Home Blog Page 3041

Uttar Pradesh: After 27 persons in auto, 7 people caught riding a bike for eating ice cream, video viral

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: After 27 persons in auto, 7 people caught riding a bike for eating ice cream, video viral

The Uttar Pradesh Police was left stunned after it intercepted a man riding with six children on his two-wheeler bike in Uttar Pradesh’s Aurraiya district. The man was travelling on his two-wheeler bike and had made six children of different ages sit on it, two in front and four behind him on his bike. Neither the rider nor any of the children had helmets on.

The Police handed him a challan and warned him against repeating this mistake.

According to the reports, the man riding a motorbike with six children was intercepted by the police. When asked by the Police, the man said that he wanted to take the children to eat ice cream and that he had no other vehicle to incorporate all at a time. The man was not even wearing a helmet.

The Police handed him a challan and slammed him for putting the lives of children at risk. The officers also warned him to wear a helmet and asked him not to repeat the same mistake. Reports mention that the bike is registered in the name of Mobina Bano of Kanpur Dehat, as per a report by Bharat Samachar. The incident took place when the Police Officers were conducting a traffic awareness program in the Homeganj Bazar near Auraiya Kotwali.

A similar bizarre incident was reported yesterday when an autorickshaw in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur was found carrying 27 passengers in his vehicle. The autorickshaw typically seats six people, but when it was halted by the Police, at least 27 people, including elderly and young passengers, were crammed inside, in addition to the driver. The footage was captured by a bystander who shared it on social media to make it viral. The over-speeding autorickshaw was stopped near the Bindki Kotwali area of Fatehpur. The vehicle has been seized.

The RSS has faced a ban from the Indian govt on multiple occasions, and has emerged stronger each time: Read details

Pallav
-
0
The RSS has faced a ban from the Indian govt on multiple occasions, and has emerged stronger each time: Read details

With volunteers managing more than thirty organisations worldwide, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the largest voluntary organisation in the world. With just 15-20 young men and teens, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar established RSS in 1925 on the auspicious day of Vijayadashami.

Six months after its founding, the RSS adopted its current name. On April 17, 1926, Dr Hedgewar called a session at his house to which 26 Swayamsevaks came. The organisation’s name was chosen after a protracted discussion in which everyone contributed ideas. Before the name “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh” was chosen, several other names were put up.

The Sangh has frequently been characterised as a paramilitary group or as having political intentions by its political and intellectual foes. However, it has always been primarily a cultural organisation rather than a political one. By uniting the whole community and ensuring the continuation of Hindu Dharma, the Sangh seeks to lead the nation to grandeur. Its mission is to bring Bharat’s “Saravangeena Unnati” (overall development).

Even though there were several attempts, governments failed to quell the RSS’ sheer grit and determination in attaining its objectives. The RSS has been outlawed three times in the last 97 years: in 1948, 1975, and 1992. The organisation was outlawed in 1948 following the assassination of MK Gandhi, in 1975 during the Emergency, and in 1992 following the demolition of the illegal Babri structure in Ayodhya. It was on July 12, 1949, that the first ban on RSS was lifted after a span of 16 months.

RSS was declared unlawful in 1948

The Sangh was subjected to its first ban following Nathuram Godse’s shooting of MK Gandhi, which lasted from February 1948 until July 1949. MK Gandhi was shot by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948. Godse was once associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). MS Golwalkar, the then chief of the RSS, was jailed after Gandhi was killed, and the organization was declared illegal on February 4, 1948.

The RSS was declared unlawful by the government alleging that its members participated in violent acts, gathered illegal weapons, and incited others to violence, all of which went against the RSS’s stated goals and objectives. Golwalkar halted the RSS’s operations while dismissing the accusations and abiding by the law. He was freed six months later but interned in Nagpur.

Golwalkar wrote to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on August 11 and offered to cooperate with the government despite the “hasty and unbalanced action” RSS had received from individuals in positions of authority. Nehru was wise to submit Golwalkar’s letter to Sardar Patel for a response because Patel had warned “those in power in the Congress” against attempts to “crush” the nationalistic RSS in a speech he had given in Lucknow just before MK Gandhi’s death.

In his response to Golwalkar, Patel recalled his warm regard for the RSS and praised the young RSS volunteers who protected women and children and served society. In addition, he condemned them for encouraging “communalism”, which took MK Gandhi’s life, and for “burning vengeance” towards Muslims in order to exact revenge for “the sufferings of the innocent” Hindus. Nonetheless, Patel recommended RSS continue its “patriotic endeavour by joining and not opposing the Congress.” Surprisingly, Golwalkar did not receive this letter.

