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Kareena Kapoor Khan displays blind hubris even as Laal Singh Chaddha tanks, says her character ‘Geet’ in Jab We Met increased Indian Railways’ revenue

OpIndia Staff
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Kareena Kapoor Khan displays blind hubris even as Laal Singh Chaddha tanks, says her character ‘Geet’ in Jab We Met increased Indian Railways’ revenue

Kareena Kapoor Khan has claimed that she financially helped the Indian Railways by playing the character of Geet in Imtiaz Ali’s film Jab We Met. Kareena, whose recent big-budget film with Aamir Khan, Laal Singh Chaddha, just became one of the biggest disasters in the Hindi film industry, said this on an episode of Amazon Mini TV show ‘Case To Banta Hai’.

“Mere Geet play Karne Ke Baad Harem Pants Ki Sale Aur Indian Railways Ki Revenue, Dono Badh Gayi Hai By The Way (The sale of harem pants and Indian Railways revenues both surged after I played Geet.)”

Kareena made these remarks on the comedy courtroom show Case To Banta Hai after Varun Sharma, who plays her lawyer, advised her to be more serious about her court proceedings.

Jab We Met, written and directed by Imtiaz Ali, is a 2007 Indian romantic comedy film starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor. The film was one of the year’s highest-grossing Hindi films. Jab We Met narrates the story of Geet, a Punjabi girl who is thrown off course when she meets Aditya Kashyap, a hopeless Mumbai businessman, on a midnight train to Delhi. 

While Kareena may think she boosted Indian Railways revenue with her film, the data suggests no spike in Railways revenue in 2007-08, the financial year in which Jab We Met was released. In fact, the growth slowed down in that year compared to the previous financial year.

Financial year-wise revenue of Indian Railways (Source: Statista)

Kareena Kapoor Khan appeared in the latest movie Laal Singh Chaddha, which failed to impress the audience and earn commercial profits due to widespread boycott calls. Due to Aamir Khan’s previously troublesome utterances, the film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ has been mired in controversy right from the start.

The film’s collection at the box office was dismal compared to the budget of the film. Amidst the boycott calls for the film Aamir Khan himself indicated that he was apologetic if he had offended anyone. Kareena too pleaded with people not to boycott the film as she finds it a beautiful film. “They should not boycott this film, it’s such a beautiful film. And I want people to see me and Aamir,” she said in an interview.

Several social media users noted Kareena Kapoor Khan’s U-turn, citing statements she made in 2020 suggesting that individuals who don’t want to see movies should not watch them because no one is trying to convince them.

It is pertinent to mention that back in 2020, Kareena Kapoor stated during the nepotism debate that it is the people who have made them stars and that nobody is forcing people to go and watch their movies. She then said, “The audience has made us, no one else has made us. The same people pointing fingers are the ones who have made these nepotistic stars right? Aap Jaa Rahe Ho Na Film Dekhne? Mat Jao. Nobody has forced you. So I don’t understand it. I find this whole discussion is completely weird.”

DIPR dismisses media reports claiming J&k likely to get around 25 lakh additional non-local voters, says ‘vested interest’ trying to misrepresent facts

OpIndia Staff
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DIPR dismisses media reports claiming J&k likely to get around 25 lakh additional non-local voters, says ‘vested interest’ trying to misrepresent facts

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday refuted media claims that Jammu and Kashmir will be getting around 25 lakh additional voters including outsiders or non-locals after the special summary revision of electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.

Slamming ‘vested interests’ for misrepresenting facts, the order issued by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on Saturday, August 20, cleared that the electoral rolls will cover only existing residents of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and that the increase in voter numbers will be limited to Jammu and Kashmir youths who have reached the age of 18 as of 1st October 2022 or earlier.

“This is a misrepresentation of facts, which is being spread by the vested interests. This revision of electoral rolls will cover existing residents of the UT of J&K and increase in numbers will be of the voters who have attained the age of 18 years as on 1.10.2022 or earlier,” the order read.

