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TOI gives a platform to paedophilia-accused British Journalist Hasan Suroor, who claims India should financially help Pakistan forgetting all acts of hostility

Shraddha Pandey
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TOI gives a platform to paedophilia-accused British Journalist Hasan Suroor, who claims India should financially help Pakistan forgetting all acts of hostility

On Monday, February 20, the English daily the Times of India (TOI) gave a platform to Indian-origin British journalist Hasan Suroor to make a pitch for ‘Aman ki Asha’, urging India to bail out a cash-strapped Pakistan. Hasan Suroor has been accused of paedophilia, in 2015, he was detained for sexually grooming a minor, but a UK court later acquitted him.

While the TOI article by Hasan Suroor is titled, ‘Why Pakistanis Need India To Survive Economic Collapse’ it is more of a desperate pitch urging the Narendra Modi government to ‘rescue its down and out neighbour’.

The article begins with Suroor accusing India’s official and civil society of remaining “indifferent” toward Pakistan’s deepening economic crisis.

Suroor then hails former spymasters AS Dulat for ‘sticking his neck out’ while speaking at Times Lit Festival and suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might hold talks this year and bail out Pakistan. 

“Modiji might bail out Pakistan. Maybe there will be talks with Pakistan before the year is up?” Dulat reportedly said.

It is notable that AS Dulat, the former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief has over the years been peddling the Congress party propaganda and was recently seen with Congress scion Rahul Gandhi in the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ campaign. The former R&AW chief is known for his soft approach toward dreaded terrorists. Dulat, after the Balakot Airstrikes in Pakistan in 2019, had accused PM Modi of “milking” the situation.

Moving ahead, the idea of India bailing out Pakistan amidst the Modi government’s decision to not hold any talks with Pakistan unless it stops cross-border terrorism against India sounds like a ‘bad joke’ to Hasan Suroor who adds that the Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ‘desperate’ call for talks “was met with disdain in New Delhi.”

Suroor apparently wants his readers not to take note of the fact that a ‘desperate’ Shehbaz Sharif, even when his ‘nuclear-armed’ country is on the verge of an economic collapse and bankruptcy, had the audacity to claim that India would not be able to cast an evil eye on his nuclear-armed country, which has the “power to pullout the enemy’s evil eye and crush it under its feet.” 

Speaking at an event in the Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) earlier this month, PM Sharif said, “Pakistan is a nuclear power and India cannot look at us with an evil eye. We have the power to take it out and crush it under the feet.” The Pakistan PM also raked up the Kashmir issue again by underlining the need of gaining economic and political stability “to get freedom for the Kashmiris. Pakistan will continue to lend moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmir cause, until its freedom from Indian oppression.”

‘Modi government should prioritize compassion over political differences‘, claims TOI column by Suroor

Suroor wants the Modi government to build an ‘enduring legacy’ by offering help to a ‘neighbour in extreme distress by prioritizing compassion over political differences.’ Suroor conveniently wants the Modi government to do away with its national security concerns, and ignore the threats of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism even while Pakistan continues to flex its nuclear muscle and rail against the Modi government abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Suroor then goes on to assert that India needs to show a big heart and help a crisis-hit Pakistan as it would what he suggests put India’s soft power and humanitarian missions in a sharper focus. 

In an Op-ed titled ‘India’s Soft Power Is Blooming Under Modi’ published in the Hindustan Times, BJP leader Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda highlighted the Modi government’s willingness to help countries faced with crisis seeing beyond conflicts as seen during the Sri Lankan economic crisis and India’s ‘Operation Dost’ to help an earthquake-hit Turkey and how it manifests India’s belief in the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which he termed as an Indic philosophy seeing the world as one family.

Citing this Op-ed by the BJP leader, Hasan Suroor tried to insinuate that despite repeated betrayal by Pakistan, India should help Pakistan as it is the common people who need India’s help and not its political and military rulers. Suroor wants India to ignore strategic, defence and historical precedence and bail out a rogue state that has been nurturing terrorists against India, for decades.

Moreover, Suroor tried to play the emotional card by suggesting that the Pakistani people are not just any old neighbours but were “family” once. 

After playing the emotional ‘family’ card, Hasan Suroor goes on to claim that the economic collapse of Pakistan may result in severe security and strategic implications in the region including India. 

Towards the end, Suroor could not control himself from reflecting the true destructive nature of Pakistan as he adds an Urdu saying “Hum to doobenge sanam, tum ko bhi le jayenge” (When we sink, my dear, we will drag you down with us too).

