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Government-funded madarsas accused of admitting non-Muslim children, NCPCR orders investigation

OpIndia Staff
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Government-funded madarsas accused of admitting non-Muslim children, NCPCR orders investigation

On 8th December 2022, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) directed chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to conduct a detailed inquiry into madarsas admitting non-Muslim children. The commission has asked all government-funded/recognized madarsas to complete the inquiry within 30 days and submit a report. The commission has also recommended mapping of all madarsas.

The letter written by the NCPCR to the chief secretaries read, “On perusal of various complaints received by the Commission from different sources, it is noted that children belonging to Non-Muslim community are attending Government funded/ Recognised Madarsas. Further, it is also learned by the Commission that some State/UT Governments are providing them with scholarships too. This is a clear-cut violation and contravention of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India that prohibits educational institutions from obligating the children to take part in any religious instruction, without the consent of parent.”

The Commission has asked states and Union Territories to admit any or all such children in schools with immediate effect for getting a formal education.

It added, “Madarsas, as institutions, are primarily responsible for imparting religious education to children. However, it is also learned that those Madarsas which are funded by the Government or recognized by the Government are imparting both religious and to some extent formal education to children.”

This decision by NCPCR attracted some criticism from some Islamists and allegations were made that NCPCR didn’t receive any complaints against such madarsas.

However, Priyank Kanoongo – the chairperson of the NCPCR – refuted these allegations and tweeted, “You haven’t asked about sources, even you didn’t contact NCPCR before spreading the radical lie.”

‘60+ Sikhs burnt alive by Brahmin-Hindu mobs’: Khalistanis in Australia blame Brahmins for 1984 anti-Sikh massacre by Congress

OpIndia Staff
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‘60+ Sikhs burnt alive by Brahmin-Hindu mobs’: Khalistanis in Australia blame Brahmins for 1984 anti-Sikh massacre by Congress

After spreading anti-India and anti-Hindu propaganda in countries like Canada and Britain, Khalistani terrorists have launched a disinformation campaign against Hindus in Australia. The Khalistanis are spreading fake news that 60 Sikhs were killed by Brahmins in India.

Several images have surfaced on social media in which a large poster has been seen placed on a trolly. On the poster, it is written that ’60 Sikhs, indigenous people burnt alive by Brahmin-Hindu mobs’. As seen in the viral photo, several Sikh people are seen near the poster, which shows India’s map with ‘Hondh Chillar’ and the 1984 Sikh Riots written on it. Hondh Chillar here refers to the massacre of Sikhs in Hondh Chillar village during the 1984 riots.

Sharing the image on Twitter, Australian Hindu Media questioned if the cause of the Khalistanis is so noble, and why none of them revealed their identity. 

“Melbourne Khalistan rally inciting hate against Australian Hindus while spreading fake news. If your cause is so noble, why hasn’t a single organiser of the event identified himself? No mention of your idol Bhindranwale’s role in having 20,000+ Hindus killed?,” the Twitter user Australian Hindu Media tweeted.

Blaming Hindus and Brahmins for the Hondh Chillar massacre during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is definitely anti-Hindu propaganda, because, the riots were engineered by the Congress party after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It was not Hindu-Sikh riots like the Khalistanis are trying to project now. Reportedly, 32 Sikhs were killed by Congres workers on November 2, 1984, at Hondh Chillar in Haryana by beating them and burning them. The Congress mob had burnt down several houses and a Gurdwara by pouring kerosene.

It is well known that the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom was done by Congress in retaliation to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters. But now, the same Khalistanis are trying to exonerate Congress from the crime by blaming Hindus and Brahmins for it.

It is pertinent to mention here that in recent times, pro-Khalistan activities are on a rise in Australia. Recently, senior officials of the Indian government informed the Anthony Albanese-led Australian government of growing Sikh separatist activities in Australia, after Khalistan flags were waved at an event for the Indian community. 

On November 19, The Humanity Walk- an event organised by Victorian Sikh Gurudwara Council, in Melbourne, Khalistan flags were waved and pro-Khalistan T-shirts, pamphlets, and booklets were displayed.

