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Jahangirpuri violence was a sequel to 2020 Delhi anti-CAA riots, stones and glass bottles were kept ready at terraces days ago: Police charge sheet

OpIndia Staff
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Jahangirpuri violence was a sequel to 2020 Delhi anti-CAA riots, stones and glass bottles were kept ready at terraces days ago: Police charge sheet

In an update to the Jahangirpuri violence escalated by the Islamists during the Hanuman Jayanti processions earlier this year, the Delhi Police revealed on Thursday that the riots were well planned and that the accused had incited the locals to pelt stones at the Hindus participating in the procession. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police filed a charge sheet in Rohini court in the case of violence that happened on April 16.

According to the reports, the Police in the charge sheet mentioned that the three main accused in the case identified as Mohammed Ansar, Tabrez, and Sheikh Irshfil had made all the preparations to execute the violence. They had collected the stones, and empty glass bottles and had placed them on the terraces of the nearby buildings. Stones and glass bottles were also placed at accused Irshfil’s terrace. The police while investigating the case recovered all of them and charged persons involved with inciting the violence.

In the 2000 paged charge sheet, the Police further stated that it investigated the data of around 2300 phones and also went through 58 different clips to discover the links between the Jahangirpuri violence with the anti-CAA violence that had disrupted the peace and law and order in Delhi in the year 2019-20. Police said that Jahangirpuri violence was the sequel of the 2019 riots.

So far the Police have charged 45 main conspirators and have arrested 37 in the case of violence in which eight police personnel and a civilian have sustained injuries. Mohammed Ansar, Tabrez, and Irshfil are the 3 main accused who have been arrested among 45. Around 8 of the accused including one of the prime accused Irshfil is on the run in the case. The Police said that they have launched a massive manhunt to nab all the accused on run and added that some of the accused are out on bail.

The charge sheet filed by the Police on Thursday mentioned that the three prime accused in the case Mohammed Ansar, Tabrez, and Sheikh Irshfil played an important role in inciting the locals to pelt stones at the Hindu rally. While Irshfil collected stones and glass bottles, another accused named Tarbez incited the local Islamists. On one hand, he talked about cooperating with the Police, and in absence of the authorities, he motivated the Islamists to take revenge against the CAA-NRC laws. Tabrez also played an important role in organizing the protest against CAA at Kushal Chowk in Jahangirpuri in April.

The Police also revealed that the accused had planned the violence and had started preparations for it 6 days before the violence. As part of the conspiracy, the accused had placed stones and glass bottles on the roofs of the houses, so that stones could be pelted during the Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra. The police have so far recovered swords and country-made pistols from the arrested accused. The charge sheet says that the intention of the accused was to cause heavy damage, which was handled in time due to the vigilance of the police.

Delhi Police on Thursday also presented video pieces of evidence in court and said that it used a facial recognition system during the investigation to nab the 37 culprits. The charge sheet was filed under sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 323, 427, 436, 307, 120B IPC read with 27 Arms Act.

Event organiser rubbishes ex-VP Hamid Ansari’s defence over Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza controversy: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Event organiser rubbishes ex-VP Hamid Ansari’s defence over Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza controversy: Read details

Days after Pakistani journalist-turned-spy Nusrat Mirza revealed that ex-Vice President Hamid Ansari had invited him to a seminar on terrorism in 2010, the organiser of the event Dr Adish Aggarwala issued a detailed statement on the matter.

He is the President of the International Council of Jurists and the Chairman of the All India Bar Association. In a press release on Thursday (July 14), Aggarwala stated that the said event was held between December 11-12 in 2010 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, as per the press release.

“The then Vice-President Hamid Ansari had attended the conference but Nusrat Mirza was neither an invitee nor had he attended it. Even Nusrat Mirza has not referred to this conference in his interview,” he emphasised.

“Mr Ashok Dewan who at that time was walling as Director, Vice-President Secretariat had informed me that the Vice-President has desired that Pakistani journalist Mr Nusrat Mirza be invited to the Conference. However, we could not accede to the request since Mr Mirza was from Pakistan media and we had not invited judges or lawyers from Pakistan,” the statement read.

According to Dr Adish Aggarwala, a dismayed Hamid Ansari communicated to Dewan that he would attend the seminar for only 20 minutes. This was despite the fact that the ex-Vice President had initially agreed to spend an hour at the event.

“Some Congress leaders are trying to mask the alleged meeting of Mr Hamid Ansari with Nusrat Mirza by making insinuations and veiled statements on social media that Mr Nusrat Mirza had attended the conference organized by me”, he added.

