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Indian Express faux pass: Forgets to remove editorial note to call Khalistanis as ‘militants’, not terrorists

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Express faux pass: Forgets to remove editorial note to call Khalistanis as ‘militants’, not terrorists

Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, who was admitted to a hospital in Birmingham, UK, after an alleged ‘poisoning’ died yesterday. Khanda was 38. He has been booked by the NIA after his involvement in the attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March.

While some media reports say Khanda was poisoned, some reports mention that he had blood cancer.

Indian Express faux pass

The Indian Express, in its news report announcing Avtar Khanda’s death, forgot to remove the editorial note that had apparently asked the writer to address Khanda as a ‘militant’ and not a terrorist. The screenshot of the report was shared on Twitter by a user ‘Woke Janta’.

The initial version of the report mentioned Avtar Khanda’s father and his association with Khalistani terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The article also took care to mention Khanda as a ‘student’ who had gone to the UK for ‘studies’.

Indian Express tried to make necessary edits to their article. However, the archived version of the original report can be read here.

The current version of the report mentions Khanda as a ‘well-known pro-Khalistan activist’.

Avtar Singh Khanda and his terror links

Avtar Singh Khanda, born in Punjab’s Moga district, was the son of terrorist Kulwant Singh Khukrana who was associated with the Khalistan Liberation Force and Khalistan Commando Force. He was also a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar.

He was also a member of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a Khalistani terrorist group banned in several countries including Canada, the US, and the UK, apart from India.

Avtar Singh Khanda worked with other London-based Khalistani separatists like  Joga Singh, Kuldip Singh Chaheru and Gursharan Singh, and was behind several Khalistani demonstrations in the UK.

The London-based Khalistani terrorist nurtured Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief terrorist Amritpal Singh. He mentored and prepared Amritpal to lead Waris Punjab De before sending the latter to Punjab. He also assisted Amritpal Singh in evading the Punjab police during the crackdown on WPD.

Indian media and their efforts of whitewashing terrorists

Indian Express has a habit of insisting that terrorists against the Indian State are not terrorists but mere ‘militants’. This is reflected in many of their earlier reports too. In a 2019 incident, where 2 Islamic terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, and despite the fact that the police statement had mentioned the word ‘terrorists’, the media outlet had gone ahead and used the word militant.

Old headline of IE

Not just Indian Express, but almost all mainstream media outlets in India have this habit of whitewashing terrorists by terms, narratives, and sometimes blatant denial. So terrorists are often portrayed as ‘students’, ‘headmaster’s son’, ‘young man who loved bikes’, and much more.

A detailed article on the UN definition of terrorists and acts of terrorism and how the term ‘militant’ tries to cover the crimes up, can be read here.

Essentially, the media frequently tries to paint terrorists as ‘those fighting oppression’ in order to ensure that the threat of radical Islam and terrorism in Kashmir, Khalistani terrorism in India and abroad that has killed hundreds of innocents and propagates the idea of war against the Indian State for a chunk of its territory, can be reduced to a mere armed resistance against the ‘oppression of the state’. Branding JeM terrorists as ‘militants’, terming Khalustani terrorists as ‘well-known activist’ etc are just another step in the project.

Punjab: Two persons die after speeding pilot car of AAP MLA’s convoy hits a two-wheeler, locals stage protest after police were reluctant to file FIR

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Two persons die after speeding pilot car of AAP MLA’s convoy hits a two-wheeler, locals stage protest after police were reluctant to file FIR

In an unfortunate incident, two people lost their lives in Faridkot in Punjab after they were hit by a speeding vehicle, which was part of a convoy of AAP MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon. The incident took place on Sadik Road near Machaki Village in Faridkot district.

According to reports, the two people were travelling on a two-wheeler when they were hit by the pilot jeep of the MLA’s convoy. They were travelling from the Faridkot side, and the convoy was also travelling in the same direction. The speeding pilot Gypsy of the convoy hit the two-wheeler from behind, killing the two riders. Reportedly they died on the spot, indicating that it was a very violent hit.

