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Khalistani Mo Dhaliwal of farmers protest ‘toolkit’ fame says he is ready to pay Rihanna as much as she wants to support Amritpal Singh

OpIndia Staff
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Khalistani Mo Dhaliwal of farmers protest ‘toolkit’ fame says he is ready to pay Rihanna as much as she wants to support Amritpal Singh

On March 21, Mo Dhaliwal of the Poetic Justice Foundation urged Barbadian singer and actress Rihanna to speak up for Punjab. In a tweet, he wrote, “Hey Rihanna, Punjab needs you. Civil liberties suspended. Human rights violated. Communication blocked.”

Rihanna had tweeted her followers to speak up during farmer protests against now-repealed agriculture laws. Later, it was revealed her tweet was part of a toolkit that Mo Dhaliwal of PJF and some Indian “activists”, including Disha Ravi, Nikita Jacob and others, created. Dhaliwal is a pro-Khalistani Canadian resident. Apart from Rihanna, former pornstar Mia Khalifa and dubious environment activist Greta Thunberg tweeted in favour of farmer protests. It was Greta who accidentally revealed the toolkit exposing Mo Dhaliwal and others.

Mo Dhaliwal tagged Rihanna to speak up for Punjab. Source: Twitter

Replying to his tweet, Twitter user BadGa1Kiki asked how much money he would pay Rihanna for speaking up. Dhaliwal said, “As much as she wants”.

Mo Dhaliwal said he was willing to pay anything to Rihanna to tweet for Punjab. Source: Twitter

Who is Mo Dhaliwal, and why does his tweet to Rihanna matters?

In February 2021, it was reported by The Print that sources believed Skyrocket, a PR firm where Khalistani Mo Dhaliwal is a director, paid $2.5 million to pop star Rihanna to tweet in favour of the farmer protests. In Indian currency, that is well over Rs.18 crores.

Mo Dhaliwal is the Founder and Director of Strategy at Skyrocket. He co-founded the Poetic Justice Foundation. He is a Khalistan supporter and has openly supported Khalistan. In September, when the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a leading Canadian think tank based out of Ottawa, released a study on Pakistan’s role in nourishing Khalistani extremism, Dhaliwal used his NGOs platform to support Khalistan. Jagmeet Singh, the Canadian lawmaker, was also reportedly involved in the Tweet by Rihanna.

His associate Anita Lal, Community Relations Specialist at Windmill Microlending, co-founded PJF. She is the Executive Director of PJF. She is a Canadian resident and a Khalistan supporter.

They ran a campaign titled ‘Global Day of Action’ during farmer protests that went back as far as January 3, 2021. The group provided taglines, hashtags, tweet formats, posters, media kits, printable artwork and much more for the people who wanted to support them in the campaign. These images/posters were shared on PJF’s and the ‘Ask India Why’ campaign’s social media pages. These images/posters were available in vector format. The maximum size that one can print is 10ft x 20ft. Here are four examples of such posters.

The group identified several key target regions to spread their propaganda. Top among them was Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia, where Sikhs and Punjabis prefer to study, work and settle down. Other target regions included Kenya, Denmark, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. They also urged them to spread the material they provided among Sangat of Regional Organizations (Sangat is often used for a group of people attending religious or cultural gatherings). Using such groups, they aimed to spread their propaganda among the masses using social media and mainstream or vernacular media.

There was a subtle mention of support from Pakistan as well. The campaign was strongly backed by misinformation.

Crackdown on Amritpal Singh

On March 18, Punjab Police and central agencies launched a massive crackdown on pro-Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh. So far, over 110 associates of Singh have been arrested. However, he is still on the run. Internet was suspended on March 18 for one day, but the suspension was extended for two more days. Internet services were resumed in some areas of Punjab on March 21.

Police have alleged that Singh was in contact with ISI and received funds from Pakistan. Furthermore, it has been reported that Singh was creating a private army in the guise of an anti-drug drive and de-addiction centre. Following the crackdown, official Indian Government establishments in London and San Francisco were attacked.

