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‘If women roam around without burqas, criminal behaviour in society increases’: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq

OpIndia Staff
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‘If women roam around without burqas, criminal behaviour in society increases’: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq

Earlier in the day, the two-judge bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia of the Supreme Court of India delivered a split verdict on the Karnataka hijab case. Reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision, Samajwadi Party leader Shafiqur Rahman Barq said that permitting women to walk around in public spaces without a burqa will only enhance wildness and promiscuity in men.

The Samajwadi Party leader maintained that not wearing Hijab in public is bad for society as a whole. Rahman insisted that this was strictly a religious matter and that Hijab is essential for women in public spaces in Islam.

Shafiqur Rahman accused BJP of trying to spoil the atmosphere of the country on the pretext of hijab.

In a video which has now gone viral, SP MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq is heard saying, “Honestly, this is a religious matter. It is a matter pertaining to Islam. In Islam, Hijab is mandatory for women. They have been told to remain in purdah and not roam around the markets and streets without purdah. This spoils the situation and profligacy increases. Today, if they say that Hijab is not necessary. Due to this, it will be a loss not just to Islam but to society also.”

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court of India’s two-judge panel of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued a split judgement in the Karnataka hijab case. Justice Hemant Gupta upheld the ban by dismissing the 26 appeals filed against the judgment of the Karnataka High Court which held that hijab was not an essential practice of Islam and allowed the ban on wearing headscarves in educational institutions in the State.

Meanwhile, the second judge of the bench, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, expressed “divergence in opinion.” He set aside the Karnataka High Court judgment and held that the entire concept of essential religious practice was not essential to the dispute.

As a result of the split ruling, the case will now be sent to the Chief Justice of India for suitable direction. In the interim time, the order of the Karnataka High Court which held that hijab was not an essential practice of Islam and allowed the ban on wearing headscarves in educational institutions in the State, will remain applicable.

Notably, Shafiqur Rahman Barq is the same Samajwadi party leader who was seen extending his support to the Jihadist organisation, two days after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. On Tuesday, August 17, the SP MP, who remains in news due to his controversial statements, tried to legitimise the radical Islamist outfit as he opined that the Talibanis have only recaptured the land that originally belonged to them.

Drawing an equivalence between these Jihadists and India’s freedom fighters, the Samajwadi Party leader said that like our countrymen fought for freedom from the British, the Talibanis also wants to free their country and run it.

Further heaping praises for the Jihadist outfit, Shafiqur Rahman Barq added, “Taliban is a force that did not allow even strong countries like Russia and America to settle in their country.”

A day after, however, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh booked him on charges of sedition, promoting enmity and hurting religious sentiments for his open support to the Taliban. 

The Samajwadi Party leader has a track record of making extremely problematic comments. He had once said, “BJP not only tampered with Shariat but also got girls caught and raped. Mistakes like mob lynching were done with Muslims. The government is now facing the brunt of which in the form of coronavirus.”

Shafiqur Rahman Barq is the same Samajwadi leader who had also created a controversy by saying in Parliament that Vande Mataram is against Islam.

Shashi Tharoor complains of ‘uneven playing field’, Kharge says all is well in Congress as party gets set to decide its next president

OpIndia Staff
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Shashi Tharoor complains of ‘uneven playing field’, Kharge says all is well in Congress as party gets set to decide its next president

On 13th October 2022, Shashi Tharoor, a candidate for the post of Congress president, claimed that he has been treated differently by party officials than his rival Mallikarjun Kharge. Notably, the campaign for the position of Congress President pits Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge against one another.

Addressing a press conference, Shashi Tharoor said, “We are contesting elections. There is no spirit of enmity in our party. Kharge Sahab is my senior leader and I have worked closely with him. The election is about two colleagues seeing how to work to strengthen the party.”

Clarifying more on his ‘uneven playing field’ remark, Shashi Tharoor said, “In several PCCs, leaders welcomed and met Kharge Sahab. The same was not done for me. I visited PCCs but PCC chiefs were not available. I am not complaining, but do you not see a difference in treatment?” He advised his party members to support him only if they want to see a change in Congress.

Shashi Tharoor said, “Do you want the party to go with change or are you satisfied with everything? If you think everything is fine, do not vote for me as I want such a change in the party that would bring back voters who did not remain with us in 2014 and 2019.”

