the High Court, many encroachers did not vacate the premises to the point bulldozers started demolishing the illegal houses.

Before demolition, the administration red-crossed the illegal structures, marking them deemed for demolition. It also served as a clear sign of the administration’s intentions and a final notice to the encroachers.

Islamists and leftists outrage

Propaganda journalist Sadaf Afreen said, “Houses of 134 families demolished. The families said they had been living there for 110 years. Several generations lived on that land. The government did not provide alternate accommodations for the families whose houses were demolished. Most of the families were from minority communities. The government did not take time to demolish houses of 134 families.”

The argument presented by Afreen was factually incorrect. The government has served notices multiple times to the encroachers to leave the enemy property. Not an inch of the land belonged to them.

The matter was heard in the SDM court and then the High Court upheld the decision of the SDM court to demolish the illegal structures. Notably, the High Court refused to pass orders that might promote illegality. Furthermore, illegal encroachers have no right to get alternate accommodations.

Quoting Afreen, controversial RJ Sayema said, “Demolishing houses is past time of the government these days. Shameful.”

‘Journalist’ Ahmed Khabeer wrote, “The pain of helplessness and hopelessness in Uttarakhand. Altogether 134 houses built on King Mahmudabad’s enemy property in Uttarakhand’s Nainital, were demolished by the district administration on Saturday.”

Activist Shuja wrote, “Why are we not talking about Uttarakhand? The demolishing of houses of 135 families, mostly Muslims, of Nainital’s metropole began on Saturday morning.”

Congress Minority SM convenor Telangana Asma wrote, “In Nainital, 134 Muslim families are facing eviction from their homes in the Metropole area, where they have been living for decades, as the BJP government has declared their land illegal property and disconnected their electricity.” Interestingly, Asma ignored the fact that they were encroachers that too on enemy property.

Founder of controversial organisation, Miles 2 Smile, Aasif Mujtaba said, “Imagine the pain of this girl from #Nainital whose house were bulldozed amidst flood and upcoming winter. A total of 134 houses were bulldozed today citing “Enemy Property Act”. Most of the inhabitants are minority #Muslims.”

High Court refused to pass orders that might promote illegality

An order was passed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) court instructing encroachers to vacate the enemy property that they had occupied for years. The SDM court gave ample time to the encroachers to submit documents and argue why they continued encroaching on the land despite the fact that the government had taken over the custody of the land in 2010.

High Court noted that the encroachers failed to submit even a shred of document that might support the continuity of encroachment for over a decade. OpIndia accessed the judgment dated 21st July 2023 by Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal.

In the orders, the High Court noted that the encroachers argued, as per Rule 5 of the Enemy Property Rules, 2015, the Custodian is bound to offer an agreement in Form 4 to the occupants. However, the court deemed it meritless as the exact words used in the said rule are “the Custodian may serve a notice directing them to enter into an agreement with the custodian in Form 5…”

The court noted that the word ‘may’ cannot be read as ‘shall’ in the context in which it is used. The court said, “The Legislature has consciously used the word ‘may’, in contradistinction with the word ‘shall’, in the same Rule, which leaves no manner of doubt that the Custodian is not under a statutory obligation to offer the agreement in Form 5 to the occupants.”

Pointing out that the encroachers were illegally occupying the land, the court said that petitioners who come to the Court with clean hands and seek relief the court protects them.

However, “it is well settled that, in the exercise of the writ jurisdiction, the High Court would not pass orders, which protect and promote illegality. The High Court would not pass orders which have the effect of perpetuating an illegality. The continued possession of the petitioners over the property in question is completely illegal since the same vests in the Custodian of enemy property, and the petitioners have no right, title or interest thereon.”

The number of encroachers increased from 116 to 134 since 2010

Notably, Advocate General SN Babulkar and Chief Standing Counsel CS Rawat appearing for the state of Uttarakhand, pointed out that when the government took custody of the enemy property in 2010, there were 116 encroachers. The government took over all the property. However, the number will increase to 134 by 2023. The state informed the court that all these were illegal occupants and requested the court to order an immediate evacuation.

