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Rs One Crore raised for Kanhaiya Lal’s family deposited into their bank account, Kapil Mishra shares details

Days after the fundraising campaign for the family of late Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal was over, the amount collected to help his family has been deposited into their bank account. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kapil Mishra shared this information from his Twitter handle.

Kapil Mishra tweeted, “₹ One Crore credited to the bank account of the wife of Kanhaiya Lal Ji” With this tweet, Kapil Mishra also shared the photograph of the transaction details. Kapil Mishra had run a campaign to help the family of the deceased Kanhaiya Lal who was beheaded in Udaipur by Islamists for supporting the former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma who is accused of blasphemy for her allegedly insulting remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

Kanhaiya Lal was killed on June 28. As the news spread, BJP MLA Kapil Mishra took the initiative to help the family of the poor tailor who left behind his two sons and wife. He announced a fundraising drive to help the grieved family in which the late Kanhaiya Lal was the only earning hand. The fundraising drive received an overwhelming response from people.

Within the first 24 hours, the fundraising drive reached to its target mark of 1 crore rupees. Further, it was revised to 1.25 crore in order to help Ishwar Gaud who was injured in an attempt to save Kanhaiya Lal. Kapil Mishra announced that an amount of 25 lakh rupees will be transferred to his bank account. The fundraiser received yet more generous responses after revising. A total of Rs 1.7 crore was grossed by the contribution of donors.

Umesh Kolhe, a chemist from Amravati in Maharashtra, was also beheaded by Islamists for a similar reason. Kapil Mishra announced that a monetary help of Rs 30 lakh will be given to the family of deceased Umesh Kolhe too. Kapil Mishra also assured in his tweet that he will help the Kolhe family to fight the legal battle. A police constable named Sandeep, who was stabbed by a mob in the line of duty in Rajasthan, will be given a sum of ₹5 lakhs. The remaining amount will be transferred to the bank account of Kanhaiya Lal’s wife.

EU parliament clears the deck to declare nuclear power and natural gas as ‘green’ energy; Greta Thunberg fumes over the decision

On July 6 (local time), the European Union Parliament declared nuclear power and natural gas green energy. By backing EU rules to label investments in these sectors as climate-friendly, EP threw out an attempt to block the law that underscored the deep difference between how countries deal with climate change. With the vote, the proposal of the European Union has a clearer path to becoming law. The only way by which it would fail is if 20 of the 27 members decide to oppose the move, which, according to reports, is not likely to happen.

The new rules will pave the way for gas and nuclear power plants to make it to the EU taxonomy rulebook from 2023. After that, the investors will be able to label and market their investments in these two sectors as ‘green’.

There were 606 lawmakers present during the voting, and 33 had abstained. Out of these, 328 opposed the motion to block the EU gas and nuclear proposals. On the other hand, 278 lawmakers voted to block the proposals. In the 705-seat parliament, 353 votes were necessary to secure a majority, which opponents of the new rules failed to secure.

In February this year, European Commission proposed new rules that will allow the gas and nuclear industries to label their investments as green. The proposal was tabled after a delay of one year. The government and the stakeholders in the industry have been lobbying for the proposal of the new rules for a long time.

It is notable that there has been intense debate in the EU countries, lawmakers and investors over labelling the gas and nuclear industry as green. Reports suggest the EU taxonomy rulebook was designed to ensure all financial products that make claims of being eco-friendly would adhere to strict standards.

While there is virtually no CO2 emission in nuclear energy, it produces radioactive waste. Similarly, Gas plants produce emissions that cause a warming effect on the planet. However, in both cases, they are much more sustainable compared to coal.

France, which is dependent largely on nuclear energy and Poland, which is a heavy coal user, backed the new rules. However, Austria and Luxembourg had threatened to sue the EU if the new rules became law. Denmark and other nations had warned the EU that if the CO2 emitting gas gets the green label, it will undermine the union’s credibility in fighting climate change.

