Home Blog Page 2802

Controversial civil society organisation ‘People’s Union for Civil Liberties’ calls to revoke the ban on PFI

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Controversial civil society organisation ‘People’s Union for Civil Liberties’ calls to revoke the ban on PFI

The controversial civil society outfit ‘People’s Union for Civil Liberties’ (PUCL) called on Thursday that the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) be lifted and that all detained individuals be released. PUCL is a fraternal organization of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR). The People’s Union for Civil Liberties is the same organisation that has substantial links to Maoists, as OpIndia reported earlier.

The PUCL stated in a release that a dialogue with the PFI should be started. The organisation demanded that the authorities refrain from using their arrest powers arbitrarily to target Muslim youths based on their involvement or support of the PFI and its affiliates.

It urged that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the NIA Act be repealed, but that in the meantime, the NIA Act be altered to guarantee that the State government concerned was contacted and approval was obtained before the NIA conducted a search or arrested a resident of that State.

According to the PFI, the PUCL stated that approximately 300-400 members of its cadre had been apprehended, with nearly the whole senior leadership and the Social and Democratic Party of India (SDPI) being detained.

The statement by PUCL reads, “The PUCL is deeply concerned about the implications for democracy and the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and association in the light of the ongoing ‘Operation Octopus’ which is being carried out against the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates, across the country as a joint operation of the CRPF, the home ministry, ATS, NIA, ED, RAW, State police, and other agencies. It has consisted of mass raids being carried out in two rounds, in more than 16 states of India over hundreds of locations and with over 300 arrests.”

“The raids, which have been conducted as a media spectacle showcasing massive state power, bodes ill for a constitutional democracy based on rule of law, pushing the Muslim community further into fear, intimidation, alienation, and silence,” it further adds.

PUCL and its ties with Urban Naxals

PUCL is a fraternal organization of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR). The People’s Union for Civil Liberties is the same organisation that has extensive links to Maoists. ‘Urban Naxals’ who were arrested in the Elgar Parishad case and in connection with an alleged assassination plot against the Prime Minister are intimately linked with the PUCL. The PUCL and its associate organisations have a history of ties to Naxals and separatists in Kashmir as well as Manipur.

Over the years, numerous members of the organisations have been arrested for their links to Maoists. One of those raided in connection with the violence at Bhima Koregaon, Sudha Bharadwaj, is the General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). 

Father Stan Swamy was also associated with the PUCL. The narrative that PUCL propagates is quite often antithetical to a layman’s idea of civil society. Although the link is broken, on its website, it can be seen that the organization condemned the hanging of the Islamic terrorist Afzal Guru.

As per the report of Delhi PUCL for 2016-17, they assisted Islamist outfit PFI “in the matter relating to violation of their right to protest and their freedom of speech violated by the Delhi police on 5th Nov. 2017 in Delhi.”

‘Naxalite’ Binayak Sen was also the Vice President of the PUCL even after his conviction by Raipur Sessions Court. The West Bengal unit of PUCL also published a book exonerating Sen of all his crimes and branded him a “victim of state atrocity.”

Odisha: Congress MLA Md Moquim sentenced to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment in a loan fraud case, granted bail

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Odisha: Congress MLA Md Moquim sentenced to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment in a loan fraud case, granted bail

In a 22-year-old loan fraud case, a special Vigilance court sentenced Congress MLA Md Moquim and sacked IAS officer Vinod Kumar to three years behind bars on Thursday. Moquim represents the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly Segment, and his status as a lawmaker is now being called into question as a result of the court’s decision. Nonetheless, the Congress leader was granted bail and stated that he will take the case to the high court.

Peeyush Mohanty, director of Metro Builders Private Limited, and Swosti Ranjan Mohapatra, a former company secretary of the Odisha Rural Housing and Development Corporation (ORHDC), were both imposed the same punishment in the case by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance. The four convicts were sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs 50,000 each. They would be imprisoned for an extra six months if they did not comply.

During Vinod Kumar’s tenure as ORHDC’s managing director, between January 4 and May 15, 2001, the loan scam took place. For its Metro City-II project, the state PSU approved Metro Builders’ request for a Rs 1.5 crore term loan, which it later received.

Kumar was not given financial power by the ORHDC board of directors at the time he approved the loan, nor was he permitted to sign the cheques. Neither the lending committee nor the board of directors of the ORHDC was presented with the loan proposal in favour of Metro Builders for approval. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority’s design, project estimate, and fire certificate, among other documents, were fabricated in order to get the financing without doing site verification.