People present at the spot said that MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon was not present when the accident took place, but he arrived later. The bodies of the victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance. One of the victims has been identified as Satpal, while the other was not identified yet. Both are said to be residents of Jhotiala village.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parambans Singh Romana posted visuals from the accident spot, alleging that instead of taking the two persons to the hospital, the convoy sped away. “2 persons from Jhotiwala village in Faridkot died after a speeding pilot gypsy in Faridkot MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon’s convoy hit them,” he posted.

Romana also said that locals staged a protest outside the Kotwali police station as police were reluctant to register an FIR in the case. “I appeal to everyone to reach Kotwali to fight for justice. We will force police to act against the guilty,” he added.

Chattisgarh: Noor Alam Khan posed as Rahul to tricked a Hindu tribal girl into doing court marriage with him on the pretext of getting her a job, thrashed in court

OpIndia Staff
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Chattisgarh: Noor Alam Khan posed as Rahul to tricked a Hindu tribal girl into doing court marriage with him on the pretext of getting her a job, thrashed in court

On Wednesday, June 14, a 45-year-old man named Noor Alam Khan from the Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh was arrested by the Ambikapur police for alleged human trafficking under the guise of promising a job in Gujarat to a tribal Hindu girl. Accused Noor Alam Khan posed as a Hindu man named Rahul Singh.

Reportedly, a Kondagaon resident girl named Sharmili Netaam introduced the 21-year-old victim Madkam to the accused Noor Alam who pretended to be Rahul Singh. The accused promised to get her a job in Gujarat. He managed to convince her that a fake court marriage certificate would help her at the workplace in Gujarat. Accused Noor Alam called the victim to Ambikapur court through Sharmili Netaam. Reportedly, Sharmili was working as a guard at a Solar company in Gujarat. 

The victim learnt about the accused person’s real identity when he was preparing an affidavit for the marriage. In the affidavit, the person Madkam knew as Rahul Singh wrote his name as Noor Alam Khan. The victim was left shocked and clueless upon realising that the person she believed to be a Hindu was actually a Muslim. 

Soon after, the accused sensed the trouble and attempted to flee the spot, however, the people present inside the court premises caught him and thrashed him. He was eventually handed over to the police. 

Reportedly, while the accused Noor Alam Khan was being beaten up, a woman was repeatedly calling on his phone. It turned out that the woman was his wife and he also has four children.

Accused Noor Alam, along with co-accused Sharmili Netam, have been booked under Sections 370, 120B, and 417 of the Indian Penal Code and produced before the court, from where they were sent to judicial custody.

Speaking to Organiser, local BJP leader Madhusudan Shukla said that the victim was already working in Raipur. He added that the accused convinced the victim to obtain a fake marriage certificate so that she will not have to face harassment at the workplace in Gujarat. 

Shukla further alleged that it was a well-thought plan of the accused as he had bought the stamp three-four months earlier. However, some of the notaries present on the court premises grew suspicious of Noor Alam and the truth came out. The BJP functionary also stressed that the co-accused Sharmili Netam’s role in the matter should also be probed. 

Kerala court summons Dr Philip Augustine, who was awarded Padma Shri by Congress, for allegedly transplanting organ of youth by falsely declaring him brain dead

Jhankar Mohta
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Kerala court summons Dr Philip Augustine, who was awarded Padma Shri by Congress, for allegedly transplanting organ of youth by falsely declaring him brain dead

VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi and nine doctors, including Dr Philip Augustine, the founder of the Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre, have received notice from the Judicial First Class Magistrate-8, Ernakulam.

The notice was issued in response to a complaint regarding crimes under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, wherein Dr Philip Augustine and 8 others were accused of harvesting the kidney and liver of an 18-year-old youth Abin V J, a youth brain dead without following due procedure.