‘He is a saviour. He is anti-drugs’: Narrative to protect Amritpal Singh and its similarities with attempts to shield Bhindranwale’s Khalistan movement

OpIndia Staff
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‘He is a saviour. He is anti-drugs’: Narrative to protect Amritpal Singh and its similarities with attempts to shield Bhindranwale’s Khalistan movement

Since Punjab Police started the massive crackdown on pro-Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh, he has been projected as a saviour on social media platforms. In fact, the mother of controversial singer and Congress leader late Sidhu Moosewala also praised him for the so-called anti-drug drives he was running in Punjab. In her address at an event on Moosewala’s death anniversary, she said, “On one hand, gangsters are signing death warrants while in prison. On the other hand, they [government] are trying to frame Amritpal Singh, who brought people closer to Sikhism and taught them to stay away from drugs.”

Many social media users are laying down a narrative that the idea behind the crackdown on Amritpal is his anti-drug drive in the state.

For example, Twitter user Aman Singh wrote, “IT cell people must understand who Amritpal Singh is and why all politicians across all parties joined hands against him. Tomorrow your kids & families can also be victims of this drug menace supported by these political parties, stand with him instead of being against him.”

He shared a video clip where a Sikh man praising Amritpal said, “A mother came to me asking for help for putting her son in a rehabilitation centre. When I asked her to put her wherever she wanted, and I would pay, she said no, send him to Amritpal. There is hope in mothers in Punjab.” He further added mothers do not trust the leaders in Punjab as they know the reverse would happen. “Do we really need to define his [Amritpal] character? Do we need to tell what position he holds among the masses?”

Similarly, many such tweets and videos are circulated on social media platforms painting Amritpal as some crusader against the drug menace in Punjab. Twitter user Simran shared a video where five Sikhs narrated how they used to take drugs but stopped after joining Amritpal. All of them were carrying weapons.

Simran Kaur shared a video of Sikhs explaining how they were addicts. Source: Twitter

Twitter user Gurpreet shared a video of a Sikh youth asking what Amritpal did wrong. He claimed he stopped taking drugs after Amritpal baptised him.

Gurpreet shared a video of a former drug addict asking what Amritpal did wrong. Source: Twitter

Twitter user Baljinder shared a video of a youth seeking help from Amritpal to leave rugs.

Baljinder shared a video of a youth from Punjab seeking help from Amritpal to stop taking drugs. Source: Twitter

Daljeet shared a video of Amritpal guiding youth to leave drugs.

Saljeet Singh shared a video of the de-addiction drive by Amritpal. Source: Twitter

Prabh claimed Amritpal worked against drugs and genocide and preached the way of Sikh Gurus.

Prabh Sekhon said Amritpal worked against drugs. Source: Twitter

Vikky said Singh was in politics to stop corruption, drugs and gangs.

Vikkycingh said Amritpal was against corruption, drugs and gangs. Source: Twitter

The drug problem in Punjab

Drug addiction is a major issue in Punjab. Large quantities of drugs get smuggled into the state from neighbouring states and Pakistan ruining generations after generations. According to a report by India Today from December 2022, around 190 cases of drug overdose deaths were reported from March 2022 to December 2022. In Bathinda, a district that topped the chart, 31 such cases were reported, followed by Tarn Taran and Ferozepur with 24 and 21 deaths, respectively. No district is untouched by the drug menace in Punjab.

Quoting Kirti Kisan Union president Nirbhay Singh, India today reported the possible involvement of police officials in drug trafficking. Nirbhay said, “Half of the police officials are drug addicts. What can be expected from tainted police officers? When the police are selling the drugs themselves, how can the menace be controlled? Police officials involved in drug smuggling and peddling have kept their own agents in villages who sell drugs without any fear.”

In September last year, several videos of drug addicts in Punjab surfaced on social media. Interestingly, those videos surfaced right on the time when Amritpal was about to officially take over Waris Punjab De.

The rise of cults in the guise of de-addiction in Punjab

The drug problem is deeply rooted in the state to a level that self-proclaimed Godmen like Ram Rahim used it to form a cult-type following. His organisation is running several de-addiction centres under Dera Sacha Sauda. Similarly, Radha Soami Dera Beas, Dera Baba Jagmail Singh, and others are running de-addiction centres. Several NGOs in Punjab are also indulged in similar activities. Despite so many efforts, the addiction problem has seen a steep rise in the state.

The connection between drugs, Khalistan and Pakistan

In September 2020, OpIndia reported Pakistan’s vicious narco-terrorism plan in India and its connection to the Khalistan movement. Narco-terrorism as a word was first used in the 1980s in the US when drug smugglers in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, and other Central Americans started using the illegal trade as a profession. Their impact on the economy in the region was so deep that they virtually ran the parallel government. The US became the largest consumer of the produced drugs, and the country is still struggling with the problem.