It further clarified that no change has been made in the special provisions for Kashmiri migrants for their enrolment in the electoral rolls of their original native constituencies.

The order added that the Kashmiri migrants will continue to be given the option of voting at their place of enrolment or through postal ballot or through specially-setup polling stations at Jammu, Udhampur, Delhi, etc.

It further clarified that there is no change in rules regarding buying of property and jobs in the government of Union territory of J&K and have no link to the representation of voters or otherwise.

The order stated that summary revision of electoral rolls are undertaken by Election Commission from time to time according to the laid down process. “This is to enable young persons who become eligible to register themselves as voters. Besides, it also allows a person who has changed his ordinary place of residence to enrol at new location by getting himself deleted at the old location,” it read.

It further said that the number of electors as published in special summary revision of J&K in 2011 was 66,00,921 and it has now increased to 76,02,397. “This increase is mainly due to the new voters, who attained the age of 18 years.”

Basically, the clarification was issued by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after several media houses like NDTV, Deccan Herald and a few others claimed that the BJP government is trying to tip the scales in its favour by enrolling around 25 lakh additional voters including outsiders in the Union Territory as the special summary revision of electoral rolls is being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Report published by NDTV on August 18, 2022
Report published by Deccan Herald on August 18, 2022
Report by Daily Excelsior published in August 19, 2022

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has, however, cleared the air confirming that no outsiders are being included, in fact, only those “ordinarily” residing in J&K and having achieved the age of 18 years or above as of October 1 are to be included in the electoral rolls. “This is to enable young persons who become eligible to register themselves as voters. Besides, it also allows a person who has changed his ordinary place of residence to enrol at the new location by getting himself deleted at the old location,” the order read.

Death of ‘Dalit’ 9-year-old in Jalore: State Child Rights Commission panel report busts ‘caste angle’. Read what they say happened

OpIndia Staff
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Death of ‘Dalit’ 9-year-old in Jalore: State Child Rights Commission panel report busts ‘caste angle’. Read what they say happened

Days after a 9-year-old Dalit boy succumbed to his injuries in the Jalore district of Rajasthan, the State Child Rights Commission ruled out the caste angle from the case, reported The Times of India.

Following a visit to the school, a member of the Commission met with the teachers and students to confirm the details of the incident. While filing the report, the member (Shiv Bhagwan Naga) emphasised that a fight had broken out between the deceased Inder Meghwal and another student named Mangalram over a drawing book.

The accused teacher, identified as one Chail Singh, had intervened and slapped both the students. This aspect was corroborated by the district administration and the block education officer.

The deceased student fell on the ground after being slapped and sustained injuries to his eye and an ear. The State Child Rights Commission emphasised that there was no drinking water pot in the school, thereby rubbishing the initial claim that Inder Meghwal was beaten by an ‘upper caste teacher’ for touching the water pot.

According to Shiv Bhagwan Naga, all students used a common water tank to quench their thirst.

The Background of the Case

According to authorities, Inder Meghwal was beaten up Chail Singh at the Saraswati Vidya Mandir on July 20 this year. He remained under medical care until August 13, when he finally succumbed to his injuries.

The police charged Singh with murder and under relevant provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victim’s father Devaram Meghwal had alleged that the accused hurled casteist slurs at Inder for drinking water from an earthen pot, supposedly intended for upper caste people.

Inder’s father also stated that his son suffered damage to his right ear and eye as a result of Singh’s assault. At that time, some locals had pointed out that the claim about caste discrimination was false.

They clarified that there was only one common water tank and dismissed reports about the existence of separate water tanks for ‘upper-caste’ and ‘lower caste people.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had recently courted controversy for downplaying the severity of the incident. He had said, “These kinds of incidents happen in every state. If you watch TV or read the newspapers, you know that these incidents happen everywhere.”