The accused in the case are Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre presently known as VPS Lakeshore Hospital, doctors with the hospital- Dr Philip Augustine, Dr S Mahesh, Dr George Jacob Eraly, Dr Sai Sudarsan, Dr Thomas Thachil, Dr Murali Krishna Menon, and Dr Sujith Vasudevan, and Dr Sajeev S of Mar Beselios Hospital. 

Dr Philip Augustine conferred with Padma Shri by the UPA-Govt in 2010

Dr Philip Augustine is a gastroenterologist. He is a specialist in gastrointestinal endoscopy and a hospital administrator from Ernakulam, Kerala. He founded the Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre in 2003. In 2010, Dr Philip Augustine was conferred with Padma Shri Award, for his services to the fields of medicine by the then-UPA Government.

Dr Philip and his associate doctors were summoned based on a complaint filed by Dr S Ganapathy, of Maruthadi, Kollam. Dr S Ganapathy alleged that VJ Abin’s kidneys and liver were removed illegally in violation of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994 after the hospital declared him brain-dead following a motorcycling accident.

Dr S Ganapathy also asserted in his complaint that the Apnea test, which is mandatory to confirm brain death was not conducted in the case of Abin. 

The court found that there was a prima facie case and enough evidence against each and every accused party in the case. It, therefore, decided to pursue the death and organ transplantation performed on Abin V J declaring it a case fit to be probed.

“I find that there is a prima facie case and sufficient grounds for proceeding in respect of offences u/s. 18, 20 and 21 of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994 (pre-amended), against all accused”, read Magistrate Eldos Mathew’s order on May 29. 

The case

The case date back to the year 2009, when a young boy from Kerala named VJ Abin, who was 18-year-old then, met with a two-wheeler accident and was rushed to Mar Baselios Hospital Kothamangalam on November 29, 2009, and later to Lakeshore on November 30, 2009. 

Abin’s family accused both hospitals of medical negligence but the complaint against the two hospitals and their doctors was eventually filed by Dr S Ganapathy after he came to know the details about the organ transplantation through a media report in 2019.

UPA-era Padma Shri awardee Dr Philip Augustine and his team hurriedly declared patient brain dead

Dr Ganapathy was doing research on illegal transplantation when he learnt about the goof-ups on the part of the hospital and doctors. He alleged that the hospital and the doctors engaged in a criminal conspiracy by denying the victim proper medical care and hurriedly declared Abin brain dead only to transplant his organs on a foreign national in violation of the prescribed laws. He accused the hospital of amassing a huge sum of money in the process.

“I saw a report saying there is nothing illegal in the case. I enquired about the report and one of the doctors who was mentioned in the report said she did not attend any meetings regarding it. Then I realized there was something. He was not treated at Mar Baselios hospital though they had a neurosurgeon and they referred him to Lakeshore. It was an adjustment as the doctor had earlier worked in Lakeshore,” Dr S Ganapathy had then told the media.

Medical negligence, violation of prescribed laws, Dr Philip Augustine signing the death certificate without examining the patient: What all did the court observe in the organ transplant case

Dr P Sanjay, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Manjeri who had performed Abin’s autopsy, identified an irregularity by the hospital that led to a blood clot in the brain cavity from a haemorrhage. Even though Abin was rushed to the hospital right away after the accident, the hospital’s medical staff did not perform a surgical blood drain, he told the court, adding that this was a major lapse from the part of the two hospitals where he was treated.

Dr Sanjay, also noted that at Lakeshore Hospital, Abin was not subjected to neurosurgery. “Though the patient started respiring himself, the authorities downgraded the ventilator settings,” Dr Sanjay further told the court.

He concluded that Abin did not have a significant brain injury and that evacuation of the collected blood could have saved his life.

Both Dr Sanjay and Dr Thomas Iype, Head of Neurology at Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, who had been asked by the court to provide an expert opinion, claimed that the declaration of brain death had not been made legally and in accordance with procedure. The transplantation team had access to the patient even before his death was officially declared and his liver was transplanted to a Malaysian citizen, which they said was in violation of the rules.