Golwalkar wrote to Patel and Nehru once more on September 24, 1948, pleading for the allegations and ban to be withdrawn since extensive nationwide searches and investigations had turned up no proof that the RSS was guilty. By way of RS Shukla (Premier, Central Provinces, and Berar), Patel responded on September 26 and forwarded his initial letter—which had not reached Golwalkar. Patel said that the ban has unanimous approval across all provinces, so “there must surely be some basis for it.” The RSS was urged by him to follow “the rules of the Congress.”

Golwalkar received a letter from a Prime Minister’s Office on September 27 stating that the Home Ministry had the discretion to revoke or extend the ban but that there was “a great deal of evidence” and that Golwalkar had already received a “note” from the U.P. government regarding “the evidence.” Golwalkar became upset on November 3 and vehemently denied receiving any “note,” daring the government to produce the crucial proof and punish the RSS. No evidence was presented in response to Golwalkar’s open challenge.

On November 13, the Home Secretary declined to revoke the ban, instead ordering Golwalkar to return to Nagpur. Golwalkar raged, claiming that such “arbitrary acts are fit with autocratic rule” and not in “a civilised state.” Refusing to leave Delhi, he asked Swayamsevaks that the suspended Shakas be restarted. Golwalkar was then arrested. Following his incarceration, the RSS launched a satyagraha on December 9.

According to S Gurumurthy, At that time, TR Venkatrama Shastri, the then president of the Servants of India Society and a former advocate general of Madras, intervened. In a meeting with Sardar Patel, he urged the latter to lift the embargo. As opposed to either “join the Congress” or “adopt the Congress rules,” the new argument in the ongoing talks was that the RSS functioned surreptitiously because it lacked a written constitution. The RSS constitution was then written and presented by Shastri. However, the negotiations failed.

On July 9, 1949, the government again refused to lift the ban, citing “fundamental differences.” Shastri then made the decision to make public the specifics of the important issues raised, one about the RSS chief’s authority to choose his successor and the other regarding minors in the organisation. Shastri further maintained that extending the ban was impossible because the charges against the RSS had been revealed to be false in certain instances and the allegations of their involvement in Gandhiji’s killing had been disproven.

The government was unable to present any compelling evidence against the RSS and because of this, the administration was gradually losing ground in this case. On July 12, 1949, the government finally decided to overturn the ban on RSS. Furthermore, the ban was lifted unconditionally. On September 14, 1949, in a written statement to the Bombay Legislative Assembly (Proceedings p2126), Home Minister Morarji Desai acknowledged that the ban on RSS was no longer regarded as essential; it was withdrawn unconditionally, and the RSS offered no undertaking.

RSS banned during the Emergency

During the Emergency (1975-77), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was outlawed for the second time. When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in the country on the night of June 25, 1975, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was one of the first organisations to be outlawed.

On July 4, 1975, the central government outlawed the RSS. Balasaheb Deoras, the RSS Sarsanghchalak, was arrested on June 30, 1975, at Nagpur railway station. Deoras was imprisoned at the Yerwada Prison near Pune. A number of key RSS officials, as well as thousands of Swayamsevaks, were also detained.

Nevertheless, the RSS was leading the fight against the Emergency on behalf of civil society with its thousands of Karyakartas, Swayamsevaks, and Pracharaks.

Deoras, who spearheaded this fight even while incarcerated, wrote twice to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He expressed his strong opposition to the defamation effort launched against the RSS under Gandhi’s direction in both letters. In his first letter, dated August 12, 1975, Deoras responded in-depth to the accusations brought against the RSS and made it quite obvious that the RSS would not submit to state coercion.

The RSS head wrote a second letter on November 10, 1975, asking Indira Gandhi to lift the organization’s ban so that its Swayamsevaks may start their organisational work, which would be extremely beneficial for the country. In 1977, the Emergency was declared to be over, and as a result, the RSS was no longer prohibited.

Ban on RSS after the demolition of the disputed Babri structure

On December 6, 1992, the RSS was banned for the third time, following the demolition of the disputed Babri structure in Ayodhya. The ban was withdrawn within 6 months and the RSS was cleared of all the fraudulent allegations levelled against it by the government, and it emerged considerably stronger.

Although the Sangh started as an organisation, its ultimate objective is for everyone and every traditional social institution—including family, community, profession, educational, and religious institutions—to be assimilated into its system. The Sangh’s goal is to organise Hindu society so that all of its institutions and people function harmoniously and co-operatively as a whole.

National Emblem on new parliament building: Dear ‘Liberals’, lions do have long, sharp teeth, whether you want to see them or not

Anurag
-
0
National Emblem on new parliament building: Dear ‘Liberals’, lions do have long, sharp teeth, whether you want to see them or not

On July 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the New Parliament Building. The majestic 6.5 meters tall cast of the National Emblem is made of bronze and weighs around 9,500 KG. Located on the top of the Central Foyer of the New Parliament Building, the statue has a supporting structure that weighs around 6,500 KG.

