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Love Jihad in Odisha: Protest in Bhubaneswar after attempts were made to brainwash and convert a 27-year-old Hindu girl

OpIndia Staff
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Love Jihad in Odisha: Protest in Bhubaneswar after attempts were made to brainwash and convert a 27-year-old Hindu girl

On Sunday, May 28, a group of youths held a protest in Bhubaneswar against love jihad in the state of Odisha after a case came to light in the state capital. Following the news of a love jihad case, the protestors shouted slogans against it and held placards with ‘Save Hindu girls’ and ‘Love Jihad will not be tolerated on Lord Jagannath’s land’ written on them.

As per an Odisha TV report, one of the protestors said, “We recently watched The Kerala Story, but never thought such an incident would happen in our neighbourhood, that too on the outskirts of the capital city, Bhubaneswar. We strongly oppose Love Jihad. We demand strong action against the accused in Khordha case and urge the administration to find out who are the masterminds behind such incidents.”

This protest was carried out after a recent case of love jihad in the state involving a 27 years old Hindu girl. The girl recently lodged a complaint with the Khordha Model Police station saying that a youth brainwashed her into converting to Islam with the false promise of marriage. The girl was apparently in a relationship for 8 years with the boy.

In her complaint, the girl has said that the youth developed a relationship with her while hiding his real identity. He developed physical relations with her and later threatened to make her nude videos viral and continued to maintain physical relations with her.

As per the girl’s complaint, the accused has similar relations with many girls and is now even set to marry one of them. He has been arrested by the police following the girl’s complaint.

The girl has also said that there is a threat to her life as the accused has connections with the local politicians.

The ‘Ruler vs the Ruled’ Culture and Babudom: It is time the Modi govt drained the swamp. Here is why

Ganesh R
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The ‘Ruler vs the Ruled’ Culture and Babudom: It is time the Modi govt drained the swamp. Here is why

A babu drained an entire reservoir to find his lost mobile phone. It is time Modi Sarkar drains the swamp known as babudom and IAS. The officer allegedly said the water is “stale and unfit for any use”. Well, you can exactly say that of Indian bureaucracy.

Anyone that has ever stepped into a government office, without connections, of course, can attest to the “ruler vs ruled” culture that prevails. These babus whatever their designation or rank, are practically impossible to reach. A bunch of serfs, hangers-on or peons will filter you out.  You must push past dozens of other darshan hopefuls waiting in vain. If he grants audience at all, it will be with an imperious attitude and a “don’t waste my time” look. In the past, the room will look like it’s been bombed by a B-1. Today we have air-conditioning, somewhat cleaner offices and laptops but the mindset is the same. He will cast a quick glance at your sheaf of documents. They will be rejected for the slightest deviation from norms that were never published or made known and practically thrown back at you. If he accepts you get a gruff “Hmph” and your paper gets thrown into a tray – a signal for you to get out. And chase another set of babus to see that it moves through the system.

Of course, all this changes dramatically if you go in with the right ‘credentials’. There are smiles all around, clerks and peons will be rushing to find your file and getting your work done. Someone will magically appear with a cup of tea. Even if you give a blank piece of paper, it will meet all norms and mysterious rules or will be made to.

This is the exact culture the British put in place. To be fair, this is what they did to themselves too, not just us. It has been parodied in serials like “Yes Minister”. The only difference is they are rich and we are not. They were the looters and we, the looted. It costs us a lot more to maintain our bloated, corrupt, incompetent babudom than it does a British citizen. I use the word cost in its widest possible sense. The salary is a very tiny part of it.

After independence, this culture suited the Congress and the ruling dynasty like a pair of good gloves. Because they were no different from the colonials and as far removed from the lives, needs, problems and pains of ordinary Indians as the British were. Their shehzades didn’t go to schools built by their family for ordinary Indians. They went to Doon or London. They needed a buffer between them and the ruled – a bunch of “labarthies” that benefited from the Nehruvian socialism, enjoyed the best schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas, didn’t have to pay their medical bills, and enjoyed inflation-proof salaries and pensions. It’s the others, the ordinary Indians that paid the price of this system. The babus were, and in many ways still are, no different from medieval aristocrats, noblemen and courtiers. By the way, did you know sons of nobles didn’t have to sit for or pass exams to get their degrees in Britain? 