An Indian government official said that the Narendra Modi government wanted to convey to the Australian government that the Khalistan movement had links with “proscribed terrorist organisations that have a history of violent terrorism.”

Indian officials met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neil, who reiterated that freedom of expression is respected, but there was something suspicious about the “overseas players.”

According to an Australia Today report, the Australian Department of Home Affairs is investigating the visa conditions of some Khalistani overseas players who are heavily involved in the upcoming referendum in Melbourne.

Indian officials warned the Australian governments that such an event would endanger Indian Australians’ safety and make them targets of violence.

This comes after Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, leader of the Sikhs For Justice Khalistani terrorist outfit demanded a referendum to be held in Canberra. 

Notably, the Indian government had issued a demarche to the Canadian government on similar lines in October, warning them that the Khalistani elements may end up carving out a Khalistan in Canada itself. India also urged the Trudeau government to stop the purported Khalistan referendum. 

Sabarimala: Taking suo moto cognisance of the rush of devotees, Kerala High Court proposes extending time of worship for crowd control

ANI
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Sabarimala: Taking suo moto cognisance of the rush of devotees, Kerala High Court proposes extending time of worship for crowd control

Kerala High Court on Sunday proposed an extension of the time of worship for devotees at the Sabarimala temple by an hour on busy days. The Devaswom Bench of the high court mooted the proposal after convening a special sitting on Sunday. 

The court had asked the Board to consider extending the time of worship after taking suo motu cognisance of a recent rush of devotees at the Sabarimala temple, which left quite a few of them injured. The Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and PG Ajithkumar also directed the Pathanamthitta district collector and the police to control the crowd at the Sabarimala shrine.

The lawyer for the Devaswom board submitted in court that a decision on extending the time of worship can only be made after holding consultations with the temple’s chief priest, owing to certain ritualistic considerations.

The Devaswom Board said bookings are increasing despite attempts made to control the congestion at the temple through virtual queues. The police and the Devaswom Board made it clear that there is an urgent need for crowd control, including the capping of the number of bookings per day to 85,000.

However, the court held that anyone who treks to the Sabarimala temple should not return without a darshan (visit). It proposed that the authorities concerned make all necessary arrangements to ensure the same.

With reports of all available parking spaces filling up, the court also put forward the proposal of imposing restrictions on the number of vehicles and full-time police patrol. The court said it will consider the matter again on Monday. 

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

Three Independent MLAs decide to support BJP in Gujarat, reports claim AAP MLAs are also in touch with the party

OpIndia Staff
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Three Independent MLAs decide to support BJP in Gujarat, reports claim AAP MLAs are also in touch with the party

According to reports, three independent MLAs elected in the recently held Gujarat assembly elections are going to support the Bharatiya Janata Party which has registered a record-break majority in the state assembly and is all set to form the government in the home state of Narendra Modi. Dhawal Jhala from Bayad, Mavji Desai from Dhanera, and Dharmendra Vaghela from Vaghodiya are the three MLAs.

These three MLAs were earlier in BJP only. They had contested as independents after not getting tickets from the party. Now reportedly they have now decided to support the BJP. According to a report by News18, the three leaders had a meeting today and decided to support BJP in the meeting. However, they will support the BJP from the outside and none of them will be a part of the government or the BJP legislative party.

Dharmendrasinh Vaghela told the media, “My support is only for the Bharatiya Janata Party. I was already with the Bharatiya Janata Party.” He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and said that when they work day and night and worry about the country, he will also work with them. He also said that he has discussed the matter with BJP state president CR Patil and made it clear from the day of the result that his support would remain with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Dhawal Jhala joined BJP with Alpesh Thakor. He was given a ticket in the by-election but he could not win. This time he was denied a ticket by the BJP and therefore he left the party and fought as an independent candidate. Mavji Desai of Dhanera was also expecting a BJP ticket which he could not get. Thus he contested the election against the BJP candidate as an independent. Similarly, Dharmendra Vaghela fought from the Vaghodiya seat as an independent because the party did not give him the ticket. Now that the three leaders have had a common meeting after getting elected, they have decided to back the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly. However, the party has not cleared any stand about these three leaders so far.

