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Nepal rejects China’s claim, says Pokhara International Airport is not Belt and Road project

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Nepal rejects China’s claim, says Pokhara International Airport is not Belt and Road project

Nepal Foreign Minister NP Saud on Tuesday rejected the claims of the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal that an airport had been built under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Nepal.

FM Saud rejected the claims while addressing the International Relations and Tourism Committee stating the BRI project hasn’t been put into action in Nepal. Time and again, the Chinese Ambassador has been claiming that the Pokhara International Airport was built under the BRI framework.

Saud, while addressing the committee meeting denied the Chinese Ambassador’s claim by saying that Nepal only has signed on the pact and no tangible plans or initiatives have been implemented so far.

Earlier this week, China’s statement that the Pokhara International Airport is its flagship project in Nepal under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) came as a surprise. Since then, confusion gripped Nepal’s diplomatic circles after China is unilaterally listing one project after another in Nepal under the Belt and Road Initiative, Nepal-based The Kathmandu Post reported.

China made the claim at the inauguration of the new airport by Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nishan Khatiwada wrote in The Kathmandu Post report. On June 22, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song in a post on Twitter wrote, “Warm congratulation to Wechat Pay Cross-board Payment Service Inauguration in Nepal. A new step forward in financial connectivity, one of the five “connectivities” under #BRI initiative.”

Earlier, last week too, while addressing the House of Representatives earlier, Nepal’s Foreign Minister NP Saud said clarifying, “The project implementation plan of the BRI is at a stage of discussion between Nepal and China. Not a single project in Nepal under the BRI has been executed. The project implementation plan of the BRI is still under consideration,” The Kathmandu Post reported.

The relations between China and Nepal have of late become a saga of an exchange of words where one side claims that a specific project is under the BRI while the other side says it is not. According to foreign policy experts, the confusion will not serve Nepal.

Following the framework agreement between Nepal and China on Belt and Road Initiative in 2017, Nepal had initially chosen 35 projects to be implemented under it. Later, the total number of projects was reduced to nine and the list did not include the Pokhara airport, which Beijing has now placed under BRI.

In 2016, the Nepal government signed a USD 215 million soft loan agreement with China for building a new airport in Pokhara without any mention of the BRI. As China has been placing its projects in Nepal under the Belt and Road Initiative, the two nations have not overtly agreed on whether the BRI projects will be loan-based or grant-based.

Even though Nepal has been asking for grants, the then-Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi on April 22 said that the BRI will include both grants and commercial loans, the report said. She further said that many projects that China is developing in Nepal fall under the BRI initiative.

FM Saud rejected the claims while addressing the International Relations and Tourism Committee stating the BRI project hasn’t been put into action in Nepal.

Time and again, the Chinese Ambassador has been claiming that the Pokhara International Airport was built under the BRI framework.

Saud, while addressing the committee meeting denied the Chinese Ambassador’s claim by saying that Nepal only has signed on the pact and no tangible plans or initiatives have been implemented so far.

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

Bengaluru: Tech company’s ex-employee Felix enters office, murders MD Panindra Subramanya and CEO Vinu Kumar with a sword

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Bengaluru: Tech company’s ex-employee Felix enters office, murders MD Panindra Subramanya and CEO Vinu Kumar with a sword

 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the managing director of a Bengaluru-based private tech company were allegedly killed by an ex-employee of the firm, the police said on Tuesday.

The incident happened in broad daylight at Pampa Extension, Amrithahalli in Karnataka’s Bengaluru. “The deceased were identified as Vinu Kumar, the CEO, and Panindra Subramanya, the MD, both of Aeronic Media Private Limited, died on the way to the hospital,” officials said.

According to police, the accused former employee, identified as Felix, barged into the office and attacked the duo allegedly with a sword.

DCP North-East Bengaluru Lakshmi Prasad said that the attacker is currently on run and police are trying to arrest him.
“Felix previously used to work at Aironics but quit to form his own company, which is said to be a rival business,” DCP said.

A case has been registered and the police were further investigating into the matter.

