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European Unionโ€™s hypocrisy marches unchecked: EU wonโ€™t stop using Russian gas but wants India to jeopardise energy security of 140 crore Indians

Shriti Sagar
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European Unionโ€™s hypocrisy marches unchecked: EU wonโ€™t stop using Russian gas but wants India to jeopardise energy security of 140 crore Indians

On 18th July 2025, the European Union imposed its 18th round of sanctions on Russia. One of the major announcements was a sanction on India’s Vadinar oil refinery in Gujarat owned by Nayara Energy, a firm in which Russia’s Rosneft has 49% stake. They also designated Indian flag register, which means ships bearing Indian flags can be targeted if suspected of transporting Russian oil.

EU also lowered the cap on Russian oil prices to 15% below market prices, to hit the oil revenue earned by Russia. However, the union has not banned buying Russian Oil. It only said that Russian Oil must be bought at lower prices, and has announced sanctions on third parties processing and transporting Russian oil.

EU’s clearly said here, we won’t stop buying oil from Russia, but if India refines it or helps in shipping, we’ll impose restrictions. Europe itself, however, hasn’t forbidden all Russian oil or gas. It has merely imposed a price cap 15% below the market rate, which is still enough for Russia to make a profit.ย 

So Indian refiners are sanctioned while Europe continues to import the same oil, sometimes after processing it in India. Is this not hypocrisy?

Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war started in 2022, India has always been under Western pressure to cut down on its trade with Russia, particularly when it involves purchasing oil from it. The European Union (EU) and the United States have demanded that India sever its relationship with Moscow and join the bandwagon of sanctions. But there is a catch here: while they urge India to desist, they have not completely stopped importing energy from Russia.

Western sanctions and double standards

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Western nations quickly imposed sanctions on  Russia. They imposed restrictions on banks, energy exports, and key industries. The motive  was to isolate Russia and harm its economy. The application of these sanctions has, however, been inconsistent.

India began to purchase more crude oil from Russia once the war had started. Now, it’s purchasing over 1 million barrels a day, much of this discounted. These imports allow India to keep its energy costs low for 140 crores of people. This has drawn concern in the West, though. Critics say that India is supporting Russia’s war efforts financially.

What people tend to overlook is that the EU itself keeps on purchasing huge quantities of Russian energy, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG). Spain and Belgium rank among the largest purchasers. Germany, which ceased receiving gas via pipelines, is currently purchasing LNG from Russia at its ports. Italy is also receiving Russian oil products via third countries.

Even the United States, while spearheading the sanctions campaign, continues to import certain essential commodities from Russia, such as uranium for its nuclear reactors. So, while they sermonise India, they go quietly on importing from Moscow.

MEA and Indian leaders push back

India has not taken these lessons lightly. โ€œSecuring the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us. In this endeavour, we are guided by what is there on offer in the markets, as also by the prevailing global circumstances,โ€ MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs released a stern warning against double standards and said India is keeping a close eye on the U.S. plan to tax nations that continue to purchase Russian oil with a 500% tariff.  

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri also stated that India would deal with sanctions, when they are passed, pointing out that India has diversified its supply sources, buying oil from about 40 countries now, as opposed to 27 in the past.

EU purchases more but holds India responsible

Despite all these facts, the figures tell the story. The EU in 2022 paid over $120 billion to Russia for fossil fuels. India’s total payment in the same period was around $50 billion. And yet, India is the one being attacked with sanctions and criticism.

And to add to it, it’s reported that Indian oil refineries, which process Russian crude and export the refined oil to Europe, are under Western agencies’ surveillance. Ironically, it’s Europe that is purchasing these same fuels but continues to blame India for purchasing the crude.

So, what’s the question here: Are these sanctions all about punishing Russia or merely all about Western control of global trade and politics?

Defence deals and strategic independence

India’s defence ties with Russia are another aspect that is in the spotlight. Close to 60โ€“70% of India’s defence arms are of Russian origin. India claims it cannot abruptly turn around and compromise national security.

But even here, the West’s double standards are evident. Turkey, a member of NATO, acquired Russian S-400 missile systems in 2019 and was subjected to some sanctions by the U.S. But it is still a member of NATO and even does business with Russia in other areas. No one is threatening Turkey as they are India.

U.S. threatens more sanctions

An American bill in Congress is calling for a 500% tariff on nations that purchase Russian energy. India isn’t mentioned by name, but it’s clear who they mean. The U.S. legislators have even threatened 100% secondary tariffs unless nations comply. Even NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke out, saying that nations such as India and China need to pressure Russia to stop the war or risk tariffs.

India has pushed back hard. When visiting Washington recently, Jaishankar informed U.S. officials that the energy security of India cannot be sacrificed. The country’s concerns have been expressed forcefully to those initiating the sanctions, he said.

India is not purchasing oil to finance a war

This is where the question truly lies. If the U.S. and EU are still purchasing oil from Russia, then why should India? If Spain, Belgium, Germany, and Italy are importing Russian LNG and oil, why is it a problem if India imports the same?

India is not purchasing oil to finance a war. It’s purchasing because it has 140 crore citizens who needs affordable fuel. Europe may be waging a war, but India isn’t. We cannot neglect the requirements of our population due to the fact that someone else is waging a war elsewhere.

We must consider our development, our own economy, and our own citizens. And if it means purchasing energy from wherever it can be had at a reasonable price, so be it.

India always stands for peace. It has reached out to Ukraine with humanitarian assistance. It has talked to both President Zelensky and President Putin for a diplomatic resolution. But India will not be cornered or guilt-tripped to prioritise its people over everything else.

This is not an oil issue. It’s an issue of global fairness. If the West is going to be the leader, it is going to have to lead with character. It can’t establish principles that others have to abide by, but which it violates in secret.