Encroachers refused to give in writing they would vacate the premises in ten days

As per reports, as the encroachers sought relief from the demolition drive scheduled for 22nd July, the court gave an option to the encroachers that if they gave in writing that they would vacate the premises in ten days, the court would stay the demolition drive for that period. However, the encroachers refused to give it in writing, and the court dismissed the plea. Following the court’s orders, many families living illegally on the enemy property left on Friday (21st July evening).

Enemy Property Act, 1968

It is an Act of the Parliament of India that enables and regulates the appropriation of property in India owned by Pakistani nationals. The Parliament passed it after the 1965 war between India and Pakistan. The ownership of such properties is transferred to the Custodian of Enemy Property for India, which is a department of the Government of India.

Emeny Properties of Raja of Mahmudabad

The property in question belonged to Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, a Pakistani citizen popularly known as the Raja of Mahmudabad. His father, Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan, who was then-Raja of Mahmudabad, left India and shifted to Iraq. Eventually, he took Pakistani citizenship in 1957 and soon shifted to London, where he died in 1973. Since 1974, Raja of Mahmudabad has been fighting a legal battle with the Government of India not to term his property as ‘enemy property’. The seized properties are located in Lucknow, Sitapur and Nainital.

Pakistan’s Islamia University Bahawalpur staff held for possessing drugs, obscene videos of women, kidnapping girls and more: Here’s what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan’s Islamia University Bahawalpur staff held for possessing drugs, obscene videos of women, kidnapping girls and more: Here’s what happened

On Saturday, July 22, the Baghdadul Jadid Police in Bahawalpur City of Punjab, Pakistan arrested officials of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) for possessing drugs, objectionable videos and images of IUB female students and women staff members. The Police said that a group of the IUB teachers were involved in the drug peddling and sexual exploitation of female students and other teachers.

According to the local reports, the incident came to the fore on June 28 when a car was stopped at a police checkpoint in Baghdadul Jadid. The car driver tried to turn around when he saw the cops, but the police caught him on the spot. On examination of the vehicle, the police discovered aphrodisiacs and 10 g of ice in his possession. The driver identified himself as IUB Chief Security Officer Syed Ejaz Hussain Shah. 

The city police then registered a case under Section 9(2)1 of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997 and began an investigation into the case. The police in the FIR mentioned that the accused had two mobile phones and both contained several derogatory videos of women in them. During interrogation, Shah, a retired army major confessed that the objectionable pictures and the videos were of the officials of IUB’s various departments and girl students.

Baghdadul Jadid SHO Abid Hamid while talking to the Dawn stated that the car of the accused person was searched on intelligence-based information. The police also seized the drugs and the mobile phones which contained the derogatory videos of the women. “The police are active to eliminate drug peddlers from educational institutions,” the officer was quoted as saying.

Later on last Friday, July 22 the Police are said to have conducted raids at the University to arrest two other officials on similar charges. The other two arrested persons have been identified as Finance Director Abu Bakar and Transport Incharge Muhammad Altaf. The two during the investigation also confirmed that they were in possession of drugs and derogatory videos of university women. The two were also booked and arrested by the police under Section 9(2)1 of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997.

According to a special assessment by the police, the three officials detained on drug-related charges were also engaged in extortion and the sexual exploitation of university faculty and staff.

“The treasurer confessed that he along with a group of other teachers would purchase and distribute drugs through students and plan dance/sex parties,” the initial investigation report suggested.

The police further discovered that the “group of teachers” would kidnap girls, use them as bargaining chips, and implicate them of using narcotics (ice, alcohol, and charas [hashish]) and that he was committing these crimes with the assistance of the IUB security chief.

The investigative team identified teenagers for “supplying and buying drugs” after examining his cell phone. 11 university students were found to have criminal records and be engaged in drug dealing after an inquiry. Screenshots of “objectionable pictures of the women and communication regarding the sale and purchase of drugs” were likewise included in the investigation report.

While several reports claim that the police seized phones having around 400 obscene videos, others say that the phone contained around 5000 videos of women from the University.

The University on the other hand has called cases against the officials bogus and has asked the police to investigate into the arrest of the officials. “IUB is following zero tolerance policy for the use of contraband drugs as well as sexual harassment or exploitation,” Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mehboob said in a letter written to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar last week.

The IUB legal advisor also has requested the police chief to restructure the investigation team in a separate letter to the IGP. In addition, he requested that the Lahore High Court chief judge order a judicial inquiry as the university was the ‘target’ of the proceedings.