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

11 Christian missionaries held in Himachal’s Rampur Bushahr for trying to convert locals, VHP demands an investigation

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11 Christian missionaries held in Himachal’s Rampur Bushahr for trying to convert locals, VHP demands an investigation

A case of conversion has come to light in Himachal Pradesh’s Rampur Bushahr town where a group of non-local Christians have been accused of trying to convert locals.

On 8th July, at around 12 pm, an HRTC bus with a group some Nepali and some non-local Indian passengers halted at the Old Bus stand in Rampur Bushahr town. While waiting at the bus stop, the passengers began to preach Christianity to the locals, persuading them to convert.

It has been revealed that the group in question had set up a camp in Shaili village, Bahaali in Rampur Bushahr for the last few days and were returning from the camp.

A video was recorded and released by a VHP worker who alleged that the group tried to convert him despite his objections.

Members of Rampur Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shri Khandmanch, and Hindu Jagran Manch got into action mode and handed over the accused to the police. The police took over the bus and parked it outside the police station for investigation.

VHP member Pranesh reportedly alleged that when the HRTC took a halt at the bus stop, the group of Christian passengers deboarded and began appealing to the people to convert. They had set up camp in Shaili village for 23 days.

The police have reportedly recovered copies of the Bible, and cash in significant quantities. The VHP will reportedly submit a complaint to the DSP to demand an in-depth investigation into the case.

SHO Rampur Karmchand reportedly said that the police have arrested 11 people and the remaining persons have been released. The arrested accused will be presented in court tomorrow. A case has been registered under sections 295/341 of the IPC.

The state of Himachal Pradesh is currently reeling under torrential rainfall which has led to the loss of 72 lives and massive damage and destruction of property worth crores.

West Bengal panchayat violence leads to the exodus of more than 100 people to Assam, similar situation arose after 2021 Vidhan Sabha election

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal panchayat violence leads to the exodus of more than 100 people to Assam, similar situation arose after 2021 Vidhan Sabha election

The panchayat election in the State of West Bengal has been marred by violence. Faced with an imminent threat to their lives, about 133 people fled the Coochbear district and took refuge in Dhubri in the neighbouring State of Assam.

The development came to light on Monday (July 10) when residents of Coochbehar came to Dhubri to evade political persecution. The Assam government came to their rescue and provided them with food, accommodation and medical help at Ronpagli MV School in Jhapusabari.

In a tweet, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed, “Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam.”

“We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance,” he emphasised.

The chaotic scenes at Dhubri on Monday (July 10) were reminiscent of the exodus of 450 people from the State of West Bengal to Assam in the aftermath of the 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections.

Violence in West Bengal during Panchayat polls

The panchayat elections held on July 8 in West Bengal were marred by widespread violence across the state. Reports emerged of booth capturing, damage to ballot boxes, and attacks on presiding officers from districts such as Murshidabad, Behar, Malda, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur, and Nadia.

Tragically, the violence resulted in the loss of over 30 lives and numerous injuries. The State Election Commission had established a total of 61,636 polling stations for conducting elections to 3,317-gram panchayats, 341 panchayat samitis, and 20 zila parishads in West Bengal.

To ensure the safe conduct of elections, 59,000 personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces and other state police forces were entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the polling stations, including the 4,834 sensitive booths where only CAPFs were deployed.

It is worth noting that under the Trinamool Congress Party’s rule, West Bengal has witnessed a deteriorating law and order situation. Mamata Banerjee’s government has been unsuccessful in containing the escalating violence, particularly the targeted killings of RSS and BJP workers, which have become distressingly commonplace.

The use of bombs as a means of political rivalry has also become alarmingly frequent, even at the block or village level. Despite the significant number of political killings, mainstream media outlets have refrained from labelling it a murder of democracy due to the apprehension of potential vindictive actions from Mamata Banerjee’s government.

Uttarakhand: Muslim man poses as a Hindu, rapes a woman, converts her religion, tries to push her into prostitution

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand: Muslim man poses as a Hindu, rapes a woman, converts her religion, tries to push her into prostitution

On Tuesday, a novel case of Love Jihad was reported from the Sitarganj city of Uttarakhand where the victim woman stated that she was raped and forced to convert her religion to Islam by a Muslim man who initially posed as a Hindu. The woman has filed a police complaint at the Sitarganj Police Station and has sought strict action against the accused.

