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Uttar Pradesh: Auto driver Rehmat Hasan abducts 2-year-old boy and performs circumcision, forcefully marries child’s mother and converts her to Islam

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Auto driver Rehmat Hasan abducts 2-year-old boy and performs circumcision, forcefully marries child’s mother and converts her to Islam

On Tuesday, 19 July, the Uttar Pradesh Police registered a complaint against an auto driver named Rahmat Hasan for forcefully converting a poor woman and her two-year-old child in Ghaziabad. Hasan posed himself as a Hindu and deceptively married the woman and converted her to Islam. He also circumcised the two-year-old boy and forcefully converted him to Islam, as per reports.

According to a Jagran report, the incident happened 10 months ago when accused Rehmat Hasan posed himself as Guddu to lure the woman and her child under the pretext of extending support. In the complaint, the woman who belongs to Nandagram said that she had married a man in the year 2018. She added that her marriage ended three years ago after her husband left her pregnant. The woman then shifted to her mother’s house where she delivered a baby boy.

Following frequent arguments with her sisters and mother, the woman and the toddler were forced to leave the house after which they kept on searching for shelter and money. The woman began begging for help and money. One day, while she was asking for money at the Mohan Nagar Chowk in Nandagram, Gaziabad, accused auto driver Rehman Hasan offered her help. He posed himself as Guddu and befriended the woman.

Later, Hasan under the pretext of extending emotional and financial support, Rehmat Hasan took the woman and her child and made them stay at his sister’s place, as per the complaint. He then took them to Puranpur, Pilibhit where the woman discovered that Hasan who had posed himself as Guddu was actually a Muslim. The woman stated in the complaint that immediately after she knew about his religious identity, the accused began to force her to marry him and convert to Islam.

The woman strongly refused the proposal after which Hasan abducted her two-year-old son and held the child hostage to intimidate the woman. He then got the two-year-old boy circumcised and forced the woman to marry him and convert to Islam. The woman agreed to marry out of fear for her child. After the marriage, Hasan returned to Gaziabad and left the woman and her son alone at Puranpur. The woman however managed to reach Gaziabad after which the three stayed together at Jhadpur.

A few days later, due to financial problems, the victim woman contacted her elder sister and started lived on rent in Nandgram itself with her son. The accused Rehman entered her home in Nandagram and again tried to abduct the two-year-old boy. He also took the woman and the child to Loni under the pretext of giving them gifts and clothes on the occasion of Eid and then abused, and assaulted them. The woman left Hasan and returned to Nandagram where she stayed alone with her child.

The incident was encountered by the Uttar Pradesh Police when Hasan was again found harassing the woman in Mohan Nagar Chowk in Nandagram. The matter was also paid attention by the Hindu Yuva Vahini who was contacted by the brother-in-law of the victim. Hindu Yuva Vahini District President Ayush Tyagi Kakra reached out to the victim on Sunday and also informed the police. He asked the victim to lodge an official complaint.

The Police then registered a complaint against the accused for physically assaulting the woman and forcefully converting her and her son to Islam. The complaint has been registered under the relevant sections of the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law. The accused has been arrested by the police and is being interrogated in the case.

Fact-check: Is the government charging 18% GST on Crematorium Services?

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-check: Is the government charging 18% GST on Crematorium Services?

On July 20, the Government of India clarified that the reports claiming the 18 per cent GST was announced on Crematorium Services were fake.

According to PIB Fact Check, a fact-checking initiative by Press Information Bureau said, the claims that there will be 18 per cent GST on Crematorium Services were misleading. PIB added that GST is not applicable to funeral, burial, Crematorium, or mortuary services. It is only applicable to the work contracts of the Crematorium, that is, the services related to the construction and maintenance of the Crematorium.

It is noteworthy that following the 47th GST Council meeting, it was announced that the GST applicable on works contracts for roads, bridges, railways, metro, effluent treatment plants, Crematoriums etc., was increased from 12 per cent to 18 per cent.

Some of the news portals and opposition leaders misinterpreted the announcement and projected as 18 per cent GST was announced on the Crematorium services.