Meanwhile, a committee has been established by the secretary of the south Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) to look into the charge filed against the chief security officer for “carrying/using the contraband substance” and alleged discovery of inappropriate data from his cell phone. The report is due in three days, per the secretary’s request.

Seema Haider 2.0: Married Indian woman travels to Pakistan to be with her ‘lover’ Nasrullah. Here is what we know so far

ANI
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Seema Haider 2.0: Married Indian woman travels to Pakistan to be with her ‘lover’ Nasrullah. Here is what we know so far

In a rerun of the Seema Haider saga, a married woman from the national capital, New Delhi, travelled to Pakistan to meet her lover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aaj News reported on Sunday.

Haider had crossed over into India illegally to move in together with her Indian lover, Sachin Meena, whom she met over popular online game PUBG. However, unlike Haider, who sneaked into India without any valid travel papers, Anju was granted entry into Pakistan by the authorities on the weight of a visa.

Upper Dir SHO, Javed Khan, said Anju entered Pakistan lawfully and with a valid visa, according to the report. Further, according to the SHO, he attested to the woman’s four-year relationship with Nasr. She arrived in Pakistan by way of Wagah and continued on to Islamabad, Aaj News reported.

While she arrived with a visa, government authorities have opened an investigation into the matter, the report added. Aaj News is a 24×7 television channel disseminating news from across Pakistan. Further, according to the report, Anju (35) and Nasrullah (29) from Upper Dir became friends on Facebook. Soon, their friendship blossomed into love.

Though married, she decided to cross over into Pakistan and travel all way to the rugged terrains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in pursuit of love, according to Aaj News. The television channel stated that it received confirmation from Upper Dir Police that the Indian woman was currently in the Malakand Division district and a security team had begun a probe.

She was allowed a stay in Pakistan for 30 days, according to her visa information form, reported Aaj News. The channel further quoted Anju as saying that she met Nasrullah on Facebook four years ago and the two became friends. She added that she loved and “could not live without” her Pakistani companion, reported Aaj News.

A working woman in India, Anju said she was visiting Pakistan for sightseeing and not marriage, the family members of Nasrullah claimed, according to Aaj News. Further, according to the report, local journalists were not allowed to meet Anju on Sunday after the story of her passage to Pakistan broke.

They were told that Anju and Nasrullah had left for an outing, the report claimed. Earlier, reacting to the illegal cross-over of Seema Haider into India, the Ministry of External Affairs had said the matter was ‘under investigation’, adding that she was presented before the court and was granted bail.

“We are aware of the matter. She was presented before the court and is now out on bail,” the official spokesperson of the MEA, Arindam Bagchi, said at a press briefing on July 20.

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

Bareilly: Alt News co-founder Zubair does it again, shares cropped video of Kanwariyas to hide stone pelting by Islamists. Here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Bareilly: Alt News co-founder Zubair does it again, shares cropped video of Kanwariyas to hide stone pelting by Islamists. Here is what happened

On Sunday (July 23) afternoon, Islamists pelted stones at a group of Kanwariyas near Shahnoori mosque in the Jogi Nawada locality in Bareilly city of Uttar Pradesh.

As per reports, the incident took place at around 3 pm when Kanwariyas were en route to Budaun to fetch holy water from the river Ganga. The Kanwariya groups were to perform ‘jalabhishek’ at the nearby Vankandinath temple.

However, they were faced with a barrage of stones from Islamists. According to locals, the attack was led by ex-corporator Usman Ali and his supporters, who pelted stones at the Kanwariyas from atop their houses.

Earlier on Wednesday (July 19), a 15-year-old Muslim boy was charged with ‘attempt to murder’ after he pelted stones at Kanwariya groups in the Shergarh area in Bareilly city of Uttar Pradesh.

As such, the incident on Sunday (July 21) was not the first time when Islamists targeted the Kanwar Yatra of the Hindu community in Bareilly. While speaking about the matter, veteran journalist Deepak Chaurasia said (archive), “Stone pelting on Kanwariyas near Shahnoori Masjid in Bareilly is very shameful.”

He informed, “As per the information, a group of 2000 Kanwariyas was going to take water from Kachla, when the people of other community (Islamists) started pelting stones at them from Shahnoori Masjid. More than 12 kanwariyas were injured in this stone pelting and several policemen were also attacked with stones.”

