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US: Over a dozen artisans withdraw from case of forced labour and human trafficking against BAPS temple, say they were coerced into making false allegations

OpIndia Staff
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US: Over a dozen artisans withdraw from case of forced labour and human trafficking against BAPS temple, say they were coerced into making false allegations

On 13th July, over a dozen artisans who were part of a lawsuit against Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple in New Jersey, United States, decided to withdraw their names from the case. In May 2021, a lawsuit was filed against BAPS in the United States of America alleging forced labour for construction of temple as well as human trafficking.

Rajasthan High Court Advocate Aaditya SB Soni has issued a press release on behalf of the artisans under the banner of Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh and Patthar Gadhai Sangh stating the artisans were threatened to be part of the deep-rooted conspiracy to stall the construction of the grand Hindu Temple.

The volunteer stone carving artisans stated that they were made accomplices in the conspiracy but have rebelled against it. They have decided to withdraw from the civil complaint filed in an American court against the Hindu temple. Advocate Soni, who is representing over 25 clients, all of whom are artisans, said that his clients served as volunteers for religious stonework at the BAPS Hindu Mandir being built in Robbinsville town of New Jersey, USA.

Around a dozen of them were pressured to join as plaintiffs in a civil complaint in the New Jersey court. Based on the complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) entered the temple premises on 11th May 2021 and took away volunteers claiming they were trafficked to the US. Around 110 out of 134 artisan volunteers were taken away by the authorities from the temple site. Some of them contacted Advocate Sone and informed him that an advocate from the US named Swati Sawant had misled them into making the complaint, and now they want to withdraw from it.

“These artisans have made strong claims that Swati Sawant and her companions impressed upon them and misled them, using false temptations, to make a complaint against the temple management,” the press release read.

Notably, these artisans have provided their services for BAPS temples in India and the US for many years. They never experienced any pressure, castism or discrimination during their association with the BAPS temple.

“These artisans have clarified that they were treated with love and respect at the BAPS Swaminarayan temple, where they served and were well cared for. Advocate Aaditya SB Soni stated that the temple provided all support and facilities to these volunteers, including their flight tickets, their stay in the USA, their lodging and boarding, clothes, healthcare and medicines. The temple also provided for their family members in India. The volunteers returned from the USA to India to visit their families regularly, as per their wishes. They would return as per their convenience after spending some time with their families,” the press release added.

Furthermore, Advocate Soni stated in the press release that the artisans were scared to tell the truth as Swati Sawant allegedly warned them that some of their own fellow artisans would report them to the US police and they would be put behind bars if they revealed the truth. She also “convinced them to make false allegations in court, tempting them with promises of American citizenship for them and their families, and huge amounts of money.”

Due to the temptations, the artisans went with the FBI, but when they learned that they needed to make false allegations against the temple, they had second thoughts. The press release stated, “They realised they were caught in a conspiracy and wished to return home. Their families in India were worried about them and were calling them home. Some of them gathered the courage to leave the FBI’s custody and return home, even though Swati Sawant insisted that they stay and repeated her offer of American citizenship and money for them. Advocate Sawant also called their families in India to make them force the artisans to stay in the US. But by this time, the artisans had realised the truth and contacted lawyer Aaditya SB Soni for his help.”

“Some of the artisans who had filed a false case against the temple in civil courts also realised that they had been misled. A dozen of these ‘plaintiffs’ decided to withdraw their complaint and remove their names from the case and asked Aaditya Soni for his help to inform the American courts and attorneys. The artisans have now withdrawn from the case and have voluntarily withdrawn their claims in court. Though their previous attorneys were informed three weeks ago, they are yet to submit this withdrawal to the court,” the press release noted.

Speaking to OpIndia, Prabhuram Meena, General Secretary, Bharatiya Paththar Ghadhai Avam Nirman Majdoor Sangh, confirmed that the artisans withdrew their name from the complaint. Advocate Soni said the press release was issued on behalf of his clients. Further details on the matter from him are awaited. OpIndia has also contacted BAPS to get their comments on the matter. Their reply is awaited.

Allegations of human trafficking against BAPS temple

In May 2021, a group of Indian artisans in the US filed a lawsuit alleging human trafficking and forced labour and claimed they were confined and forced to work for as low as USD 1 on the construction of the Swaminarayan temple in New Jersey’s Robbinsville. BAPS was accused of luring labourers from India to work on temples near Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, along with New Jersey, while paying only USD 450 a month.

BAPS denied the claims and said worship through seva is an integral part of Bhakti in the sect, and volunteers from around the world contribute to the same. The volunteers who take part in such construction activities of the temple regularly interact with people who come to visit. They are also regularly in touch with their family members back home.