According to the Jagran report, the victim Hindu woman is a divorcee and met the accused who hails from Bansheda, Pilibhit region. The man introduced himself as a Hindu man and established a friendship with her. Later he trapped her in a love affair and took Rs 1 lakh from her.

The woman was promised marriage by the accused as he established sexual relations with her. However, the woman later came to know that the man was a Muslim and not Hindu as he had claimed.

The woman in the complaint mentioned that the accused man also forced her to convert her religion to Islam and tried to push her into prostitution. The woman was also threatened the moment she asked for Rs 1 lakhs that she had given to the accused. He also called her mother and threatened her with death.

The victim woman then reached the Sitarganj police station and filed a complaint against the accused whose identity has not been revealed. The woman has said that the life of her family is under threat. SP Manoj Kumar Katyal has taken cognisance of the event and has assured action in the case.

67% of Indian Muslim women support Uniform Civil Code, 76% do not want men to have 4 wives, finds survey

OpIndia Staff
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67% of Indian Muslim women support Uniform Civil Code, 76% do not want men to have 4 wives, finds survey

Amidst the ongoing debate over the legislation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, a survey conducted by News18 shows that 67% of Muslim women approve of common laws pertaining to inheritance, adoption, divorce and marriage.

A total of 8,035 Muslim women were interviewed by a team of 884 News18 reporters across 25 States and Union Territories (UTs) for the purpose of the survey. The participants included women aged above 18 years, ranging from illiterate to postgraduate.

The survey did not explicitly mention UCC but covered 7 key questions pertaining to the legislation. On being asked whether there should be ‘common laws for all’ in civil matters, 5403 women (67.2%) said ‘yes’.

“Do you think Muslim men should have the right to marry up to four women?” the survey participants were asked. A whopping 6146 Muslim women (76.5%) said that ‘no’ to the question. News18 reported that the negative answer was strong among graduates and women in the age range of 18-44 years.

About 6615 Muslim women (82.3%) agreed that men and women should have equal rights of succession and inheritance. 73.7% of the respondents also affirmed that divorced couples should have the right to remarry without any restrictions.

“Should adoption be allowed regardless of religion?” the Muslim women were also asked. Interestingly, the acceptance rate fell significantly to 64.9% (5219 participants).

About 5572 women (69.3% participants) agreed that those who have reached the age of majority should have the freedom to ‘will away’ their properties.

The participants were also asked, “Do you support 21 years as the legal age of marriage for all men and women?” 6320 Muslim women or 78.7% women supported the idea.

While the respondents were given the freedom to stay anonymous, 90% of the women voluntarily told their names to the News18 reporters.

BJP bats for Uniform Civil Code

On June 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the subject of UCC during his address to party workers in Bhopal.

While stating that political parties are trying to mislead Muslims, he strongly batted for equal rights and Uniform Civil Code enshrined in the Constitution. He also dropped a hint that UCC might be on the cards in the upcoming Parliament session.

PM Modi said, “Today people are being instigated in the name of UCC. How can the country run on two laws? The Constitution also talks of equal rights. Supreme Court has also asked to implement UCC. These (Opposition) people are playing vote bank politics.”

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also said that the UCC would soon be implemented in the State.

415 million Indians lifted out of poverty in last 15 years: UNDP’s Multidimensional Poverty Index report

OpIndia Staff
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415 million Indians lifted out of poverty in last 15 years: UNDP’s Multidimensional Poverty Index report

Around 415 million people in India have been lifted out of poverty in the span of last 15 years, stated the UNDP’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The United Nations Development Programme called the reduction in poverty “remarkable” underlining that India is on the path to achieving sustainable development goals.

The report stated, “The reduction in Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) value in India was swift across the two most recent periods. MPI estimates based on the recently released 2019/2021 Demographic and Health Survey for the country show that 415 million people exited poverty between 2005/2006 and 2019/2021 — including about 140 million since 2015/2016 — and that the country’s MPI value and incidence of poverty were both more than halved.”

The 2022 report titled “Unpacking deprivation bundle to reduce multidimensional poverty” is backed by a statistical report released recently titled “Unstacking global poverty: Data for high impact action”.