“The miscreants fled the scene after pelting stones. They should be punished severely. No liberal will react to this incident. All liberals and the ‘tukde tukde gang‘ are silent since it does not fit their agenda. Even the so-called human rights crusaders, who beat their chest in the name of intolerance, are silent on this issue #Bareilly” he added.

Zubair comes to the rescue of Islamists

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, who has a notorious history of shielding Islamists, came to the rescue of the stone pelters. He shared a 27-second cropped video to give the impression that it was not the Muslim mob that attacked the Kanwariyas, but it was both parties attacking each other, which is patently false.

“Hello, Deepak Chaurasia, why are you fuelling the fire by showing only one video? This is another video where Kanwariyas can be seen pelting stones in the presence of police force,” he claimed in a tweet (archive).

Zubair, who had earlier unleashed his army of Islamists on ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma by sharing a cropped video of her remarks, sought to defend his co-religionists by suggesting that stones were pelted from ‘both sides’.

Screengrab of the tweet by Mohammed Zubair

He had also attached a video of a police statement to substantiate his claims. The dubious ‘fact checker’ however omitted one key piece of information i.e. the stone pelting was started by Islamists, who were stationed near the Shahnoori mosque.

Zubair also failed to mention that the video of Kanwariyas pelting stones was in retaliation to the unprovoked attack by Islamists. By shrewdly avoiding the context of the video, he thus insinuated that it was somehow a ‘free-for-all’ case of stone pelting.

His outrageous claims were however ‘punctured’ when popular Twitter user Ankur Singh shared a longer version of the video, which was originally procured by Sudarshan News. The archive of the tweet can be accessed here.

In the video, a Muslim mob could be seen pelting stones at the Kanwariyas. “Why was the beginning of this video cut off, Zubair? Because it was clearly visible who was throwing the first stone? As soon as stones were pelted at Hindus in response, Zubair cut off that part and started running propaganda,” Ankur Singh wrote.

He further emphasised, “Zubair would come to save those who spit and throw stones at Kanwariyas. This is why such incidents are on the rise. People like him are setting the fire.”

Essentially, Zubair cropped the beginning part of the video where a Muslim mob was seen pelting stones at Kanwariyas to ensure that it was not visible that it was indeed the Muslim mob which started the attack against Hindus. By cropping that part and attempting to “fact check” people calling out Islamists for the violence they unleashed, Zubair clearly hid details that would expose the Islamists, in order to shield them. It is evident that the Muslim mob started the stone pelting and any subsequent stone pelting by the Kanwariyas were a retaliation and/or self-defence.

Statement by Bareilly police

While speaking about the matter, Bareilly SSP Prabhar Chowdhary said, “So far, there is no information about anyone getting injured. A procession of kanwariyas was passing through the area (Jogi Nawada) around 3 pm.”

“As it went past a religious spot, there was a dispute… stones were pelted by some persons. When the footage was examined, it was seen that stones were hurled from both sides,” he added.

Following the incident, security has been stepped up in Bareilly in and around Shiv temples. According to Prabhar Chowdhary, the law and order situation had been brought under control. City district magistrate RD Pandey informed that additional police force had been deployed in the area.

Scientific survey of the disputed structure called Gyanvapi “mosque” underway, Muslim side seeks urgent listing in Supreme Court: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Scientific survey of the disputed structure called Gyanvapi “mosque” underway, Muslim side seeks urgent listing in Supreme Court: Details

On the 24th of July 2023, the third Monday of the holy Hindu month of Shravan, a scientific survey of the disputed structure called Gyanvapi mosque began at 7 AM. A 30-member team of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) arrived at the site early on Monday morning amid a large crowd of devotees gathered for darshan and amid heavy police presence.

30 to 32 members from the Hindu side and the ASI including 4 women plaintiffs and their lawyers are on site with the required equipment. The ASI team has been divided into four parts and is working in different areas of the premises. A Varanasi court on 21st July ordered an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, excluding the “wazukhana” area which is sealed.

Sohan Lal Arya, petitioner in the Gyanvapi case said this survey is the solution for the Gyanvapi issue. “This is a very glorious moment for us for the Hindu community & crores of Hindus…survey is the only possible solution to this Gyanvapi issue,” he said.