Siegfried O. Wolf, in ‘Pakistan’s bigger plans of narco-terrorism, said that in the last years, it had established smuggling networks across India, especially in the Kashmir Valley. The network helps in a steady supply of weapons and narcotics. After the major terrorist attacks in Uri and Pulwama, India increased security measures that resulted in the suspension of traditional smuggling routes. Pakistan shifted its concentration to other land-based trafficking routes via Punjab and Gujarat. Border Security forces seized several consignments on the India-Pakistan border that contained weapons and narcotics.

The drug problem in the state can be tracked to the time of insurgency in Punjab. There has been an increase in such cases in recent times. Some notable cases help explore the connection between Pakistan’s ISI and Khalistan Movement. Several cases, including 532 KG of heroin seized on the Attari border in June 2019, were linked to terrorist outfits.

In July 2019, there were reports that Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorists smuggled drugs into India to fuel terror activities in Punjab. The report mentioned three instances linked to Paramjit Singh Panjwar, chief of Khalistan Commando Force, a terrorist organisation based in Lahore since 1994.

The security agencies and media reports have already established the link between Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and Pakistan. Recently, Punjab Police said Amritpal Singh was also linked to ISI. His treasurer was receiving funds from Pakistan, as per the Police.

Bhindranwale and Amritpal’s de-addiction drive

In the late 1980s, one of the issues that Bhindranwale picked was the drug problem among youth. He lured families to follow him to get the addicts out of the drug problem. When he started preaching Sikhism across Punjab and urged the youth to get baptized, the state had a drug problem. He raised his voice against drugs, smoking, and other social evils including dowry and atrocities against women. It worked for Bhindranwale, and it is serving Amritpal Singh in the same way. When Singh started his state-wide march codename Khalsa Vaheer, he called upon the youth to leave drugs. Being a good orator and the name of Bhindranwale worked well among the hopeless families in Punjab, and many addicts started to reach his village centre.

As per the reports, Singh used his de-addiction centre as a front for recruiting youth for his Khalistan movement.

Rajasthan Police resorts to lathi charge, mistreat private medics as they protest against govt’s ‘Right to Health Bill’: All you need to know

Siddhi Somani
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Rajasthan Police resorts to lathi charge, mistreat private medics as they protest against govt’s ‘Right to Health Bill’: All you need to know

On Monday, medical professionals in Jaipur protested the Rajasthan government’s planned Right to Health Bill. After the police failed to disperse the crowds of demonstrators who had gathered to surround the state Assembly, they escalated to lathi-charging the protestors.

The doctors said that the cops tore their clothing to pieces and mistreated the female doctors. More than 2,400 owners of private hospitals across the state protested on the streets on Monday. At first, doctors, health professionals, and hospital administrators met at the Jaipur Medical Association auditorium at SMS Hospital to voice their objections to the Draft Bill. At about midday, the physicians departed the SMS Hospital and arrived at Statue Circle in front of Central Park.

However, at approximately 1:00 pm, the police stopped the protesters close to Statue Circle, causing a confrontation between the two sides. Reportedly, the doctors alleged that the police engaged in a physical altercation with them, but the police claimed that the protesters had become violent owing to which they had to resort to the lathi charge. 

On Monday, the Joint Action Committee, which had previously endorsed the Bill a few days earlier, also took part in the demonstration. The committee was formed by the doctors’ unions. The protesters said that the Bill does not contain the proposals they made. The Right to Health Bill aims to grant Rajasthani citizens the ability to get free medical care at hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, including private facilities.

Dr. Vijay Kapoor, secretary of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Society commented on the issue and stated that the protest would continue until the government withdraws the bill. “The doctors held a meeting on the issue on Sunday during which it was decided to conduct a protest march to the state assembly. This is an indefinite statewide ‘bandh’ and it will continue until the government withdraws the bill,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Police action was criticized by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) which said that the police bandobast was not enough to match the crowds of doctors at the rally. “There were no women police at all and amidst the pushing and jostling between the doctors and police, several women doctors were injured. The police unpreparedness is shown by the fact that no water cannons are seen, which is the drill before the use of lathi to push back the crowd. When the rally and route were announced, the Jaipur police should have tried to talk to the doctors rather than engage in pushing, jostling, and lathis,” it was quoted.

