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India on the brink of ending Naxalism forever: Massive crackdown leaves movement leaderless and scattered

OpIndia Staff
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India on the brink of ending Naxalism forever: Massive crackdown leaves movement leaderless and scattered

Once upon a time, Naxalites roamed freely in the forests of Chhattisgarh and various regions of Jharkhand. Thousands of them camped in the forests of Chhattisgarh. However, due to the relentless efforts of the security forces, their number has begun to decline rapidly. Their organization has been dismantled and the largest group, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) is now nearing its end. Its structure has also disintegrated. According to reports, only 300 Naxalites are left in the outfit.

The issue extends beyond the dwindling numbers of the foot soliders as there is leadership crisis within the organization. Naxalites now find themselves without any leaders. The top committee known as the Politburo consists of just 4 members while the central committee has reduced to only 14 individuals.

According to the Times of India report, 14 Naxalites of the Politburo have either been caught or killed since 2005 to 2025. Only 4 active members remain who are identifed as Muppalla Laxman Rao alias Ganpathy, Mallojula Venugopal alias Abhay, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Deoji, and Misir Besra.

It is presumed that Ganapathy has also died. However, the situation is still ambiguous. The membership of the central committee has rapidly declined. Its 26 members have faced arrest or death since 2007. Some have opted to surrender. Now, only 14 active members remain in the committee, including four Politburo leaders.

“The command structure of the Maoists is now in tatters. Consistent intelligence-led operations and surrenders have left the organisation fragmented and disoriented. In all, 300 armed cadres are hiding in scattered hideouts of Dandakarenya and few other pockets. The only options they have is to surrender or get eliminated,” conveyed Bastar IGP (Inspector General of Police) Sundarraj P.

The security forces have carried out numerous significant operations aimed at diminishing the structure of the Naxalite organization. A considerable number of their prominent leaders have been neutralized during the action. The security forces succeeded in killing the top Naxalite commander Bhaskar in a recent operation in the Bijapur district. he had a bounty of ₹45 lakh and was among the remaining important Naxalite leaders in the region.

In May 2025, the security forces took down the notorious Naxalite leader Nambala Keshav Rao, also known as Basavaraju. This incident is the first of its kind in over 30 years, involving the death of a major Naxalite leader. The operation was carried out by the special unit District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the Chhattisgarh Police.

Furthermore, on 6th June, Narasimha Chalam also known as Sudhakar, another influential Naxal commander was also slain in the same district. After Basavaraju, Sudhakar was regarded as a key figure in the movement and carried a 40 lakh reward on his head. He studied Ayurveda before becoming a Naxalite.

The action against Naxalites has gained momentum after 2024. The DRG, CRPF and police are constantly carrying out large-scale operations to wipe out Naxalites. Over 30 Naxalites have been eliminated in various operations. A report revealed that in 2024, 290 Naxalites were encountered, 1,090 were arrested and 881 surrendered. Notably, government action has increased by twofold since 2025. The year has seen the deaths of 226 Naxalites, 418 have been taken into custody and 896 gave up arms out of fear of death. Strongholds of the Naxalites, such as Karregutta Hills have also been evacuated.

Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah has stated unequivocally that naxalism will be eradicated from India. His goal is to remove naxalism from the nation by 31st March 2026. Additionally, Naxalites are being offered the opportunity to surrender, however, if they decide otherwise, they will have to face the bullets of security forces.

What is ‘Brigade 313’? Inspired from ‘Battle of Badr’, Al-Qaeda’s Pakistan-based terror wing that Islamabad doesn’t want you to know

Anurag
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What is ‘Brigade 313’? Inspired from ‘Battle of Badr’, Al-Qaeda’s Pakistan-based terror wing that Islamabad doesn’t want you to know

On 10th June, Sky News published an interview with Pakistan People’s Party Vice President Sherry Rehman where questions were raised about the al-Qaeda-affiliated Brigade 313. Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim asked the question about it and Rehman tried to evade the question.

When Hakim confronted her with details from the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC) identifying Brigade 313 as an al-Qaeda-led outfit operating out of Pakistan and coordinating attacks in Kashmir, Rehman dodged responsibility.

She said, “Am I going to war every time there is an attack in India?” and brushed aside suggestions that Pakistan should be held accountable for repeated cross-border terrorism. She further deflected, citing the presence of multiple so-called insurgencies within India and claimed Pakistan is now a “changed” country.

The interview also revisited Pakistan’s past grey-listing by FATF and the role of 26/11 plotter Sajid Mir. Rehman skirted direct answers, stating only that Pakistan has a “long history” with terrorism, including fighting it.

What is Brigade 313?

Brigade 313 is a Pakistan-based terror coalition formed in the early 2000s. It is widely regarded as one of al-Qaeda’s most lethal extensions in the region. The terror outfit’s name draws inspiration from the 313 companions of Prophet Muhammad who fought the Battle of Badr. It signifies its deep-rooted ideological symbolism. The coalition was led by Ilyas Kashmiri, a former Pakistani Army commando who later rose to become one of al-Qaeda’s top commanders before being killed in a 2011 US drone strike.

Brigade 313 reportedly functioned as a hybrid formation. It is not a standalone organisation but an amalgamation of terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Taliban factions. It operated under the umbrella of al-Qaeda and formed part of its Lashkar al-Zil or “Shadow Army”, known for executing high-profile terrorist operations with precision and planning.

The group has been behind a series of targeted assassinations, bombings, and coordinated attacks both within Pakistan and in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been described by analysts as one of the most dangerous and effective jihadist units in the region. Beyond South Asia, according to the Combating Terrorism Centre, the CIA has documented Brigade 313’s operatives in various European cities, highlighting its transnational threat.

According to the BBC, the group is a specialised combat unit within HuJI. It is responsible for high-impact missions against Indian interests. The terrorists linked to the group carried out operations allegedly with the tacit approval or active support of Pakistan’s military and intelligence network, exposing the nexus between state and non-state actions in the region against India.

The group’s operational structure, recruitment strategy, and integration of members from multiple terror outfits have made it a potent force within the global jihadist landscape. While leadership losses such as Kashmiri’s death have weakened its core, the ideology and networks fostered by Brigade 313 continue to be a cause for international concern.

₹7000 Crore Unpaid, 2000 Families Ruined… From King of Good Times to Master of Guilt Trips: Here are 10 Lies of Vijay Mallya Busted from the Raj Shamani Podcast

अनुपम कुमार सिंह
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₹7000 Crore Unpaid, 2000 Families Ruined… From King of Good Times to Master of Guilt Trips: Here are 10 Lies of Vijay Mallya Busted from the Raj Shamani Podcast

Vijay Mallya — a name that was once synonymous with a life of luxury and indulgence. From being seen with bikini models at Kingfisher calendar launch events to appearing alongside Bollywood actresses like Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif, his flamboyance knew no bounds. At times, he made headlines for purchasing a lavish mansion in the scenic city of Sausalito, and at other times, for acquiring the IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

But the man who was elected twice to the Rajya Sabha as an independent MP, saw his empire collapse so dramatically that he fled from India.

Podcast Drama: Vijay Mallya Playing the Victim Card

After the death of his father, Vijay Mallya became the Chairman of United Breweries in 1983 at the age of 28. Now, nine years after fleeing the country, he is once again in the spotlight — this time because of his podcast with Raj Shamani. Following this podcast, which runs for over 4 hours and 18 minutes, some people have begun to feel sympathetic towards him — perhaps exactly what the podcast aimed to achieve. Armed with documents, Mallya made a strong attempt to portray himself as a victim, insisting that he committed no fraud and that he always intended to repay the loans.