The President of the International Council of Jurists stated how some Congress leaders were trying to cast aspersions on him for co-authoring a book on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He emphasised that Ansari and Mirza did not attend the Conference on Jurists but instead participated in the “International Conference against Terrorism”, which was held at Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi on October 27, 2009, by Jama Masjid United Forum.

“It appears that Mr Hamid Ansari and Mr Jairam Ramesh chose not to disclose about the Jama Masjid United Forum’s Conference in order to mislead government agencies and the public. Possibly, they felt it appropriate to take shelter behind the Jurists’ Conference so that Mr Ansari receives a clean chit on scrutiny of records of the said Conference,” Dr Adish Aggarwala said.

He emphasised, “The statements made by Mr Hamid Ansari, Mr Jairam Ramesh, and other Congress office bearers are manifestly distorted, wholly untrue, and deplorably dishonest. It is rather astonishing that a former Vice-President of the country would indulge in underhanded activity and then try to duck behind another unconnected event to lead the public astray.”

“They deceitfully and designedly named the Jurists’ Conference as the only one which was attended by Mr Hamid Ansari on the assumption that none will reach the truth,” he further stated.

Dr Adish Aggarwala also pointed out that such conferences could not be organised without the clearance of the Foreign Ministry and Home Ministry of the Union government.

“Whenever an event is attended by the President of India. Vice-President of India or the Prime Minister of India who are adorning the dais, the names of all persons who share the dais are to be first cleared by the said leaders. It is, therefore, obvious that the names of persons who were on the dais that day had been approved of by Mr Ansari,” he remarked.

“India is a country governed by the rule of law and we firmly believe in the jurisprudential principle expressed in the immortal words of Thomas Fuller: ‘Be ye never so high, the law is above you.’ A former Vice-President of India must therefore be made to account for acts that endangered the lives of its citizens,” he concluded while seeking a government inquiry into the matter.

Hamid Ansari saga and his fallible defence

On July 10, Pakistani Journalist and YouTuber Shakil Chaudhary published an interview with Pakistani Journalist Nusrat Mirza who claimed he spied on India and handed over the information he had gathered during his visits to India between 2005 to 2011.

He said in 2010, he was invited to a seminar on terrorism by then-Vice President Hamid Ansari. He said, “Though I agree I am not an expert, but we are Mughals. We have ruled India for centuries. I understand their culture. I know about their weaknesses. But the problem is the experience I gathered about India is not being used due to lack of good leadership in Pakistan.”

During his 2011 visit to India, Mirza said he had met The Milli Gazette’s publisher Zafarul Islam Khan. In his defence, Ansari said that falsehood was unleashed on him by the controversy.

He had denied claims about inviting Nusrat Mirza for a conference in Delhi in 2010, saying that it was the government and the organiser who invited people.

“It is a known fact that invitations to foreign dignitaries by the Vice-President of India are on the advice of the Government generally through the Ministry of External Affairs…As is the normal practice the list of invitees would have been drawn by the organizers. I never invited him or met him,” Hamid Ansari claimed.

Ripudaman Singh Malik, accused in 1985 Air India bombing, ‘bumped off’ by anti-India forces to reignite Khalistan sentiments? Analysts suspect ISI role

Nupur J Sharma
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Ripudaman Singh Malik, accused in 1985 Air India bombing, ‘bumped off’ by anti-India forces to reignite Khalistan sentiments? Analysts suspect ISI role

Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was accused in the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing case, has been shot dead in Surrey, Canada. Malik was shot to death as he sat inside his car at about 9:30 AM local time, Thursday, outside an industrial plaza where he has a business office in the 8200-block of 128th Street. Reportedly, a burning car was also discovered near where he was shot dead.

According to reports, police were called in after gunshots were heard and despite first responders giving medical aid to Malik, he succumbed to his injuries after being shot.

CBC News has cited eye witnesses saying that they heard 3 shots that were fired and that this appeared to be a targeted shooting.

Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi president and former chief of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened at the death of Sardar Ripudaman Singh Malik in Canada. The loss is irreparable. Sardar Malik ran a number of Khalsa schools and was at the forefront of humanitarian efforts in Canada. My sincere condolences to his family. We hope Canadian authorities will launch a thorough investigation into his assassination and bring culprits to book.”

Ripudaman Singh Malik had recently praised PM Narendra Modi for the positive steps taken for Sikhs

In January 2022, Ripudaman Singh Malik praised PM Modi for the positive steps taken by him in the interest of the Sikh community. He had written a letter and praised the Prime Minister for the “unprecedented steps”, expressing his “heartfelt gratitude”.