Greta Thunberg ‘fumes’ over new rules

Soon after the new laws were passed, dubious environment activist Greta Thunberg ranted on social media. In a tweet, she wrote, “The European Parliament just voted to label fossil gas as “green” energy. This will delay a desperately needed real, sustainable transition and deepen our dependency on Russian fuels. The hypocrisy is striking but, unfortunately not surprising. This is still #NotMyTaxonomy.”

Interestingly, she mentioned only gas in her tweet and completely skipped nuclear energy that she had ranted about a day before. In an earlier tweet, she wrote, “Tomorrow the European Parliament will decide whether fossil gas and nuclear will be considered “sustainable” in the EU taxonomy. But no amount of lobbyism and greenwashing will ever make it “green”. We desperately need real renewable energy, not false solutions.”

Green energy and sustainable energy sources are a topic that always runs on a slippery slope. While it is true that by using wind turbines, solar panels and other means of ‘cleaner’ energy, we reduce CO2 emissions, one must not forget how batteries, solar panels and wind turbines etc are made. The carbon footprint left behind by these machines and the way they end up in dumping groups is not something that would help the earth in the longer run. There has to be a better way to sustainable energy resources without hampering progress and without compromising the supply of required energy, especially in fast-growing nations.

Article describing “The Benefits of World Hunger” published by the UN goes viral, netizens confused whether it is real or satire

An article published by the United Nations hailing the benefits of hunger has gone viral on social media today, with netizens expressing shock over the claims made in the article titled “The Benefits of World Hunger”. Written by retired Hawaiian professor George Kent, the article explains how hunger is needed to get workers for low-level manual jobs. It was published on UN Chronicle, the flagship magazine of the UN.

The article argues that people work to fight hunger, and if there is no hunger, there will be nobody to do the manual jobs. Kenk shockingly says, “For those of us at the high end of the social ladder, ending hunger globally would be a disaster. If there were no hunger in the world, who would plow the fields? Who would harvest our vegetables? Who would work in the rendering plants? Who would clean our toilets? We would have to produce our own food and clean our own toilets.”

George Kent also claims that only hungry people work hard, while well-nourished people are far less willing to do such work. He termed the notion that people should be fed well to make them more productive ‘nosense’, saying that “No one works harder than hungry people.”

The article caused great outrage on social media across the world, with common netizens and well-known people slamming it for glorifying hunger for the benefits of the rich.

While the article has gone viral today (6th June 2022) for some reason, actually it was published more than a decade ago. The article was originally published on the UN Chronicle, the flagship magazine of the United Nations, way back in 2008 in printed form. Later the article was republished on the UN website in 2019, which has gone viral now.

The same article is also available on researchgate, the repository of research papers, which says that it was written in June 2008.

While the premise of the article is indeed absurd, it actually seems to be a work of satire. George Kent, who was a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Hawaii and now a Professor Emeritus at the university, had actually written the article to claim that the rich keep the poor people hungry so that they work for the comfort of the rich.

In fact, he has added in the article, “people at the high end are not rushing to solve the hunger problem. For many of us, hunger is not a problem, but an asset.” In the article, George Kent also claimed that people at the high end are not rushing to solve the hunger problem due to this reason. Although subtle, this suggests that the article was satirical in nature.

While most people were outraged by the article, some people said that it was a satire.

George Kent has written extensively on the issue of global hunger, including a book titled “Freedom from Want: The Human Right to Adequate Food”. Therefore it is unlikely that he will write something positive about the issue, and hence it can be said that the article is satirical.

Kerala: State cabinet minister Saji Cheriyan resigns after controversy erupts over his remarks on the Indian Constitution

Kerala state’s cabinet minister Saji Cheriyan resigned after a controversy broke out over his indecent remarks against the Indian Constitution. While announcing his decision, Cheriyan said it was his personal decision and that he never defamed the Constitution. He also accused the media of fabricating his speech. Saji Cheriyan held the Fisheries portfolio while working in the cabinet

Saji Cheriyan said, “I have resigned and it’s my personal decision. I have never ever defamed the Constitution. A particular part from the speech was taken and the media fabricated it to weaken the CPIM and the LDF.”