This ‘Hum to doobenge’ saying reminds us of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s 1965 speech at the UN Security Council wherein he had said that Pakistan will wage a thousand-year war against India till the end, irrespective of its size and resources. 

“We will wage a war for 1,000 years against India…Irrespective of our size and of our resources, we shall fight to the end,” Bhutto said back then.

Suroor neglects to mention that India’s differences with Pakistan are not ‘political’, the Modi government is not politically contesting against the Pakistan government, but existential, because Pakistan has been an enemy nation that has betrayed trust repeatedly, waged wars and has always been hostile towards India.

Allegations of paedophilia against Hasan Suroor

Hasan Suroor was reportedly caught by the British Transport Police in November 2015 after allegedly attempting to sexually groom a 14-year-old.

According to reports, the journalist was apprehended when he attempted to meet the minor girl in person. During a sting operation run by the anti-paedophile organization Unknown TV, he was alleged to have sent the girl sexually explicit messages.

According to media reports, when the conversation turned towards having sex with the girl, Hasan Suroor promised to be “gentle.” He confessed to having “conversations of a sexual nature with a minor” and offering to buy condoms for the girl.

However, a year later, Hasan Suroor was acquitted by the Blackfriars Crown Court due to lack of evidence. In a written submission in June 2016, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said, “Following a further review of the case there is now no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Pakistan-IMF meeting over bail-out fails

The talks for a much-needed bailout package between International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan failed earlier this month, posing a serious question about the country’s ability to repay international loans. Pakistan is in talks with the IMF on a $1.1 billion funding round, which is part of a $6.5 billion bailout package signed in 2019. While an IMF team was in Pakistan to discuss the deal, the talks collapsed as they failed to reach a staff-level agreement within the stipulated time. Following this, Shehbaz Sharif-led ruling coalition decided to significantly increase tax rates to meet with IMF’s conditions.

MHA gives sanction to prosecute Manish Sisodia in snooping case

ANI
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MHA gives sanction to prosecute Manish Sisodia in snooping case

Ministry of Home Affairs has given sanction to prosecute Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the ‘alleged Feedback Unit’ snooping case. 

In a communication to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Secretariat dated February 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs granted permission to the CBI to prosecute Sisodia in the alleged snooping case. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had approved the CBI’s request for prosecution sanction and forwarded the same to the MHA. 

The CBI had sought sanction to register an FIR against Sisodia, who heads the Vigilance department of the Delhi government, under which the AAP government had in 2015 surreptitiously created the FBU- an Extra Constitutional-Extra Judicial Intelligence Agency to allegedly spy on different Ministries, Opposition political parties, entities and individuals. 

“This snooping unit, with no legislative or judicial oversight, was allegedly being run and managed by the close aides and advisors of CM Arvind Kejriwal, who reported directly to him. The case also pertains to illegal/unaccounted expenditure in the name of Secret Service Fund allocated to the FBU,” the sources had said. 

After the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) report to the vigilance department against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection to the ‘Feedback unit’ case, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had referred the case to the President of India for the prosecution sanction against Manish Sisodia through the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

In March 2017, the Vigilance department had given the probe to Anti Corruption Branch (ACB). Subsequently, the LG office marked it to the CBI. 

The preliminary inquiry into the said matter was completed in 2021. CBI wrote to LG and MHA in 2021 for sanction under section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

In 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government allegedly created a Feedback Unit. The aim was to strengthen the vigilance establishment and gather feedback on the working of various government departments, autonomous bodies, or institutions. 

In 2016, after the complaint of an officer of the Directorate of Vigilance, Delhi government, a preliminary inquiry conducted by CBI and found that in addition to the assigned job, the FBU, as it was referred to in official communications, also collected political intelligence related to political activities of persons, political entities and political issues touching the political interest of AAP. 

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

Maharashtra: Sondara Gurukul’s founder Sudam Kaka Bhondave and 3 family members pass away in a tragic road accident, son critical

Gopal Tiwari
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Maharashtra: Sondara Gurukul’s founder Sudam Kaka Bhondave and 3 family members pass away in a tragic road accident, son critical

Social worker Sudam (Kaka) Shankar Bhondave, known for his dedicated contribution to the education and upbringing of students from farmer families and families of sugarcane labourers, by setting up gurukuls in a very remote area of Marathwada passed away in a tragic road accident that took place on 21 February 2023. Sudam Kaka Bhondave was 66 years old.

