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After the Paper Magazine photoshoot, PETA invites actor Ranveer Singh to again pose nude for their ‘Try Vegan’ campaign

OpIndia Staff
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After the Paper Magazine photoshoot, PETA invites actor Ranveer Singh to again pose nude for their ‘Try Vegan’ campaign

Days after the nude photoshoot of Bollywood Actor Ranveer Singh for Paper Magazine created a sensation, further inviting controversies, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India on Friday issued a letter to the actor urging him to take part in a similar photoshoot for them. The organization requested Ranveer to promote veganism by appearing nude for its campaign. “We saw your head-turning Paper Magazine photo shoot. Hope you will ditch the pants for us, too”, the letter by PETA read.

“To promote compassion for animals, will you consider appearing in a nude PETA India advertisement with the tagline ‘All Animals Have the Same Parts – Try Vegan’?”, the organization asked Ranveer Singh in the letter attaching a reference image of Pamela Anderson from her nude shoot for PETA in 2011.

Meanwhile, PETA Vice President talking about Ranveer said that the actor was a perfect candidate to encourage others to adopt a vegan diet for animal health and their health. According to the reports, with this opportunity, Ranveer would join vegetarian and vegan celebrities like Anushka Sharma, Jaoquin Pheonix, Kartik Aaryan, and many others who have teamed up with PETA to promote healthy, humane, and meat-free meals.

PETA is known for its advertisements featuring nude celebrities to promote its campaigns against animal cruelty, especially against fabrics made from fibre obtained from animals. The “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign of PETA was one such well-known campaign that featured nude celebrities, which was a campaign against fur. While the campaign officially ended in 2020 after a run of around three decades, PETA now invites common people to contribute to the campaign.

Ranveer Singh had recently stated that he has been consuming a vegan diet. According to reports, he switched to veganism in preparation for his new movie Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, in which he will reunite with Alia Bhatt, his Gully Boy co-star. He was last seen in Netflix’s interactive special ‘Ranveer vs Wild with bear Grylls’.

Since the Paper Magazine shoot, Ranveer has continuously got media attention. He has been accused of offending people’s feelings. Several complaints have also been filed against him. After the photo shoot, actor Ranveer had said to the Paper Magazine that it was easy for him to be physically naked as earlier he had given his best performances. “It’s so easy for me to be physically naked, but in some of my performances, I’ve been damn f**king naked. You can see my f**king soul. How naked is that? That’s being actually naked. I can be naked in front of a thousand people, I don’t give a sh*t. It’s just that they get uncomfortable”, he had said.

In the midst of this, several renowned celebrities, including Kareena Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt, Vidya Balan, Janhvi Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, and Vaani Kapoor, spoke out in the actor’s defence.

ED says no proof of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s claim that all financial decisions regarding AJL were taken by Motilal Vora, to look at Hawala funding

OpIndia Staff
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ED says no proof of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s claim that all financial decisions regarding AJL were taken by Motilal Vora, to look at Hawala funding

An Enforcement Directorate source has revealed that during the probe, none of the Congress leaders who were called for questioning submitted any document to prove that all financial decisions related to the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Young Indian were taken by former Congress Treasurer Motilal Vora.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi blame late Motilal Vora for financial irregularities in AJL acquisition 

Notably, both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi had, during ED questioning, blamed now-deceased Congress leader Motilal Vora for alleged financial irregularities. Rahul Gandhi and his mother both had washed their hands off having any personal knowledge about the transactions which are being probed for money laundering. They told the ED officials that the former Congress Treasurer was responsible for all transactions related to the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Young Indian. AJL publishes National Herald, the party’s mouthpiece masquerading as a newspaper.

Reiterating that no meeting regarding the financial transactions related to the acquisition of AJL was held, the ED source said that had it been the case then why no minutes of the meeting were submitted by those who were called for questioning?

Notably, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Pawan Bansal, Suman Dubey, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been questioned in this case so far.