Saji Cheriyan had made contentious remarks against the Indian Constitution while speaking at an event in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta municipality. While addressing an event at Mallappally in the Pathanamthitta district, he said, “We all would say that we have a beautifully written Constitution. But I would say the Constitution of the country has been written in such a manner to loot the maximum number of people.”

Cherian further said, “What the British people had prepared, Indians have penned down. After implementing it for the past 75 years, I would say it is a beautiful Constitution for plundering the people of the country. Though there are traces of a few good things such as democracy and secularism in the Constitution, but its aim is to exploit the common man.”

The contentious remarks made by Cherian sparked angry responses from a number of people. The Opposition leaders led by the Congress and the BJP held the placards and raised slogans in protest outside the State Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram and also demanded Minister Cheriyan’s resignation. After all this criticism, Saji Cheriyan resigned from the cabinet.

‘Say that you were drunk, it will be easy to save you’; Rajasthan police caught coaching arrested Salman Chishti who wanted to kill Nupur Sharma

In a shocking development, a video of the Rajasthan police appeared on social media on July 6, in which the police personnel are seen coaching the arrested accused Salman Chishti to say that he was drunk while issuing threats to Nupur Sharma so that it will be ‘easier to save him’.

Salman Chishti is the Khadim of the Ajmer Dargah and he was arrested by the Ajmer Police for issuing open death threats against BJP ex-spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Salman Chishti had published a video on social media in which he claimed that he would hand over his house to anyone who cut Sharma’s head.

In the video that went viral on Wednesday, the Ajmer Police are seen seizing Salman Chishti from his home. While taking Chishti out of his house, someone from the police said “What exactly you were high on, while recording the video?” As the video proceeds, Salman Chishti is heard saying that he does not drink. At this moment a police officer near him said, “Say that you were drunk so that it will be easy to save you.”

BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted the video and commented, “Releasing a Proof of Ashok Gehlot’s Anti Hindu Face. Salman Chisti who issued a bounty on Nupur Sharma head said “Mai Nasha nahi karta” Rajasthan Police ‘Bol nashe me tha, taaki bachaya jae’.”

In another video, the accused Chishti is seen being welcomed by a group of people and police personnel. Someone in the background says, “befikr reh, sab baat ho gayi hai” (stay relaxed, all has been arranged).

It is notable here that though Chishti’s video was available a couple of days ago, Rajasthan police had insisted earlier today that he was in an inebriated state when he made that video threatening to kill Nupur Sharma at any cost.

Earlier on Tuesday, in the video issuing threats to Nupur Sharma, Salman Chishti had said, “I swear by my elders, I swear by my mother, I will shoot her openly. I swear by my children, whoever brings Nupur Sharma’s head, I will give this house to him.” Further, he also described himself as a ‘true soldier of Khwaja’ and tried to incite Muslims. A case was immediately filed against him by the Ajmer Police.

‘Will launch such a big agitation that India will shake’: Sarwar Chishti of Ajmer Dargah Committee threatens over remarks on Prophet Muhammad

Sarwar Chishti of the Anjuman Committee of the Ajmer dargah has made a provocative statement that adds to the ongoing violence and controversy around the blasphemous remarks against the Prophet Muhammad.

A video appeared on July 6, in which Sarwar Chishti said that any mischief in the glory of the Prophet will not be tolerated and the country will shake by the movement that is yet to come.

