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‘Green color schools, green uniforms too’: Odisha govt’s plan to provide free uniforms to class 9 and 10 students irks Opposition, read why

OpIndia Staff
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‘Green color schools, green uniforms too’: Odisha govt’s plan to provide free uniforms to class 9 and 10 students irks Opposition, read why

The BJD-led Odisha government has announced that it will provide free uniforms to the students of Classes 9th and 10th in public and aided schools. An official informed that earlier only students of up to class 8th were entitled to free uniforms in the state.

The funding for the uniforms will be done under the state scheme ‘Mukhyamatri Chhatra Chhatri Paridhan Yojana’. An expenditure of around Rs 1,000 will be incurred for each student. Each student will be given two pairs of uniforms, a T-shirt and tracksuit, a pair of black shoes, and two pairs of socks. Girls would be given two pairs of salwar-kurta sets and jackets while boys will be given pant-shirt sets. 

The directorate of secondary education released a circular in this regard. The circular read, “The district education officers will have to submit a certificate to the director of secondary education that all students have received the uniforms and shoes by July 15.”

This new green color uniform has been introduced for classes 9 and 10. Whereas, the earlier uniforms were of blue and white colors for both boys and girls.

The logo ‘Ame Gadhibu Nua Odisha’ (Translation- We Will Build New Odisha) will be written on the new uniforms. 

At the block level, a committee will be formed to oversee the purchase and distribution of clothing, shoes, and socks. This committee will be led by MSMEs or recognized Self-Help Groups (SHGs). 

As per the new directive, students will wear this uniform five days a week. While on Saturdays, the students will have to wear T-shirts and track pants. The T-shirts will be in four colors to represent four houses – blue, green, red, and yellow colors. While the track pants will be of dark blue color. 

As per the Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE) notification, two houses will be formed in schools where the strength is less than 100 students and they will choose any two colors out of the four. Whereas, four houses will be formed in schools having strength more than 100 students and they will be given all four color T-shirts.

Opposition targets the BJD government for changing the color of the dresses

While numerous parents and students expressed their delight over receiving free sets of uniforms, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress alleged that it was a deliberate move by the BJD government to influence young minds. They claimed that the new uniforms have been made in green color because of BJD’s party colors.

The BJD’s party symbol is a white conch shell on a green background.

BJP leader and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi alleged that the BJD government changed the color of the dress to influence young kids and their parents ahead of polls. 

She said, “The BJD government has suddenly changed the color of uniforms to green without discussing it with anyone. The change has been done to influence young kids and their parents ahead of the polls. Instead of such superficial changes, the government should have taken steps to improve the deteriorating quality of secondary education.”

Former chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik is now the Odisha Congress campaign committee chairman. He advised the BJD government to keep the schools above petty politics. 

He said, “Everyone in Odisha knows that BJD is identified by the green color, and so the government should have kept the schools above petty politics.”

BJP MLA Suraj Suryabanshi slammed the state government and asked the government to focus on the quality of education and address more pressing issues like the prevalence of anemia, stunted growth, and malnutrition among students. He also highlighted that the school system in Odisha needs major functional overhauls, like the appointment of more teachers and focus on quality. “Just building new classrooms and smart classes, and providing new uniforms won’t be enough to lift the standard of school education in the state”, Suryabanshi added.

Earlier, similar controversy had erupted in the state in March 2022. Back then, the leader of the opposition Jaynarayan Mishra targeted the BJD government for badly handling the education system in the state. 

He alleged that while the government was busy painting schools green, there was a lack of sufficient teachers and students were unable to recognize the Odia alphabet.

He asked, “Adding a fresh coat of green color to the school building won’t yield results. Is this the vision of the government’s 5T initiative?” 

It is notable here that under the 5T principle, the state government has been giving a major facelift to high schools in the state. The new buildings are all painted in green color.

Defending the move, BJD MLA Arun Sahu claimed that there was nothing wrong in using green in school uniforms as India’s national flag too has a green color. 

Why do roads cave in? The reasons behind those scary-looking big holes on city roads that swallow cars

Paurush Gupta
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Why do roads cave in? The reasons behind those scary-looking big holes on city roads that swallow cars

The entire North Indian belt is receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall in this Monsoon season. Parts of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have been hit by heavy downpours resulting in waterlogging, flooding, structural damages, uprooting of trees, and road cave-ins among others.   

Several prominent urban areas have witnessed cases of road caves-in which poses alarming life threats to commuters. At least three different cases of road cave-ins in Delhi came to light in the past few days. 

On the 9th of July, Delhi Traffic Police alerted about a road cave-in incident on the Najafgarh road. 

Similarly, another road cave-in was reported at the C-Hexagon India gate near the Shershah road cut.

In the Rohini Sector 24, a wide crater was formed after a road caved in after receiving heavy rainfall.

Taking action on these incidences of road cave-ins, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal ordered an inquiry on the 9th of July. 

In Lucknow, a road cave-in incident was reported on a road near Balrampur Hospital.

Earlier, on the 5th of July, a car accidentally fell into a crater after a road caved in at Chembur, Mumbai. 

Why Road cave-ins?

Road cave-ins can also be known as sinkholes or roadway subsidence. While each road cave-in incident can have its own factor, the majority of the cases can be categorised in two broad reasons. 

First, if the sub-structure, that is, the underlying supporting structure on which the road was resting collapses, weakens, deteriorates substantially, or crumbles, then the constituent components (such as soil or concrete) of the road will start falling resulting in road cave-ins. 

This can be possible in many ways but the moot point is that the underlying structure can’t hold the weight of the road.