In the meanwhile, there are rumours floating around that some of the AAP MLAs may also join the BJP, and that they are in touch with BJP. However, these reports are not confirmed. Earlier in the day, it was reported that AAP MLA Bhupat Bhayani is joining the BJP. While he denied these reports, curiously, he added that he will ask the public what they want, and then will make a decision.

Bharatiya Janat Party won 156 seats in the Gujarat assembly elections. This is the highest number of seats bagged ever by any party in Gujarat. In 1985, Congress had won 149 seats. Congress has won 17 seats in the Gujarat assembly elections. Aam Aadmi Party won 5 seats.

Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta resigns taking moral responsibility for defeat in MCD polls, Virendra Sachdeva temporarily assumes charge

Dibakar Dutta
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Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta resigns taking moral responsibility for defeat in MCD polls, Virendra Sachdeva temporarily assumes charge

On Sunday (December 11), the President of the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Adesh Gupta, tendered his resignation following the party’s loss at the MCD elections. Adesh Gupta said that he took the decision to resign taking moral responsibility for the defeat in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections.

As per reports, the party has accepted the resignation of Gupta and elevated BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva to the post of acting President of the Delhi unit. Sachdeva had earlier held the post of the Vice-President of Delhi BJP.

While speaking about the development to The Times of India (TOI), Adesh Gupta remarked, “Taking the responsibility of defeat in the MCD, I have given my resignation to the national president. It has been accepted.”

He further added, “We put up a good fight, our vote percentage has increased…yes it is true that we missed the victory by a small margin.” The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has 250 wards, and 1,349 candidates contested the election.

“The party did not get the expected results in the MCD elections. Taking moral responsibility for the defeat, I have resigned from the post of Delhi BJP president,” Adesh Gupta told ANI. He said that he had sent the resignation yesterday and it was accepted today by the party. Talking about the defeat, he said that they will have to do an analysis of where their shortcomings were.

It must be mentioned that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged victorious in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, bagging 134 seats and ending the 15-year hold of the BJP.

The BJP won 104 seats while the Congress managed to get only 9 seats. A total of 3 independent candidates also won the elections. According to TOI, several factions within the Delhi BJP had raised the demand for change in party leadership.

A BJP leader told the English daily, “There have been three polls in the past two years. One bypoll of MCDs, second one Rajinder Nagar bypoll of Vidhan Sabha and the third was the MCD poll. The party has lost all of them.”

Gujarat se Gujarat Tak – An account of the downfall of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat from moral victory in 2017 to demoralised cadre in 2022

Gopal Tiwari
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Gujarat se Gujarat Tak – An account of the downfall of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat from moral victory in 2017 to demoralised cadre in 2022

The thumping win of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently held Gujarat assembly elections has reduced its prime opponent Congress to a historic low. Congress which once had made a record of winning 149 out of 182 seats in 1985 under the leadership of Madhavsinh Solanki had to be content with 17 seats. With no party in the opposition having 10 percent seats, the seat of the leader of the opposition is vacant in the assembly of Gujarat which is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. It, therefore, becomes evident to look back and take an account of how the oldest party in the Indian polity let itself degrade to an extent where its cadre, which once took inspiration from the moral victory in 2017, is demoralized to a historic low in 2022.

Gujarat is BJP’s strongest fortress

Since 1995, the BJP has won every assembly election in Gujarat. The 27 years of rule by the party have brought lasting peace and development in the state that was once trailed behind on various development parameters. From riots-free harmonious living to increased water table even in the parts of Kutch, BJP has left no stone unturned to ensure that people from all strata of the society upgrade their life in every coming term of the rule.

The industrial and agricultural development of Gujarat under the BJP rule has been phenomenal. Throughout the 27 years, the BJP ensured that hardly there is any anti-incumbency as such n the popular opinion. More credit for this pro-incumbent public opinion goes to Narendra Modi who believed in participative governance while he worked as the chief minister of the state from 2001 to 2014.