Anurag Kashyap throws tantrum after Dobaaraa flops, says he will not make sequel of Gangs of Wasseypur unless Viacom stops calling it a loss-making

OpIndia Staff
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Anurag Kashyap throws tantrum after Dobaaraa flops, says he will not make sequel of Gangs of Wasseypur unless Viacom stops calling it a loss-making

As Anurag Kashyap’s latest release Dobaaraa has massively tanked at the box office, the director is now throwing temper tantrums, claiming that he has several scripts for a Gangs of Wasseypur sequel but would not film it because Viacom 18, the promoter of the movie, continues to label it a loss-making picture. Anurag Kashyap made these comments while promoting his current film, Dobaaraa, in an interview with Tanmay Bhat.

The two Gangs of Wasseypur films, according to Anurag, are deemed loss-making by their distributors. Kashyap said, “There are many stories but I am angry about something there. For Viacom Pictures, it is still a loss-making film for Viacom. I used goodwill of my entire lifetime in that picture, but that holds no value.”

“And we know how much the film has earned. But then they say we have not earned that money, Colors has earned it. But then who owns Colors? Viacom sold the film to their own company Colors and said Colors is earning the money. This is a case of insider trading,” he further said.

Anurag Kashyap stated that he thinks the Gangs of Wasseypur cast was underpaid for their work. He said that no actor in that movie was paid well. “Richa Chadha received 2 lakh, Huma Qureshi received 75,000, and someone else received 50,000. People got those kinds of money,” he stated.

Anurag Kashyap’s latest film Dobaaraa, featuring Taapsee Pannu as the lead character, has failed to garner popular support. The film has failed to pique the attention of the audience. It was launched in theatres on Friday, August 19, but only had a 2-3% occupancy rate on Day 1. Several early screenings of the film are also reported to have been cancelled.

It’s worth noting that an interview with Anurag Kashyap and Taapsee Pannu went viral only days before the release of Dobaaraa, in which both of them poked fun at boycott calls for various films, including Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha. Both of them made fun of people by encouraging them to make their film trend on social media and boycott it.

“I am feeling left out. Even I want Ki Meri Film Boycott Karo…please make our film trend on Twitter by boycotting,” said Anurag Kashyap. Adding to this, Taapsee Pannu said. “Yes please boycott Dobaara trend karva do…we also want to trend on Twitter.”

Kerala police may oust Congress worker Farzeen Majeed from home district for a year, had protested against Kerala CM on board an Indigo flight: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala police may oust Congress worker Farzeen Majeed from home district for a year, had protested against Kerala CM on board an Indigo flight: Details

The Kerala police are mulling ousting Youth Congress worker Farzeen Majeed, who staged a protest against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inside an Indigo flight in June this year, from his native district by invoking the stringent KAAPA Act or the Goonda Act against the Congress worker.

According to reports, recently, the Kannur City Police Commissioner made the recommendation to the collector to banish the Congress worker for a year under the Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), popularly known as Goonda Act based on a police report alleging that Farzeen Majeed is a serial offender.

On June 13, 2022, activists of the Kerala Youth Congress namely Farzeen Majeed, Naveen Kumar, and Sunith Kumar, all Kannur residents, boarded a commercial flight flying Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur and waved black flags at him to protest against police harassment. Besides being charged with an attempt to murder then, the trio had also been put on a ‘no-fly list by Indigo.

Now, according to reports, the Kannur city police have recommended to the Kannur-range DIG to invoke the KAAPA provision prohibiting entry into the district against Youth Congress block president Farzin Majeed, citing that he was involved in over ten cases, four of which were serious in nature, including a murder attempt case registered in connection with a protest staged against the Chief Minister in a flight.

The Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), which is generally invoked against hardened criminals, came into force in 2007. According to this act, people who cause a threat to the safety and peaceful existence of society can be imprisoned for up to a year. The offenders will be treated as rowdy or goons. An amendment was made to this Act in 2014. Currently, the power to impose KAAPA on criminals lies with the District Collector.

Police sources, however, stated that the decision to invoke KAAPA against the Youth Congress leader will be made only after hearing him.