“I am writing you this to express my deep heartfelt gratitude for the unprecedented positive steps taken by yourself to redress long-reading Sikh demands and grievances including the elimination of blacklists that restricted visits to India of thousands of Sikhs living abroad, grant of passports and visas to asylees and their families, reopening of hundreds of 1984-riots closed cases leading to conviction and jail term for some, declaring 1984-riots as ‘genocide’ by then Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on the floor of the House, giving compensation of Rs. 5.00 lakh per family of the anti-Sikh genocide victims, the opening of Sri Kartarpur Saheb Corridor facilitating pilgrims from India to visit the revered place of our first Master Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” he had said in the letter.

He also expressed happiness on declaration of December 26 – the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons – as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’.

Interestingly, he had also expressed concerns over the concerted campaign of some members of the Sikh community against PM Modi and the Government of India. Promising to work with the government to address pending issues, he had also written a separate letter to the Sikh community. In the letter, he said, “Violence in Punjab only ends up hurting the interests of the Sikh community in Punjab and throughout India and around the world. I do my daily Ardaas for world peace as I do not like seeing my community or any community suffer due to violence”.

“I do not believe it is right to unfairly criticise the Prime Minister given his many positive gestures towards the Sikh community. Instead of criticising we should be appreciating and engaging meaningfully with the government of India under his leadership towards a positive partnership for the future,” Singh further said in the letter.

Who could have killed Ripudaman Singh Malik?

Vancouver Sun quoted retired RCMP deputy commissioner Gary Bass, who was responsible for the terrorism investigation after the 1985 Kanishka bombing. He was quoted as saying that after the bombing, Malik had many enemies. “I’m not privy to the ongoing investigations on Malik right now, but I can say that from years when I was that he was involved in a number of activities that might bring him into conflict with other people”, he was quoted as saying. “Too many potential motives”, Bass said, alluding to the fact that his alleged involvement in the Air India bombing could be one of the motives for him to get murdered.

While speculations are rife, Indian Defence Analysts believe that his killing could have nothing to do with his alleged involvement in the Air India bombing, rather, could be a direct result of his turn of heart that led to him praising PM Modi and vowing to work with the Indian government.

Gaurav Arya, former Army Major and Defence Analyst speaking to OpIndia said, “There is a certain sense of disappointment amongst Khalistanis that the ISI is not supporting them like it used to, earlier. That could be because of the paucity of funds and also FATF. Ripudaman Singh recently praised PM Modi. It is possible that the ISI saw this as an affront and eliminated him”.

A source in Indian intelligence said, “You have to realise that Ripudaman Malik was acquitted in the bombing, however, he did have close ties with Khalistani terrorists at the time. With his recent praise of Modi, it is entirely possible that he was disgruntled with the Khalistan project funded by ISI. For terrorists and the ISI, people like Malik are pawns who need to be silenced if they deviate from the given line. Praising Modi could have been the last nail in his coffin since it would hurt reigniting the Khalistani sentiments among Sikh youths”.

“Ripudaman was hardly a threat to India anymore. He wanted to work with the Indian government to resolve Sikh issues. He had written to PM Modi warning him of the designs of local Khalistanis and ISI, trying to discredit his stellar work. I suspect Khalistanis, who were miffed with Malik, shot him dead at the behest of ISI”, he added.

Even in the Vancouver Sun, this possibility was not discredited. It is entirely possible that once an aid of Babbar Khalsa and the Khalistan “cause” had a change of heart and wanted to work with the Indian authorities to resolve pending issues. In fact, he had also warned the PM about Khalistanis trying to discredit the work done by the Prime Minister and Indian authorities for the benefit of the Sikh community.

Given that Khalistanis and funded and instructed by ISI, Pakistan, Malik’s overtures to the Indian government and appreciation of the work being done for the Sikh community could have prompted an assassination plot, to eliminate a voice that could dent Khalistani sentiments, given that ISI is known to eliminate people who go against their established narrative, even abroad.

The 1984 Air India Kanishka bombing and how Ripudaman Singh Malik was acquitted

Malik, who founded the Khalsa Credit Union, was acquitted in the Air India case by a Canadian court in 2005. Malik, Inderjeet Singh Reyat (convicted) and Ajaib Singh Bagri were among the three main accused in the blast on board Air India Flight 182, Emperor Kanishka, a Boeing 747 aircraft that was on its way to Delhi from Montreal on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 on board. Malik and Bagri were charged with 329 counts of murder. However, they were acquitted after Reyat, who was convicted of the bombing, said that he could not remember the bombing plot or the names of those who were involved in it.