BAPS further stated that many of the artisans then went back home while some chose to stay back and perform seva at other temples in the US. “When the artisans have come to the US, they have done so on R-1 visa, which the federal government has approved for 20 years. In addition, federal, state and local government agencies have regularly inspected and approved all of the mandir construction projects on which the artisans volunteered,” the statement read.

Complaint filed in MP-MLA court against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for attributing fabricated quotes to MS Golwalkar

OpIndia Staff
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Complaint filed in MP-MLA court against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for attributing fabricated quotes to MS Golwalkar

In a recent development, a complaint was filed in the MP-MLA court of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh against veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday, 15th July 2023, for sharing fake and fabricated quotes attributing them to former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, MS Golwalkar. The complaint, filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Tripathi, alleges that Singh’s actions have caused social hatred and tarnished the image of the RSS. The court has scheduled 18th July 2023 to record statements and evidence in the case.

The controversy surrounding Digvijaya Singh’s tweet began on 8th July 2023 when an FIR was lodged against him in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, for his contentious remarks about Golwalkar. The tweet, which contained a picture of Golwalkar along with comments portraying him as anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit, sparked strong objections from RSS workers. Consequently, Singh was booked under sections 153A, 469, 500, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, with the crime FIR number 311/23.

Advocate Rajesh Joshi, who filed the FIR in Indore, stated that Singh’s tweet distorted Golwalkar’s statements, leading to allegations of misrepresentation and the creation of social disharmony. The RSS vehemently denied the accuracy of Singh’s claims and accused him of selectively cropping the image to advance his agenda. Similar allegations are now made by Shashank Shekhar Tripathi in Varanasi. Shashank Shekhar Tripathi is convenor of BJP’s Kashi region legal cell.

In Digvijaya Singh’s tweet, he used fabricated quotes to suggest that Golwalkar opposed equal rights for Dalits, OBCs, and Muslims. The controversial image claimed that these quotes were extracted from Golwalkar’s book, ‘We and Our Nationhood Identified.’ Singh’s tweet said, “Know what was Guru Golwalkar ji’s view on Dalits, OBCs, and Muslims and national rights over water, forest, and land.”

One particular quote alleged that Golwalkar advocated for concentrating wealth and resources in the hands of a few trusted individuals while impoverishing the majority. Another claim attributed to Golwalkar asserted his readiness to serve the British rather than support freedom that granted equal rights to Dalits, OBCs, and Muslims.

Advocate Rajesh Joshi, who lodged the FIR, contended that the dissemination of false and inappropriate posts to tarnish the image of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was unacceptable. The FIR serves as a response to the alleged defamation caused by Digvijaya Singh’s social media activities.

The recent complaint filed in the MP-MLA court of Varanasi against Digvijaya Singh adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding his statements about MS Golwalkar.

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, SBSP chief OP Rajbhar returns to NDA after meeting Amit Shah

OpIndia Staff
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Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, SBSP chief OP Rajbhar returns to NDA after meeting Amit Shah

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader OP Rajbhar returned on Sunday, July 16, to the fold of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The move comes as a significant blow to the opposition ‘unity’. 

Taking to Twitter, Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah announced the BJP-SBSP alliance saying that OP Rajbhar’s return to NDA will bolster NDA’s position in Uttar Pradesh and also give strength to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to uplift the downtrodden. 

“Met Shri @oprajbhar ji in Delhi and decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family. The arrival of Rajbhar ji will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi ji for the welfare of the poor and oppressed will get further strength,” Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi.

Meanwhile, SBSP supremo OP Rajbhar also expressed his thoughts in a tweet over his return to NDA after leaving the alliance in 2019. In his tweet, Rajbhar announced that the BJP and SBSP will fight together to protect the country and work for the weaker sections of society.  

“BJP and SBSP come together. Bharatiya Janata Party and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party will fight together for the protection of deprived, oppressed, backward, Dalits, women, farmers, youth, every weak class,” Rajhar tweeted in Hindi.

In another tweet, he thanked Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as he met Shah today before re-joining NDA. 

OP Rajbhar was elected to the Zahoorabad seat for the first time in 2017. He was the minister in the Yogi Adityanath government for OBC welfare and differently-abled people’s development, but was removed from the Yogi government in 2019 due to ‘anti-alliance activities’. 

Moradabad: Aamir Ali, who wanted to convert to marry his Hindu girlfriend, arrested for dowry, domestic violence against his wife

OpIndia Staff
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Moradabad: Aamir Ali, who wanted to convert to marry his Hindu girlfriend, arrested for dowry, domestic violence against his wife

On Friday (July 14), the Moradabad police arrested a man named Aamir Ali in connection to a case filed against him by his wife.

Ali made headlines after he wrote to the District Magistrate (DM) about his wish to convert to Hinduism and marry his Hindu girlfriend. He also expressed his desire to adopt the Hindu name of ‘Amit Maheshwari.’

