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Godhra train burning case: Supreme Court grants bail to 8 life convicts

OpIndia Staff
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Godhra train burning case: Supreme Court grants bail to 8 life convicts

The Supreme Court granted bail to eight life convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case on Friday due to the length of their sentences (17–18 years) and their individual parts in the crime. Four accused were, however, denied bail owing to their involvement in the case.

On February 27, 2002, some coaches of the Sabarmati Express were set ablaze at the Godhra Railway Station in Gujarat, resulting in the deaths of about 59 persons, including women and children. Massive riots broke out in Gujarat as a result of the occurrence. In 2011, a local court found 31 accused guilty and cleared 63 others.

The high court lowered 11 convicts’ death sentences in the case to life in prison in its October 2017 ruling and affirmed the life sentences imposed on 20 other individuals.

In his argument on behalf of the Gujarat government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court, which was presided over by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha, that he had some concerns about the bail requests of four accused because of their involvement in the train burning case. The accused have undergone imprisonment for nearly 17 years.

He opposed the release of the four accused asserting that one of them had an iron pipe in his possession, while another had a sickle placed on a pole. He mentioned that the third accused attacked the passengers and stole their belongings while the last one bought, stored and carried the petrol that was used for starting the fire in the coach.

He had previously asserted that it wasn’t just a case of stone-throwing because the inmates had bolted a Sabarmati Express bogie and set it aflame, killing 59 passengers.

On behalf of the petitioners, senior attorney Sanjay Hegde urged that the court postpone the hearing on the four convicts’ bail requests, whose bail was challenged by Tushar Mehta, and give bail to other perpetrators.

He went on to say that he made this request precisely since there is a festival (Eid al-Fitr) on Saturday and he pushed the bench to consider the bail applications of the four accused after two weeks because they would be making statements on their behalf.

A second senior attorney pleaded with the bench not to reject the four accused bail petitions and postpone the hearing on their bail applications.

Tushar Mehta argued that the court should deny the four convicts’ pleas for release, adding that the court may keep the door open for them to resubmit their requests after a year or so.

Following the hearing of submissions, the bench approved bail for eight convicts while rejecting it for another four. “We direct that they be released on bail subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the sessions court,” the bench declared at the conclusion of the hearing for eight petitioners to whom it had granted bail.

The top court had denied bail to two of the convicts on the last hearing date. The commute of 11 convicts’ death sentences to life in prison was challenged by the Gujarat government in a petition to the Supreme Court.

There are currently several appeals against the conviction before the Supreme Court. It had granted bail to one of the accused on December 15 of last year.

The Supreme Court had given the state government notice on the bail requests of Abdul Raheman Dhantia alias Kankatto, Abdul Sattar Ibrahim Gaddi Asla, and others in January of this year.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai releases ‘DMK files’ alleging corruption by CM Stalin’s family, DMK leaders send legal notice – read details

Gopal Tiwari
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Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai releases ‘DMK files’ alleging corruption by CM Stalin’s family, DMK leaders send legal notice – read details

On Friday, 21st April 2023, K Annamalai – the president of the Tamil Nadu state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party – asked Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin to take the responsibility for the actions of his family in corruption. He also insisted that Stalin should answer the people about the “DMK Fies” and take appropriate action.

K Annamalai tweeted, “On behalf of the Tamil Nadu BJP, I insist that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr MK Stalin should take responsibility for the actions of his family in corruption and answer to the people and take appropriate action.”

K Annamalai also shared a statement that said, “Yesterday, we released an audio clip in which the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, Mr PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, and both Udhayanidhi Stalin and Niru Sabareesan were heard saying that they had earned Rs 30,000 crores illegally in a single year. The Tamil Nadu Finance Minister’s statement adds to the video ‘DMK Files’ which we released on the 14th of this month. Till now, the DMK government’s silence without giving any explanation for it is a matter of concern for the people who voted for them and elected them. MK Stalin should feel it.”

The statement added, “BJP was saying from the beginning that the Coimbatore blast incident is a terror attack case. DMK denied it saying that it was just a cylinder explosion. Recently, it was proved by agencies that it was a terror act. On the one hand, there is a law and order problem in the state and on the other hand members of the chief minister MK Stalin’s family are involved in corruption. Stalin’s family acting against the promises made to the people and earning Rs 30000 crores illegally in a single year through corruption is no longer acceptable. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister should condemn this act of his family members who are flourishing in corruption. On behalf of the Bharatiya Janadhar Party in Tamil Nadu, I urge Stalin to take responsibility and answer to the people and take appropriate action.”