Their powers increased by leaps and bounds in the “Idea of India” age. Laws were passed, and forms, returns, procedures and rules were invented to make practically everyone a criminal under some statute or the other. This gives them a powerful chokehold over everyone. If they wish they can squeeze it and fix you.

Babudom also provided the dynastic rulers with a chance to pass the buck. Often you will see news of a minister “scolding” a babu. At worse he gets suspended. That doesn’t mean anything – he gets his salary without even doing whatever little he was doing. And soon back in another job with exactly the same perks or even with a promotion. 

The recruitment process and career advancement too perpetuated the class system. You join government service either as a low-level clerk or pass the coveted IAS exam and join as an officer. It does not require any practical experience, commercial skills, selling, managing or negotiating with trade unions. 30-year-olds that won’t even get past the first interview in a decent private company will be ruling over an entire district with armies of constables and clerks reporting to them. Because they knew Mughal history, the exact year Tipu Sultan came to power or Nehru got his degree and read The Hindu regularly. The leftists gamed this too. 

Given the high level of unemployment and socialist constraints on private business, the academic qualifications of the clerks and IAS were soon no different too – many postgraduates and even engineering grads rush to apply for jobs as peons and clerks as everyone can’t become IAS.

On the contrary, the road to real promotion is practically shut for the lower class that join as clerks – at best you can reach a level that the IAS will join straight in or maybe a couple of ranks more say Undersecretary or Director. That too when you are staring at retirement, with all energy lost.

This is a powerful disincentive for performance. It tells millions of government workers – “do whatever you want you will never get beyond this rank in 40 years”. Might as well sit back and focus on your next DA increase or IPL scores. Care to name any Cabinet secretary that joined as a clerk and climbed the ranks with good work? While the private sector does recruit MBAs etc in high ranks, performance counts and out-of-turn promotions are very often seen.

Incidentally, a similar system was put in place by state-run insurance companies, banks etc. too. With very similar results, until competition forced them to change.

Most of the beneficiaries in the initial years were from the upper class. Far from complaining or seeking to overturn this system, the backward and Dalits were fooled to lobby for a ticket to join as insiders. Naturally, only elites within them benefited too.

It is a product of this system that drained the dam. And it is precisely this swamp that Modi needs to drain.

The idiotic forms and returns as well as tax changes invented by RBI, MCA, Income Tax and other babus are clear testimony to this. Nothing ever will change them. Reform is impossible. Just drain the swamp. Like the UP official did. 

Why? 

Because most of them, perhaps almost all of them, have never done a productive day of work in their entire lives. Never have they manufactured any widget, sold any product, or faced any real-life challenge. They never queued up for anything and don’t even have to be on the waitlist for a rail ticket. Even temples give them priority – God waits for them, not the other way around. Palatial bungalows constructed for British officers are given to Railway babus who are no different from the Regional managers in a logistics company. Our lordships who are supposed to keep this system clean enjoy the services of more domestic servants than a small European monarch.

Secluded in their offices, surrounded by sycophants and brokers, insulated from all worldly concerns, they live artificial lives. And invent artificial forms. Doesn’t matter who the FM is – NS or PC. They rule.

While Modi government shows the greatest possible realisation of this ugly truth, their steps so far have been baby steps. 

We need to have talented young Indians from various backgrounds with proper corporate or industrial experience in ALL ranks of babudom. They need to have seen how the economy, commerce and business work first-hand. They can be accountants, engineers, doctors, chemistry grads or maths wizards. But no pseudo social ‘sciences’ please. 

Will this form the top agenda item in NDA3? I hope so. For the sake of our children.

PS: I have been rather hard on babus but there is a significant minority that is truly devoted to their jobs, works hard and does miracles. My salute to them. Something tells me, they are the ones that will be happy to see change too. But we cannot build this country’s future on a lottery ticket system where most fail and only some work.