As per the official statement, the concept sketch and process of casting the National Emblem went through eight different stages of preparation, from clay modelling and computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing.

Congressis and ‘Liberals’ find issues with of the ‘roar,’ ‘canine teeth,’ and ‘angry face’

As soon as the reports of the unveiling of the cast were made on social media, the usual suspects saw a great opportunity to criticize the cast for unrealistic reasons. Aandolanjeevi and Advocate Prashant Bhushan said the lion’s faces on the emblem had been changed from peaceful to angry. He said, “From Gandhi to Godse; From our national emblem with lions sitting majestically & peacefully; to the new national emblem unveiled for the top of the new Parliament building under construction at Central Vista; Angry lions with bared fangs. This is Modi’s new India!”

Source: Twitter

Congress leader Srinivas BV also pointed out the alleged change as if he is not aware that lions possess teeth and they do roar. He published two photographs of National Emblem where the lions were ‘not roarring’ in the first one but roaring in the second. He said, “What has been changed in the country since 1950 is visible in seeing old and new Ashoka Stambha.”

Source: Twitter

Actor and alleged activist Mona Ambegaonkar declared, “Changing the National Emblem is Treason.”

Source: Twitter

Congress worker Sanjay Bafna said, “Modi, It’s for you. Lion of Ashoka Pillar is not dreadful; it is calm… The new Parliament building Lion is furious… This is an insult to the Constitution and the national emblem.”

Source: Twitter

The National Emblem

The National Emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of King Ashoka at Sarnath. The original Ashoka Stambha has four lions mounted back to back on a circular abacus. It rests on a bell-shaped lotus. It contains sculptures of an elephant, a horse, a bull, and a lion separated by Dharma Chakras. You can only see three lions mounted on the abacus with a Dharma Chakra in the centre, a bull on the right, and a horse on the left.

Source: kevinstandagephotography

This profile of the Lion Capital was adopted as the National Emblem of India on January 26, 1950. The bell-shaped lotus was omitted from the Ashok Stambha in the official adaptation as National Emblem. It also contains the motto Satyameva Jayate written in Devanagari script below the profile of the Lion Capital, which means ‘Truth Alone Triumphs.’

Why are liberals wrong?

The liberals are claiming that the Government of India has ‘changed’ the National Emblem and made it look angry and furious with visible’ fangs’. They also published photographs of a National Emblem statue that has a ‘calmer’ face and no teeth visible. However, when we see the original Lion Capital from Sarnath that was made over 2,300 years ago, it is notable that the mouths of the lions are open, and the teeth are clearly visible.

So if the real Ashok Stambha or the Lion Capital is very much similar to the cast of the National Emblem unveiled by PM Modi, how are liberals claiming that the National Emblem has ‘calmer-looking’ lions that too with images? The photograph they are sharing is of the National Emblem from the top of the Vidhan Sabha building in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The National Emblem statue of Vishan Sabha, Bengaluru, is very much different from the Lion Capital that was adapted as National Emblem in 1950. The real National Emblem has lions with open mouths, and teeth are clearly visible, which is not the case with the Bengaluru Vidhan Sabha building’s National Emblem.

Lions are fierce, they have teeth and they roar, whether you or I like it or not

The liberals are complaining that the lions of the National Emblem cast on the new parliament building look fierce. Also, they are “shocked” to see “fangs” visible in the photographs. First of all, the lion is a carnivorous animal. It is fierce and aggressive when it needs to be. You cannot expect it to be ‘calm’ just because you are scared of the majestic roar. Secondly, it is a huge cast. Prime Minister Modi is hardly as tall as the base of the emblem, and the photograph was clicked from a lower angle, making the open mouth and teeth more prominent.

If you stand under a lion with an open mouth and click its photograph, you are going to see the teeth. You cannot expect it not to scare you with its roar or aggressive looks. If you click the same lion from the front when it is looking down, the teeth will not be visible. It is just the perspective of the camera that you were able to see and focus on the teeth.

Lions do need their teeth, they need to hunt. It is the normal, natural state of a lion to possess long sharp teeth and roar. It is absolutely moronic to pretend that lions need to be toothless to appear ‘calm’ because some ‘liberal’ sensibilities get hurt by the sight of a roaring lion.

