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Madras High Court holds that ED has the right to take Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji into custody in PMLA case, says accused has to abide by the law

OpIndia Staff
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Madras High Court holds that ED has the right to take Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji into custody in PMLA case, says accused has to abide by the law

On Friday, July 14, the Madras High Court held that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has the right to take Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister V Senthil Balaji into custody. This is a day after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said to the HC that the ED had the right to do so under the Prevention of money laundering act (PMLA).

Following a disagreement on the division bench, the case was referred to Justice CV Karthikeyan, who agreed with Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy’s position that ED is entitled to custody. “I hold that ED has right to take Senthil Balaji into custody”, the judge ruled. Earlier, Justice Nisha Banu had held that the ED does not have the right to seek custody under PMLA.

Saying that the ED does have right of custody, Chief Justice Karthikeyan said, “The fact that respondents(ED) can take custody for further investigation cannot be denied. The respondent, in this case, had a right to get custody. I would align my opinion with the reason given by Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy in this aspect”.

During the hearing, Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for Senthil Balaji’s wife Megala, said that PMLA was unconstitutional and that it empowered ED only to summon bank officials and collect evidence which is used to file a complaint. “You search, seize, get statement. You call banks/financial institutions and confront him. You take a statement. Then based on material you arrest him. I don’t say so, SC says so. PMLA empowers only inquiry and not an investigation,” he said.

Sibal also claimed that only the police official had right to go to the magistrate for the custodial interrogation of the accused and not the ED. “S.167 reads “officer in charge of police station” or “officer not below the rank of sub-inspector”. ED is neither. Then how can S.167 apply. The constitutional provisions will apply. The Act does not give him that power. Then how can any court give him that power,” Sibal said.

Justice Karthikeyan accepted the argument made by Sibal that ED officials are not police officers. However, he stated that since Balaji was remanded to judicial custody by the Sessions Court under Section 167 of CrPC, his status changed from “detenu” to “accused”. The judge added that Section 167(2) CrPC enables the remand of the accused to “such custody as such Magistrate thinks fit” during the first fifteen days and does not specify whether it has to be “police custody” or “judicial custody”.

The court further stated that the statement recorded during the custody would be admissible for further investigation. “ED should have taken him to custody after obtaining the order. They should have come to the HC for a variation of the order or should have challenged it. But they did neither,” Sibal meanwhile pressed.

The court also rejected the argument that the grounds of arrest were not informed and said that there was no way the Minister could claim innocence. “Money laundering is not a standalone offence that does not have any background. The respondents were at his doors since June 13. He should have known why. He can’t claim innocence,” the court said.

Finally, Justice Karthikeyan noted that Section 19 of the PMLA authorised ED officials to arrest a person if there are reasons to believe that is guilty of any offence punishable under the Act. Emphasising on the word “punishable”, he said that  once the word punishment is used, then the provisions of CrPC will apply. The person so arrested will have to subjugate himself to the laws of trial and such trial must be under the process of CrPC.

The court decided that officers like Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director or any other authorised officer, who are empowered to arrest a person under Section 19, can take advantage of the provisions of the CrPC even though they are not “police officers”, as the PMLA says that CrPC will apply to proceedings under it.

“It had been held in Vijay Madanlal that ED are not police officials, but nowhere it was said that they cannot take custody. If investigation requires custody, then custody can be sought as a matter of right”, the Court ruled.

The court further added, “Detenu has to abide by law. Every accused has a right to prove innocence during trial but no accused has a right to frustrate an inquiry or investigation”.

On Thursday, July 13, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made the arguments on behalf of the ED before Justice CV Karthikeyan, who had been appointed as the third judge to oversee the ongoing hearing of the habeas corpus petition (HCP) submitted by the minister’s wife S Megala. Following a split decision by a division bench of the Madras high court last week on the plea, the Supreme Court ordered the high court to appoint a new bench to hear the matter.

Mehta contended that the reason why legislature did not confer the powers of a police officer on ED officials was because, PMLA deals with only one offence of money laundering, unlike other special enactments, which are non-bailable and therefore, only a court can grant bail.

Notably, on July 11, the Income Tax department officials conducted raids on properties linked to Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in Karur. Around ten locations linked to the minister throughout the city were raided by the IT officials.

Senthil Balaji, who served as a minister in the DMK government, was detained on June 14 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a cash-for-jobs scheme. Since then, he has been a patient at Kauvery Hospital, where he underwent coronary bypass surgery.

I am not a beggar but need money to make a madarsa: Pakistani man begs mid-air in a flight, video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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I am not a beggar but need money to make a madarsa: Pakistani man begs mid-air in a flight, video goes viral

Amidst the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, a video has surfaced online wherein a Pakistani man onboard a plane can be seen urging his fellow passengers to ‘donate’ money. While pleading with his fellow passengers to give him money, the Pakistani man, however, reminds them that he is not a beggar and that he needs the funds to build a Madarsa in Pakistan.

Twitter handle The Inside Story first shared the video on Twitter on July 14 with the hashtag #FailedStatePakistan. Although it is unclear from the video when and on which aeroplane the footage was filmed the man wearing a white kurta-pyjama with a blue jacket is seen going up and down the aircraft aisle as he tries to convince his co-passengers to ‘donate’ money.

Speaking in Punjabi, also the native language of the Punjab region of Pakistan, the man tells the passengers that he is not a beggar. He says he is asking for money to build a Madarsa in Pakistan.

Netizens left amused

The timing of the video, which coincides with the ongoing financial crisis the cash-strapped Pakistan is facing at the time being, prompted Netizens to rush to the social networking platform with memes and comments shortly after it went viral.