Plan to take over the Mutt, counselling Nehru, insulting Adheenams who gave Nehru the Sengol: What DMK founder Annadurai had said insulting Hindu tradition

OpIndia Staff
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Plan to take over the Mutt, counselling Nehru, insulting Adheenams who gave Nehru the Sengol: What DMK founder Annadurai had said insulting Hindu tradition

On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the new Parliament building and positioned the revered Sengol in the Lok Sabha’s chamber close to the Speaker’s seat.

The Sengol, a representation of the transfer of power, was handed over to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, just before the country gained its independence. Until recently, this significant Sengol was kept as Nehru’s “golden walking stick” in Anand Bhavan, the family’s home museum in Prayagraj.

The Sengol is currently the subject of heated discussion. If Congress has been disparaging it and contesting its importance, the DMK has insulted it by referring to it as a symbol of monarchy. But this is not the first time the DMK has disparaged this renowned Sengol, according to a report in The Commune Mag.

Days after India gained its independence, C.N. Annadurai, the party’s founder, published an article dismissing the Sengol and the Hindu mutt that donated it to Nehru. At that time, he was a member of the fervently anti-Hindu and anti-India group Dravidar Kazhagam (DK).

In his article “Sengol, Oru Vendukol” (Sceptre, A Request), which appeared in his journal “Dravida Nadu” on August 24, 1947, Annadurai made disgraceful comments about the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, casting doubt on the motivations behind the chief of the Mutt in giving the Sengol to Nehru on the occasion of India’s independence.

“It is unexpected and unnecessary. It is not only unnecessary. If you think about the deep meaning behind it, it will be crystal clear that it is dangerous,” he had written. He questioned if the Sengol was given to Nehru as a gift, donation, portion, or licence fee. Annadurai questioned the motives of the Hindu Mutt, saying, “We do not know what Pandithar (Nehru) thought about the Sengol or what letter the Adheenakarthar (Adheenam’s head) might have sent along with the Sengol.”

Using the analogy of the legend of Manickavasagar, a Lord Shiva devotee who turned foxes into horses, Annadurai joked that the Sengol that had been turned into gold by the power of holy ash was not just any ordinary piece of iron.

Nehru was also counselled by Annadurai, who said that he must be fully aware of the fact that rulers, who were fattened by the labour of the people under them and had decorated forts, used religion as a tool to strengthen their control.

He urged Nehru to abandon such practices to pave the way for the “flourishing of democracy”. He also indicated that the heads of the Mutts feared Nehru’s potential implementation of these principles and so presented a golden sceptre, thereby derogating the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam.

He said that the Mutt’s head was stealing other people’s labour and thought it was improper to call it a Sengol. Annadurai further said that the head of the Mutt wanted to win Nehru’s favour and used the gift to seem close to the new administration and keep control of the people.

He said that the working class was left toiling in the Mutt’s lush paddy fields, which could produce harvests more valuable than the rare stones, and that the money represented only a small portion of the wealth held by a saint who had abandoned worldly matters.

The founder of the DMK put out the notion of taking control of the mutt, arguing that if the government were to seize its money and use it to raise people’s standards of living, the Sengol would stop serving as a purely ornamental item and instead enhance people’s lives.

On May 26th, 2023, Murasoli reprinted this Annadurai article. Chairman of The Hindu publishing group N. Ram had also shared the Murasoli article calling it a “contemporaneous satire”.

On the eve of the opening of the new Parliament building, The Hindu paraphrased and reposted the story in English. Jairam Ramesh and Lakshmi Ramachandran, among other Congress officials, shared this version of the article.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed ‘Sengol’ in the Lok Sabha chamber at the New Parliament Building amidst Vedic chants by the high priests of various adheenams (maths). Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla accompanied PM Modi during the installation. The installation of Sengol took place before performing Puja. After installing the Sengol, he sought blessings from the high priests. Sengol has been installed in a special enclosure on the right side of the Speaker’s chair.