  1. If the soil is poorly compacted, it gradually settles.
  2. Underground mining or excavation can weaken the supporting structures.
  3. Weak or Aging infrastructure can not hold the weight of the road above or of vehicular movement.
(Image Source – Leonardo AI)
(Image Source – Leonardo AI)

Improper Construction, excavation activities, or excessive vibrations from heavy machinery destabilise the ground. This problem arises if the soil was not fully compacted during construction.

Additionally, natural geological processes can also lead to road cave-ins. For example, the presence of soluble rock formations such as limestone or karst landscapes, can result in the dissolution or erosion of the underlying rock. This gradually creates underground voids or cavities. 

Secondly, if water saturates the soil beneath a road, this can weaken the soil, making it soft. Subsequently, the soil is rendered unable to support the weight of the road and traffic. 

Again this can happen in many ways. If there is a presence of underground water sources, such as leaking water pipes, sewer lines, water mains, or natural water flows, this can erode the soil beneath the road over time.

(Image Source – The Toronto Star)
  1. Intense or prolonged periods of rainfall saturate the soil, causing it to become unstable and prone to road cave-ins.
  2. Improper drainage and wrong gradient (slope) can result in the accumulation of water on the road, resulting in seepage and saturation of soil lying below.
(Image Source – Tribune India)

So basically there are two broad reasons for sinkholes or road cave-ins. That is, the lower structure becomes weak, or the soil losses strength due to erosion or saturation. 

Well, the first one is self-explanatory as we all are familiar with gravity and as the lower structure collapses, so will the upper structure, causing road cave-ins.

Seepage of water has a negative impact on road stability for the following technical reasons. 

When the soil gets saturated, all its pores (voids or empty spaces) get filled with water. Now, water exerts an upward pressure ( imagine it as some sort of buoyant force) which is known as pore water pressure. This increased upward pressure, in saturated soil, counters the downward force on the soil particles, thus, reducing its effective stress and shear strength of the soil.

Effective stress is that force that keeps the soil particles in contact and provides shear resistance. Shear strength is defined as the maximum shear stress that the soil may sustain without experiencing failure. 

Secondly, depending on the soil type, seepage of water leads to loss of cohesion (bonding force between soil particles) which results in loss of shear strength of the soil. In saturated soil, water disrupts cohesive forces leading to a loss of cohesion. 

Thirdly, in cohesive soils like clay, saturation can change the structure of the soil. The modification of the arrangement of soil particles affects compaction resulting in a decrease in shear strength.

Fourthly, saturation softens certain types of soils, such as clay. The presence of water molecules can cause the clay minerals to swell, resulting in a reduction in the soil’s shear strength and overall stability.

How it can be prevented?

The problem of road cave-ins can be mitigated by taking the following measures. 

  1. Before the construction begins, the soundness of the sub-structure should be ensured and adequately supportive measures should be taken if alternative options are not available. 
  2. Proper monitoring and maintenance to timely avoid or correct leakage of drainage pipe, sewer, etc. 
  3. Using best building practices while construction, that is, giving proper drainage channel, and right gradient (slope) to discharge rain or excess water. Properly compacting the soil or filler material to avoid the presence of cavities below the road. 
  4. Removing soluble rocks such as limestone which can later result in cavity and road sinking.

ISRO all set for the launch of Chandrayaan-3: Here’s all you need to know about India’s third moon mission

Siddhi Somani
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ISRO all set for the launch of Chandrayaan-3: Here’s all you need to know about India’s third moon mission

The Chandrayaan-3 project, which is scheduled to launch on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, is India’s third lunar mission and second attempt at a soft landing on the moon. The mission is anticipated to enter the lunar orbit one month after launch and the lander and rover are scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface by August 23.

The launch of Chandrayan 3 has come four years after the partial failure of the Chandrayaan-2, whose lander Vikram and rover Pragyaan crashed on the Moon’s surface in the early hours of September 7, 2019.

Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space Dr. Jitendra Singh commented on the project on July 12 and said that Chandrayaan-3 will open up new Moon vistas for the world. Dr Singh stated that India’s earlier mission, Chandrayaan-1 had thrown up new light on various aspects of moon research, and for the first time brought before the world the evidence of the presence of water on the surface of the moon.

He asserted in an interview with ET (Economic Times) Governance that Chandrayaan 3 is being viewed by people all throughout the world with great hope and expectation. The Minister declared that the Chandrayaan-3 mission takes the march to the Moon one step closer and shows that India is keeping pace with other nations. According to him, this mission is special since it is going to observe Earth from the Moon in addition to observing the Moon from the Moon. According to Dr. Singh, 389 of India’s 424 foreign satellite launches to date have occurred in the past nine years under the current government.

India’s third lunar mission, which cost over Rs 615 crores, aims to place the lander successfully on the moon’s surface and then send out a rover to conduct multiple experiments.

What will Chandrayaan-3 do?

The Chandrayaan-3 mission will send scientific equipment to the moon in order to investigate its elemental composition, surface plasma environment, lunar seismicity, and thermophysical features. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft in March successfully finished the crucial tests required to confirm its ability to withstand the severe vibration and acoustic vibration that it will experience during launch.

In comparison to the previous lander used in the Chandrayaan-2 mission, the one being utilized for the Chandrayaan-3 mission has undergone an assortment of changes. The redesigned lander will now only have four motors instead of five, and certain software modifications have also been implemented.

Chandrayaan 3 Mission profile (ISRO)

Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019, and took 48 days to reach the moon’s surface. However, the Vikram lunar lander crashed on Moon’s surface on September 6, 2019. It is not clear yet whether ISRO will continue to keep the names similar to that of the previous lander and rover, i.e. Vikram and Pragyan respectively.

The Spectro-polarimetry of the Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload is a significant addition to Chandrayaan-3. The tools’ purpose is to analyze spectral and polarimetric readings of Earth taken from the lunar orbit.