The parties did not sign a tripartite agreement. The outstanding loan amount against Metro Builders as of October 31, 2007, was Rs 6,22,25,214. By forming a criminal conspiracy, all of the accused people caused enormous damage to the government and hence unlawful benefit to the builder.

17 witnesses were examined by the court before the judgement was announced. The Congress MLA responded to the sentencing by claiming that he had been set up in the case and that he would appeal to the High Court. The company had repaid Rs 1.26 crore of the Rs 1.5 crore, according to Moquim, who claimed that neither he nor his business had committed any wrongdoings. He said, “My bail has been granted, and I will move High Court against the ruling.”

Vigilance SP, M. Radhakrishna said, “The court of Special Judge (Vigilance), Bhubaneswar sentenced Cuttack MLA Moquim, former IAS officer and Managing Director of ORHDC, Vinod Kumar, Company Secretary, ORHDC  Swosti Ranjan Mohapatra, and realtor Peeyusdhari Mohanty, Director, Metro Builders Pvt. Ltd to three years RI and imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on each of them.”

Gujarat: Rickshaw driver who hosted Arvind Kejriwal for dinner attends PM Modi’s rally, says he is a BJP voter and a Modi fan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Gujarat: Rickshaw driver who hosted Arvind Kejriwal for dinner attends PM Modi’s rally, says he is a BJP voter and a Modi fan

Vikram Dantani, an auto-rickshaw driver who invited AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to his house over dinner earlier this month, was seen in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting in Ahmedabad. 

Dantani, who was donning the saffron cap of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said he is a fan of PM Modi and has always been a BJP voter. He also added that he hailed from Dantaniwas locality, a traditional bastion of the BJP. 

Speaking to the media, Dantani said a bus full of people from Dantaninagar had come to PM Modi’s rally today. He also added that he was never aware that Kejriwal would do politics over visit to his home.

In his interview, the rickshaw driver also revealed that the invitation to Arvind Kejriwal during AAP’s meeting in Ahmedabad earlier this month was preplanned and he merely did what the auto-rickshaw union had asked him to do.

AAP’s PR stunt: Arvind Kejriwal accepts an auto-rickshaw driver’s invitation for dinner

With Gujarat Assembly elections just months away, the Aam Aadmi Party seemed to have upped their PR stunts to strike an emotional chord with the citizens of a state it is desperately seeking to make inroads in, especially with the absence of a formidable opponent. To this end, they have relied on replicating the Punjab model, where Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had accepted a dinner invitation made by an auto-rickshaw driver who later turned out to be a committed AAP worker.

A similar kind of PR stunt took place at a recent AAP meeting in Gujarat, where an auto-rickshaw driver invited Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over for dinner. Kejriwal could not hide his enthusiasm at the invitation and agreed to have dinner at the said auto rickshaw driver’s house. The official Twitter handle of AAP shared the video of the interaction on the microblogging website, trying to create an impression that AAP is gaining popularity among the masses in Gujarat.

In the video, Kejriwal gloats over how auto rickshaw drivers in Punjab loved him, and now auto rickshaw drivers in Gujarat are also showering their love on him. He then asks when the auto-rickshaw driver will come to fetch him from his hotel and if his two trusted aides can accompany him to the auto driver’s house for dinner. The auto driver accepts Kejriwal’s request and agrees to collect him and his trusted aides from their hotel at 8 pm.

Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh becomes president of deceased actor Deep Sidhu’s organization ‘Waris Punjab De’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh becomes president of deceased actor Deep Sidhu’s organization ‘Waris Punjab De’

On Thursday, 29th September 2022, Khalistan supporter 29-year-old Amritpal Singh took charge as the president of ‘Waris Punjab De’ – an organization founded by deceased actor Deep Sidhu in September 2021. The organization aims to protect the rights of Punjab and raise social issues. Actor Deep Sidhu, one of the accused in the 2021 Republic Day riots, died in a road accident on 15th February 2022. The actor’s family has distanced itself from the new president Amritpal Singh who is known for openly endorsing Khalistan and slain Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Amritpal Singh was declared president of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organization on Thursday in a ‘Turban Tying’ ceremony held at Moga’s Rode which happens to be the native village of the slain terrorist Bhindranwale. The program took place near Gurdwara Sant Khalsa which is built in Bhindranwale’s memory. Jasvir Singh Rode, a member of Bhindranwale’s family, attended the ceremony on Thursday, while his older brother Harcharan Singh Rode watched it online from the US.