Meat thrown on temple paths, Love Jihad and eve-teasing: While Rajasthan police say no exodus took place, Hindu victims say this to OpIndia

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Meat thrown on temple paths, Love Jihad and eve-teasing: While Rajasthan police say no exodus took place, Hindu victims say this to OpIndia

Since last week the Purohit Mohalla in the Kishanpole area of Jaipur in Rajasthan has been in the news after posters blaming Congress councillor Farid Quresh for an alleged exodus of local Hindu families surfaced. The Rajasthan police refuted the claims of the suspected alleged exodus and registered an FIR against the unidentified persons. However, when OpIndia spoke to Hindu residents of Purohit Mohalla, Ward No. 69, Kishanpole on Monday (May 22, 2023), they made somewhat different claims.

Abuses started even before the Hindus settled in the area: Hindus in Kishanpole area in Rajasthan talk to OpIndia

The squabble began with the purchase of a Hindu dwelling in the neighbourhood by a relative of Congress corporator Farid Qureshi. Sonia Pareek, who lives in the neighbourhood, told OpIndia that the brother of councillor Farid Qureshi had purchased a house. Some Muslim youths had arrived to clean it up. These youths, namely Farooq, Mohsin, and Rais abused the Hindu women in the area. They hurled casteist slurs at a Dalit woman, said Sonia adding that the local police were working under duress.

Meat and bones are thrown on Temple paths

OpIndia went on to speak to Bhuvanesh, another Ward 69 resident. Bhuvanesh said that his neighbourhood is known as Chhoti Kashi in Rajasthan due to the abundance of temples in the area. However, because of the Muslim population in the neighbourhood, they find it impossible to visit the temple to pay obeisance. Bhuvanesh alleged that just to annoy the Hindu devotees, the Muslims residents purposely throw meat and bones on the path leading to the temples.

Love jihad and eve-teasing: Hindus leaving Kishanpole area in Rajasthan talk reveal their plight

Bhuvanesh further recalled how over the years, many Hindu girls in his neighbourhood have fallen into the trap of love jihad laid by Muslim youths in the area. Many of them are yet to return home, said Bhuvanesh.

He further revealed how the local Muslim youths cause a commotion at night by parking their vehicles on the streets around the neighbourhood, harassing and molesting the Hindu girls who pass by.

Kishanpole area in Rajasthan to become Muslim majority in a few years:

Bhuvanesh said that Ward 69 was previously a Hindu-dominated neighbourhood. However, there has been an unprecedented increase in the Muslim population in the area recently. Bhuvanesh added that the Muslims have purchased approximately 50 properties from various other communities, including the Mali community, in the last few years. “If this situation continues,” he argued, “everyone will have to migrate after a while.”

He further claimed that even if two groups of Muslims come face to face, Hindus must suffer. The window panes of Hindu homes have been damaged numerous times as a result of stone pelting, he lamented.

Who sold the house to the councillor’s relative and why?

The individual who sold the residence to Councillor Farid’s brother is identified as Ajay Pareek. Arjun Pareek, Ajay’s relative, spoke to OpIndia. He stated that many Hindus were willing to give a bigger sum to Ajay for this house. Despite this, it is a mystery why he sold the house to Farid’s brother. Arjun claimed that since selling the house, Ajay has stopped answering the phone of any of his relatives. He claimed that there must have been some pressure put on Ajay to sell his house to Farid’s brother.

Manish Pareek, a Kishanpole-based social activist and BJP leader, spoke with OpIndia. He stated that the buyer of the property is the brother of Congress corporator Farid. Amin Kagzi, the local MLA, is close to Councillor Farid. “The police are looking for Hindus who put up eviction notices when they should be looking for Ajay Pareek, who is not in contact with anyone,” he said.

OpIndia further spoke to BJP MLA Ramlal Sharma, who first raised the issue of the Hindu exodus. The BJP MLA expressed concern with the police working style, claiming that instead of conducting a fair probe, efforts are being made to suppress the situation.

Local Muslims, on the other hand, see it as an unnecessary squabble. They claim to be having no issues with Hindus. A person who went to clean Farid’s brother’s house, on the other hand, accused Hindus of abusing them.