According to reports, ISRO has identified three key goals for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. These goals include accomplishing a safe and gentle landing on the Moon, displaying the rover’s mobility on the lunar surface, and performing on-site scientific studies.

What went wrong with Chandrayaan-2?

On the day of landing in 2019, Vikram was only 335 meters (0.335 km) from the Moon’s surface when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost contact with it. According to the preliminary data, the malfunction took place during the “Fine braking phase” of Vikram’s last approach (an altitude of 5 km to 400 m), which began while the lander was 5 km from the lunar surface.

The massive panels in the center displayed that the lander’s green line began to deviate from the course when it was just over 2 km in altitude, continued to deviate from the course, and finally stopped at a place that was clearly below 1 km in altitude and somewhere close or below 500 m.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath spoke to media over the incident that happened in 2019 and said, “The primary issues were, one, we had five engines which were used to give the reduction of the velocity, which is called the retardation. These engines developed higher thrust than what was expected.” He said that the additional thrust caused errors to build up, which in turn made the lander less stable during the “camera coasting phase” of the soft landing.

This was an instance of the second problem. “All the errors got accumulated, which was on the higher side than what we had expected. The craft had to make very fast turns. When it started to turn very fast, its ability to turn was limited by the software because we never expected such high rates to come,” Somanath added.

The third issue arose when the lander increased its speed despite being near the surface because the landing place was far away. According to Somanath, this was partially caused by the landing spot’s relatively tiny size (500 m × 500 m). “In a nutshell, the problem in Chandrayaan-2 was that the ability to handle parameter dispersion was very limited,” he was quoted as saying.

Chandrayaan-3 comprises three main components

Propulsion module: The lander and rover configuration will be propelled by the propulsion module up to a 100-kilometer lunar orbit. It is a box-like structure with one sizable solar panel positioned on one side and a sizable cylinder serving as the lander’s mounting structure on top (the Intermodular Adapter Cone). The module also includes a payload dubbed ‘Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE)’ that will measure Earth’s spectral and polarimetric properties from an orbit around the moon.

Lander: The lander is appointed to ensure a soft landing on the Moon. The box-shaped lander has four landing legs and four landing thrusters of 800 newtons each. It is expected to be equipped with the rover and different tools for in-situ analysis.

Chandrayaan-3 Lander (ISRO)

Rover: The rover is a portable lab that will go across the lunar surface, gather samples, and examine the Moon’s geology and chemistry. It comprises a six-wheel rocker-bogie wheel drive arrangement and a rectangular chassis.

Chandrayaan-3 Rover (ISRO)

Unlike Vikram on Chandrayaan-2, which had five 800 Newtons engines with a fifth one being centrally installed with a fixed thrust, the lander for Chandrayaan-3 will only have four throttle-able engines. The Chandrayaan-3 lander will also be fitted with an LDV or Laser Doppler Velocimeter.

Compared to Chandrayaan-2, the impact legs are now stronger, and instrument redundancy has been increased. ISRO is focusing on increasing structural stiffness and incorporating numerous backup mechanisms.

Funding for the Chandrayaan-3 project

According to a report from December 2019, ISRO had asked for initial funding for the project for Rs 75 crore, of which 60 crore would be used to cover costs for machinery, equipment, and other capital expenditures, and the remaining 15 crore would fall under the heading of revenue expenditures.

Former ISRO chairman K. Sivan then confirmed the project’s existence and estimated that the project would cost about Rs 615 crore in 2023. 

Notably, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday, July 11 completed the launch rehearsal of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The spacecraft will be launched by the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3).

Conclusion

Chandrayaan 3 is not just India’s ambitious lunar mission, but also an excellent opportunity for multinational collaboration. Several nations and space agencies have expressed that they are interested in cooperating with India to exchange expertise, resources, and also scientific aspirations. This joint endeavor will promote knowledge sharing and accelerate the growth of lunar science.

Chandrayaan 3 encounters numerous identical challenges that space exploration generally does so. The mission necessitates exact engineering, faultless execution, and flexibility in the face of unforeseen challenges. India’s space scientists and engineers are constantly working on innovative initiatives to overcome these difficulties and open the way for upcoming moon missions.

Chandrayaan 3 is an example of India’s ongoing effort to achieve scientific excellence in space exploration. The project holds great promise for advancing our knowledge of the Moon and beyond with its goals focused on lunar exploration, technical improvements, and international cooperation. The world is eagerly anticipating the discoveries and revelations that Chandrayaan 3 will make as it travels through space to reach the lunar surface. 

If the launch takes place as scheduled on July 14, the landing on the lunar surface is most likely to take place on August 23 or 24. India’s third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, is scheduled to be launched on July 14, 2023, at 2.35 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Bihar: Teacher Mohammad Firoz stabs 9-year-old boy twelve times with a meat chopping knife in Nalanda, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Teacher Mohammad Firoz stabs 9-year-old boy twelve times with a meat chopping knife in Nalanda, arrested

On Wednesday, July 12, a teacher brutally murdered a 9-year-old child residing in the Nalanda district of Bihar with a meat chopping knife. The accused has been identified as Mohammad Firoz who stabbed a minor boy named Mohammad Shafiq twelve times with a knife when the boy stepped out of his house to play.

After the horrific attack, the boy was rushed to a hospital, however, he succumbed to his injuries.

The matter pertains to the Kadaah locality in the Silao police station precinct wherein the accused Mohammad Firoz killed his neighbor’s son by stabbing him with a knife twelve times. According to the police, the accused teacher had a dispute with the deceased victim’s family over the waste water disposal.

Accused Mohammad Firoz killed the class 4th student to take revenge on his neighbor over the said dispute. Following the brutal murder, Firoz tried to flee the spot, however, locals managed to nab him. Subsequently, police were informed about the crime and the accused was handed to the police. 