Dr Dhimant Purohit, editor of newzviewz.com said, “18% GST on Crematorium Services.” He was quoted by PIB during fact check.

Tweet by Dhimant Purohit. Source: Twitter

National Media Coordinator of Congress Shailendra Choudhary questioned people what they thought about GST on Crematorium Services.

Tweet by Shailendra Choudhary. Source: Twitter

Deccan Herald’s journalist Rasheed Kappan said, “18% GST on Crematorium. As if people are dying to pay tax!”

Tweet by Rasheed Kappan. Source: Twitter

Telangana Today’s editor Shrinivas K Reddy quoted/RTed Ground Zero India and said, “In hospitals hereon, Patient who is saved, pays huge #GST for the #bed. Patient who dies, pays huge #GST for the #crematorium. No matter what, everyone has the burden of #ModiGovt.” Interestingly, he added a screenshot of the NDTV report that clearly mentioned “work contract for crematorium”.

Tweet by Shrinivas K Reddy. Source: Twitter

Former Chittapur MLA of Congress Priyank Kharge said, “BJP Govt won’t even allow you to die peacefully. 18% GST on Crematorium. Na ……… Na Marne Dunga.” He also added a screenshot of the Business Standard report clearly mentioning it was only applicable on work contracts.

Tweet by Priyank Kharge. Source: Twitter

Crematorium and other services exempted from GST

According to Section 7(4) of Schedule III of the GST Act 2017, Services of funeral, burial, crematorium or mortuary, including transportation of the deceased, are exempted from GST.

Source: Finance Ministry

Earlier, there was 12 per cent GST only on the work contracts of Crematorium that was increased to 18 per cent during the 47th GST Council meeting with the approval of the states’ representatives, including from the non-NDA/BJP rules states.

Verdict: The claims that GST of 18 per cent will be applicable on crematorium services are FALSE.

Punjab: Two gangsters involved in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala shot dead in a police encounter at Amritsar

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Two gangsters involved in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala shot dead in a police encounter at Amritsar

On July 20, two gangsters identified as Jagroop Singh Rupa and Manpreet Singh alias Mannu Kussa of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang were killed in an encounter by the anti-gangster task force of the Punjab Police at Bhakna village near Attari border, district Amritsar.

Rupa and Kussa were wanted in the murder of the controversial singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala who was killed on May 29 at Jawahar Ke village near his home in district Mansa this year. Bhagwanpuria allegedly provided two sharpshooters to the main accused, Lawrence Bishnoi, to kill Moosewala.

As per reports, these two were part of the Corolla module that had followed Moosewala in a Corolla car before killing him. During the encounter, three Police Personnel, identified as Sukhdev Singh, Surinderpal Singh and Baljinder Singh, sustained bullet injuries. A camera person from a media house was also reportedly injured. All injured were rushed to a private hospital. Their condition is stable, and the doctors have said they are out of danger.

As per reports, Mannu and Rupa were on the run since the murder of Moosewala. They had re-entered Punjab from Rajasthan and were spotted in CCTV footage that emerged on social media a few days ago. According to ADGP Parmod Ban, the Police got information about their movements in the border belt. Reports suggest that one of their aide Parmadalip Singh was arrested on July 18 in a robbery case. The information provided by him helped Police in tracking the duo. The Police were chasing them when they entered a secluded house in open fields. At around 10:30 AM, the encounter began after Police asked them to surrender, but they opened fire.

The Police cordoned off an area of around 1 KM around the house they were hiding in and instructed the villagers not to come out of their houses. Initially, Police retrained from launching a counter-attack, but the gangsters continued to fire. During the counter-firing, both the gangsters were shot dead. The Police recovered heavy ammunition, including an AK-47 and a pistol, from the spot. Two phones were also recovered, and the call details are being checked to see who aided them in the murder and when they were on the run.

During the investigation of Moosewala’s murder, the Police identified six shooters. Three of them, identified as Priyavrat Fauji, Kashish and Ankit Sirsa, were arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police. Only one accused, identified as Deepak Mundi, is still on the run. Mannu was the one who had used an AK-47. However, the Police have not revealed if the AK-47 they recovered was the same that was used to kill Moosewala or not.