The patient’s brain stem death certificate was signed by Dr Philip Augustine. The court, however, observed that there is no evidence to prove that Philip Augustine had examined Abin before signing the death certificate. The court also noted that some other doctors who signed the death certificate also had no authorisation.

The court also found that the due processes outlined in the TOHO Act were not followed in Abin’s case. It said that Abin’s liver was transplanted to a Malaysian national without obtaining sanction from the internal authorisation committee. The court also observed that the recipient’s wife was listed as the organ donor on the Malaysian Embassy document, even though Abin’s organ had actually been transplanted.

The court also learnt that the thoracic chamber was opened (sternotomy) during the organ harvesting process and the heart was subsequently damaged. Based on these observations, the court said that it found sufficient grounds for proceeding with the case and accordingly summoned all the accused to hear them as part of the probe.

Hospital clarifies

According to VPS Lakeshore Hospital, the court has mandated an investigation to ascertain the veracity of the complaint made by a private individual regarding brain death. The hospital will fully cooperate with the investigation, said managing director S K Abdullah. Regarding the incident in question, he claimed that there was no lapse on the part of the hospital, adding that they are taking necessary legal actions to prove the hospital’s innocence before the court.

Endangering future of children in political quest: 73 academicians release statement supporting NCERT over textbook row, call it attempt to obstruct NEP

OpIndia Staff
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Endangering future of children in political quest: 73 academicians release statement supporting NCERT over textbook row, call it attempt to obstruct NEP

73 academics, including vice-chancellors of major institutions, released a statement opposing the controversy over the substantial alteration of the original curriculum of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks. It was published late on Thursday night and alleged that the council was made a target of misleading information.

They additionally stated that efforts were being made to obstruct the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s implementation in order to further political objectives. “Through misinformation, rumours, and false allegations, they want to derail the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and disrupt the updation of NCERT textbooks.”

They mentioned that the school curriculum in India has not been revised for nearly two decades. “The last update of textbooks was undertaken in 2006. The current NCERT team has been making consistent efforts for reducing the burden on students and improving learning outcomes by rationalising the syllabus and making the content relevant according to current needs.”

“The scholars who have suggested the changes in the textbook have not suggested any epistemic rupture in the existing domain of knowledge but just rationalised the course content as per contemporary knowledge need. As regards the decision of who decides what is unacceptable and what is desirable it is argued that every new generation has the right to make additions or deletions to the existing knowledge base,” the letter argued.

It was signed by Professor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Professor Sanjay Srivastava, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Professor Shambhu Nath Singh Vice Chancellor of Tezpur Central University, Dr Sushma Yadav, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Central University of Haryana and Professor Dhananjay Singh, Member Secretary, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) among others.

Academicians noted that this time author selection procedure, which took place throughout the exercise in rationalisation, was far more open and morally sound than it had been in the past. “The process of selection of the scholars for this task was thoroughly liberal, democratic and humanistic.”

“Their demand that students continue to study from 17-year-old textbooks rather than updated textbooks in sync with contemporary developments and pedagogical advancement reveals intellectual arrogance. In their quest to further their political agenda, they are ready to endanger the future of crores of children across the country. While students are eagerly awaiting updated textbooks, these academicians are continuing to create hurdles and derail the entire process,” they charged.

The joint statement highlighted, “In the past three months, there have been deliberate attempts to malign the NCERT, a leading public institution, and disrupt the much-needed process for curriculum updation.”

It retaliated against academics who had withdrawn their names from consideration as NCERT advisors. It observed that the “name-withdrawal spectacle” was just intended to “capture media attention” and they “seem to have forgotten that textbooks are an outcome of collective intellectual engagement and rigorous efforts.” 

They also extended an invitation to thinkers, academics, and concerned people to sign their petition in order to expose self-serving academics who are trying to sabotage the implementation of NEP 2020 and the much-required and long-overdue upgradation of school curricula.

“NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too. NCERT is fully justified in carrying out the rationalisation of its textbook contents. NCERT has repeatedly stated that the revision of textbooks originates from various stakeholders’ feedback and suggestions,” proclaimed University Grants Commission (UGC) chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar while endorsing the open letter.

He emphasised, “NCERT has also confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks based on the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education and that current textbooks in which the contents have been rationalised to reduce the academic load are only a temporary phase. Given this, there is no merit in the hue and the cry of these ‘academicians.’ The objective behind their grumbling seems to be other than academic reasons.”

The statement came days after 33 academicians who served on the textbook development committee for the currently used, 2006–2007 National Curriculum Framework (NCF)–based textbooks wrote a letter to the council contending that their creative collective effort had been jeopardised by the recent syllabus rationalisation exercise. They also asked for the removal of their names from the current textbooks. Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar, two former NCERT consultants, then distanced themselves from the rationalised political science textbooks.

Hindu and Jain boys brainwashed to accept Islam through video game Fortnite: The modus operandi and the lessons that parents need to learn

Sachin R
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Hindu and Jain boys brainwashed to accept Islam through video game Fortnite: The modus operandi and the lessons that parents need to learn

You may have read about the recent case from Ghaziabad (Hindu, Jain boys lured to convert to Islam through game Fortnite (opindia.com)) where Jain and Hindu underage boys were groomed to accept Islam. News about targeting children for conversion is not uncommon. Indian education sector under British rule was developed for the purpose of grooming our young. However, what is unique about this case is that this grooming happened on the internet using a game called Fortnite.

Fortnite is a very popular game in the “Battle Royale” genre where you have to survive in an ever-shrinking battle zone by eliminating other players or teams. The genre is not really important, what is important is as per this report (Fortnite by the Numbers: How Many Hours Are You Playing Each Week? | PCMag), players spend serious time in the imaginary world of this game. Almost 70% spend over 6 hours a week, and over 20% spend over 16 hours a week.

When the parents of the Ghaziabad Jain boy started noticing their gaming-addicted son was going out at odd hours regularly, they tried to investigate. Like typical desi parents, their concerns may have varied from a love affair to substance addiction. We don’t know for sure but I am willing to bet they must have been surprised to find out their son was going to a local Masjid for praying Namaz. New fear unlocked!

Further investigation by Police has revealed that the Jain boy and some other Hindu boys were groomed to follow Islam by an organised group of adults using Fortnite. The Muslim groomers used Hindu names online, built bonds with the victims and slowly poisoned their minds against their own religions. They also convinced the young boys of the supremacy of Islam by playing tricks such as miraculously winning losing games after reciting Islamic prayers.

Then the boys were sent videos of fugitive radical preacher Zakir Naik. The next step was getting the children in touch with a local Maulvi who took them into his Mosque. By the time this was discovered, some of the boys were so radicalised they were willing to leave home and shift to the mosque permanently. In 2023, nobody has the luxury to say they are oblivious to the reality of online grooming. We all know of extreme cases too where people moved to Syria based on online instructions. It is real and they ARE after your children. But this is still different.

How is it different?

1 Chatting: Even though I mentioned the game Fortnite, it is not relevant. There are plenty of other games too. What is important is that these games allow chatting with strangers. Many parents I know do not realise this potential risk.

2 Team and Trust: Your child is not just playing a game, he is building teams and creating bonds of trust with complete strangers whose identities are not verified. A groomer can exploit this to influence your children.

3 Time spent: As mentioned earlier, children spend an insane amount of time on these games. That’s not just time spent interacting with strangers, it is also less time for building real-life bonds with family and friends.

