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From ‘weakest link’ to ‘bright spot’: How India’s position has strengthened in BRICS over the past decade

OpIndia Staff
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From ‘weakest link’ to ‘bright spot’: How India’s position has strengthened in BRICS over the past decade

India has grown leaps and bounds in the past 11 years under the Narendra Modi government. The country’s stature in the international sphere has increased manifold since 2014. Once dubbed the ‘weakest link‘ in BRICS, India has successfully broken away from that image during the Congress-led UPA era to being on the path to becoming a global superpower.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Brazil to attend the two-day BRICS summit, featuring leaders of the world’s fast-growing economies, to be held on 6th and 7th July this year.

BRICS was envisaged as a significant challenge to global political, economic and financial systems, dominated by US and other Western powers. India has been a part of this intergovernmental organisation since its first summit in 2009 but its influence was negligible.

India was perceived as ‘weakest link’ in BRICS during UPA era

While the PR machinery of the Congress ecosystem continues to bask in false bravado, the reality is that India was considered the weakest link among BRICS countries such as Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.

An article published by The Times of India in 2012 highlighted the pessimism surrounding India –

“The strength of a chain depends on the weakest link. Unfortunately, India is the weakest link in BRICS. Its chaotic politics, abysmal human development record, low per capita income (the lowest in the group) and uncivil civil society make it an unreliable partner.”

There were talks about the prospect of a country like Indonesia replacing India at BRICS.

“As India fails to deliver on its promise of growth, a smaller Asian country Indonesia, finds itself in a position to lure investors away from the third largest economy in the region with higher stock market returns, better fiscal management and lower inflation,” stated an article by CNBC in 2012.

The global pessimism surrounding India, which was under the Congress-led UPA rule at the time, was not unwarranted. Our country faltered significantly on economic parameters.

By 2013, India’s growth rate was down to just 5.5%, which was way behind other BRICS nations. China, for instance, was growing at 7.8%.

It was predicted that India would lose its investment-grade rating. At the same time, India under UPA era was reeling with low investor confidence, high inflation and external debt.

Our industrial output in 2013 was about 2%, way behind South Africa, Russia, Brazil and China. On the other hand, India’s inflation stood at a staggering 9.3%.

Graphic by Sarvesh Sharma/Mint

The BRICS member was being counted as ‘Fragile Five’ by January 2014. The scepticism regarding India was at an all-time high. Major international publications had practically written us off and our growth story.

The beginning of Modi era and India’s changing destiny

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014, he realised that India must be made strong economically for it to be able to assert power on the global stage.

He channelised his efforts to boost productivity and industrial output, regain investor confidence and bring down inflation. Political stability, coupled with a clear economic vision, steered India out of deep waters.

By 2018, India was recognised as the ‘bright spot’ among BRIC nations. Under the Narendra Modi govt, India has been the fastest-growing large economy. In Financial Year 2024-2025, it registered the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth among BRICS countries.

India also surpassed China in industrial growth. In the past 11 years, the country’s economic trajectory has been turned around through decisive political leadership, fiscal prudence, and structural reforms. The resulting economic stability has led to upgradation of sovereign credit ratings.

From being the weakest link in BRICS in 2012, India is today shaping the future of the international organisation. It is a principal force in this bloc against Western dominance. Our country has moved on from merely playing a passive role at BRICS to being a dominant and strategic partner.

How India is reshaping BRICS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi knew the importance of international cooperation and has thus attended all BRICS summits so far. India is today contributing to the ever-evolving framework of BRICS as a proactive agenda-setter.

In September 2021, BRICS adopted a counter-terrorism action plan under PM Modi’s leadership during the 13th summit. A BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group was formed to address the meance of terrorism in all its forms.

These measures helped pivot the international organisation from broad declarations to concrete mechanisms, involving intelligence sharing, capacity building, preventing the misuse of financial and digital networks by terrorist organisations.

Under PM Modi’s Chairship, BRICS jointly committed to pursuing a system that is more democratic, transparent, representative, and accountable. BRICS Startup Forum was the result of India’s emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship.

At the same time, India has introduced Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which is built on Aadhar, UPI and CoWin, as a new pillar of BRICS cooperation in empowerment and digital transformation.

Conclusion

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged from the sidelines to the centre table of the BRICS.