In an effort to resurrect the party’s prominence in the nation, Shashi Tharoor said earlier this week that he might serve as a catalyst of change for the organisation. Tharoor said, “Some people are saying Kharge is an official candidate and I am no one. But I want to say that the Gandhi family is unbiased and no one is an official candidate as we are standing for strengthening of the Congress party. If someone is saying that delegates are asked to vote for a certain person, it is not true.”

When asked about the speculations after Shashi Tharoor’s remarks, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “See, this is an attempt to spark a fight between us. We are brothers, we work for the same party. Someone can speak in a different manner. I can do it in a different manner. So there are no differences between us. He is like a family member.”

Kharge further said, “I don’t have a complaining nature. Rather, I and Tharoor both are meant to jointly complain to the Prime Minister and Shah about inflation, unemployment, rupee falling down. We both are expected to jointly fight on the issues affecting the people. And we should take everyone along. That is important. Delegates asked me to contest the election. Now it is their responsibility to make me win.”

Earlier on Tuesday, 11th October 2022, senior leader and Congress president aspirant Shashi Tharoor claimed that several party leaders had asked Rahul Gandhi to make Tharoor withdraw his candidature. Now he has come up with a new theory of unequal playgrounds for the two contestants.

Rajasthan HC denies bail to Ajmer Dargah cleric Gauhar Chishti who raised ‘sar tan se juda’ slogans against ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan HC denies bail to Ajmer Dargah cleric Gauhar Chishti who raised ‘sar tan se juda’ slogans against ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma: Details

On Thursday, October 13, the Rajasthan High Court denied bail to Gauhar Chishti, the Khadim of Ajmer Dargah, who had raised slogans of beheading against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, reported Law Beat. Chishti was arrested by the police from Hyderabad on 14th July 2022.

On June 17, Gauhar Chishti raised slogans of beheading outside the Ajmer dargah. The video of his speech went viral, which allegedly led to the heinous murder of Udaipur’s Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kolhe in Maharashtra.

Chishti was initially charged under Sections 506, 504, 188, 149, 143, and 117 of the IPC for his objectionable slogans; however, Section 115 read with Section 302 was added to the FIR in light of the cases related to the heinous Udaipur and Amravati beheading.

The bench of Justice Sameer Jain noted that Chishti’s alleged “provocative, vindictive, and motivated slogans put the law and order in jeopardy and caused communal discomfort throughout the country, including unfortunate instances at Amravati and Udaipur.”

The court further stated that the purported recovery of many mobile phones, as well as Chishti’s active arrest from Hyderabad, proved his alleged active participation in the incident.

Aside from that, the court considered the fact that prohibition orders are issued against Chishti on a yearly basis under Section 107 of the CrPC as a preventative measure.

Therefore, while considering the Additional Advocate General’s submission that the aforementioned slogan raised by the Khadim of Ajmer Dargah resulted in the beheading of Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kohle, the Court concluded, “it could not be ruled out that if Chisti is released on bail, he can pose a threat to the society at large and affect the law and order situation in the State”.

Notably, Chishti had applied for bail in the High Court, claiming that he is a Khadim in Ajmer and that he was simply performing ‘religious and pious’ activities before the Garib Nawaz.

He claimed that a ‘peaceful’ procession was held with due permission in protest of BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma’s remarks.

The AAG, however, argued that Chishti flouted the conditions of permission and raised provocative and religiously charged slogans in front of a crowd of approximately 3000 people in the said protest.

He further stated that video clips of such slogans were widely shared online, leading to the incidents in Udaipur and Amravati, where victims were beheaded because of religious hatred propagated by such slogans, and hence provisions of Section 115 read with Section 302 were added to the FIR.

Furthermore, he informed the court that Chishti is a habitual criminal and that prohibitory orders are issued against him every year as a preventative step to ensure peace and social harmony.

After hearing the arguments presented by both parties the Court observed, “It is observed that the permission was granted to raise protest by way of a ‘peaceful procession’ on the specific condition that the law and order will be maintained and that no provocative religious slogans would be raised. In spite of the same, the applicant arranged for mics and loudspeakers and raised religiously charged slogans before a crowd of 3000 people that were provocative, vindictive and motivated in hate speech”.

Court further said, “moreover, the applicant is alleged to have been actively involved in the incident as the mastermind. In contravention of the categorical directions of the police authorities, the law and order was put in jeopardy and communal discomfort was caused throughout the country, including certain unfortunate incidents at Amravati and Udaipur”.