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased boy said that Shafiq went out to play when Firoz stopped him and suddenly attacked him with a meat-slicing knife. The minor was drenched in blood with twelve stabbing wounds when his family saw him and took him to a nearby hospital. The victim, however, was pronounced dead by the doctors. The deceased victim was the eldest of the three brothers.

Reportedly, the death of the boy has left his mother in utter shock as she is said to be behaving erratically. Accused Teacher Mohammad Firoz works in the Katrisarai block.

Rajasthan: Assailants shoot dead gangster Kuldeep Jaghina in police custody in a bus after throwing chilli powders into the eyes of cops

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Assailants shoot dead gangster Kuldeep Jaghina in police custody in a bus after throwing chilli powders into the eyes of cops

Gangster Kuldeep Jaghina was murdered by armed men on 12 July in Rajasthan, while he was in police custody. He was shot dead while he was being transported from Jaipur jail to Bharatpur court for a hearing. He was accused of killing Bharatiya Janata Party politician Kripal Jaghina in September 2022. The criminals first threw chilli powder into the eyes of the cops and then fired about 15 rounds. Kuldeep Jaghina later died from several gunshot wounds. The killers were able to escape.

The incident took place close to Amoli Toll Plaza on the Jaipur-Agra National Highway, which is approximately 40 kilometres away from the district headquarters. Kuldeep Jaghina and another accused Vijaypal were being transported on a state roadways bus, which was stopped by around 12 men at the spot. After that, they stormed into the bus and threw chilli powder into the eyes of the police personnel. Following that they opened fire indiscriminately on Gangster Kuldeep Jaghina to ensure his immediate death.

The attackers came in a car and two motorcycles. Immediately after the attack, they fled from the spot.

Jagheena and Vijaypal, both accused in the 2022 Kripal Jaghina murder case, were being taken from Bharatpur to Jaipur by a team of seven policemen led by a head constable on a state roadways bus, and they were armed with two SLRs.

Kuldeep Jaghina was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. A few police officers along with another culprit in the murder of Kripal Jaghina named Vijaypal were also hurt during the attack. Two passengers were also shot in the shooting event. All the injured have been taken to Raj Bahadur Memorial (RBM) Hospital in Bharatpur. With almost 100 police officers deployed in response to the murder, the hospital has been transformed into a fortress.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration)-Jaipur Rahul Prakash said that several bullets were shot at Jagheena, while the policemen managed to protect Vijaypal from direct assault. He said the police team did not open fire in view of the safety of the passengers of the bus.

The vehicles used by the killers have been seized by the police from a nearby village. The culprits also have been identified with the help of CCTV footage. Superintendent of Police, Mridul Kachhawa informed, “Vijaypal’s condition is critical. Police got hold of the toll footage and identified the offenders. Their vehicle has also been located.”

Gangster was accused in the murder case of a BJP leader

Gangster Kuldeep Jaghina and four other individuals including Vijaypal had shot and killed Bharatiya Janata Party politician Kripal Jaghina (48) who was a land trader on 4 September of last year. The assailants arrived on three bikes and two cars. He was murdered over a tract of land close to the city’s Sheesham Tiraha Kali Garden.

Afterwards, while they were travelling to Goa from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, he and his accomplices were apprehended by the police. Several police teams were organised after the crime was committed to nab the offenders and arrests were made within 48 hours of the instance.

The case’s investigation revealed that there was a disagreement regarding a sizable parcel of land situated on Kali Bagichi Road in the city of Bharatpur. The gangster desired to take possession of the property and drive the occupants out of the plot, which was worth several crores.

Attacks on other gangsters

Sanjeev Jeeva Maheshwari had earlier been attacked in the Lucknow court. He worked as a sniper for the Mukhtar Ansari gang in Uttar Pradesh and was a close associate of the deceased gangster. He was in the Muzaffarnagar jail when he was shot and died on 7 June. He had no idea that he might come under attack in the Lucknow court. However, he wore his bulletproof jacket when he appeared in Muzaffarnagar court while he was in Barabanki jail.

On 2 June, gangster Tillu Tajpuria was killed in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. The entire occurrence was recorded on a CCTV camera. Deepak alias Teetar, Yogesh alias Tunda, Rajesh and Riyaz Khan are reportedly responsible for his death. The inquiry further discovered that his murder had been plotted for two to three years by the assailants.

Rajasthan: 18 people lose vision in one eye after cataract surgery at SMS Hospital in Jaipur, govt says no fault of doctors

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: 18 people lose vision in one eye after cataract surgery at SMS Hospital in Jaipur, govt says no fault of doctors

At least 18 people have lost vision in one eye after undergoing cataract surgery at The Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, as per reports. The patients were admitted to SMS Government Hospital last month and underwent the surgery under the Chiranjeevi Health Scheme, one of the pet projects of the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government.

According to reports, some patients complained of severe pain after the eye operation. Some patients were operated on three times. However, even after more than two weeks, the lost vision could not be restored.

One of the patients said in a media interaction, “I had an operation on June 23 and had eyesight till July 5, everything was visible but from 6-7th July the eyesight went away. After which the operation was done again but the eyesight did not come back. Doctors say the cause is infection. Efforts are being made to cure the infection.”

Over 70 patients underwent eye procedures in three days, according to Dr Achal Sharma, the medical superintendent of Sawai Man Singh Hospital, and 18 of those patients had eye infections. He said that one of these individuals additionally had surgery performed by a third party. Dr Sharma says that samples have been sent for analysis. He said that 18 individuals who had lost their vision had bacterial infections in their eyes.

Dr Achal Sharma stated that out of the 18 patients who lost their vision due to infection after the operation, two patients’ vision was restored after the re-operation. He added that after a few weeks, it is being observed if the eyesight returns after a gap of a few weeks or not. A treatment committee has also been formed to investigate, but the investigation report is not yet presented.