A Police Officer told the Indian Express, “Manu and Rupa were in one car, and Manu fired the first burst at Moosewala. Four other shooters in the second module travelled in an SUV, including Priyavrat, Kashish, Ankit Sirsa and Deepak Mundi. The SUV followed the car, and shooters in both vehicles fired at Moosewala. Except for Mundi, the three shooters in the second module have been arrested by the Delhi Police.”

The house where the gangsters hid belongs to one Balwinder Singh Billa, who lives in Bhakna Kalan village with his family, and the house was secluded. The Police are also investigating if there was any connection between the gangsters and the house owner.

Madhya Pradesh: Islamists attack Bajrang Dal activist for supporting Nupur Sharma

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Islamists attack Bajrang Dal activist for supporting Nupur Sharma

On July 20, a Bajrang Dal activist identified as Ayush Jadam from Agar, Madhya Pradesh, was allegedly attacked by Islamists for supporting former spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nupur Sharma. As per reports, Ayush was travelling on Ujjain Road when a group of 10-12 people attacked him with sharp weapons.

In a statement, Ayush said that during the attack, the Islamists threatened to behead him for supporting Nupur Sharma. Ayush added that he suspected someone was following him for some days but did not pay much attention to it. “They surrounded me and attacked with sharp weapons. They were saying, ‘cut him into pieces’. I was lucky there was a group of people passing by, and the attackers ran away after seeing them.”

Ayush sustained a deep injury on his head and got seven stitches. He is currently lodged in Ujjain Civil hospital for treatment and reportedly out of danger.

The Police filed a case based on the complaint of one of Ayush’s friends. During the investigation, the Police identified two of the accused using CCTV footage and they have been arrested. Superintendent of Police (SP) Rakesh Sagar said additional Police Force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

The attacks on people for supporting Nupur Sharma

In June 2022, BJP’s spokesperson Nupur Sharma was suspended from the party for her comments on Prophet Mohammed. Though Sharma had issued an apology for the same, she continued to receive death and rape threats. Not only her, anyone who has come in her support is facing threats by the Islamists. A Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal was murdered in Udaipur, Rajasthan, for an alleged post in her favour. Another businessman Umesh Kohle was killed in Amravati for the same reason. Recently, a man from Pakistan was apprehended in Rajasthan who had crossed the border to kill Nupur Sharma.

Haryana: Truck driver Shabbir who had killed DSP Surender Singh Bishnoi arrested in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: Truck driver Shabbir who had killed DSP Surender Singh Bishnoi arrested in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district

On Wednesday, 20th July 2022, the Haryana police nabbed the primary accused, a truck driver who mowed down the DSP Surender Singh Bishnoi on Tuesday. The accused was apprehended at Gangora village, which falls within the control of the Pahari police station in the Bharatpur district.

Some media reports have stated that the name of the accused is Shabbir alias Mittar. His father’s name is Isak. As per a report in News 18, Shabbir had switched off his phone and had been changing his location constantly. More than 10 different police teams were deployed to track his location and find him. The Police had raided over 30 locations before finally nabbing Shabbir at Bharatpur’s Gangora village.

Because it was not possible to track him with technical help, the police relied on sources and informers to finally trace Shabbir. Shabbir and his accomplice Iqrar had brutally killed DSP Bishnoi by hitting him with their truck.

Iqrar, a cleaner on the dumper and a native of Panchgaon village, was detained by police earlier on Tuesday. In the Nuh district of Haryana, 59-year-old DSP Surender Singh Bishnoi was mowed down by a truck when he was probing into unlawful stone mining.

DSP Surender Singh Bishnoi was murdered when he had gone to the Aravalli hillsides in the Pachgaon region to prevent unauthorized mining. As per reports, Bishnoi was acting on inputs of illegal mining in the area. Upon reaching the site he signalled a truck carrying stones to slow down. However, instead of slowing down and stopping, the driver sped up and ran over him, killing him instantly. Bishnoi was set to retire later this year.

When police searched Mittar’s residence on Tuesday night, they discovered that it was locked and that every member of his family had fled. Meanwhile, merchants in Tauru town closed their shops in protest of the murder. Several organizations had also staged a march demanding that the culprits be arrested immediately.