“It cannot be ruled out that if the applicant is released on bail, he can pose a threat to society at large and affect the law and order situation in the State”, the court added while rejecting Chishti’s bail application.

Links of Khadim Gauhar Chishti of Ajmer Dargah to Kanhaiya Lal’s murderers

Days after the gruesome murder of Kanhaiya Lal, it came to light that a Khadim of Ajmer Dargah named Gauhar Chishti had met one of the killers of the Hindu tailor. Citing sources, journalist Nikhil Choudhary reported that Gauhar had called for the beheading of ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on June 17 this year for allegedly committing ‘blasphemy’.

After making the provocative speech, he travelled to Udaipur to meet Riyaz Attari, one of the murderers of Kanhaiya Lal. Interestingly, Riyaz issued threats to Sharma and her supporters through a video on the same day. Reportedly, Khadim Gauhar Chisti had asked Riyaz to make the disturbing video after brutally beading the Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur.

It is notable that Gauhar Chishti was also arrested by the police two years ago for making a video of the CRPF camp, though he was let off at that time with a mere warning.

During the investigation into Kanhaiya Lal’s murder case, it was revealed that some people of the Pakistan-based radical outfit Daawat-e-Islami were in touch with many people in India. Among them, the names of Kanhaiya Lal’s killers Mohammad Riyaz and Gaus Mohammad as well as Khadim Gauhar Chishti of Ajmer Dargah also came up.

Efforts are being made to establish whether Chisti has links with the banned Islamic organisation PFI.

Delhi Police detain Gujarat AAP chief Gopal Italia from NCW office for questioning, AAP leaders spread old photo to make false claims

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police detain Gujarat AAP chief Gopal Italia from NCW office for questioning, AAP leaders spread old photo to make false claims

On October 13, Aam Aadmi Party’s Gujarat chief Gopal Italia was detained by Delhi Police from the National Commission of Women’s (NCW) office in the national capital. The commission had summoned Italia in connection to the video where he was seen using derogatory language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The AAP workers had staged a protest outside the NCW office today after the women’s body had issued the summons to him, where Italia was also present.

In a statement, Delhi Police said that they had received a complaint from NCW against him. He was taken by the police for questioning in the matter. The police said, “We received a complaint from the NCW against him and are taking him for questioning about the same.”

Speaking to the news agency ANI, NCW chief Rekha Sharma said, “He [Gopal Italia] denied getting a summon, but his reply is ready. He also denied his presence in the video, but in his reply, he accepts tweeting. He had claimed it wasn’t him in the video.”

She further added that the written statement by Italia and his statement at the commission did not match. Furthermore, Italia’s supporters attempted to enter the NCW office forcefully. She said, “He hasn’t given a proper reply. I’ve told the police, too, that action should be taken against him because he was creating an atmosphere to impact the law and order situation. His supporters attempted to enter(NCW office) forcefully.”

Sharma said there were 100-150 AAP workers outside the office who threatened her. She had to stay in the office and miss out on important meetings scheduled for the day. She said, “I had an important meeting at 2 PM, which is now delayed as I couldn’t step outside. If 100-150 people come and threaten me, what kind of a leader are they? He was supposed to come to the NCW office and only answer a few questions. Why did he have to lie and bring so many lawyers?”

AAP spreads fake image of Gopal Italia in lock-up

After Gopal Italia was detained by Delhi Police, AAP leaders circulated a photo showing the Gujarat AAP leader standing behind the iron grill of a police lock-up. It was claimed that Italia has been put in a police lock-up after he was detained.

But the AAP leaders used an old photograph to make the claim. In the visuals from the NCW office, it can clearly be seen that Italia was wearing a sleeveless jacket over a white shirt, but in the photo shared by AAP leaders, he is seen wearing a checked shirt. Therefore, it is an old photo.

Delhi Police has also refuted the claims of AAP and said that Italia has only been detained for questioning, and the AAP leaders are spreading old photos. Delhi police sources also said that lock-up seen in the photo does not belong to Delhi Police. The police may take cognizance of of the fake news spread by AAP leaders and can take appropriate actions.

‘I am Sardar Patel’s descendant’ claims Italia

Before getting detained by the Police, Italia claimed in a tweet that he was a descendant of Sardar Patel and that he would not be scared of “BJP’s tactics”. He wrote, “The NCW chief is threatening to put me in jail. What can the Modi government give to the Patel community other than jail? BJP hates Patidar society. I am a descendant of Sardar Patel. I am not afraid of your prisons. Put me in jail. She has called the police. They are threatening me.” Notably, before Italia, Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia had claimed to be a descendant of Maharana Pratap.

