Noting that defence ties have been a strong pillar of relations between India and France and a symbol of the deep trust, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday talked about the possibilities of co-development and said the two countries together want to fulfill “not just ours but also requirements of other friendly countries”.
Addressing a joint press conference with President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi said France is an important partner in ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. “Defence ties have always been the basic foundation of our relations. This is a symbol of the deep trust between the two nations. France is an important partner in Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat…Be it submarines or Indian Naval ships, together we want to fulfill not just ours but also the requirements of other friendly countries…,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the two countries are celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership.
“We are making a roadmap for the next 25 years on the basis of the strong foundation of the previous 25 years. Bold and ambitious goals are being set for this. People of India have taken the resolve to make ourselves a developed nation. In this journey, we see France as a natural partner,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met thought leaders and some prominent business people during the second day of his visit to France.
He met prominent aerospace engineer and pilot Thomas Pesquet and Chanel CEO Leena Nair. He also met Charlotte Chopin, a yoga practitioner who will turn 100 soon.
PM Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade on France’s National Day as the guest of honour at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. The majestic parade, which had participation from contingents from Indian armed forces, took place under bright and sunny skies at Champs-Élysées in Paris.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Three teenage boys drowned in a ditch, filled with water amid severe waterlogging in the national capital, police said on Friday.
The children drowned in the ditch at a metro construction site in the Mukundpur area after they jumped in it to have a bath. The mishap occurred around 3:00 in the afternoon.
The boys were pulled out and rushed to BJRM hospital, but sadly, all three were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. As per Delhi Police, the victims are aged between 12 and 15 years old. “They were pulled out and rushed to a nearby hospital, where all three were declared dead,” police said.
The victims have been identified as Piyush (13), Nikhil (10) and Ashish (13). A senior Delhi Police officer said that all of them were residents of Jahangirpuri H-block, and had gone to take bath in a waterlogged area in Mukundpur on Friday afternoon.
“After some time, they went into deep water. By the time another local noticed the children could not be spotted in the water, and jumped to rescue them, they had drowned,” the officer said.
Following the incident, police launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called it an unfortunate incident, saying that the boys had gone to bath in the river. He urged the people to not go into the flood waters for bath or taking selfies or making videos. He said that the water current is very strong, sometimes the water level rises rapidly, and even experiences swimmers will not be able to withstand it.
#WATCH | Delhi | It is very unfortunate.. those three children went swimming in the river.. we have warned so many times that do not go near the rivers…This is a very big crisis..everyone should work together and not play the blame game: Arvind Kejriwal, CM of Delhi on three… pic.twitter.com/GUxwv4a3EU
The city is witnessing a flood-like situation, with several areas inundated as the Yamuna river breached the danger mark following incessant rainfall, the highest recorded in the last 45 years.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted that Delhi will likely receive light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms for the next 4-5 days.
On Friday, July 14, the International Cycling Governing Body UCI announced that trans women cyclists (men who have transitioned to women), would be prohibited from participating in women’s events in all categories of cycling.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from August 5-12, 2023. In the first, 13 events will be contested across 7 disciplines and 32 athletes will compete in the road events.
UCI’s president David Lappartient said the federation “has a duty to guarantee, above all, equal opportunities for all competitors in cycling competitions”.
The new rules, which come into force on July 17, follow similar rulings by other Olympic sports such as athletics.
“The UCI would like to reaffirm that cycling – as a competitive sport, leisure activity or means of transport – is open to everyone,” Lappartient said in a statement.
But the current state of scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality of opportunity between trans person female athletes and cisgender female participants, he added.
“As a precautionary measure, (it is not possible to) authorise the former to race in the female categories,” Lappartient added.
According to existing rules, transgender women are permitted to participate in female races recognised by the UCI as long as their testosterone levels don’t exceed 2.5 nanomoles per litre.
The International governing body declared on Friday that its management committee had decided to alter those regulations following further discussion with stakeholders and a review of the available scientific data, relevant legal issues, and human rights.