Twitter user Raj Singh tweeted a picture of people lined up on an airstair with no aeroplane in sight and insinuated that seeing the beggar on board many more have been queuing up for the flight.

Some other Twitter users also mocked the economic condition of Pakistan. “Begging is the national sport of Pakistan,” tweeted @iArijitRoy.

Twitter user @aryankol tweeted, “Begging is now become a symbolic occupation of a country.”

Interestingly, in February 2023, a video of a woman in Lahore being married to a ‘rich’ family of professional beggars had gone viral on social media. The said video was first posted on the official YouTube channel of one Syed Basit Ali on February 20 this year. The woman, identified as Shazia, is an MBBS doctor by profession.

She recounted how her family was being misled by the professional beggars, who claimed to have made their fortunes through import-export business.

Deteriorating economic condition of Pakistan

The development comes at a time when Pakistan is experiencing its worst economic crisis, besides food shortages, flash floods, and poverty. Over 7 million workers in its textile industry have been laid off.

Other than this, Pakistan, which was declared South Asia’s weakest economy by a report is also hit by a severe food crisis. The situation in several cities of Pakistan is so grave that flour is being rationed and guarded by armed guards. Prices of flour and wheat have witnessed a dramatic surge. 

Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan are among the worst sufferers as tens of thousands spend hours daily to get the subsidized bags of flour that are already short in supply in the market.

Incidents of clashes and stampedes have been reported in markets in many areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan. The situation is so dire that flour-loaded mini trucks and vans are escorted by armed guards to avoid clashes.

As these vehicles reach the markets, people gather around these vehicles. Recently, the people of Pakistan took to Twitter to voice their woes as a nationwide power outage left almost all regions without electricity on January 24, 2023.

As such, the government has now surrendered itself to Almighty Allah. Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar said that the government was praying, that Allah would bring prosperity back to Pakistan.

Opindia’s prophecy comes true as French leftist media unleash anti-India propaganda, vitriol against PM Modi during his visit to Paris

Dibakar Dutta
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Opindia’s prophecy comes true as French leftist media unleash anti-India propaganda, vitriol against PM Modi during his visit to Paris

On Wednesday (July 12), Opindia published a report wherein it highlighted the list of French leftist publications, which are likely to sour PM Narendra Modi’s visit to France, cast aspersion on India’s democracy and its treatment of religious minorities.

The publications included Mediapart, Le Monde and Libération. And as expected, they published vicious pieces denigrating the Indian Prime Minister and his governance of the country.

Coinciding with PM Modi’s visit to France, Mediapart published a dubious report on the 2016 Rafale deal in the hopes of thwarting the 90000 crore defence deal between the two countries.

Screengrab of the news reports by Mediapart

The leftist publication managed to find members of the Indian diaspora, who are supposedly ‘unhappy’ about PM Modi’s visit to France.

“Narendra Modi is this year’s guest of honour on July 14. Part of the Indian diaspora strongly criticizes this initiative by Emmanuel Macron. For them, it is a slap in the face to the defenders of an India that respects all its citizens,” Mediapart claimed in an article on July 12 this year.

Contrary to the expectations of the publication, Prime Minister was greeted with zeal and enthusiasm by hordes of Indians living in Paris. His address to the diaspora was well-received and the  La Seine Musicale centre reverberated with chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’

For instance, a member of the Indian diaspora was moved to tears after listening to the speech of PM Narendra Modi. While Mediapart tried its best to suggest that Indians were unhappy about his visit to Paris, the plan backfired badly.

In another contentious piece, the leftist publication lamented that the official visit of PM Modi on ‘Bastille Day Parade’ will somehow ‘fuel the cult of personality around Modi.

It claimed, “France’s strategic partnership with India is old, but its implications deserve to be debated in view of the authoritarian involution of Narendra Modi’s regime.” Mediapart is the same French publication, which has earlier published several misleading articles on the 2016 Rafale Deal.

Le Monde cries foul over PM Modi’s visit to France

Opindia earlier pointed out how a leftist French newspaper by the name of Le Monde had been influencing public opinion about the Modi government by making false insinuations about India’s democracy and religious freedom.

“India’s democratic regression,” the paper published a propaganda editorial piece on April 24 this year. On Thursday (July 13), Le Monde published an op-ed titled ‘Narendra Modi has fostered state-sponsored violence for decades.’

It went on to claim that the French government has disregarded the ‘dismal human rights record’ of PM Modi while inviting him to the ‘Bastille Day Parade’ on July 14, 2023. The paper alleged, ” Since 2014, when Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), came to power, the public climate in India has deteriorated violently.”

Screengrab of the news reports by Le Monde

It reiterated the distorted narrative of ‘Muslims being in danger in India’ and accused the Indian Prime Minister of targeting human rights defenders and journalists with sedition laws.

In another piece published by Le Monde, it claimed, “Once accused of complicity in the anti-Muslim pogroms that bloodied the then-state of Gujarat in 2002 – killing over a thousand people – he was banned from entering the USA for a decade. But for some time now, this unabashed Hindu nationalist with an authoritarian stance has been enjoying a warm welcome in the major capitals.”

Given that France has now bestowed Narendra Modi with its highest civilian award, we can expect the leftist newspaper to disseminate more anti-India propaganda.

Libération leads the way

In anticipation of PM Modi’s visit to France, the leftist newspaper Libération went overboard and published four different articles targeting the Indian Prime Minister.

“The Indian Prime Minister has been putting civil society under constant pressure for years and undermining the work of associations that displease him by depriving them of foreign funds,” it lamented the cancellation of FCRA licences of dubious NGOs in India.