The way Vijay Mallya has dragged Arun Jaitley’s name into this podcast has given a particular group an opportunity to target the Modi government. Mallya claims that before fleeing the country from Delhi, he had informed Arun Jaitley. He clarifies that he neither went to Jaitley’s office nor had any formal meeting with him — he simply told him in passing that he was leaving. At that time, Arun Jaitley was the Finance Minister of India, and he is no longer alive today to respond to these allegations.

This isn’t the first time Mallya has mentioned Arun Jaitley. Back in September 2018, he had made a similar claim outside a London court in front of a group of journalists — that he had met Jaitley with a settlement offer. However, Arun Jaitley had strongly denied this, stating that it was merely a brief exchange lasting only a few minutes, where Mallya had said he was preparing a settlement offer.

Since both of them were members of the Rajya Sabha at that time, a casual whisper in the corridors of Parliament by one MP to another can hardly be called a “meeting.”

Jaitley had clearly said back then that he never gave Mallya an appointment after 2014. Mallya took advantage of his position as a Rajya Sabha MP and approached him while walking, making a reference to a settlement offer. According to Jaitley, he was well aware of Mallya’s ‘bluff tactics’ and clearly told him there was no point discussing it with him, and that he should instead take the offer to the banks. So essentially, what was just a brief verbal exchange is something Mallya has repeatedly portrayed as a meeting, even though Jaitley never entertained further conversation with him.

The Financial Maze: Lies, Loans, and Lavish Lifestyles

Vijay Mallya is also claiming that the loan he had taken has already been repaid. This is like a thief saying that he looted a house 10 years ago, so now no case should be filed against him just because he has returned all the looted stuff. The truth is, Mallya still owes Indian banks over ₹7,000 crore. According to the banks, the total outstanding amount was ₹17,781 crore, out of which ₹10,815 crore has been recovered so far. This means ₹6,997 crore is still pending.

On the other hand, Mallya claims his loan was only ₹6,200 crore, and that he has already paid ₹14,000 crore in return.

But any common person knows that loans come with interest. What many might not know is that an additional interest is also charged along with earlier interest, which is called penal interest. People like Vijay Mallya, who neither repay on time nor cooperate with the banks, are liable to pay this penal interest as well. That’s why there’s a gap between the figures presented by the banks and Mallya’s own claims.

After orders from the PMLA court, investigating agencies have already auctioned off several seized properties of Mallya, including the Kingfisher villa in Goa, because there was no other way to recover the money.

Mallya is also facing proceedings in the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT). A total of 17 banks — including SBI, PNB, IDBI, and UCO Bank — had loaned money to him. He is not just accused of loan default, but also of fraud and money laundering.

The fact is, the case is no longer just about Vijay Mallya alone. The CBI arrested Yogesh Aggarwal, the former Chairman and Managing Director of IDBI Bank, in connection with the Mallya case. Former bank executive BK Batra was also arrested. In January 2017, along with them, seven others were arrested, including Kingfisher’s Chief Financial Officer A. Raghunathan and three other officials. The allegation was that these individuals showed bias in favor of Vijay Mallya — in simple terms, they helped him unfairly.

Despite Kingfisher Airlines having weak financials, they still approved a ₹1,000 crore loan. The name of Buddhadeb Dasgupta, former General Manager at IDBI Bank, also appeared in the CBI’s supplementary chargesheet.

The CBI has also filed a money laundering chargesheet in the case. So, this is not just about defaulting on loans, it is also a case of money laundering and wilful default — meaning, intentionally choosing not to repay loans. The reason for the arrest of the bank and company officials is that they all conspired together. Mallya is labeled a wilful defaulter because when Kingfisher Airlines was collapsing, he showed no intention of repaying loans or paying salaries to employees.

From Fugitive to Web Series Star?

Now, Vijay Mallya is busy polishing his image, but that may work for a web series, not in real life.

In 2008 and 2015-16, when Kingfisher employees were crying out for their unpaid salaries, Mallya was busy buying properties abroad. In those two years, he bought properties worth ₹330 crore in England and France. He also founded the Force India Formula One Limited (F1F1) team. Investigations later revealed that ₹241 crore was transferred from Kingfisher’s bank accounts to this F1 team’s account, which was located at HSBC Bank in London.

The Ladywalk property in London, where Mallya lives, was also bought for ₹80 crore.

Now let’s address his recent claims — that he’s not a fraud. Here’s more on his actions, because sometimes facts get buried under flowery words due to their complexity.

In 2016, Mallya received $40 million (₹342 crore today) from Diageo PLC. As per the personal guarantee agreement he had signed with the banks, he was not allowed to alienate (transfer) this money, as it was considered an asset. Yet, Mallya transferred the funds to his son and other family members, clearly violating the 2010 agreement with banks.

When such a person claims he is not a fraud, it comes as a surprise. According to documents from Swiss banks in 2017, Vijay Mallya’s wealth was $1 billion (₹8,500 crore as per today’s value). An amount of $13.33 million was also transferred to an account belonging to Siddharth Mallya. Vijay Mallya purchased an aircraft for $60 million through Kingfisher Airlines. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this aircraft was bought to boost the revenue of a sinking company. It was, in fact, acquired as a tool to support Vijay Mallya’s luxurious lifestyle. He used it for personal trips with his friends. Operating this aircraft cost ₹100 crore. That money came from loans.

To put it simply, if you break the law deliberately, you’re a criminal—because intent matters. If Vijay Mallya truly believed he was innocent, he wouldn’t have fled the country using a diplomatic passport as a Rajya Sabha MP. Instead, he would have stayed, fought his case, and presented these documents before the courts and investigative agencies—not to some podcaster.

Even in his company UB, Vijay Mallya wasn’t short on shady practices. He sold 8.41% of UB shares without informing the Board of Directors or the stock exchange. As per rules, anyone buying over 5% of shares is obligated to notify the stock exchange.

UB was used as a guarantee for Kingfisher Airlines’ loans, but it was later found that the company’s valuation was lower than the loan amount. Since August 2012, Kingfisher employees had stopped receiving salaries. Yet, in February 2014, Mallya spent ₹28.70 crore on purchasing IPL players. His team RCB bought Yuvraj Singh for ₹14 crore. That season, RCB spent over ₹58 crore on buying and retaining players—while ₹350 crore in unpaid salaries to employees remained due.

While employees were protesting and some even went on indefinite hunger strikes, Mallya was busy partying in Goa. Dues were pending not just to banks and employees, but also to oil companies and aircraft lessors. Employees’ PF and tax (371 crore rupees) amounts were also deducted but never deposited with the government.

Congress-Era Shenanigans: The System Enabled the Scam

What’s more alarming is that all this happened during Congress-led governments. Mallya didn’t just name Arun Jaitley—he also mentioned Pranab Mukherjee, saying that during the 2008 global recession, when he approached then-Finance Minister Mukherjee, he was advised not to cut down Kingfisher operations. Today, Pranab Mukherjee too is no longer alive to respond to these claims.

Even if the loans are repaid, Vijay Mallya will still be charged under IPC Sections 406, 409, and 420, as he is accused of using forged documents. In one such document submitted for a loan, he falsely inflated the valuation of Kingfisher Airlines to $500 million. In July 2022, Vijay Mallya was sentenced to four months in jail by the Supreme Court in a contempt of court case. Let’s say he doesn’t trust the government—but the judiciary too?