Amritpal Singh and his speech promoting the idea of Khalistan

Addressing the public amidst the slogans of ‘Raj Karega Khalsa’, Amritpal Singh said, “Bhindranwale is my inspiration. I will walk the path shown by him. I want to be like him because that’s what every Sikh wants, but I am not copying him. I am not even equal to the dust of his feet.”

He further said, “Each drop of my blood is dedicated to the freedom of our community. Our battle started from this village in the past, future battles will also start from here. We all are still slaves. We have to fight for freedom. Our waters are being looted, our Guru is being disrespected. The entire youth of Punjab should be ready to give up their lives for the sect. People like Sidhu, who was on Guru’s duty, can never die in accidents. We know how he died, who killed him.”

Amritpal Singh was based in Dubai. He came back to Punjab months after Deep Sidhu’s death. He dresses like Bhindranwale and is accompanied by armed men. He will now be leading the organization formed by late actor Sandeep Singh alias Deep Sidhu. Deep Sidhu had described his organization as a pressure group to protect the rights and culture of Punjab, raise social issues such as health, and education, and raise voices against the dictatorship of Delhi.

Deep Sidhu’s family member denies any connection with the Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh

However, Deep Sidhu’s family members have distanced themselves from Amritpal Singh’s appointment to the president’s post in this organization. Deep Sidhu’s brother Mandeep Singh Sidhu is an advocate in Ludhiana. He said that his family never made Amritpal Singh head of the organization.

Mandeep Singh Sidhu said, “We never met him before. Deep too never met him. He was in touch with Deep over the phone for some time but later Deep blocked him. We do not know how he has declared himself as head of my brother’s organization. He is misusing our name to propagate anti-social activities. He somehow got access to my brother’s social media accounts and started posting on them.” Notably, Mandeep Singh Sidhu had participated in the farmers’ protests with his deceased brother.

Mandeep Singh also underlined that his deceased brother was not a Khalistan supporter and it is Amritpal Singh who is going to create unrest in the state. He said, “My brother had made this organization for a social cause, to raise issues of Punjab and to provide legal aid to the needy, not to propagate Khalistan. Amritpal is talking about creating unrest in Punjab. He is befooling people using my brother’s and Khalistan’s name. My brother was not a separatist.”

Deep Sidhu himself was a Khalistan sympathizer

It is notable that Deep Sidhu was also a Khalistan sympathizer and was arrested last year in February after he participated in the desecration of the Red Fort after the tractor rally held by farmers that turned violent. The Khalistani supporters had brutally attacked the security personnel and police officials stationed at Red Fort, they had disrespected India’s national flag by hoisting two other flags with Sikh symbols on the Red Fort. Now Amritpal Singh has taken over his organization.

Madhya Pradesh: 8 Muslim youths arrested for entering Garba venues hiding identities after govt directed to check IDs at pandals

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madhya Pradesh: 8 Muslim youths arrested for entering Garba venues hiding identities after govt directed to check IDs at pandals

For the first time in Madhya Pradesh, the state government has directed the Navratri Garba organisers to allow entry only after checking the identity cards. In some places, ‘Non-Hindus Are Not Allowed To Enter’ posters are also put up outside Garba pandals. In the last two days, 8 Muslim youths have been arrested for entering Garba pandals by hiding their identity. Muslim youths are accused of clicking pictures and making obscene comments on Hindu girls.

Following the directions of the state government, the identity cards of participants are being checked and Tilak is applied on the forehead of those allowed entry in Ujjain. Posters have been put up outside the Garba venues saying that non-Hindus are not allowed in the pandal, and volunteers are checking ID documents like driving licence, Aadhaar card etc of the participants. However, they are particularly stringent about checking the identity of single men and are allowing families to enter the venue without checking ID. In Narmadaupuram, Kesariya Garba Utsav organisers have imposed a dress code. Men can only enter in kurta-pyjamas; women can enter in saree and salwar-suit. People are not allowed to enter the venue in jeans, trousers and t-shirts. Single men are also not allowed entry. Similarly, identities of Garba participants are checked in Bhopal also.

On September 8, the Culture Minister of State, Usha Thakur said that Garba Pandal has become the medium of love Jihad. Thus, an entry in Garba Pandals will be allowed only after an ID check. She also asserted that Garba dance is a form of worship of Ma Bhagvati and non-Hindus and especially those with malicious intentions of molesting Hindu women will not be allowed to enter Garba pandals.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra in a media briefing said that “Navaratri is a festival of worshipping Ma Shakti and as Culture Minister Usha Thakur said, showing Identity card will be mandatory to enter Garba pandals, to avoid any untoward incident.”