According to a statement, the assessment found that the previously allowed maximum testosterone level was insufficient to “completely eliminate the benefits of testosterone during puberty in men.”
The statement added: “Given the current state of scientific knowledge, it is also impossible to rule out the possibility that biomechanical factors such as the shape and arrangement of the bones in their limbs may constitute a lasting advantage for female transgender athletes.”
“At an extraordinary meeting held on 5 July, the Management Committee of the UCI decided to adapt the current UCI rules on the right of female transgender athletes to take part in competitions on the UCI International Calendar,” the UCI said.
“From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.”
The UCI added that it was open to changing these rulings in the future as scientific knowledge evolves. “It would hold talks with other sporting bodies over a jointly-funded research programme aimed at studying changes in the physical performance of highly-trained athletes undergoing transitional hormone treatment,” the statement read.
Transgender women face restrictions in elite competition
Notably, this is not the first time that trans women had to face restrictions in elite competition. In May this year, British Cycling introduced its own new policy which barred transgender women athletes from competing in the women’s category.
On March 23, 2023, World Athletics, the international governing organisation for athletics, banned transgender women (men who have transitioned to women) from competing in the female category at international events. It said that transgender women who have been through male puberty will not be able to compete in female events starting March 31.
Last June, the World Aquatics Federation voted to prohibit transgender women from the elite competition if they had gone through any stage of male puberty. A scientific panel discovered that transgender women had a considerable advantage even after lowering their testosterone levels using medication.
The Law Commission of India has extended the last date to submit views on ideas on the proposed Uniform Civil Code by two more weeks. In a notification issued on 14th June, the commission had said that the public and religious organisations can submit views within 30 days.
Accordingly, today was the last date for the same. But now the law commission has given two more weeks, saying that there has been an overwhelming response from the public on the subject.
A notification issued by the Law Commission states, “In view of the overwhelming response from the public on the subject of Uniform Civil Code and numerous requests received from various quarters regarding the extension of time for submitting their comments, the Law Commission has decided to grant an extension of two weeks for the submission of views and suggestions by the concerned stakeholders.”
The notification said, “The Law Commission values the input of all stakeholders and aims to create an inclusive environment that encourages active engagement. We encourage all interested parties to utilize this extended timeframe to contribute their valuable ideas and expertise.”
Accordingly, any interested individual, institution or organisation may furnish their comments on the issue of Uniform Civil Code till the 28th of July, 2023. The views can be emailed to [email protected], or the same can be on the commission’s website.
Alternatively, submissions can also be made in hard copy by sending it to the address “Member Secretary, Law Commission of India, 4th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110 003.”
The Uniform Civil Code is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws which will apply uniformly to all citizens regardless of their religion, gender, and sexual orientation.
The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
In the BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, the party had promised the implementation of UCC if it came to power.
Initially, the 21st Law Commission examined the subject of the Uniform Civil Code, soliciting the views of all the stakeholders through its appeal along with a questionnaire dated 7.10.2016 and further public appeals/notices dated 19.03.2018, 27.03.2018 and 10.4.2018. It received an overwhelming response from the respondents. The 21st Law Commission issued the consultation paper on “Reforms of Family Law” on 31.08.2018.
Since more than three years have been lapsed from the date of issuance of the Consultation Paper, bearing in mind the relevance and importance of the subject and also the various Court orders on the subject, the 22nd Law Commission of India considered it expedient to deliberate afresh over the subject, the statement by the commission said.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, reportedly received a severed human finger via first-class mail in an unsettling occurrence on 10 July. The package was delivered to the Elysee Palace in Paris, the official residence of the president without a note of explanation.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the parcel that was brought to the Elysee palace included “a piece of a finger, a fingertip it seems.” A source official at the presidential home informed, “The finger was initially put in a fridge where the police put their snacks. This was to make sure it was preserved and could be analyzed as quickly as possible.”
As investigations are ongoing to determine the reason behind the action, the police have not yet identified the culprit. However, they have launched a “threat of a crime or offence against an elected official” case. The source added, “It’s not at all clear why this finger was sent to the president.”