The tough battle of 2017

However, despite a good track record of performance by the back-to-back BJP governments in Gujarat, the BJP had to fight a difficult battle in 2017 when it somehow managed to maintain a clear majority with 99 seats in the assembly of 182 member strength of which 92 is the magic figure. Congress won 77 seats in the Gujarat assembly in this election. In the previous election in 2012, the BJP had won 115 seats while Congress had secured 61 seats.

This performance by Congress in 2017 was thus better than the earlier one and relieving sign for the party that was facing continuous defeat against the BJP in various elections. Amit Shah was the BJP president at that time and he had turned the party cadre into a vibrant mechanism that would ensure victory even in the most hostile situations.

Crediting the Gandhi scion for the ‘moral victory’

Though the Congress could not win the Gujarat assembly elections in 2017 and could not snatch the fortress for the BJP, the Congress party and its supporters in the so-called progressive, secular and liberal class of the country painted a picture as if Rahul Gandhi’s leadership has shined like a star (which was rising for the ‘n’th time by then) against the mighty PM Modi in his home state. The defeat of the Congress in the assembly election, however apparently marginal by numbers, was hailed as the ‘moral victory’ of the Congress by this class. As a result, Rahul Gandhi was coronated as the president of the grand old party; seemingly because ‘his efficient leadership’ led the Congress to increase its count in a mid-sized assembly by 16.

This is in sharp contrast with Amit Shah who was made president of the Bharatiya Janata Party after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Amit Shah was made in charge of the biggest state Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to the 2014 general elections. His strategies paid off and the BJP-led NDA got 73 seats in Uttar Pradesh which was not even the home state of the leader.

Was it really Rahul Gandhi’s success in Gujarat?

In the 2017 Gujarat assembly elections, there were other issues faced by the BJP rather than Rahul Gandhi’s so-called ‘effective leadership’ that caused a decrease in the seats. The state was boiling in the heat of the Patidar reservation movement. There were rising young leaders in the state. It consisted of Jignesh Mewani, Alpesh Thakor, and Hardik Patel. All of them eventually joined Congress.

Narendra Modi had left Gujarat and entered Delhi as the Prime Minister. So, Gujarat BJP was trying shuffles to spot an assuring face that will lead from the front. Vijay Rupani was made the chief minister just one and a half years before the elections. So, in a term of five years, Gujarat BJP had effectively given three chief ministers to the state. First, it was Narendra Modi who was reelected to power in 2012 and left midway as he became the Prime Minister in 2014. Then it was Anandiben Patel who was replaced by Vijay Rupani in 2016 as she completed 75 years of her age. These factors contributed a lot to the results of the 2017 elections rather than Rahul Gandhi’s charisma which fails to impress anyone except some old guards of the ancient house of Congress.

Gradual demoralization and the downfall in Gujarat

After 2017, Rahul Gandhi led the Congress party into the 2019 general elections where it miserably failed for the second time. In 2014, it failed against its own incompetencies and the Modi wave. In 2019, five years of performance of the Modi government and the nationalistic sentiment prevailing among the masses made it even worse for the opposition. Rahul Gandhi had to resign from the post of the party president. Sonia Gandhi was called back as the interim president of the party and remained in the post until Mallikarjun Kharge was ‘elected’ as the party president in 2022.

The Congress party did achieve some success in this period, as they won elections in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and now Himachal Pradesh. The party is also an alliance partner in the Jharkhand, and was part of Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra govt before it was pulled down by rebel Shiv Sena leader and current CM Eknath Shinde. The party lost Punjab to AAP during this period,

What were the BJP and the Modi government doing all this while?

By the time Congress could finalize the president of the party in whatever form it remained after successive defeats, the Narendra Modi government steered the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, registered record-breaking vaccinations, and also inaugurated many development projects across the country completed at top speed. The Kutch region of Gujarat received tap water for the first time as the Narmada project was completed. Likewise, there were many schemes of the Modi government which benefitted the poor. The pro-incumbency in Gujarat was thus bound to touch astronomical heights. As a result, the BJP won 156 out of 182 seats to break Madhavsinh Solanki’s record.