Mohammed Zubair granted bail: What SC said on Alt News co-founder vis-à-vis SC judges’ remarks on Nupur Sharma

OpIndia Staff
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Mohammed Zubair granted bail: What SC said on Alt News co-founder vis-à-vis SC judges’ remarks on Nupur Sharma

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail relief to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in all six cases registered against him across Uttar Pradesh.

“There is no justification to keep the petitioner in continued detention especially since the gravamen of allegations in UP FIRs is similar to that in Delhi police FIR,” Justice DY Chandrachud noted while granting bail relief in all the cases filed against Zubair.

With respect to the quashing of the FIRs against Zubair, Justice Chandrachud said that the Delhi police FIR has offences of cognate nature which is similar to the UP police FIRs and therefore, it would be needed to club together all FIRs and hand them over to one investigating authority.

What Supreme Court said on FIRs against Alt News co-founder as compared to remarks by SC judges against Nupur Sharma

With the Supreme Court granting interim protection to Mohammed Zubair in all the FIRs filed against him, it is germane to compare the top court’s stand on FIRs against the Alt News co-founder with those made against Nupur Sharma, who continues to be at the receiving end of Islamists after Zubair dog whistled against her and accused her of insulting Prophet Muhammad.

While the Supreme Court admonished Nupur Sharma over her remarks, stating that her “loose tongue” was responsible for the current predicament in the country, the top court on Wednesday said it cannot stop Mohammed Zubair from tweeting.

Making scathing remarks against Nupur Sharma, the Supreme Court judges said her comments were aimed at causing provocation. But on Mohammed Zubair, the court said it could not anticipatorily curtail his right to free speech.

While rejecting Nupur Sharma’s petition to club multiple FIRs against her, all of which were similar in nature, the court said her plea smacked of “arrogance” and that the Magistrates of the country were too small for her. But in Zubair’s case, the Supreme Court said it is clubbing all the FIRs and transferring them to Delhi because they were of the “same nature”.

However, it is worth noting that there are different FIRs registered against Mohammed Zubair. The FIRs against Mohammed Zubair are for hate speech against saints, instigating riots, Hinduphobic tweets, defaming a news channel among other things.

The Supreme Court judges held Nupur Sharma single-handedly responsible for setting the country on fire. While on multiple cases against Mohammed Zubair, including the one for hurting religious sentiments with his disparaging tweets against Hindu gods, the top court said his continued detention is not justified.

The Supreme Court judges who rejected Nupur Sharma’s plea to club FIRs held her responsible even for the Udaipur killing, where a Hindu man was killed in broad daylight by Islamists for making a social media post in support of the former BJP spokesperson. But while granting Mohammed Zubair interim relief, the court observed there is no reason for deprivation of his liberty to persist.

On Nupur Sharma, the SC judges asked her to apologise on national TV while on Mohammed Zubair, the court said they cannot say that he will not tweet again. Nupur Sharma’s remarks, the judges observed, indicated her “obstinate arrogant character”. For Mohammed Zubair, the court said he will be answerable as per law.

In the light of bail granted to Alt News co-founder, several media professionals highlighted the top court’s reaction to Nupur Sharma vis-à-vis their stand on Mohammed Zubair’s arrest. But none put it as incisively and precisely as India Today journalist Shiv Aroor.

In his show on India Today, Aroor placed Supreme Court’s observations on FIRs against Nupur Sharma side by side with that made by the top court in Mohammed Zubair’s case.

FIRs against Mohammed Zubair and Nupur Sharma

Zubair was arrested by Delhi Police last month over a complaint filed by a social media user over his old tweets where he had insulted Hindu Gods and Goddesses. He was arrested under Section 153 which deals with wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots and 295A of the Indian Penal Code which entails deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage reli­gious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or reli­gious beliefs. Since then, multiple FIRs were filed against him in connection with different cases in various parts of Uttar Pradesh.