According to the 2023 data, poverty in India fell from 55.1% to 16.4% and deprivation across all poverty indicators declined. Additionally, the poorest states and groups, including children and people in disadvantaged caste groups, had the fastest absolute progress.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, as per the report, which were initially among the poorest in the country, reduced poverty faster in absolute terms than the national average thereby narrowing the poverty gap.

Rural areas were the poorest and saw the fastest reduction in MPI value. The prevalence of poverty fell from 36.6 percent in 2015/2016 to 21.2 percent in 2019/2021 in rural areas and from 9.0 percent to 5.5 percent in urban areas.

Children, the poorest age group, saw the fastest reduction in MPI value. Poverty fell from 34.7 percent to 21.8 percent among children and from 24.0 percent to 13.9 percent among adults. Similarly, the poorest caste and religious groups saw the fastest absolute reduction in the recent period.

Notably, sustainable development goal target 1.2 is to reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions. The UNDP report says that India’s progress shows that this goal is feasible even on a large scale.

Deprivations in sanitation, cooking fuel and housing fell the most from 2015/2016 to 2019/2021. The share of the population who were poor and deprived of sanitation dropped from 24.4 percent in 2015/2016 to 11.3 percent in 2019/2021. The share of the population who were poor and cooked primarily with wood, dung, charcoal or another solid fuel was nearly halved — from 26.0 percent in 2015/2016 to 13.9 percent in 2019/2021 — accompanied by a large reduction in the share of the population who were poor and deprived in electricity — from 8.6 percent to 2.1 percent.

Supreme Court postpones hearing on Gyanvapi disputed structure, seeks response from Muslim side

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court postpones hearing on Gyanvapi disputed structure, seeks response from Muslim side

On Tuesday, July 11, the Supreme Court postponed the hearing of the application related to the Gynvapi structure in Varanasi and directed the Muslim side to file their response in the case. During the hearing, the bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Mishra said that the response of the Muslim side to the petition is awaited.

This is a day after the Hindu parties in its affidavit informed the Supreme Court that calling the Shivling discovered within the Varanasi Gyanvapi complex a “fountain” amounted to demeaning it and that a scientific investigation of the Shivling should be carried out to end the controversy.

The Hindu side on Monday, July 10 also said that the Shivalingam is a matter of faith and worship for Hindus not only in India but across the world. That’s why they have a fundamental right to worship the deity. It was further stated that experts’ opinion is needed to ascertain whether the ‘structure’ found in Gyanvapi during the survey last year is a fountain or a Shivling. It was demanded that a panel of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) should get it investigated.

The ‘Wazu’ area of the Gyanvapi mosque is the centre of the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute between Hindus and Muslims since the Hindu parties assert that ‘Shivling’ has been found in that spot, however, the Muslim side disputed the same and claim that it is only a water fountain.

Supreme Court stays scientific investigation of Gyanvapi Shivling

The Supreme Court had in May this year ordered to hold the scientific investigation of the Shivling inside the Varanasi Gyanvapi complex, a week after the Allahabad High Court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific study of the Shivling to determine its age.

The order was made following a special leave petition filed by the Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee, which looks after the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, against the Allahabad High Court’s order on May 12 that ordered the scientific survey of the Shivlinga to determine its age. The bench that made the decision included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice IN Viswanathan.

On May 12, the Allahabad High Court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to use contemporary scientific methods to inspect the Shiving that has been discovered inside the Gyanvapi Mosque premises in Varanasi in order to determine its age.

The order was passed by the bench of Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra-I while allowing a revision plea moved by 4 women Hindu worshippers challenging the Varanasi Court’s October 14 order wherein the court had rejected their plea.

A request for a scientific investigation of the Shivling was filed previously before the Varanasi Court in September 2022, but it was denied in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to safeguard the location where the Shiva Linga was allegedly discovered on May 17, 2022.

The Hindu parties had requested a survey of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to determine whether the mosque had been built over an earlier structure of the Hindu temple. On May 16, the Varanasi District Court granted the committee until May 19 to file their reply or objection, if any.

At present, the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Mishra asked the Muslim side to file their reply to the petition and postponed the hearing as of today.