One of the women petitioners in the case said today is the day when our faith will be supported by science. “It’s a historic day. Science will also unite with our faith today,” says Sita Sahu, one of the Hindu women petitioners in the Gyanvapi case.

The survey began with videography after cleaning the premises. The ASI team began the survey with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) which uses radar pulses to scan the upper surface. The Western wall is also being surveyed. The ASI is expected to submit the report by 4th August.

Meanwhile, the Gyanvapi Masjid Committee moved Supreme Court on 23rd July against the survey seeking an urgent listing. The case will be presented before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud today. On May 22, Gyanvapi Mosque Committee (Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee) submitted an application before the Varanasi Court opposing a plea filed by Hindu Worshippers seeking a complete survey of the disputed structure. The committee has reportedly boycotted the survey

The court on 21st July pronounced its order on a petition filed by the Hindu side seeking direction for a scientific survey of the entire Gyanvapi premises where the disputed structure stands by the ASI. A petition was filed in May this year by five women who had earlier sought permission to pray at the Shringar Gauri Sthal inside the shrine complex.

In its application, the Mosque Committee made some bizarre claims to whitewash the atrocities of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. They claimed Aurangzeb was not cruel. Furthermore, they said he did not demolish any Lord Adi Vishweshar Temple in Varanasi.

In May last year, the claims of the existence of a Hindu temple underneath the disputed Gyanvapi structure were attested after videos and photos surfaced online show Shivling inside the wuzukhana of the mosque, along with the motifs of Swastika, Trishul, Lotus and Hindu deities engraved on the walls of the basement.

CISF in talks with MHA to increase the number of security personnel posted at Manipur’s Imphal airport: Details

ANI
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CISF in talks with MHA to increase the number of security personnel posted at Manipur’s Imphal airport: Details

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for securing public installations across the country, is in talks with its ministry (Ministry of Home Affairs) to increase the number of security personnel posted at Manipur’s Imphal airport amid the ongoing unrest in the state. 

A top airport official told ANI, “The CISF is in talks with the Home Ministry to increase the number of personnel at the (Imphal) airport in view of the ongoing violence and unrest.” Senior CISF officers are undertaking regular visits to the Imphal airport to take stock of the prevailing situation and assess the Sṭandard Operating Procedures (SOP) and other activities. 

On the present strength of CISF personnel at the airport and how many more are required, should the situation so demand, a senior CISF official said, “We generally do not share our personnel numbers due to security reasons and it is better to contact the headquarters.” 

Earlier, on Saturday, a massive protest against the Manipur violence was held near Imphal airport, prompting the security personnel to fire tear gas shells at protesters. 

In view of the protest, personnel from the Manipur Armed Police and Rapid Action Battalion have been deployed to maintain peace near the airport. 

The Imphal airport comes under the Airport Authority of India (AAI). According to the authority, “A total of 108 flight activities have been handled till May 6. This includes 50 defence activities and six additional sorties. Till May 6, 10,531 flight passengers were handled.” 

As per the data of Imphal airport… it reports about 30 flights a day and about three thousand passengers a day. 

Further, according to an airport official, with relatives of scores of Haj pilgrims visiting the airport to pick them up or drop them off, there was a need for a better security presence there. 

According to officials, CISF personnel, AAI officials and defence personnel are doing the best they can to ward off similar incidents near the airport and ensure hassle-free services to flight passengers at Imphal airport. 

The violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

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

Communists use photo of BJP leader and his son to falsely claim that RSS was behind the Manipur viral video incident, case registered

OpIndia Staff
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Communists use photo of BJP leader and his son to falsely claim that RSS was behind the Manipur viral video incident, case registered

Today several Communist leaders and social media users circulated an image of two men in RSS uniform claiming that they are the culprits behind the horrific incident in Manipur seen in the viral video. However, the claim is completely fake and designed to defame the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh by linking it with the 4th May incident where a mob paraded two women naked and allegedly gang-raped one of them in Manipur.

Since the video of the incident went viral recently, opposition parties have launched a relentless attack on BJP, and have stalled the parliament. But the Communist leaders, including Subhashini Ali and JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, tried to blame RSS for the incident. They used a photograph showing a man and a teenager in RSS uniforms to falsely claim that they are the men behind the viral video incident.