Mangal Pandey turned โ€˜greased cartridgeโ€™ into a weapon of 1857 revolt; scared British hanged the revolutionary 10 days early: The spark from Barrackpore shook the Empire, ending the Company Raj

เคถเฅเคฐเคตเคฃ เคถเฅเค•เฅเคฒ
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Mangal Pandey turned โ€˜greased cartridgeโ€™ into a weapon of 1857 revolt; scared British hanged the revolutionary 10 days early: The spark from Barrackpore shook the Empire, ending the Company Raj

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mangal Pandey, the hero of India’s first war of independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a heartfelt tribute to him. PM Modi wrote on X, “Heartfelt tributes to the great freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary. He was a pioneering warrior of the country who challenged British rule. His story of courage and valour will continue to be a source of inspiration for the people of the nation.”

In his message, the Prime Minister not only commemorated Mangal Pandey’s bravery, but also called upon the countrymen to take inspiration from his sacrifice. Mangal Pandey’s sacrifice sparked the first major rebellion against the British in 1857, which we today refer to as ‘India’s First War of Independence’. Let’s find out in this special report, the story of Mangal Pandey’s life, his rebellion, how the British caught him, why he was hanged 10 days early and what the British were afraid of.

Mangal Pandey: From an ordinary soldier to a revolutionary

Mangal Pandey was born on 19 July 1827 in a simple Brahmin family in Nagwa village of Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. Some historians say that he was born in Sururpur village near Ayodhya, but his family was from Ballia. His father’s name was Diwakar Pandey. The financial condition of the family was not very good. Yet Mangal was a passionate patriot since childhood and wanted to fight against injustice.

In the year 1849, at a young age of 18, Mangal became a soldier in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry of the East India Company. At that time, the number of Indian soldiers in the British army was significantly high, but they were undervalued. The soldiers were angry with low salaries, discrimination and the arbitrary attitude of the British. Mangal Pandey also shared this anger, which later became the reason for their rebellion.

First War of Independence of 1857 and the role of Mangal Pandey

The revolt of 1857, which is called the First War of Independence of India, was not a one-day event. It was an explosion of anger that had accumulated over the years. The British had taken away the kingdoms of Indian kings, imposed heavy taxes on farmers and mistreated Indian soldiers. But the final spark behind the revolt was the cartridges of the new Enfield rifle.

In the 1850s, the British gave this rifle to Indian soldiers, but a rumour spread that its cartridges were laced with cow and pig fat. These cartridges had to be bitten with the mouth and loaded into the rifle, which would hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu as well as Muslim soldiers. This news spread like wildfire and created uneasiness among the soldiers.

Mangal Pandey lent a voice to this disquiet. On 29 March 1857, while he was posted at the Barrackpore Cantonment in West Bengal, he sounded the bugle of revolt. Mangal Pandey refused to use the cartridges and asked his fellow soldiers to stand up against the British. He shouted a slogan, โ€œMaro Firangi ko!โ€ (Kill the British) and attacked two British officers, Lieutenant Baugh and Sergeant-Major Hugheson.

Mangal injured Baugh and killed Hugheson. This incident marked the beginning of the revolution across the country. His unwavering courage incited anger against the British among the soldiers and the common people. Historians believe that this step of Mangal Pandey was the first big leap towards the war of 1857, which frightened the British.

How the British caught Mangal Pandey

Mangal Pandey’s rebellion caused a stir in the Barrackpur cantonment. Some of the soldiers showed solidarity with him, but the whole regiment lacked unity. Mangal tried to shoot himself to avoid falling into the hands of the British. He placed the barrel of his gun on his chest and pressed the trigger with his foot, but the bullet could only injure him. Subsequently, British General John Hersey took charge of the situation.

Hersey threatened the soldiers that anyone who did not stop Mangal would be shot. Finally, a soldier caught Mangal Pandey. He was arrested and court-martial proceedings were initiated against him. Mangal confessed that he rebelled against the British. The court sentenced him to death and set the date for his execution on 18 April 1857.

Why he was hanged 10 days earlier

The British secretly hanged Mangal Pandey in Barrackpore on 8 April 1857, 10 days before the scheduled date. The reason behind this was the fear of the British. The news of Mangal Pandey’s bravery was spreading rapidly. Not only among the soldiers of Barrackpore, but the murmur of rebellion had spread in the surrounding cantonments as well. The British were afraid that if Mangal was kept alive or the hanging was delayed, his spark would set the whole country on fire. Therefore, they hastily hanged him on 8 April so that the rebellion could be crushed. But this proved to be a mistake. Contrary to what the British had imagined, Mangal Pandey’s sacrifice further fueled the rebellion.

What the British feared

The biggest fear of the British was that Mangal Pandey’s rebellion would transform into a huge freedom movement. At that time, there were lakhs of Indian soldiers in the army of the East India Company, and if they had united, the British rule could have ended. Following Mangal’s revolt, the spark of rebellion spread in cities like Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow. On April 20, 1857, some soldiers set a police post on fire in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. On May 10, 1857, some soldiers killed some British officers in Meerut and marched towards Delhi.

After reaching Delhi, they declared Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader. On May 30, farmers, labourers and soldiers took up arms against the British in Chinhat and Ismailganj in Lucknow. Nana Saheb in Kanpur, Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi and Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow held the reins of the rebellion. The British feared that if Mangal Pandey was not killed soon, this rebellion would put the whole of India on the path of independence.

The legacy of Mangal Pandey

Mangal Pandey’s sacrifice breathed new life into the First War of Independence of 1857. Even though the British were able to suppress this rebellion, it exposed their weakness. In 1858, the rule of the East India Company ended, and the British Crown started direct rule over India. Mangal Pandey’s martyrdom awakened the desire for independence among Indians, which was fulfilled in 1947. In 1984, the government of India issued a postal stamp in memory of Mangal Pandey. In 2005, a film named ‘Mangal Pandey: The Rising’ was also made on his life, in which Aamir Khan played his role.

Mangal Pandey was not just a soldier but the first spark of India’s independence. We all salute him on his birth anniversary. Jai Hind!