Ratlam: 10-year-old boy brutally assaulted in a madrasa by maulana for not remembering his lessons, case registered

OpIndia Staff
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Ratlam: 10-year-old boy brutally assaulted in a madrasa by maulana for not remembering his lessons, case registered

A shocking case of assault has come to light at a Madrassa in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam wherein a student was flogged brutally by a maulana for failing to answer his questions. The maulana of the Gausia Garib Nawaz madrasa in Viriyakhedi area, in Ratlam, has been accused by the family of the boy of assaulting the children studying in the madrasa.

A video recorded by the boy’s family has gone viral on social media showing a small group of boys on the floor and the family can be heard saying that these kids are thrashed here.

The video also shows the wounds inflicted on the boy’s bare body owing to the assault. The family has also recorded their confrontation with the maulana and his aide. Even after being exposed, the maulana’s aide shamelessly asks the mother, “Tum kya karoge?” (What will you do?).

The mother in the video alleges that the maulana’s aide lied to them at first about the maulana’s whereabouts saying that he is not present in the madrasa.

A case has been registered against the maulana, Taufik Khan. Police said the initial investigation has revealed that the 10-year-old child belonging to Mandsaur was admitted to the madrasa just 20 days ago.

Additional SP Rajesh Khakha reportedly said the probe has been handed over to the cyber team. The charges against the maulana include physical assault, verbal abuse, and violations under the Juvenile Justice Act. The police are also probing the video.

Previous cases of assault on students in madrasas

In March 2023, a student was assaulted 70 times in 70 minutes in a madrasa in Bhiwandi, Thane district, Maharashtra. A spine-chilling video of the incident had gone viral on social media. A case was filed against madrasa teacher Fahad Bhagat Noorie for brutally assaulting a 14-year-old kid for failing to study properly.

In January this year, a former madrasa teacher was convicted by a Kerala Court to three life sentences for repeatedly sexually assaulting and impregnating his minor daughter. The accused reportedly raped his girl for the first time in March 2021, whilst no one was at home. The 15-year-old girl was studying at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak when her father forced her into his bedroom and assaulted her.

In 2018, a maulana of a Pune-based madrasa was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two minor boys following which 12 more rescued students spoke up against the accused. The maulana used to beat them up with a stick and pipe when anyone disobeyed him.

Krishna Janmabhoomi case: Shahi Idgah Trust moves to SC against Allahabad HC order to transfer all petitions from Mathura District Court

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Krishna Janmabhoomi case: Shahi Idgah Trust moves to SC against Allahabad HC order to transfer all petitions from Mathura District Court

The Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order to transfer all the petitions relating to Mathura’s Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute from Uttar Pradeh’s District Court Mathura to itself.

The Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah moved the plea through advocate RHA Sikander. The Idgah Trust has challenged an order dated May 26 passed by the High Court of Allahabad whereby it transferred all such cases relating to the Krishna Janambhoomi dispute from the District Court Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, to itself.

The Transfer Application was allowed by the High Court despite the fact that the proceedings in Suit from which the Transfer Application emanated, were stayed by a Coordinate Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad vide Order dated 03.08.2022. The impugned Judgment takes away two appellate stages and also transfers other suits to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad for which no transfer applications were filed.

“The impugned Judgment is passed on a mere ipse dixit by indulging in the prophecy of the Respondents No. 1 to 8 that ‘in case the suit is decided by the trial court itself, it will take a long time’ without even considering that the Suit was registered only on 26.05.2022 and the proceedings therein were subsequently stayed by a Coordinate Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad vide Order dated 03.08.2022 which remained in force till 01.05.2023,” read the petition.

So far nine cases have been filed in Mathura court in the case of Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah Masjid.

Ranjana Agnihotri, a resident of Lucknow had filed a suit demanding the ownership of 13.37 acres of land of Krishna Janmabhoomi. In her legal suit, Agnihotri demanded to remove the Shahi Idgah mosque built in Krishna Janmabhoomi.

The suit filed in the Mathura court has sought the removal of the mosque said to be built in 1669-70 on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 13.37-acre premises of Katra Keshav Dev temple near the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

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

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