ED summons Kharge during Parliament Session, says had no choice

In response to a charge from the Congress that the Centre summoned Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition for the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, while Parliament was in session, an ED source said the agency was forced to make the call because he is the only employee of Young Indian Private Limited.

On Thursday, Congress had created a major hue and cry about the fact that Kharge was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) while he was attending the Parliament session. Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Thursday amid sloganeering by Congress members against the alleged misuse of the Enforcement Directorate by the government.

Asserting that the Congress won’t be intimidated by such summons, Kharge said, “I received ED summon, they called me at 12.30 pm. I want to abide by the law, but is it right for them to summon when Parliament is in session? Is it right for the Police to gherao residences of Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi?.. We won’t be scared, we’ll fight.”

ED seals Young India office, says Mallikarjun Kharge came and left without cooperating with the raid

It may be recalled that yesterday when ED officials sealed the Young India office, they said that Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had visited the building when ED officials were there, but he allegedly refused to cooperate and left the building. The action by the central investigation agency has been taken as a part of an ongoing money laundering investigation. 

ED unearths hawala link in the National Herald case

Notably, the action came a day after the ED conducted raids at 12 locations linked to Congress mouthpiece National Herald in connection with a money laundering case. During the raids, the probe agency recovered documentary evidence which reflects the hawala transactions from hawala operators of Mumbai and Kolkata.

Meanwhile, ED is not convinced by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s claim that all financial decisions regarding AJL and Young Indian were by Motilal Vohra and are re-examining the mother-son statements, after which it will decide on the future course of action.

Madhya Pradesh: Medical store owner Danish targets 13-year-old girl under fake Hindu name, blackmails and tries to convert

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Medical store owner Danish targets 13-year-old girl under fake Hindu name, blackmails and tries to convert

A 13-year-old girl student in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore has been harassed by a 19-year-old medical store owner Danish, as per reports. The accused person has been booked by police for molestation under the POCSO Act and anti-conversion law. This case of love jihad is from Budhi Barlai village under the Kshipra police station area, about 30 km from Indore.

The girl has alleged that the accused had approached her by identifying himself with a fake Hindu name and started blackmailing her by taking photographs with her. The girl has also alleged that attempts were being made to get her converted.

19-year-old Danish, who lives in the village Budhi Barlai, owns a medical store in the area. The minor girl had once come to buy some medicines from his store when Danish managed to obtain her phone number and started grooming her for a relationship.

Later, Danish started messaging the girl. While talking he started pressurizing the girl to get married. He had befriended the minor girl posing to be a Hindu. Eventually, Danish managed to come close to the girl and had obtained her private photographs, which he used to blackmail her further, as per reports.

As per the complaint, Danish had started calling the girl by a Muslim name and was trying to force her to get converted and marry him, due to which the girl was under severe mental stress.

When the girl finally narrated her ordeal to her family members, they contacted a local Hindu organisation and nabbed Danish at the meeting place where he had called the girl to meet. The police have registered a case against him under various sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code), POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence), and the anti-conversion act of Madhya Pradesh. SDPO of the Sanver police station Pankaj Dixit said that a case is booked against the youth for molestation and other charges under various sections.

Court orders YouTuber Gaurav Taneja to remove tweets mentioning Mint journalist Shephali Bhatt, rejects plea to gag legal news portals

OpIndia Staff
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Court orders YouTuber Gaurav Taneja to remove tweets mentioning Mint journalist Shephali Bhatt, rejects plea to gag legal news portals

On Friday, the Delhi High Court ordered YouTuber Gaurav Taneja to take down all the tweets and social media posts he made tagging the Mint reporter named Shephali Bhatt. The Court was hearing Bhatt’s application amid an already pending suit filed by Taneja against Hindustan Times Media Limited – which owns financial daily Mint. The Court disallowed permission to the YouTuber to tag the journalist or use the hashtag of her name in any of his future social media posts.