MythFact
1. Vijay Mallya is not a fraud; he intended to repay all loans.Mallya diverted ₹3,500 crore from loans to unrelated purposes, including a Formula 1 team and personal luxuries. He also transferred $40 million to his family against bank guarantees.
2. He repaid all his loans and owes nothing to Indian banks.Banks claim ₹17,781 crore was owed; only ₹10,815 crore has been recovered. Over ₹6,997 crore is still pending.
3. The total loan was only ₹6,200 crore.Mallya excludes interest and penal interest. With all dues, the official liability was nearly ₹17,781 crore.
4. He met Arun Jaitley to settle loans.Arun Jaitley confirmed it was a brief unsolicited corridor encounter, not a meeting. No official discussion or offer was accepted.
5. He’s being politically targeted by the Modi government.Most of the loans and defaults occurred during Congress-led UPA governments. The FEO Act came under Modi Govt to fix these loopholes.
6. He used loans to save Kingfisher Airlines.Funds were diverted for personal gains—₹330 crore spent on foreign properties during employee salary defaults; ₹100 crore spent operating a personal jet.
7. He is being unfairly accused despite returning to the spotlight to clarify facts.He fled India using a diplomatic passport. If he was innocent, he could’ve fought his case in Indian courts instead of appearing on podcasts.
8. The case is related to Vijay Mallya only.Several bank executives were arrested for biased approvals. The CBI and ED have filed chargesheets citing collusion between Mallya and bank officials.
9. He never evaded taxes or misused funds.He evaded ₹100 crore in service tax, collected from passengers but not deposited. A non-bailable warrant was issued by a Mumbai court.
10. Selling properties covered the dues.Multiple assets, including Kingfisher Villa, were auctioned. But this only partially repaid the loans; dues remain and criminal charges persist.

Nearly 2,000 employees saw their livelihoods destroyed due to the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines. Because of cases like his, the Modi government had to bring in the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act in 2018. In 2020, a UK court also ordered his extradition, but Vijay Mallya has since exploited various legal loopholes to delay it. At this point, it’s no longer just about recovery—it’s a matter of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is prosecuting him for money laundering. The agency found that ₹3,500 crore from the loans was diverted elsewhere—meaning the money was taken under one pretext but spent for entirely different purposes.

In addition, he also faces charges of evading ₹100 crore in service tax. Complaints filed between 2012–2015 revealed that although this money was collected from passengers, it was never deposited with the government. A Mumbai court even issued a non-bailable warrant against him for this. The SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) also issued a notice in 2016 based on 17 complaints. The allegation: loans were taken through 17 different companies to finance Kingfisher Airlines.

Vijay Mallya: Fraudulence in numbers

Yes, it is true that criminals often become so cunning that they exploit the loopholes and weaknesses in the system. If bank officials were also involved, Vijay Mallya certainly took full advantage of it. The flaws in the banking system were clearly exposed. That’s why the FEO Act was introduced in 2018. Under this act, a fugitive’s assets—both domestic and overseas—can be seized even before the charges are proven. RBI and the Finance Ministry introduced several reforms. But just because the system had flaws does not mean the person exploiting it gets to play the victim card and claim innocence.

Honeymoon murder case: Sonam’s warning to her mother, chats with her boyfriend, last call with the in-laws and more

Rukma Rathore
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Honeymoon murder case: Sonam’s warning to her mother, chats with her boyfriend, last call with the in-laws and more

A honeymoon trip to Meghalaya transformed into a comprehensive murder investigation when an Indore-based entrepreneur, Raja Raghuvanshi, was found dead days following the disappearance of him and his newlywed wife. Meghalaya Police stated that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, planned the murder and colluded with her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, to carry out the crime.

Five people have been arrested in the case including Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi. Akash was caught from Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh while the other three men were arrested from Madhya Pradesh. Sonam was arrested from a dhaba in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziapur on 9th June.

“On Monday (9th June), Sonam reached a dhaba at Ghazipur in UP around 1 am and informed her family about her whereabouts knowing that the cops would recover her from the spot. Her family immediately contacted Madhya Pradesh police, who informed the local police, leading to Sonam’s arrest. Sonam claimed that she was drugged and brought to Ghazipur and presented as the victim,” highlighted UP Police’s Additional Director General Amitabh Yash while talking to NDTV.

The main accused was then taken to a One-Stop Center after her medical examination. She appeared before a Ghazipur local court for transit remand approval. A team of Meghalaya Police also arrived there to take her into custody.

Sonam warned her mother before wedding

Vipin Raghuvanshi, the brother of the deceased has made shocking disclosures during an exclusive interview with Aaj Tak. He asserted that Sonam had forewarned her mother before the marriage and indicated that the consequences would be dire if the wedding took place. He disclosed that her mother was completely aware of the affair, yet she chose to conceal it.

He wanted her to be interrogated as well. Vipin mentioned that Sonam’s father would have terminated Raj Kushwaha’s employment if he knew about it, which is the reason his wife kept the relationship hidden.

Vipin informed that Sonam and Raja attended another wedding merely three days following the wedding where his brother complained to his family that she avoided him and sat in a corner, preoccupied with her mobile phone. Raja further voiced that he was quite displeased with her behavior. Nevertheless, they reassured him that it is a new marriage and that everything would improve with time.

Vipin even claimed that Sonam’s Mangal Dosha was quite intense and she was under the impression that it would be resolved after her husband’s murder. He added that she had already arranged to marry Raj as a widow after his demise to avoid any inquiries and suspicion. The police have also initiated an investigation into these allegations.

Raj Kushwaha at Raja Raghuvanshi’s funeral

On the other hand, alarming revelations have surfaced as the probe unfolds. According to reports, Raj Kushwaha drove a vehicle to bring people to the funeral of Raja Raghuvanshi. “When Raja’s body arrived, Sonam’s family, whose home is in Govind Nagar Kharcha area, had arranged four-five vehicles for people to attend the funeral,” stated Lakshman Singh Rathore, an eyewitness.

He added, “Kushwaha was driving the four-wheeler in which I went, though we did not talk. Only after seeing his photograph in the media post his arrest, I recollected this episode.” He was even observed comforting Raja’s father, Devi Singh, during the funeral, as seen in a video.

Uma Raghuvanshi, Raja’s mother, asserted that Sonam was the one who pressed for the honeymoon. According to her, she took ₹9 lakh from her son for the trip and even brought some jewelry. Raja informed her that they had not yet purchased return tickets and they might do so in a week when Uma inquired about their anticipated return date.

Sources unveiled that Sonam expressed disapproval of having an intimate relationship with Raja in a conversation with Raj Kushwaha, reported India Today. According to sources, she also discussed her intention to murder her husband three days after they were married, while talking to him. They mentioned that she purposefully picked a remote area to murder her spouse.

Raj lived closed to Sonam’s house and had a long-standing relationship with the family. They placed their full trust in him. Additionally, he was employed by them and he handled their bills and accounts.

An omnious phone call

Sonam Raghuvanshi last spoke to her in-laws while hiking up a rocky summit in the Meghalayan mountains to catch a view of a waterfall. She countered that the beautiful hills provided stunning vistas when her mother-in-law asked why it was necessary to embark on such a strenuous climb.

It appeared to be an ordinary exchange between a loving woman and her daughter-in-law, aside from the possible indications it presented about Raja’s murder during their honeymoon. The phone conversation was probably placed by Uma Raghuvanshi, prior to the couple’s disappearance on 23rd May.

She was first heard asking whether her son’s phone had resumed working in an unconfirmed audio recording of the call, suggesting that she had been attempting to contact him but was unsuccessful. “We are climbing. We will call once we reach,” Sonam replied. However, whether or not that promised call was ever placed is unknown.

“I was preparing food and I remembered that today is your fast. You have fasted, right,” she questioned to which Sonam answered, “Yes. I told them that I will not break my fast because of travelling.”

She stated that they were traveling and wouldn’t find anything in the jungle when Uma told her to eat some food that is permitted during fasting. When she pointed out that Sonam was breathing heavily, the latter retorted, “It is a tough trek. It’s a dense forest with a steep ascent.”