In another article, Libération dubbed the growing ties of France with India as a ‘gamble.’ The leftist newspaper also provided space to ‘writer’ Shumona Sinha to rant against India and the Modi government.

It also managed to find a handful of anti-Modi activists, opposing his visit to France, and presented their views as the majority perspective.

Screengrab of the news reports by Le Monde

France 24 makes its grand entry

Although it did not feature in Opindia’s initial list, the State-owned news network ‘France 24′ also published a contentious piece on the occasion of PM Modi’s visit to France.

“Leading French academic and Indian specialist Christophe Jaffrelot said Modi was in the process of deconstructing India’s democratic institutions in an article published this week,” it wrote, pointing out how PM Modi was invited in the shadow of nationwide riots.

Screengrab of the news report by France 24

Interestingly, former NDTV ‘journalist’ Sarah Jacob has been newly inducted into the English team of France 24. “I learnt today that many in France are questioning why PM Modi has been invited as chief guest for their Bastille Day celebrations, given India’s perceived weak record on human rights and press freedoms,” she had tweeted.

Screengrab of the tweets by Sarah Jacob

Sarah Jacob is yet to tweet about the grand reception given to PM Modi and that he has been the first Indian Prime Minister to be bestowed with France’s highest civilian award.

Coincidentally, France 24 also mentioned a contentious resolution by the European Parliament in its report, which has been rubbished by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

“Amid the diplomatic courting of Modi, a resolution from the European Parliament on Thursday served as a reminder that he and his Hindu nationalist agenda have garnered critics at home and abroad,” the report read.

France’s State-owned TV network further quoted European Parliamentarians to virtue signal the Indian government about running their country. As PM Modi inks deals with the French government, the leftist ecosystem continues to whine and repeat their same old lies about India.

‘John of God’: How the celebrity ‘faith healer’ once promoted by Oprah ended up with a 370-year prison sentence after 600 accusations of sexual exploitation

Gopal Tiwari
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‘John of God’: How the celebrity ‘faith healer’ once promoted by Oprah ended up with a 370-year prison sentence after 600 accusations of sexual exploitation

On a fateful day, July 10, 2023, the courtroom was filled with a mix of anticipation and despair as the notorious Brazilian faith healer, João Teixeira de Faria, commonly known as ‘John of God,’ received an additional sentence of 99 years for his heinous sexual crimes. The air was heavy with the weight of justice as the judge declared him guilty of the ‘rape of vulnerable persons’ and ‘sexual violation through fraud’ against eight victims who sought his spiritual help between 2010 and 2018.

The sentence brought his total prison time to an unprecedented 370 years, 9 months, and 15 days. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay R$ 100 thousand in compensation for moral damages to the victims. As the gavel struck, the room was filled with a mix of relief and disbelief, knowing that this self-proclaimed healer’s reign of terror was finally coming to an end.

Faria adopted the name of John of God, or João de Deus, after a 16th-century catholic saint from Portugal.

Dark Tale of John of God dates back to the 1970s

To understand the magnitude of crimes committed by ‘John of God’, we must delve into the dark history that led to this shocking verdict. His rise to fame began in the late 1970s when he opened Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola, a ‘clinic’ in the small town of Abadiânia, Brazil. Here, he claimed to possess supernatural powers and offered a range of services, from spiritual healing to what appeared to be surgical procedures without anesthesia.

Despite lacking any medical qualifications, people flocked to him, drawn by the promise of miraculous cures and relief from their ailments.

John of God performed dubious procedures without anaesthesia

Despite lacking a medical license and any relevant training, he performed procedures such as nasal probing, body incisions, and eye scrapings without anesthesia. His clinic, Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola, became a tourist attraction, generating significant profits through extra services like crystal bed sessions, blessed water, and herbal pills. These pills later revealed to be passionflower herbs, alone contributed to an estimated annual income of $40 million. However, behind the façade of healing and spirituality, a sinister truth was brewing.

Sexual crimes and child trafficking by John of God were exposed in 2018

In 2018, the Christian world was rocked by an explosive scandal that exposed ‘John of God’s’ true nature. Over 300 women, including his own daughter, bravely came forward to share their harrowing experiences of sexual abuse at the hands of the man they had trusted to heal their pain.

The accounts were gut-wrenching and painted a chilling picture of manipulation, betrayal, and unspeakable acts. The victims described how they had been lured into private sessions with Faria, seeking solace and relief from their physical and emotional struggles. Instead, they became victims of his perverse desires.

John of God, image via ABC

Faria’s own daughter also recounted her traumatic experiences of rape and violence at the hands of her father. Many claimed that he promised to heal them but exploited their vulnerability, subjecting them to unimaginable acts of sexual assault and violation. The stories were haunting, revealing a pattern of systematic abuse that spanned decades.

John of God performing a procedure on a patient’s eye, image via SFGate

It is important to note that these sexual assault charges are not the only appalling allegations against this so-called faith healer. Uncovered amidst the torrent of accusations is the claim that ‘John of God’ allegedly operated a baby trafficking ring, selling children to childless couples. While these accusations have been overshadowed in recent coverage, it is crucial to acknowledge the extent of the crimes committed by this individual.

‘Sex slaves kept to produce babies for 10 years’

John was arrested by Brazillian authorities after over 600 allegations of rape and sexual exploitation were made against him. He was also accused of keeping teenage girls as sex slaves, making them undergo pregnancy and childbirth, and then selling the babies to the ‘highest bidder’.