India continues to play a significant role in voicing the concerns of the Global South, cooperating in space sector, green development and anti-corruption efforts.

Owing to the clarity, vision and diplomacy of the Modi government, India is not just reshaping policies at BRICS but actively transforming its purpose and priorities.

Md Shahbaz from Begusarai married Hindu girl from Indore after Facebook love, then started harassing her for refusing to convert to Islam, complaint filed

OpIndia Staff
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Md Shahbaz from Begusarai married Hindu girl from Indore after Facebook love, then started harassing her for refusing to convert to Islam, complaint filed

A case of alleged love jihad has come to light from Bihar’s Begusarai district, where a Hindu girl from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has accused a man named Mohammad Shahbaz of betrayal, conversion pressure, and abuse.

The girl, who got smitten with a boy from Bihar over Facebook, is now demanding police protection and justice after abuse and pressure to change her religion.

The woman, who was initially Aarti from Indore, had first met Mohammad Shahbaz of Jagir Mohalla from Begusarai in Bihar on Facebook. Shahbaz had allegedly called her to Bihar in 2018, promising marriage when the friendship on social media grew into love. Trusting him blindly, Aarti had gone to Begusarai. Shahbaz had reportedly furnished her with wrong information and organised a marriage ceremony at Karpoori Sthan.

Post-marriage, Aarti had adopted the name Aarushi Parveen, and they started living together. But things took a turn for the worse shortly thereafter. Shahbaz reportedly began ill-treating her and coercing her into converting to Islam.

Forced to abandon faith and abused

Aarti informed the police that she gave Shahbaz almost ₹1 lakh, which she earned through working at a jewellery store. However, even with her assistance, Shahbaz purportedly coerced her into deleting pictures of Hindu deities and goddesses from her mobile phone. While she changed her name from Aarti to Aarushi Parveen, she remained a Hindu, which was not acceptable for her husband.

She also alleged that he attempted to compel her to consume beef, which she vehemently declined. After that, Shahbaz purportedly physically assaulted her.

Feeling helpless and betrayed, Aarti went to the Begusarai Superintendent of Police and lodged complaints at both the Nagar police station and the women’s police station.

Wants to return home

In her complaint, Aarti has also made it clear that she does not wish to remain with Shahbaz and wishes to go back to Madhya Pradesh to live with her family. In a quick action, the police have put her in a women’s shelter to keep her safe and are now in touch with her family.

Agra: Congress leader and advocate Jalaluddin accused of raping a woman in party office, forcing her to convert to Islam, FIR registered

OpIndia Staff
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Agra: Congress leader and advocate Jalaluddin accused of raping a woman in party office, forcing her to convert to Islam, FIR registered

A woman has accused a Congress leader and advocate named Jalaluddin of raping her and forcing her to convert to Islam. The victim, a resident of Shahganj police station area in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, said that the accused raped her in Congress office in Agra, after threatening her with a weapon. A case was filed on Friday (4th July) against the accused based on the complaint of the victim.

As per reports, in July 2019, the victim was going through some dispute with her brothers when she met Jalaluddin in the District Court, who promised to help her and won her trust. She remained in touch with Jalaluddin, who would often visit her home.

According to the victim, in September 2019, Jalaluddin took her to the Congress office situated on the MG Road on the pretext of getting her some medicines. In the office, he threatened the victim using a gun and raped her. The victim did not disclose the incident to anyone due to fear of loss of reputation. This emboldened Jalaluddin, who later raped her on multiple occasions.

The victim used to live with her mother and her daughter. His husband lives in Gujarat. She alleged that the accused used to barge into her house and offer namaz. He even forced her to read Qalma and offer namaz. He pressured her to marry him after converting to Islam. Jalaluddin allegedly showed up at her house uninvited and threatened to defame her.

The victim said that Jalaluddin once tried to attack her using a knife at her home when she stopped him from offering namaz inside her house. She said that she has CCTV footage of the incident. The victim alleged that Jalaluddin committed physical violence when she refused to offer namaz. She said that she approached the police to file a complaint against Jalaluddin on 2nd July, but her complaint was not accepted. Later on, she wrote a letter to the SDM narrating her ordeal, after which a case was registered by the police.