Rahul Gandhi’s ineffective leadership in the 2022 Gujarat elections buried the party deeper

When the Gujarat assembly elections were approaching, Rahul Gandhi started his Bharat Jodo container Yatra. He started his walk from Kanyakumari to Srinagar. When electoral politics was in full swing in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi was busy dining with the fathers of various churches in Kerala and Tamilnadu. When party workers in Gujarat were expecting the top leadership to back them and boost them for the upcoming elections, Rahul Gandhi was busy abusing Veer Savarkar as his march passed through Maharashtra. When the campaigning was at its peak in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi was busy in photoshoots with ‘poor and rich’ who all supported his ‘n plus one’th launch against the mighty king Narendra Modi whom the newly elected Congress president went on to call Ravana during the election campaign.

It was the apathy by the top leadership of the Congress in general and Rahul Gandhi in particular that young leaders like Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor joined the BJP and got the tickets and became MLAs while Congress reduced to 17 seats thanks to handpicked rallies held in Gujarat by Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi ascended to the post of party president in 2017 when his well-wishers discovered a ‘moral victory’ in the sixth consecutive defeat in Gujarat. He leaves the party cadre demoralized after the crushing defeat in 2022 as the BJP registers the seventh victory in a row.

Parties and leaders who resort to politics of shortcut are the biggest enemies of every taxpayer: PM Modi in Nagpur

ANI
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Parties and leaders who resort to politics of shortcut are the biggest enemies of every taxpayer: PM Modi in Nagpur

Stepping up the attack on the opposition parties that “resort to politics of shortcut”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that leaders of such political outfits are the “biggest enemies of every taxpayer”.

The Prime Minister accused such political parties and leaders of merely aiming to gain power with “false promises”. PM Modi’s remarks came while addressing after inaugurating various developmental projects which also included infrastructural projects.

“I want to caution people of the country about the deformity coming into the country’s politics. This deformity is of the politics of shortcut, spending the country’s money for political selfishness, and spending the tax-payers money. The political parties and leaders who resort to shortcuts are the biggest enemies of every taxpayer. They only aim to gain power and form governments with false promises,” he said.

The Prime Minister took a step further and accused those parties of wanting to “destroy the country’s economy for their personal gains” in the Amrit Kaal when the country is moving towards achieving its goals.

“They can never form the country. Today, when the country is working on the target for the next 25 years, some political parties want to destroy the country’s economy for their personal gains,” he said.

The Prime Minister has, in the past made repeated mentions of the freebie politics in the country and has termed it “dangerous” for the development of the country.

PM Modi further lauded the developmental projects launched in Maharashtra and said that the government has given a “human touch” to infrastructure projects.

“Be it healthcare for the common man, or wealth creation, be it farmers’ empowerment or water conservation, for the first time, there is such a government in the country which has given the human touch to infrastructure projects. A human touch of infrastructure that is touching every person’s life,” he said.

“The focus of the Government is infrastructure development with a holistic vision and approach. We cannot narrow down the infrastructure to lifeless roads and flyovers. The progress of the States will power the development of the nation in this ‘Amrit Kaal’,” PM Modi added.

The Prime Minister said that the government has worked towards achieving the vision of better connectivity and progress at a great pace through people’s participation.

“Better connectivity empowers growth and progress at a great pace. The Govt has worked towards achieving this vision and I am happy that we could achieve it with Jan bhagidari,” he said.

“When development is restricted, opportunities are also limited. Connectivity plays a key role in growth. In the last 8 years, we have changed the idea and approach of development to be inclusive of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas,” PM Modi added.

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

Karnataka government to change the name of Tipu Sultan era ritual of ‘Salaam Aarti’ to ‘Aarti Namaskara’

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka government to change the name of Tipu Sultan era ritual of ‘Salaam Aarti’ to ‘Aarti Namaskara’

On Saturday, December 10, the BJP government in Karnataka announced that it has decided to rename ‘Salaam Aarti’, a ritual initiated by the 18th-century Islamic tyrant Tipu Sultan. 

The Karnataka Dharmika Parishat (State Religious Council), which comes under the Department of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Muzarai), announced the decision. 

The decision comes after the Mandya district administration submitted a renaming proposal to Dharmika Parishat that was received from the Chaluvnarayana Swamy temple in Melkote. The temple conducted Salaam Aarti daily at 7 pm since Tipu’s reign.