However, the Court said that Taneja may repost his earlier tweets without naming, tagging, or hash-tagging the Mint journalist Shephali Bhatt. The Court also asked him to turn off comments and retweet features for any of the social media posts that he makes amid his ongoing suit against the Hindustan Times.

As the Court issued the direction, Taneja’s attorney Raghav Awasthi requested that legal websites, Bar and Bench and Live Law, refrain from posting anything relating to the proceedings. Taneja’s attempt to censor legal websites from reporting about the case, however, was denied by the bench.

Awasthi noted that all the legal websites were tweeting on the case and that their comments section were also open, then why only Taneja was disallowed from tweeting on the case? “This is a violation of my freedom of speech. Let me allow them to post without naming and tagging her. If I am not allowed then there should be a similar order against legal websites also,” Awasthi said on behalf of Taneja.

The Court responded by saying, “They are not parties here and I cannot pass a gag order against the media… Tell me how will you ensure there is no abusive post? Will you take responsibility if there is any abusive post? You take a guarantee that there will be no abusive post and I will not pass any order against you”.

Meanwhile, Bhatt also stated that she was not seeking any gag order against the legal media websites. She informed the Court that after the court awarded Taneja relief, he tweeted about it, naming her tweets and tagging her in tweets and that she received a lot of abuse and threats since then. Counsel for the journalist indicated that there are tweets in which her client has been named and tagged, which has resulted in some of Taneja’s followers making abusive statements or tweets against her.

As a result, the court ordered that he refrain from identifying or tagging her in tweets. As the Court heard the case, Awasthi stated that Taneja will erase any tweet in which the journalist was identified and tagged, as well as refrain from any future posts naming or tagging her.

Amid the controversy, Taneja had yesterday posted a tweet in which he requested all his fans to stop using unsavoury language against Shephali Bhatt. “I took up this fight against unethical practices and my rights were protected by Delhi HC. But my culture also teaches me to respect a woman. Request everyone to refrain from using unsavory language against Shephali Bhatt. I have my faith in the Judiciary”, Taneja tweeted.

Screenshot from Twitter

The case filed by Taneja against the journalist revolves around an article written by Bhatt and published by Mint claiming that Taneja was a child abuser. Bhatt had written an article titled, “Shouldn’t brands stop supporting sordid influencers?” in which she had criticized the YouTuber and his wife Ritu Rathee for piercing their elder daughter’s ears.

Taneja in his daily vlog had included the scene in which Ritu pierced their daughter Rasbhari aka Rashi’s ears while the daughter was seen wailing in pain. The Court last week passed an order in favour of Taneja saying that piercing the ears of a girl child cannot be termed as child abuse. It also asked the media house to take down the article.

The court also had said that it was a matter of debate if the journalist’s freedom extends to people reaching into someone’s house and making comments on their family. However, calling someone a child abuser without any proof was offensive. Justice Mridul said, “You don’t like what the people say or do, criticize them but don’t reach into their houses. According to us, that is offensive. Whether journalist freedom extends to that, we don’t know at this time. This has to be decided.”

Rahul Gandhi insinuates his family is above law, says ED summons for him and his mother is an attack on democracy

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi insinuates his family is above law, says ED summons for him and his mother is an attack on democracy

A day after ED temporarily sealed Young India’s office located inside the National Herald building (Herald House) in Delhi, the Gandhi scion held a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital. While addressing the media, Rahul Gandhi, who is being probed in the National Herald money laundering case, launched a frontal attack on the BJP government claiming that India is “witnessing the death of democracy.”

The remark came as the mother-son duo has been facing ED action for their alleged involvement in a massive ‘cheating and breach of trust’ in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL). Assets worth crores of rupees had been allegedly transferred for purposes other than originally intended for a paltry sum.

Claiming that the Gandhis are more than just a family, he slammed the BJP government at the centre for coming after the Gandhis as they are ‘fighting for their ideology’. “Why do they attack the Gandhi family? They do it because we fight for an ideology & there are crores of people like us. We fight for democracy, for communal harmony and we have been doing this for years. It’s not just me who did that, it has been happening for years,” said the Gandhi scion attacking the BJP government for ‘destroying democracy.’