(The Hindi version of the article can be read on the OpIndia Hindi website)

Gopalganj horror: How the Bangladesh Army perpetrated atrocities against unarmed civilians at the behest of Muhammad Yunus

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
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Gopalganj horror: How the Bangladesh Army perpetrated atrocities against unarmed civilians at the behest of Muhammad Yunus

16th July 2025 must be forever marked as aย ‘Black Day’ in the history of Bangladesh. On that day, the Bangladesh Army – an institution that once held global respect for its role in UN peacekeeping missions –ย committedย crimes against humanity in the Gopalganj district.

Under the pretext of โ€œmaintaining law and order,โ€ the military gunned down unarmed civilians and unleashed unspeakable brutality in the heart of Sheikh Hasinaโ€™s hometown.

According to multipleย reports, including alarming disclosures submitted to the United Nations by theย International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF), the atrocities carried out in Gopalganj may amount toย genocide.

The ICRF, in a formal letter to the UN Ethics Office, highlighted not just the Gopalganj bloodbath but a disturbing pattern ofย political violence, heritage destruction, and gross human rights violationsย engulfing Bangladesh.

Dubious claims made by the Bangladesh Army vs ground reality

In a desperate attempt at damage control, the Bangladesh Army issued a statement alleging it was forced to use lethal weapons โ€œin self-defenseโ€.

However, this narrative is being artificially amplified throughย state-controlled mediaย and propaganda loyalists of theย Yunus regime, many of whom are embedded in foreign media circles due to past affiliations with outlets like AFP.

On the ground, however, the truth is far darker. Social media is flooded with testimonies and footage showingย no resistance from the civilians. Instead, reports suggestย nighttime raidsย are continuing, with families – men, women, and even children – beingย abducted under the cover of darkness.

The most chilling detail?ย None of the victims received anย autopsy. The four confirmed dead – Dipto Saha (30), Ramzan Kazi (17), Sohel Rana (35), and Imon Talukder – were either cremated or buried hastily, within hours,ย without inquest or forensic examination. This was not just a cover-up; it wasย a state-sponsored execution meant to erase evidence.

The Islamist regime of Muhammad Yunus

This atrocity wasย not an isolated event. It is part of a larger, calculated strategy orchestrated byย radical Islamists and jihadistsย who seized power through what many now call theย Jihadist Coupย of 2024, orchestrated with the direct patronage of Nobel laureate-turned-Islamist-political-aspirantย Muhammad Yunus.

Under this new regime, attacks against Bangladeshโ€™s Hindu community have sharply intensified. Temples are being torched, houses razed, and even theย names of districts with Hindu heritageย are being targeted for erasure. The Gopalganj district – home to a large Hindu population – has long been in the crosshairs of Islamists.

In 2014,ย Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called for changing its name and made offensive remarks against its residents, labeling them โ€œGopaliโ€ – a derogatory slur.

Today, that sameย hatredย has morphed intoย violence. Islamist mobs now brazenly wave theย flagsย ofย Al Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, and the Taliban, chanting militant slogans in broad daylight. One extremist leader,ย Mufti Faizul Karimย of Islami Shashontontro Andolan, openlyย vowedย to turn Bangladesh into the โ€œnext Afghanistanโ€.

Bangladesh is becoming aย new staging ground for international jihadists. According to an articleย publishedย in theย Gatestone Institute website, since the coup, senior leaders fromย Hamas, Al-Qaeda, and the Talibanย have visited Bangladesh. Among them:ย Sheikh Khaled Quddumiย andย Khaled Mishalย of Hamas, and Pakistani Islamists likeย Mufti Taqi Usmaniย andย Maulana Fazlur Rahman.

Intelligence sources suggest these visits aimed to forge operational links withย Rohingya refugeesย andย โ€œStranded Pakistanisโ€ย (Biharis)ย – marginalized groups now beingย radicalized and recruited for terrorist activitiesย targeting Israel, India, the US, and even Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Erasing the pluralistic identity of Bangladesh, one act at a time

The Islamistsโ€™ mission goes beyond physical violence – they seek to obliterate Bangladeshโ€™s secular and pluralistic identity. Calls have intensified to remove Bangladeshโ€™s national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore, branding it a โ€œHindu songโ€. There is also growing pressure to rename Gopalganj, as Islamists argue its Hindu-rooted name โ€œoffends Muslim sentimentโ€.

Such demands are not based on faith – they are born of fascist ideology. The historical truth is that Gopalganj was developed by Hindu zamindars and carries the legacy of Rani Rasmoni, a revered Bengali icon. The area has long stood as a symbol of communal harmony and inclusive identity.

But the current regime wants to destroy that. In a blatant act of cultural cleansing, the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray – a global icon of Bengali art and cinema – was demolished in Mymensingh district. Authorities dismissed the homeโ€™s connection to Rayโ€™s family despite decades of history and public sentiment. This was not an accident; it was a calculated erasure of Bengali and Hindu legacy.

Other revered landmarks, including those linked to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Rabindranath Tagore, have also been targeted. And while the physical destruction is horrifying, the psychological warfare being waged is even more insidious.

The Gopalganj massacre is not merely a tragedy – it is a harbinger. The bloodshed claimed at least five lives, denied even the dignity of proper autopsies, and was followed by a military lockdown and media blackouts.

Conclusion

Historically, Gopalganj stood as a bastion of communal peace – even Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP held peaceful rallies there. But under the guise of a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally, violence was engineered. The army did not maintain peace – they incited bloodshed. The curfew that followed wasnโ€™t about safety – it was about sealing off truth, isolating the district, and silencing its people.

By turning a rally into a battlefield, the Yunus regime has made it clear: no place is safe for Bangladeshโ€™s minorities.

The ongoing attacks on cinema halls, Sufi shrines, Hindu temples, and cultural institutions signal a regime hell-bent on rewriting the country’s very DNA. This is not mere negligence – it is a systemic and orchestrated assault on Bangladeshโ€™s soul.

Where once stood a secular nation, inspired by the dreams of its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, now stands aย fractured state gripped by fanaticism, manipulated by extremists, andย betrayed by its own institutions.