The family of many of the affected individuals accused the medical professionals of carelessness. They claimed that they were not told of their patients’ conditions. Even though their patients were in excruciating pain, they asked to be brought home.

The authority in question is attempting to evade its duty now that this horrific situation has come to light. Parsadi Lal Meena, the minister of health, asserted that the doctor did not err in this instance.

If you are suffering from FOMO over the Jyoti Maurya-Manish-Alok controversy, here is all you need to know about the issue

Shraddha Pandey
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If you are suffering from FOMO over the Jyoti Maurya-Manish-Alok controversy, here is all you need to know about the issue

“Jyoti Maurya Bewafa Hai” became a widespread outcry on social media after a video surfaced online wherein a man in tears alleged that his wife left him after she became a Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). Alok Maurya, Jyoti’s husband had accused her of having an extra-marital affair with Manish Dubey, who is posted as a home guard commandant in the Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh.

In the latest development in the case, Dubey has been found guilty of wrongful conduct during a departmental inquiry in the case. 

On Tuesday (July 11), DIG Home Guard Santosh Singh presented DG Home Guard BK Maurya with the report based on a departmental investigation. Manish Dubey has been found guilty of tarnishing the image of the department following which his suspension from his post has been recommended.

Alok, Jyoti and a tale of alleged “Bewafai” and “corruption”

The Jyoti Maurya case came to the fore in June this year, when a video of Alok Maurya, a Class VI employee in the Panchayati Raj department in the Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh came to light. Alok had alleged in that his wife Jyoti Maurya “left” him after becoming an SDM, he also claimed to have caught his wife “red-handed” in 2020 leaving a hotel in Lucknow.

Alok alleged that Jyoti was “spending nights” with Manish Dubey in hotel rooms on the pretext of “official meetings” in Lucknow. 

In the video, Alok Maurya said he was married to Jyoti in the year 2010. Alok claimed to have financially supported Jyoti’s education from 2010 to 2016. He said that for Jyoti to continue her education, he went so far as to take loans. Jyoti passed the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Service (UPPCS) exams in 2016 with a 16th-rank and went on to become a civil servant in the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.

Alok Maurya also accused Jyoti Maurya, General Manager at a sugar mill in Bareilly, and police officer Manish Dubey of conspiring to get him killed. Alok also claimed to have WhatsApp chats pertaining to the alleged plot to get him murdered. 

Jyoti and Alok have twin daughters. Alok said that everything was going fine in the family till 2020, however, things started taking a bitter turn after Jyoti came in contact with Manish Dubey. He alleged that he read the lewd chats of Jyoti and Manish last year after she logged into her Facebook account from one of the phones at their home. Alok claimed that when he confronted Jyoti over the alleged lewd chats, Jyoti threatened to get him jailed. 

Recently, some alleged Whatsapp chats of Jyoti Maurya and Manish Dubey surfaced online wherein the two exchanged messages about getting married.

Alok also claims to have evidence that his wife, Jyoti Maurya, is a corrupt civil servant. Alok claimed to have a 100-page diary which has information regarding his wife’s alleged corruption. 

As per Alok’s allegations, the said diary contains details of Jyoti Maurya’s “monthly extortion”. Jyoti Maurya allegedly earns 6 lakh rupees monthly through illegal means. Alok had filed a complaint at the Home Guard Headquarters over the alleged corruption. Alok claimed that the handwriting in the said diary is that of Jyoti, he even urged the department to verify the same.

The diary in question mentions that in October 2021 alone Jyoti allegedly made 6.4 lakh rupees. It also mentioned that amounts were extorted from marketing and supply inspectors.

Jyoti Maurya files dowry harassment lawsuit against husband Alok Maurya

Accusing her husband of harassing her for dowry, Jyoti Maurya filed a case against him at Dhumanganj Police Station. Jyoti alleged that Alok Maurya and his family were demanding a Fortuner SUV, a flat and 50 lakh rupees from her. She is reported to have alleged that Alok and his family were “torturing” her and even blackmailing her using a purported obscene video of her. 

Alok on the other hand refuted the allegations levelled by Jyoti and her family claiming that it is her tactic to secure a divorce from him.

Meanwhile, Jyoti’s family has accused Alok of lying about his job to get married to Jyoti. Jyoti’s family alleged back in 2010, Alok claimed to be a Panchayat officer but he was employed as a “Safai karmi (sanitation worker)”. They reportedly showed a marriage card to back their claims. However, Alok Maurya denied the allegations and said that the marriage card is fake. He said that when they got married, Jyoti was not a teacher, but the said marriage card mentions that she was a teacher back then. 

Regarding the WhatsApp chats in question, Jyoti Maurya claimed that the WhatsApp texts have been misrepresented and that the “truth will eventually come out” given an investigation is ongoing.

Amidst the high voltage drama, a purported audio recording of a telephonic conversation between Jyoti and Alok went viral wherein Jyoti was heard saying she does not know if Manish (Dubey) will leave her or not but she will not stay with Alok reiterating her demand for a divorce. Alok is also heard confronting Jyoti about her alleged links with Manish Dubey.

Alok, Jyoti, and the social media outrage

The twisted saga of alleged infidelity, torture, and corruption has been a hot topic over social media, with netizens expressing their opinions. Social media witnessed an outpour of support for Alok Maurya with many equating him with Heera Thakur, an iconic character from the popular movie Sooryavansham. In an uncanny similarity with the Jyoti Maurya case, the film depicts Heera Thakur—portrayed by veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, a bus driver working hard to ensure her wife’s preparation for civil service exams. The only difference is that Heera Thakur’s wife did not abandon her husband after becoming an officer. 