Sabrina Bittencourt, a Brazillian activist whose investigation led to John’s arrest, had stated that her organization has spoken to couples on 3 different continents who have claimed that they bought babies from John for as much as $50,000. Sabrina Bittencourt also stated that in John’s ‘baby farm’ teenage sex slaves were made to produce children for 10 years, before being killed.

John of God was promoted by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey

The revelations sent shockwaves through the global community, leaving many in disbelief that such evil could have gone unchecked for so long. But perhaps even more shocking were the connections that ‘John of God’ had established with prominent figures, both in Brazil and abroad. Politicians, models, and international celebrities like Oprah Winfrey had all crossed paths with the man who would be unmasked as a predator. João Teixeira de Faria gained international recognition as a medium and faith healer, attracting such celebrities.

His website claimed that he has treated Former US President Bill Clinton, Brazilian politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

John with Oprah

Oprah Winfrey, known for her influential platform, once dedicated an episode of her show to ‘John of God’ in 2010, amplifying his reach and giving him a seal of legitimacy in the eyes of her millions of viewers. Winfrey’s visit to Brazil in 2012 to film an episode of ‘Oprah’s Next Chapter’ further cemented his status as a respected spiritual figure. However, in the wake of the scandal, Winfrey expressed empathy for the survivors and voiced her hope that justice would prevail.

John of God will never come out of prison

John of God’s reputation amongst faithful believers and practicing Christians took a severe blow in 2018 when a massive scandal erupted, exposing his widespread sexual abuse of hundreds of women and girls who sought his spiritual guidance. The recent convictions, which necessitate serving the sentence in a closed regime, come at a time when João de Deus is under house arrest due to a second-instance decision.

Since his arrest in late 2018, he has oscillated between a closed regime and house arrest, claiming various illnesses to obtain leniency. Since his arrest in 2018, he has been serving multiple sentences totaling 270 years and four months. Nevertheless, with the new convictions, he faces an unprecedented prison term that could potentially last for the remainder of his life.

Netflix made a docuseries on this John of God

The revelations about ‘John of God’ were not confined to the courtroom or media reports. Netflix, the popular streaming platform, released a docuseries titled “John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer.” The series delved into Faria’s rise to prominence and his subsequent fall from grace, spanning four decades of manipulation, exploitation, and the brave survivors who had the courage to expose his crimes.

The documentary shed light on the immense suffering endured by the victims and the long-lasting impact of his actions. The documentary chronicles the shocking accounts of over 300 women who accused Faria of promising healing but instead subjecting them to sexual assault during private sessions.

Justice prevails

With Faria now behind bars, serving multiple sentences, justice is gradually being served for the survivors of his abuse. The legal proceedings have taken place behind closed doors to protect the privacy of the victims, and further charges may still be pending. Reflecting on the disturbing legacy of ‘John of God,’ one must acknowledge the strength and resilience of the survivors who came forward, refusing to be silenced by fear or shame. Their bravery in exposing this deceitful healer has not only brought justice to their own lives but has also paved the way for others to find the courage to speak out against similar abuses of power.

John of God, Christianity, and India

In addition to the harrowing accounts of abuse and exploitation, the case of ‘John of God’ holds particular significance in India, as it brings to the forefront a dark face of ‘faith healing’ that is massively abused by Christian preachers in India for mass conversions. The exposure of his crimes is of great importance in a country where the spread of Christianity was historically intertwined with the expeditions of European colonizers. During colonial times, the conversion of indigenous populations to Christianity was often a key objective for European powers.

While it is crucial to recognize that the actions of ‘John of God’ do not represent the entirety of the Christian faith or its followers, his heinous crimes committed under the guise of religious spirituality highlight the urgency of vigilance and accountability.

Conclusion

The case of João Teixeira de Faria, ‘John of God,’ serves as a cautionary tale and highlights the need for stringent measures to prevent such abuses of religious power. As the survivors continue their journey towards healing and reclaiming their lives, people must remain vigilant, ensuring that no one else falls victim to the dark allure of false prophets and their wicked intentions.

Karnataka: Bengaluru man Ajith accuses friend of brainwashing his wife after she sought divorce to marry Salman, says she is a love jihad victim

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Bengaluru man Ajith accuses friend of brainwashing his wife after she sought divorce to marry Salman, says she is a love jihad victim

In the latest incident of love jihad, Ajith, a resident of Hosaguddadahalli in Bengaluru, Karnataka has charged that his friend Salman brainwashed his wife and “snatched” her from him. The couple has been married for three years.

The husband who is an employee at a private factory, informed that his wife has been a victim of love jihad, which brought the issue to light on 13 July, according to an IANS report. He mentioned that as a close associate of his family, the accused had stepped in and settled issues between the married pair. However, he used the opportunity to manipulate the woman and established a relationship with her.

The affair was revealed after Ajith received images of the two in a semi-naked position. He was startled at the shocking development as his wife was his childhood sweetheart. The duo got married against fierce parental opposition. Their marriage was registered at a sub-registrar’s office in August 2020.

Ajith had also known Salman since they were children and both of them had been companions as well as colleagues in a factory. When Ajith had gone to Tamil Nadu with Salman, he used to call his wife using Samlan’s phone. Furthermore, he also asked her to make calls on Salman’s phone.

Ajith complained that after this, Salman started calling his wife regularly and grew intimate with her. He started referring to her as his sister by him when he initially started visiting Ajith’s house.

His wife left for her parent’s home in April and later refused to return back to him. He pleaded with her to come back to him, and allegedly even thrashed her. After this incident, he found pictures of her pursuing an illicit relationship with Salman.