Quoting Italia, Delhi CM and AAP chief Kejriwal wrote, “Why is the entire BJP behind Gopal Italia?”

AAP workers create a ruckus outside the NCW office

A crowd of Aam Aadmi Party workers created a ruckus outside the National Commission for Women (NCW) office in Delhi. The party workers gathered outside the NCW office after the NCW served notice to Gujarat AAP chief Gopal Italia for his indecent words against PM Modi and women.

Gopal Italia was pulled up for his comments against PM Narendra Modi in which he called the Prime Minister a ‘neech’ person. Now, his other video has gone viral in which he called the temples and Dharmic gatherings of Hindus like Kathas the centres of exploitation of women. AAP workers have decided to back the abusive leader even after the NCW called these comments misogynistic and sexist in nature and summoned him to clarify the same.

Gopal Italia, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat, has received a summons from the National Commission for Women for using a derogatory term for the Prime Minister as well that is equally offensive to women. The NCW has claimed in its notice that Italia’s offensive language is sexist, discriminatory against women, and abhorrent.

Himachal Pradesh: PM Modi flags off the Vande Bharat Express train from Una. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Himachal Pradesh: PM Modi flags off the Vande Bharat Express train from Una. Read details

During his visit to Himachal Pradesh today (October 13), Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the fourth Vande Bharat Express train from Una. The train will run between Una and Delhi. The train will specifically run between Delhi and the Amb Andaura Railway Station in Una. Prior to this, PM Modi inaugurated the third Vande Bharat train on the Mumbai-Gandhinagar route on September 30. The launch of trains on the new route bolsters the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Moreover, it contributes to the Prime Minister’s ambition of operating 75 Vande Bharat trains across multiple railway sections.

The fourth Vande Bharat Express is an advanced version of the earlier ones and is much lighter and faster, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

According to the Ministry of Railways, the new Vande Bharat has advanced features including reclining seats, automatic fire sensors, CCTV cameras, and an on-demand Wifi facility, every coach has 32 screens to offer information and infotainment (the previous Vande Bharat trains had 24 screens), three hours of battery backup, a GPS system and many other features in order to make the travel experience safer and comfortable.

The Vande Bharat Express 2.0 offers an aircraft-like travel experience. It is outfitted with cutting-edge safety features, including an indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (KAVACH).

Notably, the Vande Bharat Express accelerates to 100 kilometres per hour in just 52 seconds with a maximum speed of 180 kilometres per hour. Vande Bharat Express apart from providing a faster and more convenient mode of travel will also boost tourism in the state.

PM Modi was welcomed by the people of Una who raised ‘Modi-Modi, Sher Aaya’ slogans with PM Modi greeting the crowd as seen in the video tweeted by ANI. 

After flagging off the Vande Bharat Express in Una, PM Modi said that the BJP government both in the state and at the centre is accomplishing the needs of the people of the state which the previous governments at the centre and state did not care to understand and fulfil.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Hamirpur MP and union minister Anurag Thakur were also present at the event.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park in Una

PM also laid the foundation stone of a Bulk drug Park in Una with an aim to boost the pharmaceutical sector. The Drug Park will be built at a cost of about Rs 1,900 crore. The Drug Park will also play a significant role in curbing dependence on active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) imports.

It is likely to attract investment of around Rs 10,000 crores and provide employment to more than 20,000 people. It will also fillip to economic activities in the region, as ANI quoted PMO statement in its report.

Along with this PM Modi inaugurated the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una, the foundation stone of which was laid by PM Modi in 2017.

Notably, PM Modi had on October 5, inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur. The foundation for the AIIMS was laid in 2017 under the Pradhan Mantri Swashthya Suraksha Yojana. 

Taxing cow farts– Everything you need to know about New Zealand’s plan to impose a tax on ‘methane-producing’ cattle and other animals

Anurag
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Taxing cow farts– Everything you need to know about New Zealand’s plan to impose a tax on ‘methane-producing’ cattle and other animals

The farmers of New Zealand are furious as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has proposed to impose a tax on the cows and sheep of the country in an attempt to cut methane emissions. The proposal has attracted a sharp reaction from the farmers in the country.