In Nana Kheda in Ujjain, participants are allowed entry only after showing ID and applying Tilak. ‘Seva Hi Sankalp Sanskritik Samiti’ has put up posters with ’Non-Hindus Not Allowed To Enter’ written on it as per a report by Dainik Bhaskar. 

The team has been stationed outside the pandal at the main gate, according to committee president Bahadur Singh Rathore. Every movement is closely monitored by the team. Only once the Aadhar card or other identity card has been verified is access granted. Yes, individuals traveling with families shouldn’t encounter any issues, therefore admission is granted without inspection. The reason for doing this is to stop the molestation of girls in Garba.

In Bhopal, Collector Avinash Lavania has asked the Garba organizers to check identity cards before allowing access. If not, action will be taken against the organizers.

A Muslim youth was caught by Bajrang Dal on Thursday night in Indore’s Palsikar Colony Garba Pandal. Imran Khan is accused of making obscene comments on girls. He was handed over to the police after being beaten. He was brought to the police station by Raoji Bazar police.

On Wednesday, 7 Muslim youths were arrested by the police from the Garba pandal of Pandharinath in Indore. They were reportedly making videos of Hindu girls. The Bajrang activists requested the names and IDs of the suspected Muslim youths. The Muslim youngsters initially pretended to be Hindus and refused to even show ID; but, after further inquiry, after their genuine names were confirmed, they were handed over to the police. Under the prohibitory sections, a case was filed against Muslim youths.

In Khandwa, Kesariya Garba Mahotsav organiser Ritesh Kapoor told Dainik Bhaskar “be it, family or women, showing an ID card is mandatory to enter Garba pandal.”

Digvijaya Singh out, Mallikarjun Kharge in: The drama over Congress party’s presidential chair grows more engaging by the day

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Digvijaya Singh out, Mallikarjun Kharge in: The drama over Congress party’s presidential chair grows more engaging by the day

Following a one-day stint, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh Friday withdrew from the race for the party’s presidential chair. The development came on Friday, 30 September, the last day for filing nominations. Interestingly, only yesterday, Digvijaya Singh had confirmed that he would be contending for the post alongside Congress senior leader and the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor.

Now, after the explosive entry and even more spectacular exit of Congress bigwigs like Ashok Gehlot and Digvijaya Singh, reports claim that Mallikarjun Kharge is the next challenger who has chosen to battle it out with Tharoor.

Announcing his withdrawal, Singh told the media that he would become the proposer for Kharge instead. “I met Kharge ji yesterday to tell him that I will not contest if he is planning to, he is my leader. He told me yesterday that he is not willing to. Today, I came to know from the press that he is a contender. So, I met him today morning to convey that if he is contending, I won’t.”

Digvijaya also spoke about his dedication and commitment to the Gandhi family while announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race. “I have worked for Congress all my life till now, will continue doing so. I don’t compromise on 3 things – standing for the Dalit, tribals & poor, fighting against those who disturb communal harmony & my commitment to Congress & Nehru-Gandhi family.”

As per reports, Mallikarjun Kharge, who is going to file his nomination papers shortly, will soon step down as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha in accordance with Congress’ ‘one person one post’ rule.

Notably, until earlier this week, Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor were considered the two leading candidates for the position. Then, according to reports, Ashok Gehlot withdrew and Digvijaya Singh entered the fray. Not even a day had passed when Digvijaya Singh bailed, and now Congress senior politician Mallikarjun Kharge has entered the contest.

It may be recalled that last week, the Congress party has declared that no one from the Gandhi family will run for the post of the President of the age-old party. 

With so many entertaining twists and turns, it will be interesting to watch if the drama for the Congress presidential seat ends here, or if we are in for further surprises in the battle.

All India Muslim Jamaat Chief receives death threats for calling PFI a radical organisation

OpIndia Staff
-
0
All India Muslim Jamaat Chief receives death threats for calling PFI a radical organisation

On Thursday, All India Muslim Jamaat president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi received death threats for speaking against the now banned terrorist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) and calling it a radical group. “If you speak against PFI, you will be killed”, the death threats issued by Islamists read. Maulana has informed the Bareilly Police about the threats and has demanded security from the accused Islamists.