His wife Sindhu Bhondave (age 60), his daughter-in-law Kartiki (age 32), and his granddaughter Anandi (age 3) also suffered fatal injuries and died in this road accident that took place near Falkemala, Karegaon on the Ahmednagar-Pune road. His son Ashvin Bhondave (age 35) who was driving the car at the time of this accident is critical with serious injuries.

Sudam Kaka Bhondve’s car met with an accident. Image Source: Facebook profile of Baban Pawar

At around 12:30 PM, the family’s speeding car hit a container parked on the roadside while going towards Pune as the family wanted to attend a family program in Chakan near Pune. The police have registered an FIR against the driver of the container, Bablu Lahari Chauhan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, and he has been arrested. The car was reduced to rubble because of the mishap. Sudam Kaka Bhondave, Sindhu Bhondve, and Anandi who were trapped in the car died on the spot. The car which had been crushed badly in the road accident had to be pulled apart by a crane to extract the bodies.

The car crashed on this container parked on the roadside. Image Source: Facebook profile of Baban Pawar

Kartiki Bhondave was seriously injured. She died while being taken to Ahmedagar for treatment. Ashvin Bhondave was seriously injured and is being treated in a private hospital in Shirur. The death of the founder of the Sondara Gurukul and his family members who gave their whole life to educating poor pupils is mourned by 200 students in the Gurukul and more than 3000 alumni of the institute and thousands of others in the Marathwada region.

Sudam Kaka Bhondve started Sondara Gurukul with the blessings and guidance of Nanaji Deshmukh

In 1986, India adopted an education policy that was newer for that era. The Rajiv Gandhi government had brought it with bubbling enthusiasm. It had many exciting features but rural parts of India were not equipped with educational infrastructure, connectivity, and institutes as it is today. Sudam Kaka Bhondave identified this gap as an inspired youth of 28-29 years of his age and started Sondara Gurukulam – a residential educational project of the NGO Deendayal Navarachana Pratishthan located in the Beed district of the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

The Beed district is a draught-prone and economically backward region where a large number of people temporarily relocate for nearly six months every year during the sugarcane harvest season. This dislocation is a great hurdle for the education of their children. And this lack of education is the main root cause of many social problems. To combat this predicament, the Sondara Gurukulam was established in 1986 under the guidance of Bharat Ratna Hon. Shri Nanaji Deshmukh.

Education and rural development are the foundations of this project. Though the Gurukul was initially founded focusing on the Beed district, today it has encompassed the entire state of Maharashtra with beneficiaries from various districts like Jalna, Nanded, Osmanabad, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Mumbai, Pune, Parbhani, Sangli, etc. More than 3000 students have availed the opportunity for education from this Gurukul and at present, around 200 students are being taken care of by the project.

The humble beginning of a grand work

Since its inception in 1986, the Gurukul has developed a lot. The idea of Gurukul was conceived by KD Joshi. The project was seeded with 3 huts and 23 students on 21st July 1986 to educate the children of sugarcane workers in the Beed District.

Sondara Gurukul started in 3 huts. Image Source: www.Sondara.in

Sudam Kaka’s father Shankar Bhondave donated his seven acres of land in the Domri village of the Patoda tahsil of the Beed district. On the first day, Sudam Kaka Bhondave and his wife Sindhu Bhondave dedicated themselves to this work for the rest of their lives as full-time workers to this project.

Gurukul operated through the huts for 12 years. Image Source: www.sondara.in

The Gurukul flourished under the consistent guidance of Nanaji Deshmukh. The project began without any infrastructure like residential accommodations, electricity, water supply, road, manpower, or capital. Management of the Gurukul started under Deendayal Research Institute. The school started without any Government grant money.

Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh would often take a review of the activities in the Sondara Gurukul. Image Source: Facebook profile of Hamid Khan Pathan

30 days ‘Dhanyata Camp’ was organized for 2000 people in May 1987 under the guidance of Nanaji which resulted in the creation of a beautiful lake in the vicinity of the Gurukul. The Gurukul was run in huts for initial 12 years. Basic infrastructure was made available by Deendayal Research Institute in the year 2004-05.

Sudam Kaka Bhondave’s vision turned a barren hilly terrain into a pleasant landscape. Image Source: Facebook profile of Hamid Khan Pathan

The Gurukul was given approval by the Government of Maharashtra in 2004. Since 2007, to ease administration, the management has been transferred from Deendayal Research Institute to Deendayal Navarachana Pratishthan.