Not just them, several social media handles launched a smear campaign against the RSS and started peddling this fake news through Twitter handles, Facebook, and Whatsapp groups among other social media platforms. 

However, the two men in the photo are actually BJP’s Vice-President in Manipur Chidananda Singh and his teenage son Sachinanda Singh, and they have no link with the incident. Chidananda Singh has filed a police complaint against the social media users circulating the fake claim in this matter. 

No amend despite being caught spreading fake news

On the 20th of July, when the incident came to the fore, JNU Student Union president Aishe Ghosh blamed the RSS and posted an image in which a tormentor is seen in a seemingly RSS-like attire while a hapless girl has been crucified. In her tweet, she also targeted “Hindu Rashtra”. 

On the 23rd of July, Former MP and CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali uploaded pictures of the two men in RSS dress along with the screengrab of the viral video of the Manipur incident. In her tweet, she writes, “They are the Manipur accused. Recognise them by their clothes.”

However, when the netizens called out the propaganda and reminded her that this is fake news, she asked for apologies. However, she didn’t clarify this in her earlier tweet which was neither corrected nor deleted.

Similarly, other social media handles have also shared the same image making the same claim that the RSS duo is the accused behind the Manipur incident. A Twitter handle by the name, of Shankar Kondaparthi claimed that these two persons in the picture are the accused who led women naked in Manipur. 

Many social media users busted this fake news and called out the smear campaign. 

Popular Twitter user Befitting Facts highlighted that communist leaders, young and old alike, Aishe Ghosh and Subhashini Ali have been spreading lies about the Manipur incident to settle their personal enmity against the RSS.

Another social media user, Bunch of Thoughts pointed out that the viral picture being claimed as the accused in the Manipur incident are the pictures of the BJP Vice President of Manipur State and his 10-year-old son who have nothing to do with that incident. 

The tweet added that the picture is being circulated on social media with the claim that they are the culprit of the viral video from Manipur. It also attached a post that was spreading this fake news. The tweet highlighted that the post said, “The RSS-BJP duo is behind the rape of Manipur girls and the naked parade.”

Busting the propaganda

On the 23rd of July, BJP State Vice-President Chidananda Singh himself came out to bust the fake news. He wrote a letter to the Manipur DGP requesting to initiate legal action in this matter. 

In the letter, he said, “It is found that a photo which is taken out from the viral video is edited/ pasted to photos of myself Chidananda Singh, and my son Sachinanda Singh, wearing the RSS Ganavesh (Uniform) and alleging that we are involved in the incident. It is to mention that the joint photo of myself and my son was downloaded from my Facebook page.”

In the letter, he gave the names of some of the handles or groups that have shared the fake news and asked the DGP to take necessary actions against them. 

He added, “It is a very unfortunate act of direct allegation by some particular groups, or individuals to defame and malign me, my family, and the RSS organisation. It is being witnessed that the photo has been uploaded group/page or Samagra Samskarika Vedi and furthermore by members of the group Nuhman Kannat, Ajees Muhammed from his personal Facebook Account, and Shankar Kondaparthi in their personal Twitter Accounts in Kerala and some part of South India.”

He categorically stated that the horrific incident of 4 May 2023 which led to the viral video is not related to him and his family in any circumstances. 

Further, he requested police to initiate legal action against the Admin and members of the said Facebook groups as well as personnel Facebook and Twitter account holders who have been spreading false & fake news as mentioned above.

Apart from the Police complaint, he has also replied to some people spreading the claim on Twitter saying that he will file defamation cases against those spreading the fake news, maligning him and his family along with the RSS. 

Cases filed

Later in the day, Manipur Police confirmed on Twitter that a case has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) after receiving the complaint of Chidananda Singh. “A case is taken up at CCPS for spreading false news with intent to cause injury, damage to his reputation and create serious breach of law and order. Attempt is made to identify and arrest the culprits,” Manipur Police said.

Additionally, a police complaint has been lodged against a government official in Kerala who spread fake news that the accused arrested in the Manipur incident was an RSS worker. Reportedly, the complaint has been filed in the Ankali police station against Dickson, who is a native of Ankamali and a Kerala government official. The complainant is PG Harish Kumar, a native of Angamaly. Dickson also posted the same photo with the same claim.

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