When Ajith questioned her about the photographs, she demanded a divorce from him instead. He further added that his wife is vocal about her desire to be with Salman. According to Ajith, she is now a victim of love jihad. He maintained that Salman befriended his spouse by first addressing her as his sister, afterwards, he brainwashed her and is now posting their private and intimate moments on social media.

When asked about the incident, the woman responded by saying that her husband had introduced her to Salman. She claimed that Salman has brought her peace of mind. Moreover, Salman insisted that he hasn’t brainwashed his friend’s wife. He remarked, “There is no such thing as love jihad in this case.”

Hindu organisations, on the other hand, have denounced the instance and urged the woman to get back with her life partner. They also declared that she was a victim of love jihad and forewarned her that she would later regret her choice. There hasn’t yet been a complaint made about the matter to the police and more details are awaited.

Sound of Freedom: Read how the Leftist media lobby in the West is trying to dismiss and defame a movie on child sex trafficking

Shraddha Pandey
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Sound of Freedom: Read how the Leftist media lobby in the West is trying to dismiss and defame a movie on child sex trafficking

‘Sound of Freedom’ is a recent movie that became a success in the USA but has been mired in controversy. The film starring American actor Jim Caviezel is a cinematic depiction based on the life of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security operative who is on a mission to end child sex trafficking. After quitting his job as a Homeland Security agent, Tim Ballard founded an anti-human trafficking organization, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR).

The Alejandro Monteverde directorial draws attention to the prevalent menace of child sex trafficking and exploitation in the West. The fictionalized depiction of Tim Ballard’s work as an anti-child sex trafficking crusader revolves around Ballard (Jim Caviezel) setting out on a perilous expedition to rescue a girl from child traffickers. To save the young girl trapped in a Colombian jungle, he quits his work and risks his life.

In simple words, child sex trafficking can be described as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a minor for the purpose of a commercial sex act.

Sound of Freedom has been a target of criticism and scrutiny by the leftist media which has accused actor Jim Caviezel of having ties with the QAnon conspiracy theorists and claimed that the movie also is linked to the alleged ‘conspiracy theory’.

QAnon, Jim Caviezel and the Sound of Freedom

Before moving ahead, it is pertinent to understand what QAnon is and why is ‘controversial’. The word “QAnon” refers to an assortment of internet conspiracy theories that claim that a group of pedophiles who worship Satan run the United States. These include Democrat leaders US President Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, George Soros, and many Hollywood celebrities as well, as per QAnon. QAnon first appeared in October 2017

It asserts that Donald Trump was “recruited” to run for president by the US military, which is said to be eager to see the deep state overthrown. However, the deep state, which controls the media, soon attempted to discredit him by spreading fake news and baseless claims of his collusion with Russia.

“The Passion of the Christ” actor Jim Caviezel, appeared on Steve Bannon’s podcast last month to promote “Sound of Freedom.”

In the podcast, Caviezel mentioned adrenochrome— a hormone that QAnon followers claim is harvested from young victims as a purported elixir for prolonging life. “Couple of years ago, I’m talking about adrenochrome, you can’t say that word,” Caviezel said.

Caviezel also talked about controversial billionaire George Soros saying that he owns companies like The Daily Beast—an American news website that had fun “tearing” him apart.

In the July 11 episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, Caviezel refuted the allegations of the film Sound of Freedom aligning with the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Apart from Caviezel, Tim Ballard has also dismissed the allegations of the film’s QAnon connection.”I can’t explain it and neither can they. Every show I’ve seen they just like to throw the word out QAnon, they make zero connection to the actual story,” Ballard said.

Left media lobby’s denial and dismissal of child sex trafficking issue

A significant section of the American media has been desperately trying to downplay the issue of child trafficking and sexual abuse. Rolling Stone, a prominent American monthly magazine in a recent article called child sex trafficking as a “grossly exaggerated epidemic”. Rolling Stone also called the movie a QAnon-tinged thriller.

The article also bemoans that raising awareness of the issue will divert attention from issues like “mass shootings, a lack of healthcare, and climate disasters,” while criticizing the movie’s “hackneyed white savior narrative.”

While the issue of mass shootings definitely is a major concern in the US, it does not mean that other issues like child trafficking should be sidelined.

By presenting similar dubious allegations about connections between the film’s makers and QAnon, CNN tried to deter viewers from watching Sound of Freedom. The CNN anchor insinuated that the film has the “kernel of truth that feeds the QAnon conspiracy.”

In response to the QAnon allegations made during the aforementioned CNN show, Tim Ballard stated in one of the CNN shows that “It’s embarrassing and simply grotesque for this guy who knows nothing to start throwing out terms like QAnon and connecting it to a real story.”

The Eduardo Verastegui-produced thriller was dubbed a “paranoid” new film by The Guardian, which claimed that while conspiracy theories “scaremongering” about Jewish and transgender communities do not appear in the film, they “lurk in the shadows around a film outwardly non-insane enough to lure in the persuadable.”

“Money leads back to a more unsavory network of astroturfed boosterism among the far-right fringe, a constellation of paranoids now attempting to spin a cause célèbre out of a movie with vaguely simpatico leanings,” The Guardian piece read.

Guardian’s article calling the Sound of Freedom a ‘paranoid’ movie

Apart from linking Sound of Freedom with QAnon, the leftist media has also been raising questions over the veracity of the work done by Operation Underground Railroad and Tim Ballard in battling child sex trafficking. 

Whilst CBS News jumped on the “conspiracy theory” bandwagon in regards to Sound of Freedom, they had complimented Ballard’s efforts nine years earlier in a child-rescue mission remarkably similar to one of the scenes depicted in the film.