Aerial view of the Sondara Gurukul campus. Image Source: YouTube channel of the Sondara Gurukul

Building nation one brick at a time

Sudam Kaka Bhondave was attached to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. But while teaching in Gurukul, he never forced any thought on the young pupils and he let it solely to their experience what they wanted to think. This freedom built a different confidence in the students of the Gurukul.

Sondara Gurukul ensures the all-round development of students. Image Source: Facebook page of Sondara Gurukul

However, Sudam Kaka Bhondave would always ensure that students of the Gurukul get to know the things they should. There is no wall in the Gurukul that does not converse with its students. Even the classroom complexes in the building are named Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila, etc. The Gurukul houses a swimming pool and it has a garden called “The Kadamb Van”. The Gurukul teaches computers to the kids, and it also teaches them Yoga and meditation. The Sondara Gurukul also has a dedicated section for Ayurvedic medicines of common purposes.

Sudam Kaka Bhondave and his wife’s death is a big shock to the Sondara Gurukul. Image Source:

In this way, Sudam Kaka Bhondave went on to enrich his students with a blend of contemporary useful knowledge and ancient Indic awareness. All the staff members live in Gurukul with students. This is seen as a unique experiment in the state of Maharashtra, and many other schools later took inspiration from this.

Sondara Gurukul today

The success of Sondara Gurukul can be evaluated in various ways. For the last 36 years, the Gurukul has functioned solely on social and economic support without any government aid. This has added to the confidence of the people about the project. The Gurukul undertakes rural development along with students’ education. The Gurukul has established itself as a high-cadre educational inspiration center and has become a role model for many educational institutions in Maharashtra. 

Students from poor farmer’s families studying in the Sondara Gurukul frequently get admitted to government medical colleges, government engineering colleges, and to other professional courses. Besides, Gurukul has produced many braveheart soldiers, intelligent farmers who keep doing various experiments, researchers, lawyers, and more than anything else citizens who regard the motherland and fellow countrymen above all.

The Bhondave family members will always be remembered for their work

The Gurukul went has suffered heartbreaking pain as the accident took away three very important pillars of the Gurukul. Kartiki Bhondave had also started to work full-time for the Gurukul in the last few years. Ashvin Bhondave – the only survivor in this accident had also left his engineering career and joined his father to contribute to the process of nation-building. This accident has taken away from the Gurukul one of the most loved disciples of Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh and his equally loving and caring family.

Jawhar Sircar calls PM Modi ‘Asura’, asks if Dr Jaishankar has ‘amnesia’ while having elaborate meltdown, read details

Nirwa Mehta
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Jawhar Sircar calls PM Modi ‘Asura’, asks if Dr Jaishankar has ‘amnesia’ while having elaborate meltdown, read details

TMC Rajya Sabha MP and former bureaucrat Jawhar Sircar called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “asura” while hitting out at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar after his ANI interview. Dr Jaishankar on Tuesday had said that his father, Dr K Subrahmanyam was removed as Secretary of Defence Production by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after she returned to power in 1980. 

Taking to Twitter, Jawhar Sircar wrote, “S Jaishankar’s father, K Subramanyam said “Dharma was killed in Gujarat (2002 Riots). Those who failed to protect innocent citizens are guilty of adharma. Rama…would have used his bow against the ‘Asura’ rulers of Gujarat.” Shame on son –serving Asura!” 

Jawhar Sircar’s tweet

Sircar had shared propaganda website The Wire link wherein their Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan had made a personal attack on Dr Jaishankar by invoking his deceased father’s critique of Narendra Modi as Gujarat CM during 2002 riots to score a brownie point over Soros ‘old man’ controversy. Varadarajan, who seems to have been hurt at Soros being called ‘old man’ for trying to interfere in India’s internal affairs and try foreign intervention in a bid to topple Modi government, appeared to have taken it upon himself to attack Jaishankar instead.

Sircar’s attack on Dr Jaishankar came after the External Affairs Minister in an interview with ANI, revealed that his father Dr K Subrahmanyam was removed as secretary, defence production by former PM Indira Gandhi in 1980 and that he was superseded during the Rajiv Gandhi period with someone junior to him becoming the Cabinet Secretary. 

Jaishankar, in the interview with ANI, had explained the reason for joining the BJP as the right party at the right time for India’s progress. Insinuating at the External Affairs Minister, the TMC leader said Jaishankar was suffering from “amnesia” adding that he is just “cuddling up to the BJP.” 