Theย July 16 massacre in Gopalganjย is a war crime. It is aย gruesome symbol of a broader genocidal campaignย unfolding in Bangladesh under the guise of โ€œrestoring orderโ€. Theย international community must not remain silent. As the UN and Western powers turn a blind eye – complicit in the very coup that empowered these jihadist elements – the people of Bangladesh face annihilation of their culture, heritage, and very existence.ย If Gopalganj is allowed to be forgotten, tomorrow it will be Faridpur, Narayanganj, Brahmanbaria and beyond.ย The world must speak up. Not later –ย now. For every minute of silence,ย another life is lost, another truth is buried, and another piece of Bangladesh dies.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘witch hunt’ claim after Robert Vadra was charge-sheeted shows how Congress’s first family thinks it is beyond due legal process, betrays their sense of entitlement

Dr. Prosenjit Nath
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Rahul Gandhi’s ‘witch hunt’ claim after Robert Vadra was charge-sheeted shows how Congress’s first family thinks it is beyond due legal process, betrays their sense of entitlement

Rahul Gandhiโ€™s recent outburst defending his controversial brother-in-law, Robert Vadra, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a fresh chargesheet against him in a money-laundering case reveals a deeper malaise in the Congress party than just political posturing. It reflects expectation of dynastic privilege over democracy, entitlement over accountability, and emotion over evidence.

By attempting to paint legal action as a โ€œwitch-hunt,โ€ Gandhi has once again exposed the Congressโ€™s decades-old habit of shielding its own from scrutiny, invoking martyrdom to mask malpractice.

Letโ€™s be clear, the ED’s chargesheet is not an overnight political gimmick. It pertains to alleged irregularities in a land deal in Haryanaโ€™s Shikohpur, a matter under investigation for years. The case is part of a larger number of probes into Vadraโ€™s questionable web of land deals, which have surfaced not just in Haryana but also in Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR states. Notably, the Congress was in power when these deals were signed. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi chose to lash out at investigative agencies and, by extension, the judiciary, calling it a political vendetta. What else can one call this but a textbook case of โ€œwhitewashing corruptionโ€?

The BJP has rightly called out Rahul Gandhiโ€™s remarks, with party spokesperson Tuhin Sinha noting that Mr. Gandhiโ€™s defense implies either full awareness of Vadraโ€™s โ€œdark deedsโ€ or even indirect complicity. Itโ€™s not an outlandish suggestion. After all, Vadraโ€™s meteoric rise from a small-time businessman to a land magnate dovetailed suspiciously with the Congressโ€™s control over state machinery in the UPA era. That Gandhi now pleads victimhood, crying โ€œwitch-hunt,โ€ is just dishonest.

There is something sinister about the way Congress leaders invoke the term “witch-hunt” every time legal action comes close to the Nehru–Gandhi parivar. The phrase is meant to generate public sympathy, to shift the narrative from allegations to imagined persecution. But this is not Salem in the 1600s. This is India in 2025, a democratic nation with independent investigative agencies and judicial oversight. If Robert Vadra is innocent, he will be exonerated through due process. If guilty, he will face the consequences. Thatโ€™s how the rule of law works. But Rahul Gandhi, it seems, wants to preempt the law with emotional blackmail.

And this is not an isolated incident. Rahul Gandhiโ€™s disturbing remark in Assam, where he said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma would be put in jail for corruption by the people of the state, betrays the same anti-democratic impulse. This wasnโ€™t a veiled threat, it was an open declaration. Himanta Biswa Sarma, a former Congressman who joined BJP in 2015, has been a consistent target of Gandhiโ€™s barbs, not because of corruption charges (there are none), but because his political defection was a blow to the Gandhi familyโ€™s prestige. That Rahul Gandhi would abuse his platform to suggest jailing a sitting, democratically elected chief minister, without any legal basis, is a reflection of the same Emergency-era mentality that the BJP accuses the Congress of perpetuating.

In fact, the ghost of the Emergency imposed by Rahulโ€™s grandmother, Indira Gandhi looms large over todayโ€™s Congress. From censoring press freedom to weaponizing state machinery for political ends, the Indira Gandhi era created the template of authoritarianism that Congress has never truly renounced. Rahul Gandhiโ€™s attack on institutions, his contempt for investigative agencies, and his willingness to invoke threats of arrest for political opponents show that the apple has not fallen far from the tree.

The defense of Robert Vadra is not just about a brother-in-law; itโ€™s about a political culture that refuses to evolve. For decades, the Congress has operated like a family business, with its legal and moral compass conveniently adjusted to protect its own. From Bofors to National Herald, from 2G to CWG, the Congress track record on corruption is abysmal. And yet, when the agencies dare to investigate, the script remains unchanged: scream vendetta, play victim, and stall legal proceedings.

What makes this worse is that Rahul Gandhi has spent the last few years trying to reinvent himself as the face of accountability and anti-corruption. From tearing up ordinances to walking in padyatras, he has tried to project moral uprightness. But when it comes to his own family, the mask slips. When the law knocks on Vadraโ€™s door, Rahul Gandhi doesnโ€™t welcome it he derides it. This duplicity does not go unnoticed by the Indian voter.

The BJP, for its part, has taken a measured yet firm stance. Tuhin Sinhaโ€™s statement that Congress โ€œstill believes in the Emergency mindsetโ€ is not rhetorical flourish, it is rooted in reality. The Congress has consistently sought to undermine investigative agencies, whether it is the ED, CBI, or even the judiciary when verdicts do not favor them. In contrast, the Modi government has allowed these bodies functional autonomy, even at the cost of political discomfort, as seen in investigations involving BJP figures as well.

What Rahul Gandhi must understand is that public life comes with public scrutiny. You cannot expect special treatment for your relatives. You cannot wrap yourself in the flag of democracy while tearing down its institutions. And you certainly cannot talk of “saving the Constitution” while displaying contempt for legal due process.

By defending Robert Vadra and attacking investigative agencies, Rahul Gandhi has made a strategic and moral blunder. He has reinforced the worst public perceptions about dynastic politics: that the rules donโ€™t apply to the elite, that family loyalty trumps constitutional morality, and that entitlement is a substitute for evidence.