Audio of minister’s talk released

On 20th April 2023, an audio clip of Tamil Nadu’s finance minister Palanivel Thiagarajan allegedly speaking about his cabinet colleague and Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin went viral. The contentious audio recording has been uploaded numerous times by opposition party politicians, including BJP state president K Annamalai, who published the tape’s English and Tamil transcriptions on Twitter.

The finance minister – commonly referred to as PTR — is allegedly heard asserting in the audio recording that MK Stalin’s son and minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and son-in-law V Sabareesan had accumulated wealth through illegal means. Sabareesan, an essential DMK strategist, is married to Stalin’s daughter Senthamarai.

The finance minister allegedly said, “Both Udhayanidhi and Sabari realised that they made more money in one year than their grandparents did in their lives. And now it is getting to be a problem. How to handle it? How to not get caught? It’s all playing like… can’t really tell pretty close. Will say 30,000 crores.”

The DMK Files

K Annamalai, the president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, disclosed a series of papers titled “DMK files” on alleged corruption within the DMK government on Friday. According to the BJP leader’s calculations and estimates, the DMK leaders’ assets were “worth Rs 1.34 lakh crore”. Annamalai further intimated that the AIADMK, a BJP ally that leads the Opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu, will not be spared in his corruption discovery.

In a press conference he addressed on 14th April 2023, Annamalai said, “DMK files will not end with a single part; every party that ruled the state will be exposed before 2024. If I am going to expose corruption, I will have to expose the corruption of everyone.”

He presented accusations of corruption against DMK leaders and their close relatives as he received cheers and applause from BJP supporters. He also asked the ruling party some pointed questions. The state BJP head accused DMK leaders Jagatratchagan, E V Velu, K N Nehru, Kanimozhi, Kalanidhi Maran, T R Baalu, Kalanithi Veerasamy, Duraimurugan, Kathir Anand, Arcot Veersamy, Kalanidhi Veersamy, and K Ponmudy among others of irregularities and discrepancies in assets.

Annamalai raised concerns regarding the funding of Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant movies, relationships between chief minister M K Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan and director of George’s Bank Srinivas Venkatesh in England, and an agreement Stalin signed with the Noble group of companies, where ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi were allegedly once directors. Additionally, Annamalai implicated CM Stalin with corruption in relation to the Metro Phase 1 contract, which took place between 2006 and 2011 during the DMK government.

DMK leaders filed defamation cases against K Annamalai

On Wednesday, 19th April 2023, DMK Youth Wing chief and Tamil Nadu Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin sent a legal notice to state BJP president K Annamalai over the allegations he made in the DMK Files. Udhayanidhi, son of Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, demanded ₹ 50 crores as damages from Annamalai, besides an unconditional apology.

Besides Udhayanidhi Stalin, many other leaders from DMK sent defamation notices to K Annamalai. The BJP leader summarized them all in a thread of tweets he posted. He wrote, “The pertinent questions DMK Files asked have received nothing but kneejerk responses from DMK. The State FM’s admission of the 1st family accumulating more than ₹30,000 Crores in just a year hasn’t received any responses yet as they are spending their time, energy & their wallets to send me defamation notices.”

He further tweeted, “BGR Energy sent me a defamation notice for ₹500 Crore for exposing DMK’s favouritism to re-award a contract previously cancelled by TANGEDCO. Later DMK’s Organisation Secretary Thiru RS Bharathi sent me a Notice claiming ₹100 Crore for exposing the True nature of Thiru MK Stalin’s Dubai visit.”

He added, “After we exposed the wealth accumulated by DMK through DMK Files on 14th April 2023, Thiru RS Bharathi sent me a defamation notice for ₹500 Crore, Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin for ₹50 Crore & Thiru TR Baalu for ₹100 Crore. Total defamation received by me to date till this hour is ₹1250 Crores.”

K Annamalai wrote in the last tweet of this thread, “DMK’s urge to fill their personal coffers never ends. These empty threats & Defamation notices are not going to help their cause. If you want my voice crushed, you should do better than just sending these notices, Thiru MK Stalin. Bring it on!”