Jawhar Sircar’s tweet

“Strange — that Jaishankar discovered his angst against the Gandhis — after serving them most loyally and taking the best of postings under them? Is it Amnesia or is he just cuddling up to BJP for his unprecedented promotion as Foreign Minister?” Sircar wrote on the microblogging site while sharing yet another news link to attack Dr Jaishankar.

The former head of State-run broadcaster Prasar Bharati, then raised the BBC bogey.

Jawhar Sircar on BBC

The British broadcaster released a documentary on PM Modi in January this year ahead of Lok Sabha elections next year. The propaganda documentary does not even mention the Godhra carnage where Muslim mob burnt alive Hindus returning from Ayodhya which triggered the riots. It mentions that the ‘train caught fire’ but does not specify a Muslim mob set it on fire with specific intentions to kill Hindus returning from Ayodhya.

So to answer Sircar’s question, the ‘facts’ in BBC documentary are false.

Jaishankar was Foreign Secretary from January 2015 to January 2018 and earlier served in key ambassadorial positions including in China and the United States. His father K Subrahmanyam, who passed away in 2011, is regarded as one of India’s most prominent national security strategists. 

Sircar, on the other hand, likes to peddle fake news time and again. He was the Chief Executive Officer in Prasar Bharati from 2012 to 2016. 

On April 27, 2014, Doordarshan aired a 30-minute-long interview with the then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the runup to the Lok Sabha elections. Upon its release, a controversy broke out about how chunks of the 54-minute-long interview were edited out by broadcaster Prasar Bharti at the behest of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

At that point in time, Jawhar Sircar was the CEO of Prasar Bharati. Questions were raised about his integrity and the lack of autonomy of India’s largest public broadcasting agency. The interview, featuring former Gujarat CM and BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi was shot on April 26, 2014, and it aired a day later on April 27. It was followed up with a re-telecast of the interview on April 28. When the video was aired, the BJP raised objection as to how a 54-minute-long interview was cut short to just 30 minutes.

Gujarat man lured to Myanmar by one Irfan from Dubai under pretext of job, held captive, read details of his rescue

લિંકન સોખડિયા
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Gujarat man lured to Myanmar by one Irfan from Dubai under pretext of job, held captive, read details of his rescue

Many aspirant youths looking for job and money are sometimes trapped by so-called recruitment agents and their life turns into hell. One such incident happened recently with a young man from Talala in the Gir-Somnath district of Gujarat. On the instructions of Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi and under the guidance of Gir-Somnath Superintendent of Police Manoharsinh Jadeja, the Gir-Somnath police have brought the youth together with the family.

According to reports, a young man from Talala in the Gir-Somnath district was illegally confined to Myanmar. The youth’s father Jagmalbhai Karshanbhai Bamrotia lodged a complaint at Talala police station in this regard. When OpIndia spoke to Jagmalbhai, father of the victim, Nirav Bamrotia, about this subject, he shared with us some eye-opening information.

Ahmedabad-based agent Soham Pandya and Dubai-based agent Irfan came together to execute a fraud

Jagmalbhai said in September last year, his son Nirav reached Dubai for a job in a private company through an agent named Soham Pandya of Ahmedabad. There he worked for about three months. Soham took Rs 2.5 lakh for this.

While he was working in Dubai, Nirav came in contact with an agent named Irfan from Dubai. Irfan promised him a job in Thailand with another private company. Lured by higher salaries, Nirav had also agreed to it.

After this, Dubai-based agent Irfan made a Myanmar visa in the name of Nirav and sent him to Myanmar instead of Thailand. With this visa, Nirav was airlifted from Dubai to Yangon City, a city in Myanmar, in December.

What happened in Myanmar?

In Yangon City, Myanmar, he started working for a company called FENGQINGYANG COMPANY LIMITED. Within a few days, he realized that he was being cheated, so he told the company management that he wanted to return to India.

In a conversation with OpIndia, Nirav said that as soon as he talked about going back to India, he was locked in a separate room. Seven other youths were also there in this room, out of which 4 were from Uttar Pradesh and 3 were from Indonesia. Nirav said that at one time he felt that he could never return to India from there.

But one day, somehow, when he got a mobile phone, he called his father and told him the whole thing and requested his father to rescue him. His father told OpIndia that he had requested the management of the Myanmar-based company to send his son to India and also sent Rs 17 lakh on its demand. But even after getting the money, they did not allow Nirav to come to India.