If the Congress party wishes to remain politically relevant, it must stop acting like a family-owned enterprise and start respecting institutional integrity. Until then, the BJPโ€™s charge that Rahul Gandhi is whitewashing corruption will not only resonate but also find increasing validation.

Delhi manโ€™s death by electrocution turns out to be murder by wife, incriminating chats show how Sushmita discussed how to kill Karan with his cousin Rahul

ANI
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Delhi manโ€™s death by electrocution turns out to be murder by wife, incriminating chats show how Sushmita discussed how to kill Karan with his cousin Rahul

Delhi police arrested a woman and her cousin for their alleged involvement in the death of the husband of the woman, officials said on Saturday.

The accused have been identified as Sushmita and her cousin Rahul.

According to the police, the victim, Karan Dev, was allegedly killed after being given sleeping pills and electrocuted by his wife and his cousin.

Speaking to ANI DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh Said “On 13th july information was received from a hospital in the Uttam Nagar area that a person named Karan has died an unnatural death. After this, the police team reaches the spot and the body is shifted to DDU hospital for a postmortem. Meanwhile, Karan’s family refused to get the postmortem done but due to it being an unnatural death, the police got the body postmortem done. 2 days later, Karan’s brother Kunal got some evidence in which a chat between Karan’s wife Sushmita and Karan’s cousin Rahul came out in which there was a discussion about giving sleeping pills and electric shock to Karan. After this, the police investigated and a murder case was registered and Karan’s wife Sushmita and Karan’s uncle’s son, Rahul, were arrested.”

Karan’s mother Neeru told ANI that she had learnt of the alleged relationship between Sushmita and Rahul only after the cremation when Kunal, the younger brother of the deceased person, found WhatsApp chats on Rahul’s phone.

“Sushmita told Rahul that she had given Karan drug-laced food, but he wasn’t dying. She kept updating Rahul, and also mentioned electric shocks,” Neeru added.

She further said that Karan lived with his wife in a flat and around 9 am on Sunday, daughter-in-law Sushmita came and said Karan was electrocuted.

The family then rushed to the flat and took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. At that point, everyone assumed it was an accident, the mother said.

Karan’s friend Gaurav told ANI that the day after the cremation, the family confronted Sushmita, where she confessed in front of all that she killed Karan because Rahul was blackmailing her.

He added that Rahul was also questioned separately and admitted to the murder.

“According to the family, the WhatsApp chats recovered from Rahul’s phone suggest that Sushmita was constantly informing him about Karan’s condition on the night of the incident and neighbours have also reported seeing Rahul near the couple’s flat that morning,” he said.

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

Deep in financial strife, Boeing can’t afford its Dreamliner aircraft to catch any blame for Ahmedabad crash, is this why western media is pushing ‘pilot error’ theory and shielding Boeing

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Deep in financial strife, Boeing can’t afford its Dreamliner aircraft to catch any blame for Ahmedabad crash, is this why western media is pushing ‘pilot error’ theory and shielding Boeing

In the aftermath of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, foreign media appears to have already apparently solved the case. The narrative is set, Boeing has been given a clean chit, and Indian pilot Captain Sumeet Sabharwal is being held responsible, despite the absence of a final investigation report. In fact, for many American media houses, Captain Sabharwal is already the culprit.

The US aviation regulator FAA, has also given Boeing preliminary clearance, and refused to issue any advisories or initiate an investigation into the 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash. Meanwhile, the Indian investigative agency AAIB is still a long way from releasing its final findings. This has led to some serious questions, was Boeing given a hasty clean chit to avoid adding to its growing list of troubles, especially if a fault in the Dreamliner comes to light?

There are many reasons to look at this clean chit with suspicion, like Boeingโ€™s financial problems, its heavy reliance on the 787 Dreamliner, and its declining performance compared to Airbus, all point in one direction. It is crucial to understand if the Dreamliner falls under suspicion; it could be the final nail in Boeingโ€™s coffin.

The 787 Dreamliner, Boeingโ€™s big hope

At present, the 787 Dreamliner is Boeingโ€™s most crucial aircraft. The company currently sells the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, and 777X. The 737 MAX has long been plagued by issues, and the 777X is yet to take its first commercial flight; it is expected to enter the market by 2026.

This leaves the 787 as Boeingโ€™s only model free from controversy and in high demand. The Air India crash involved a 787 Dreamliner. If any technical fault is found, Boeingโ€™s sole revenue-generating aircraft may be grounded.

Reports suggest Boeing earns around $10โ€“15 million (โ‚น85โ€“120 crore) from each 737 MAX sale, while a single 787 Dreamliner sale brings in about $30 million (โ‚น250โ€“โ‚น500 crore). If a technical flaw is confirmed in the 787, Boeing could be forced to halt production or ground the fleet, a massive financial and reputational blow.

Boeing model
Image: Boeing

Currently, Boeing has close to 950 pending deliveries of the Dreamliner. In the Air India crash, preliminary reports cited issues with the fuel control switch. The final report of the plane crash is still pending.

The 787 has faced several challenges earlier

The Dreamliner is no stranger to problems. While it holds large order volumes, production has slowed due to supply chain disruptions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the aircraft faces stiff competition from Airbusโ€™s A350. Though the 787 initially outsold the A350, over the past five years, Boeing has fallen behind, selling around 250 Dreamliners between 2020 and 2025, compared to over 300 A350s delivered by Airbus.

Ethiopian airlines
Image: Airbus

Any blame for the Ahmedabad crash could mean a serious dent in the 787โ€™s image which may drastically hurt its market performance. It could trigger a chain reaction of declining sales, cancelled orders, and worsening trust among buyers.

Boeing has been bleeding losses for five years

Boeing introduced the 737 MAX in 2017, claiming it would outperform the previous model with better fuel efficiency and enhanced features. The model received thousands of orders, but two tragic crashes, one of a Lion Air flight in Indonesia (2018) and the other of an Ethiopian Airlines flight (2019), killed nearly 350 people.