The finger belonged to a “living human being,” who was contacted and given “full medical support” after the authorities opened the grisly parcel and performed tests on the part of the human anatomy delivered in it. Furthermore, the individual’s identity was withheld owing to a number of reasons including medical confidentiality.
According to AFP, the fingertip belonged to the package’s sender, who has a psychiatric condition.
The French president has received a number of terrible mail items over the years, including bullets, but this was the first delivery of an amputated body part. The incident happened before Bastille Day celebrations which were led by the former in Paris.
This year’s parade featured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its honoree, necessitating increased security measures from the government. He started a two-day crucial visit to the country on 13 July. He was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award, on the same day.
Widespread demonstrations in France
France has been restless following a string of violent protests in recent months which started after the death of a 17-year-old delivery agent named Nahel M. who was shot by a police officer on 27 June. He was stopped by the police and asked to show documents while he was driving. He tried to flee the scene during which rounds were fired. He was killed instantaneously when one of the bullets struck him in the chest.
Chaos has been erupting in the country’s major towns, comprising Lyon, Pau, Toulouse and Lille, in spite of a heavy police presence. The rioters set fire to Alcazar, Marseilles’ largest library, as well as cars, buildings and retail establishments. The authorities have already arrested more than 3,000 people. The government has deployed 45,000 police personnel across city streets to control the arson and loot.
Two different versions of France have emerged before us in the past month. A France violated by bullish Islamist mobs and then, a France echoing with the chorus “Namaste France”. None other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invigorating speech at La Seine Musicale in Paris displayed exactly what it means to be an Indian in a France bruised by jihadis time and again.
PM Modi at the La Seine Musicale in Paris, France. (Source: DD News)
On one hand, jihadis, who have migrated largely from North Africa, and their social misconduct in a host nation puts on display their ideological and civilisational fall from grace. On the other hand, the grand welcome of the Indian Prime Minister by the Indian diaspora, the elegant and magnificent expression of Indian culture, and strategic ties with the French put a rising India at the centre stage.
“Modi, Modi”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, and “Bharat Ka Sher Aya” in Paris on 14th July washed the city off of the deafening Islamist war cries that ghosted several French cities.
PM Modi accentuated the shared values between India and France. He likened the words in the national anthem of France “Marchons, marchons!” (Let’s march, Let’s march) with a verse in the Upanishad that says “Charaiveti, Charaiveti” (keep marching, keep marching). “This same value we will get to see in the National Day parade (of France).”
The Indian Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy) on 14th July will participate in the Bastille Day Parade in Paris. The PM highlighted that the same Punjab Regiment whose bravehearts made the ultimate sacrifice in France in World War I, will be marching in the Bastille Day Parade on Friday; he called it an “emotional” moment for India. “This 100-year-long emotional connect, the tradition of making the ultimate sacrifice to defend someone is such a big inspiration friends. Which Indian will not be proud of this?,” said PM Modi amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
President Macron gifted an image to PM Modi of a Parisian presenting flowers to a Sikh personnel on 14 July 1916 (source: DD News)
The very streets of Paris which were set ablaze by stomping jihadis and the skies which had billowing clouds of dark smoke merely a few days ago will on 14th July witness course correction thanks to the participation of Indian tri-services. “Be it climate change, global supply chain, terrorism, and radicalism…India’s experience and attempt in overcoming every challenge is proving to be helpful to the world,” said PM Modi while also underlining the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” message of Sanatana Dharma.
One cannot impress enough upon the role of the people of an ascending nation in strengthening ties with another (country). Prime Minister Modi highlighted this point as he credited the Indian diaspora for strong Indo-France strategic ties.
India-France bilateral trade in goods (excluding military equipment) over 10 years stood at US$ 12.14 billion in 2021; bilateral trade in services over 5 years till 2021 stood at €6,279 million. Compare this to the damage caused by primitive mobs in just about a week to 10 days projected at about $1.1 billion. About 11,300 claims for the damages have been filed reportedly amounting to a total insurance cost of €650 million ($716 million).