Taking to Twitter, one Melissa Tate pointed out that the same media which covered Ballard’s story of activism against child sex trafficking in 2014 now calls Sound of Freedom a ‘conspiracy theory’.

A Rolling Stone article citing anti-trafficking ‘experts’ asserts that Sound Of Freedom relied on dubious source materials insinuating that the film is far from true. 

However, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) on its website has specifically mentioned which incidents depicted in the film are real and which ones are a result of creative liberties taken by the makers. OUR also elaborated on characters in the film that are real and the ones that are fictionalized. 

A Rebel News report citing the moviegoers stated that there is a lack of coverage in the mainstream media regarding the child sex trafficking issue. 

When asked about why the media is attacking the film Sound of Freedom, Tim Ballard said, “I cannot understand…the film was made, produced, written five-six years before anyone heard the name QAnon. I still don’t know what QAnon is, they are trying to connect it to a true story. These are real kids (victims) and it’s going to be weird when the media comes after them accusing them of being part of some conspiracy while they were rescued from a life of rape.

‘Leftist media does not want the issue of child sex trafficking discussed’

Ballard alleged that the media does not want to have a discussion on this burning issue of child sex trafficking. He also highlighted that over 85000 children are missing due to trafficking and illegal immigration over the past two years.

“These media outlets don’t want to have a discussion that this film is going to compel. A discussion about how 85000 children showed up unaccompanied at the border and sent into a country that is the highest consuming country for child exploitation material on the planet,” Ballard said.

He further slammed the media publications criticizing Sound Of Freedom saying that they are trying to normalize pedophilia by coining terms like “minor-attracted person” for pedophiles. 

“This film is going to throw light on the atrocities happening to children so they are trying to discredit the film by lying about it,” Ballard added as he criticized policies sexualizing children.

It is understandable why the Leftists appear antagonistic toward concerns about child trafficking.

The left apparently fails to comprehend the issue outside of their own ideological filters. Recently, California Assembly committee members, mostly Democrats and one Republican blocked a bill aiming to make child sex trafficking a “serious felony”. Senate Bill 14 if passed would have incurred the death penalty and life imprisonment for those convicted of child sex trafficking. 

Moviegoers allege desperate attempts to hinder the screening of Sound of Freedom in theatres

Several videos have gone viral on social media, implying that people were being pushed out of watching Sound of Freedom at AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas venues in various ways, Newsweek reported. One TikTok user claimed that her theatre was evacuated without explanation, while another reported that the air conditioner in their showing was damaged, making it “unbearably hot.” The claims, however, were denied by AMC CEO Adam Aron. 

Popular Twitter handle Libs of TikTok shared a video saying that “weird things are happening in theatres while trying to see the Sound of Freedom movie.”

In a TikTok video that has received over a million views, a woman named Stephanie Smith stated on Tuesday that she “just experienced a conspiracy theory in person for the first time ever” as she attempted to watch the film at a theatre (name not mentioned).

Smith claimed that “after about 15 minutes, someone came in and they turned the movie off.”

Despite the Leftist media’s attempts to dismiss the movie, it has been a great success

Despite the attempts at hindering the screening of the film, Sound of Freedom is witnessing tremendous success by minting over $50 million ever since its theatrical release on July 4. A major contributing factor to the film’s success is the “Pay it Forward” campaign run by the film’s distributor Angel Studios. 

At the end of the film, a short video featuring Jim Caviezel is screened wherein the actor appealed to the audience to make sure the film reaches the masses as he says, “God’s children are not for sale”.

Donald Trump to hold a screening of Sound of Freedom

Former President Donald Trump will attend a screening of the film Sound of Freedom at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club in the upcoming week. Trump will be accompanied at the screening by the film’s lead Jim Caviezel and producer Eduardo Verástegui and Tim Ballard, who inspired the film.

Verástegui was previously nominated to Donald Trump’s advisory panel on Hispanic prosperity in 2020, while Tim Ballard was invited to the White House in 2019 to discuss the significance of a border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Elon Musk backs Sound of Freedom

Twitter owner and CTO Elon Musk recently offered the film Sound of Freedom free promotion on Twitter. 

“I recommend putting it on this platform for free for a brief period or just asking people to subscribe to support (we would not keep any funds),” Musk replied to the movie’s tweet on June 13. 

It is worth noting that Musk has prioritized eliminating child sexual exploitation content on the platform ever since he acquired Twitter last year.

The leftist media’s desperation in downplaying and demeaning a film raising awareness about child sex trafficking demonstrates not only their perverse mindset but also their intolerance for anything that contradicts their ideology and views.

Australia: Indian student brutally beaten by Khalistan supporters in Sydney while chanting “Khalistan Zindabad” slogan, critically injured

OpIndia Staff
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Australia: Indian student brutally beaten by Khalistan supporters in Sydney while chanting “Khalistan Zindabad” slogan, critically injured

In a horrific event, an Indian student was brutally beaten by a mob of Khalistani sympathisers in Sydney, Australia. The 23-year-old student was critically injured and was immediately taken to the Westmead Hospital where he is being treated now. Australia Today reported the incident, not disclosing the name of the victim on request.

The student confirmed that he was attacked by four to five Khalistani sympathisers. He mentioned that apart from studying, he is also working as a driver. When he got into his car on Friday morning, attackers arrived and started assaulting him. He was hit with a metal rod on his left face by one of the attackers who had opened the car door. After that other attackers struck him with sticks. Some of them, according to reports, recorded the event.

“Today, morning at 5.30 am when I was going to work some 4-5 Khalistan supporters attacked me. I work as a driver and my vehicle was parked just 50 metres from where I live. As soon as I sat in my driving seat these Khalistan supporters came out of nowhere,” the victim was quoted as saying.