As with online grooming for sexual purposes, grooming for religious conversion follows largely the same tactics. A target is selected, engagement is built over time, boundaries are tested, the target is isolated, and the target is exposed to religious practice (sexualisation in case of sexual grooming) and control. This is often slow and gradual. As the target approaches this interaction in good faith, the groomer’s job of manipulation becomes easier. Imagine a salesman approaches you, your defences go up immediately. Now imagine you don’t know he is a salesman, so you befriend that charming kind person. What are your chances? Groomers will almost always target underage children who are more susceptible to emotional manipulation. When your children are at their most vulnerable and impressionable, some adults may be trying to exploit them should indeed worry you.

Are there any lessons for parents in this Ghaziabad case? May be there are. Here are some

  1. Gaming is not just past time. It is culture for your children. This acceptance will equip you to deal with the issue better. Parent participation may go a long way in building trust.
  2. Experts have warned, gaming is an issue if it is encroaching on parent-child bonding time. You may feel free when your child is glued to his game, but your parental responsibility is still on.
  3. Have a discussion with your children by treating gaming as yet another avenue where they may get exposed to the worst the outside world has to offer. You teach your children about strangers, good touch – bad touch etc. Make them aware of gaming specific online threats too.
  4. Teach children that anyone discussing religion is a red flag. Children must know that it may not be a casual chat, they may be the target of an organised gang and they must report it immediately.

As with every risk, the biggest lesson is knowing the risk exists. Share this with other parents and children so that gaming can remain a toxic online addiction and doesn’t become a place to groom children too.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets ‘friend’ Bill Gates in Beijing, says he is hopeful about US-China ties

ANI
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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets ‘friend’ Bill Gates in Beijing, says he is hopeful about US-China ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in Beijing on Friday, the State-run media Global Times reported.

“You’re the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year,” Xi told Gates according to a report in the Chinese State media. “I often say that the foundation of China-US relations lies in people-to-people ties. We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hope that people of our two countries will maintain their friendship,” Xi said according to Global Times.

According to a report in the Chinese news outlet, Xi praised Gates and his foundation for their long-term commitment to facilitating global poverty reduction, health, and development as well as public welfare and charity work. President Xi also told Gates that China is willing to work with him and his foundation to continue strengthening cooperation in relevant fields, and provide support and help to other developing countries, the Global Times reported.

Gates said that he is visiting China for the first time since 2019. Gates is the latest high-profile business titan to visit the country in recent months, Fox Business reported.

The Microsoft co-founder on Wednesday tweeted: “I’ve just landed in Beijing for the first time since 2019, where I’m excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with @gatesfoundation for more than 15 years.”

The billionaire philanthropist had last met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015, and in 2020 Xi had written a letter thanking Gates and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging some USD 5 million to the country in its fight against COVID as per Fox Business.

On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it will provide USD 50 million over the next five years to help Chinese efforts to battle the disease.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University to support the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) “in its efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world’s poorest,” according to release by the foundation.

Meanwhile, as per Fox Business, China has been rolling out the red carpet for US CEOs in recent months.
Gates has retired from leading Microsoft and appears to be overseas to focus on the work of the global charitable organization he founded with his ex-wife.

Other high-profile visits to China this year included those by Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to visit China soon.

During Musk’s three-day visit to China the Tesla chief checked in on the electric vehicle giant’s operations and met with China’s foreign minister.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon also visited China earlier this month during a trip to Asia to meet with employees there and in neighboring Taiwan, as per Fox Business.

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

‘Adipurush’ disappoints: As Taran Adarsh gives the movie 1.5 stars, here are some reviews by audiences

OpIndia Staff
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‘Adipurush’ disappoints: As Taran Adarsh gives the movie 1.5 stars, here are some reviews by audiences

Hours after ‘Adipurush’ hit the theatres, popular film critic Taran Adarsh took to Twitter on Friday (June 16) to express his disappointment with the much-anticipated movie.

In a tweet, he said, “One-word review: Disappointing. Rating – 1.5 stars. Adipurush is an epic disappointment…Just doesn’t meet the mammoth expectations…Director OmRaut had a dream cast and a massive budget on hand, but creates a huge mess. #AdipurushReview.”