Where rifts are emerging within the EU, and between EU nations and countries exporting illegal immigrants to the bloc, Prime Minister Modi highlighted his decades-old connection with France. “Friends, my personal attachment towards France goes back in time and I cannot forget it. Nearly 40 years ago the cultural center of France, Alliance française was launched in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. And today, the first Indian member of that French cultural center in India is speaking to you,” PM said.
Prime Minister Modi has been conferred with France’s highest civilian honour, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour by President Emmanuel Macron. He was also the Guest of Honor at the Bastille Day Parade.
PM Modi was accorded France’s highest civilian honor by President Emmanuel Macron.
Perhaps, France is still oblivious to ground realities or so it seems from some of the voices from its political corridors and the French media too. France’s leftist publication “La Monde” published a typical article titled “Betting on India is a short-sighted strategy for France” whining about and preaching the same “human rights and democratic values” to India. Such unsolicited opinions come despite radicals overpowering French law displaying the Left’s shocking attitude problem.
A month ago, far-left French politician Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the opposition radical left France Unbowed Party, tweeted, “#Inde is a friendly country. But Narendra Modi, its prime minister, is far-right and violently hostile to Muslims in his country. He is not welcome at #14Juillet , a celebration of liberty equality fraternity which he despises.” In so far as the recent violence is concerned, Melenchon is busy trying to get his narrative right as he makes hue and cry about the violence perpetrated by the very Islamists he preaches India about.
L'#Inde est un pays ami. Mais Narendra Modi son premier ministre est d'extrême droite et violemment hostile aux musulmans dans son pays. Il n'est pas le bienvenue au #14Juillet, fête de la liberté égalité fraternité qu'il méprise.
It is not shocking hence that France has faced the wrath of the radicals time and again. Despite glaring evidence of rioting by jihadi Islamists as it unfolded leading to over 1300 arrests and several more detentions, there were voices in the French parliament living in denial. French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, refused to acknowledge the link between migrants and the riots.
French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, refuses to acknowledge the link between migrants and Riots in France; Says: "We don't want hate…. 90% of the rioters were French". pic.twitter.com/xQrV2ZVM6x
France and the whole of Europe have faced enough to see how misplaced emotions that too sans objectivity can encourage radicalisation and anti-social elements. Whereas in the past 9 years, they have experienced a growing bond and reliable partnership with India and how it is a valuable alternative to aggressive expansionist powers. It is up to France to choose the path it wants to march on.
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.
Justice CV Kathikeyan, the third judge to whom matter was referred following split in the division bench, aligns with the view of Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy that ED can take custody.
"I hold that ED has right to take Senthilbalaji into custody", the judge rules.
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.
Sibal: They are saying that S.167 cannot be applied in part. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying what the SC said. ED has neither been given the powers of SHO or police officer.#MadrasHC#SenthilBalaji
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.
Order: If the reasons to grant remand outweighs the objections to remand, then certainly such remand will have to be granted. After the remand, the accused himself had applied for bail. That means he has submitted himself to the procedure of arrest. There can't be bail without…
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.
Justice CV Karthikeyan alligns with the opinion of Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy Issue no. 1- ED had the right to get custody Issue 2. Once arrest and remand are made legal, HCP will not lie. Thus, though HCP may be maintainabke, in the present case, it is not entertainable.…
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.
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.
Viral video whereby a Pakistani can be seen begging in a flight; Says I am not a beggar but need money to make a madrasas in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/hUB3ZzVJGn
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.
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.
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 ofthe 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.’
#WATCH | France: A member of the Indian diaspora gets emotional after PM Modi's speech in Paris.
"I think it was a wonderful speech. I am very touched, it was a beautiful speech…I think he spoke from his heart…," she says. pic.twitter.com/bi3Khmr09E
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, Libérationdubbed 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.
Just when PM Modi leaves for a state visit to France, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament discusses the 'situation' in Manipur
Apart from being a clear case of 'interference' in India's internal matter, it also exposes western hypocrisy & white supremacist attitude
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.
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.