“They opened the driver-side door and dragged me out of the vehicle and started beating me with iron rods. Two of them were doing video recording on their phones while 4-5 were hitting me from all sides,” he added. He also said that the mob was repeatedly raising the slogan “Khalistan Zindabad”.

The New South Wales (NSW) police were alerted to the occurrence by someone who witnessed the attack, and the police promptly arrived at the scene. The paramedics were promptly summoned by NSW Police, who rushed the victim to Westmead Hospital with critical head, leg, and arm injuries.

NSW Police spokesperson in the statement said, “Shortly after 5.40 am on Friday 14 July 2023, officers attached to Cumberland Police Area Command attended Rupert Street, Merrylands West, following reports of an assault.”

“The 23-year-old was allegedly kicked, punched, and hit with the metal pole repeatedly before the four men left the scene in a grey sedan. The man was taken to Westmead Hospital for treatment. Inquiries are continuing, anyone with information is urged to contact the police,” the statement by the police added.

According to Australia Today, the victim’s arm was split at the elbow area, and he will undergo corrective surgery for the same.

Hinduphobic crimes by pro-Khalistani elements have significantly increased not only in India but all across the world in the name of the Khalistan Referendum. Hindus, their religious places and their religious festivals in countries like Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom are constantly under target.

In the past few months, Australia has seen several separate anti-Hindu attacks on Temples initiated by pro-Khalistani elements living in the country. Around 5 temples, Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane, Kali Mata temple in Melbourne, Hare Krishna Temple in Melbourne, Shiva Vishnu Temple in Melbourne and also BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne were attacked by Khalistanis.

Also, in January this year, the Khalistani supporters attacked the Indian diaspora in Australia during a referendum called by the banned Sikhs For Justice for the creation of an independent Sikh state.

Notably, PM Modi had taken cognizance of the event and had raised the issue in front of Australian PM Anthony Albanese, who was on a visit to India on March 10. He had said that the Indian community was worried about the attacks. PM Albanese then assured that the safety of the Indian community would be a priority for him.

Also, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the attack on the Indian community by the extremist Khalistani groups in Australia. The MEA had urged the local authorities to launch an investigation into the case and punish the perpetrators.

Chandrayaan-3 has a successful lift-off from Sriharikota, expected to land on Moon on August 23

ANI
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Chandrayaan-3 has a successful lift-off from Sriharikota, expected to land on Moon on August 23

 The wait is over as the GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle lifted off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota as per the scheduled launch time.

The journey from Earth to the moon for the spacecraft is estimated to take about a month and the landing is expected on August 23. Upon landing, it will operate for one lunar day, which is approximately 14 Earth days. One day on the Moon is equal to 14 days on Earth. Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission, will make India the fourth country after US, China, and Russia, to land its spacecraft on the surface of the moon and demonstrate the country’s abilities for safe and soft landing on lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-3 is the 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.

Chandrayaan-3 will be inserted into the Lunar Transfer Trajectory after the orbit-raising maneuvers. Covering a distance of over 300,000 km, it will reach the Moon in the coming weeks. Scientific instruments onboard will study the Moon’s surface and enhance our knowledge.

Chandrayaan-3 is equipped with a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module. It weighs around 3,900 kilograms.

Moon serves as a repository of the Earth’s past and a successful lunar mission by India will help enhance life on Earth while also enabling it explore the rest of the solar system and beyond.

July 14, 2023 will always be etched in golden letters in the annals of India’s space sector history, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of the launch of much-awaited Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission.

“This remarkable mission will carry the hopes and dreams of our nation,” PM Modi had tweeted earlier.

“Thanks to our scientists, India has a very rich history in the space sector. Chandrayaan-1 is considered to be a path breaker among global lunar missions as it confirmed the presence of water molecules on the moon. It featured in over 200 scientific publications around the world,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter.

“Till Chandrayaan-1, the moon was believed to be a bone-dry, geologically inactive, and uninhabitable celestial body. Now, it is seen as a dynamic and geologically active body with the presence of water and sub-surface ice,” he added, asserting it might be potentially inhabited in the future.

Chandrayaan-2 was equally pathbreaking because data from the Orbiter associated with it detected the presence of chromium, manganese and sodium for the first time through remote sensing. This will also provide more insights into the moon’s magmatic evolution, PM Modi stated.

The key scientific outcomes from Chandrayaan-2 include the first-ever global map for lunar sodium, enhancing knowledge on crater size distribution, unambiguous detection of lunar surface water ice with IIRS instrument and more. The mission has featured in almost 50 publications.

Extending best wishes for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, PM Modi urged people to know more about this lunar mission and the strides India has made in space, science and innovation. “It will make you all very proud,” he added.

Chandrayaan-3’s development phase commenced in January 2020 with the launch planned sometime in 2021. However, the Covid-19 pandemic brought an unforeseen delay to the mission’s progress.

K Sivan, former director of ISRO, told ANI that the success of mission Chandrayan-3 will give a morale boost to programmes like Gaganyan, India’s first manned space mission.

Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who has been instrumental in the country’s space sector innovation, said on Thursday the Chandrayaan-3 mission is going to be successful and a game-changer event for India.

”Chandrayaan-3 will definitely be a game changer for India and I hope it will be successful. India will become an inspiration to the entire world. Let’s wait for the launch and pray for the best,” Nambi Narayanan told ANI.