Muslim man abuses Hinduism in public, says ‘stone worshippers are not trustworthy’, Islamic propaganda outlet presents him as the victim

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim man abuses Hinduism in public, says ‘stone worshippers are not trustworthy’, Islamic propaganda outlet presents him as the victim

Islamic propaganda portal Muslim Mirror recently spread lies to further its anti-Hindu agenda by distorting an incident involving a Muslim man in Hyderabad. The media outlet made a desperate attempt to defame Hindus by falsely portraying the Muslim man as a victim.

In its report, the Muslim Mirror misrepresented the incident and claimed that he was attacked by a ‘Hindu mob’ because of his Islamic faith. The Islamic propaganda portal posted a video of the incident on Instagram and wrote, “A Hindu mob attacked a Muslim man after he questioned being overcharged and expressed his faith, which they claimed hurt their religious sentiments”.

Screenshot of Instagram post of Muslim Mirror

What actually happened

A CCTV footage of the incident, which took place on Friday (4th July) night, has been going viral on the internet, showing the Muslim man getting involved in an altercation with a shopkeeper and the customers present at the shop. In the viral footage, the Muslim man can be heard complaining about being overcharged by the shopkeeper.

He reportedly claimed that the shopkeeper did not give him the remaining amount of money after he paid the bill. “I paid Rs 450. I should get back Rs 140 and ask for the remaining Rs 140. But these people (shop owners) got angry with me,” the man alleged.

As he was arguing over the alleged unpaid money, the Muslim man went on to attack the shopkeepers for being Hindu. Aggressively pointing at the shopkeeper, the Muslim man said,” I am a Muslim. I have imaan. He is a mere stone-worshiper. How can he be trusted over me?”

His insulting remarks about the Hindu religion outraged the customers present there, who countered him, and a scuffle broke out.

Based on the complaint of the shopkeeper, the Muslim man was arrested by the Narayanguda police, and a case was registered against him under sections 302, 196, and 351 of the BNS. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Propaganda outlet ‘Muslim Mirror’ chose to omit all facts of the case to present the accused as the victim.

Supreme Court administration writes to govt seeking immediate eviction of former CJI DY Chandrachud from govt bungalow, says he is overstaying beyond extended period after retirement

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court administration writes to govt seeking immediate eviction of former CJI DY Chandrachud from govt bungalow, says he is overstaying beyond extended period after retirement

The Supreme Court has written a letter to the Central Government asking for the immediate eviction of former CJI Dr. DY Chandrachud from his government bungalow at 5, Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens’ Delhi.

Justice Chandrachud had retired in November 2024 but has been occupying the bungalow for almost eight months after the retirement. According to regulations, a retired CJI may reside in a government house for a specific period, six months in a Type VII house. But Justice Chandrachud was occupying a higher category, Type VIII bungalow.

The Supreme Court’s housing wing addressed a letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on July 1, 2025, stating that the extended deadline for the removal from the bungalow expired on May 31. According to the letter, the extension itself had already exceeded the six-month duration permissible under Rule 3B of the 2022 housing regulations. The Court requested the Ministry to recover possession of the house forthwith and inform once that is completed.

Justice Chandrachud replied to the issue, stating that the delay in vacating the premises was for personal reasons. He explained that he had already been assigned a government house, no. 14, Tughlaq Road, but it had been closed for more than two years and needed to be repaired. Renovation work was also postponed owing to the restrictions imposed under the GRAP-IV pollution control regulations.

He explained his family had special requirements, especially his two daughters, who are afflicted with severe genetic and muscle diseases such as nemaline myopathy. Due to this, he required additional time in order to locate an appropriate home for them and had previously notified the court of this. He guaranteed that the matter would be settled within a few days and that he has great respect for rules as a previous leading judge.

The Supreme Court has acknowledged that a temporary extension had previously been granted under special conditions, but said no further time could be given as newly appointed judges were waiting for official housing.

Leicester’s Diwali scaled down claiming ‘safety fears’: shadows of 2022 Islamist violence against Hindus and Shockat Adam’s rise to power may have fuelled the decision

OpIndia Staff
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Leicester’s Diwali scaled down claiming ‘safety fears’: shadows of 2022 Islamist violence against Hindus and Shockat Adam’s rise to power may have fuelled the decision

On 2nd July, Leicester City Council announced that there will be major changes to the annual Diwali celebrations, citing “serious concerns” around public safety and uncontrollable crowds. The meeting was held with city mayor Peter Soulsby, councillors, members of the Jain and Sikh communities, representatives of the Leicester Hindu Festival Council and Belgrave Business Association.