BJP spokesperson’s remarks

BJP spokesperson Dr Syed Zafar Islam said, “DMK has been making shameful attempts of finding new means of money laundering. V Sabareesan, the son-in-law of MK Stalin, has set up two companies in the UK. And these so-called companies are nothing but the means of illegally routing the ill-gotten wealth.”

He added, “On one hand, Modi Ji has been giving a huge blow to corruption, and on the other hand, the DMK is busy furthering corruption. Be it the Gandhi family or the DMK, each and everyone therein has been absolutely immersed in corrupt practices, in eating away people’s money and resources.”

Netizens demand answers from Wipro after alleged ’employee’ makes derogatory comments about Lord Ram

OpIndia Staff
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Netizens demand answers from Wipro after alleged ’employee’ makes derogatory comments about Lord Ram

On Thursday (April 20), an alleged employee at Indian multinational corporation Wipro courted controversy for sharing a derogatory meme of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita.

Identified as one Soma Sarkar, she shared a post wherein Lord Ram was shown throwing Goddess Sita into a burning pyre. It was accompanied by the caption ‘Ram after rescuing Sita from Ravana.’

“Chaddis (a derogatory term for RSS members) will say Ravaan kidnapped the shadow of Sita. Bolo Jay Shree Raam,” she commented with a laughing emoji.

Screengrab of the Facebook post of Soma Sarkar

Screenshots of her contentious Facebook post began doing the rounds of other social media platforms. Netizens criticised Soma Sarkar for her remarks and sought action against her from her alleged employer, Wipro.

“Hey @Wipro she is Soma sarkar who claims to be working as Senior Pharmacovigilance Associate at Wipro. She is posting blasphemous content on Facebook, do you promote these types of employees??” wrote one user.

Another user tweeted, “Hello, @KolkataPolice, this girl name #SomaSarkar is abusing Lord Ram & Lord Krishna and posting derogatory post against Hinduism. Please take actions against her.”

Screengrab of the tweet

Opindia was able to find the cached copy of her LinkedIn profile, wherein her designation was stated as ‘Pharmacovigilance Assistant’ at Wipro. At the time of writing, Soma Sarkar had deleted/deactivated her account.

Screengrab of the LinkedIn profile of Soma Sarkar

On her LinkedIn profile, the name of her alma mater is listed as ‘NSHM College of Management and Technology.’ On visiting the varsity site, we found the name of Soma Sarkar mentioned in the list of students placed at Wipro Pvt Ltd. in 2020.

Screengrab of the website of the University

On her Instagram profile (@flying_megh), one of her posts from earlier this month was accompanied by hashtags ‘wipro’, ‘wiproites’ and ‘wiprokolkata.’

Screengrab of the Instagram post of Soma Sarkar

Although several social media users had sought a response from Wipro, the corporation did not respond to the allegations or issued a statement in this regard.

Opindia has reached out to Wipro via its contact form and publicly available email correspondence. The article will be updated after we receive a response from the company.

‘Was Atiq Gandhi for you?’ Asaduddin Owaisi slammed for comparing killers of gangster Atiq Ahmed with Godse

OpIndia Staff
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‘Was Atiq Gandhi for you?’ Asaduddin Owaisi slammed for comparing killers of gangster Atiq Ahmed with Godse

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi came under fire from the Bharatiya Janata Party for calling the murderers of Atiq Ahmed “Godse.”

Responding to the statement, BJP’s Shalabh Mani Tripathi charged, “I can’t comment on the killers but look at the comparison made by Owaisi. He is directly equating Atiq Ahmed with Gandhi. He (Atiq Ahmed) was made a member of parliament by the Samajwadi Party. His wife (Shaista Parveen) was put forth as a candidate by the Bahujan Samaj Party. Imran Pratapgarhi of the Congress compares him (Atiq Ahmed) to God.”

The BJP MLA accused the opposition of siding with the criminals. “Their (the opposition) politics of gangster worship are being observed by the entire nation. Congress, SP, and BSP have always supported the mafia. Owaisi wants to polarise elections. He made the same effort during the last UP elections, but he was unsuccessful. He lost deposits on all his seats. The people of UP and India will once more provide him with a befitting reply in the upcoming elections,” he proclaimed.