According to the reports, the Bareilly Police has taken the cognizance of the incident and has confirmed that Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi had received death threats for his past statements against the PFI. “Action will be taken after obtaining an application from the president of All India Muslim Jamaat in this respect,” Bareilly Police said in a tweet.

On September 23, Razvi had encouraged the Muslim community to abandon the Popular Front of India, calling it a radical group. He had also urged the Central government to impose ban on the organisation. “I am not scared about the threats. I have never advocated the fanatic terrorist organisation PFI. I have always spoken for rights and peace. This is what our ancestors have taught us. These threats are not going to stop me”, Maulana Razvi said on September 29.

Razvi had also applauded the arrest of PFI leaders around the nation. The arrests were made by the ATS after the NIA and ED conducted massive raids at the PFI hideouts settled in around 17 states of the country. The first round of raids was conducted on September 22 while the second round of raid was executed on September 27.

On September 23 Maulana Razvi had called PFI a radical organisation and had appealed all the Sufi and Sunni Muslims to stay away from the organisation. ” The PFI has been named in many incidents across the country. It is necessary that there should be a ban on these kinds of organisations,” Razvi had said.

“The central government took appropriate action against PFI. I support the action of the government. I would request the government of India to ban PFI in order to safeguard the unity and sovereignty of the country,” he added.

MHA banned PFI and its fronts under UAPA

The Ministry of Home Affairs on September 27 issued a notification banning the Islamist organisation and its affiliates for 5 years. The MHA stated that the organizations including All India Imams Council, Campus Front of India (CFI), Rehab India Foundation, National Conf of Human Rights Org, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala operated unlawfully and needed to be banned under UAPA.

Several incriminating documents and materials were found from the possession of PFI leaders, prominent among them included a brochure and CD related to ‘Mission 2047’. Huge amount of undocumented cash was also recovered from the PFI leaders of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and also document on ‘short course on how to make IEDs using easily available materials’. Meanwhile, pen drives containing videos related to ISIS, and Gajwa-e-Hind were recovered from the Uttar Pradesh PFI leadership and Marine radio sets from Tamil Nadu PFI leadership. All these materials including wireless communication devices have been taken into custody by the officials.

Delhi Court grants bail to Sharjeel Imam in the case of instigating Jamia Nagar riots, to remain in jail in other cases

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi Court grants bail to Sharjeel Imam in the case of instigating Jamia Nagar riots, to remain in jail in other cases

Former JNU student Sharjeel Imam has been granted bail in a sedition case related to a provocative speech in 2019. Additional Sessions Judge Anuj Agrawal of Saket Court in Delhi granted the bail in the case registered at NFC Police station in Delhi.

However, Sharjeel Imam will remain in jail as there are multiple cases filed against him. According to activist Muzzammil Imam, two more cases against Imam are pending in Delhi.

The Saket Court judgement came after the Delhi High Court had asked the trial court to consider Sharjeel Imam’s plea seeking relief under section 436-A of the CrPC on the ground that he has been in custody for 31 months after his arrest in the FIR.

As per section 436-A, if an accused spends half of the maximum sentence for the charges in jail under trial, such a person can be released on bail court. Imam is charged under Section 153A (promoting enmity among religious groups) which have a maximum imprisonment of three years. He is also charged under IPC Sections 124A (sedition) which carried maximum life sentence.

Sharjeel Imam was arrested in January 2020 after he delivered several provocative speeches that triggered violence during anti-CAA protests in Delhi and several other states. The current case relates to a speech given on December 2019 in Delhi. According to the police, his speech provoked violence in Jamia Nagar in Delhi on December 15, 2019 during protests against the now enacted Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).

The mob had damaged public and private properties including several vehicles during the riot in Jamia Nagar. Around 1500 demonstrators blocked the road and did not listen to the people who urged them to clear the road, and four public buses and two police vehicles were set ablaze during the violence.

However, the trial court earlier had said that evidence against Sharjeel Imam was not concrete to prove that he instigated the riots. The court had said that there were gaping holes in the prosecution case against him. But he was denied regular bail in October last year because further examination was needed to ascertain whether his speech amounted to the offence of sedition under Section 124A IPC and promotion of communal disharmony under Section 153A IPC.

Sharjeel Imam is facing other cases for other speeches he gave during the anti-CAA protests, including instigating Islamists to cut of North Eastern region from the rest of the country by blocking the ‘chicken’s neck’ in North Bengal.