The PUCL also urged the doctors to withdraw the protest claiming that the group of leaders from the joint action committee had met with the administration and government representatives and almost every disagreement was resolved. “It is surprising that suddenly the doctors change their mind and come against the Bill. It is also surprising that a section of the government doctors decided to wear black bands to oppose the Bill,” PULC said.

The Right to Health Bill, 2022

The Right to Health Bill, which seeks to guarantee citizens’ legal rights and entitlements to the finest healthcare, was one of the poll pledges made by Congress for the 2018 state elections. From the bill’s introduction in the assembly in September 2022, it has encountered opposition, among other things because it mandates free emergency care. The present budget session has not yet resulted in its passage.

The citizens of Rajasthan under the bill can have following rights-

  1. Avail free outdoor and indoor patient department services, medicines, and diagnostics in public health institutions,
  2. Emergency treatment and care at all health care providers, without any delay waiting for prepayment or police clearance,
  3. Receive information about the nature and cause of illness, results, complications and cost of treatment, and access related records, 4. Informed consent before specific tests or treatments,
  4. Confidentiality and privacy in treatments at all health care establishments,
  5. Referral transport,
  6. Safe and quality health care, and
  7. Grievance redressal.

State Health Minister Prasadi Lal Meena had said in September last year that the Bill was introduced to enhance the effectiveness and implementation of the Rajasthan Model of Public Health. “The state government has decided to bring in legislation to safeguard the right to health so that the rights of residents may be ensured. The Bill ascertains the duties of residents and also provides for a grievance redressal mechanism. Provisions are made in it to establish the state health authority and the district health authority which are entrusted with the functions essential to achieve the purposes of the Bill,” he was quoted back then.

Obligations on the private sector may violate their right to carry out business

The protesting doctors on the other hand have stated that the bill fails to define ’emergency’ while it promises free emergency treatment. They also have raised concern over the payment or reimbursement model as per the bill. The doctors have to pay the staff, nurses and also have to look after the maintenance of the medical tools and equipments. “If we go on treating patients free of cost, who is going to reimburse the amount?” pondered one Dr Aggrawal from Tonk.

The Bill nowhere specifies if the state will reimburse private clinical establishments for providing such free services. This may violate Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to practice any profession or carry on any occupation, trade, or business.

Grievance redressal mechanism may violate the right to privacy 

Further, the formation of a district health authority and a state health authority, both of which would be composed of public representatives, is the main source of concern for the doctors. As per the bill, a web portal and helpline center will be established for filing complaints on denial of services and infringement of rights. The accused in dispute will have 24 hours to reply to the complaint. If a complaint is not handled within the aforementioned time range, the District Health Authority will take it up. It shall take the necessary measures and post the action taken report on the website within 30 days.  A patient’s medical records could also be included in the action taken report, depending on the nature of the complaint. 

No information is provided in the Bill on who else except the complainant would have access to the report on the website. In medical situations, this can violate the patient’s right to privacy.

The Bill also states that no civil court shall have jurisdiction to consider any action or process concerning any subject which the State Health Authority or District Health Authority, as the case may be, established under this Act, is empowered by or under this Act to resolve.

This indicates that the courts lack jurisdiction. Doctors worry that the members of the district health authority, who must include three pradhans and zilla pramukhs, may harass, threaten, or blackmail them.

Joint Action Committee earlier endorsed the bill

It is worth noting that several civil society groups questioned the doctor’s opposition to the bill in February this year. They said that the doctors were trying to prevent a Bill which is a crucial constitutional right. Reports suggest that the opposition cannot afford to publicly criticize the Bill as the government has been attempting to communicate to the 34-member Joint Action Committee (JAC). The JAC has been created by various medical associations such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA)-Rajasthan chapter and the United Private Clinics and Hospitals Association of Rajasthan (UPCHAR) which is a representative body of over 1,000 private hospitals.

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) also urged the doctors to withdraw the protest claiming that the group of leaders from the joint action committee had met with the administration and government representatives and almost every disagreement was resolved.

The private doctors during the protest sought withdrawal of the bill. The state police resorted to the lathi charge and also misbehaved with the women medics. Almost 300 private hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes in Kota remained closed for outdoor patients, emergency services, and new admissions as a result of the closure of private institutions, causing a 40% increase in patient volume at the government-run MBS Hospital in Kota.