Last week, OpIndia reported that the ‘exodus’ posters were pasted in the Purohiton Ka Chowk, wherein around fifty Hindu families reside. The residents in the area claimed that the Muslim population in the area is being purposely increased. The locals blamed this on Congress councillor Farid Qureshi. They also accused Farid of filing bogus complaints against people, as well as assaulting and abusing them. The local people expressed profound concern for the safety of the women in their families.

Madhya Pradesh: Seven arrested for attacking a Hindu man for having dinner with a Muslim woman

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Seven arrested for attacking a Hindu man for having dinner with a Muslim woman

Madhya Pradesh Police has arrested seven Islamist men involved in assaulting a Hindu man identified as Bhavesh Sunhare. Sunhare was attacked while returning from a dinner with a Muslim woman identified as Nasreen Sultana, a college friend of Bhavesh. The incident took place on May 25.

As per reports, the duo was stopped by a group of 20-30 Islamist men while returning from a restaurant. In a statement, Additional DCP Rajesh Singh Raghuwanshi said, “The woman argued that she had her parents’ permission. The accused beat up her friend. Some bystanders tried to intervene to protect the man, but they were attacked with knives.”

Bhavesh was the victim of the ‘Bhagwa Love Trap’ conspiracy targeting Hindu men. On May 25, a mob of 20-30 Islamists started following Bhavesh and Nasreen who were travelling back after having dinner at a restaurant in the Tukoganj area of Indore. Two cases were registered against several people. Six were reportedly arrested by May 27 including Shoaib, Shavez Lala, Muzzamin, Amin Lala, Saif, and Arbaaz.

A video of the incident went viral on social media with netizens seeking action against the attacking mob seen in the video. The mob surrounded the victim duo in the Gwaltoli area and questioned the girl why she was roaming with a Hindu boy. Nasreen objected to the mob’s misbehaviour and told her that she had informed her parents about her dinner plans with Bhavesh.

Meanwhile, Additional DCP Rajesh Raghuvanshi said, “After informing her parents, the woman told them she had come to have dinner with the man.” She also objected to their misbehaviour. Meanwhile, two others who came to the couple’s rescue were attacked with a knife by someone in the crowd.

Additional DCP Raghuvanshi also informed that two cases have been registered in the matter, one at the Tukoganj police station and the other at the Gwaltoli police station. An FIR was registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, and seven suspects were identified, according to Tukoganj police station in-charge Kamlesh Sharma.

Efforts are being made to apprehend the other accused.

OpIndia tried reaching out to the police stations where FIRs were registered and DCP Rajesh Raghuvanshi but could not connect.

Karnataka cabinet portfolios allotted: CM Siddaramaiah keeps Finance for himself, gives DK Shivakumar Irrigation and Bengaluru City Development

ANI
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Karnataka cabinet portfolios allotted: CM Siddaramaiah keeps Finance for himself, gives DK Shivakumar Irrigation and Bengaluru City Development

Two days after the Karnataka cabinet reached its full strength of 34, the portfolios were allocated with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah keeping Finance and his deputy DK Shivakumar getting Major and Medium Irrigation, and Bengaluru City Development ministries. 

Other than this, CM Siddaramaiah has also kept the ministries of Cabinet Affairs, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Intelligence, Information, IT and BT Infrastructure development and all unallocated portfolios. DK Shivakumar, under the Bengaluru City Development Ministry, will be having control over BBMP, BWSSB, BMRDA, BMRCL and BDA. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son and Chittapur MLA Priyank Kharge have been given the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. 

G Parameshwara was allocated the crucial Home Ministry in the state of Karnataka. 

HK Patil has been allocated the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation and Tourism. Former Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao was allocated the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Former Minister and Batarayanapur MLA Krishna Byregowda got the Revenue Ministry (excluding Muzrai). 

MC Sudhakar has been allocated the Education Ministry and D Sudhakar has been assigned to the Ministry of Planning and Statistics. 