The Congress on Friday criticised a Kerala police move to banish the Youth Congress worker from his native district. Reacting to the recommendation made by the state police, Congress legislator and Opposition leader V D Satheesan said, “Vijayan should bear in mind that this is not Russia under Stalin.” 

He also questioned why the Goonda Act was not used against CPM student leaders who were involved in numerous serious cases, whereas the majority of cases against the Youth Congress leader involved Covid protocol violations.

Notably, after the incident, Farzeen Majeed, in an interview with Mathrubhumi News, accused the CPM government in the state of building a narrative to frame him as a notorious criminal and terrorist. He had said that the technique the Kerala police, at the behest of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, had adopted against him resembled how CPM framed slain Youth Congress leader SP Shuhaib.

“That is the approach of CPM in Kannur. They will frame the person as a criminal. After such labelling, they will ensure that person is no more,” he said.

The incident

On June 13, 2022, activists of the Kerala Youth Congress boarded a commercial flight flying Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur, waving black flags in protest of alleged police harassment.

The chief minister was at Kannur on a three-day official tour. The Youth Congress workers were nabbed by the CM’s security team and LDF leader Jayarajan, who was accompanying Vijayan, and were handed over to the CISF. Jayarajan described the incident as worse than a “terrorist strike.” The incident was also criticized by CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who claimed that Youth Congress workers were plotting to attack the CM.

Meanwhile, Congress leader VD Satheesan described it as a “symbolic protest against police repression.” Farzeen Majid, head of the Youth Congress Mattanur block and one of the protestors, claimed that their objective was just to register a protest, and they were “brutally beaten” at the airport by the CM’s security team and Jayarajan, making them suffer serious injuries. 

According to police, the Youth Congress activists started chanting slogans after the CM took his seat. Kannur range DIG Rahul Nair stated that they received an intelligence tip on this and warned the CISF, but the youth Congress workers managed to board the plane after displaying the medical history of a cancer patient receiving treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

According to sources, this incident also prompted attacks on certain Congress offices, including the State Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, purportedly by members of the CPI(M) and its youth wing DYFI.

Following the incident, the members of the Kerala Youth Congress were arrested and charged with an attempt to murder. They later got bail from the Kerala High Court in the case.

Indigo puts the Kerala Youth Congress workers and LDF convener on ‘no-fly list’

A month after a scuffle broke out between Left Democratic Front (LDF) leader EP Jayarajan and Kerala Youth Congress workers in an IndiGo flight, the commercial carrier had put them on a ‘no-fly list’  for unruly behaviour on board a flight.

IndiGo had set up an internal committee to probe the matter as per Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 3- AIR Transport Series M Part VI Issue II. On Saturday (July 16), the committee passed its final verdict in the case.

Youth Congress members Naveen Kumar RK and Farsin Majeed PP were found guilty of Level I offence and were banned from flying with IndiGo for a period of 2 weeks. Similarly, EP Jayarajan was found guilty of a Level II offence and was banned from flying with the airline for a period of 3 weeks, starting July 16 this year.

Bihar back to being a family business: Lalu Prasad Yadav’s damaad attends official meeting held by his son, Tej Pratap Yadav

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar back to being a family business: Lalu Prasad Yadav’s damaad attends official meeting held by his son, Tej Pratap Yadav

Creating an embarrassing situation for the newly formed Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son-in-law Shailesh Kumar was seen attending two official meetings that were held by Minister Tej Pratap Yadav. Tej Pratap Yadav who is also the son of Lalu Prasad Yadav was sworn in as Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change in the Nitish Kumar-led Cabinet.

According to reports, on July 17, Kumar attended the first meeting that was held by Tej Pratap Yadav in his capacity as a Minister. Kumar was seen seated in the back row. However, a day later another meeting with the pollution control board was held in which Shailesh Kumar, husband of Misa Bharti was seen sitting next to Tej Pratap Yadav.

The incident came to light after the video of the meeting went viral over social media which showed the Yadav family’s interference in the official meetings. The incident however irked the BJP leaders who criticized the coalition government for allowing family members of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav to enter the government realm.