Porn star Kendra Lust appreciates playing of porn film at Patna railway junction, says she hopes it was her film

OpIndia Staff
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Porn star Kendra Lust appreciates playing of porn film at Patna railway junction, says she hopes it was her film

Porn star Kendra Lust late on Monday night appreciated the playing of pornographic clip at Patna Railway junction.

Lust tweeted a picture of herself with caption ‘India’ along with hashtag ‘BiharRailwayStation’.

A netizen joked that it was her porn film that was being played at the Patna railway station, to which she said she hopes it was hers.

However, another netizen pointed out that the porn film that was inadvertently played on the advertisement display screens on the station was by one Anissa Kate from Babes Network.

A similar incident happened at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in Delhi in 2017 when a porn movie was played on the advertisement screens. Delhi metro quickly took down the video from the screens.

Porn and porn stars being appreciative of Indian news

This is not the first time a porn star has kept tab on the news cycles in India involving sex tapes. In 2016, when Aam Aadmi Party leader Sandeep Kumar’s alleged sex tape had gone viral on social media. Pornhub’s official Twitter account had then trolled him and said how they love all their employees.

Pornhub appreciating Sandeep Kumar

Kumar, a Minister of Social Welfare in Kejriwal government was accused in a sex scandal where an alleged video of him in a compromising position was leaked. Kejriwal had immediately removed him from the Cabinet after coming across the alleged sex tape.

Karnataka: Hindu women forced to wear Hijab, remove Kumkum by event management companies during events by Muslim community in Tumkur

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Hindu women forced to wear Hijab, remove Kumkum by event management companies during events by Muslim community in Tumkur

A controversy has erupted in the state of Karnataka after a few event management companies in Tumkur forced Hindu women to wear hijab at functions hosted by the Muslim community. The management firms also forced the women to remove the kumkum on their forehead, which holds importance in Hinduism.

According to reports, the incident came to the fore after one of the event management companies posted the image of Hindu women wearing a Hijab online. The same was initially reported by a local media channel named Samvad Kannada. The video of the incident, however, went viral over social media after which a few Bajrang Dal activists raised the issue and protested against the local representatives and such event management companies.

The activists also informed the parents of the girls who are hired by these event companies in Tumkur. The parents said they didn’t know anything about this incident and would never allow their girls to wear hijabs and remove kumkum for extra earnings.

Bajrang Dal district coordinator Manju Bhargav said to The Organiser that the event companies deliberately target poor Hindu women who need money and offer them extra wages only if the latter agrees to wear hijab and remove kumkum. As per Bhargav, Hindu women are paid Rs 800 to Rs 1000 per day if they agree to wear hijab and wipe off kumkum, otherwise are offered Rs 300 to Rs 400 per day.

Several Hindu activists continue to protest as several event management companies continue to force Hindu women to wear hijabs. Hindu campaigners have spoken out in opposition to this, with many demanding that the practice be stopped right away. According to the activists, compelling Hindu women to wear the hijab is a step toward the Islamization of the nation.

‘No communal angle’, says Delhi Police over violent clashes between school student groups

ANI
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‘No communal angle’, says Delhi Police over violent clashes between school student groups

Six students were apprehended after a quarrel between two groups left at least five students with stab injuries in the national capital’s Sadatpur Karwal Nagar, police said. 

The incident took place near the Voters Centre at on Monday, at around 2:30 pm, they said. Police had received a PCR call regarding a quarrel between school students. 

According to them students of the Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Tukmirpur, Karawal Nagar, and Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Khajuri Khas were involved in the clash. 

Five students of Karawal Nagar school who sustained stab injuries have been admitted to the GTB Hospital. 

Based on a complaint, the police started an investigation into the matter, and accordingly, the six assailants involved were identified and apprehended. 

The police said that all the accused as well as the injured students were juveniles. 

One of the apprehended accused disclosed that they had carried out the clash in revenge against alleged bullying and assault by the other group of students. 

As per police, one of the apprehend alleged that three days ago, while he was riding his motorcycle near the Dayalpur bus stand, some boys including the ones who are injured in the incident stopped him and asked him about his school and the reason why he was riding the motorcycle near their school. When he resisted their bullying, he was beaten up by them. He he took first aid at Jai Prakash Hospital. There was no Medico-Legal Case (MLC) filed. Afterwards, he gathered his friends and assaulted the others. 