“My family sacrificed their lives. It’s our responsibility because we fight for this ideology. It hurts us when Hindus-Muslims are pitted against each other when Dalits are killed when a woman is thrashed. So, we fight. This isn’t just one family, this is an ideology,” said the Gandhi scion.

The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated the investigation of offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. The agency has initiated a probe against the Gandhis since it has found money trails in the National Herald-linked transactions, a newspaper owned by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi’s Young Indian Pvt Ltd.

The National Herald scam is one of the most notable legal cases in Indian history, as the Gandhis are directly accused. The Mother-Son duo of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, along with their aides – Oscar Fernandez, Motilal Vohra and Sam Pithroda are alleged to have been involved in massive ‘cheating and breach of trust’ in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL). Assets worth crores of rupees had been allegedly transferred for purposes other than originally intended for a paltry sum. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi got unconditional bail in December 2015.

Rahul Gandhi undoubtedly believes that his family is exempt from the law despite being linked to a multi-crore money laundering fraud, that’s probably why, the Congress prince sees any investigation into the ostensible ‘royal’ family as an “attack on democracy.”

It is notable here that Sonia and Rahul have received summons from the ED and have been called to answer their questions. It is not understood why the Congress prince considers himself above the law and instead of answering the ED’s questions, he is trying to insinuate that by merely asking them to appear before ED, the democratic process and values of the country are being violated.

Gandhi scion’s farce over communal harmony

However, the Gandhi scion did not end there. In an effort to criticise the BJP leadership, the Wayanad MP continued to claim that in Modi’s India Hindus-Muslims are being pitted against each other. So, essentially, what Rahul Gandhi does here, is that in order to portray himself and his party as flag bearers of ‘communal harmony’ completely undermine the vicious attacks that have happened on Hindus in recent days.

The leader of a party which voted for India’s partition on communal lines, the party that was in power for decades while the nation continued to see dozens of communal riots, including the Sikh genocide of 1984, trying to allege that ‘communal tension’ is the fault of the BJP, is rather laughable.

While Rahul Gandhi alleges ‘democracy in danger’ just because he and his mother have been inconvenienced by the ED summons, their party has been showing surprising haste when it comes to undermining democracy and freedom of expression. The long history of Congress governments silencing media and critics is testimony to that.

So, while the Congress prince is currently not in vacation mode and is in India for a change, he is probably trying to cash in on his presence to the maximum, by claiming false victimhood. However, he only manages to display his own smug entitlement, in trying to guilt trip the country for ‘not accepting’ the Gandhi family as their default leaders. The very idea that the Gandhi-Nehru descendants are somehow above the law and the country owes them gratitude, is one of the main reasons the family has been rejected by the public election after election.

‘Those changing their profile pics to Palestine and Ukraine raising questions over Tricolour display pics’: Cricketer Amit Mishra hits out at Tiranga detractors

OpIndia Staff
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‘Those changing their profile pics to Palestine and Ukraine raising questions over Tricolour display pics’: Cricketer Amit Mishra hits out at Tiranga detractors

Cricketer Amit Mishra, who has not shied away from expressing his opinions on social media, criticised Tiranga detractors on Friday saying that those who changed their profile pictures to Palestine and Ukraine are questioning the wisdom of changing their display pictures with Tricolour.

“Those who were changing their profile picture to Palestine and Ukraine are now asking what will happen if we change our display pictures to Tiranga,” Mishra tweeted while extending support to the Centre’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. “It’s our right and a way to show our love and respect for our Tiranga.”

Mishra’s tweet was directed to naysayers who attacked PM Modi for appealing to the masses to change their display pictures with the Tricolour as a mark of tribute to the country in its 75th independence year.