West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari accuses Mamata govt of diverting central funds, writes to Finance Minister seeking action

OpIndia Staff
-
0
West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari accuses Mamata govt of diverting central funds, writes to Finance Minister seeking action

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal state assembly and a leading member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, wrote a letter to the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman accusing the state government of unlawfully diverting funds given to them by the federal government for developmental projects.

Adhikari wrote to the Finance minister, “Request to probe the irregularities & unethical and illegal diversion of the Central Government Funds from the Wage and Means Head of the Consolidated Funds & PFMS (Public Finance Management System) to the SERF (State Emergency Relief Fund) Account by the West Bengal Government.”

Stating that the West Bengal government opened their state nodal account of the Public Finance Management System in ICICI Bank, the same bank having the State Emergency Relief Fund, Adhikari alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was illegally withdrawing a portion of the PFMS fund and depositing it into the SERF to use in different works other than the designated ones. He also alleged that the funds were diverted into the accounts of many shell companies.

“There’s hearsay that some of it is also being siphoned to the Accounts of the shell companies, related to the top most political people of the ruling party (who exert their control over the State Government). The SERF (State Emergency Relief Fund) is controlled by the Chief Minister’s Office,” Adhikari mentioned in the letter.

Adhikari further added, “When suballocating to the Departments, they are making too much delay, sometimes even 6 months after the amount was originally remitted by the Central Government. As a result, the whole accounting of the Scheme gets jeopardized and subsequently, the Utilisation Certificate cannot be generated on time. Whereas the calculation gets erroneous because it has been tampered with in the first place, due to the intentional delayed deposit. So the whole ‘hue and cry’ that the Central Government doesn’t pay in time is totally false and a politically motivated narrative, uttered time and again to reap political dividends.”

Suvendu Adhikari went on to say that the bank is engaged and worked very closely with the state government. “The bank is giving a cut from their part of accrued interest and the prize money earned from the Head Office for keeping such a huge amount of money in the Savings Account,” he added. Adhikari further asked the Finance Minister to look into the serious claims and take proper measures so that no one comes to discredit the central government.

Adhikari also filed an RTI application with the State Finance Department seeking information on the same. He shared the RTI and the relevant details in a tweet.

“Allegedly WB Govt tactfully opened the State Nodal Account of Public Finance Management System (PFMS) in ICICI Bank, wherein the State Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) Account was in operation; so that Central funds could be easily diverted. It’s a can of worms waiting to be opened!” Adhikari said in the tweet.

Times Group’s FM brand ‘Radio Mirchi’ promotes stalking of Hindu women during Navratri Garba event: Here is what the program said

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Times Group’s FM brand ‘Radio Mirchi’ promotes stalking of Hindu women during Navratri Garba event: Here is what the program said

As the annual nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri commenced on September 26 this year, the FM brand Radio Mirchi has come up with a creepy program that promotes stalking and harassment of Hindu girls participating in the Navratri Garba events. Notably, Radio Mirchi is owned by Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL), a subsidiary of The Times Group.

Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, took to Twitter to share a segment broadcasted by Radio Mirchi during one of its shows in which two guys can be heard discussing strategies to stalk women visiting Navratri Garba Pandals.

On the Radio Mirchi show, a man is heard explaining to another youth named Ali, with immense pride rather, that they would create an internet application where girls and women who wanted to visit Garba pandals could register their identities and choose where they wanted to go to play dandiya on that particular night. They would then obtain all of the data and review the profiles of all the girls who had registered on the app. They would then pick to visit the same pandal that the girl whose profile they preferred had chosen to visit to play dandiya.

As Radharaman Das correctly pointed out, such events as the annual Navratri dandiya events, in which Hindu men and women perform the traditional Garba dance around a centrally lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti to celebrate the annual Hindu festival observed in honour of the goddess Durga, do become a hunting ground to stalk and harass Hindu women.

In fact, over the years, several cases of Muslim youths entering Navratri Garba Pandals by hiding their identity and pretending to be Hindu have come to the fore.

On Wednesday, September 29, seven Muslim youths were arrested by the police from the Garba pandal of Pandharinath in Indore. They were reportedly making videos of Hindu girls. At the same time, Muslim youths who entered the Garba pandal in the Sindhu Bhavan area in Ahmedabad were thrashed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists. The video of the same went viral on social media. 

In the case of Indore Garba Pandal, the Bajrang workers asked for the names of suspected Muslim youths and to show their IDs. Initially, the Muslim youths took Hindu names and did not even show ID, however, after further questioning once their real names were known, they were handed over to the police.

1...2,8012,8022,803...7,579Page 2,802 of 7,579