Inderjit Singh Reyat spent over 20 years in jail for his role in the deadliest mass murder in Canadian history.

Reyat was also convicted on two counts of manslaughter for his role in building a bomb that exploded at the Narita International airport, killing two baggage handlers. The luggage bomb in Air India Flight 182 exploded when it was above the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland on its way from Montreal in Canada to London. A similar fate awaited the other aircraft as well but it exploded before it could be loaded onto the plane.

The terror attack was carried out by Khalistanis in revenge for former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s decision to storm the Golden Temple in order to rid it of Bhindranwale. Apart from his role in the terrorist attack, Reyat was also accused of lying and committing perjury during the trial of Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri.

Justice Ian Josephson called Reyat an “unmitigated liar under oath” while acquitting Malik and Bagri of the bombing deaths. While he at least served some time in prison, most others, including the individual believed to be in charge of the conspiracy, died a natural death without facing the consequences for their actions.

Years after the incident, in 2010, a report on the matter blamed a “cascading series of errors” by the government, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the spy agency for failing to avert the terror attack. Former Canadian Supreme Court Justice John Major said that the blunders that were committed by security agencies were “inexcusable”.

“I stress this is a Canadian atrocity,” Major said. “For too long the greatest loss of Canadian lives at the hands of terrorists has somehow been relegated outside the Canadian consciousness.” 268 Canadian citizens died in the act of terrorism. 27 Brits and 24 Indians were also murdered in the said attack.

The report also said that Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and RCMP were in possession of pieces of information “that, taken together, would have led a competent analyst to conclude that Flight 182 was at high risk of being bombed by known Sikh terrorists in June 1985.” One of the key recommendations of the report was for the Prime Minister to clear the turf wars between the agencies.

Punjab: Sangrur MP goes on a strange separatist rant, says if Khalistan is made, South Asia will never have nuclear war

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Sangrur MP goes on a strange separatist rant, says if Khalistan is made, South Asia will never have nuclear war

MP of Sangrur, Simranjit Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), went on a strange separatist rant on 14th July, where he said that if Khalistan is made, it would act as a “buffer state” and South Asia would never have a nuclear war due to its existence.

Mann said, “First, they (BJP-led Central government) should answer whether they can keep India intact or not. If they will approve Khalistan then it’ll become a buffer state. Islamic Pakistan has nuclear weapons, Hindu India has nuclear weapons, Comrade China has nuclear weapons, and Khalistan would become a buffer state of these three states and it will ensure there is never a nuclear war in South Asia”. The pro-Khalistan MP said that the demand for Khalistan was alright since India was “giving away its land to Pakistan and China”.

He, of course, did not explain how creating Khalistan would stop the nuclear war in South Asia. This appears to be another senseless rant to justify the separatism and hate that leads to the demand for breaking India up and creating a separate land for Sikhs called Khalistan.

Simranjit Singh Mann did not just stop there. He went on to try and instigate the people of Haryana as well.

He said the people of Haryana should be ashamed that they have a Punjabi as their Chief Minister instead of a Hariyanvi, ruling over them. He further said that gangsters are from Haryana and not from Punjab.

The worrying victory of pro-Khalistan Simranjit Singh Mann in Punjab

On June 26, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced by-poll results for multiple Lok Sabha and Assembly seats across states, including the Lok Sabha seat of Sangrur, Punjab, that fell vacant after Bhagwant Mann, MP from Sangrur became Chief Minister of Punjab. Aam Aadmi Party had given the ticket to Gurmail Singh, who lost the seat to Simranjit Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).

Out of a total turnout of 7,10,825 voters, Mann got 2,52,898 votes while AAP’s Gurmail Singh got 2,46,828 votes. Shiromani Akali Dal’s attempt to win the votes of Khalistani sympathisers by fielding the sister of Balwant Singh Rajoana failed as Simranjit Singh Mann has been a long-time supporter of Khalistan moment himself. Rajoana could not even cross 50,000 votes. There were 1,203 postal votes as well out of which Mann got 256 votes and Singh got 504 votes.

Simranjit Singh Mann has a long history of openly supporting the Khalistan movement. He had left Police Services because of Operation Blue Star, which was initiated by the Government of India to eliminate Khalistani terrorists lodged in Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Reports suggest his party workers raised pro-Khalistan slogans at Golden Temple on Operation Blue Star anniversary this year. 