Following that, the District Magistrate ordered an inquiry into the matter. It came to light that Aamir is already married to another woman named Gulafshaan and has a 4-month-old daughter.

His wife has now filed a complaint with the Moradabad police, accusing Aamir of cheating, cruelty, domestic violence and solicitation of dowry. Gulafshaan said that Aamir was in a relationship with a Hindu woman prior to her marriage and that his father, mother and sisters withheld the information from her.

She said that the accused and his family would harass and assault her for dowry. A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by the Moradabad police, following which Aamir was arrested and taken into custody. He was presented before a court and then sent to jail.

The Background of the Controversy

Aamir Ali submitted an application to the District Magistrate (DM) for conversion to Hinduism. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old man’s wife claimed that he wanted to convert to Hinduism only to marry a Hindu woman and avoid a triple talaq case. He also wanted to get rid of the love jihad accusations, she alleged.

Reportedly, Gulafshaan, a resident of Mughalpura police station precinct in Moradabad got married to Aamir Ali in February 2022. Within six months of her marriage to Ali, she learnt that her husband was in a relationship with a Hindu woman since 2014. 

Recently she caught Aamir Ali chatting with a woman named Shubhangi Maheshwari. When Gulafshaan confronted Ali, he claimed that he had been in a relationship with Shubhangi since 2014 and that she is blackmailing him now.

19-year-old Gulafshaan who has a four-month-old daughter informed her mother about her ordeal. Gulfashaan’s mother pacified her and asked her to convince Aamir Ali. However, the situation took a bitter turn as Aamir Ali submitted an application to change his religion and become Amit Maheshwari.

Gulafshaan alleged that Aamir Ali was doing a “drama” of becoming a Hindu. She claimed that Ali is a hardcore Islamist and that he did not even purchase goods from Hindu shop owners.

She alleged that he was doing the conversion drama to get married to his Hindu girlfriend Shubhangi and also get rid of her. By ‘converting’ to Hinduism, Aamir Ali also aimed to fend off the love jihad allegations. 

Trade in Rupees, interlinking payment systems, IIT in Abu Dhabi: MoUs signed to bolster India-UAE relationship during PM Narendra Modi’s visit

OpIndia Staff
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Trade in Rupees, interlinking payment systems, IIT in Abu Dhabi: MoUs signed to bolster India-UAE relationship during PM Narendra Modi’s visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a two-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during his return journey from France. This visit aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation between the two nations. The visit was marked by several significant agreements showcasing the deepening relationship between India and the UAE.

Upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Modi was warmly received by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the airport. A ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour were accorded to the Prime Minister, reflecting the importance attached to his visit.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi engaged in delegation-level talks and one-on-one discussions with the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions covered various aspects of the bilateral partnership, including trade and investment, fintech, energy, renewables, climate action, higher education, and people-to-people ties. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

To promote further economic cooperation, three significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. The first MoU signed between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the UAE Central Bank, established a framework to promote the use of local currencies (INR-AED) for international transactions.

The second MoU focused on bilateral cooperation between the RBI and the UAE Central Bank on interlinking their payment and messaging systems. This cooperation aims to improve the efficiency of the transactions between UAE and India, including the integration of instant payment systems and mutual acceptance of domestic card schemes.

The third MoU was signed between the Ministry of Education of India, the Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This MoU paves the way for the establishment of IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi, with the Master’s program in Energy Transition and Sustainability scheduled to be operational by January 2024. This initiative signifies the commitment of both nations to higher education and research collaboration.

A joint statement was issued after the meeting between the leaders, highlighting the key outcomes of their discussions. Both leaders recognised the significant progress made in UAE-India relations, with trade between the two countries reaching USD 85 billion in 2022. India emerged as the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, while the UAE became the fourth-largest investor in India in 2022-2023.

The joint statement also underscored the importance of the UAE’s presidency of COP28 (28th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)) and India’s presidency of the G20 in 2023. Prime Minister Modi extended his support to the UAE’s COP28 presidency and commended the UAE’s role in promoting the Global South’s interests. Both leaders called for collective action and emphasised the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities in tackling climate change.

Furthermore, the joint statement highlighted the significance of fortifying the adaptation capacities of developing countries and progressing the global goal of adaptation. Concrete progress in critical areas such as transforming food systems, water management, carbon sink conservation, biodiversity, and public health was emphasised.

The leaders recognised the potential of renewable energy, green hydrogen, and low-carbon solutions in accelerating sustainable economic growth and job creation. They stressed the importance of supporting and deploying all technologies to address emissions while ensuring a just transition for comprehensive sustainable development. The international community was called upon to redouble efforts in ensuring the availability, accessibility, and affordability of critical technologies for developing countries.

The joint statement reiterated the urgency for developed countries to fulfil the USD 100 billion delivery plan and double climate finance for adaptation to developing countries by 2025. International financial institutions and multilateral development banks were urged to make tangible progress in reforming financial mechanisms and unlocking concessional finance to support climate change initiatives taken up by developing countries.