Initially, Boeing tried to blame pilot error. However, investigations revealed a faulty MCAS software system that repeatedly forced the aircraft into nosedives. Boeing had failed to inform pilots about the system, which worsened the company’s legal and ethical position. The 737 MAX had to be grounded and re-certified. Boeingโ€™s reputation suffered immensely, and order books froze. The company slipped into financial losses in 2019 and hasnโ€™t recorded a profit since.

On top of this, the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged supply chain issues crippled production. Between 2019 and 2024, Boeing incurred losses of around $36 billion (โ‚น3.09 lakh crore), with the worst years being 2020 and 2024, each accounting for nearly $12 billion (โ‚น1 lakh crore) in losses. The bleeding continues in 2025.

If any negative finding emerges around the 787 Dreamliner, it could spell doom for Boeing, closing its last real revenue stream and adding to the mounting pressure.

Company drowning in debt

Boeing is not just battling losses; itโ€™s drowning in debt. Since 2019, the companyโ€™s debt has ballooned, crossing $50 billion (โ‚น4.25 lakh crore). Despite efforts to stabilize its supply chain and secure new orders, Boeing has failed to significantly reduce this burden. In fact, its debt surged again after 2023.

Boeing trails Airbus in every metric

Boeingโ€™s struggles against Airbus have only intensified over the past 15 years. Airbus steadily eroded Boeingโ€™s narrow-body aircraft market with the A320, followed by a takeover of the wide-body market with the A330 and A380. Now, Airbusโ€™s A350 is set to overtake the Dreamliner.

Until 2010, both companies delivered around 700โ€“800 aircraft annually. Post-2010, Airbus pulled ahead. Since then, Boeing has sold about 9,600 aircraft, while Airbus has delivered more than 10,700. Airbus’ surge has been especially prominent after Boeingโ€™s 737 MAX crisis.

Even in order volume, Boeing has fallen behind. From 2015 to 2024, Boeing received orders for about 5,000 aircrafts. During the same period, Airbus secured over 8,900 orders, almost double.

If problems turn up in 787, Boeing may collapse

With its finances, reputation, 737 MAX woes, and delays in the 777X program, Boeing is currently leaning entirely on the 787 Dreamliner. It forms the bulk of the companyโ€™s revenue stream. Meanwhile, Airbus continues to outpace Boeing across segments.

All these factors explain why Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was blamed from day one of the Air India crash. The narrative was scripted the very day the accident occurred, to shield the Dreamliner from scrutiny and protect Boeingโ€™s business interests. The continuous media coverage targeting the Indian pilot in international outlets appears increasingly calculated and deliberate.

The original Hindi report can be read here.

Bangladesh: BNP leaders gang-rape minor Hindu girl after she returns home from Rath Yatra, crime comes to light after the victim attempts suicide

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: BNP leaders gang-rape minor Hindu girl after she returns home from Rath Yatra, crime comes to light after the victim attempts suicide

A minor Hindu girl, belonging to the tribal community, was gang-raped by 6 members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on 27th June this year. The incident occurred in Khagrachhari in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh.

According to reports, the victim is a student of 8th Std. On the fateful day, she attended the Rath Yatra fair and then stayed over at a relative’s place.

Six men, identified as Arman Hossain, Emon Hossain, Enayet Hossain, Saddam Hossain, Md Sohel Islam, and Md Munir Islam, forcibly entered the house and gang-raped the victim.

They also filmed the heinous crime and intimidated the victim into silence. All the accused are leaders of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal, the student wing and youth wing of BNP, respectively.

Out of fear and social stigma, the minor Hindu girl did not reveal the ordeal suffered by her to the family members.

The teenager soon became depressed and attempted to commit suicide on 12th July this year. She drank poison but was saved due to immediate medical intervention at the Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.

While speaking about the matter, a resident doctor at the hospital Ripol Bappi Chakma stated, “The studentโ€™s condition is serious and she is mentally disturbed. She is being given the necessary treatment.”

On regaining consciousness, the victim narrated the truth to her family members. On the night of 16th July, the girl’s father filed a complaint against the 6 BNP leaders at the Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station.

On Thursday (17th July), the police conducted a raid and arrested 4 of the accused – Arman Hossain, Emon Hossain, Enayet Hossain, and Saddam Hossain. The development was confirmed by SP (Khagrachhari) Arofin Jewel.

BNP leader Fazor Ali rapes Hindu woman at knifepoint in Cumilla

Earlier on 26th June, a prominent leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) named Fazor Ali forcibly broke into the house of a Hindu woman and then raped her at knifepoint.

The incident occurred in Ramchandrapur Panchkitta village in Muradnagar upazila in the Cumilla district of the country. According to reports, the victim is 21 years old and the mother of 2 children. Her husband works and lives in Dubai.

The victim had been residing in her paternal house for about 2 weeks. Fazor Ali had been stalking her from the time she had been staying there.

On 26th June, when the family members of the victim went to a local fair, the BNP leader seized the opportunity to break into his house and rape her at knifepoint.

When the victim screamed for help, locals rushed to the crime scene and detained Fazor Ali. But he managed to flee.

The victim was taken to the Cumilla Medical College Hospital for medical examination. A disturbing video of the incident has now gone viral on social media. The victim filed a complaint with the Muradnagar police on Friday (27th June).

A case was registered under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act of 2000. The police first arrested 4 people for sharing the explicit video of the victim on social media.

On 29th June, the copsย apprehendedย Fazor Ali and 4 other accused in connection with the rape of the 21-year-old Hindu woman.

Balasore suicide horror: 71 classmates signed a letter defending accused professor, victim was vilified by BJD, Congress student wings before she immolated herself

OpIndia Staff
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Balasore suicide horror: 71 classmates signed a letter defending accused professor, victim was vilified by BJD, Congress student wings before she immolated herself

The heartrending suicide of a 20-year-old B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, is swiftly devolving into a grim indictment of institutional rot, political hypocrisy, and the cruelty of peer betrayal. What initially appeared to be a lone voice of protest against sexual harassment has now snowballed into a national scandal, one where justice was crushed under a coordinated campaign of vilification, aided and abetted by those who today shed crocodile tears, and which finally resulted in the death of the 20-year-old victim.