The council has decided that there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment this year. Furthermore, the council has decided not to use Cossington Street Recreation Ground, once home to the vibrant Diwali Village, food stalls, and fire garden. Leicester’s Diwali celebrations are known to be the biggest ones outside India.

However, the council claimed that it has become a “victim of its own success”. A Diwali safety advisory group declared the current set-up “no longer fit for purpose” and pushed for “urgent action” to manage the crowds, which the administration deemed “uncontrollable” as 50,000 people attended the festival last year.

There were discussions over alternative venues such as Abbey Park and the city centre. However, consultations with Belgrave businesses led to a decision to retain the celebrations on the Golden Mile, though in a stripped-down format. The council has announced that it will install 6,000 lights on Belgrave Road and the iconic Wheel of Light will return.

In a statement, city mayor for culture Vi Dempster said that the celebrations must continue but within safe limits. She added, “We are being strongly advised by our emergency service partners and crowd control experts that it cannot continue safely in its current format… that is a warning we must take extremely seriously.”

The announcement comes a year after the council scrapped the traditional light switch-on due to financial constraints, with costs having soared from £189,000 in 2018 to £250,000 in 2023. Graham Callister, head of festivals, admitted that reducing infrastructure and activity was necessary to ease congestion and ensure public safety.

2022 Islamist violence still casts a shadow on Leicester’s streets

The so-called safety concerns possibly stemmed from the targeted Islamist violence that erupted in 2022. It all began as unrest following a cricket match between India and Pakistan. It quickly escalated into a vicious anti-Hindu campaign. Though Pakistan’s victory should have quelled the tensions, attacks continued. It revealed a deeper, more ideological motivation behind the violence.

Radical Islamic mobs vandalised Hindu homes, businesses, and temples, forcing several Hindu families to flee Leicester. Instead of holding the aggressors accountable, the local police initially stoked tensions further by falsely suggesting that Hindu groups were calling for violence against Muslims, a claim later discredited but damaging enough to embolden Islamist agitators.

Scenes of saffron flags desecrated and burned, Hindu idols desecrated, and innocent worshippers pelted with bottles became symbols of the breakdown of law and order. Islamist thugs roamed freely while the police appeared to be in an “inaction” mode. Meanwhile, peaceful Hindu groups who chose to protest the attacks found themselves vilified and attacked, as their chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ were deliberately twisted into claims of provocation.

Several Islamists, including Majid Freeman and Mohammed Hijab, played a crucial role in inciting violence against Hindus in Leicester. There were fake claims, such as that a Muslim girl was abducted by Hindus, which was later debunked by the police. However, the narrative led to consequences and institutional apathy against the Hindu community.

Several media houses, including The Guardian, BBC and others, tried to shield Islamists and, when debunked by OpIndia, they played victim.

Shockat Adam’s win reflects a deeper shift in Leicester politics

As the atmosphere of polarisation and unrest continued to grow in Leicester, an independent candidate of Indian origin, Shockat Adam Patel, became Leicester South MP on a pro-Palestine campaign in July 2024. He defeated Labour’s Jon Ashworth by merely 979 votes.

After his victory, Shockat declared, “This is for the people of Gaza.” He made his political priorities clear – that he would side with the people of Palestine. His past record raised uncomfortable questions. His close association with ‘Muslim Engagement and Development’ (MEND), a group exposed by the Henry Jackson Society as an extremist outfit providing platforms to individuals who supported terrorists, espoused anti-Semitism, and encouraged violence.

His role during the 2022 violence has been equally troubling. Instead of condemning the Islamists outright, he attempted to justify their actions by claiming that it was a reaction to provocation. He suggested that Hindus had invited the violence. He even floated the conspiracy theory that Hindus linked to the RSS had migrated en masse to Leicester – a claim that even the BBC later admitted had no basis.