Non-codified nature of Muslim personal law poses significant challenges for women, lack of UCC resulted in inequalities and inconsistencies: NCW

OpIndia Staff
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Non-codified nature of Muslim personal law poses significant challenges for women, lack of UCC resulted in inequalities and inconsistencies: NCW

On the 15th of July, the National Commission for Women (NCW) held a deliberation to discuss the rights of Muslim women. The particular focus of the discussion was to review the Muslim Personal Law. 

The panel said that the “non-codified” nature of the Muslim personal law has led to misinterpretation and posed significant challenges for Muslim women.

After the discussion, the Women’s Commission issued a statement highlighting the key aspects of the discussion and its prominent attendees. According to the statement, the panel noted that there was an unequivocal need for the codification of Muslim Personal Law. Additionally, it argued that there is a need to revisit the marriage and divorce law and guardianship law.

During the discussions, the panel stated that the lack of a Uniform Civil Code has perpetuated inequalities within our diverse nation. 

It stated, “The discussion also emphasised that the absence of a Uniform Civil Code has perpetuated inequalities and inconsistencies in our diverse nation, hindering progress towards social harmony, economic growth, and gender justice.” 

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said that the nation needs to draft a legal framework to provide equal rights for all irrespective of their religious belief. 

She said, “In our pursuit of equality, let’s reflect: if a law cannot serve the rights of Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist women, can we truly say it is just for Muslim women? The need for codified laws is urgent. We need to work towards a legal framework that ensures equal rights for all, regardless of religion.”

Prominent participants in the discussions comprised notable figures such as Attorney General R Venkataramani, senior law officers, vice chancellors of law universities, legal experts, and civil society organizations. 

According to the statement, Attorney General Venkataramani stressed that there is a need to reform and strengthen the institution of marriage. Further, the Attorney General emphasised the significance of granting equal respect and status to both men and women. Moreover, he emphasised the necessity for fairness in the processes that preserve the dignity of individuals involved in entering and exiting marital relationships, irrespective of their religion.

The consultations were held in the background of the ongoing debate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Notably, the Law Commission issued a notification on the 14th of June, seeking responses from various organisations and the public in relation to UCC within one month. 

A day earlier, on the 14th of July, the Law Commission of India extended the last date to submit views on ideas on the proposed UCC by two more weeks. Now, any interested individual, institution, or organisation may furnish their comments on the issue of the Uniform Civil Code till the 28th of July, 2023.

As British politician makes rhetorical claim on “UK’s foreign aid” to India after Chandrayaan-3 launch, here is how it is a falsehood repeatedly peddled by colonists

Paurush Gupta
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As British politician makes rhetorical claim on “UK’s foreign aid” to India after Chandrayaan-3 launch, here is how it is a falsehood repeatedly peddled by colonists

On the 14th of July, India’s premier space research organisation ISRO successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota at the scheduled time of 2:35 PM (IST). This is ISRO’s follow-up attempt after the Chandrayaan-2 mission faced challenges during its soft landing on the lunar surface in 2019 and eventually crashed on the lunar surface. 

Taking into account learnings from the last mission, the Chandrayaan-3 will attempt a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole on the 23rd of August. If everything goes as planned by ISRO’s scientists, India will become the fourth nation to pull this remarkable feat of successfully demonstrating soft-landing capabilities on the Lunar surface. Previously, only the United States, Russia, and China have successfully demonstrated this. 

Apparently, this ambitious space programme by India has not gone down well in some quarters, particularly among the elites in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Seemingly jealous, British politician and leader of the British First political party, Paul Golding raked the rhetorical issue of the UK’s “foreign aid” to India. 

Taking to Twitter, he said, “Well done India on the success of your space programme. And shame on UK politicians who keep unnecessarily giving India tens of millions of pounds in ‘foreign aid’.”

Netizens were quick to respond back in kind to this uncanny congratulatory tweet from the British politician. While many highlighted the fact that Britain looted $45 trillion and killed millions of innocent Indians, some reiterated that this unwarranted “aid” only ends up in the pockets of notorious NGOs that are serving the nefarious purposes of Christian missionaries and trying to create fissures in Indian society. While calling for Britain to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond and other items kept in the British museums, many told him that the Indian govt has stopped accepting any aid from the UK, and now its grants and investments go towards NGOs.

The elephant in the room – UK’s “aid” to India

In 2012, India’s former finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee described Britain’s annual aid of £280 million (Rs 2,798 crore) to India as “peanuts.” This irked many British politicians who questioned the continuation of this so-called “aid” to India. They argued that India funds its own space programme and has its own foreign aid budget, thus it doesn’t require foreign aid from the UK. 