Finally, on the 17th of February 2023, Nirav’s father directly approached the Talala police station in the Gir-Somnath district for help. Talala police and Gir-Somnath police took the matter very seriously.

It was only with the help of the police and the government that Nirav could come back

The police swung into action after Jagmalbhai informed the Talala police about the matter. Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi also directed the police to take the incident seriously and bring him back to Gujarat at any cost.

Under the guidance of Junagadh Range IGP Mayanksinh Chavda and Gir-Somnath Superintendent of Police Manoharsinh N Jadeja, PSI R.H. Maru of Talala police station and his team started a thorough investigation. They were in constant touch with the Immigration Department of the Government of India and the Immigration Department of Myanmar in this regard under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police and informed them about the incident.

In connection with this incident, complete information including the entire bio-data of Nirav, who was trapped in Myanmar, his visa and passport as well as his location in Yangon City in Myanmar, was given to the Immigration Department of the Government of India. With the help of the Myanmar Immigration Department, Nirav, and the others trapped with him were rescued by the agencies.

On February 19, Nirav Jagmalbhai Bamrotia was flown to India from Yangon City in Myanmar and from there to Ahmedabad and his village. The Gujarat Police not only rescued Nirav but all the Indians trapped with him.

It is worth mentioning that ever since it was reported that her son was trapped in Myanmar in this way, Nirav’s mother had given up food and water. When Nirav reached home, she consumed the food with his hands.

Seeing Nirav return home safely, his entire family became very emotional. Nirav’s father thanked the Talala and Gir-Somnath police, immigration department, and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi for helping throughout this whole incident.

Days after toxic chemical spill in Ohio, molten debris rain down on several buildings in the state after massive explosion in a metal factory

OpIndia Staff
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Days after toxic chemical spill in Ohio, molten debris rain down on several buildings in the state after massive explosion in a metal factory

It seems the state of Ohio can’t catch a break right now. Days after a train derailment caused a massive chemical spill of toxic substances including vinyl chloride, the state has to deal with molten debris raining down on the residents now. An explosion occurred in an Ohio metals plant on Monday, February 20, scattering molten metal and debris that rained down on neighboring buildings. It killed 1 person and injured at least a dozen others.

The smoke billowing into the sky after the blast could be seen for miles around the damaged factory. The factory is located about 15 miles southeast of Cleveland in the state of Ohio.

Following the blast, Oakwood Fire Department Captain Brian DiRocco addressed the media and informed that 13 people were taken to the hospital with burn wounds following the blast, and one more was being treated on site.

I. Schumann and Co., the factory where the blast happened, produces copper, brass, and bronze alloys. It issued a statement that said, “We will work alongside investigators in their search for answers as part of our commitment to Northeast Ohio, where we have been operating for more than 100 years.”

Matthew Wiggins, owner of a neighboring business, described the scene following the explosion and said, “”Things were falling off the walls, falling off shelves. We went out front and there was like smoldering rocks and molten metal in the yard. Tons and tons of smoke. Fire billowing out of the building across the street.”

Another witness, Joe Sarconi, said, “A beam flew across the street. That other beam flew across the street and blew out our window. Exciting, but horrible.”

The cause of the explosion is not yet determined, and investigations are currently underway.

The explosion took place 70 miles northwest of East Palestine, Ohio, where earlier this month the train loaded with toxic chemicals derailed, causing a fire that forced thousands of people to evacuate the town.

Venkatesh Prasad Vs Aakash Chopra: The former Indian pacer responds to Chopra’s video as the two continue to clash over KL Rahul

OpIndia Staff
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Venkatesh Prasad Vs Aakash Chopra: The former Indian pacer responds to Chopra’s video as the two continue to clash over KL Rahul

On 21st February 2023, the argument between former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad and former Indian opener Aakash Chopra reached another level as Prasad took to Twitter to refute Chopra’s allegations that the former Indian bowling coach is running an agenda against batsman KL Rahul. Venkatesh Prasad has been vocally criticizing the selection process of the Indian cricket team and questioned repeated opportunities being given to KL Rahul despite his poor performances for the Test team.

Venkatesh Prasad tweeted, “So my friend Aakash Chopra after making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls me an agenda peddle, conveniently and cleverly misquotes me, removes Mayank’s average of 70 at home, wants to gag views which are not in line with what he believes but wanted Rohit out.”