Shockat went on to give interviews alleging the rise of “Hindu supremacy” in Leicester, conveniently ignoring the sectarian nature of Pakistan’s creation in 1947, and painting the RSS as a force against Indian secularism. His rhetoric, laced with guilt-tripping and revisionism, sought to portray Hindus as aggressors rather than victims.

Adding fuel to the fire, Shockat collaborated with CJ Werleman, a notorious fake news peddler. He pushed anti-India propaganda in a MEND webinar in 2020. There, he described Indian citizens as “third-class” in their own country and urged donations to MEND to continue their so-called “fight against Islamophobia.”

Majid Freeman also backed Shockat. He celebrated his victory with a tweet mocking Ashworth and called Shockat “the best man”.

A city at crossroads

Leicester’s decision to strip down Diwali celebrations is not just about public safety. It is a consequence of the city’s deepening communal fault lines. While the lights on Belgrave Road may still flicker this year, the spirit of unity they once represented has been dimmed by violence, misinformation, and a political tide that increasingly favours those who rationalise extremism.

Trial to begin in abetment of suicide case of IIT Bombay student Darshan Solanki as accused Armaan Iqbal Khatri withdraws petition

OpIndia Staff
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Trial to begin in abetment of suicide case of IIT Bombay student Darshan Solanki as accused Armaan Iqbal Khatri withdraws petition

Nearly two and a half years after first-year IIT Bombay student Darshan Solanki died by suicide, the long-delayed trial against the main accused, Armaan Iqbal Khatri, is finally set to begin. Khatri, who was originally mentioned in the FIR under abetment of suicide charges, had approached the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of the case.

However, during the hearing on Friday, both the state government and Darshan’s lawyers opposed his petition, resulting in its withdrawal of the same and paving the way for trial proceedings to begin in the Sessions Court. A bench of Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Rajesh Patil allowed the withdrawal of the petition.

The path to trial has faced multiple delays, primarily because of Armaan’s legal challenges. He went to the Bombay High Court, appealing to it to quash the FIR lodged by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Police.

A division bench of Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Rajesh Patil heard his plea on Friday. Armaan Iqbal Khatri was represented by Advocate Vijay Hiremath. He argued that there were inadequate reasons to initiate charges. But these pleas faced strong opposition. Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Salsingikar, representing the state, and lawyers Sandesh More and Hitendra Gandhi, appearing for Darshan’s relatives, asked the court to turn down the petition. Armaan’s lawyers were confronted with this resistance and withdrew the plea, thus eliminating the last legal hurdle before trial.

Background of the case 

On 12th February, 2023, there was a tragedy on the IIT Bombay campus when Darshan, a first-year chemical engineering student, jumped off the seventh floor of his hostel and died. The event triggered immediate action: Mumbai Police established a special investigation team (SIT), which found a handwritten note from Darshan’s room. The note hinted at harassment and emotional distress for communal remarks by Armaan Iqbal Khatri, compelling investigators to register an FIR under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) and charge Armaan, a classmate.

Allegatoins of caste discrimination

Right from the beginning, the case was in the public eye not only for the tragedy but also the allegations of caste discrimination made by lefstist groups.

Darshan was a Dalit student from a small town, and in no time, voices from the Ambedkar-Periyar-Phule Study Circle (APPSC) and other leftist groups accused the institute of ignoring caste-based harassment. They generated testimonies alleging Darshan was excluded by classmates who came to know of his background and mocked him as a reserved-category student.

The APPSC called for the invocation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, demanding that IIT Bombay and Mumbai Police have ignored key evidence of caste-based victimisation. Their allies claimed that Darshan’s isolation and exclusion, rather than academic pressure, caused him to take his life.

However, when it was learned that the accused was not an Upper Caste Hindu man, but Armaan Iqbal Khatri, the ‘caste discrimination’ angle fizzled out. From the testimonials of other students, it was learnt that after Darshan made a communal remark, Armaan had threatened to kill him with a cutter, and has said he would not spare him. After that, Solanki was petrified and had also apologised to Khatri.

In response to the case, IIT Bombay convened a 12-member committee to investigate the situation. The committee decided that Darshan’s poor academic progress and fall in attendance were major reasons. Their report did not suggest caste discrimination or bullying but instead personal academic issues.