Liberals and their hate for the Central Vista project

The liberals have spoken against the Central Vista project in length. They have tried to halt the construction, and they tried to do it “legally” using the judiciary, but they failed miserably. The main parliament building will be complete soon. The other buildings that will house the offices of the ministries are also being constructed, which will save hundreds of crores in rent every year. Instead of lauding the idea of saving public money, they are consistently trying to find faults in the project.

Sri Lanka crisis: Liberals scream about ‘majoritarianism’ to avoid talking about dynastic loot, cronyism, rent-seeking

Ganesh R
-
0
Sri Lanka crisis: Liberals scream about ‘majoritarianism’ to avoid talking about dynastic loot, cronyism, rent-seeking

Dear palazzo serfs, is “dynastic dacoity” a banned word in your lexicon?

I know you are unanimous that “majoritarianism” caused the Sri Lanka crisis. Many of us are scratching our heads trying to find out what “majoritarianism” you are talking about.

It is weird that so many of you ‘fearless and independent’ folks that call yourself economists, journalists and academicians are blaming the exact same thing – majoritarianism. As if you were all given a script you were asked to read out from! I know if I use the word toolkit, I will be tarred as Sanghi, WhatsApp graduate etc. Or should I borrow a phrase from your erudite and scholarly friend Tharoor saheb, and ask how come your noses appear to be the same shade of brown?

If that word refers to ethnic majoritarianism, the Lankan Tamil issue, and the ill-treatment of the Tamil minority, that’s not just old news, it cuts across party lines in the Sinhalese South. And goes back to the 1950s if not earlier. Strange that the economy took this long to implode. After all, Lanka’s ethnic problem has been so intractable, that even our born genius Rajiv Gandhi was not able to solve it and ended up…well, you know.

Perhaps you are talking about religious majoritarianism? As far as I know, some, if not all, of the ruling Rajapakse family, headed now by Percy Mahendra Rajapakse, son of Don Alwin Rajapakse, brother of Basil are Christians although they are somewhat ambiguous about their faith and often show up at temples etc. Does that remind you of something or someone in India? In any case, that makes a poor case for religious majoritarianism. Because Christians are a minority too in SL.

If that refers to just the party that the Rajapakse’s represents, I read on TV that the house of PM Ranil Wickramasinghe, who belongs to the opposition, too has been burnt and destroyed. I know some of you wish India suffers Lanka’s fate, but I hope this is not what you have in mind!

As someone quipped, you guys are quite ok with minorityism, especially of the kind that saw UT & his son come to power with the real winners of the election. 

Two plus two is FOUR

I often like to quote Blackadder TV serial because, as I said before, it is an endless reservoir of wit and humour. In one episode, Atkinson is trying to teach his dogsbody (Baldrick) mathematics. You watch this super funny clip here.  

For the impatient, it goes like this (highlights) – 

Blackadder: This is called adding. If I have two beans and then I add two more beans, what do I have

Baldrick:  Some beans

Blackadder: Lets’ do it again..if I have two beans…(repeats)

Baldrick: A very small casserole

Blackadder: Baldrick, the ape creatures of Indus have mastered it! Now try again, One, two, three, FOUR! How many are there?

Baldrick: Three! And ‘that one’!

Blackadder: If I add ‘that one’ to the three, what will I have?

Baldrick: Some beans!

You get the drift? Sorry I was reminded of this when I see your tweets and statements.

You are coming out with all sorts of answer to the Lanka crisis other than the one that stares in your face – dynastic loot, cronyism and rent-seeking. 

Well, there is another, that we all know but that it does not suit the agendas of “amadher Chairman” so his coolies in India that call themselves intellectuals won’t mention it. After all, if they can take the side of their ideological fatherland on matters that directly concern India such as the supply of nukes to Pakistan and the 1962 war, why should they even bother to offend China for something that concerns another country?! 

They too have happily jumped on the ‘majoritarianism’ bandwagon knowing it keeps the GHQ happy and on top of that gets extra licking rights at the palazzo and the perks that go with it.

Did you recall any of our genius economists, promoting dynastic politics and enabling their loot from afar in USA, tell you having four or five members of one family in the cabinet is a disease in of itself? Or are they too busy thinking up what can we say after “she has her grandmothers’ nose”?

Do you recall any leftist intellectual or media elite write articles on how many developing countries have been kept poor by corrupt families that keep their wealth overseas and often openly flaunt it in trips?

Why is that? Why this omerta? Why this tiptoeing around the most significant cause? Is it not even worth a mention? Are you complete idiots like Baldrick?  

I don’t think so, some of you want to become Professors at Harvard. Unless you tell me, Harvard is hiring idiots.

That leaves me with only one answer – you are worried people of this country will come to the same conclusion – that they have been taken for a ride by dynasts. A conclusion you don’t want them to reach. Is it because it has serious implications for your own careers, cushy lives and cash flow?