Amidst Alok and Jyoti’s tussle, their twin daughters are apparently suffering the most as they are being deprived of their normal childhood and the much-deserved love of their parents. Alok has alleged that Jyoti Maury is not allowing him to meet his twin daughters.

The domino effect of the controversy: Husbands unwilling to support the govt job preparation of their wives

Amidst the ongoing social media uproar and media scrutiny, Jyoti and Alok’s dramatic story has triggered a domino effect as several incidents around the country have come to the fore wherein husbands have reportedly started to withdraw the names of their wives from coaching classes.

Pintu Singh, a resident of Chaugain village in Bihar’s Buxar, has called his wife Khushbu Kumari back from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh out of concern that she would leave him if she landed a government post. Khushbu was preparing for the state civil service exams. Pintu even went so far as to decline to pay for his wife’s educational expenses. Pintu ignored Khusbu’s repeated pleas that not everyone is the same and she will not leave her husband out of concern for suffering the same fate as Alok Maurya. 

In Amethi, one Sushil Kumar Mishra, a resident of Riva Khuri Barhatta village in Madhya Pradesh claimed that he helped his wife in her nursing education. However, she left him for a Sainik School teacher after finding a job in the same school in Amethi. Sushil alleged that his wife now residing in Amethi does not allow him to meet their daughter. 

Meanwhile, another Jyoti Maurya-like case emerged in Jharkhand wherein a man named Kanhai Pandit alleged that his wife Kalpana abandoned him after securing a job as a nurse. He claimed to have funded his wife’s education, however, she left him after getting a job adding that she also took Rs 28000 and some jewelry. The matter is currently under investigation. 

Interestingly, in one such case from Madhya Pradesh, a man left his wife after becoming a tax officer. Kamru Hathile was preparing for banking competitive exams while his wife supported his education by working as a domestic laborer. After becoming a commercial tax officer, Kamru left his wife. During his posting in Ratlam, Kamru met another woman and entered into a live-in relationship with her. The matter reached the police station eventually in 2021.

Khan Sir claims husbands of 93 women stopped their education at his coaching classes after the Jyoti Maurya case

Recently, a video of popular educator Khan Sir emerged where he said that due to the Jyoti Maurya case, so far 93 women had quit his coaching classes, as their husbands no longer support them in their exam preparation. This came in the aftermath of the Jyoti Maurya case as the husbands of the said 93 students feared that they too will be meted out Alok Maurya-like treatment after their wives become officers. 

Khan Sir criticized the men depriving their wives of education and the opportunity to make a career of their choice after the Jyoti Maurya case. He said that everyone should not be judged for the actions of one person. 

“About 93 husbands have got their wives’ names cut off from the coaching. I tried to convince them. This is wrong. How can you punish someone for someone’s mistake?” Khan Sir said.

Meanwhile, a family court in Prayagraj adjourned the hearing of the petition submitted by Jyoti Maurya seeking divorce from her husband to August 18, 2023. 

Jyoti and Alok Maurya’s story became a talking point on social media, eliciting a wide range of opinions and counter-opinions. Some felt empathy for Alok and accused Jyoti of betraying him even when he had “taken the pain to make sure that her dreams became a reality.” Social media is rife with questions about whether Alok is right in feeling cheated or if Jyoti is right in seeking to leave her husband who does not fit her socio-economic status. Jyoti’s claims of harassment from her husband and in-laws are also being discussed.

While seeking divorce is certainly not a crime but rather a person’s right, this case represents the social conflicts of the current generation in India. Jyoti and Alok come from a part of India where a government job is often the best, and only way to earn social standing and economic success.

Millions of young people in India spend several years preparing for the tough exams for government jobs. Expensive Coaching classes and years of struggle to achieve that dream are a reality for most households in many Indian states.

At the same time, this case brings to notice the dilemmas for young people in India. The pressure of getting married in the 20s, dowry, the social craze for a government job, and the realities of balancing marriage, and family with the responsibilities of a job continue to haunt youngsters.

Kerala: Special NIA court convicts six PFI members for chopping the hand of Professor TJ Joseph in 2010

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Special NIA court convicts six PFI members for chopping the hand of Professor TJ Joseph in 2010

On the 12th of July, a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court found six accused guilty in the 2010 Professor TJ Joseph’s hand-chopping case. All of the convicted accused are alleged members of the now-banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI). 

Special NIA court judge Anil K Bhaskar pronounced the 5 accused guilty in the second phase of the trial in the case. The alleged PFI members were found guilty of attempted murder, conspiracy, and various other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, some of the accused were also found guilty under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). 

However, the court also acquitted five other accused in the case. The Special NIA court will now pronounce the sentences against the convicts tomorrow at around 3 PM.

The need for a second phase of the trial

Earlier, during the first phase, 31 accused were facing trial before the court. Later, in April 2015, 10 out of them were convicted for offences under the UAPA as well as the Explosive Substances Act, and the IPC. Three other accused were found guilty of harbouring the offenders. The remaining 18 accused were acquitted by the court. 

The 11 accused put on the second phase of the trial are those who had escaped after the first stage of the trial was over. However, they were later detained by the police. 

The NIA court found the accused Nassar, Sajil, Najeeb, Noushad, Kunju, and Ayoob guilty. The remaining six accused namely Shafeeq, Azeez, Rafi, Subair, and Mansoor were acquitted. 

However, Ashamannur Sawad, the main accused in the case is still absconding. As per the NIA Chargesheet, he was the one who chopped off Professor Joseph’s hand. 

Initially, the Kerala Police was investigating the case but it was later taken over by the NIA on the 9th of March, 2011. 

The case

In March 2010, one Malayalam Professor TJ Joseph prepared a set of questions for the Malayalam language paper for 2nd-year BCom students. Reportedly, one of the questions asked students to punctuate a conversation between God and a character.