In 2015, the UK aid to India was supposed to stop after the Indian government expressed its disinterest in it. Later, in 2017, the Indian government reminded several analysts and colonial-mindset-driven political commentators that India has been giving more foreign aid to countries than it received.

However, in March 2023, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) released a report claiming that the UK is still giving aid to India, however, it added that its nature and purpose have changed now. 

Notably, the ICAI scrutinises UK government aid and is independent of the government. The report stressed that approximately £2.3 billion (Rs 23,000 crore) of UK aid was provided to India from 2016 to 2021.

The report stated, “We calculated that the UK provided around £2.3 billion in aid to India between 2016 and 2021. This figure includes £441 million in bilateral aid, £129 million in development investment via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), £749 million of aid through multilateral organisations, and £ 1 billion in investments through British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution.” 

As per the ICAI report, BII is the world’s oldest development finance institution and was established in 1948 as the Colonial Development Corporation. Its mission is to do good without losing money. The report added that the BII has a portfolio of 389 investments in India valued at £2.3 billion in 2021, by far its largest country portfolio at 28% of the total.

The ICAI report made it clear that the British funding was not going to the Indian government but to various programs in India, including investments. The report said, “While there are still substantial volumes of UK aid to India, it is now very different in nature and purpose.” 

The report categorically highlighted that UK aid to India is now largely focused on climate, infrastructure, and economic development, rather than the provision of basic services such as health and education to the poorest states in India.

Additionally, one spokesperson from FCDO categorically highlighted that the UK has given no financial aid to the Indian government since 2015.  

The spokesperson said, “Since 2015 the UK has given no financial aid to the government of India. Most of our funding now is focused on business investments which help create new markets and jobs for the UK, as well as India. UK investments are also helping tackle shared challenges such as climate change.”

UK government’s official response to ICAI’s report

On the 25th of April, 2023, the UK Government officially responded to the ICAI’s review ‘UK aid to India’ released in March 2023. The UK government added that it accepted 3 recommendations completely, and it partially accepted its other two recommendations on UK’s aid review to India since 2016. The UK government categorically maintained that its investment portfolio in India has a strong “development rationale”.

As per the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh (IRR) published recently, the UK government prioritises the Indo-Pacific region. It stated that developments in this region will have a disproportionate influence on the global economy, supply chains, stability, and norms of state behaviour. Therefore, the UK government asserted that it is investing and offering Official Development Assistance (ODA) in this region for its strategic interest. 

Reiterating its position, the UK government said that it has ended direct bilateral financial assistance to the Indian government since 2015. This decision was taken because India has made substantial development gains and has increased investment in its own development.  

The official response said, “The bulk of our bilateral offer is investment with the dual objective of development impact and preserving our capital.” 

The imperative part here is that the UK government maintained that it is preserving its capital which directly negates smear campaigns and insinuations in the name of the UK’s “foreign aid” to India. The claim that the United Kingdom is dolling out money in the form of “foreign aid” to India can’t be further from the truth. The UK govt is investing in various projects in India, it is not giving ‘aid’.

The UK government noted India’s increasing global stature and financial prowess. The UK government further asserted multilateral financing to India has evolved because the country is at par with emerging economies of the world. 

It stated, “During the review period (since 2016), the World Bank and Asian Development Bank finance has also evolved, and they have stopped providing concessional loans and India instead borrows on the same terms as other emerging economies. We are providing a guarantee to the World Bank to enable them to provide an additional $1 billion of climate finance to India.”

It is worth noting that lower and middle-income countries have been accusing the Western nations of falling short of their pledge to climate financing and atoning their climate sins. After repeated persuasion, these nations are compelled to partner with developing nations like India on the issue of climate change and step up for climate financing, out of their dark record in the past. 

Both the ICAI review and the UK government noted that it is economic growth that has driven the reduction in poverty in India. Apparently, recently the World Bank highlighted that India has successfully pulled 415 million people out of poverty in the last 15 years.  

In its response, the UK government emphasised India’s ongoing efforts to reform the international finance institutions to better respond to current development challenges and extended support to India’s bid in its G20 Presidency on this matter.

The claim that the UK releases foreign aid to India has no merit

Before moving ahead, let’s clearly demarcate a few things first. 

Developmental assistance/loans, investments facilitated by multilateral financing institutions, and climate financing, among other forms, are different from financial handouts, charity/donations, humanitarian assistance, or emergency aid that do not necessitate repayment from the recipient country. 

The latter forms of aid are the ones that are frequently highlighted in rhetorical claims surrounding foreign aid and mostly with the mindset of a superiority-inferiority complex.

Driven by a colonial mindset, British political commentators frequently attempt to insinuate that substantial progress and development in India are solely funded by handouts from the United Kingdom to its former colony, a notion that lacks both logical basis and factual evidence. 

The recent insinuation regarding India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, suggesting it was financed through British handouts or donations, serves as yet another manifestation of this entrenched perspective.