“Why did you go there? Couldn’t you see it without climbing,” she inquired but her daughter-in-law explained, “We went to see a waterfall. I had refused, but he (Raja) didn’t listen. It was so hectic. We didn’t even get proper food.” Sonam didn’t talk to the family again after that.

Sonam even posted “saat janmon ka saath hai (together for seven lives)” from Raja’s phone after he was murdered and dumped in a gorge.

On 21st May, the hitmen reached Guwahati and arrived in Shillong, the next day, according to a report in NDTV. The murder took place on 23rd May when the pair disappeared. According to sources, Sonam was spotted roughly ten kilometers from the scene of the crime and the killing took place before her eyes.

She had ordered the hitmen to kill her husband. Raja’s body was found to have numerous sharp wounds, including two significant ones on the front and rear of his head, according to the autopsy report.

The accused then met 11 kilometers away from the spot (Raj did not travel to Meghalaya). Sonam then traveled by train to Guwahati from where she departed for her place. When she got to Indore on 25th May, she met Raj who had made arrangements for her to rent a room. He remained at another hotel close by.

They subsequently set up a vehicle that transported her to Uttar Pradesh. Sonam turned herself in late on 8th June in Ghazipur where police stated that she was found with a fever and in a distressed state.

7 times Congress leader Pawan Khera used his X account to spread fake news and misleading claims, is this the ‘Tapasya’ he is doing to reach Rajya Sabha

Anurag
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7 times Congress leader Pawan Khera used his X account to spread fake news and misleading claims, is this the ‘Tapasya’ he is doing to reach Rajya Sabha

Congress leader Pawan Khera has often taken to his X account not to inform, but to mislead in his relentless pursuit of relevance. Whether it is posting half-baked narratives, recycling old news reports out of context with fresh outrage, or amplifying unverified claims, he has made a habit of pushing misinformation with surprising confidence, something which seems to come from the Congress leader whose political career has been launched countless times. As murmurs grow louder about his Rajya Sabha ambitions, one is left wondering, is this the “tapasya” he claims to be doing, or just a digital shortcut laced with fake news? Here is a list of 7 times Khera used his social media presence to mislead people.

On 9th June, Khera claimed on X that Saudi Arabia had suspended visas for 14 countries including India and called it the “latest blow in a steady collapse of India’s foreign policy” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He then continued to make several false claims in his post, including that Canada had not invited India for the G7 meeting.

The Ministry of External Affairs has already debunked the fake news about visas being cancelled. In a post on X, MEA’s dedicated Fact Check account wrote, “The Saudi Government has not issued any notification on this matter. As a matter of practice, during the Hajj season, there are temporary restrictions on short-term visas to avoid overcrowding during this season, which end with the conclusion of Hajj.”

Khera further claimed that India had been excluded from the G7. This post was made on 9th June. Notably, on 6th June, PM Modi shared on his X account that the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, had personally called him and invited him to the G7 Summit. PM Modi wrote, “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.”

This is not the first time Khera has published fake news on his X profile.

Khera repeatedly questioned ceasefire with Pakistan citing Trump’s claims of using trade to stop the operation

Congress has been unable to digest the fact that Operation Sindoor was a success. Notably, the military operation against terrorist organisations in Pakistan and the Pakistani military was paused after Pakistan’s DGMO called India’s DGMO and sought a ceasefire. This fact has been established by the Indian Armed Forces as well as the Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar.

However, Khera chose to trust the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has falsely claimed to have mediated between India and Pakistan, and used trade to get both countries to agree to a ceasefire. Despite clarification coming directly from the armed forces and the ministry, Khera kept seeking a statement from PM Modi in his posts. In a post on 22nd May, Khera wrote, “This is the 8th time President Trump has made this claim that he got Operation Sindoor stopped. He claims to have used trade to get India to end Operation Sindoor. Prime Minister Modi has not rejected this claim even once. What does this silence mean?”

His misleading statements came at a time when Indian delegations, including MPs from Congress, were on world tour to different countries to put India’s stance against terrorism and details of Operation Sindoor.

Prof Shamika Ravi slammed Pawan Khera for sharing fake news about her.

In December 2024, Professor Shamika Ravi, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and Secretary to the Government of India, slammed Khera for spreading false claims that she received funds from George Soros.

In a post, Shamika said, “The statement below is entirely incorrect. In 2006/7 The Open Society funded ISB (for work on financial inclusion) – where I was an assistant professor teaching & researching on the topic. No money came directly to any faculty member. 18 years later, I joined the EAC-PM. I have never been more proud of my work, my nation or my Prime Minister. Meanwhile, in 2020, George Soros declared his anti-India designs and guess who swarms towards him?”

Earlier, Khera had tweeted that Prof. Shamika Ravi, PM’s advisor and secretary, Government of India, received a grant from the Open Society Foundation funded by George Soros.

Khera claimed Congress lost Haryana because ECI played mind games

In October 2024, when trends of the Haryana assembly election results went against Congress, Khera insinuated foul play on the part of the ECI. He claimed that there was collusion between the BJP and the ECI to somehow “defeat” Congress. He further claimed that a similar pattern in delayed updating of trends was seen during the Lok Sabha elections as well.

It is amusing that a senior leader of the grand old party fails to cope with the fact that perhaps something was lacking in the ‘Tapasya’ of the Congress party in Haryana. Or maybe the people of Haryana are not too sure about the success of the Jalebi factory Rahul Gandhi talked about.

It has to be noted that all the agents of the political parties get the information about how many votes were cast on any given polling booth the same day of the polling. Any delay in uploading the voting percentage makes no difference. As they already have the numbers in their hands, they can always crosscheck and raise objections if numbers mismatch, which has never happened.

Khera shared old video to claim people of Andhra Pradesh were upset with Naidu supporting PM Modi

In June 2024, after the Lok Sabha elections were announced and it was evident that the NDA would be forming government for the third time under the leadership of PM Modi, Khera quoted an X post by a Congress supporter showing a video of some people burning down posters and flexes. The X user claimed, “Angry people of Andhra Pradesh burning down photos of Chandrababu Naidu for supporting Modi.” Quoting the post, Khera wrote, “Why are people of Andhra Pradesh so angry?”

Source: File/X

In a desperate attempt to pull TDP away from NDA, Khera shared an old video that had nothing to do with TDP supporting BJP. After facing backlash for the fake claims, Khera quietly deleted the post but did not apologise for spreading fake news.

India TV warned Congress leaders against spreading fake news about Rajat Sharma

In June 2024, several Congress leaders including Pawan Khera accused journalist Rajat Sharma of abusing on-air. India TV responded and issued a statement vowing legal action against the Congress leaders. In the statement, India TV’s legal head Ritika Talvar pointed out that Sharma has been in the profession for over four decades and has a very high degree of credibility and reputation.

She further clarified that the claims that he used abusive language were false and lack any basis and foundation. “They are malicious and defamatory and clearly constitute fake news. You have blatantly violated all limits of public decency by falsely accusing a personality of high repute. We are taking legal advice on this to take further action,” she wrote.

Khera used old image to spread fake news that BJP has put up hoardings to insult world leaders attending G20 Summit in Delhi

In September 2023, several Congress leaders including Khera claimed that hoardings have been put up ahead of G20 summit which shows that PM Modi is ranked ahead in popularity ahead of several other global leaders. The hoarding said that it was put by BJP leader Vijay Goel. Pawan Khera tweeted, “Is this how we welcome our guests, @VijayGoelBJP ji?”