But I have news for you – Majority of Indians reached that conclusion in 2014 and reaffirmed that in 2019. I hope I live to see it reaffirmed yet again in 2024.

Intruder Hafizul, who barged into the house of Mamata Banerjee, has Bangladeshi links: Here is what the SIT found

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Intruder Hafizul, who barged into the house of Mamata Banerjee, has Bangladeshi links: Here is what the SIT found

Days after an intruder barged into the residence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it has come to light that the accused has links to Bangladesh.

As per reports, the intruder was identified as 31-year-old Hafizul Molla. A resident of Hasnabad in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, Hafizul was apprehended after he enter the Kalighat residence on July 3 this year.

Despite the deployment of heavy security, the accused managed to remain unnoticed at her house for over 7 hours. During that time, Hafizul was armed with an iron rod that he kept concealed in his shirt.

A total of 11 SIM cards, which were used to make phone calls to Jharkhand, Bihar and Bangladesh, were recovered from him. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the security breach.

The SIT found that Hafizul Molla had recced the residence of Mamata Banerjee on 7-8 occasions since March this year. He had also captured images of the house and its precincts.

The cops have informed that CCTV footage from the past 4 months showed Hafizul in the vicinity of the Chief Minister’s residence. Reportedly, he even lured children in the neighbourhood with toffees, cold drinks and chocolates to collect information about Mamata Banerjee.

Accused had visited Bangladesh illegally via boat

It has also come to light that the accused had visited Bangladesh illegally during last year’s Durga Puja. He had boarded a boat, which took him to the other side of the Ichhamati river. It remains unknown as to whom he met during his trip to the bordering nation.

A car driver by occupation, Hafizul Molla has reportedly been jobless since the imposition of the Covid-19 lockdown. He was also involved in a case of theft in his native village of Hasnabad but Salishi Sabha (village court) let him off the hook.

On Monday (July 11), the accused’s police remand was extended by an additional 7 days.

Father of Hafizul Molla cries foul, alleges insanity

A senior officer remarked, “We submitted before court that there had been substantive development in the probe and that the investigation was still progressing. We provided every detail in the case diary. Accordingly, the accused was sent to police custody again.

In his defence, the father of Hafizul Molla alleged that his son is not mentally stable. “Hafizul had gone to Nabanna (State Secretariat) once. He was told that he could not go there without prior authorisation. But, my son did not listen. He used force and was taken away by police,” he said.

Hafizul’s father claimed that his son was undergoing treatment, image via Zee 24 Ghanta

“The cops had called me then. I told them that Hafizul is not mentally fit. I recently got to know that he went to the residence of the Chief Minister…Ever since he developed mental issues, I have been unable to keep him home. Hafizul keeps on roaming here and there.”

Hafizul’s father addressed the media persons and claimed that his son wanted to marry Mamata Banerjee. “My son wanted to marry the CM. You guys tell me, is it even possible? But how will convince that retard (referring to Hafizul)?” he asked.

Bangladeshi criminal Faisal Ahmed arrested from India for the murder of Hindu blogger

The Indian law enforcement authorities made a major breakthrough on July 1 this year after they apprehended the murderer of Hindu blogger Ananta Vijay Das.

Identified as Faisal Ahmed, he has been on the run from the law enforcement authorities since 2015. Following his arrest from the Bommanhalli area in Bengaluru, he was taken to Kolkata on July 3.

The arrest was made by the Kolkata police, which also obtained information about his radical activities in the country. While speaking about the development, Bangladesh Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) DIG Moniruzzaman conceded that the authorities had information that Faisal was residing illegally in India.

He stated that the Indian law enforcement authorities were apprised about the matter and necessary documents were provided to confirm his identity, prior to Faisal’s arrest.

Reportedly, the Bangladeshi authorities provided Faisal’s mobile number to the Kolkata police. Using call records, it was found that he was staying in Bengaluru.

Once a medical student, Faisal was at the forefront of spreading jihadist ideology under the pretext of teaching in madrassas. He has also been involved with Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), affiliated with Islamist terror outfit Al-Qaeda.

During interrogation, it came to light that he was at the helm of organising the Al-Qaeda module in the Barak Valley of Assam. He admitted to fleeing to Silchar from Bangladesh in 2015 and making a fake voter ID card by the name of Shahid Majumdar.

He also acquired a passport, where his house address has been traced to Mizoram. Faisal was also successful in procuring a driver’s licence from Bengaluru.