Kashekodi Sooryanarayana Bhatt, a member of the Dharmika Parishat earlier said that these Persian terms were imposed and that the word ‘Salaam’ does not belong to Hindus. 

Speaking on the decision taken, Shashikala Jolle, the Minister of Muzarai said that words like Salaam Aarti, Salaam Mangal Aarti, and Deevatige Salaam will be renamed as per local terms. 

The minister clarified that only the names will be changed and the ritual will continue as usual.

“It has been decided to rename Deevatige Salaam as Deevatige Namaskara, Salaam Aarti as Aarti Namaskara, and Salaam Mangalarti as Mangalarti Namaskara. After getting a final clearance from CM Basavraj Bommai, an official order will soon be issued,” Minister Jolle said.

The Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra told ANI that the decision to rename Salaam Aarti is correct. “Where should it happen if the work to strengthen our culture isn’t undertaken at temples”, he asked.

Many Hindu organizations have contended that the name ‘Salaam Aarti’ is a symbol of slavery and was practiced to assert dominance over Hindus. The Hindu groups had demanded that such Tipu Sultan-related rituals be discontinued at Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple and Melkote Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, among others.

India does not welcome the G7 cap on Russian oil: All you need to know about the oil price cap and Indian stand on it

OpIndia Staff
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India does not welcome the G7 cap on Russian oil: All you need to know about the oil price cap and Indian stand on it

On December 3, the G7 and European Union finally agreed upon capping the price of Russian seaborne oil at $60 per barrel. In an obvious reaction, Russia rejected the oil price ceiling and warned the West of retaliation.

Following the imposition of the price cap, G7, and European Union-based insurance and reinsurance companies that provide services for tankers carrying Russian crude oil, as well as institutions financing Russian crude transactions, will not be allowed to handle such cargoes unless the oil is bought at or below the price cap. Shipping companies will not be allowed to provide tankers for the transport of Russian crude as well unless the oil is sold at or below the $60 price cap.

The price cap came into effect from the 5th of December, aimed at reducing Russian revenue as it looks to finance its war against Ukraine.

Impact of the price cap on India

India has emerged as the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China in the post-Ukraine war world. India’s imports from the Middle East fell 16.2% to about 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, while imports from Russia increased 4.6% to about 896,000 bpd. In October, Russia’s share of India’s imports increased to 4.24 million tonnes, or nearly 1 million barrels per day, giving it a 21% share, comparable to Iraq’s and higher than Saudi Arabia’s share of around 15%. In November, India bought 40% of the Russian Urals seaborne export volume. 

Since Indian refiners are already getting Russian crude at $60 a barrel or below, there will hardly be a negative impact of the price cap on India.

As India has reiterated that it will continue to purchase oil from Russia with Moscow assuring that it will directly negotiate with its crude buyers, the price cap is likely to benefit India. The price cap would furnish them with leverage to further reduce the price paid to Russia.

Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, has said that the oil price cap will not have an impact on India. He mentioned that India’s oil import from Russia is very limited and that India now sources oil from 39 countries including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and also exploring trade possibilities in Africa. Other than this, India may also buy more oil from the United States, Guyana, and other countries in the future. 

Minister Puri also said that the global oil producers have assured India that there will be no disruption in oil supplies. India will turn the global oil challenges into an opportunity to secure affordable energy, the Minister said.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on December 7, the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar said that Indian refiners look for the best deal they can find and that the Indian government does not direct them particularly to buy Russian oil. On the impact of the price cap on India, he said that it is not very clear yet.

Jaishankar reiterated in the Parliament that India has always urged both Ukraine and Russia to resolve disputes through dialogue and return to diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also told in strong words to the Russian President Putin that “this is not an era of war.”

EU and G7 impose a price cap on Russian oil

Last week, European Union and the G7 countries imposed a price cap on Russian oil.

President of the European Union, Ursula von Der Leyen, in a video message she posted on Twitter, highlighted that the oil price cap will “reduce Russia’s revenues significantly and stabilise global energy prices.”