The film, purportedly made on a budget of 700 crores, is based on the Hindu epic ‘Ramayana.’ It features Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, and Prabhas in lead roles. The movie is produced by T-Series and shot in both Hindi and Telugu.

Popular Youtuber and film reviewer, Shan Prasher, remarked, “They have made a disastrous movie. Director Om Raut believes that he is ‘Valmiki’ (author of the Hindu epic) but in reality, he is a 6th standard fail. He did not bother to read the original Ramayana.”

“Everything portrayed in the movie is wrong. All characters are sexualised…Not one thing but multiple things are wrong with this movie. If you are a true Sanatani, then, you will boycott this movie.,” he emphasised.

“Is this someone’s bad dream made it as a scene here? Which #Ramayan states that Sita mata was brought to the battlefield?” asked another user.

“With VFX and dialogues like these, (1.5 stars) for the movie was inevitable,” wrote one ‘djaywalebabu.’

Hindu blogger Pooja Sangwan expressed disgust at the dialogues of the movie ‘Adipursh.’ While listing some of the disturbing one-liners, she said, “Neither dialogues are good nor visual. Such a waste movie.”

Popular Twitter user, Mr Sinha, pointed out how the old TV series ‘Ramayana by Ramanand Sagar’ was way better than the characters showcased in ‘Adipurush.’

Twitter handle ‘Gems of Bollywood’ wrote, “When you pretend to be stylish Sita Mata in vanvas (exile) immediately after shooting #Thumakeshwari item number. And then your pink dress has to be digitally altered after outrage. Adipurush is a colossal mockery of Ramayan”

Popular user, Rosy, highlighted how Adipurush’, which is based on Ramayana, employs crass language throughout the movie. “Definitely not seeing an epic Like Ramayana being distorted like this,” she added.

Another user ‘Inferno’ pointed out how the characters in the movie were apparently copied from a video game ‘God of War.’

Social media users have given their verdict – ‘Adipurush’ has failed to live up to its hype and has distorted the Hindu epic of ‘Ramayana’ in this process.

West Bengal: Bomb-making material recovered in South 24 Parganas amid violence during nominations for Panchayat polls

ANI
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West Bengal: Bomb-making material recovered in South 24 Parganas amid violence during nominations for Panchayat polls

West Bengal Police recovered bomb-making material in 24 Parganas’ Bhangar on Friday following the recent violence during nominations for Panchayat elections.

A total of seven bags filled with husk-like material were recovered. Moreover, a division bench of Calcutta High Court, led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, on Thursday directed the election commission in West Bengal to request the deployment of central paramilitary forces in all districts of the state within the next 48 hours, ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections in the state.

The final day of filing nominations witnessed continued clashes across various parts of the state, including an outbreak of violence at the Block Development Office in Birbhum’s Ahmadpur, where crude bombs were reportedly thrown.

However, as per the officials, no casualties have been reported in the incident. As per the visuals, crude bombs have also been hurled in the area. Police have detained a few people involved in the clash.

In an effort to maintain order, heavy security deployment has been made in the South 24 Parganas district. Tension and unease prevailed in several areas, particularly the Bhangar block, where clashes between supporters of the ruling TMC and Naushad Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front (ISF) over the past two days.

The two sets of supporters were seen on the roads, wielding sticks, as the police struggled to maintain law and order. Some police personnel, including the SDPO, sustained injuries during the clashes.

Canning sub-divisional police officer Dibakar Das said, “There was a clash between two groups. The mob attacked the police as well. I also got hurt on my hand during that time. Some policemen got minor injuries. 2 people were injured. We have arrested 17-18 people. The incident is being investigated.”

The Panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, with the counting of votes scheduled for July 11.