Subramanian Swamy, Congress leader Udit Raj spread canard that India has slipped to 164th rank from position of 3rd-largest economy, PIB debunks the fake claim

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Subramanian Swamy, Congress leader Udit Raj spread canard that India has slipped to 164th rank from position of 3rd-largest economy, PIB debunks the fake claim

Senior politicians like Congress leader Dr. Udit Raj and former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, in a desperate attempt to target Narendra Modi-led government, used Twitter to spread false information regarding India’s position in the world’s fastest-growing economy index in 2021. As the fake claims went viral, Press Information Bureau (PIB) had to post a tweet debunking the obvious fake claim.

In his Tweet posted on July 12, the Congress leader Udit Raj claimed in Hindi that India, which was at number 3 during the Congress regime has slipped to the 164th rank in the 2021 global list of the fastest-growing nations under BJP rule. He further added that the Modi administration is making every effort to make sure that India reaches that 193rd position on the global index so that it tops from the bottom.

Disgruntled BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, also peddled the same misinformation on July 11. Taking a dig at the Modi government, Swamy tweeted an image that said: “India is now 164th fastest growing nation in the world, among 193 countries.”

“From 3rd largest economy in 2011 to 164th in 2021,” the image said.

A social media account named Inquilab India, which appears to be strongly anti-BJP and anti-Modi based on its posts shared on its various social media accounts, was the first to share the image with the false assertions. The image that bears the logo was probably shared by the social media user on or before June 9. It has most likely been deleted now.

Another Facebook user named Subhash Naik had also shared the same image on June 9.

The image shared by social media user Inquilab India

The politicians, in their hate for PM Modi, saw it as a perfect opportunity to attack the Modi administration. They promptly dug up the image bearing the false information and used it to mislead their followers against the central government and denigrate India.

However, as soon as these politicians disseminated the misleading information, PIB fact-checked the leaders and exposed their flagrant lies.

PIB fact check rubbishes the claim made by Congress leader Udit Raj, and Subramanian Swamy

Following the Tweets, Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking arm discredited the claims made by senior politicians like Udit Raj and Subramanian Swamy. Sharing the image posted by the social media user Inquilab India, the PIB fact-check exposed the fake news Udit Raj and Swamy was trying to peddle in order to malign the Modi administration.

In a tweet, PIB Fact Check called the claim fake. It confirmed that India is still the 3rd largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).

Countering Subramanian Swamy’s fake assertions, social media user @Rose_k01 also shared screenshots of a 2022 report that explained how India is still the 3rd largest economy in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

Notably, as per the World Bank data for the reference year 2017, India has retained its position as the third-largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). India accounts for 6.7 per cent, or $8,051 billion, out of the world’s total of $119,547 billion of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in terms of PPP, a measure of relative consumer prices across countries.

Also, the Price Level Index (PLI), the ratio of a PPP to its corresponding market exchange rate, which is used to compare the price levels of economies, improved to 47.55 in 2017 during the Modi regime from 42.99 in 2011, when the UPA was in power.

In 2020, a release by the National Statistical Office (NSO) stated, “In 2017, India retained and consolidated its global position, as the third-largest economy, accounted for 6.7 per cent ($8,051 billion out of world total of $119,547 billion) of global GDP in terms of PPPs as against China (16.4 per cent) and the US (16.3 per cent), respectively.

“India is also the third-largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in global actual individual consumption and global gross capital formation,” said the release of the National Statistical Office (NSO).”

The NSO had quoted the World Bank which had released new PPPs for the reference year 2017, under the International Comparison Program (ICP), that adjusted for differences in the cost of living across economies of the world. Globally, 176 economies participated in the 2017 cycle of ICP.

The Uber Files: How Uber tried to blame local officials in India after the rape in an Uber cab in Delhi in 2014, stonewalled investigations

OpIndia Staff
-
0
The Uber Files: How Uber tried to blame local officials in India after the rape in an Uber cab in Delhi in 2014, stonewalled investigations

The Uber Files, comprising over 124,000 records, including 83,000 emails spanning 2013 to 2017, and several other conversations, have revealed how the American service provider lobbied with top government officials and tried to avoid getting caught by the police. The documents were leaked to the British newspaper The Guardian and also shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and several other media organisations.

Among the huge pile of documents, is also Uber’s reaction to a 27 years old woman passenger’s rape in Delhi by one of its drivers in December 2014. The woman working for a finance company in Gurgaon was headed back to her Inderlok home in Delhi in an Uber when she was raped by the Uber driver around 9:30 PM. The latest data leak shows how Uber tried to pin the blame for the rape on local authorities and tried to absolve them of all responsibilities.

As per an Indian Express report, Uber took two approaches after the Delhi rape case, firstly it blamed the “flawed’’ Indian system of Background Checks of drivers for the rape, and secondly it tried to do damage control to avoid a reputational fallout in other global markets.