If the proposal passes, New Zealand will become the first country in the world to have a tax system to charge farmers based on the level of emissions from their herds. As per reports, the payable amount will depend on the number of animals, the size of the farm, the type of fertiliser used, and any methods used that can mitigate methane production.

Cattle and sheep outnumber the New Zealand population

If we compare the number of cattle, sheep, and people in New Zealand, the country has five times as many sheep and almost twice as many cattle in the country than people. The dairy and meat industries in the country depend on these two animals. However, it is notable that they are also responsible for half of the country’s methane emissions.

There are around 6.3 million dairy cattle heads in the country. The number has increased by 82% in the last 20 years. There are around 3.8 million beef cattle, 800,000 deer, and 26.8 million heads of sheep in the country. The current population of New Zealand is approx 5.1 million.

As per 2019 stats, 50% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions come from methane and nitrous oxide. Out of this 50% of emissions, just under 90% comes from livestock. The methane these animals generate is produced due to the ruminants’ digestion and use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.

The proposal’s consultation launched on October 12

On October 12, a consultation was launched in the country’s parliament to discuss the proposal. It will conclude in November. The proposal suggests a levy tax not only on the methane burped or farted by the livestock but also on the nitrous oxide found in their urine. The tax may get implemented in some form by 2025.

In July this year, when the proposal first came to light, it was said that by 2025, all farms in the country would be required to track and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. They will have to pay a tax according to how much the livestock at a particular farm pumps out. To earn credits against the emissions, the farmers can plant crops to reduce carbon emissions, including trees.

As per PM Ardern, the money collected by introducing the tax in 2025 will be used for research and incentives for the farmers who are ‘struggling to reduce the methane contribution by their herds’. Furthermore, the PM argued that the tax would put the country on the best possible footing to attain carbon-neutral meat and dairy products.

Notably, PM Ardern has pledged to reduce methane emissions by 10% by 2030 and make New Zealand a carbon-neutral country by 2050.

The agriculture community objected to the proposal

PM’s proposal did not please the agriculture community. The tax was first announced in July this year, and since then, protests have been taking place opposing the proposal. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the country and contributes to 5% of the economy. Both dairy and meat are among the country’s largest exports.

President of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand, Andrew Hoggard told Financial Times that the move by the government would affect small-town New Zealand as the farmers will be forced to sell their land to forestry companies. He said, “We didn’t sign up for this. Our plan was to keep farmers farming. Now they’ll be selling up so fast you won’t even hear the dogs barking on the back of the ute [pick-up truck] as they drive off.”

The 2003 ‘fart tax’

Notably, the first such tax was introduced in 2003, around 20 years ago, when the Helen Clark-led government approved a similar scheme. At that time, it was dubbed a ‘fart tax’ by the opponents. The approval was withdrawn after a tractor protest comprising 400 farmers with 20 tractors outside New Zealand Parliament.

Then President of Federal Farmers Tom Lambie had said, “New Zealand farmers are completely unsubsidised, completely unprotected in a hugely distorted global market. The imposition of this unnecessary levy is just another cost we shouldn’t have to bear.”

At that time, every farmer would have ended up paying NZ$300 per year as the ‘fart tax’. In opposition, a petition gathered over 64,000 signatures, which was over half of the New Zealand farmers.

Army dog ‘Zoom’ passes away a day after surgery, had taken 2 bullets while fighting terrorists in Kashmir

OpIndia Staff
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Army dog ‘Zoom’ passes away a day after surgery, had taken 2 bullets while fighting terrorists in Kashmir

Army dog Zoom, who was being treated in Srinagar after suffering gunshot wounds while fighting terrorists in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, has passed away today. Zoom had got surgery on October 12 and was in stable condition. However, his condition suddenly deteriorated today.

Army officials have stated that Zoom was under treatment at 54 Advance Field Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar. He was responding well after surgery but at around 11.45 am he suddenly started gasping for breath and collapsed.

The canine suffered injuries during an anti-terror operation in Kokernag, Anantnag when Zoom attacked terrorists and received two bullet injuries. However, despite injuries, Zoom continued with his task, resulting in the neutralisation of two terrorists by Army officials.

Chinar Corps released a video to celebrate the bravery and unparalleled courage displayed by the dog in identifying and neutralising the terrorists. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Tangpawa area of south Kashmir late on Sunday after receiving specific input about the presence of terrorists in the region. 