Bihar BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand shared the pictures of the meeting and tweeted, “Don’t take Bihar Forest and Environment Minister Tej Pratap Yadav lightly. Our brother Shailesh is also sitting with him. I am sure that Shailesh Ji is more clever and talented than all RJD Ministers. Tej Pratap Yadav will prove to be the best Minister if he has the blessings of Shailesh Ji”.

Also, Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader who had served as the state’s Dy CM for over a decade commented on the issue. “Tej Pratap Yadav remains in news for all the wrong reasons. Now, as a minister he seems to have outsourced his duties to his brother-in-law”, he was quoted.

“Lalu Ji’s son-in-law was not just present at the meetings. The meetings, where he had no business to be present, were, being conducted (sanchaalit) by him”, he added. Modi meanwhile slammed CM Nitish Kumar and said that his government consisted of a large number of ministers with criminal records.

“His new government has a large number of ministers with criminal records which confirms fears of the return of jungle raj in the state. The incident involving Lalu Ji’s son-in-law is a clear sign that the RJD supremo will try to interfere in the workings of the new government”, he noted.

It is important to note that this is not the first when the family members of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav have interfered in the Bihar government activities. During the RJD’s 15-year reign, there was widespread knowledge that Rabri Devi’s brothers Sadhu and Subhash Yadav would hold the charge. It is questionable why Shailesh Kumar attended a meeting held by a Minister given that he holds no official role.

On August 16, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expanded his new cabinet to induct 31 new ministers including 16 members from ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Later controversy erupted over the induction of a few ministers like RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh as Law Minister, Sudhakar Singh as Agriculture Minister, and Chandrashekhar Yadav as Education Minister.

According to the reports, RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh who was appointed as Law Minister was supposed to surrender at Danapur Court in a kidnapping case but instead, he reached Raj Bhavan in Patna for the oath-taking ceremony. Similarly, Sudhakar Singh who was allegedly involved in the rice scam was appointed as an Agriculture Minister.

Anurag Kashyap-directed ‘Dobaaraa’ featuring Taapsee Pannu tanks miserably at the box office, audience obliges after duo asked them to boycott the movie

OpIndia Staff
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Anurag Kashyap-directed ‘Dobaaraa’ featuring Taapsee Pannu tanks miserably at the box office, audience obliges after duo asked them to boycott the movie

The Bollywood film ‘Dobaaraa’, which is an official remake of the Spanish ‘Mirage’, tanked at the box office on Friday (August 19). The Anurag Kashyap-directed movie, which features actress Taapsee Pannu in the lead role, registered a paltry 2-3% occupancy in the theatres. According to film critic and trade analyst Sumit Kadel, early shows of the Dobaaraa were cancelled due to a lack of audience footfall.

He had earlier predicted that the film might collect ₹20-35 lakhs on the opening day and a lifetime revenue of ₹1.25-₹1.5 crores. However, the film failed to live up to even such low expectations.

According to ‘Deshdrohi’ actor Kamal R Khan (KRK), the Anurag Kashyap-directional film collected just ₹8 lakhs on the opening day. As per a report in Koimoi, ‘Dobaaraa’ was made on a budget of ₹50 crores.

It must be mentioned that both Anurag Kashyap and Taapse Pannu made condescending remarks about the audience, prior to the release of the film ‘Dobaraa.’ The duo went a step ahead and urged people to boycott their film.

While speaking to India Today, Taapsee Pannu said, “Please everyone boycott our film, Dobaaraa. I want to be in the same league as Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan. I feel left out.”

She further claimed that those who raise boycott calls on Twitter do not go to theatres to watch the movie in the first place.

In the same tone, Anurag said, “Yes please, I want our film to trend on the boycott hashtag as well.” The duo further asked, “I want to know if those people who call for a boycott are the ones who even watch films in theatres?”