Karnataka cabinet reached its full strength of 34 with 24 ministers taking oath as ministers on May 27. Earlier, eight ministers along with CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar had taken oath on May 20. 

The eight MLAs who took oath on May 20 were; Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge, party’s MLAs G Parameshwara and MB Patil, KH Muniyappa, KJ George, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan. 

The 24 ministers who took oath on May 27 taking the state cabinet to its full strength were; HK Patil, Krishna Byregowda, N Cheluvarayaswamy, K Venkatesh, HC Mahadevappa, Eshwar Khandre, Kyathasandra N Rajanna, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Shivanand Patil, Timmapur Ramappa Balappa, SS Mallikarjun, Tangadagi Shivaraj Sangappa, Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Mankal Vaidya, Laxmi R Hebbalkar, Rahim Khan, D Sudhakar, Santosh S Lad, NS Boseraju, Suresha BS, Madhu Bangarappa, MC Sudhakar, and B Nagendra. 

The Karnataka cabinet expansion was done after the Chief Minister and Shivakumar held consultations with the party’s central leadership. 
Congress bagged 135 seats in the May 10 elections for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly ousting the ruling BJP, which got 66 seats in the southern state.

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

Tamil Nadu: 10 including 2 DMK Councillors arrested for preventing IT officials from raiding Minister Senthil Balaji’s premises, over workers vandalized IT van

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: 10 including 2 DMK Councillors arrested for preventing IT officials from raiding Minister Senthil Balaji’s premises, over workers vandalized IT van

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu Police arrested nine persons including two DMK Councillors for stopping the government officials from performing their duty. The accused persons are said to have stopped the Income Tax Officials from doing their duty while the latter had tried to search premises linked to State Minister Senthil Balaji on May 26.

According to the reports, DMK workers prevented an Income-Tax (I-T) team from examining the leased residence of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok in Karur town and damaged their car as the officials conducted simultaneous searches at around 40 locations connected to the two on Friday morning.

I-T authorities said that because of demonstrations, searches had to be stopped at a few other locations as well. The police said that the CCTV visuals were checked to identify the persons who attacked and prevented IT officials from doing their duty. “So far, we have arrested 10 which includes two DMK Councillors. They were also sent to remand. Further investigation is going on,” the Police said.

The searches were carried out at properties in Chennai, Coimbatore and Karur districts. “Around 40 premises linked to Balaji and his brother Ashok are under inspection since morning. The properties mostly belong to Balaji, his brother, and their close allies and friends,” the IT officials were quoted as saying. 

V Senthil Balaji is the Minister of Electricity, Excise and Prohibition. He alleged that the Income Tax officials scaled the compound wall of his rented accommodation in Karur.

However, it was reported that more than 200 DMK workers, including Karur Mayor Kavitha Ganesan, accosted the I-T officials earlier in the day and demanded that they provide their ID cards. They also vandalized a car belonging to the Income Tax (I-T) department and manhandled officials of the department.

The ruckus came under control only after the Police were called on the spot. The DMK stated that the BJP had been attacking opposition parties via government organisations like the Income Tax. DMK organisation secretary R S Bharathi also claimed that the BJP was targeting the DMK because of the M K Stalin-led government’s popularity in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhil, K Annamalai, head of the BJP’s state unit, criticized the state government over the Karur event, stating that ‘the law and order in the state has failed’. He demanded harsh punishment for anyone who hindered the I-T team. Balaji, a prominent figure in Karur, joined the DMK before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was formerly a powerful minister in the AIADMK Cabinet.

The I-T searches were initiated in response to charges made against Balaji, including claims of a cash-for-jobs fraud, inconsistencies, and a lack of transparency in the management of the financially successful Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, which markets imported alcohol throughout the state.

Earlier the state police had also said that neither the police nor the CRPF were informed about the searches and that the IT officials had reached at the minister’s brother’s house in plainclothes. However, the Police on Monday took cognizance of the event and arrested nine persons including DMK councillor for stopping the government officials from performing their duty.