The police have registered a case under the section of attempt to murder. They have also ruled out any communal angle in the entire episode. 

Further investigation is underway in the case.

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

Fact-check: Is Sana Khan, who left Bollywood for Islam, pregnant without having sex as per viral claims?

Nirwa Mehta
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Fact-check: Is Sana Khan, who left Bollywood for Islam, pregnant without having sex as per viral claims?

Former actress Sana Khan, who acted alongside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in films like Jai Ho before leaving showbiz for Islam, is pregnant. She announced the same on social media platform Instagram earlier this week.

In October 2020, Khan had abruptly left showbiz for Islam and married a Muslim cleric Anas Saiyed.

However, soon after the announcement of her pregnancy, social media was flooded with an image, purportedly from Dainik Jagran, wherein it was claimed that Sana Khan was pregnant with her first child despite not having sex and how it was only the effect of prayers at Ajmer Sharif Dargah that helped her get pregnant.

Viral image

The viral image had the caption: Sana Khan is pregnant, will be a mother soon. Since two years her husband was praying at Ajmer. She’s pregnant with only prayers and not having shared bed with her husband.

OpIndia decided to fact-check the above claims. On Dainik Jagran’s Instagram page, they had reported Sana Khan’s pregnancy news.

Jagran post

The actual post on Dainik Jagran’s Instagram page did not have the same caption as the viral image. Jagran news update only mentioned that Sana is pregnant and how she revealed it in an interview.

So while Sana Khan is pregnant, it is not just because of ‘duas’ at Ajmer by her husband. The viral image is fake.

Canada: Khalistanis attack Radio Host Sameer Kaushal in Surrey, ‘police mute spectator’ says the victim. Here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Canada: Khalistanis attack Radio Host Sameer Kaushal in Surrey, ‘police mute spectator’ says the victim. Here is what happened

On March 20 (local time), Indian origin News Director at Radio AM600 Sameer Kaushal was attacked by a pro-Khalistani group in Surrey, British Columbia in, Canada. In a Twitter thread, Kaushal expressed his dismay over the incident and said that the police present at the scene asked him to leave instead of acting against the attackers.

He wrote, “I was in #SurreyBC to cover the HCI Ottawa Indian High Commissioner’s visit, where a pro-Khalistani group treated the Canadian media like this. Ask your Punjabi-speaking friends or colleagues what derogatory and embarrassing words they are using here.” (Warning: explicit language in the video)

In the video he shared, Kaushal was taken away by the police. At one point, he was almost pushed by one of the officers who were asking him to leave. Further in the video, abuses in the Punjabi language could be heard directed at Kaushal.

He further wrote, “They pushed and threatened me in a public place in the heart of the city of Surrey. Shockingly, the Surrey RCMP remained mute spectators to this whole affair inspite of the protest turning violent. Instead of stopping the culprits, the Surrey RCMP kept asking me to leave for my own safety as they were not able to provide a taxpayer the same.”

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Kaushal said he went there for an event at around 6 PM scheduled by the Indo-Canadian diaspora to welcome the Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma. There were functions scheduled in Gurudwara and Temples, followed by a meet-and-greet with the Indian diaspora. However, a group of around 125 pro-Khalistanis blocked the event and did not let anyone go inside.

When Kaushal reached there and attempted to get in, he was stopped and attacked. He further added that the protesters used derogatory language against India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Kaushal said he was deliberately targeted because he appeared to be of Indian origin. He added that he shows’ what is happening in Punjab and India’ and talks about both sides. However, the ‘vigilante’ elements did not like those who spoke positively about India and Indian policies. Kaushal pointed out there were no ‘prominent personalities’ from Surrey at the protest.

Crackdown on Amritpal Singh

On March 18, Punjab Police and central agencies launched a massive crackdown on pro-Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh. So far, over 110 associates of Singh have been arrested. However, Amritpal Singh is still on the run. Internet was suspended on March 18 for one day, but the suspension was extended for two more days. Police have alleged that Singh was in contact with ISI and received funds from Pakistan. Furthermore, it has been reported that Singh was creating a private army in the guise of an anti-drug drive and de-addiction centre. Following the crackdown, official Indian Government establishments in London and San Francisco were attacked.