Even as they mock the Centre over the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, raising questions on what it will achieve, they have been at the vanguard of changing their display pictures and profile pictures in the past to extend their solidarity for Palestine or more recently, Ukraine, after Russia invaded it.

Mishra called out the hypocrisy of the detractors who have been protesting against changing their display pictures to Tiranga while having no reservations in doing the same when it came to the issue of Palestine or Ukraine.

Centre launches ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to celebrate the 75th year of India’s Independence

The central government launched ’Har Ghar Tiranga’ is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

“Our relationship with the flag has always been more formal and institutional than personal. Bringing the flag home collectively as a nation in the 75th year of independence thus becomes symbolic of not only an act of personal connection to the Tiranga but also an embodiment of our commitment to nation-building,” the Centre said while launching the campaign.

It said the idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to promote awareness about the Indian National Flag. PM Modi changed his display picture with Tiranga and urged fellow citizens to follow the suit and take part in the ’Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

China imposes sanction on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over her Taiwan visit

OpIndia Staff
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China imposes sanction on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over her Taiwan visit

Days after US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the Chinese government has decided to impose sanctions on her and her family. A Chinese ministry spokesperson said that the sanction is in response to her “vicious” and “provocative” actions.

“Despite China’s serious concerns and firm opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan, seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs, undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China policy, and threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement, reported Reuters.

However, the types of sanctions were not specified in the foreign ministry statement.

Earlier, the ministry had said that the Taiwan trip of Nancy Pelosi was a serious violation of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It was also said that the visit seriously violated the one-China principle.

It is notable that China or the People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan or the Republic of China as its territory.

Ending weeks of speculation, Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, and met several officials including Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Liberal darling ‘Amnesty International’ says Ukraine is putting civilians in harm’s way, faces ire from the Leftists

OpIndia Staff
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Liberal darling ‘Amnesty International’ says Ukraine is putting civilians in harm’s way, faces ire from the Leftists

On Thursday (August 4), Amnesty International stirred the hornet’s nest by accusing the Ukrainian army of violating humanitarian laws and turning civilian objects into military targets.

In a tweet, the international NGO stated, “Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapon systems in populated residential areas.” The archived version of the tweet can be accessed here.

Amnesty International also published a detailed article about how Ukraine’s military was jeopardising the lives of its civilians. Secretary General Agnès Callamard pointed out, “We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Amnesty International

In its article, Amnesty International allege that it has evidence of the Ukrainian military setting up their bases in civilian buildings in 19 towns and villages. It further added that strikes were launched by the Ukrainian forces toward Russia from densely populated residential areas.

“Most residential areas where soldiers located themselves were kilometres away from front lines. Viable alternatives were available that would not endanger civilians – such as military bases or densely wooded areas nearby, or other structures further away from residential areas,” the report emphasised.

Amnesty International outlined survivor testimonials to conclude that the Ukrainian military had been exposing civilians to retaliatory strikes from the Russian forces. It also pointed out how schools and hospitals were being used as military launchpads by Ukraine.

“International humanitarian law requires all parties to a conflict to avoid locating, to the maximum extent feasible, military objectives within or near densely populated areas. Other obligations to protect civilians from the effects of attacks include removing civilians from the vicinity of military objectives and giving effective warning of attacks that may affect the civilian population,” the report emphasised.

Left-liberals cry foul, slam Amnesty International

The tweet triggered a meltdown from the cabal of left liberals, who took to the micro-blogging platform to accuse the NGO of bias and false reporting.

One Colin Darrah wrote, “Probably one of the most utterly ridiculous statements I’ve ever seen from an NGO!! Who signed off this statement?? Ukraine is fighting with all its might for its sovereignty, independence and people. Shameful statement”

“So, you claim, that the Russian invasion doesn’t violate any international law? Can you tell me, how tasty Ukrainian blood is? I’m sure, you drink a lot of it with Russians,” asked one user.