In 2021, while wishing for the new year, he said on Twitter, “May 2021 bring freedom for the Sikh community in form of ‘Khalistan’ that will eradicate social evils such as coercion, discrimination, greed, ego, etc. and restore human values, mutual love, respect, and cooperation.”

In 2018, while sharing photographs of security forces deployed on the anniversary of Operation Blue Star, he wrote, “This naked show of force by the Indian state is to show the world how this Hindu state treats the stateless Sikhs. The Hindu state still thinks that machine guns will frighten the Sikhs and keep them away from their peaceful means to carve out the Sikh state of Khalistan.”

Simranjit Singh Mann has openly demanded Khalistan and often spoke about a separate state for Sikhs. Reports suggest he has been arrested over 30 times including over charges of sedition but never got convicted.

Gauhar Chishti, who had raised ‘sar tan se juda’ slogans outside Ajmer dargah, arrested in Hyderabad

OpIndia Staff
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Gauhar Chishti, who had raised ‘sar tan se juda’ slogans outside Ajmer dargah, arrested in Hyderabad

Gauhar Chishti, who had raised slogans of beheading against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, has been arrested by the police from Hyderabad on 14th July 2022. On June 17, Gauhar Chishti raised the objectionable slogans outside the Ajmer dargah.

Chishti also reportedly met one of the murderers of Kanhaiya Lal. The Pakistan connection of the arrested accused Gauhar Chishti has also come to light. He was in regular touch with some people from Pakistan’s radical organization Dawat-e-Islami. This has come to light during the NIA probe of the Kanhaiya Lal murder case in Udaipur, and the Rajasthan ATS probe of the provocative sloganeering in Ajmer.

Vikas Sangwan, Additional SP, Ajmer said, “Gauhar Chishti arrested by Police from Hyderabad, Telangana. He had raised objectionable slogans outside Dargah on 17th June. The police team will bring him to Ajmer on transit remand on Friday. An FIR was lodged against Gauhar Chishti on June 25 for his provocative speech. He had been absconding since then and had moved out of Rajasthan on June 29. He was arrested from Hyderabad on Thursday.”

Gauhar Chishti is Khadim of the Ajmer dargah and he made provocative speeches and raised slogans outside the Ajmer Dargah to behead those who insult Prophet Mohammad. After that, he left Ajmer and was absconding since June 23.

It is notable that Gauhar Chishti was also arrested by the police two years ago for making a video of the CRPF camp, though he was let off at that time with a mere warning.

During the investigation into Kanhaiya Lal’s murder case, it was revealed that some people of Pakistan-based radical outfit Daawat-e-Islami were in touch with many people in India. Among them, the names of Kanhaiya Lal’s killers Mohammad Riyaz and Gaus Mohammad as well as Khadim Gauhar Chishti of Ajmer Dargah also came up.

Names of several Khadims of Ajmer dargah have come up in the last few weeks for making incendiary statements. Sarwar Chishti called for an economic boycott of Hindus and claimed that if Muslims start a movement, the whole country will shake. Another Khadim, Salman Chishti made a video and declared that he will give his own house to the person who will behead Nupur Sharma. Yet another Khadim, Aadil Chishti made offensive remarks about Hindu Gods during a TV appearance and called Hindu beliefs irrational and unbelievable.

Jharkhand High Court rejects Rahul Gandhi’s plea to dismiss defamation suit over targeting Modi community by calling them thieves

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand High Court rejects Rahul Gandhi’s plea to dismiss defamation suit over targeting Modi community by calling them thieves

The Jharkhand High Court recently rejected a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to have a defamation action against him dropped. An attorney from Ranchi’s prominent Modi family had filed the defamation suit in response to Gandhi’s allegedly insulting statements towards the whole ‘Modi’ community.

After Rahul Gandhi’s speeches on March 2, 2019, in Ranchi, and on April 13, 2019, in the town of Kolar, Karnataka, the complainant, a lawyer named Pradip Modi, had filed a complaint in 2019. The Congress leader had targeted the Modi surname after the scam of Nirav Modi was exposed. In the Ranchi rally, Rahul Gandhi had said, “After all, why are all Modi thieves?” In the Karnataka rally, Rahul Gandhi reportedly said, “I have a question. Why do all thieves have Modi in their names, whether it is Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, or Narendra Modi? I don’t know how many more such Modi will come out.”