He added, “I have no agenda against any player, maybe there are others who have. Difference of opinion is fine but calling contrary views ‘don’t bring your personal agenda on Twitter’ is funny for Aakash Chopra considering he has made a great career by airing his views.”

Venkatesh Prasad further said, “I have nothing against KL or any other player, my voice has been against unfair selection and different yardsticks for performers. Be it Sarfaraz or Kuldeep, have voiced based on merit. But it was disappointing to see Aakash calling it personal agenda. This is what Aakash had aired when Rohit was 24 with 4 yrs in the international cross. He can use sarcasm for Rohit at 24, and I cannot point out underperforming Rahul at 31 with 8 years in International cricket.”

Venkatesh Prasad went on to say, “And the argument that we should not criticize a player in an ongoing match personally doesn’t make sense to me. That doesn’t affect the player’s performance. Most players don’t read views even after the match and no player can read in between matches as phones are deposited. I admire Aakash for the hard work he puts on his YouTube channel but calling a different viewpoint as agenda because it doesn’t suit his narrative is poor. There is no bitterness between us and since his video was in the public domain wanted to put my point out here. Best wishes.”

The argument between the two former cricketers started when former India bowler Prasad expressed his displeasure with KL Rahul’s continuous selection despite his poor form, leading Aakash Chopra to term it a personal agenda. Chopra released a video explaining why Prasad shouldn’t have done that and provided Rahul’s figures in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries after Prasad shared his overall statistics in away Tests.

Akash Chopra argued that selectors are right in keeping faith with KL Rahul during the Border Gavaskar Trophy in India based on his performances outside India.

Chopra has now responded to Prasad’s string of tweets and invited him for a debate on his YouTube channel. Responding on Twitter, Chopra said, “Venky bhai, msgs are getting lost in translation. You here. Me on YT. I invite you to come on a Video Chat…we can do it Live. Difference on opinions is nice…lets do it properly.”

KL Rahul has made 38 runs in his 3 innings during the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and has been struggling for form for a long time.

Rahul Gandhi, whose Italian maternal grandfather fought for the fascists, claims that India has become fascist under PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi, whose Italian maternal grandfather fought for the fascists, claims that India has become fascist under PM Modi

On Tuesday, February 21 Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that India has become a fascist country under Modi’s regime.

Speaking during an interview with the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Gandhi scion said, “Fascism is already there. Democratic structures collapse. Parliament is no longer working. I haven’t been able to speak for two years; as soon as I speak they take my microphone off. The balance of power is off. Justice is not independent. Centralism is absolute. The press is no longer free.”

When asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be defeated in the next election, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in Opposition unity, claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party would be defeated completely if the other parties banded together.

“… it’s sure he (PM Modi) can be beaten. Provided you support a vision, not linked to the right or the left, but to peace and union. Fascism is defeated by offering an alternative. If two visions of India confront each other in the vote, we will be able to prevail,” said the Gandhi scion.

Not only today but the Congress party under the tutelage of Rahul Gandhi and its coteries have time and again labeled Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Hitler’ and a ‘fascist’. Yet, Rahul Gandhi’s labeling of Modi as a fascist is rather ironic considering that his Italian maternal grandfather was a proud fascist himself.

For the uninitiated, Stefano Maino, Rahul Gandhi’s maternal grandfather served as a foot soldier in Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s army. While the mainstream media was successful in effectively obscuring the details of the maternal side of Rahul Gandhi’s family, however, in a rare interview with Outlook Magazine in 1998, Sonia Gandhi’s father, Stefano Maino, candidly confessed his “unwavering loyalty to Mussolini and Italy’s ‘admirable’ fascist past”.

Maino was not only unapologetic about his support for the fascist leader but he was immensely proud of fighting against the Russian Red Army alongside Hitler’s Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front in World War II.

The interviewer also observed that Stefano Maino’s house was festooned with leather-bound speeches and writings of Benito Mussolini, indicating that he was profoundly inspired by the fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who teamed up with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and presided over the unprecedented massacre of innocent people, mostly Jews. Maino also held dim views of the then-Italian politicians, saying that “the current Italian government was composed of a bunch of traitors who had betrayed Mussolini and the Fatherland”. Wistfully longing for Mussolini’s rule in Italy, Maino had said that the current crop of Italian politicians was all hopeless except the neo-fascist front. He also advocated authoritarian measures such as forced sterilization.