Bandra-Versova sea link named after Veer Savarkar by CM Shinde: Read how NCP had chosen to name Bandra-Worli sea link after Rajiv Gandhi instead of Savarkar

OpIndia Staff
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Bandra-Versova sea link named after Veer Savarkar by CM Shinde: Read how NCP had chosen to name Bandra-Worli sea link after Rajiv Gandhi instead of Savarkar

On May 28, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the upcoming Bandra-Versova sea link will be named after the freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Veer Damodar Savarkar. He also announced that a state-level gallantry award along the lines of the one that the Central government gives will be named after Savarkar. The Sea Link will be called ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Sea Link’.

While speaking on Savarkar’s birth anniversary, CM Shinde said that the former’s name has been maligned by some people with vested interests and out of fright that their shops would be shut if his thoughts become mainstream. Notably, this was the first time Savarkar’s birth anniversary was celebrated at Maharashtra Sadan constructed by the state government.

He said, “The critics of Savarkar know if his thoughts become popular in society, they will have to shut shop. Imagine how terrified they are that they oppose Savarkar even after 57 years of his death There have been deliberate and consistent attempts to malign the image of Savarkar by some for their selfish gains. It is unfortunate even after 57 years of his death, some people fail to understand him. It angers me to see some people deliberately try to malign his image.”

Praising the move, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked CM Shinde. Notably, in March this year, Fadnavis sent an official letter to CM Shinde requesting him to name the sea link after Veer Savarkar. He said, “This will ensure Savarkar’s name and work remain etched in the memory of people.”

NCP chose Rajiv Gandhi over Savarkar for the Bandra-Worli sea link

This is not the first time Savarkar’s name has been proposed for a sea link. In 2009, BJP-Shiv Sena proposed Savarkar’s name for the Bandra-Worli sea link. However, the then-Maharashtra government under Congress-NCP denied the proposal and chose Rajiv Gandhi’s name for the same.

According to an Indian Express report from July 2009, NCP chief Sharad Pawar suggested Rajiv Gandhi’s name for the sea link. In an editorial, Sena mouthpiece Saamna pointed out that the sea link could have been named after personalities born in Maharashtra including Savarkar, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Jotiba Phule or Babu Genu. However, Pawar suggested Rajiv Gandhi’s name to “please Sonia”.

While BJP-Sena said a decision was made to name the sea link after Savarkar, NCP leader and then-deputy CM CHhagan Bhujbal claimed there were no documents to show that the link was originally named after Veer Sawarkar.

About Bandra-Versova Sea Link

Bandra-Versova Sea Link is an upcoming 17.17 KM bridge connecting Versova and Banfra-Worli Sea Link in Bandra. It is part of the Coastal Road. The project was scheduled to be started in 2019 and completed in 2023. However, the construction began in August 2022 and the deadline for the project was shifted to 2026.

Rajasthan HC allows woman to change gender to ‘male’ on record after re-assignment surgery, says choosing sex or gender identity is integral to personality

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan HC allows woman to change gender to ‘male’ on record after re-assignment surgery, says choosing sex or gender identity is integral to personality

On May 25, Rajasthan High Court allowed a physical trainer to change his name and gender on his service record from female to male. The petitioner identified as Chinder Pal Singh got his sex reassignment surgery after a psychological evaluation between 2014 and 2017 from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. He was on hormone replacement therapy since then.

In the judgment, Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand remarked that the right of a human being to choose his or her sex or gender identity is an integral part of his or her personality. He added that it is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom.

Furthermore, Justice Dhand remarked that every person is entitled to enjoy all human rights that are a basic necessity to survive without any discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. The court said, “Gender identity is the most fundamental aspect of life which refers to a person’s intrinsic value of being a Male or Female. There are times when the human body is not formed with all of its proper attributes, therefore genital anatomy problems may arise and many of them do not choose to undergo gender reassignment surgery to change their gender.”

Citing Rigveda, the court remarked, “According to the Rigveda, in Hindu mythology, three types of genders have been considered – the Male, that is the ‘Purush’, the Female that is the ‘Prakriti’ and the third gender that is the ‘Tritiya Prakriti’. In recent times modern Indian society has considered them as the third gender otherwise there was no such identity given to them legally. Still, all is not well, and the third gender people are struggling to constitute a part of the civil society.”