“I’m assuming, and I hope that it will be a successful mission. Because whatever the problem in Chandrayaan-2, actually, we corrected the whole thing. From the failure, we have understood all mistakes (on our part),” Narayanan, the recipient of India’s third highest civilian honour, ‘Padma Bhushan’, told ANI.

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

Pakistan International Airlines receives a final warning from Saudi Arabia over non-payment of dues at Riyadh Airport

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan International Airlines receives a final warning from Saudi Arabia over non-payment of dues at Riyadh Airport

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has found itself in an embarrassing situation yet again, and this time it received a final warning from the Riyadh Airport Authority (RAA) for the non-payment of dues. This incident followed the detention of a Boeing B777 from its fleet at Kuala Lumpur Airport due to a leasing dispute.

The RAA delivered a letter to the PIA administration demanding payment of the six-month outstanding amount. The PIA has until 15 July to settle the 8.2 million Riyal balance that is owed for the charges and other services availed by the aircraft, according to the Saudi Arabian authorities.

The warning letter issued by Riyadh Airport Authority to PIA. (Source: ARY News)

The notice further emphasized the importance of fulfilling financial commitments on time and maintaining a clean record with the airport authority. The carrier’s winter flying schedule could potentially be affected if the deadline is not adhered to.

The warning letter issued by Riyadh Airport Authority to PIA. (Source: ARY News)

Additionally, the Jeddah Airport has warned PIA for failing to pay liabilities. The latter reportedly earned a warning from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) as well.

It is notable here that Pakistan has been facing a crippling economic crisis.

PIA aircraft seized at Malaysia airport

The non-payment of $4.5 million in debt led Malaysia to seize a Pakistani airliner in May this year. The passengers were left stranded when a Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777 was seized at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. Later, a different aircraft was used to accommodate the flight’s passengers. The Southeast Asian nation had leased the aircraft to PIA with the registration number BMH.

Similarly, another Boeing 777 was impounded by Malaysian officials for two weeks in 2021 because of an identical issue. Afterward, with 173 passengers and crew members on board, it was released and brought back to Pakistan on 27 January of the same year after receiving a diplomatic guarantee from the country over the settlement of the obligation.

BJP MLA thrown out of Bihar Assembly for criticising brutal police lathi charge during protest march in which a BJP leader died: Watch

OpIndia Staff
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BJP MLA thrown out of Bihar Assembly for criticising brutal police lathi charge during protest march in which a BJP leader died: Watch

Pandemonium in the Bihar Assembly continued for the fourth day, with BJP MLA Sanjay Singh being thrown out of the house during the session on July 14, Friday. In a video posted by the news agency ANI, several police personnel can be seen picking him up and dragging him away from the Assembly.

Reportedly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary ordered the Marshalls to evict the BJP MLA as he raised his voice against the high handedness of the Bihar police who had yesterday (July 13) used brute force at the gathering in which BJP leader Vijay Kumar Singh, died at Dakbangla Chauraha in the city. 

Speaking to the media after being thrown out of the house, the BJP leader said that he was thrown out on Speaker’s orders when he was condemning yesterday’s incident.

BJP MLA Sanjay Singh said that he was denouncing what happened yesterday, the Speaker suddenly asked the marshals to throw him out of the assembly building and they complied with the order. He added that he was wounded in the incident. Slamming the Nitish Kumar-led Government in Bihar, the BJP MLA lamented how the ruling dispensation was stifling the voices of opposition party members, be it in the Assembly or on the streets. He lamented that Bihar was currently in a state of emergency.

Sanjay Singh was not the only BJP MLA who was hauled by the Bihar Assembly Marshalls. In fact, Marshals evicted a couple of BJP MLAs from the Bihar Assembly on Thursday too.

On Thursday, July 13, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders took out a march to protest against the Bihar government over the posting of teachers and the employment issue in the state. Patna police used lathi charge at the gathering in which BJP leader Vijay Kumar Singh, died at Dakbangla Chauraha in the city. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The police also physically assaulted BJP MP from Maharajganj, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, who suffered grave injuries to his head. The demonstrators were subjected to severe lathi-charge due to which they received multiple injuries.

The BJP MLAs were protesting against the new recruitment policy for teachers when the police unleashed brutality on them. The police also used water cannons and tear gas shells on the protesters while trying to disperse them.

The police in its defence, 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.

Notably, the new recruitment policy introduced by the Bihar government has met with a lot of criticism from not only members of the opposition parties but also from teaching job aspirants in the state.

Patna Police lathi-charge CTET aspirants for protesting against state government for ending domicile rule in recruitment

On July 1, the Bihar Police lathi-charged some of the Central Teachers’ Eligibility Test (CTET) candidates as they were protesting against the state government in Patna over the recruitment process. The Bihar police acted against the protesters saying that the protesters were taking to the roads causing traffic jams, stopping school students, and causing damage to the property.

Earlier on June 27, Tuesday, after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state government announced that eligible candidates from all states can apply for teaching jobs in the state’s government-run schools.

Before implementing this, there was a rule which mandated that applicants with the domicile of Bihar could only apply for teaching jobs in the state’s government-run schools.

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test, abbreviated to CTET, is a nationwide exam held in India by the Central Board of Secondary Education to ascertain a candidate’s suitability for employment as a teacher.

Earlier the CTET aspirants and State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) aspirants had launched a protest in March this year urging the government to immediately release the notification for their recruitment under the seventh phase. The protesters had raised slogans against the government and had warned the system to face dire consequences in the forthcoming elections.

Further, in the year 2022, the Patna police had lathicharged and deployed water cannons on hundreds of aspiring teachers protesting against a delay in their recruitment. Several Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test (BTET) and Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) candidates were reported injured and detained during the protest.

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