Centre vs Delhi govt: Budget approval of national capital triggers war of words, here is what happened

ANI
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Centre vs Delhi govt: Budget approval of national capital triggers war of words, here is what happened

The Centre and the Kejriwal government in Delhi which have been at loggerheads on various issues, has now again entered into a new tussle after the Aam Aadmi Party alleged on Monday that the Ministry of Home Affairs stalled the government’s Budget 2023-24 which was scheduled to be presented tomorrow in the Delhi Assembly. 

However, the Home Ministry sources dismissed the allegations, adding that the MHA has instead sought clarification from the Delhi government as its budget allocation was focussed on advertisement rather than the infrastructure sector. Responding to the MHA’s point, the Delhi government said that the allocation for the advertisement has not been increased in this year’s budget. 
“MHA is lying. The total budget of Delhi is Rs 78,800 crores. Out of this, Rs 22,000 crores are for infrastructure, while only Rs 550 crores will be spent on advertisement. Last year also the budget for advertisement was the same. There is no increase in the advertising budget,” Delhi’s Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot said. 

The Delhi LG office said that VK Saxena had approved the Annual Financial Statement 2023-2024 with certain observations on March 9, and sent the file to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

“Delhi Government thereafter sought the approval of the President Droupadi Murmu by sending a letter to the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry conveyed its observations to the Delhi Government on March 17. The Budget was to be presented on March 21,” the office said. 

The office further said that it is yet waiting for the file to be sent to it from the Delhi Chief Minister. 

Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot, in a statement, alleged that the MHA “stopped” the Delhi government from presenting its annual budget for 2023-24 on its scheduled date, March 21, 2023. 

“The budget was sent for MHA’s approval as per regular practice well in advance on March 10, 2023,” the statement said. 

“It is now learned that the MHA expressed some concerns on Delhi government’s budget and refused to give it approval through a letter sent to the Chief Secretary on March 17, 2023. For mysterious reasons, the Chief Secretary of Delhi kept the letter hidden for 3 days. I learned about the letter only at 2 pm today i.e. 20 March 2023. The file with MHA’s letter was put up to me officially only at 6 pm today i.e. just the day before the budget was to be presented in Delhi Assembly,” Gahlot claimed. 

Gahlot said that the government responded to MHA’s concerns and submitted the file back to Delhi’s LG, after CM’s approval, at 9 pm today. 

Howver, the Delhi LG office said that the file was recieved in LG Sectariat at 9:25 PM and was sent back to the Chief Minister at 10:05 PM, after approval of LG, for further action as per law. 

The Minister further called for the investigation of the role of Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary of Delhi in “delaying Delhi’s budget”. 

“It is also unfortunate that MHA is spreading falsehoods about Delhi government’s budget. Nearly Rs 22,000 crores have been allocated for capital expenditure next year, whereas the allocation for advertisements is only Rs 550 crore, which is similar to that of last year. The concerns raised by MHA are irrelevant and seemingly done only to scuttle the budget for next year of Delhi government,” he alleged. 

Notably, Delhi’s Budget goes to the Home Ministry for approval. Only when the MHA approves the Budget, it is presented in the Delhi Assembly.

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

Golgappa diplomacy: PM Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida enjoy popular Indian snack on sidelines of India-Japan meeting

OpIndia Staff
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Golgappa diplomacy: PM Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida enjoy popular Indian snack on sidelines of India-Japan meeting

The Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is on a 2 days visit to India right now and he is really getting a totally Indian experience during his visit. The Japanese PM was caught enjoying some of the famous Indian street foods alongside the Indian PM Narendra Modi during his stay in India.

In the images shared by PM Modi, PM Kishida can be seen enjoying Indian street food including the famous golgappas.

Sharing the update, PM Modi tweeted, “My friend PM @kishida230 enjoyed Indian snacks including Golgappas.” Pm Modi has always enjoyed a close relationship with Japanese PMs, having enjoyed a very close friendship with the now-deceased Shinzo Abe previously.

The video of the Japanese PM enjoying golgappas was shared by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya who tweeted, “Japan PM Fumio Kishida enjoys a taste of India as he relishes delicious golgappas!”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is currently on a two-day visit to India to bolster the bilateral ties. PM Kishida said before his departure from Japan that a new plan for a free and open Indo-Pacific will be announced during his two-day visit to India. He further added that he will present concrete ideas about the future of the Indo-Pacific at this historical turning point.

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