Apart from the recent display of self-aggrandization, earlier in March 2022, British journalist Alastair Stewart sermonised that India should not receive any penny in aid from the United Kingdom, as if it was the case. Such sermons and White-man-burden type commentary are factually wrong. 

In fact, the Indian government has time and again rejected “foreign aid”, humanitarian assistance, or any form of donations/charity. India has maintained that the country can cope with the situation on its own. 

For example – the Indian government officially refused to accept foreign aid for disasters as early as 2004. That year, during the Indian Ocean tsunami, India not only refused any humanitarian assistance from Japan but also turned down emergency aid offers from the US and Israel.

Similarly, in 2018, when Kerala faced its worst floods in over 100 years, India again refused any external aid, even from one of its closest trade partners, the United Arab Emirates. The UAE had offered almost $100 million in aid.

However, the fact is that India has not been completely averse to the idea of accepting foreign aid. The only thing is that India has changed the terms for receiving foreign aid. Now, India is only inclined to accept aid on a long-term basis and is open to accepting long-term aid from multinational institutions like World Bank,  Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) among others. 

Moreover, India welcomes foreign investment in the country, which is completely different, as the investor will gain from the investment.

With British watchdog ICAI review reports, the UK government’s official response in this matter, and the Indian government’s stated stance, it is clear that the UK has not been giving any foreign aid to India. The fact is that it has either invested in India for its strategic interests, profitability, or for climate financing, to aton for climate sins done earlier. 

As per the British government’s response, a small portion of its “investment/aid” in India goes to Non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The response stated, “The volume of ODA spent on open societies and democratic standards will remain relatively low as a proportion of total spend.” 

However, this particular investment/aid is under constant scrutiny by the government of India as it is seen that it is harming Indian interests in many ways. Many foreign-funded NGOs are working against the interests of India, like opposing development projects, meddling in politics, supporting religious conversions etc.

Earlier, in January 2022, the UK Parliamentarians were rattled and asked the Indian government to reverse its decision to not renew the FCRA license of more than 6,000 organisations, including the charity founded by Mother Teresa. 

In totality, the claim that the UK is giving foreign aid to India is factually incorrect and it will be of great help for India if these voices of UK politicians end up helping India is solving the menace of rampant NGOs drawing illicit funds from foreign sources for anti-India activities like forced conversion.

Seema Haider is cheating everyone, she moved to India only to watch world cup matches: Her friends, former boyfriend & a doctor make explosive claims

Rukma Rathore
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Seema Haider is cheating everyone, she moved to India only to watch world cup matches: Her friends, former boyfriend & a doctor make explosive claims

Pakistani woman Seema Haider (30) grabbed headlines after she was arrested on 4 July for illegally entering India. She had entered the country via Nepal around a month ago with her four children, all under the age of seven, to be with her lover, Sachin Meena (25), in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida. The couple were released on bail on the 7th of July. They met through the popular online game PUBG: Battlegrounds in 2019.

Seema Haider accused her husband Ghulam Haider who is presently in Saudi Arabia of physically abusing her during their marriage. He recently released a video asking the Narendra Modi government to intervene in the matter. He wanted his wife and children to be sent back to Pakistan and alleged that she was lured and manipulated to come to India through PUBG.

The Pakistani government has also taken cognizance of the case. The government has reportedly sought information about the ongoing developments around Seema Haider.

Shocking claims of Seema Haider’s alleged friend

Now, some statements made in a 2-minute and 20-second video by a friend of Seema Haider have gone popular on social media. She can be seen wearing the burqa while talking to a YouTuber Syed Basit Ali. The woman claimed that Seema Haider prefers cricket over all other sports at the beginning of the conversation and remarked, “She is very crazy about the game. She also cheats a lot.”

She insisted that she was aware of Seema Haider’s impending trip to India and considered exposing her friend’s true face to everyone when she learned that the latter was converting her religion from Islam to Hinduism.

“If she sees this, the ground will give way beneath her feet,” the woman responded when asked if her friend would be able to recognise her in the video. She then reiterated that Seema Haider likes cricket even more than PUBG.

When asked about the reason behind the revelations, she answered, “I don’t need her. She has betrayed Islam.” She further continued that her friend was defrauding Hindus as well. The woman accused, “She can do anything. She was a Muslim who she has embraced Hinduism. She can also convert to Christianity tomorrow.” The woman called Seema a ‘psycho’, a ‘harami’.

The accusations of Seema Haider’s former boyfriend and others

Syed Basit Ali has talked to several other persons in Pakistan who knows Seema on the issue. Talkin to him, a man named Osama introduced himself as Seema Haider’s ex-boyfriend and charged that she had relationships with several other males in her native country, including Musa, Arif, Aslam and Sayan among others. He described her as very cunning and warned Sachin Meena that he would share their fate.