On the other hand, after being ceaselessly hounded by Islamists who bayed for her blood and called for her beheading, multiple FIRs were filed against Nupur Sharma in different parts of the country for her comments on Prophet Muhammad derived from authentic and reliable Islamic Hadiths. While filing the petition to club the FIRs, the Supreme Court judges reprimanded her and held her single-handedly responsible for setting the country on fire.

Karnataka: Speeding ambulance crashes at a toll plaza near Shiroor, four people including three in the vehicle killed

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Speeding ambulance crashes at a toll plaza near Shiroor, four people including three in the vehicle killed

A disturbing video has emerged from Karnataka’s Udupi, in which an ambulance lost control and crashed into a toll plaza. The accident took place on 20th July 2022 at around 4 pm at Shiroor tollgate near Kundapura. According to initial reports, four people including three in the ambulance and a worker at the toll plaza tragically died in this accident.

The frightening footage shows toll plaza workers making room for the ambulance by removing barriers from the road. However, the speeding vehicle rotates 180° rapidly sliding on the wet road, and hits a pillar forcefully, smashing the rear of the vehicle. In the CCTV footage, some individuals were also seen being thrown out of the ambulance when it crashed into the toll booth. A patient was being transported by ambulance to Honnavara.

According to a report by the Deccan Herald, the incident took place within the limits of the Byndoor police station in the Udupi district. A police sub-inspector in the Byndoor police station said that the ambulance carrying a patient from Honnavar to Udupi had seven persons onboard. The fast vehicle rammed into the toll booth as the toll gate staff were removing the plastic barriers that were obstructing the way. The wounded people were brought to the hospital.

According to the footage, the ambulance lost control due to aquaplaning. Aquaplaning, also known as hydroplaning, happens when a tire loses road contact on a wet road owing to excessive speed and becomes unresponsive to steering.

Love jihad in Jharkhand: Factory worker Shahzad Ansari pretends to be Ravindra to marry a Hindu woman, abandons her after she learns the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Love jihad in Jharkhand: Factory worker Shahzad Ansari pretends to be Ravindra to marry a Hindu woman, abandons her after she learns the truth

A case of love jihad recently appeared in Jharkhand in which a Muslim youth working as a labourer in a factory in Delhi lured a Hindu young woman from Azamgarh pretending to be a Hindu and married her. After eight years of this marriage, when the woman learned that her husband is a Muslim, the accused Muslim abandoned his wife who is now asking for justice.

Accused Muslim labourer Shahzad Ansari hails from the Kumba Khurd village of the Sagma block of the Gadhva district in Jharkhand. While working in a factory in Delhi, he met a girl who belonged to Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Shahzad Ansari pretended to be Ravindra and married her in a Hindu temple performing Hindu rituals.

After eight years of married life, when the woman visited her in-law’s home, she knew that her husband is a Muslim. After this, the Muslim youth thrashed her out of the home and abandoned her. Currently, the woman is helpless. She shared the incident with DCP Ramesh Gholap. Earlier she had also visited the Banshidhar Nagar women’s police station and asked the Superintendent of Police for justice.

Shahzad Ansari used to work as a laborer in a Crusher factory in Delhi. One of the relatives of the victim woman also worked there. Shahzad Ansari got the woman’s mobile number from that relative and started conversing with her on phone. Whenever the woman would come to visit her relative, Shahzad Ansari would also meet her. Their frequent meet-ups and conversations lasted for six months and then Shahzad Ansari married her as Ravindra with all the Hindu rituals in a Hindu temple.

A couple of days after the marriage, he brought the woman to his village, but the victim woman soon returned to her parental home. Shahzad also went back to his work and started living in a rented room nearby her home. For eight years, he lived there before coming back to his village home as the crusher factory shut down.

When the victim woman reached his home, she learnt that he is a Muslim. Shahzad Ansari then started beating and abusing her. Also, he did not give her any money to survive. In April 2022, the victim woman complained to the SP of Gadhva. Currently, she is living at the Gadhva railway station.

From ‘hijras harassing her’ to ‘shady Muslim maid doctoring her drinking water’, Tanushree Dutta makes shocking revelations on Instagram

OpIndia Staff
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From ‘hijras harassing her’ to ‘shady Muslim maid doctoring her drinking water’, Tanushree Dutta makes shocking revelations on Instagram

In the last few days, actress Tanushree Dutta took on Instagram to make some shocking revelations. In the most recent post that she published on July 19, Dutta alleged that she was being harassed and targeted.