Swami Chakrapani, a politician and leader of a breakaway faction of the Hindu Mahasabha, also commented on the issue. He noted, “This is terribly regrettable. Asaduddin Owaisi sees Godse in everything. Violence is never acceptable, under any circumstances. The constitution governs the nation, thus protests must be conducted in accordance with it. However, criminals are being celebrated, and Congress officials are calling for Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed, who were recently assassinated, to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, the status of martyr, and the national flag (wrapped around their dead bodies).”

“Where is this country headed,” he asked. “Now, Owaisi has dragged Godse and Gandhi into this. It is quite unfortunate that this polarisation trend has permeated politics. It breeds animosity between Hindus and Muslims, which Owaisi and Congress exploit for their political gains. Instead of concentrating on how criminals should be punished, their entire focus is on playing politics over the matter,” he noted.

“They are illegal offspring of Godse because he also used bullets to kill Gandhi,” claimed Asaduddin Owaisi while addressing a gathering. “They idolise him. These three people (who shot down Atiq Ahmed) are part of a terror cell. I have serious questions about how many people have been given weapons, training, and orders to fulfil God’s dream,” he alleged. 

This came after Rajkumar Singh, also known as Rajju Bhaiya, a Congressman from Uttar Pradesh sought the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian honour) for the murdered mafia. He also stated that the latter’s deceased body should have been covered with the Indian tricolour. Rajkumar Singh is a candidate for the councillor seat from Ward-43 South Malaka in the next Prayagraj municipal election.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead on 15 April by three people, Sunny Singh, Lovelesh Tiwari and Arun Maurya, who immediately surrendered afterwards and were taken into custody by the police present at the spot.

Gurugram land scam: Robert Vadra gives himself ‘clean chit’, Haryana govt refutes claim and slams Congress for spreading false rumours

OpIndia Staff
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Gurugram land scam: Robert Vadra gives himself ‘clean chit’, Haryana govt refutes claim and slams Congress for spreading false rumours

On April 21, Friday, Haryana CM’s OSD Jawahar Yadav told the media that the Haryana government has not given any clean chit to Robert Vadra in the Gurugram land scam case and warmed the Congress against spreading false rumours in the matter.

“Robert Vadra hasn’t yet got a clean chit in the land scam case. The investigation agency is doing its work. The probe is on. Congress is spreading false rumours. We will let you know about the result after the investigation is concluded,” Yadav told the news agency ANI.

Lambasting Congress for spreading false rumours about Vadra’s name being cleared from the scam, Haryana CM’s OSD Jawahar Yadav further told news agency ANI, “We are not saying that the scam did not take place. But we didn’t find the involvement of former CM (OP Chautala) in the scam.”

Haryana CM’s OSD Jawahar Yadav’s clarification came hours after the entire Congress ecosystem and its friendly media began giving a clean chit to Robert Vadra in the multi-crore Gurugram land grab case.

Earlier in the day, several ultra-leftist media houses including The Wire, Scroll, The Print, The Telegraph and Economic Times to name a few, were exuberated as they reported how nearly after 4 years, the Haryana Government acceded that there was no wrongdoing in the land scam related to Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Within no time, the entire Congress ecosystem and their loyalists descended upon Twitter and began celebrating the news. They declared Robert Vadra innocent.

So much so that the Gandhi dynasty’s ‘ideal’ son-in-law Robert Vadra himself took to social media to give himself a clean chit in the Gurugram land scam. In a long Facebook post, he expressed relief that the Haryana government told the court that there were ‘no wrongdoings in his business transactions.’

“I had always and have always worked honestly and evolved with hard work and timesâ€æ But false accusations from the BJP never stopped. Their agencies raided my companies, even breaking walls, assuming things were hidden in them! They questioned me for days, sent 100s of notices, made illegal tax demands, or else they would attach my assets and properties, take away over 20,000 documents and continue to send tax notice after notice for more than a decade… I continue to cooperate fully and provide all the information asked of me even though I know the truth,” Vadra said in the post, sharing screenshots of news articles.

“We have always adhered to legitimate methods of conducting business and paying all taxes. I am happy to see a ray of hope in the report given by the Haryana government to the court clearing that there were no wrong doings in my business transactions,” he added.