The conversation was extracted from the book ‘Thirakathayude Reethisasthram‘, written by Malayalam Director Kunju Muhammed. 

The character in the passage was a man suffering from schizophrenia and having a constant dialogue with God. Without thinking much about the consequences, he named the man ‘Muhammed’ after the name of the Malayalam director. 

However, Islamists were quick to label this as ‘blasphemy’ and interpreted the question as a conversation between Prophet Muhammad and God.

Later, the matter escalated further when the Jamaat-e-Islami-run newspaper, Madhyamam, reported about it. Subsequently, radical Islamic outfits such as the Popular Front of India (PFI), Campus Front of India (CFI), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and even the Congress party led large-scale protests against Professor TJ Joseph.

The Kerala Police lodged an FIR against Professor Joseph for stirring communal hatred under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Police arrested him when he allegedly tried to evade law enforcement authorities, however, he soon was released on bail. 

To make matters worse, Newman College, which is a Christian minority institute affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University, fired Professor Joseph. 

On the fateful day of 4th of July, 2010, Joseph, 53 years old back then, was returning home from church in his car at about 8 AM. He was accompanied by his sister and mother. Within no time, a gang of 6 Islamists laid siege to his car. Armed with an axe, they chopped off his hand below the wrist and ditched the severed part in a nearby land. The assailants also stabbed the Professor in the leg and arm.

The Islamists burst crackers and bombs to create an atmosphere of panic. They soon fled the crime scene, leaving an injured Joseph to fend for himself.

Professor Joseph claimed religious fundamentalism was at the heart of the problem

Professor Joseph was dismissed from the service over alleged blasphemy. After this his financial condition deteriorated and his family was abandoned by everyone. The church excommunicated his family. Friends and family members stopped visiting his house out of the church’s fear. 

Distraught by the aftermath of the incident that turned the life of TJ Joseph upside down, his wife Salomi committed suicide on March 19, 2014.

In an interview with The Times of India in September 2021, Joseph refused to accept that punishing the accused will bring justice. He emphasised that religious fundamentalism was at the heart of the problem.

He said, “My attackers were blinded by fundamentalism, and they gave me only physical pain but what my own people did to me was even worse as it affected my family and me in all ways.” 

In 2020, Joseph’s memoir of the pain and suffering he endured over the false allegations of blasphemy was released in Malayalam. Its English translation by Nandkumar was later released under the title, “A Thousand Cuts: An Innocent Question and Deadly Answers”.

‘Now you have become a Muslim’: Saif Ali takes a minor Hindu girl to a brick kiln, calls a cleric to convert her, then rapes her; arrested in UP’s Fatehpur

OpIndia Staff
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‘Now you have become a Muslim’: Saif Ali takes a minor Hindu girl to a brick kiln, calls a cleric to convert her, then rapes her; arrested in UP’s Fatehpur

The Fatehpur police in Uttar Pradesh arrested a 23-year-old Muslim guy on charges of kidnapping, raping and converting a minor Hindu girl to Islam. The 16-year-old victim was lured to the brick kiln by a married individual and father of one child named Saif Ali.

A cleric was called at the location and she was made to embrace Islam after which the accused raped her there. She stated that following the conversion, the cleric who is presently being hunted by the police informed her that she is now a Muslim.

The incident reportedly occurred at the Jafarganj police station area of Fatehpur. On 7 July, the day of the girl’s disappearance, her mother lodged a missing complaint with the police in which Saif Ali, a native of Jehanabad, was indicted of enticing the former and a case under the Indian Penal Code of 363 and 366 for kidnapping was registered. She was recovered on the 11th and handed over to her family members and the perpetrator who also worked at a brickyard was apprehended.

The victim asserted that she first met the offender at a store close to the brick kiln a month and a half ago. They both exchanged phone numbers and then struck up a conversation. She mentioned that he lied to her about his marital status. Afterwards, he brought her along and locked her up. Then he proceeded to rape her and summoned the cleric to change her religion.

According to the minor, the cleric and the culprit made her utter something in Urdu and then claimed that she has now converted to Islam. Subsequently, Saif Ali began calling her Rubina and sexually assaulted her. She disclosed that she had once tried to escape the place he had been holding her in. However, she was beaten after being caught. The police have also added the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and religious conversion clauses against him based on her allegations.

‘Vivekananda ate fish, how can he be a divine person’: As ISKCON suspends monk Amogh Lila Das over controversial comments, read how Swami is often misquoted

Anurag
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‘Vivekananda ate fish, how can he be a divine person’: As ISKCON suspends monk Amogh Lila Das over controversial comments, read how Swami is often misquoted

On 10th July, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a religious organisation of Bhagwan Krishna devotees, banned monk Amogh Lila Das over controversial remarks about Swami Vivekananda and his guru Ramakrishna Paramhansa during one of his recent discourses, also known as pravachan. The ban will be in place for a month.

In a press release, ISKCON said that Amogh Lila Das (Amogh Lila Prabhu) has admitted to the mistake of making remarks about Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa, and he would cut himself from social life for a month to amend his wrongdoing. Das is a popular religious figure, and his videos are shared widely on social media platforms.

Statement by ISKCON

In an official press release, ISKCON Kolkata said the “inappropriate” remarks on the teachings of two highly revered saintly figures in Indian history and spirituality, Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa ji and Swami Vivekananda ji passed by Das, were brought to their notice. It read, “ISKCON is very much pained by his totally inappropriate and unacceptable comments and his lack of understanding about the great teachings of these two personalities.”

Taking a view of the remarks, ISKCON has “decided to ban him for one month. We have communicated our decision to him. Amogh Lila Das has begged for forgiveness for his comments, and he realises what a great disservice he has done. He has taken a vow to go on “prayaschit” (atonement) for one month in the hills of Govardhan and will completely seclude himself from the public life with immediate effect.”