In an interview with Pinkvilla, the Dobaaraa director claimed that his movies are unaffected by boycott calls. “It affects those who’s films do over Rs. 100 cr. My films have not even gone beyond Rs. 32 cr. For me, it is nothing new. I have been boycotted since the time twitter started. Ask me questions that affect me,” he had said.

However, it turns out that Dobaaraa, which has been made on a budget of ₹50 crores, will fail to make more than ₹2 crores.

The duo made similar remarks while speaking to Siddharth Kannan. Their arrogance had promoted the audience to shun the movie ‘Dobaaraa.’ In recent times, several movies directed by known Hinduphobes have tanked at the box office.

16% of Muslim students from Mangalore University seek TC, among others, university following HC order banning hijab in classrooms one of the reasons

OpIndia Staff
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16% of Muslim students from Mangalore University seek TC, among others, university following HC order banning hijab in classrooms one of the reasons

More than 16% of Muslim girl students have taken their transfer certificate (TC) in the second, third, fourth and fifth semesters of government and aided colleges affiliated with Mangalore University in Karnataka, reports Deccan Herald. This comes on the heels of the varsity’s decision to enforce the Karnataka High Court order on hijab and not allow religious attires in classrooms, which is being considered one of the major reasons for Muslims taking TC.

The Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University (MU), Prof. PS Yadapadithya announced in May that TCs (transfer certificates) would be issued to girl students who did not wish to attend classes without a hijab.

According to a Deccan Herald report, 145 Muslim girl students out of a total of 900 who had taken admission for various courses in the government, aided, and affiliated colleges of MU in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in 2020-21 and 2021-22 had taken TC.

Some of them have enrolled in colleges where wearing a hijab is permitted. Other female students have dropped out of college for various reasons, including an inability to pay university fees.

However, according to RTI information, all 113 Muslim girl students in the Kodagu district are continuing their studies in their colleges. In the Kodagu district, MU has 10 government, aided, and affiliated colleges. 

The percentage of Muslim female students seeking TC in government colleges (34%) is higher than in aided colleges (8%). Dr P Dayanand Pai-P Satisha Pai Government First Grade College tops the government colleges in Dakshina Kannada, in which 35 out of 51 Muslim girl students have taken their TC.

There are 39 government and 36 aided colleges in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Nine female students have taken their TC at the Government First Grade College in Ajjarkad, the epicentre of the hijab controversy.

Twenty female students from Haleangadi Government First Grade College who attended classes in the first, third, and fourth semesters received TCs while in the second, fourth, and sixth semesters. When contacted, college principal Sridhar stated that students had ignored his pleas to attend classes. He went on to say that they didn’t even bother to collect their TCs.

MU VC Prof Yadpadithaya said many Muslim girl students had met him seeking his help to get admitted to colleges with their combination. “As these issues cannot be resolved, I had directed them to approach Karnataka State Open University (KSOU),” the VC told DH.

“I had informed students that education was more important than religion,” he said.

It may be recalled that on May 27 Vice-Chancellor P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya assured to facilitate the Muslim female students, who had submitted a memorandum to allow them to wear hijab in classrooms, in securing admission to other colleges.

“We have learned that about 15 girls are firm about wearing the hijab to class. We are ready to counsel these girls and make them understand the Karnataka high court order. If counselling does not work, we will help them get admission in educational institutions where the hijab is allowed or where there are no uniforms,” the VC added.

Students launch protest at Mangaluru University College

The controversy erupted on Thursday (May 26) after a group of students from the University College in Mangaluru had protested against the college authorities, alleging that a few Muslim girl students were attending classes in hijab in violation of the Karnataka High Court order.

The protesting students contended that they were being forced to wear the college uniform while the 44 Muslim students were being allowed to wear hijab to college. The students also alleged that some of them were wearing the hijab in the classrooms too.

They also hit out at the college principal and other concerned authorities for failing to enforce uniform rules on the college premises. The students alleged that the college authorities were under pressure from a local political leader.