Source: File

The hoarding has the image of PM Modi along with the images of the heads of Mexico, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Brazil and the USA, showing the popularity of each leader. PM Modi’s image is the largest is size, as his popularity is highest with 78%.

Notably, Switzerland is not a member of G20. Pawan Khera later deleted the tweet.

The image of the hoarding was old, and it was put up by Vijay Goel after a Morning Consult survey had found that PM Modi is the most popular leader with 78% votes. A report from 6th April carries the Associated Press photograph, clearly showing that the image is at least 5 months old. A Navbharat Times report from 12th April also carries a different photo of the same hoarding.

From sharing outdated visuals to echoing false claims and ignoring official clarifications, Pawan Khera has consistently showed a troubling disregard for facts in his attempt to remain politically relevant. Instead of engaging with constructive discourse or introspecting on electoral defeats, his reliance on misleading posts only exposes the intellectual hollowness that surrounds Congress leadership today. In the age of instant fact-checking, such attempts at narrative manipulation are not just irresponsible, they are politically self-destructive.

Greta Thunberg’s activism is all narcissism and drama, with zero concerns for actual victims, be it the cause of environment or Gaza

Shraddha Pandey
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Greta Thunberg’s activism is all narcissism and drama, with zero concerns for actual victims, be it the cause of environment or Gaza

Latch onto a big issue, insert herself as the moral centrepiece, hog the spotlight, and then pivot to the next cause du jour. This, in a nutshell, has been the modus operandi of Greta Thunberg, a climate crusader turned activist-on-demand. Bored with preaching on carbon cuts, the self-styled Swedish climate activist has donned the Kefiyah and reinvented herself as a ‘Free Palestine’ activist.

While the leftist media frames Greta’s ‘activism’ as a selfless crusade for justice, in reality, it is but a meticulously curated spectacle drenched in narcissism and theatrics, where more than the concerned issue, her personal branding takes precedence.

Aid for Gaza or PR stunt: Greta Thunberg and her ‘selfie yacht’ of self-promotion

After hogging the limelight through her hollow climate advocacy rooted not in offering substantive solutions but drama and rhetoric, this activist-on-demand, embarked on a new endeavour in war-hit Palestine’s Gaza to ‘break the siege’.  In her latest gimmick showcasing her flair for drama guised as concern and activism, Thunberg joined the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Madleen yacht to deliver aid to Gaza.

Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen (Image via Reuters)

The boat carrying Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists was intercepted by Israel and diverted from its path to Gaza. The vessel, a British-flagged yacht Madleen, was part of a mission organised by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), and was also carrying French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan. The boat had set sail from Sicily and was allegedly trying to bring aid to Gaza.

Greta Thunberg on the Madleen yacht (Image via EuroNews)

Explaining the reason behind intercepting the ‘selfie flotilla’, a senior Israeli official said, “We are surrounding Gaza from every direction in order to strangle Hamas and not enable [Gaza] to get any aid from any factor that is not overseen by Israel. If we allow one flotilla to enter, masses will follow, and this provocation [by Greta Thunberg’s boat] will create a wave of flotillas that are hostile to Israel. We will not let this happen.”

Israeli soldier offering food to Greta Thunberg and other activists after their flotilla was intercepted (Image via Jerusalem Post)

Thunberg was aware that her voyage to Gaza would offer her enough opportunities to garner global attention and sympathy for herself while there is an actual crisis in Gaza. Following Israel’s interception, Greta Thunberg posted a pre-recorded video on social media saying that she had been ‘kidnapped’ in international waters by Israeli forces. Thunberg has already recorded a video to accuse Israeli forces of ‘kidnapping’ her. You see, she came prepared to extract maximum attention and sympathy.

Greta Thunberg’s ‘kidnapping’ claims shifted the focus on her and handed the leftist media with yet another opportunity to villainise Israel as if the Israeli forces have no other problem to address but ‘kidnap’ a 22-year-old narcissist masquerading as a global champion of the distressed.

The usage of the word ‘kidnapped’ was also shamelessly blatant, because it almost mocked the actual people who were kidnapped. Hundreds of Israeli citizens, and foreign nationals, even babies and children, and senior citizens were kidnapped on gun point by Hamas on October 7. Many of them were killed, many tortured and mutilated. Some are yet to be released despite the 20-month war. Greta was not ‘kidnapped’, she was escorted away and detained to be deported. She wasn’t dragged bleeding, she wasn’t starved and tortured in dark tunnels. Nobody paraded her around like a rag doll while the Hamas terrorists clapped and cheered at the macabre spectacle.

Her theatrics, however, did not end here, Greta Thunberg later urged her followers to pressure the Swedish government for her release. She also claimed that irritant substance were sprayed on the yacht. In Greta’s carefully staged narrative, the focus remained on her ‘detention’, ‘defiance’ and photo ops rather than the crisis in Gaza.

The boat carrying Greta Thunberg and 11 other ‘activists’, was laden with just symbolic items like baby formula and rice but lacked the scale to address the massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Thunberg and company’s negligible contribution for her ‘aid mission’ for starving Gazans can be understood from the fact that her flotilla carried less than a truckload of aid, while around 1200 aid trucks entered Gaza from Israel in the last two weeks alone. Thunberg’s geopolitical cosplay was less about aiding Palestinians and more about leveraging the conflict for clout.

The real crisis in Gaza marked by the displacement of over 90 per cent of Gazan population owing to prolonged Israeli retaliation to Hamas’s horrific October 7 massacre, thousands of deaths, and continued reliance on international aid was essentially overshadowed by Greta’s self-styled ‘heroics’.

Amusingly, Thunberg often expresses concerns over rising carbon emissions and environmental devastations, however, she does not condemn Hamas whose missiles have unleashed countless tons of carbon into the atmosphere nor did her heart bleed over the environmental devastation caused by Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, let alone condemn the killing of innocent Israelis.

Thunberg’s selective though performative display of humanity is unsurprising as she other pro-Palestine activists refused to watch the documentary showcasing the brutalities inflicted by Hamas jihadis on Israeli civilians on 7th October 2023. It was naïve of Israeli authorities to expect Greta Thunberg to sympathise with Israeli women, men, children and the elderly who were raped, brutalised, taken hostage and killed.

It, however, is not shocking given shrieking ‘Free Palestine’, humanising Islamic terror group Hamas and villainizing Israel has become the new ‘cool’ in the West. However, Greta would not take a flotilla to Sudan or Yemen where innocent people are being killed. Apparently, Thunberg knows “no Jews no news”.

From climate strikes to her recent Gaza flotilla gimmick, Greta Thunberg has long been doing performative gestures devoid of any depth to bolster her image as a beacon of hope and justice while conveniently sidestepping the complexities of the very causes she claims to champion.

The ‘green energy’ yacht and Greta Thunberg’s transatlantic PR stunt

In another instance of her performative activism, Greta Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic on Malizia II, a racing yacht touted as ‘zero-carbon’. While it was marketed as an ‘eco-friendly’ journey to attend the UN Climate Summit in New York, the yacht’s green credentials were highly overestimated. Thunberg’s yacht relied on fossil fuel-powered support vessels, and crew members flew across the Atlantic to return the yacht, thus negating any carbon savings. Thunberg’s voyage was less about climate impact and awareness and more about crafting her fake image of a lone warrior battling for the planet. The leftist media ecosystem, glorified her as a climate icon even as her adventure did essentially nothing to address actual carbon emissions, aiding her agenda of optics over outcomes.

EVs, Cobalt mining and hypocrisy as dramatic as Greta Thunberg herself

In December 2019, Greta Thunberg arrived in a Seat Mii electric vehicle to attend a climate summit in Madrid, Spain. Thunberg has been travelling in boats to avoid flights due to carbon emissions. However, she has no issues in travelling electric vehicles even as she herself once highlight that a large majority of the world’s cobalt comes from Congo and children are used as nothing less than slave labours for cobalt mining.