One Jonathan Davies lamented, “I recently became a member to defend #HumanRights but seeing this post I am reconsidering that position. How can you condemn Ukraine when they are defending their nation from an aggressor who has constantly violated international laws and human rights.”

One left-liberal taught laws to Amnesty International by claiming, “Do some reading on what the law actually requires. It is for the invader to distinguish soldiers from civilians.”

“You are not evil, you’re just a dumb piece of crap,” wrote one left-liberal, calling for the immediate sacking of the individual who posted the tweet.

“Justifying Russia’s onslaught against Ukraine is about as far from your remit as it gets. Get your Russian apologists back in line,” wrote one Ian Gaston.

After being lambasted by the same cabal that has nurtured Amnesty International for all these years, the international NGO was quick to attack Russia to pacify the angry social media users.

In a tweet, it said, “Since Russia began its war against Ukraine we have been exposing violations of human rights & intl humanitarian law. From the devastation of Izium to the siege of Mariupol, shelling in Kyiv to displaced people in Lviv, Russia’s war is an act of aggression.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Amnesty International

The archived version of the tweet can be accessed here. Amnesty International even pinned the tweet on its profile in the hopes of undoing the damage it had caused through its article on Ukraine.

Delhi: Congress protests against inflation and unemployment; Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders detained

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Congress protests against inflation and unemployment; Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders detained

On 5th August 2022, the Congress party staged protests against inflation and unemployment in the country. Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge participated in these protests. The leaders wore black clothes to mark their dissent. Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi police for violating section 144 of CrPC.

During these protests, several Congress MPs observed a ‘dharna‘ at Vijay Chowk in Delhi. But the police stopped them at Vijay Chowk and several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained. The police did not allow Congress to hold the march. Section 144 is imposed in the area.

‘Police beat MPs’: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi alleged, “All the MPs were on their way to Rashtrapati Bhavan to raise the issue of price rise. But we’re not being allowed to go any further. Our job is to raise public issues. Some MPs have been detained. Some were also beaten.”

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla, however, said that it was Congress leaders themselves who insisted the police arrest them. He said, “We are trying to take out a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan. But the police stopped us. Police said section 144 was in force in the area. Protests are not allowed here. Congress MPs have demanded that they be arrested.”

P Chidambaram further went on to add the Agnipath Scheme to the list of reasons cited for the march by Congress. He said, “This protest is about price rise and Agnipath. Price rise affects everybody. As a political party and as elected representatives we are bound to voice the grievances the burdens and the fears of the people. This is what we are doing”

Interestingly, the banner held by Congress MPs in the march read that it is a march against price rise and GST. It did not mention unemployment or the Agnipath Scheme.

Protests in Delhi and other states

The Congress’ protests started from the Congress headquarters in Delhi. Congress has also sought time to meet the President but is yet to get an appointment. Congress MPs dressed in black took out a march from Parliament. Sonia Gandhi was also present during this time. Congress protests were also seen in various states including Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. Congress workers continued to protest on the road despite rain in Delhi.

Congress leaders, led by Priyanka Gandhi, were prepared to take out a march from the party office. In view of the Congress protests, a heavy police force was deployed outside the Congress headquarters. As soon as Priyanka Gandhi initiated the march, the police detained her from outside AICC HQ in Delhi where she had joined other leaders and workers of the party in the protest against unemployment and inflation.

Delhi police have denied permission for the march

The Delhi Police has written to Congress saying that section 144 is in force in the entire New Delhi area, except Jantar Mantar. In such a situation, protest cannot be allowed. If section 144 is violated, legal action will be taken. The DCP of the New Delhi area has written this letter to Congress leader KC Venugopal on August 4 and August 2, i.e. twice, along with this information. In a way, a warning has been given by the police. 

‘Congress is fighting against the entire infrastructure of India’: Rahul Gandhi after ED action in National Herald money laundering case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Congress is fighting against the entire infrastructure of India’: Rahul Gandhi after ED action in National Herald money laundering case

Facing ED action in his alleged role in a money laundering case related to National Herald, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a frontal attack against the centre, targeting it over democracy, unemployment, inflation and a host of other issues.