Look into the history, Ramcharitmanas was written in a mosque: RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav goes on an anti-Hindu tirade while blaming BJP for spreading ‘hate’

OpIndia Staff
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Look into the history, Ramcharitmanas was written in a mosque: RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav goes on an anti-Hindu tirade while blaming BJP for spreading ‘hate’

Ritlal Yadav, a member of the Bihar legislative assembly from Rashtriya Janata Dal has issued a controversial statement regarding the Ramcharitmanas. He stated that the holy text was written in a mosque. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of creating a rift in society in the name of Hindutva.

“You are attempting to incite hostility among the communities. How much longer will this last? Ram Temple was formerly discussed. If you remember, the Ramcharitmanas was penned in a mosque. Look into the past. No threat existed to our Hindutva at that time. Our Hindutva wasn’t in danger back when the Mughals ruled over us for such a long duration,” he asked.

The legislator charged, “Where were they when an 18-year-old girl won the Bhagavad Katha contest globally? Why were they not speaking up that a Muslim girl promoted Bhagavad Katha as well as absorbed it? People should also learn from it. If you are a true flag bearer of Hindutva then expel all the Muslims from your party. Why did you introduce the triple talaq bill?”

Ritlal Yadav has come under criticism from Janata Dal (United), the ruling alliance partner of RJD in Bihar. Abhishek Jha, a party’s spokesperson, mentioned people speak according to their convenience. “These types of claims need to be avoided because this sends the wrong message to the public. Anyone is free to practise any religion. This a personal matter of the people. This kind of agenda suits the BJP. They create tension in the name of religion.”

A BJP spokesman, Prem Ranjan Patel also refuted Ritlal Yadav’s argument and pointed out that Sanatan Dharma is the oldest religion in the world. “People from all over the world have embraced its culture. It is ignorant to speak against such a religion. Those who use Ramcharitmanas in their speech must be knowledgeable. Collect the right information first before discussing Ramayana’s formation.”

Notably, there has been a rain of similar utterances from several politicians in the country. The education minister of Bihar, Chandra Shekhar, who is also from the RJD, recently stoked outrage when he remarked that Ramcharitmanas spreads hate in the society. He declared that it should be burnt like Manusmruti because it spreads hatred in society. 

“A nation becomes great with love and affection. Books like Ramcharitmanas, Manusmriti and Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar’s Bunch of Thoughts sowed the seeds of hatred and social divide. This is the reason why people burnt Manusmriti and took exception to a portion of Ramcharitmanas, which talks against education for Dalits, backwards and women,” he voiced while addressing the 15th convocation ceremony of Nalanda Open University.

A member of a State Legislative Council (MLC) from the Samajwadi Party, Swami Prasad Maurya caused a major uproar when he alleged that several crores of people have not read Ramcharitmanas. The revered Hindu literature, he commented, was “all nonsense.” He demanded that the government either ban the entire book or outlaw its offensive sections. He claimed that the scripture considered ‘Shudras’ to be of low caste and added that Tulsidas composed it for his own pleasure.

Afterwards, members of the Akhil Bharatiya OBC (Other Backward Classes) Mahasabha in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, burned copies of the Ramcharitmanas and declared their support for Swami Prasad Maurya. Following the incident, a First Information Report (FIR) was booked on a complaint filed by BJP leader Satnam Singh Lavi against Devendra Pratap Yadav, Yashpal Singh Lodhi, Satyendra Kushwaha, Mahendra Pratap Yadav, Sujit Yadav, Naresh Singh, S S Yadav, Santosh Verma and Saleem along with the SP lawmaker.

Another party leader Lalji Patel extended his support to the MLC and announced, “Ramcharitmanas is not a religious book. It is a book that creates a divide in society and insults backward caste people and Dalits. It should be burnt.” Additionally, he made an appeal to members of the backward class and encouraged them to burn copies of the Ramcharitmanas during the festival of Holi.

“This book is like any other novel and it is being wrongly used to propagate the Hindu religion. Tulsidas has just stated his opinion. He had written the book for his own pleasure. It is not a religious book. The copies of the said book should be burnt on the day of Holika. Only then will the backward class people and Dalits get their rights,” he added.

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