The petitioner was born as a female student and completed her studies as a female. She was later appointed as a physical training instructor, Grade III under General Female Category in 2013. At the age of 32, she was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and the psychiatrist who did her evaluation found her fit for ‘Sex Reassignment Surgery’.

The petitioner then underwent the required surgery with Phalloplasty in the year 2014-2017 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and became male from female. In August 2018, the consultant Urologist doctor issued a certificate that gave the petitioner status of the male gender. The name was changed from Chinder Pal Kaur to Chinder Pal Singh in the Official Gazette of India. He also got his name changed on the Aadhaar Card.

However, when he submitted a request to make the required changes in the service record in October 2018, the file was forwarded to the Joint Director, of Secondary Education. After waiting for three years, the petitioner submitted a plea in court to get the required changes in order.

In the view of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, the court said it is the right of a transgender person to be recognised not only as a transgender but also to have a right to self-perceived gender identity. The court said, “This court is of the opinion that the petitioner who has opted for the Male gender and has undergone sex reassignment surgeries for aiding his self-perception as a member of the said gender, would definitely be recognized as a Male gender and he is entitled to get the change and correction of his name and gender in his service record.”

The petitioner has been asked to submit an application before the District Magistrate and directions have been given to the DM to verify the application and issue the required certificate within a month. The court said, “Such procedure shall be completed by the District Magistrate within a period of sixty days from the date petitioner applies before him along with the certified copy of this order. On the basis of the certificate issued by the District Magistrate, the petitioner shall be at liberty to approach the authorities concerned i.e. the respondents, who shall take immediate steps to change the name and gender of the petitioner in his service record. Such exercise shall be completed within a period of one month from the date the petitioner approaches the respondents along with the certified copy of this order and the certificate issued to him by the District Magistrate.”

Two Chinese govt agents arrested in the US for a plot by Beijing against exiled anti-Communist Falun Gong spiritual movement: Full details

ANI
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Two Chinese govt agents arrested in the US for a plot by Beijing against exiled anti-Communist Falun Gong spiritual movement: Full details

US authorities have arrested two suspected Chinese government agents in connection with an alleged plot by Beijing against the exiled anti-communist Falun Gong spiritual movement, Al Jazeera reported. 

Falun Gong which is broadly based around meditation, was banned by China in 1999, after 10,000 members appeared at the central leadership compound in Beijing in silent protest. The group has called for people to renounce the ruling Chinese Communist Party. 

According to CNN, John Chen and Lin Feng were charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday with scheming to revoke a New York-based Falun Gong organisation’s tax-exempt status and paying bribes to an undercover police officer posing as a US tax agent. 

Chen, a 70-year-old US citizen, and Feng, a 43-year-old lawful permanent resident, are charged with acting as unregistered agents of a foreign government, bribing a public official and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. 

Both Chen and Feng were born in China but now live in the Los Angeles area where they were arrested on Friday. Information on an initial court appearance or lawyers who could speak on their behalf was not immediately available. 

Federal prosecutors allege that in seeking to undermine Falun Gong in the US, Chen and Feng urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke the organisation’s non-profit tax status. In a whistle-blower complaint to the tax agency in February, Chen described Falun Gong as a “gigantic mega cult”, echoing the language China’s government uses to describe the movement. 

Chen and Feng then turned to the undercover officer to make sure the IRS acted on the complaint, offering a payment of USD 50,000 – and handing over USD 5,000 in cash as a down payment – if the tax agency conducted an audit, prosecutors said, as per CNN. 

The undercover police officer posing as the tax official recorded multiple conversations with Chen and investigators obtained a wiretap to record phone calls in which Chen and Feng discussed instructions they purportedly received from Chinese government officials, prosecutors said. 

Prosecutors said that in one recording, Chen said Beijing would be “very generous” in rewarding the undercover officer’s help in cracking down on Falun Gong’s non-profit status. 

(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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