In the video, Sarwar Chishti said, “The situation in the country right now, is such that people are committing blasphemy. They are doing mischief in the glory of the Prophet, in the glory of the Khwaja. We will not tolerate this at all. We will launch such a massive agitation that the whole Hindustan will shake.” According to the reports, Sarwar Chishti calls himself a member of the Popular Front of India. In 2020, he defended PFI saying the organisation was ”saving India’s constitution”.

Khadim of Ajmer Dargah arrested for making provocative remarks against Nupur Sharma

Salman Chishti, Khadim of the Ajmer Dargah, was detained by the Ajmer Police of Rajasthan on July 5, after he reportedly made a provocative remark about suspended BJP politician Nupur Sharma. He had stated in the video that whoever beheaded Nupur Sharma would receive his house. Additional Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan came to the rescue of the hate-monger saying, “It seems he was in an inebriated state when the video was made. He is a history-sheeter.”

In the last month, there were many violent protests against Nupur Sharma for her allegedly insulting remarks on the Prophet Muhammad. Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur and Umesh Kolhe in Amravati were beheaded by Islamists for supporting Nupur Sharma in their social media posts. Now Sarwar Chishti of Ajmer dargah is seen issuing threats of shaking the whole country.

DGCA issues show cause notice to SpiceJet over ‘poor internal safety oversight’ following 8 technical issues in 18 days

On Wednesday, Aviation regulator DGCA issued a show-cause notice to SpiceJet following eight technical malfunction incidents in the last 18 days. The DGCA in the statement said that SpiceJet failed to establish safe, efficient, and reliable air services under terms of Rule 134 and Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. The authority has asked the airline to explain why action should not be taken against it for the repeated safety issues.

The aviation regulator has given three weeks to SpiceJet to respond to the notice. “The review (of incidents) transpires that poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance actions (as most of the incidents are related to either component failure or system-related failure) have resulted in degradation of the safety margins,” the notice stated.

Sharing the notice on social media, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia asserted that the safety of passengers was paramount. “Even the smallest error hindering safety will be thoroughly investigated and course-corrected,” he said in a tweet.

The notice also added that the financial assessment carried out by DGCA in September 2021 had also revealed that the airline was operating on a ‘cash-and-carry’ (model) and suppliers were not being paid regularly leading to a shortage of spares and frequent invoking of MELs (minimum equipment lists).

8 SpiceJet mishap incidents in past 18 days

This is after the company witnessed the unusual functioning of around 8 airplanes in the past 18 days. On July 5, SpiceJet Q400 aircraft that was operating between Kandla and Mumbai had to make an emergency landing after its windshield cracked mid-flight. In another such incident on the same day, SpiceJet’s Boeing 737 freighter, a cargo aircraft returned to Kolkata while on its way to Chongqing, China. According to the reports, after the plane took off, the weather radar stopped working following which the pilot decided to return to Kolkata.

Earlier in the day, a SpiceJet SG-11 aircraft from Delhi to Dubai was diverted to Pakistan due to a technical malfunction. The aircraft made a safe landing at Pakistan’s Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. According to a statement by the company, nobody was injured and everyone was safe, including passengers and the staff. In another recent incident, a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Jabalpur (SG-2962) was forced to return to the Delhi airport on Saturday morning when the cabin crew spotted smoke inside the plane while flying at 5,000 feet.

On June 25, a SpiceJet flight from Patna to Guwahati was forced to cancel due to a technical fault. One of the aircraft’s rear doors had an automatic warning light lit. On June 19, an enging of a Spicejet flight carrying over 185 people from Patna to Delhi caught fire shortly after take off and had to make an emergency landing. As per the airline, a bird struck the fan blades. On the same day, a Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 aircraft traveling from Delhi to Jabalpur was forced to make an emergency landing in Delhi due to a lack of cabin pressure as the plane reached a high altitude.

Reports mention that the airline is facing financial troubles for three years. The carrier has incurred heavy net loss of Rs 998 crore in 2020-21. Reportedly, the Aviation authorities have given three weeks to SpiceJet to respond to the notice.