The complaint claimed that Gandhi’s comments were disparaging and defamatory toward all people with the surname or title Modi. He stated in his complaint, “This has lowered the reputation of Modi clan in public eyes and has caused immense hurt and anguish to a person having Modi surname.”

In light of this, the complainant claimed that Gandhi had defamed Modi community in accordance with section 499 of the Indian Penal Code when he made the generalization that all Modis are thieves. He was therefore deserving of the harshest possible punishment, which included an exemplary fine and jail. The case is now ongoing before the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Ranchi court after being given cognizance under section 500 of the I.P.C.

Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer pointed the High Court to the complaint’s numerous parts in his argument that, according to Explanation-2 of Section 499 of the I.P.C., only a person who has been aggrieved may make a petition under Section 499 I.P.C.

Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer argued, “The complainant did not have any specific legal injury as Gandhi’s remarks were not directed at any individual or a readily identifiable group of people, therefore, the complaint was not maintainable.”

The complainant’s advocate, however, disagreed with the arguments and asserted that since the comment against the Modi community was uttered in Ranchi and the plaintiff was a native of Ranchi, he was the party who was hurt in the case. He also argued that all of these details—including whether the complainant could file the case—could be examined by the trial court during the hearing and that the high court should not go into them in order to declare Gandhi not to be the subject of valid action.

The bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi said that it was an admitted fact that the statement was made at Ranchi. The high court also held that the speech was made at Ranchi, thus, the Modi community of Ranchi was also affected.

The court said, “The Court has perused the cognizance order dated 07.06.2019 and finds that the learned court has applied his judicial mind and after disclosing the prima facie materials took the cognizance.” The court concluded that all the contentions were required to be proved in the trial and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s plea to quash the defamation suit.

Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders spread lies that Modi govt has ‘banned’ certain words, here is the truth of booklet of Unparliamentary Words

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders spread lies that Modi govt has ‘banned’ certain words, here is the truth of booklet of Unparliamentary Words

After the opposition parties launched an attack over words which have been identified as ‘unparliamentary’ for use in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla has clarified that no word has been banned from use in parliament. He added that members are free to express their views using any word while maintaining decorum of the House.

Earlier it was reported that the Lok Sabha secretariate has issued a booklet ahead of the monsoon session containing words which will be considered as unparliamentary in the both houses of the parliament. It said that words like ‘jumlajeevi’, ‘baal buddhi’, ‘Covid spreader’, ‘Snoopgate’, ‘ashamed’, ‘abused, ‘betrayed’, ‘corrupt’, ‘drama’, ‘hypocrisy’, ‘incompetent’,  ‘anarchist’, ‘Shakuni’, ‘dictatorial’, ‘taanashah’, ‘taanashahi’, ‘Jaichand’, ‘vinash purush’, ‘Khalistani’, ‘khoon se kheti’ etc will be considered unparliamentary, and they will be expunged from the records.

This had triggered attacks from the opposition parties on the Modi government, terming it ban on the use of the words. Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi tweeted, “What is the point of parliament if you can’t be creative in your criticism? Jumlajeevi ko jumlajeevi nahi bolnege to kya bolenge? Banning words is uncalled for!”

Rahul Gandhi, who is on yet another vacation, also tweeted alleging that “words used in discussions and debates which correctly describe the PM’s handling of the government, now banned from being spoken”. He also claimed that the listed words are now banned and they can’t bs spoken.

Similar claims were made by several other opposition politicians, saying that words have been banned by the government.

However, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla has clarified that no word has been banned from speaking, and they have published the booklet of unparliamentary words just like previous years. He also added while the booklet was published in printed form earlier, now they have decided to publish it on the internet to about wastage of papers.

Om Birla clarified that the booklet only contains a compilation of words which have already been expunged from parliament or assembly records earlier. “It’s a routine practice continuing since 1959,” he said, adding that if the opposition reads the 1100-page dictionary of unparliamentary words, they would have known that it is released regularly.

“No words have been banned”, he made it clear, adding that no one can snatch the rights of the members of legislative houses to express their views, but it should be as per decorum of the parliament. He denied allegations by the opposition that it is a gag order, saying people unaware of parliamentary practices are making all kinds of comments. He also added that the legislatures are independent of the government.

The clarification by Om Birla means that there no ban use of the words listed in the booklet of Unparliamentary Words, but when they are used in the house, the speaker can order them to be expunged from the records of the proceedings. Therefore, it is not a gag order and there is no ban on the words.

Om Birla also clarified that the words are not automatically expunged every time they are used in the house. He said that decision to expunge words is taken keeping in mind context and objections raised by other members.