AAP workers create ruckus outside National Commission for Women after it serves notice to Gopal Italia for his vulgar comments

OpIndia Staff
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AAP workers create ruckus outside National Commission for Women after it serves notice to Gopal Italia for his vulgar comments

A crowd of Aam Aadmi Party workers created a ruckus outside the National Commission for Women (NCW) office in Delhi on 13th October 2022. The party workers gathered outside the NCW office after the NCW served notice to Gujarat AAP chief Gopal Italia for his indecent words against PM Modi and women.

Earlier, Gopal Italia’s videos from 2018 and 2019 went viral in which the state president of AAP’s Gujarat unit could be heard making offensive remarks.

Gopal Italia was pulled up for his comments against PM Narendra Modi in which he called the Prime Minister a ‘neech’ person. Now, his other video has gone viral in which he called the temples and Dharmic gatherings of Hindus like Kathas, the centers of exploitation of women. AAP workers have decided to back the abusive leader even after the NCW called these comments misogynistic and sexist in nature and summoned him to give a clarification on the same.

Gopal Italia, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat, has received a summons from the National Commission for Women for using a derogatory term for the Prime Minister as well that is equally offensive to women. The NCW has claimed in its notice that Italia’s offensive language is sexist, discriminatory against women, and abhorrent.

Italia has been asked by NCW to personally appear before the Commission on October 13 at 12:30 p.m. If he fails to do so, the Commission may continue to take any measures it considers appropriate. Barnali Shome, Under Secretary of NCW, has issued the notice. It is notable that Italia insulted Prime Minister Modi in his video by using “Chu” repeatedly for the PM.

As Gopal Italia was supposed to be present before the commission on 13th October at 12:30 pm, AAP workers gathered outside the NCW office and created a ruckus ahead of his hearing.

ED files prosecution complaint against Rana Ayyub, says she illegally raised funds in the name of charity by cheating public for her own benefit

OpIndia Staff
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ED files prosecution complaint against Rana Ayyub, says she illegally raised funds in the name of charity by cheating public for her own benefit


On Wednesday, October 12, the Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution complaint against alleged journalist Rana Ayyub in a money laundering case. The complaint was filed under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in a special court in Ghaziabad, in relation to the three fundraising campaigns that Ayyub ran on Ketto but didn’t utilise most of the collected money for stated purposes.

The agency took to its official Twitter handle on Thursday, October 13 to inform the same.

In the prosecution complaint, the ED stated that it had initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered on 07.09.2021 by the Indirapuram Police Station, Ghaziabad, U.P, under various sections of IPC 1860, Information Technology Amendment Act 2008 and Black Money Act against Rana Ayyub alleging that she illegally acquired funds from the general public in the name of charity by launching fund-raiser campaigns on the online crowdfunding platform ‘Ketto’.

ED also stated that Rana Ayyub is a journalist by profession and received foreign contributions without registration under FCRA. According the statement issued by ED, the investigation revealed that Rana Ayyub launched 3 fundraiser campaigns on ‘Ketto platform’ starting from April 2020, and collected funds totaling to Rs. 2,69,44,680/-, namely:

  • Help in raising funds for slum dwellers & farmers
  • Relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra
  • Help Rana Ayyub & her team to help those impacted by Covid19 in India.

The ED probe has found that all the money transferred to her personal bank accounts, Rana Ayyub used only around 10.8% of the fund she collected for relief work, and the bulk of the money was kept in bank accounts. The statement said, “Investigation by ED revealed that the funds raised on the online platforms were received in the accounts of her father and sister and subsequently transferred to her personal accounts. Ms. Rana Ayyub utilized these funds to create fixed deposits of Rs. 50 lakhs for herself and also transferred Rs. 50 Lakhs in a new bank account. ED investigation revealed that only approx. Rs. 29 lakhs was used for relief work.”

Notably, in July this year, the Delhi High Court had barred the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from taking further steps under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against alleged journalist Rana Ayub in a money laundering case. Justice Yashwant Varma issued the notice after Ayyub filed a petition against her assets being attached.

ED further states in order to claim more expenses towards relief work, fake bills were submitted by Ms Rana Ayyub. Subsequently, bank balances in the accounts of Ms. Rana Ayyub amounting to Rs.1,77,27,704/- (including FD of Rs. 50 Lakh) were attached u/ s 5(1) of PMLA vide a Provisional Attachment Order dated 04.02.2022.