He stated that she is very fond of cricket and never missed an opportunity to watch Cricket World Cup matches. Osama claimed that Seema moved to India only to watch India-Pakistan cricket matches. He added that she had chosen a boy with the name Sachin Meena because of her strong affection for Sachin Tendulkar.

Osama added that he also met Seema through PUBG. He further warned Indians saying that just like today Seema has defamed Pakistan, and she will defame India later after her purposes are fulfilled. He claimed that she will return to her husband in Dubai after watching the world cup matches in India.

Accusing Seema Haider of defaming Muslims, Syed Basit Ali talked to another woman who claimed to be a friend of Seema. The woman claimed that Seema had done black magic on her husband before their marriage, she wanted to snatch her lover from her. The woman claimed that her husband is in a very bad status due to the black magic done to him, adding that her husband have come to footpath because of her.

She claimed that she will dump Sachin just like she dumped others earlier. She claimed that Seema cheated on her parents, her husband, and her husband, and she will also cheat on Sachin similarly. She added that Seema is not a Muslim, and she is not a Pakistani.

This woman also claimed that Seema moved to India only to watch cricket matches.

In order to ‘expose’ Seema Haider, Syed Basit Ali also interviewed a doctor, who had allegedly treated her. He said that she had gone to him over issues like anxiety, depression, aggression, panic, obsession with phones and games like PUBG, and tensions in family life. The doctor also claimed that Seema also had sexually transmitted diseases. He added that as she stay away from her patients and were in multiple live-in relationships, she got the STDs.

He said that the main issue with Seema was psychiatric disorders, adding that patients like her can harm anyone. Calling her a manic patient, he said that she can be dangerous for anyone who lives with her. The doctor claimed that Seema was his online patient.

The doctor claimed he is revealing confidential information about the woman because she has become a traitor and is defaming Islam.

Syed Basit Ali is a YouTuber and content creator and on his channel, he interviews people from various walks of life. Earlier one of his videos had gone viral in India where he had interviewed a young woman, a doctor, who had married into a rich family in Lahore, only to find out that the entire family was beggars.

Seema Haider’s 5 passports

There is also suspicion about Seema Haider because she possesses five passports. People asserted that she is a Pakistani spy who is playing the game of love to hide in India. Seema Haider acknowledged that she holds multiple passports in an interview.

“Sir, I have five passports. One passport is rejected because it has the name Seema on it. Nepali Embassy did not give me a visa. I also handed over that one to the police,” she proclaimed.

She voiced that she has her own Identity Document (ID) card when inquired about the same. She also has a Corona vaccination card along with a copy of her father’s ID card and her Pakistani spouse’s ID card.

Some even pronounced that the Pakistani woman speaks fluent English and is computer literate. According to them, she is actually an operative of the Pakistani intelligence agency who has been installed in India as part of a large-scale scheme by that country’s infamous spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

In the opinion of former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh, both the police and the intelligence community should conduct a thorough investigation into the case. He also raised concern over how an average Pakistani mother and her four children can cross borders without a valid visa and move to Noida without being discovered by Indian authorities.

Threats issued over Seema Haider

A group of Pakistani men belonging to the Jhakrani tribe in Balochistan threatened to rape and kill Hindu women in Sindh if India does not send back Seema Haider and her children to their country. If the Indian Government rejected their demand, the men who appeared with their faces covered and holding guns, pledged to hunt down, rape and kill every Hindu female in Sindh, in an extremely profane language.

The Mumbai Police informed that its Traffic Control Room received a call from an unidentified Urdu-speaking caller, who warned the police of a 26/11-like terror attack if Seema Haider is not returned to Pakistan. “If Seema Haider doesn’t return, India will face destruction,” the person threatened. The Mumbai police started a search for the perpetrator and also notified their Uttar Pradesh police associates. However, per the officials, no case was reported as of yet.

AAP govt blames ‘politics’ for floods in Delhi and Punjab as it struggles to cope with the natural calamity

OpIndia Staff
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AAP govt blames ‘politics’ for floods in Delhi and Punjab as it struggles to cope with the natural calamity

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-run-governments in Delhi and Punjab have resorted to political blame games after they failed to prepare for the catastrophic floods in advance.

AAP supremo and Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal, has now blamed the Haryana government for putting the National Capital in such a perilous situation. As per reports, he has accused the BJP-ruled State of releasing water from the Hathnikund barrage and flooding Delhi.

On Wednesday (July 12), he wrote a letter to the Union Home Ministry and blamed the situation on the Haryana government instead of the incessant rain. Similar claims were made by AAP leader Atishi Marlena.

“It is a big question why all the water from Hathnikund Barrage was being released only for Delhi. Not a single drop of water was released into the canals going to UP and Haryana from there. Haryana will have to answer for this. Can the flood situation in Delhi have been avoided?” she hinted a larger conspiracy of the BJP govt.