In turn, Mumbai Police SIT followed this view. They asserted that the note discovered in Darshan’s handwriting indicated peer bullying, but nothing was said about caste-based abuse in the official report. Darshan’s father Ramesh Solanki objected to this finding, alleging that these official accounts neglected his son’s torment and the potential for caste-based trauma.

After Arman Iqbal’s role in the unfortunate death of Darshan Solanki emerged, the leftist cabal that was lampooning on ‘caste discrimination’ theory went into hiding. Even the APPSC stopped discussing his suicide case and moved on to other issues for ‘caste baiting.’ In the end, it became clear that the untimely death of the 18-year-old boy was never their concern.

Muslim men were given money to lure minor Hindu girls and convert them to Islam, 40 victims identified: UP ATS busts racket of Jalaluddin involving 100 cr in foreign funds

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim men were given money to lure minor Hindu girls and convert them to Islam, 40 victims identified: UP ATS busts racket of Jalaluddin involving 100 cr in foreign funds

Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has busted a massive Islamic conversion racket in the Balrampur district involving foreign funding worth 100 crore.

The ATS arrested the head of the racket named Jalaluddin alias ‘Chhangur Baba’ along with his wife, on Saturday (5th July) from Gomti Nagar. Jalaluddin ran an Islamic conversion racket spread across the country.

His entire family was involved in the racket. Jalaluddin’s son, Mehboob and a close aide were arrested by the ATS in April this year.

Subsequently, following an investigation, the ATS registered a case against 10 people including Jamaluddin, who had a reward of Rs 50,000 on him.

Multiple FIRs lodged in different districts

Several FIRs have been lodged in different districts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the racket. As per the FIRs, Jalaluddin and his gang lured at least 40 people to convert to Islam.

According to ADGP Law and Order, Abhishek Yash, a Special Task Force (STF), initiated an investigation against the conversion racket in which the malicious activities of the gang were uncovered.

“The STF initiated the probe into the group’s activities, uncovering a complex operation where people were lured into conversion through romantic relationships, force or allurement,” the ADGP said.

“Investigation also revealed that the gang was involved in converting minors. Financial scrutiny of its operations revealed that over Rs 100 crore were funnelled into 40 accounts from foreign sources allegedly to fund conversions,” he added.

A case was filed based on the findings of the STF, which is being investigated by the ATS.

Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba used to provide money to Muslim men for luring Hindu women and converting them to Islam.

The Muslim men used to fake their identities and take Hindu names to target Hindu women. Jalaluddin used to perform Muslim marriages (Nikaah) of these Muslim men with Hindu women whom they lured or forced to convert.

He and several members of his gang reportedly travelled to Islamic countries around 40 times.

Jalaluddin fixed prices for conversion of Hindu women based on their caste

“Investigations revealed that for the past 3-4 years, Jamaluddin and his family had been residing near Chand Auliya Dargah and portrayed himself as a Sufi saint Hazrat Baba Jalaluddin ‘Peer Baba’. He also published a book, ‘Shijra-e-Tayyaba’, to propagate Islam,” an ATS officer was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

However, even after converting, Jalaluddin and his family had their official documents, like passports, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and property records in their Hindu names.

“In one of these cases, a woman from Lucknow was allegedly lured into a relationship by a Muslim man who used a Hindu identity. She was coerced by Neetu and others to convert,” the ATS officer said.

“Jalaluddin ran a gang and had a fixed incentive structure for conversions. Rs15-16 lakh was fixed for conversions of Brahmin, Sikh or Kshatriya woman, Rs 10-12 lakhs for OBCs and Rs 8-10 lakhs for other castes,” the ATS officer added.

Police recovered a diary from Jalaluddin’s residence containing the names of more than 100 people who could be potential targets of conversion. Considering the gravity of the case, the Uttar Pradesh police have sought a multi-agency probe, involving the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.

Chhangur Baba amassed huge wealth using foreign funding

As per reports, Jalaluddin, who used to sell rings, has amassed huge wealth by operating the conversion racket, which particularly targeted Hindu women. He has bought properties worth crores, built showrooms and bungalows and luxury cars using foreign funding within a year. He has been living in Balrampur for 3-4 years at an address belonging to a Hindu family of three, Ghanshyam Arora (husband), Neetu Arora (wife) and Samale (daughter) which was brainwashed and converted to Islam. After conversion, the family changed their identities and adopted Muslim names and became Jamaluddin, Nasreen and Sabiha respectively.