Jordan Condo, Uber’s Head of Public Policy in Asia, tried to blame the whole incident on a “pandemic of violence against women in India”, as he wrote to the company’s top hierarchy, “It is important that we show compassion and express our willingness to develop a longer term solution to stop this pandemic of violence against women in India.”

Indian Express report further reveals that the internal communication within Uber at the time was focused on pushing the blame on the local Indian authorities.

Mark MacGann, Uber’s Head of Public Policy for Europe and the Middle East at the time, wrote on December 8, “We’re in crisis talks right now and the media is blazing…The Indian driver was indeed licensed, and the weakness/flaw appears to be in the local licensing scheme… the view in the US is that we can expect inquiries across our markets on the issue of background checks, in the light of what has happened in India.’’

A week later, MacGann sent another mail saying that the official state system is at fault in India for giving that driver an Uber license, and not Uber itself.

Additionally, trying to pass the buck, Niall Wass, then Uber’s Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa wrote, “We had done what was required in terms of the Indian regulations. However, it’s clear the checks required for a driver to obtain a commercial license from the authorities now appear to be insufficient as it appears the accused also had some previous rape allegations, which the Delhi police check did not identify (in what’s called a ‘character certificate.”

Following the rape, Uber was banned for 7 months in the Indian capital Delhi before an intervention by Delhi High Court got the Uber cabs back on the road.

Other emails from the time show that the Delhi rape case was being followed by the senior-most people in Uber as Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick looked to postpone his visit to India in light of the Delhi rape.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shares first deepest images of early cosmos formed after Big Bang: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shares first deepest images of early cosmos formed after Big Bang: Details

NASA on Monday released the deepest, and the sharpest infrared view of the Universe to date captured through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope. The rare image named ‘Webb’s First Deep Field’ showcases thousands of galaxies including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared, reportedly of early cosmos formed after Big Bang.

Releasing the first full-color image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope on Monday, US President Joe Biden praised the country and said that these unique images are going to remind the world that America can do big things. “We can see possibilities no one has ever seen before. We can go places no one has ever gone before”, he said during a public event at the White House in Washington.

According to the reports, the picture depicts SMACS 0723, a 4.6 billion-year-old galaxy cluster that acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying the considerably more distant and extremely faint objects behind it. Webb’s sharp near-infrared view has also brought out faint structures in extremely distant galaxies, offering the most detailed view of the early universe to date.

“Thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared – have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time. This slice of the vast universe covers a patch of sky approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length by someone on the ground”, the official statement by NASA read.

Elaborating more about the achievement, NASA’s Administrator Bill Nelson said that the image captured was just a tiny sliver of the so vast universe. “This mission was made possible by human ingenuity – the incredible NASA Webb team and our international partners at the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Webb is just the start of what we can accomplish in the future when we work together for the benefit of humanity”, he added.

Meanwhile, John Mather, Webb’s senior project scientist at NASA stated that scientists were first thrilled to know that Webb was alive and that it has survived all hazards to be one golden eye in the sky. He added that with the help of Webb, the scientists and researchers will be able to get answers to many questions like- ‘What happened after the big bang? How did the expanding universe cool down and make black holes and galaxies and stars and planets and people?’

“Astronomers see everything twice- first with pictures, and then with imagination and calculation. But there’s something out there that we’ve never imagined, and I will be as amazed as you are when we find it”, he added.

To note, the James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s leading observatory for space science. Reports mention that Webb will investigate mysteries in our solar system, as well as distant worlds orbiting other stars, and will investigate the intriguing architecture and origins of our universe and our position in it.

The telescope was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, South America, on December 25, 2021. It underwent months of commissioning after completing a difficult deployment procedure in orbit when its mirrors were adjusted and its sensors were prepped for science. Its cost is estimated at around $10 billion.

The recent picture released by NASA depicts the 4.6 billion-year-old galaxy cluster named SMACS 0723. According to the reports, the researchers will soon discover more about the galaxies’ masses, ages, histories, and compositions as Webb searches deeply for the universe’s first galaxies.

Uddhav Thackeray likely to dump ‘United Opposition’ Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha days after MVA govt collapses in Maharashtra

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uddhav Thackeray likely to dump ‘United Opposition’ Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha days after MVA govt collapses in Maharashtra

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is likely to announce support for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu. As per Times Now report the majority of the votes during the July 11 meeting of Shiv Sena leaders went to Murmu. The official announcement is yet to be released, and party leader Sanjay Raut said it might happen in a day or two.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Raut said extending support for Murmu would not mean that Shiv Sena was back with Bharatiya Janata Party. He said, “We discussed Droupadi Murmu (NDA’s Presidential candidate) in our meeting yesterday. Supporting Droupadi Murmu does not mean supporting BJP. Shiv Sena’s role will be clear in a day or two. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray will make a decision.”