However, merely three days after her death, a shocking detail has emerged: 71 of her 100 classmates, including 41 women, signed a letter attacking her character and defending the very professor she had accused of sexually harassing her, a report published by the Hindustan Times said.

The letter, written in Odia and dated July 1, a day after her formal complaint openly demanded that the victim and her supporters be expelled unless they provided “video evidence” of the harassment suffered by her. The letter also accused the victim of weaponising a sexual harassment charge and targeting the professor after she was barred from writing an internal exam, allegedly due to low attendance.

The backlash, say her family and friends, was orchestrated with chilling precision. โ€œIt wasnโ€™t just about disbelief โ€” they ganged up against her,โ€ her brother told reporters. โ€œThey assassinated her character both offline and online. She had no one left to turn to.โ€

Her roommate revealed that the night before she immolated herself, the victim was sleepless, distraught, and deeply shaken by the slander circulating on social media โ€” much of it allegedly spread by student leaders affiliated with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congressโ€™s student wing, NSUI. โ€œThe same people who called her names online are now marching with placards demanding justice. What justice? You murdered her dignity first,โ€ the roommate said bitterly.

The events of July 12, the day she set herself ablaze, are now under intense scrutiny. Her close friend recounted that she had gone for a quick lunch, only to return and find her engulfed in flames. The friend suspects that a confrontation with the college principal, Dilip Kumar Ghosh, might have pushed her over the edge. โ€œShe was already on the edge. Whatever he said in that final meeting must have broken her spirit completely,โ€ she said.

According to the FIR lodged by the victimโ€™s cousin, Ghosh forced her to withdraw her complaint and apologise to her alleged tormentor, Samir Sahoo, just minutes before the incident. Both Ghosh and Sahoo have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including abetment to suicide, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. Police sources suggest that even more stringent charges may be added following the investigation by the Crime Against Women (CAW) unit of the Odisha CID.

The CAW team is not only probing the professorโ€™s history of misconduct, but also investigating how he managed to marshal 71 students to file a counter-allegation, a move that now appears to be an organised smear campaign. The team is also examining the role of the principal in suppressing the complaint and failing to report the matter to higher education authorities.

What makes this tragedy even more grotesque is the rank hypocrisy now on display by the same political outfits whose student bodies vilified her. Both the Congress and the BJD have issued statements demanding action and reforms, even as screenshots of vile social media posts and smear campaigns allegedly run by their own student leaders continue to surface.

On July 12, an FIR was lodged at Sahadevkhunta police station by the cousin of the deceased B.Ed student, painting a damning picture of abuse and institutional betrayal. According to the FIR, Samir Kumar Sahoo, the head of the department of teacher education at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, had repeatedly demanded sexual favours from the student. When she refused to comply, he allegedly began harassing herโ€”failing her in exams, marking her absent unfairly, and subjecting her to mental torment. The FIR further accuses college principal Dilip Kumar Ghosh of coercing the victim into withdrawing her complaint against Sahoo. In a particularly chilling detail, the FIR alleges that just before the suicide attempt, the principal summoned her to his office, compelled her to apologise to Sahoo, and pressured her to drop the charges.

Following preliminary investigations, both Sahoo and Ghosh have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. These include Section 108 (abetment to suicide, punishable by up to 10 years in prison), Section 75(1)(ii) (sexual harassment involving a demand for sexual favours), Section 78 (stalking), Section 79 (eve-teasing), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and Section 3(5) (common intention). Authorities have indicated that more serious charges could be added as the probe deepens.

In response to mounting national outrage, the Odisha government has swung into damage control, mandating awareness workshops on sexual harassment laws and ordering all universities and colleges to prominently display womenโ€™s helpline numbers. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sent a four-member fact-finding team to the college, led by Professor Raj Kumar Mittal, to assess regulatory compliance and institutional failures. A parallel probe by the stateโ€™s Higher Education Department is also underway.

But for the victim and her grieving family, these actions come far too late. โ€œThis is not just suicide. This is a slow public execution carried out by an entire system,โ€ said a friend who stood by her till the end.

While left liberals have a problem with Akbar being called a brutal conqueror in NCERT books, read how the Mughal King massacred 30000 Hindus in Chittorgarh after his conquest

Aditi
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While left liberals have a problem with Akbar being called a brutal conqueror in NCERT books, read how the Mughal King massacred 30000 Hindus in Chittorgarh after his conquest

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)ย recently released a revised Social Science textbook for Class 8, in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023. The book titled “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” introduces students to some important events and episodes in Indian history, including the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal rule, the Maratha empire and the colonial period. The book has recently become the cause of a huge liberal meltdown.

The book has a chapter titled “Reshaping India’s Political Map”, which covers Indian history between the 13th and the 17th century, including the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate and the resistance to it, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Mughal Empire, and the resistance faced by them, and the rise of the Sikhs.

At the beginning of the book comes is a note for students, which gives them a contextual understanding of the inclusion of some dark historical episodes like the Islamic fundamentalism in the book and the approach to be adopted while studying them. โ€œHistory sometimes seems to be full of wars and destructionโ€ฆ Should we omit them entirely? โ€ฆ The best approach is to face them and analyse them so as to understand what made such developments possible and, hopefully, help avoid their recurrence in future. It is important to study those darker developments dispassionately, without blaming anyone living today for themโ€ฆ The past continues to live with us and shapes the present.โ€

To be introduced in schools from the 2025-26 academic year, the book attempts to provide a complete picture of historical events or periods included in it by retaining their negative as well as positive aspects. While the book mentions how Mughal rulers Jahangir and Shah Jahan patronised art and architecture, it also highlights the brutalities of Babur, who massacred the entire populations of cities. It describes Aurangzeb as a military ruler who banned un-Islamic practices and reimposed taxes on non-Muslims and defines the rule of Mughal ruler Akbar, the left-liberal coterie’s poster boy of the Mughal period, as a “blend of brutality and tolerance”.