In a statement, Devender Singh, the advisor (Irrigation) to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, pointed out that the Hathinikund is a barrage and not a dam, which can be used to store water.

AAP blames Centre, Haryana govt for waterlogging in Punjab

Meanwhile, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann claimed that the Centre, through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), was scheduled to release 20000 cusecs of water into the Sutlej River and the situation was averted only after the government’s objection.

Another Punjab Minister named Chetan Singh Jauramajra accused the Haryana government of being responsible for waterlogging in several villages of Punjab. He claimed that the Manohar Khattar-led-government failed to clean a siphon in the Ghaggar River on the Hansi-Butana canal stretch on time.

“CM Kejriwal is not fulfilling his responsibilities, their duty was to get the desilting and gate check done which is a standard practice before monsoon. They did not do this and are now blaming the Haryana govt,” remarked Haryana Media Secretary, Praveen Attrey.

Delhi’s systems can’t handle this much rain: Arvind Kejriwal

Amidst the heavy rain that has wreaked havoc on the National Capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared to have surrendered to the situation.

On July 10, he conceded that Delhi’s systems could not withstand such unprecedented rain. Kejriwal claimed that the city received over 153 mm of rain on July 8 and July 9 this year and that the water level of the Yamuna river was not going to rise too much.

While speaking about the river crossing the danger-level mark, he said, “As per Central Water Commission, Yamuna river is flowing at 203.58 meters in Delhi. It is expected to reach 205.5 meters tomorrow morning. Also, according to weather predictions, the water level in Yamuna is not expected to rise too high.”

Complaint filed against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Patna SSP over BJP leader’s death in police lathi-charge

OpIndia Staff
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Complaint filed against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Patna SSP over BJP leader’s death in police lathi-charge

Days after Bihar BJP leader Vijay Kumar Singh died due to a lathi-charge conducted by the Bihar police, a complaint was lodged against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, a senior police officer, and Patna’s district magistrate. The complaint has been lodged by BJP worker Krishna Singh in Patna civil court.

The BJP has also formed a four-member committee of party MPs to investigate the alleged use of unjustified force by Bihar Police on its leaders during a protest march on 13th July. The BJP says that one of its members, Vijay Singh, was killed and numerous others were injured in a police lathi charge in Patna on Thursday when BJP leaders took out a march to protest against the Bihar government over the posting of teachers and the employment issue in the state. 

However, the police have claimed that Vijay Singh didn’t die due to the police action. They have claimed that CCTV footage showed that the BJP’s Vijay Kumar Singh was not at the Dak Bungalow crossing when “mild” force was used to disperse the protestors. It has also been claimed by the police that the doctors said that there were no such injury marks on the body of the deceased BJP leader.

The police in its defence earlier, claimed that they tried to stop the march at the Dak Bungalow crossing, which inflamed the situation. The protesters were stopped from heading towards the restricted VIP area by the police using force.

BJP’s Krishna Singh has now filed a lawsuit in which he accused CM Nitish Kumar, deputy CM and Patna SSP Rajeev Mishra, and DM Chandrashekhar Singh of “murdering” a BJP worker. A complaint has been made under sections 302, 307, 341 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as other pertinent sections.

Union Minister Nityanand Rai on the other hand claimed that Jungle Raj has returned in Bihar.

“It was similar to what the British had done with people protesting the Simon Commission. The kind of cruelty witnessed on the streets of Patna was a reminder of General Dyer who is remembered for his barbaric way of crushing those demanding justice. Indeed, Jungle Raj 3.0 has arrived in Bihar,” stated Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. 

Eyewitness who claimed Vijay Singh was not beaten by police changes statement

Earlier, a person named Bharat Prasad Chandravanshi, who was with Vijay Singh, had said that Vijay Singh was injured after he fell in the stampede during the protest. His statement given in Patna was being used by SP leaders to claim that the BJP leader didn’t die due to the police lathi charge.

But now Bharat Prasad Chandravanshi, saying that Vijay Sinhg was indeed assaulted by police. He said that he gave the wrong statement in a hurry. He said that Vijay Singh was lathichrged by police, after which he fell down on the ground. Chandravanshi gave the updated statement to the media after returning to Jehanabad from Patna.

Bharat Chandravanshi told that he and Vijay Singh along with 10-12 of party workers had gone to Patna to participate in the protest. As soon as they reached Gandhi Maidan, police started lathi charges on the BJP workers. Soon after that there was a stampede among the workers present there. His companion Vijay Singh also became a victim of police lathi-charge and he got hurt on his head and fell down.

Chandravanshi said that Vijay Singh was taken in a rickshaw to Tara Hospital, where his treatment was started. But later doctors said that he has succumbed to the injuries. Still, he was taken to PMCH, where doctors declared him brought dead.

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