“It’s been many years of dealing with false accusations and losing many work relations and being battered by the government’s incorrect information and media propaganda carrying it. I do hope this does not happen to anyone else… a vindictive method of politics is toxic for the country.”

However, within no time Congress’ super bubble burst as the Haryana government confirmed that the department probing the matter, didn’t find the involvement of former CM (OP Chautala) in the scam. The CM’s OSD clearly asserted that Robert Vadra has not yet been given a clean chit in the scam and the probe is still underway.

Gurugram land scam case

A resident of Gurugram named Surendra Sharma of the Rathiwas village had filed an FIR against Robert Vadra, Bhupinder Hooda and others in September 2018, alleging that Vadra’s firm Skylight Hospitality had bought 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur village (Now Sector 83) in Gurugram from one Omkareswar Properties for 7.5 crores in 2008. The FIR had alleged that massive irregularities had happened in the deal and Hooda had favoured Vadra costing the exchequer huge losses.

In 2018, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a charge sheet against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in connection with a major land acquisition scam. The charge sheet was filed in the special CBI court located in Panchkula, Haryana. The same year, the Haryana government gave a go-ahead to the Haryana police to probe the 1500 crore Manesar land deal case.

Vadra is also facing a probe in land grab cases in Rajasthan.

Did you know: Atiq Ahmed grabbed property of Sonia Gandhi’s relative in Prayagraj when UPA was in power

OpIndia Staff
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Did you know: Atiq Ahmed grabbed property of Sonia Gandhi’s relative in Prayagraj when UPA was in power

The mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s 40-year reign of terror came to an end on April 15, 2023, when he and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by three attackers posing as journalists. Although there are numerous stories of Ahmed’s wrath and terror, there was a time when he and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were at loggerheads.

It is known for a fact that Atiq Ahmed had over 100 FIRs lodged against him, for various criminal offences. Atiq Ahmed emerged as the kingpin of extortion and land-grabbing syndicate in Prayagraj. 

In 2007, sixteen years ago, when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power in the Centre, mafia Atiq Ahmed unlawfully grabbed property in Prayagraj belonging to a Gandhi family relative named Veera Gandhi. The nephew of Sonia Gandhi’s father-in-law and Rajiv Gandhi’s father Feroze Gandhi’s brother-in-law is married to Veera Gandhi. Ahmed was then a member of parliament from the Phulpur constituency and a leader of the Samajwadi Party, which ruled Uttar Pradesh at that time.

Ahmed was eyeing the Palace Theatre property belonging to Veera Gandhi’s family in Prayagraj’s posh Civil Lines area for quite some time. He had his agents grab the Gandhi family home and install their own locks on the gates after purchasing the neighbouring property from one Asthana family. It is said that Veera Gandhi got a property behind the Palace Theatre during the partition of family assets. 

Atiq Ahmed’s reign of terror at the time was so profound that even the local police and state government officials refused to intervene or help Veera Gandhi. Eventually, Veera Gandhi spoke with Sonia Gandhi, who subsequently notified Manmohan Singh, the then-Prime Minister about the issue.

The PMO went into action and issued orders to all top officials in the state to resolve he matter. On the other hand, Sonia Gandhi asked Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who now is a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party and MP from Prayagraj but was a powerful Congress leader from Prayagraj at that time, to handle the issue. Joshi then spoke to the state officials and the matter was sorted.

Atiq Ahmed made the decision to leave the property and return it to its owners after learning that his acts had offended Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister’s Office. Later on, Veera Gandhi sold many of her properties in Prayagraj and moved to Mumbai.

Speaking to TOI about the incident, Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that Sonia Gandhi indeed called her to intervene in the matter, following which she spoke to the district administration officials, and eventually Atiq Ahmed pulled back in that case. 

“Atiq was extremely greedy when it came to real estate. He had grabbed several properties in the city but had to pull back in the case of Veera Gandhi,” said former IG Lalji Shukla, who was the SP City in Prayagraj in 2001-03.

It is said that the gangster was proud of the charges against him. As an SP candidate for the Shrawasti constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which he lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Daddan Mishra, he boasted that he has 188 outstanding cases against him and has spent half of his life behind bars. Atiq Ahmed declared that he would go to any extremes for his supporters, irrespective of the consequences. He had no fear of the law during the SP and BSP governments in the state. Atiq Ahmed was the first person who was booked under the ‘Gangster Act’ in Uttar Pradesh.