She said her work in the film industry had been sabotaged for the last year. Above all, she alleged that a dubious Muslim maid was ‘planted’ at her place who doctored her drinking water with medications and steroids, resulting in health issues.

Recently, she was in Ujjain, where she allegedly went to escape from the harassment. However, on the way to Ujjain, she met with an accident. According to Dutta, someone tampered with the brakes of autos she travelled in, which led to the accident. She said, “I barely escaped death and returned to Mumbai after 40 days to resume normal life and work. Now strange, disgusting stuff in my building outside my flat.”

Dutta challenged those who were harassing her and said she would not commit suicide. “I’m here to stay & resurrect my public career to greater heights than ever before!” she added. Blaming the mafia in Bollywood, the political circuit of Maharashtra and anti-national elements, she said, “I’m very sure the #metoo culprits and the NGO who I exposed are behind all this because why else would I be targeted & harassed like this?”

Wishing for Presidential or Military rule in the state, she urged the central government to take control of the ground-level matters, which, according to her, were going out of hand.

Bollywood mafia trying to sabotage my acting career: Tanushree Dutta

A day before, she had talked about the Bollywood mafia trying to sabotage her film career. “I think some folks in Bollywood are just losing their marbles due to age and stuff and thereby going on a rampage trying to destroy lives and careers over slight provocations,” she said.

Dutta said though such people have money and power to do anything they want, “Karma is watching”. She urged those who were harassing her and actors like her to be a little graceful and let others thrive. “Don’t be such frigging monsters!” she said.

Actor lauds UP CM Yogi Adityanath for taking lead over population control, says she was targeted for religious conversion

In an earlier post, she talked about population control that UP CM Yogi Adityanath talked about. She said, “[I] believe that the government at the centre will take steps soon to make this a reality for safeguarding Hindu spirituality, which is severely under threat from forced conversions!”

Giving an example of her own life, she said though now she was a staunch Hindu, she had come face-to-face with people who tried to convert Hindus to other religions and give up Sanatan Dharma. She wrote, “One such item girl/ prostitute of Bollywood who was involved in a sex racket and prostitution ring many years ago and who also had an abetment to suicide case against her a few years back, bumped into me many years ago at Airport and tried her level best to convert me to Christianity. She cursed Hinduism and spoke badly.”

Dutta added when she refused to give heed to her attempts to convert, she took offence and tried to sabotage Dutta’s work. “She is a known ‘hijda’ or eunuch and hires fake husbands and boyfriends frequently to pretend to be a woman and remain in the news,” she added.

She said, “Her genitals are male and distorted according to contestants on a reality show a few years ago. I wonder how these men agree to make a mockery of themselves in media. This as*h*le has fake breasts but genitals of a man.” It is notable that in 2018 Rakhi Sawant accused Dutta of being a lesbian and raping her. Later Dutta sued Sawant for Rs 10 crores, after which Sawant issued an apology. However, it is unclear if Dutta was talking about Sawant or someone else.

Dutta wrote, “Years later during #metoo she/he took revenge in a very bad way by claiming to be in a live-in relationship with me and saying really weird things thereby questioning my feminity & calling me a drug addict amongst other horrendous lies. All because I did not convert. Recently another as*h*le, her friend, called up and tried to put me on a guilt trip for not going to church anymore and endorsing Hinduism.”

Tanushree Dutta alleges foul play in her accident, accuses shady ‘Muslim maid’ of doctoring her water

In an earlier post, she discussed about possible foul play that led to her accident. She alleged that prior to the accident, she had symptoms of steroid poisoning though she was not on any medication.

Talking about the shady maid who worked at her place, she said, “There was a new Muslim shady maid who had joined prior, and I suspect was mixing something in my water. I did my own investigation and found out details coz I don’t trust the Police anymore after what happened in #metoo in 2018.” She alleged that someone tampered with the brakes and clutch of the autos she travelled in Ujjain.