The press release noted that Das’s “derogatory remarks” aimed primarily at the dietary preferences of the revered figures are not only “disrespectful but also showcase a lack of awareness about the diversity of spiritual paths and personal choices.”

It noted, “These actions undermine the fundamental principles of mutual respect, religious tolerance, and harmony, which are vital for the creation of a peaceful society. Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa was a revered saint and mystic who devoted his life to the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. His teachings and practices have had a profound impact on the spiritual landscape of India and the world. It is imperative that we recognise and respect the diversity of spiritual beliefs, practices, and choices. Mutual respect and tolerance are essential for promoting a harmonious society, where people of all faiths and backgrounds can coexist peacefully.”

Furthermore, ISKCON said the remarks were not representative values and teachings of ISKCON. “Our organisation has always promoted harmony, respect and understanding towards all spiritual paths and traditions, and we condemn any form of disrespect or intolerance towards other religious beliefs and practices.”

Remarks by Amogh Lila Das

In one of his recent pravachans, Das questioned the consumption of fish by Swami Vivekananda. He said a virtuous man would not consume anything that harms an animal. He said, “Will a virtuous man ever eat fish? A fish also feels pain, right? Will a virtuous man eat fish then?”

He also took a dig at a quote by Swami Vivekananda in which he asked to “Water brinjal plant instead of Tulsi” and “Play football instead of reading Gita”. Das said if Swami Vivekananda had been around, he would have respectfully bowed down in front of him. However, if something was wrong in Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, it should be called out, said Das.

Furthermore, he added that saying one should water brinjal and not Tulsi was wrong. “Water both. Cook brinjal and serve it to God with a leaf of Tulsi before eating. It will solve both purposes,” he said. By both purposes, he meant filling up the stomach and moving ahead on the path of spirituality.

Vivekananda was quoted out of context

The controversy has erupted around an alleged quote by Swami Vivekananda where he asked to play football instead of reading Gita. Though the statement was made, it was part of a larger context. Just presenting a line from the original quote does not justify what he said.

Sadly, even his followers are sometimes confused as to what exactly Swami Vivekananda wanted to say through this. Does Swami Vivekananda’s statement of ‘Football instead of Gita’ mean the same thing as some try to prove through their deviousness? For this, it is very important to understand the story from where Swami Vivekananda’s statement about Gita started.

It was Acharya Satyendra Banerjee, in the poetic adaptation of the lyrical verses of the Gita in Bengali, who expressed his desire to read the Gita from Swami Vivekananda as a child. On this, Swamiji told him that he would have to play football for the first six months and help the poor and helpless; only then would he be able to talk to him about the Gita.

When the child asked Swami Vivekananda that the Gita is a dharmik book, why is it necessary to play football for its knowledge. To this, Swamiji said in his reply, “Gita is the great book of brave people and renounced persons. Therefore one who is full of valour and service, only he will be able to understand the secret of the esoteric verses of the Gita.”

After following the methods of Swamiji for six months, when the child returned to Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji gave him the knowledge of Gita. The real meaning of Vivekananda’s playing football must have been that the sluggish and slothful body cannot be home to intense thoughts. Look at our daily routine. Seldom do we go to the playground and play until we sweat. Then how can a youth lacking basic awareness and attention towards his physical existence be able to look to a knowledge that takes him beyond physical realms?

Swami Vivekananda was misquoted by ISCKON founder

Swami Vivekananda has been misquoted on the Tulsi and Football quotes before. Even Shri Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, had misquoted his statements. In December 1975 conversation during a morning walk between Shri Prabhupada, Seavanananda and Dr Patel, Sarvananada informed Prabhupada about a slogan on the arch at the Ramakrishna Mission School in Madras near a football field that read “The playing of football will bring one closer to heaven than the study of the Gītā.” They then discussed how Vivekananda taught to plant the Brinjal tree and not the Tulsi tree as it will not bring fruit as Brinjal.

Who is to blame here? Prabhupada and his followers who took Vivekananda out of context, or the people at Ramakrishna Mission who put his quote on an arch without mentioning any context?

Explanation of the quote in Swamiji’s own words

Let’s see what Swamiji has exactly said. He says, “First of all, our young men must be strong. Religion will come afterwards. Be strong, my young friends; that is my advice to you. You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita. These are bold words, but I have to say them, for I love you. I know where the shoe pinches. I have gained a little experience. You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger. You will understand Krishna’s mighty genius and strength better with a little strong blood in you. You will understand the Upanishads better and the glory of the Atman when your body stands firm upon your feet, and you feel like man. Thus we have to apply these to our needs.”

Swamiji is not asking anyone to throw Gita and just play football. He is saying that a healthy body is necessary for the fulfilment of the same ‘Karma Yoga’ as described by Lord Krishna in the Gita. Hundreds of people like Joy Bhattacharya seem to object to all the ideals of Swami Vivekananda. Also, there are a few others, like Ananya Kamboj and Shaji Prabhakaran, who conveniently use Swamiji’s quote without mentioning the original context or implying his original directions. No wonder leftists and liberals support the mentality of tampering with the statue of Swami Vivekananda in JNU, and they do not see any element of violence and hatred in it.

Who is Amogh Lila Das?

Amogh Lila Das was born Ashish Arora in a religious family in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He decided to go on a spiritual journey at a young age. In 2000, when he was in class 12, he left his house in search of God but then came back and completed a degree in software engineering. In 2004, he completed graduation and joined a US-based multinational corporation. At the age of 29 in 2010, he became a dedicated Hare Krishna Brahmachari (celibate) and joined ISKCON after leaving corporate life. He was serving as the Vice President of the ISKCON Temple in Dwarka, Delhi, at the time when he got banned for a month.

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