Significantly, the Congress party organised the press conference on Friday, two days after the Enforcement Directorate raided several locations linked to Congress mouthpiece National Herald in Delhi in connection with a money laundering case. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are prime accused in the National Herald case. The Mother-Son duo of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, along with their aides – Oscar Fernandez, Motilal Vohra and Sam Pithroda are alleged to have been involved in a massive ‘cheating and breach of trust’ in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL). Assets worth crores of rupees had been allegedly transferred for purposes other than originally intended for a paltry sum.

Here’s what the Congress leader spoke in his press conference held earlier today:

“Congress is fighting against the entire infrastructure of India”

Alleging that the Centre has taken over control of all the democratic institutions in the country, the Wayanad MP candidly admitted that his party is fighting the entire infrastructure of India. Gandhi said the Centre had deployed its people in various institutions and seized control of them.

In what appeared as an attempt to garner public sympathy over the Gandhi family’s alleged involvement in the National Herald money laundering case, Rahul Gandhi instead blamed the RSS for infiltrating every democratic institution in the country. 

“The opposition fights in a democracy banking on institutions-legal, judicial, electoral structure and media. All those institutions are supporting the government because the government has appointed its own people inside institutions. Every institution in the country is not independent. Every institution in the country is controlled by RSS. One RSS leader is sitting in every institution. We are not fighting against a political party, but the entire infrastructure of the country. When our government was there, the infrastructure would remain neutral. We wouldn’t control the infrastructure,” Gandhi claimed. 

“Today there is no democracy in India, there is dictatorship of four people”

For years now, Rahul Gandhi and Congress have made false allegations against the Centre that it is the government of a few businessmen and is working toward enriching them.

Despite being proven otherwise, time and again, Rahul Gandhi keeps trotting out the same tropes in the hope that they will stick in the subconscious minds of the poor and spawn an anti-Modi wave among the masses. Even though those efforts have run into the ground thus far, the Wayanad MP has not given up on them, especially when he has no better alternative to offer to the public. And he did exactly that during the press conference on Friday.

“The idea is that people’s issues whether they are price rise, unemployment, and violence in society must not be raised. That is the sole agenda of the government. The government is being run to protect the interest of 4 or 5 people. This dictatorship is being run in the interest of 2 or 3 big businesspeople by two people,” Gandhi said.

In the wake of the Enforcement Directorate tightening its noose around the Gandhi family over their alleged involvement in the National Herald money laundering case, Gandhi seemed inclined to use every arrow in his quiver to deflect the public attention from his family’s purported role in the case and paint them as the victim of government repression.

While Gandhi attacked the Centre over the “death of democracy”, he did not elaborate on the reasons why the Congress party is referred to as a “dynasty party” and why the party has failed to appoint a non-Gandhi as the president of the party for a long time now.

“I enjoy when opponents attack me”: Rahul Gandhi fails to answer specifics of the National Herald Case

Interestingly, Gandhi skirted questions when asked about the specifics of the National Herald money laundering case and instead slammed the government for the ED action against the accused in the cheating case. Claiming victimhood that more such attacks will continue against him and Sonia Gandhi, the Wayanad MP said, “I get great joy when my political opponents attack me.” The Gandhi scion termed the ED action against his family a systematic attempt as it represents an ideology. He also warned of “devastating consequences” owing to the alleged democracy decline in India.

“If you get the chance, go and talk to the ED officers who interrogated me. They will tell you what happened in that room,” he said while talking about the National Herald case. “Question all you want. There’s absolutely nothing there. Everyone knows it. My job is to resist the idea of RSS. I am going to do it.”

Gandhi further added, “They attack the Gandhi family because we fight for an ideology. There are crores of people in the country like us. We fight for democracy, and communal harmony and have been fighting for many years. I am not the only one who has been fighting. My family has laid down their lives.”

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