Colleagues and PR professionals may be involved in sabotaging my work: Dutta

She further said she has suspicions that a few of her work colleagues and PR professionals were involved in sabotaging her work projects. “They have been acting strange last 1.5 years,” she said. Everything I was doing or considering or getting into was being relayed somewhere to obstruct. And the media blinds & unsavoury articles etc. on a regular basis,” she added.

Comparing it with what had happened too late, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, she said, “SSR was being doused with steroids. Thus he was so incapacitated from being a healthy and active fit boy. All his symptoms are of this steroid called “Prednisone”, which has peculiar symptoms including clinical depression, anxiety attacks, deficiencies, water retention, excessive sleep and many more. Basically, it can wreak havoc on your life! It can be given orally mixed in water & is detected in tests only as cortisol that too only for 24 hr.”

Tanushree has been in the headlines because of the accusations she levels against actor Nana Patekar. In that case, the Police had found no concrete evidence that she was sexually abused. In the middle of the matter, Rakhi Sawant accused Dutta of raping her. At that time, Tanushree was a Jesus devotee and called upon Jesus to choose between her and Rakhi. She had also accused filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri of sexual harassment. Agnihotri had issued a legal notice against her. In one of her recent posts, she mentioned that all the defamation cases against her were dismissed.

‘Bollywood tends to undermine our culture and heritage’: Actor Nikhil Siddharth in exclusive interview ahead of release of Karthikeya 2

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‘Bollywood tends to undermine our culture and heritage’: Actor Nikhil Siddharth in exclusive interview ahead of release of Karthikeya 2

On Tuesday, the Hindi teaser of upcoming Telugu movie Karthikeya 2 was released in the ISKCON temple in Vrindavan. The unit of the movie, including lead actor Nikhil Siddharth and popular actor Srinivasa Reddy, visited the temple after they were invited by the temple’s management, and the teaser was played there in front of the crowd.

Directed by filmmaker Chandoo Mondeti, the mystery thriller film Karthikeya 2 is the sequel to 2014 film Karthikeya, and it will also be released in Hindi. Other than Nikhil, the movie has Anupama Parameswaran, Anupam Kher, Srinivasa Reddy, Viva Harsha, Aditya Menon and others. It is produced by TG Vishwa Prasad and Abhishek Agarwal.

The fact that a teaser of a commercial movie was released in a Hindu temple is not the only unique aspect of the mystical movie, it is also unique because it is perhaps the first mainstream movie based on a heritage site in India. While India is filled with heritage sites which are thousand of years old, hardly any movie has been made taking any such site as the main plot point.

Karthikeya 2 is based on the lost city of Dwarka, which was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. Director Chandoo Mondeti has said that the story of the movie revolves around the mysterious events that unfold in Dwarka.

Ahead of release of the movie, OpIndia talked exclusively to Nikhil Siddharth on the movie and many other topics. Here is a transcript of the interview.

OpIndia: In you upcoming movie ‘Karthikeya 2’, things seem to be related with submerged Dwarka. What was specific the reason behind picking this legend? What excited you about this?

Nikhil Siddharth: It is really shocking to see that some of our cultural heritage has been discarded as Myth & Fantasy, in spite of there being actual architectural Proof. Dwaraka and Rama Sethu exist for real and we need to respect their existence. I picked this theme since our Indian mythology/history has always excited me from when I was a kid. The stories of Rama, Shiva and Krishna Bhagwan have always fascinated me.

OpIndia: In real life, how do you relate yourself to Sri Krishna? Recently you visited ISKCON Temple and met Radha Raman Das. Please share your experience.

Nikhil Siddharth: Being from a Yadava Community, my family would always celebrate Krishnashtami  in a very big way as it was the main festival in our family. Meeting Radharam Das ji at ISKCON Vrindavan and the Positive Energy which comes from the temple premises made me fall in love with KrishnaTattva.

OpIndia: Any specific message for North Indians regarding ‘Karthikeya 2’? What would you like to say to convince them to watch the movie? Recently ‘RRR’, ‘KGF 2’ and ‘Pushpa’ became a big hit in Hindi belt, but they all were action movies, different from the unique genre that you have picked.