Karnataka Hijab row

The Karnataka Hijab row started out in January this year at a Pre-University College in Udupi where a group of 6 Muslim girls insisted that they be allowed to take classes in their hijab

Given that uniforms were in existence at the said PU college since 1985, the school administration refused to relent to their religious diktat. Thereafter, the girls refused to enter classrooms and began holding protests within the premises of the college.

With the backing of Islamist outfits such as PFI and Campus Front of India, the ‘hijab movement’ spread to other schools and colleges in Karnataka. The hijab row witnessed the mobilization of Islamists and counter-protests by Hindu students, demanding the concept of uniformity in schools.

When the matter reached the Karnataka High Court, it ruled that Hijab is not an essential practice in Islam and that uniform is a reasonable restriction on the ‘Right to Religion.’

CBI names 15 including Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia in excise scam FIR, says he was instrumental in extending undue favours to licensees

OpIndia Staff
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CBI names 15 including Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia in excise scam FIR, says he was instrumental in extending undue favours to licensees

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) listed 15 accused including Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in an FIR on Friday 13th August 2022 following hours of raids into the alleged excise fraud. The excise department, which the deputy chief minister oversees, implemented a new strategy last year that ruled government liquor stores shut down and private businesses granted licenses. Along with Manish Sisodia and Excise officials, CBI has named several private persons for involvement in the scam. Apart from the 15 persons named in the FIR, CBI also included ‘other unknown public servants and private persons’ as accused in the FIR.

The CBI has conducted searches at various sites. Arva Gopi Krishna, the former excise commissioner, as well as deputy commissioner Anand Tiwari and assistant commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar, are also booked by the CBI. Searches were conducted today at 31 locations including in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Bengaluru which, so far, have led to the recovery of Incriminating documents/articles, digital records etc, according to the CBI.

It has been alleged that irregularities were committed in modifications in Excise Policy, extending undue favours to the lincencees, waiver/reduction in licence fee, extension of L-1 license without approval etc. It is further alleged that Illegal gains on the count of these acts were diverted to concerned public servants by private parties and making false entries in their books of accounts.

The FIR says, “Shri Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, GNCTD of Delhi, Shri Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi., Shri Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD Of Delhi, and Shri Pankaj Bhatnagar, Assistant Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favors to the licensees post tender.”

It further says, “Shri Vijay Nair, Former CEO of M/s. Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company, Shri Manoj Rai, Ex-employee of M/s Pernod Ricard, Shri Amandeep Dhal, Owner of M/s. Brinda Spirits & Sh Sameer Mahendru, Owner of M/s. Indo Spirits are actively involved in irregularities in framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22. Some of the L-1 Licence holders are issuing credit notes to retail vendors with an ab-initio intention to divert the funds as an undue pecuniary advantage to Public servants. In furtherance to this, they are showing false entries in their books of accounts to keep their record straight.”

The CBI cited its sources and said in the FIR, “Shri Amit Arora, Shri Dinesh Arora, and Shri Arjun Pandey are close associates of Shri Manish Sisodia and are actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from Liquor Licenses to accused public servants. Shri Arun Ramchandra Pillai used to collect undue pecuniary advantage from Shri Sameer Mahendru, MD, M/s Indospirit for onward transmission to the accused public servant through Shri Vijay Nair. A person named Arjun Pandey once collected a huge cash amount of about Rs.2-4 crores from Shri Sameer Mahendru on behalf of Shri Vijay Nair.”

CBI also mentioned that M/s Mahadev Liquors, a proprietorship firm was granted an L-1 License. Sunny Marwah is the authorized signatory of the firm. Sunny Marwah is also a director in companies being managed by the family of the Late Ponty Chadha. The CBI source has reportedly informed that Sunny Marwah is in close contact with accused public servants and has been regularly giving undue pecuniary advantage to them. The CBI has booked all the 15 accused under sections 120B, 477A of the Indian Penal Code and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (amended in 2018).