Regarding the objectives of the oil price cap, the European Commission president stated that it will first solidify the effect of EU’s sanctions, secondly, it will reduce Russia’s revenues, and thirdly, it will stabilise global energy markets by allowing some Russian seaborne oil to be traded, brokered, and transported by EU operators to third countries as long as it is sold below the cap.

From December 5 onwards, Western shipping and insurance firms are not permitted to handle Russian oil sold above the price cap.

Russian Response

Reacting to the newly imposed oil price cap, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the cap will have a limited impact on Russia and called it a “stupid, ill-conceived and miscalculated proposal and a harmful decision for the global energy markets.”

Earlier, President Putin while speaking to the media hinted at cutting oil production. “I am not saying that it is a decision, however, if necessary, we will think about production cuts,” Putin said on state-run Rossiya 24 TV.

Other than production cuts, Russia may soon withhold its oil supplies to countries backing the price cap. Besides, Russia may set maximum discounts to international benchmarks or may decide a fixed price per barrel for selling its crude. 

In order to avert the sanctions levied by the west, Russia has been selling its crude to countries like India and China at discounted rates. Russia has volumes committed to multiple buyers at a 40-50% discount. 

Russia welcomes India’s move not to back G7’s price cap

In his meeting with the Indian Ambassador to Russia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak welcomed India’s decision not to back the price cap imposed on December 5 on Russian oil by the G7 and its allies. 

As per the statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, India’s imports of Russian oil surged to Rs 16.35 million tonnes till August 2022.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister also offered India assistance in building large-capacity ships in order to avoid reliance on insurance and tanker chartering bans in the EU and the United Kingdom.

With India exploring various options to meet its energy demand and dealing with Russia for seamless crude supply and a balanced foreign policy, the impact of the G7 and EU-imposed oil price cap is unlikely to be negative.

The Print columnist challenges people to ‘prove him wrong’ that India’s most popular games do not involve touch, netizens oblige

OpIndia Staff
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The Print columnist challenges people to ‘prove him wrong’ that India’s most popular games do not involve touch, netizens oblige

Dilip Mandal, a columnist with ‘The Print’, courted controversy on Sunday (December 11) after claiming that only those sports are popular in India, which do not involve human touch.

In a tweet in Hindi, he claimed, ‘Is it not true that only those games are popular in India that do not involve touch? Or where the players do not need to touch each other and bear the least risk of being touched? Prove me wrong.’

He further continued, ‘Think of the games that are funded by the government. Which sports are funded by companies? Which are those games? Think along these lines.’ The archived version of the tweet can be accessed here.

Social media users wasted no time in proving ‘The Print’ columnist wrong. Aaj Tak journalist Panna Lal pointed out, “India is the champion of Kabaddi. Great in the arena of wrestling as well. (India) is also a rising star in the sport of boxing.”

RSS ideologue, Rupa Murthy, took potshots at Dilip Mandal, who happens to be a habitual caste baiter. She mocked, “So true. This untouchability practised by the General category is the reason in Kabaddi & Kusthi players only touch each other with a long stick during the match.”

“They even make reservation category people touch the feet of the General in Kabaddi. Attaching the proof too,” Rupa Murthy added, posting an illustration of Kabaddi.

Media portal ‘The Frustrated Indian’ mocked, “Yes, one has to wear gloves while participating in Kabaddi, wrestling matches.”

Popular Twitter user Vikrant remarked, “Every day, we prove something or the other to you but for the time being, focus on wrestling. Perhaps more is done in that sport other than just a simple touch.”

Senior Sub-Editor at India TV, Sudhanshu Gaur, wrote, “Mandal ji, please visit a psychiatrist soon for an urgent evaluation of your mental condition. Your mental stability is decreasing every day. If this trend continues…”

Last month, Dilip Mandal had started to trend the ‘casteist BCCI’ hashtag on the micro-blogging platform Twitter.

He was upset that cricketer Surya Kumar Yadav wasn’t included in the ODI squad during the Indian tour of Bangladesh. As such, the habitual caste baiter blamed the decision to rest Yadav on the supposed casteism of the selectors and the BCCI.

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