Elon Musk launches new ‘America Party’ after dramatic public spat with US President Donald Trump: Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Elon Musk launches new ‘America Party’ after dramatic public spat with US President Donald Trump: Here is what we know so far

In a seismic shift for U.S. politics, tech mogul Elon Musk announced the formation of the “America Party” on Saturday (5th July) directly challenging his former ally, President Donald Trump.

The move follows weeks of acrimony over Trump’s controversial $3.3 trillion tax and spending bill, which Musk decries as “debt slavery” that will “bankrupt the country”.

The breaking point

Musk declared the party’s creation on his social media platform X, stating: “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom”.

This followed a 24-hour poll on X where approximately 60% of over 1.2 million respondents supported a new party.

The catalyst was Trump’s signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on 4th July, which Musk lambasted as “insane spending” that would increase the deficit from “an already insane $2T under Biden to $2.5T” and “bankrupt the country”.

From “first buddy” to foe

The rupture marks a stunning reversal for the once-close allies. Musk was Trump’s largest individual donor in the 2024 cycle, contributing over $280 million to his reelection effort.

Post-election, Musk chaired Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), tasked with slashing federal waste. Their relationship began unravelling in May when Musk resigned from DOGE and publicly attacked Trump’s fiscal approach.

Trump retaliated by threatening to review billions in federal subsidies supporting Musk’s companies—including Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink—and quipped that DOGE might “go back and eat Elon”.

The America Party’s strategy

Rather than mounting a nationwide challenge, Musk’s party plans to wield influence by targeting pivotal congressional races.

He revealed the America Party would “laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts,” aiming to secure enough leverage to become “the deciding vote on contentious laws”.

Musk framed this targeted strategy using a military analogy, citing ancient Greek general Epaminondas’ tactics to “shatter the myth of Spartan invincibility” by applying “extremely concentrated force at a precise location”.

Obstacles ahead for Elon Musk

Despite Musk’s vast wealth estimated at over $350 billion the America Party faces formidable challenges:
•⁠ ⁠Legal Hurdles: U.S. political parties are state-regulated entities, requiring complex navigation of 50 distinct sets of ballot-access rules. For example, California demands either 75,000 registered party members or 1.1 million petition signatures for ballot qualification .
•⁠ Historical Precedent: Third parties have consistently struggled against the Democratic-Republican duopoly. Ross Perot won 19% of the popular vote in 1992 but secured no Electoral College votes, while the Libertarian and Green parties remain marginal after decades of effort.
•⁠ ⁠Funding Constraints: Once recognized as a national party, donor contributions would be capped at $10,000 annually to state parties and $44,300 to national committees, limiting Musk’s ability to bankroll operations personally.

Market and political fallout

The feud has already rattled investors. Tesla’s stock plummeted from a December high of $488 to $315 by July, partly attributed to the Musk-Trump rift. Republicans fear Musk’s defection could splinter conservative support during the 2026 midterms, endangering their narrow congressional majorities. Trump, meanwhile, has dismissed Musk’s critiques as resentment over the bill’s phaseout of electric vehicle tax credits a move potentially costing Tesla billions .

As of 6th July, the Federal Election Commission shows no registration for the America Party. Nevertheless, Musk’s declaration signals an unprecedented attempt to disrupt America’s two-party system, turning a personal feud into a high-stakes experiment in fiscal populism. With both men commanding global influence, their clash may redefine U.S. politics long before the party’s planned midterm debut.

Analysis: Can Musk crack the duopoly

While Musk’s wealth and influence make him a formidable disrupter, breaking the 160-year Republican-Democrat lock will require unprecedented mobilisation. His targeted-district strategy acknowledges third-party limitations but aims for kingmaker status in a divided Congress. With Trump’s approval still above 40%, the America Party’s test will be converting online polls into ballot-box wins.