Nikhil Siddharth: I strongly believe in the concept of ONE INDIA and ONE FILMDOM… RRR, Pushpa and KGF were laced with action and even in Karthikeya 2 also we have exciting action blocks and stunning VFX which will enhance the viewing experience. However our Biggest USP is the story. A genre where we are talking about the mysteries and secrets of Lord Krishnas life which hasn’t been covered and who he actually was.

OpIndia: Do you really think Indian Film Industry, especially Bollywood lagged behind in exploring our ancient culture and archaeology? What reason do you feel behind not having enough movies on our historical and spiritual subjects?

Nikhil Siddharth: I myself have grown up watching Hindi films. Shah Rukh Khan was my Fav hero and I would imitate him in school and even daily life growing up. However, some of the films in recent times from Bollywood directors have veered more towards undermining our culture and hurting the sentiments of the nation. Which I think isn’t the right path to follow. But I still love watching mainstream Bollywood films and I totally enjoyed Bhool Bhulayya 2 and Kashmir Files in theatres.

OpIndia: Recently Mahesh babu said that Hindi Movie industry can’t afford him. But Allu Arjun said that once there is requirement, he will go all out. Whose views do you share? Or do you have anything different to say on working in a Bollywood movie?

Nikhil Siddharth: Mahesh Babu garu is a DemiGod and literally worshipped by fans. He passed a funny remark which was taken out of context… It’s always a dream of any actor to reach the maximum number of audience possible and I will go all out to make sure my films with the right message reach everyone. Like how with Karthikeya 2, I want the max number of audiences to experience this story of our Sanatan Dharma and Bhagwan Sri Krishna.

OpIndia: Producer of ‘Karthikeya 2’ is Abhishek Aggrawal. He is the one who produced ‘The Kashmir Files’, which became a smash hit at the box office. Have you watched the movie? What do you feel about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits?

Nikhil Siddharth:  Genocide Is a Shameful thing. Kashmir Files is one movie which boldly portrayed the ghastly incidents so that the Kashmiri Pandits finally receive justice and to create awareness so that such a horrible thing never happens again. I am Proud of my producer Abhishek Aggarwal Ji for having the guts and heart to make The Kashmir Files and I’m happy he has taken up Karthikeya 2 to show another suppressed issue of our Gods, National Heritage and Hindu Architectural Wonders.

OpIndia: Who are your favorite actors in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi cinema? Which are your favorite movies?

Nikhil Siddharth:  Tough to Answer but here goes: Telugu- Pawan Kalyan garu, Tamil- Vijay Sir, Malayalam- Mohan Lal sir, Kannada- Puneeth Raj Kumar, Hindi- Shah Rukh Khan Forever.

OpIndia: Recently, there were a controversy between Kiccha Sudeep and Ajay Devgn. While one said that Hindi is not out National language, another asked why they dub movies in Hindi then? What are your views on the language war? Which language do you feel can unite India?

Nikhil Siddharth: The Unique Beauty of our Country is the Unity in Diversity and several Vibrant Languages. No single language can ever be made the National Language but have to agree the fact that I learnt Hindi as my 1st language in school so that it is easier to communicate to a larger number of people. Similarly, every language has to be respected and preserved for the future generations.

OpIndia:  Can we know about your upcoming projects? Can you please share some details about the movies you are still shooting or in talks?

Nikhil Siddharth: I have 18 Pages with the prestigious Geetha Arts Production house. And an action extravaganza Spy being produced by ED Entertainments which is going to be a Multi-Language Film again.

OpIndia: PM Modi has many times tried to take our national heritages on the international level. Like he invited Chinese president in Mallpuram. Recently he inaugurated ‘Statue of Equality’ in Muchintal. How do you see his efforts? What are your views on Prime Minister?

Nikhil Siddharth: Modi Ji is an inspiration for everyone that even a simple man selling chai can become one of the most powerful persons in the World. His efforts to Make In India and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat are all amazing initiatives to make India the best. However, would be the happiest if the Govt would take up the issue of Preserving Rama Sethu and Dwaraka, and make them cultural wonders of the world attraction just like the Taj Mahal.

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