Greta’s support to farmers’ protest in India: When the self-styled climate activist supported a protest aimed at perpetuating farming practices that harmed environment

Back in 2021, when Indian farmers, mainly from Punjab, staged a massive protest against the three farm laws introduced by the Modi government, Greta Thunberg was among many foreign public figures who extended support to the Farmers’s Protest. Thunberg had also accidentally revealed the “toolkit” or the document that detailed the manner in which people all over the world could contribute to undermine laws passed by the democratically elected Parliament of India. While claiming to be a climate activist, Thunberg has a tendency to wade into issues without fully understanding their complexities and implications or probably, she does not care about it as long as she gets the clout.

She posted on X (formerly Twitter) in solidarity with farmers protesting against agricultural reforms, deeming their agitation as a fight against ‘oppressive’ policies. However, the protests which eventually took a violent turn with Khalistani elements hijacking it, were largely about seeking to preserve subsidies and practices tied to paddy cultivation, especially benefitting a political lobby that seeks to control the grain Mandis.

OpIndia reported earlier about how this water-intensive crop has degraded soil in Punjab and has depleted groundwater. Paddy consumes around 10 times more water than pulses or oilseeds, which require only 500 to 600 litres of water to produce one kilogram of grain. Besides, stubble burning by farmers also remained a major contributor to air pollution and the Modi government’s farm laws had initially criminalised stubble burning. The farm laws which were eventually repealed aimed to address these issues, however, a clout chaser Thunberg abandoned her climate activism when it was needed the most and decided to act as per the ‘toolkit’ she was provided.

Despite her ‘all theatrics zero solution’ activism, the left liberal media ecosystem has elevated Greta Thunberg to the near-mythical status of a ‘climate goddess’. While the liberal cabal glosses over Thunberg’s hypocrisy to frame her a ‘fearless’ advocate for justice, neither her 2018 school strikes, 2019 ‘How dare you?’ speech that propelled her to overnight global fame, nor her continued pro-climate speeches and protests and now the newfound passion for ‘saving’ Gaza has yielded any substantial policy changes or emission reductions.

The evident pattern of narcissism and theatrics suggests that beyond the veneer of ‘climate goddess’, Greta Thunberg is a self-serving clout chasing figure whose activism is less about meaningful change and more about her own brand building. Her SOP is clear: pick a high-profile issue, outrage, come across as a fighter, hijack headlines and media focus, turn complex issues into platforms for self-promotion before jumping to another crisis to chase the next wave of attention.

As “Operation Kagar” against Naxalism delivers major successes and with end of ‘red terror’ on the horizon, five Left parties write to PM Modi urging him to talk to Naxals

Rukma Rathore
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As “Operation Kagar” against Naxalism delivers major successes and with end of ‘red terror’ on the horizon, five Left parties write to PM Modi urging him to talk to Naxals

“Operation Kagar” is underway in full force in Naxal affected areas to eradicate red terror from India by March of next year. Nevertheless, the usual suspects are once again trying to obstruct the efforts to rid the country of Left-wing extremism. On 9th June, five Left parties have voiced their opposition to the encounter of Maoist leaders in the Chhattisgarh region under the operation, in a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The general secretaries of Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Bloc asked for an immediate end to the alleged “extra-judicial” killings that are taking place in the vicinity of Chhattisgarh under the guise of “Operation Kagar.”

“There are several reports that several senior Maoist leaders are currently in the custody of the security forces. We demand that they should all be produced in court and dealt with as per the rule of law,” D Raja, MA Baby, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Manoj Bhattacharya and G Devarajan urged.

Predictably, they dragged tribal people and cried violation of their rights in order to protect the Maoists, claiming that the action had completely upended their regular life in the area. “The Adivasis have long been complaining about the militarisation of the region, which has completely disrupted normal life,” the Left leaders claimed.

“The Adivasi rights enshrined in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution are being systematically violated and the forest and minerals of Chhattisgarh are being subjected to indiscriminate corporate exploitation with disastrous implications for environmental safety and livelihood of the local people. We urge upon you to stop this militaristic approach that treats the Adivasis with unmitigated hostility,” the letter read.

Accusations have been directed at the centre for not providing the bodies of the deceased Maoists to their families and preventing them from having a proper farewell. “This hostility is being seen even after death, with the government refusing to hand over dead bodies to their families, denying them their right to give a dignified farewell to their family members,” they complained.

With the government’s proactive stance against Naxalism in the country, the Maoists have been imploring the government to stop the operation.

“The Maoists have repeatedly urged the government to consider their appeal for dialogue. Unfortunately, the union government and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led Chhattisgarh government have chosen not to pursue a solution through talks. Instead they are following an inhuman policy of killings and annihilation,” the Left parties bemoaned.

The letter stated that it was clear from Amit Shah’s remarks that the government was not prepared to seek an accord through negotiations.

“The statements made by the Union Home Minister, reiterating the deadline and the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister’s (Vishnu Deo Sai) assertion that there is no need for talks, reflect a mindset unwilling to resolve issues through dialogue. The government should not be intransigent and celebrate the taking of human lives against the spirit of the law of the land and principles of democratic governance,” the leaders conveyed.

They mentioned that many citizens and political parties, despite their differing opinions had requested the government to respond to the proclamation of a unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists and start a dialogue to resolve all concerns. “We reiterate the appeal and urge upon you to stop the extra-judicial killings and violence with immediate effect and order an impartial judicial enquiry,” the letter added.

The left parties are not the only ones worrying about the maoists and their future. Congress and BRS leaders have also commented on this issue.

Congress paint Maoists as victims

Amit Shah reaffirmed that naxalism will be exterminated from the nation by 31st March 2026, following the 22nd May encounter of Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, who was the general secretary of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and had a ₹1.5 crore bounty on him, along with 26 other Maoists.

However, B Mahesh Kumar Goud, head of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), expressed that the government should deal with Maoists by “legal and constitutional means” rather than using a brutal strategy to wipe them out in Congress-ruled Telangana. He asked the center to announce a “ceasefire” and engage in “peace talks” with the red terrorists.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Peace Talks Committee in Hyderabad, he further charged that the center wants to destroy Maoists to allow corporations access to the natural wealth in Chhattisgarh and other states. The Congress leader even slammed the Modi government for its “fascist rule,” indicating that it is willing to negotiate with terrorists but not those who have laid down their lives to rectify social disparities.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignored the appeals of Maoists for peace talks, but was quick to agree to negotiations with terrorists after being scolded by United States President Donald Trump,” he accused reffering to the ceasefire between the two countries and amplified Trump’s claim which has already been exposed in US court as well as dismissed by the centre.

He declared that the principles of non-violence are the cornerstones of his party and maintained that economic disparities were the root cause of naxalism and denounced violence on all fronts to mask his public endorsement of Maoists. Notably, the leadership of Congress identified Maoism as the most significant internal security threat facing the nation.

However, the Maoists, who are responsible not only for the deaths of security personnel but also killed innocent people, abused human rights especially of tribals and have caused remote areas to be isolated from the development and progress experienced by the rest of the country to maintain their authority, have been portrayed as noble social workers who do not wield guns or organize terror attacks, but rather uplift the impoverished by Goud.

He even managed to draw unreasonable parallels between the India-Pakistan conflict and Maoism to emphasize his absurd statement.

BRS leaders defend Maoists in the name of democracy

Likewise, Dasoju Sravan Kumar, an MLC for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), spoke on behalf of the party and emphasized the party’s dedication to democracy, peace and communication. He recounted how former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had asked the union government to start peace negotiations and demanded an early end to “Operation Kagar” during a public rally in Warangal.