Rajasthan: Hindus protest against murder of Kanhaiya Lal, community Hanuman Chalisa recital in Pali, demonstrations in Jaipur

It has been a week since Kanhaiya Lal’s beheading by Islamists in Udaipur that took place on June 28. Hindus in Rajasthan are outraged due to this barbaric killing and they are protesting in many cities. Hindus protested in Pali of Rajasthan on Wednesday 6th July 2022.

Various Hindu organizations had called for the shutdown and there was a community recital of Hanuman Chalisa too. Earlier, similar protests against the brutal murder were seen in Jaipur, Udaipur, Rajsamand, and other places in the state.

Hindus in Pali called for a bandh to protest the beheading incidents that took place in Udaipur and Amravati last month. At around 11 am, Hindus gathered at Sujarpol Square in large numbers and there was a community recital of Hanuman Chalisa. Then the rally headed toward the Collector office via the main market.

On Tuesday, the whole Hindu community of Pali held a meeting at Mali Samaj Bhavan. 850 representatives from 65 different Hindu organizations were present at this meeting. The shutdown on Wednesday, July 6, was proposed and agreed upon in this meeting. This shutdown was supported by the Bar association, the transport association, and the chemist association of the Pali district.

Silent march in Udaipur

On Tuesday, July 5, Hindu Raksha Manch organized a silent march in Udaipur to protest against the brutal killing of Kanhaiya Lal. Hundreds of people including women and children from Hindu families participated in the silent march. Hindu Raksha Manch office-bearer Kamalemdra Singh Panwar said that all the families from the Hindu community in the Udaipur city came together in their respective colonies between 7 to 8 in the morning on Tuesday and raised slogans demanding the death penalty for those who killed Kanhaiya Lal. They also demanded that the Hindu community should be protected against the increasing incidents of attack and that the properties of the rioters be seized. The Hindus also demanded that strict action must be taken against the police and administration who failed to protect them.

Protests and Hanuman Chalisa in Jaipur

Thousands of people protested on July 3, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to condemn the violent murder of the Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal by two Islamists in Udaipur. Members of the RSS, VHP and other Hindu organizations took part in the “Sarv Hindu Samaj” rally, which sought the death sentence for the culprits. The major protest took place in Statue Circle where Hanuman Chalisa was played over loudspeakers.

On July 6, similar protests were called in Renwal of Jaipur. Traders association supported the call for a shutdown. Sarv Hindu Samaj called for the bandh and the police force was deployed to ensure that no unsolicited activity takes place.

On June 28, a Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded by two Islamists in Udaipur. Kanhaiya Lal was killed for a social media post supporting the former spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party, Nupur Sharma. Nupur Sharma has been branded a ‘blasphemer’ by Islamists because of her statements on the life of Prophet Muhammad.

Alt News’ old Instamojo donation page is still active, and accepts donations, read details

On July 6, following the controversy revolving around Alt News and Razorpay, it was found that the old Instamojo donation page of Alt News was still active. First reported by the Twitter user The Hawk Eye, the donation page on Instamojo is not active, but it also accepts donations. The Hawk Eye tested and successfully made a donation and published the screenshot with the tweet.

In his tweet, The Hawk Eye wrote, “Alt News Instamojo page which is supposedly “discontinued”, is found active. Not just the page is live, but it is possible to make donations also from overseas thru Indian a/c. This snapshot shows a payment made on 6/Jul/22 on https://instamojo.com/@altnews/.”

It is notable that Alt News shifted to Razorpay only four months ago, in February 2022. Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News who is currently in judicial custody, had shared the information on his Twitter profile.

Zubair had informed Alt News followers that they had shifted to Razorpay in Feb 2022. Source: Twitter

OpIndia had earlier reported that Alt News used to accept donation via Instamojo, which uses gateways such as UPI, PayTM, VISA for accepting money.