He further added, “Opposition should remain alive. We also have goodwill towards the Opposition’s Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha. Earlier, we supported Pratibha Patil, not the NDA candidate. We supported Pranab Mukherjee also. Shiv Sena does not take decisions under pressure.”

Earlier, it was reported that Uddhav Thackeray might extend support for Murmu to avoid a further split in the party. Party sources revealed that during the meeting that was held on Thackeray’s resident Matoshree, an overwhelming number of Shiv Sena leaders, including MLAs and MPs, wanted the party to announce support for Draupadi Murmu. The meeting lasted over two hours.

As per reports, sixteen MPs of Shiv Sena have urged Uddhav Thackeray, who was recently ousted from the Maharashtra CM’s position after facing a huge rebellion, to support the NDA presidential candidate, Droupadi Murmu, instead of the Opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha.

Last week, Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale had written to Uddhav Thackeray asking the party to support Droupadi Murmu. “Droupadi Murmu comes from the Adivasi community and has a seminal contribution to social life,” said Shewale, asking Thackeray to issue instructions to the party MPs accordingly.

Notably, an Economic Times report suggested former Maharashtra CM and his close aides were not keen to support Murmu, but they may go against their wish to avoid a further split in the party. Furthermore, BJP leader Girish Mahajan had earlier warned Shiv Sena that if the party failed to listen to its MP, they should be ready for a possible split among its members. He said, “He (Thackeray) should also listen to his own voice and his MPs. If they don’t make a decision (in favour of the BJP candidate), then there may be a split among its MPs too.”

Following the meeting, the Shiv Sena chief has reportedly assured his MPs that he will make the final decision on this issue in the next 2-3 days. The presidential election is scheduled for July 18.

SC extends interim bail of Mohammed Zubair in Sitapur case; to remain in jail in connection with other cases

OpIndia Staff
-
0
SC extends interim bail of Mohammed Zubair in Sitapur case; to remain in jail in connection with other cases

The Supreme Court Tuesday (July 12) extended the interim bail granted to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair until further orders in the case filed in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. Zubair, however, would remain in Delhi Police custody in connection with another case filed against him.

The UP police have been granted 4 weeks by the top court to submit a counterclaim in the case. The matter has been scheduled for final disposition on September 7, 2022, reports Live Law.

The matter was listed before the SC division bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna.

Notably, the apex court bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari had earlier on July 8, granted interim bail to Zubair for 5 days in the Hindu saints defamation case in UP. The matter again came up for hearing in the Supreme Court today, as the five days ended today.

Zubair petitioned the Supreme Court challenging a lawsuit filed in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district over a tweet in which he referred to Hindu seers as “hate mongers.”

Mohammed Zubair to still remain in jail

Despite the bail, the alleged ‘fact-checker’ Mohammed Zubair will remain in police custody as the bail has only been granted in the FIR dated 1 June 2022. 

On June 1, Khairabad Police of Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh filed a First Investigation Report (FIR) against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair for using derogatory language against Mahant Bajrang Muni Udasin, Rashtriya Sanrakshak of Rashtriya Hindu Sher Sena along with Yati Narsinghanand and Swami Anand Swaroop. The FIR was registered based on the complaint of Bhagwan Sharan, district head of Rashtriya Hindu Sher Sena, under sections 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Delhi Court defers bail hearing of Mohammed Zubair in the 2018 Tweet case

Meanwhile, the Delhi Court, which was scheduled to hear the bail plea filed by Zubair seeking bail in the Delhi FIR registered against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity through his tweet made in 2018, has deferred the hearing. It will now hear the matter on July 14.

Zubair had been denied bail by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria in this particular case on July 2.

Alt News co-founder sent to 14 days of judicial custody in case filed in Lakhimpur Kheri in UP

In addition to these two cases, Zubair is also facing charges in a case filed against him in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri. Only yesterday, (Monday, July 11), the Alt News co-founder and alleged ‘fact checker’ was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Mohammadi Session Court in the case filed against him in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. Additional charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 153B, 501(1)(B) and 505(2), are pressed against Mohammed Zubair.

Earlier, an arrest warrant was issued against the Alt News co-founder based on a complaint filed, through the court, by Sudarshan news journalist Ashish Kumar Katiyar on September 18 last year. Based on that complaint, the police have now initiated proceedings to take Zubair into their custody.

In his complaint, Katiyar had stated that the Alt News co-founder played a malicious role in uniting Muslims, across the world, against India and peddling communal discord even during the Coronavirus pandemic.

1...3,0403,0413,042...7,604Page 3,041 of 7,604