The list is updated every year, and this year reportedly 62 new words have been added. Importantly, the words were added because they were expunged from records of parliament or legislative assemblies. Therefore, it is not complied by Modi govt as alleged by the opposition. It is notable that there non-BJP non-NDA governments in several states, which means words expunged from those assemblies of those states also have been added to the booklet.

Several of the ‘unparliamentary’ words which have been highlighted in media reports and used by opposition to target the govt were considered unparliamentary even before Modi government, and they were actually added to the list much earlier. For example, the words ‘corrupt’ and ‘corrupt man’ were added to the list in 1980, while the expression ‘incompetent ministers’ was expunged in 1976.

Many new words included in the list have been contributed by state assembles. For example, ‘Lollipops’, ‘gossipers’, ‘hooliganism’, ‘humiliated’, ‘Shame’, ‘Shameful’ etc words were expunged by Punjab Assembly last year, when Congress was in power in the state. Words ‘atam, shatam, aksham’ and ‘anpadh, anargal’ were expunged from Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assemblies respectively.

Similarly, several words expunged from assemblies of other states, including non-NDA ruled states, have been included in the booklet. The booklet also contains words and expressions which were expunged from records of parliaments of other countries, mostly commonwealth nations.

An official of the parliament said that most of these words were considered unparliamentary even during the UPA government. “If certain words are found objectionable and not in consonance with decorum and dignity of Parliament, it is under the jurisdiction of the Chair of the either houses to expunge those words,” the officer said.

It is notable that the booklet is a mere compilation of the words, and it is not suggestion or order. The booklet only works as a guide for the members on what words may be considered unparliamentary, it does not prohibit members from using them. But they may be expunged if it is deemed unparliamentary based on the context.

Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi announces he is dating former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, posts images of the couple on Instagram

OpIndia Staff
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Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi announces he is dating former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, posts images of the couple on Instagram

Former IPL commissioner and fugitive Indian businessman Lalit Modi has announced he is dating Bollywood actress and former Ms. Universe Sushmita Sen. Modi, who has been living in exile in London ever since BCCI ousted him, shared the news on Twitter on Thursday evening.

Sharing the news, Lalit Modi said, “Just back in london after a whirling global tour #maldives # sardinia with the families – not to mention my #betterhalf @sushmitasen47 – a new beginning a new life finally. Over the moon.”

Lalit Modi shared the vacation pics of the couple on Instagram

In a later tweet, Modi clarified that even though he used ‘better half’, they are still only at the dating phase, though marriage too will happen one day.

Rumours of Lalit Modi and Sushmita Sen’s affair used to float as far back as 2010 when Modi was running things as the IPL Czar. Now years later, the duo has rekindled their relationship and formally announced that they are dating.

Adani Ports and Israel’s Gadot win the bid to privatize the Haifa port: Israel’s Finance Ministry

OpIndia Staff
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Adani Ports and Israel’s Gadot win the bid to privatize the Haifa port: Israel’s Finance Ministry

On Thursday 14th July 2022, the finance ministry of Israel announced that India’s Adani Ports and Israel’s Chemical company Gadot have won a tender for the privatization of the port of Haifa. Haifa is one of the largest sea ports in Israel.

The consortium that bid for the port consists of the Israeli company Gadot (70%) and the Indian Adani group (30%). Gadot controls chemical terminals in Haifa and temporarily the Haifa silo (formerly Dagon), and holds a monopoly on the import of grain and chemicals to Israel. Gadot owns Keren Tene (60%) and Valio HBL (40%) as well.

The finance ministry of Israel promised that the deal will lead to lower costs for the consumers. The ministry further added that the group will buy the Mediterranean port for a sum of 4.1 billion New Israeli Shekels (NIS) ($1.18 billion). It is notable that $1 is equivalent to 3.4876 shekels.

Israel’s Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, “The privatization of the port of Haifa will increase competition at the ports and lower the cost of living.” According to a report by Reuters, Adani and Gadot were one of three groups to reach the final stage in the government tender.

The bid amount is NIS 1 billion more than the valuations of NIS 1.5 to 3 billion. In doing so, Adani Group and Gadot defeated the DAO groups, Israel Shipyards, and Shafir Engineering, which withdrew from the tender earlier today (Thursday) after submitting the lowest bid.

Haifa Port is the second largest port in Israel after the Port of Ashdod. Last year, about 47% of all container cargo in Israel passed through it. Apart from the cargo sector, the Port of Haifa is the main port in Israel in terms of passenger traffic and cruise ships. After the port of Haifa is privatized, the port of Ashdod will remain the only government port in Israel.