Alleging Rana Ayyub of illegally raising funds from the public for herself, the EDS said, “Investigation by ED further revealed that Ms. Rana Ayyub illegally raised Rs. 2.69 Crore by launching three online campaigns in the name of charity by cheating the general public donors. These funds were not used for the intended purpose, instead used for creation of assets for herself. Ms Rana Ayyub has tried to project these funds as untainted and thus has laundered the funds received from general public.”

ED also said that Ayyub violated laws by receiving funds from foreign countries without any approval or registration from the government which is required under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010.

“ED Investigation has established that Ms. Rana Ayyub had launched the aforesaid campaigns with the sole intention to cheat the general public and acquired Proceeds of Crime in form of FD and balances in bank accounts projecting them as untainted”, the central agency concluded in the complaint.

On Ayyub’s petition, the court served notice to the investigating agency and requested a response within six weeks.

The court, additionally, also restrained Ayyub from disposing of or creating any third-party rights over the attached funds in certain bank accounts.

Allegations of fund embezzlement against Rana Ayyub

It may be recalled that on February 10, OpIndia had reported that ED seized Rs 1.77 crore in Ayyub’s and her family’s accounts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. A few days after the expose, Ayyub alleged in a statement that she was being framed for her “journalism” and that she did not misuse the money.

However, all her claims were debunked by a Twitter user Hawk Eye who was the first to share details of alleged charity fraud last year. The ED has, in its attachment order, said, “Rana Ayyub has cheated the general Public Donors in a pre-planned manner and with the intention to cheat the general public donors.”

The order emphasised that the ‘scam’ started from the time she received the funds, which she did not use for Covid-19 relief work. She instead made a fixed deposit of ₹50 lakhs and transferred the amount to the savings account of her father, and sister through net banking. You can read the details about the allegations of misuse of Covid-19 funds by clicking on the link here.

On March 29, Rana Ayyub was stopped by Indian Immigration officials from boarding a flight to London due to the pending money laundering case against her. On April 4, she was granted permission to travel abroad by the Delhi High Court with the pre-requirement that she divulges details of her travel, contacts and her place of stay.

‘Muharram mein nachenge’: Mallikarjun Kharge slammed for suggesting ‘celebrating Muharram’ while evading question on Congress PM candidate

OpIndia Staff
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‘Muharram mein nachenge’: Mallikarjun Kharge slammed for suggesting ‘celebrating Muharram’ while evading question on Congress PM candidate

On Wednesday, All India Congress Committee Presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge seemed mock the Islamist occasion of Muharram while in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Kharge was in the city to appeal to the Congress leaders to vote in his favour in the upcoming party presidential elections. Kharge made the Muharram reference when the media asked him whether the grand old party would field him or Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial face in 2024.

To this, Kharge said, “There is a saying “Bakrid mein bachenge to Muharram mein nachenge”. First, let these elections get over and let me become president, and then we’ll see. The remarks were strongly condemned by the BJP who said that the veteran leader had insulted the Muslims by mocking the Islamist occasion of Muharram.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared Kharge’s video and said, “Firstly, Muharram is not a celebration but a mourning! This is highly insulting to Muslims. The statement made by Kharge is highly objectionable”. He further stated that Muslims across the globe never celebrate Muharram. “It is not a month of celebrations. It is a month of sorrow and a month of mahtaam (mourning). Therefore, to say that there will be naach-ganaa in Muharram is extremely objectionable”, he added.

“But more importantly is the importance of this politically loaded statement for Rahul Gandhi and the truth that Mr Kharge himself has disclosed about the position of the Congress party which is getting extinct state after state”, he was quoted.

Kharge meanwhile on October 12 also said that the biggest challenge before the nation was that the BJP government was trying to damage the Constitution. “Autonomous bodies are being weakened and misused. I am contesting these polls to protect the Constitution and our democracy. To fight BJP from the streets to the Parliament”, he said.

Before that, the veteran leader had also rubbed off the rumors that the Gandhi family was extending support to him in the ongoing party’s presidential election. “Someone has spread this rumor to defame the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and me. She has clearly stated that she will not participate in the party elections nor will she come in support of any candidate”, he noted.

The All India Congress Committee will elect its President on October 17. Shashi Tharoor, a Lok Sabha MP, and Mallikarjun Kharge, a Rajya Sabha MP, are both competing for the top post. Both leaders are presently touring the states, pleading to Congress leaders to vote in their favor to ensure their success.

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