Instamojo account of Alt News

Instamojo accepts international payment as per their website on case to case basis. It is not yet clear whether Alt News has accepted foreign funding through its Instamojo page.

Alt News tries to spin statement of Razorpay as ‘clean chit’ for themselves

Earlier, OpIndia reported that Alt News tried to give it a clean chit to itself and threw payment gateway Razorpay under the bus. Alt News, in its statement, insinuated that Razorpay acted arbitrarily and disabled their ‘donation platform’ on receiving request from police authorities. Alt News claimed that Razorpay informed them that their account was reactivated by Razorpay after they got some clarity but they did not specify what the said clarity was.

Alt News then gave itself clean chit by claiming that if Razorpay had found Alt News violated terms of service, they would not have reenabled their account. Thereby insinuating that Razorpay reactivating their account was an evidence of their not being in violation of any rule of the platform. Alt News also tried to dog-whistle against it by claiming that Razorpay handed over their data to the police. And that this was done without informing them or without any ‘prior investigation’ of any violation on part of Alt News. 

Bhopal: FIR filed against TMC MP Mohua Moitra for her indecent comments on Goddess Kaali, had earlier mocked Shivling at Gyanvapi

On Wednesday, TMC MP Mahua Moitra was booked by the Bhopal Police for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. This is a day after Moitra said that Hindu Goddess Maa Kaali was a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting Goddess. Condemning the remarks made by Moitra, Madhya Pradesh CM said on July 6 that ‘insult of Hindu deities will not be tolerated at any cost’.

According to the reports, the Bhopal Police booked Moitra under section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage reli­gious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code. So far, this is the third FIR filed against the TMC MP. Earlier, 2 FIRs were filed against Moitra in Kolkata based on the complaints filed by BJP leader Jiten Chaterjee and BJP MLA Vivekananda Bauri from Raghunathpur, West Bengal.

Comments made by Madhya Pradesh CM (Image Source- Screenshot from twitter)

BJP leader Jiten Chatterjee filed an FIR against TMC MP Mahua Moitra and stated that Moitra’s indecent comments had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. Also, BJP MLA from Raghunathpur named Vivekananda Bauri registered a complaint under similar charges. In his complaint, Bauri mentioned that Hindus would democratically protest against Moitra if no action is taken against her.

Reportedly, the Kolkata Police booked the TMC MP under section 295A. However, Moitra took to social media on July 6 to assert that she was not afraid of anything. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party, she said, “Bring it in BJP! Am a Kali worshiper. I am not afraid of anything. Not your ignoramuses. Not your goons. Not your Police. And most certainly not your trolls. Truth doesn’t need back up forces”, she tweeted.

Mahua Moitra
Screenshot from Twitter

On July 5, while speaking at India Today Conclave East 2022, Mahua Moitra made controversial remarks about Maa Kaali. She said for her, Maa Kali was a meat-eating, alcohol-accepting goddess. She added, “When you go to Sikkim, you will see that they offer whiskey to Goddess Kaali. But if you go to Uttar Pradesh, and if you tell them that you offer whiskey to the goddess as ‘prasad’, they will call it blasphemy.”

Following her remarks, TMC immediately condemned the statement and distanced itself much before the controversy was further fired upon on the social media platform. In its statement, the party said, “The comments made by Mahua Moitra at the India Today Conclave East 2022 and her views expressed on Goddess Kali have been made in her personal capacity and are NOT ENDORSED BY THE PARTY in ANY MANNER OR FORM. All India Trinamool Congress strongly condemns such comments.”

Mahua Moitra mocks the discovery of Shivling at the controversial Gyanvapi site

It is important to note that this is not the first time that TMC MP Mahua Moitra has passed controversial comments on Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Earlier in May 2022, a complaint was filed against Moitra for mocking Lord Shiva amid the discovery of Shivling at the disputed structure of Gyanvapi mosque. She had shared a picture of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre with a snide remark saying that hope it is not next on the digging list.