“Today, the central government, in the name of Operation Kagar, is killing youth and tribals in Chhattisgarh. It is not fair,” Rao had alleged and added, “I am requesting the central government. It is not democracy that you go on killing people. The operation should be stopped immediately. Give naxalites democratic space and hold talks.”

Kumar then emphasized the necessity for effective platforms for people to voice their problems and warned that they turn to violence in the absence of such forums.

Another BRS leader and former Minister S Niranjan Reddy also advised the center to discontinue “Operation Kagar” and begin peace talks with the Maoists. He threatened that ongoing ‘military repression’ might undermine democratic principles and incite public indignation. “Shooting our own citizens cannot be the solution. Talks are the only way forward,” he announced.

Maoists have long been a major internal threat to India’s security, yet they are often portrayed as victims, their violent actions are defended as a fight against discrimination and these politicians even threatened the central government to stop its actions against the red terrorists, driven by their own petty political agendas.

Interestingly, they never called for dialogue to end the violence when Maoists were wreaking havoc in multiple parts of India and operating their own parallel administrations. The values of democracy and human rights appeared to be overlooked at the time as both soldiers and ordinary citizens were losing their lives.

However, as the country approaches the end of this menace, these politicians are now anxious about human rights and depict Maoists, who reject the constitution, democarcy, judiciary and every single element of the Indian Republic, as part of the country. They even attempt to create a misleading similarity between a democratically elected government and Maoists who wield their power through violence and have risen against the nation, with such statements.

Operation Kagar: A resounding success

The Modi government has been utterly relentless in its approach towards Maoists since taking charge of the country in 2014. actions against Maoists have intensified in recent years as the government has succeeded in liberating numerous regions from the violent grip of Maoists.

Several notorious Maoists have been neutralized, while many others have surrendered their weapons. Maoist violence decreased by 77% between 2010 and 2021 as a result of the government’s zero tolerance stance and robust military strategy. The number of violent occurrences has significantly decreased, from 2258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021.

Over the past ten years, the number of districts plagued by Maoists has also drastically decreased, from 106 in 2015 to 6 now (Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra). Furthermore, there have been 90% fewer deaths from Maoist terror.

2089 Maoists were killed in encounters compared to 63 previously. 928 surrendered in 2024 and as of the first four months of 2025, 718 followed the same path. The central forces working with state police, set up 320 camps in states impacted by Maoists between 2019 and 2025, including 68 helipads with night landing capabilities. There are 555 fortified police stations from 66 in 2014.

Currently, the security forces are nearing the final stages of the operation which was launched in January.

Shielding Left-extremism at the cost of national security

With the operation yielding notable success in combating these terrorists, the left-liberal gang and some political figures have grown more desperate in their efforts to shield Maoists, portraying them as traumatized individuals forced to take up arms due to discrimination within the nation.

In truth, the Maoists are bloodthirsty beings who have indiscriminately killed to establish their authority across many areas of the country.

Unsurprisingly, the same rationale used to defend terrorists or stone pelters, including breaches of human rights is employed by the same ecosystem in the name of Adivasi rights. Nonetheless, similar to their disregard for human rights in Kashmir, they also have no concern for Adivasis. The only aspect that holds importance for them is their ideology, politics and agenda.

They use fancy terms such as democracy, freedom and human rights to evoke emotional support for their narrative. However, these concepts hold no genuine significance for them. They are blinded by their agenda to the extent that they are willing to jeopardize national security in pursuit of it.

As the operation progresses and the security forces continue to deliver massive blows to Maoists, expect numerous such appeals and accusations directed at the center to try and suspend the operation. The Maoists will be described with ornate language and their evil deeds will be rationalized as a revolt or rebellion against an oppressive system.

Nevertheless, it appears that the government is determined to continue its efforts until it fulfills its commitment to eradicate Maoists from India.

PM Modi urges Indians to participate in ‘Jan Man Survey’ and provide feedback to the govt, upholds true essence of democracy: Details

Dibakar Dutta
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PM Modi urges Indians to participate in ‘Jan Man Survey’ and provide feedback to the govt, upholds true essence of democracy: Details

On Monday (9th June), Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all Indian citizens to participate in ‘Jan Man Survey’ – a unique initiative that allows everyone to share their opinion on government policies and matters of national importance.

The survey is a part of a larger exercise to ensure active engagement of common citizens in the country’s democratic process, coinciding with ’11 years of Seva’ of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

The government is seeking feedback from the general public so as to address their concerns better and shape future policies accordingly.

As part of this unique initiative, PM Modi tweeted on Monday (9th June), “Your views matter the most! Take part in this survey on the NaMo App and let us know how you view India’s growth journey over the last 11 years. #11YearsOfSeva.”

Everything to know about ‘Jan Man Survey’

The interactive and dynamic survey is hosted on the Narendra Modi/ NaMo app (which is available on both Android and iOS). After providing login details, the ‘Jan Man Survey’ can be accessed from the homepage of the app.

A total of 15 questions are asked during the course of the test, which takes about 2 minutes from start to completion. Most questions have multiple choices, while some question require users to rate the answer on a slider.

Screengrab of the Jan Man Survey

Here are the 15 questions asked during the survey –

  1. How has India’s approach to counter-terrorism evolved in the last decade?
  2. How secure do you feel as a citizen, considering the government’s actions against national security threats?
  3. Do you believe India’s voice is being heard and respected more internationally today than before?
  4. Which of the following developments since 2014 do you consider most significant for India?
  5. Which of the following Digital India products or services have you used most in the past 12 months?
  6. With the vision of ‘Women-led Development,’ what are the most significant improvements that you have witnessed?
  7. How have government initiatives like Skill India, Startup India, and reforms in education expanded the scope of opportunities for youth?
  8. In your opinion, how has the ‘Make in India’ initiative impacted the manufacturing sector?
  9. Which of the following has made you feel proud and more connected to our culture and heritage?
  10. Which of the following visions for India’s growth do you feel most aligned with?
  11. Which of the following initiatives do you believe have been truly transformational with respect to governance and national growth?
  12. Which of the following infrastructure developments have you or your family personally benefited from in the past few years?
  13. How would you assess the presence and responsiveness of your local and national representative in addressing public concerns in your area?
  14. How would you evaluate the progress toward building a Viksit Bharat and it’s alignment with your aspirations?
  15. To what extent do you feel inspired and involved in contributing to India’s development journey?”
Certificate of Completion of Jan Man Survey

On completion of the survey, participants are rewarded with 75 points and a certificate of completion.

Impact of the ‘Jan Man Survey’

According to government sources, the unique initiative of the Modi government received an overwhelming response from the public. A whopping 5 lakh Indian citizens have participated in the survey within 26 hours of launch.

States which recorded the most responses included Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Haryana. As per government sources, 77% of all respondents completed the full survey.

Through this exercise, the Modi government provided all Indian citizens an opportunity to directly express their views about an array of issues pertaining to national security, governance, cultural pride and youth development.

The ‘Jan Man Survey’ has emerged as a critical tool for the government to interact with the public in a meaningful day and ensure that their voices are represented in the country’s development.

From India to Europe and the US: why deporting illegal migrants is such an uphill struggle everywhere

Anurag
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From India to Europe and the US: why deporting illegal migrants is such an uphill struggle everywhere

Once illegal migrants cross into a country, whether India, the United States or European Union member states, deportation becomes a maze of legal hurdles, political resistance and activist interventions. In theory, sending back those who are in your country illegally should be straightforward. However, it has transformed into protracted court battles, rights-based campaigns and policy paralysis.