Even Socia Gandhi herself enjoyed a good personal rapport with authoritarian Russian President Vladimir Putin during the UPA’s years in power. In fact, Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with Putin in St Petersburg was described as one of the most productive meetings to develop India-Russia relations.

Wanted Hizbul terrorist Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiaz Alam shot dead by unknown assailants in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Wanted Hizbul terrorist Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiaz Alam shot dead by unknown assailants in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Imtiaz Alam alias Bashir Ahmed Peer, one of India’s most wanted terrorists, has been killed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Imtiaz was a founding member of the outlawed terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, serving as its third commander. On Monday (February 20, 2023), he was killed in front of a shop by two unidentified assailants.

According to reports, Imtiaz, a resident of Babarpora in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, was standing in front of a shop in the evening when assailants fired at him from point-blank range and fled. Imtiaz was rushed to the hospital in critical condition where he was proclaimed dead.

The Indian government led by PM Narendra Modi had designated Bashir Ahmed Peer as a ‘terrorist’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on October 4 last year. The Indian security forces were looking for him in relation to many terrorist attacks.

Imitiaz was involved in providing logistics to the banned outfit’s terrorists, especially for infiltration into the Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the central government notification, Peer was also involved with online propaganda groups with the aim of uniting former terrorists and other cadres of jihadi terror groups in order to promote the activities of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and other Pakistan-backed terrorist groups.

Imtiaz used to instigate the youth in the name of implementing Sharia law in Jammu and Kashmir. He was also playing a key role in mobilizing youth and providing them with arms and ammunition.

Bashir Mir was coordinating the terror camps and launch pads from PoK as well.

According to News18, Imtiaz Alam was killed as a result of inter-gang rivalry among Pakistan-based terror groups as they jostle to corner terror funding that is drying up owing to Pakistan’s dismal financial circumstances.

Imtiaz was apprehended by the Pakistan Army’s Intelligence Wing in 2007. He was later released, however, on the orders of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.

Bhiwani deaths: Haryana Police register FIR against Rajasthan Police for assaulting Gau Rakshak’s pregnant wife, causing death of unborn child

OpIndia Staff
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Bhiwani deaths: Haryana Police register FIR against Rajasthan Police for assaulting Gau Rakshak’s pregnant wife, causing death of unborn child

Haryana Police has registered an FIR against the officials of Rajasthan Police for assaulting Kamlesh, wife of Gau Rakshak Shrikant Pandit. Kamlesh was nine months pregnant. As per reports, due to the assault, the child died inside Kamlesh’s womb. The case has been registered at Nuh Police Station based on the complaint filed by Shrikant’s mother Dulari. Haryana Police also exhumed the body of the deceased child for post-mortem examination.

Shrikant’s mother has complained that the officials of Rajasthan police had barged into her home and brutally assaulted the family, including Shrikant’s pregnant wife. As a result, the woman had to be hospitalised immediately, where she gave birth to a stillborn child.

Furthermore, it has been revealed that the Gau Rakshaks who have been booked in the murder case of Junaid and Naseer were police informers. Three out of five named in the matter, Rinku Saini, Lokesh Singla and Shrikant, were police informers and regularly tipped police about cattle smuggling activities which is an organised crime in these areas.

Reportedly, they also used to accompany Haryana Police during raids. The other two who have been booked in the case are Monu Manesar and Anil. Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations have come forward to support the Gau Rakshaks in the case, saying that they are being falsely accused of murder.

According to a report in Dainik Bhaskar, old FIRs revealed that Rinku, Lokesh and Shrikant accompanied Haryana Police in several instances of police action against cattle smuggling. In January, Lokesh had accompanied Haryana Police for a raid in a suspected cow smuggling case. The family of Junaid and Naseer have raised suspicions claiming police personnel could be involved in the murder case.

Dainik Bhaskar claimed the sources in Rajasthan Police told the media house that Rinku admitted taking Junaid and Naseet to Ferozepur Jhirka Police Station. He wanted the police to arrest them but their condition deteriorated following the clash. The police allegedly refused to take action and sent them back. The sources further claimed the duo later died and taken in Bolero to Loharu, Bhiwani, 200 KM away from the crime scene where they were set on fire. A case of kidnapping has already been registered in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

Hindu Mahapanchayat to support Monu Manesar

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations called Mahapanchayat on February 21 to support Monu Manesar. He has extensively worked to protect cows from smugglers in Manesar and Mewat areas, the organisations stated. They added that the government is trying to frame Monu, who is innocent, and the Hindu organisations will build pressure to stop the government from doing so.

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