A medieval portrait of Mughar King Akbar (via WION)

But the left liberals, who are habitual of using history as a tool to further their agenda, have a problem with it. They have a problem because the facade built by leftist historians who downplayed and whitewashed the brutalities of Islamic invaders and justified their atrocities against Hindus is crumbling. For a long time, they pushed a false narrative by portraying Mughal King Akbar as the epitome of religious tolerance. They eulogised him for abolishing the Jizya tax, a religious tax levied by Muslim rulers on Hindus and other non-Muslims for merely existing in an Islamic regime, but cleverly omitted to mention how he waged Jihad against Hindus during the seige of Chittorgarh and ordered the massacre of 30,000 Hindus populace.

The seige of Chittoragarh

By 1567, Mughal ruler Akbar had managed to get most parts of northern India under his control. Now, he was eyeing the Kingdom of Mewar, which was being ruled by the Suryavanshi Sisodia Rajput dynasty at that time, under Rana Udai Singh II. The Mewar kingdom stood as a symbol of resistance against the Mughal Empire, which had subdued most of the surrounding kingdoms. Akbar decided to launch a military expedition to besiege the Mewar capital at Chittorgarh and termed it as ‘Jihad’ against the infidels (Hindus).

Chittorgarh, situated in present-day Rajasthan, was a formidable fort spanning across 700 acres, situated atop 180 a high hill in the heart of the Mewar Kingdom. The fortress had survived the sieges by Aluddin Khilji (1303) and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (1535).

Refusing to bow down before the Mughal emperor, Rana Udai Singh II geared up to defend his kingdom. In October 1567, Akbar marched from Agra with his army of 40,000 men equipped with cannons, muskets and siege equipment, aiming to bring the Mewar Kingdom to its knees. Inside the Chittorgarh fort was an army of 8000 Rajput warriors prepared to defend their pride. On the advice of his counsels, Rana Udai Singh II moved to his principality in the Aravali hills and left the Rajput army under the command of Jaimal Rathore.

The Mughal army strategically set up their camp at the base of the Chittorgarh hill to cut off supplies to the fort. The siege began, and both armies soon engaged in a full-fledged battle with arrows, musket shots and cannon shots flying across the sky. The Mughal army was struggling to penetrate the 30-feet-thick walls of the Chittorgarh fort. The Mughal soldiers made several strategies to breach the mighty walls of the Chittorgarh fort. They tried to stealthily march towards the base of the fort through covered trenches and dig burrows under the foundation of the fort and pack gunpowder in them to blow up the fort’s base. However, the Rajput armies were watching them. They dug counter-mines and resisted the Mughal armies, which suffered heavy losses.

Miniature painting of a mine exploding during the siege of Chittorgarh in the Akbarnama. (Image via Wikipedia)

The battle went on for months, till the fateful day when the Rajput commander Jaimal Rathore fell. There are varied accounts of the cause of Jaimal Rathore’s death. Some accounts say that he died from a musket shot fired by Akbar on February 22, 1568. Other accounts mention that Rathore was killed by Mughal marksmen. Jaimal Rathore’s death was a turning point in the battle, as the Rajput armies were demoralised and the Mughal armies were able to breach the fort. As soon as the fort was breached by the Mughal armies, the Rajput women inside the fort performed jauhar to protect their honour from the enemy. The remaining Rajput soldiers put up a final resistance before the Mughal armies and laid down their lives, before the fort was finally captured on February 23-24, 1568.

Some Mughal sources say that the Rajput armies of about 8000-10,000 men were entirely killed. Mughal king Akbar, who was frustrated and enraged by the stiff resistance put up by the Rajput armies, proclaimed the siege of Chittorgarh and the victory of Islam over infidels and ordered the massacre of the entire civilian population of around 30,000 people. The men were killed, and several women and children were enslaved.

But, according to left-liberals, Mughal King Akbar was a liberal and tolerant ruler, who abolished the Jizya tax, and not a cruel, intolerant tyrant who ordered the slaughter of thousands of innocent, unarmed Hindu civilians of the Chittorgarh fort, who posed no harm to him. This special ability to see one truth by ignoring the other truth is peculiar to the left-liberals. The only acceptable truth to them is their version of truth, no matter how incomplete, selective or even untrue it is.

This unique quality of theirs begs the question, Jo cheez jaisi hai usey vaisa usey vaisa he pesh kyo na kiya jaye, taat ko resham kyo kaha jaye? (Why not present a thing as it is, why refer to jute as silk?) (famous words of poet, playwright and author Saadat Hasaan Manto).

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron placed on leave after viral โ€˜affairโ€™ video caught by โ€˜kiss camโ€™ at Coldplay concert

ANI
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Astronomer CEO Andy Byron placed on leave after viral โ€˜affairโ€™ video caught by โ€˜kiss camโ€™ at Coldplay concert

A video of a couple captured at a recent Coldplay concert, which led frontman Chris Martin to joke about them possibly having an “affair,” has now resulted in CEO Andy Byron being placed on leave.

Byron, the CEO of data startup Astronomer, has been put on leave after he was allegedly identified as one of the individuals in the now-viral footage.

“Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO, given that Andy Byron has been placed on leave…We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days,” a spokesperson for Astronomer told PEOPLE.

The video, filmed during Coldplay’s performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed a man and a woman on the event’s ‘kiss cam.’

As the man put his arms around the woman, both appeared to quickly hide their faces after realising they were being shown on the big screen. The woman was seen briskly covering her face, while the man ducked out of sight soon after realising they were on camera.

The moment caught the attention of the Coldplay frontman, who joked from the stage that they might be having an “affair.”

“Oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” said Martin.

The clip went viral in no time, sparking speculation about the identities of the couple.

Amid the viral frenzy, Astronomer confirmed that Byron had been placed on leave.

In a statement shared on LinkedIn on Friday, Astronomer wrote, “…committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.”

“The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly,” the company added.

The company, which did not directly confirm the identities of anyone in the video at the time, also clarified that Byron had not issued any statement. They also refuted reports suggesting that “other employees” were at the event and appeared in the video.

(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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