US: Indian student from Andhra Pradesh shot dead at Ohio gas station; suspect’s photo released

OpIndia Staff
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US: Indian student from Andhra Pradesh shot dead at Ohio gas station; suspect’s photo released

Saiesh Veera, a 24-year-old Indian student from Andhra Pradesh, who was pursuing a Master’s degree in the US, was shot dead in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday. He reportedly died of gunshot wounds during a robbery attempt while working at a fuel station there.

“On April 20, 2023, at 12:50 am, Columbus Police officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of W. Broad St. on a reported shooting. Upon arrival, the officers located an adult male victim, identified as Saiesh Veera, M/O/24, suffering from a gunshot wound,” a police notification proclaimed.

The Columbus Division Police is reviewing CCTV footage from the store and has also shared a photo of the suspect who was seen on CCTV cameras.

At 12:50 a.m. local time, the Columbus Police received a call informing that a Shell petrol station employee had been shot during an attempted robbery at 1000 West Broad Street in Franklinton. After being transported to a hospital in a critical state, the victim passed away and was declared dead at 1.27 am local time. The event is still being investigated, according to the police, who also stated that the family has been notified.

Venkat Nerusu, Saiesh Veera’s roommate remembers him as an enthusiastic cricket player who aspired to work in the IT industry. “Saiesh, he’s like a brother to everyone who plays cricket in Columbus. It is not even believable. Still, after this many hours of going through this, we cannot believe it’s true,” he told ABC6News channel.

“The last thing that we saw is his smiling face, and that’s the only thing that we had in mind. Now tomorrow, when we see his body and see him as a dead person, I don’t know how we are going to react to that, but it is completely shocking,” he added.

Punith Ragupadhi, another roommate and member of the cricket team, unveiled that he discussed the risks of working an overnight shift at the gas station with Saiesh Veera. “He promised me to stop it, and he already told his gas station owner that I’m going to stop this work in two weeks. But, it was too late,” he told the media house.

Saiesh Veera’s friends have set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for his body’s transportation to India and to help his mother, who is a widow. In the words of Rohit Yalamanchili, the in charge of an internet fundraising campaign to return Saiesh Veera’s body back to India, the young man was enrolled in a Master’s programme when he was selected for an H-1B visa, only 10 days before he was set to graduate.

He revealed that the deceased student was planning to leave his position as a clerk at the petrol station in a few weeks. He was the first member of his family to immigrate to the country and had high hopes and a desire to better his family after his father passed away two years prior.

“The reason he came to the United States is to uplift his family. I can promise his family that we and all his friends will try to do as much as we can,” remarked Punith Ragupadhi.

“He came to the USA (the first in his family) like any other middle-class guy with aspirations and uplift his family situation as his father passed away two years ago. He was always willing to help people in all situations and was such a sport on the cricket field. Every person who plays cricket in the Columbus area would know him, he was a brilliant cricketer and a great friend,” reads the page.

Was a poster put up in Rajasthan where CM Ashok Gehlot promised “free MILF”? Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Was a poster put up in Rajasthan where CM Ashok Gehlot promised “free MILF”? Here is the truth

A photograph of a purported poster is being shared on social media platforms, where Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot’s photo is seen with the text promising ‘free milf’. The text in Hindi in the poster with red background says ‘free milf’, and under it says ‘from 24 April’. Under the text, a photograph of Ashok Gehlot with folded hands is seen.

The photograph is being shared on social media with suggestive claims, as the abbreviation MILF is a popular term used in the porn industry. This term refers to a sexually attractive woman who has children, or early middle-aged women.

Some people suspected that it is a misspelt word which should have been milk. Some blamed autocorrect for the goof-up. They assumed that Rajasthan govt is distributing free milk from 24 April, but the poster contained the misspelled word milf instead of milk.

However, there is no report of any free milk distribution program in Rajasthan from 24 April, if we were to assume that it is a real photograph of a poster with a misspelt word.

On other hand, from the same date, Rajasthan government is starting a different program, called ‘Mahangai Rahat Camp’ (inflation relief camp).