Interestingly, while the deportation of illegal immigrants in countries like India is a mess, in contrast, Pakistan is quickly and smoothly deporting Afghans. Reports suggest that by February 2025, over 800,000 Afghans have been pushed by Pakistan into Afghanistan with minimal domestic dissent. When such comparisons are drawn, the dilemma comes into sharp focus: does being a rights-oriented state handicap enforcement?

In India, courts and activists step in almost immediately

India is not a huge country when we compare its land size to China in terms of population. India is overpopulated and space to breathe is decreasing every day. In such a vast country, resources become scarce quite often. Land, food, shelter and jobs are major problems despite being the fourth-largest economy.

In such a country, it is hard to digest that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar (notably the Rohingya) routinely exploit constitutional protections to resist deportation. Once detained, a large number of NGOs, activists and so-called senior advocates like Prashant Bhushan and Kapil Sibal rush to the Supreme Court to stop deportations. Many of the detained illegal immigrants file petitions under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, claiming threat to their life or liberty.

Unfortunately, our legal system mostly favours them and at least stays the central as well as state governments from deporting the illegal immigrants. Even if Supreme Court is in favour of deportation of the illegals, the writs filed by the illegal immigrants, with the help of honed advocates, invariably trigger interim orders that stay removal, and the court case drags on for years.

With such pushback from the legal system, state governments are now trying to expedite matters by bypassing the legal system altogether. For example, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently invoked a long-forgotten 1950 law to bypass the Foreigners Tribunal and push the illegal immigrants back into Bangladesh and Myanmar, a move that is being criticised by the so-called human rights activists.

Across the US, sanctuary politics fuel friction

In the United States, once illegal immigrants set foot, deportation similarly becomes a drawn-out, controversial affair. There are sanctuary cities in the US, such as Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, where authorities are not allowed to question or detain the illegal immigrants. These cities bluntly refuse to cooperate with deportation orders or ICE detainers, viewing them as political weaponisation of law enforcement.

In early June 2025, Los Angeles witnessed dramatic fallout. ICE raids targeting garment workers triggered mass protests, which quickly escalated. Police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets; a Home Depot became a flashpoint. Union leader David Huerta was arrested, prompting outrage. Between 44 and 118 migrants were detained during the operation.

Federal agents responded by deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 marines under Title 10, leading to further unrest, burning cars, blocked highways, injured journalists injured and more. Even the state was sued for unconstitutional federal overreach.

These scenes underscore the tug of war between federal enforcement and sanctuary city politics, amplified by litigation and public protests, making deportation complex, expensive and politically toxic.

Even though the current President of the United States, Donald Trump, is pushing for stricter border enforcement and removing illegal immigrants from the land, the legal system and some specific cities are putting up a tough fight. Among the deported, several hundreds were Indians as well who had entered the US illegally.

In the European Union, human rights conventions result in rigid constraints

In Europe, the strongest barricade against deportation is legal. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) prohibits expelling individuals where there is a risk of torture or inhuman treatment. EU member states must adhere to non-refoulement principles and due process obligations. However, these rules are making the lives of locals a hell. Rampant crimes, rapes of local women and demographic shifts have become common in European countries.

In recent times, there has been pushback against these policies. Amid rising populist pressure, some governments (Italy, Germany, Austria, Denmark) are openly debating reforming or even withdrawing from the ECHR, viewing it as “hampering sovereign control” over migration.

Is tolerance undermining enforcement?

Rights-based democracies pride themselves on due process protections, independent judiciaries and activist pluralism, but these very traits make mass deportation remarkably difficult.

Petitions are filed in the courts regularly, whether under constitutional, international or humanitarian grounds. Sadly, the rulings are mostly in favour of the illegal immigrants and not the citizens of the country. Activists, from grassroots NGOs to civic organisations, mobilise public support, stage legal challenges, organise protests and feed media frenzy.

The left-liberal media amplify individual stories, framing deportation as punitive or a moral failure. Politicians, especially in liberal or sanctuary jurisdictions, avoid enforcement to maintain electoral support.

This system produces delays, expense and fractured enforcement. Deportation orders can take years to execute. Some migrants argue their cases before multiple tribunals; others vanish into legal grey zones. For authorities, each removal requires diplomatic engagement, legal preparation, detention infrastructure and risk management for anticipated backlash.

Pakistan shows what happens without institutional constraints

When the US and NATO forces left Afghanistan and the Taliban took over, lakhs of Afghanis migrated to Pakistan and other parts of the world illegally. Pakistan started pushing back Afghans soon enough. Between 2023–25, there were waves of deportations targeting undocumented Afghans. Estimates from the UN and Pakistani sources place the number of deported at over 813,300 by January 2025, and nearly a million by June 2025.

Why the indifference? Because Pakistan lacks robust independent judiciary protections, a confrontational press or mobilised civil society. The security narrative prevailed, framed around terrorism and national stability. International actors, UN agencies and rights groups, expressed concerns but held little leverage. Basically, everyone has made peace with the fact that there are no human rights in Pakistan.

Being tolerant comes at a cost

In effect, rights-respecting societies tie their own hands. Legal frameworks, activist resistance and public sentiment erect invisible walls around undocumented migrants. The ethical virtues of justice and liberty slow administrative action, often to a crawl.

Pakistan is an alternative, a system so unhinged that legal and civic constraints simply do not have any effect on large-scale deportations. Yet, it also reveals the chilling absence of accountability, transparency or due process, so India can’t go down that path.

Now the question is, which model is preferable? Rights-oriented democracies may be slower, messier and legally combative, but they preserve personal liberty. Countries that discard those safeguards may achieve enforcement targets, but at the cost of rule of law, oversight and basic humane treatment. India cannot behave like Pakistan, but it has to draw a line somewhere, for the sake of maintaining law and order and for its citizens.

Bihar: Fake police station kept running in a government school for 4 months, fake SHO duped 300 people of ₹50 lakh in the name of recruitment

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Fake police station kept running in a government school for 4 months, fake SHO duped 300 people of ₹50 lakh in the name of recruitment

In Bihar’s Purnia, a fraudster has cheated many people of lakhs of rupees in the name of getting them jobs in the Gram Raksha Dal and Home Guard by posing as a police officer. The accused, named Rahul Kumar Sah, had set up a fake camp in Batauna village of Mohini Panchayat of Kasba police station area, where he used to sit wearing a police uniform and used that to deceive people.

According to the information, fake SHO Rahul was a core cadre of NCC and most of his gang were NCC cadets. Rahul Sah used every trick to convince people. Rahul opened a fake office of ‘Bihar Rajya Dalpati and Gram Raksha Dal Mahasangh’ in a government school.

He promised people jobs by taking 10,000 to 15,000 rupees, distributed fake appointment letters, got uniforms stitched, got I-cards made, and even made some people do duty at fairs and other places.

People did not suspect this at all, because Rahul used to wear police uniform and also used to post pictures on Facebook with real policemen. He even got his fake camp inaugurated by the head of Mohini Panchayat.

When people did not receive their salary after working for about 2 months, they became suspicious. When the truth came out, they realised that they had been duped. After this, a large number of victims reached Rahul Sah’s house and started creating a ruckus.

The victims have lodged a complaint against Rahul Kumar Sah in the town police station. The police station in-charge said that an FIR has been registered, but the accused Rahul Sah is currently absconding. Police said that Rahul has cheated 300 people of Rs 50 lakh. Rahul used to get the youth to check vehicles and extort money from liquor smugglers by giving them police uniforms, sticks and fake identity cards.

According to the information, Rahul got challans of up to Rs 400 issued from the youth, half of which was given as commission. Rahul also used to take bribe from liquor smugglers. At present, the police is conducting raids to arrest the accused.

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