Exclusive: Burqa-clad women assault Hindu journalist, reporting on anti-encroachment drive in Seemapuri, Muslim mob unleashes mayhem on streets

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Exclusive: Burqa-clad women assault Hindu journalist, reporting on anti-encroachment drive in Seemapuri, Muslim mob unleashes mayhem on streets

On 4th July 2025, All India News reporter Supriya Pathak and her cameraman Shyam were brutally attacked by a mob of Islamic extremists. The incident took place in the evening when they were reporting on illegal encroachments and slum settlements on government land near a mosque in Bengali Market, Delhi under Seemapuri police station area. The incident has raised serious concerns over press freedom, communal harmony and the state of law and order in the national capital.

According to the victims, a mob of burqa-clad women and underage boys not only beat them up mercilessly, but also looted their equipment, cash and personal belongings. So far, no arrests have been made, nor has a copy of the FIR been provided to the victims, exposing inaction by the Delhi Police. The Delhi administration is yet to issue any statement on the matter.

Mob turns violent outside mosque over camera presence

At around 6 PM on Friday evening, Supriya and Shyam reached the 200-foot road area near Bengali Basti to expose illegal occupations on government land. The issue has been brewing between locals and authorities for a long time. There are illegal jhuggis, ongoing constructions, and allegedly Bangladeshi and Rohingya settlers adding complexity to the matter.

When the duo began setting up their camera in front of the mosque, a few locals objected. The protest was initially verbal but quickly escalated into physical violence. A group of 20–30 people soon swelled to over 200. Burqa-clad women and minor boys surrounded the journalists.

They attacked Supriya and Shyam with sticks, fists and kicks. Supriya was dragged along the road and beaten so badly that her leg was fractured. Her body bore multiple injuries. Shyam suffered severe facial wounds and was repeatedly punched on the head. The attackers snatched Supriya’s mobile, camera, mic, batteries and cash, while Shyam’s watch and wallet were looted.

Media crew tried escaping in DTC bus but even that was attacked

In a desperate attempt to save themselves, the journalists boarded a DTC bus. However, the mob followed and surrounded the vehicle. They smashed the windows and forcefully pulled both Supriya and Shyam out. Shockingly, instead of providing any help, the driver of the bus forced them off the vehicle. The attackers even damaged the vehicle, causing loss to public property. A video of the incident has now surfaced.

Victim recounts ordeal to OpIndia

Speaking to OpIndia, the victims said that they were assaulted separately – Supriya by one group and Shyam by another. A few bikers attempted to intervene but were pushed off their bikes and assaulted. Eventually, some policemen arrived and helped the journalists get away on a motorcycle, though even then the mob chased them, throwing stones and whipping belts.

No help from locals, police response delayed

The incident caused a traffic jam on the road. There were many bystanders, but no one came forward to help the journalists. Some pedestrians made an effort but backed off after facing threats and religiously charged chants from the mob. One passer-by tried to take Supriya away on his bike, but he was also beaten. Finally, a policeman intervened and escorted them to a safer location.

The injured journalists were rushed to Seemapuri Police Station and then sent to GTB Hospital for medical examination. Even after reaching at 9 PM, the medical procedures were so delayed that they could only leave around 4 AM. Supriya’s leg is now in plaster and she is unable to walk, while Shyam too remains badly injured.

Attack bore signs of extremist planning

Veteran journalist Ashok Srivastava posted on X, stating that the attack appeared planned, as the coverage could have exposed several illegal activities.

The active participation of Muslim women and minor boys in the assault is especially disturbing. The women not only physically attacked the journalists but also hurled abuses and made religiously charged remarks. The minors’ involvement highlights how deeply radical ideology has percolated into the younger generation.

Targeted for being Hindu?

Some residents believe that the journalists were targeted because they were Hindu, and that the attackers were confident the police would avoid taking action due to the attackers’ religious identity. It has been alleged that in such cases, mobs from the Muslim community often gherao police stations and pressure the authorities not to take any action. This sense of impunity emboldens such violent mobs to take the law into their own hands.

There are also claims that illegal occupiers enjoy political protection in Delhi, which discourages the administration from acting against them. Certain political parties are accused of settling illegal immigrants in the area for vote-bank gains, leading to a rise in such violent incidents.

What has raised alarms is that despite the seriousness of the assault, the Delhi Police has yet to take any firm action. The victims have not been provided with a copy of the FIR and none of the attackers has been arrested. It is also being alleged that instead of pursuing the attackers, police are harassing the victim journalists while the assailants roam freely.

This report was published on OpIndia Hindi and can be checked here.

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