Nitin Agarwal, the national coordinator of Social Media & Digital Communications of the Congress party and incharge of Maharashtra Congress IT cell, has claimed that the poster is morphed, using a poster for the ‘Mahangai Rahat Camp’. Responding to Twitter user who posted the ‘free milf’ image, he tweeted, “You are sharing edited image mischievously. Remove it now otherwise legal action will be initiated.” Nitin tagged Rajasthan police in the tweet.

Nitin Agarwal posted a photograph of a poster for the camp, which has the same photograph of Gehlot as the ‘free milf’ poster photo. Moreover, the size of the poster and background colour are also same. The words saying ‘from 24 April’ are same in both the posters. Therefore, it can be assumed that someone doctored an image of the ‘Mahangai Rahat Camp’ poster to create the ‘free milf’ poster.

Responding to the tweet, Rajasthan Police help desk asked Jaipur Police to take cognizance of the matter.

10 public welfare schemes have been included in the inflation relief camp to be conducted from 24 April to 30 June in Rajasthan. This includes gas cylinder for Rs 500, free electricity for first 100 units for residents and 2000 units for farmers. Apart from that, beneficiaries will get Annapurna food packets free of cost every month during the camp, and NREGA job card holders will get work for 125 days instead of 100 days. Other schemes included the camp are Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, Social Security Pension Scheme, Chief Minister’s Kamdhenu Insurance Scheme, Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, and Chief Minister’s Chiranjeevi Accident Insurance Scheme.

Given that Rajasthan govt is launching a inflation relief camp from 24 April and its poster is same as the alleged ‘free milf’ poster, it can be concluded that ‘free milf’ posted is fake and doctored, made using the poster of ‘Mahangai Rahat Camp’.

‘He is a martyr for the entire Muslim community,’ Mob raises ‘Atiq Ahmed amar rahe’ slogans outside Jama Masjid in Patna after Friday Namaz

OpIndia Staff
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‘He is a martyr for the entire Muslim community,’ Mob raises ‘Atiq Ahmed amar rahe’ slogans outside Jama Masjid in Patna after Friday Namaz

On April 21, after performing the Jumma namaz (Friday prayers) outside the Jama Masjid located at Patna Junction, a group of people reportedly raised “Atiq Ahmed Amar Rahe, Shahid Atik Ahmad” (Atik Ahmad should live forever, ‘martyr’ Atiq Ahmed) slogans. The mob also shouted slogans against the Modi government and Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh.

The mob addressed the slain dreaded gangster as a “martyr” and dubbed him a “hero”. The video of the incident is going viral on social media.

In another video, a man leading the Muslim mob, identified as Raees Kavzavi, is heard telling the media that Atiq Ahmed is a ‘martyr’ for the entire Muslim community. He accuses the state administration and police of collaborating with criminals to assassinate Atiq Ahmed in the month of Ramzan.

Congress leader demands Bharat Ratna for Atiq Ahmed, places tricolour on the ‘martyrs’ grave

This came merely two days after Rajkumar Singh alias Rajju Bhaiya, Congress councillor candidate from Ward-43 South Malaka for the upcoming Municipal election in Prayagraj demanded Bharat Ratna for the slain mafia. Rajju Bhaiya also said that Atiq Ahmed’s body should have been wrapped in the national flag. 

In the video that went viral on social media, the Congress leader was heard demanding UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s resignation as he accused CM Yogi of getting Atiq Ahmed killed. He went on to demand Bharat Ratna — the country’s highest civilian honour — for Atiq Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted the viral video and slammed the Congress party for ‘eulogising’ Atiq Ahmed. 

Besides, another video of Rajkumar Singh has surfaced online wherein he is seen laying down the national tricolour on Atiq Ahmed’s grave and saluting and raising slogans in his praise. This sparked outrage as netizens pointed out that this act by Rajkumar Singh is an insult to the national flag.

After the video went viral and the Congress leader received widespread condemnation for eulogizing the hardcore criminal Atiq Ahmed, the party distanced itself from its functionary and expelled him from the party for six years. Prayagraj Congress unit chief Pradeep Kumar Mishra reportedly claimed that the party does not approve of Singh’s remark, even if it was said in a personal capacity.

On Wednesday, the Prayagraj police arrested the local Congress leader for placing the tricolour on the grave of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, calling him a “martyr”.

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