It is notable that in an effort to reduce import costs and cargo ship wait times, Israel has recently sold its state-owned ports and allowed the construction of new, private piers.

Haryana: Murad Ali poses as Sameer to marry Hindu woman in a temple, forces to convert to Islam and withdraw FIR by sending goons to attack

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: Murad Ali poses as Sameer to marry Hindu woman in a temple, forces to convert to Islam and withdraw FIR by sending goons to attack

A horrifying case of Grooming Jihad has come to the fore from Faridabad in Haryana, where a man named Murad Ali masqueraded as Sameer to lure a Hindu girl. He married her in a temple as per Hindu customs. However, after his identity was revealed, he started pressurising her to convert to Islam. The accused, on multiple occasions, physically assaulted her and got her beaten up by goons when she refused to succumb to his demands. The victim has approached the police in Faridabad and Noida but alleges no action has been taken in her case so far.

Swarajya journalist Swati Goel Sharma has shared the details of the case in a thread of Tweets, as narrated to her by the victim and the police.

Image source: Swati Goel Sharma

According to the journalist, the victim was divorced and living with her family in Faridabad, when she came in contact with Murad Ali in 2021 over the phone for a job opening. Since the victim had recently lost her father she was in search of job opportunity and Murad Ali who posed as Sameer offered her exactly that.

Image source: Swati Goel Sharma
Image source: Swati Goel Sharma
Image source: Swati Goel Sharma

After the accused helped the victim get a job, they started talking over the phone regularly and eventually grew close to each other. The girl told Sameer aka Murad Ali that she was only interested in a serious relationship. To assure her, the accused made her speak to his sister and mother over the phone. Then he took her to a temple and married her as per Hindu customs.

When the victim objected to getting married in that fashion, saying that no one else was present during the ceremony, the accused assured her that he would soon take her to his family and hold a formal but private ceremony. Murad Ali then established a physical relationship with her claiming to be her husband. He eventually took her to his home in December 2021.

On reaching Murad Ali’s home, his real name and religion were revealed to the victim. The family, thereafter pressurised her to convert to Islam and perform Nikah as per Islamic traditions, but the victim refused. She left home and filed a case against Murad Ali at a local police station in Faridabad in December 2021.

Copy of FIR filed in Faridabad PS (source: Swarajya journalist Swati Goel Sharma)

As the Haryana government has not yet enacted any law against love jihad, the police registered a case under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent).

The victim alleged that the police instead of helping her, mocked her by asking how she did not notice the circumcision, to which the victim replied that she was not aware of such things.

As police delayed the arrest, Murad Ali went absconding and managed to take a stay order on arrest in May. The same month, the victim filed another case in Faridabad against Murad Ali’s family. She alleged that the family assaulted her for the police case she had previously filed against Murad. In the second case, some of Murad’s family members were arrested but granted bail shortly after the arrest.

The journalist further revealed that since the victim’s family is unsupportive and has been asking her to withdraw both cases or fight on her own, she has been working and living in Noida all by herself.

The victim, while narrating her ordeal revealed that she has been attacked twice on her way home from the office by unknown men. Since both the times, the goons asked her to take back the cases she had filed against Murad Ali and his family, she was sure that the goons who attacked her were Murad’s aides.

The victim was quoted by the journalist as saying that the last attack on her was carried out on June 26, 2022. She had then dialled 100 and the police arrived to save her. The victim also reportedly created a new Twitter account and shared her ordeal on the social media platform tagging the Noida police but she says no action has been taken in her case yet.

Tweet posted by the victim (source: Swati Goel Sharma)

The journalist further wrote, “Please note that cheating and false identity are not her only accusations against Murad. She told me about being violated physically in words that left me horrified. She was also made to undergo abortions at late stages several times, medical copies of which she showed me.”

Image source: Swati Goel Sharma

Swati Goel Sharma added that the victim gave a complaint to a local police station in Noida, but they did not convert the complaint into an FIR. Murad Ali has not been arrested yet.

Sharing a video posted by her on June 14, wherein the victim is heard narrating her horrifying story, the Swarajya journalist Swati Goel Sharma said that she herself tried meeting two senior officers through references but none showed interest in the victim’s case.

“In taking up the case. I offered the victim monetary help to change her location, but she says it’s of no use because “Murad will find out”. End of the thread. It’s up to the police and govt now to show they take safety of women seriously,” the journalist wrote while ending the thread.

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