The list of the accused includes deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, former excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, former excise deputy commissioner Anand Tiwari, Assistant Excise Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar, former CEO of the OML entertainment and events company Vijay Nair, ex-employee of M/s Pernod Recard Manoj Rai, Director of M/s Brindco Sales Pvt. Ltd Amandeep Dhal, Managing Director of the lndospirit Group Sameer Mahendru, Director of M/s Buddy Retail Private Limited Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora, Buddy Retail Private Limited, Authorised Signatory of M/s Mahadev Liquors Sunny Marwah, Mahadev Liquors, Arun Ramchandra Pilla, and Arjun Pandey of the National Media Center of DLF.

One of the accused in this case – Vijay Nair is the former CEO of OML. Only Much Louder (OML) is a Mumbai-based firm noted for its NH7 Weekender concerts, supporting independent musicians, and being the company behind the comic collectives East India Comedy and All India Bakchod. His name earlier appeared in a cyberstalking case. Vijay Nair’s alleged stalker “Geeta” dragged his friends, colleagues, clients, and others in a series of tweets, and messages.

Kerala Muslim body head slams state govt’s ‘gender-neutral’ policy, says it is ‘dangerous’ to allow boys and girls to sit together in classrooms

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala Muslim body head slams state govt’s ‘gender-neutral’ policy, says it is ‘dangerous’ to allow boys and girls to sit together in classrooms

Kerala Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary in charge, PMA Salam has claimed that it is dangerous to allow boys and girls to sit together in school classes. The remark came as the Muslim leader slammed the Kerala state government’s decision to introduce gender-neutral uniforms in Government run schools in the state.

“It is dangerous. What is the need for girls and boys to sit together in classrooms? Why are you forcing them or creating such opportunities? It will only cause problems. Students will deviate from studies,” Salam stated while criticising the Kerala government’s gender-neutral policies. 

“Gender neutrality is not a religious issue but a moral issue. The government is trying to force gender-neutral uniforms on students. Gender neutrality will mislead students. We will ask the government to withdraw this,” he added.

Interestingly, a day prior, senior Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator and former minister MK Muneer had also spoken out against the Kerala government’s gender-neutral policy by claiming that it would lead to the sexual exploitation of minor boys and questioned the need for initiating a POCSO case if a boy is sexually assaulted.

Addressing a seminar on the Kerala syllabus organised by Kerala Arabic Teachers Federation here on Thursday, the IMUL leader said, “Many people are booked over cases related to homosexuality. Why do police register a POCSO case against a man for having a sexual relationship with a boy? If there is gender neutrality, there is no need for such a case. Many people will misuse gender neutrality. Many boys will be sexually exploited,” said the Muslim outfit leader.

On July 31 2022, also MK Muneer came out with a strong statement against the move to introduce gender-neutral uniforms in state schools. He claimed that such uniforms comprising of trousers and shirts for both girls and boys were a “Left tactic to promote denial of religion and male dominance”.

Notably, many Muslim organisations have been asking the government to refrain from imposing gender-neutral views on state educational institutions. They have accused the left government in the state of attempting to impose liberal ideology in educational institutions.

A gender-neutral uniform was introduced for the first time in a government high school in Kozhikode in 2020, allowing a concession of full-sleeve shirts instead of half-sleeve and head scarves for Muslim girls. Since then, the Muslim organisations in the state have been protesting against gender-neutral uniforms in schools, accusing the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government of “forcing modern dress concept on school children”.

Last December, a protest rally was held in Balussery, Kozhikode, under the aegis of the Muslim Co-ordination Committee, after a government higher secondary school in the area implemented a unisex uniform system (pants and shirts).

Meanwhile, following the growing resentment among Muslim organisations, including those who are with the CPI(M), against the move to bring in gender-neutral uniforms in schools under the guise of gender justice, the Kerala Education minister and CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty said recently that the state government has no plans to introduce gender-neutral uniforms in all schools.

“A few schools introduced gender-neutral uniforms. Students and society at large welcomed it. But the government has no adamant stand that gender-neutral uniforms should be introduced in all schools. Government is against foisting any type of uniform. It is up to school PTAs, parents and local self-government institutions to decide on uniforms,’’ he said.

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