Bihar is marked as the most affected state in the recent protests against the Agnipath scheme announced by the central government to provide the youth of the country with an opportunity to connect with the nation’s Armed Forces. While the protests brought some swathes of the country to a standstill, incriminating details about the demonstrations reveal how the protests may well have been planned in advance.
A sub-inspector who was injured while stopping the nuisance in the Buxar district, in his statement, described the incident as an attack by a hired mob. Meanwhile, a video went viral on social media, in which a youth protesting against the Agnipath scheme was seen to be unaware of the very scheme he was supposed to oppose. When asked, he told that he was called there by one Manish Bhaiya.
ये लो इनको ये नही पता कि ये यहाँ क्यों आये है. अग्निपथ योजना क्या है ?
People on social media started tagging their friends named Manish and asking them if they are the same one.
Image Source: Twitter
Manish Yadav alias Manish Bhaiya is the President of the Patna University Students Union
Amidst all the claims being made on social media, OpIndia took an initiative to find out more about Manish Bhaiya. The youth seen in the viral video was protesting with a flag in his hand. We found that it is a flag of the Jan Adhikar Party. Moreover, we traced the location of the protest site in that video and it came out to be Patna. In the full version of the viral video, the protestor tells that Manish Bhaiya is protesting at some nearby distance and that he is related to the Jan Adhikar Party. The video was made by a local news channel called ITV.
More research revealed that this video is from the protests that took place on Friday 17th March 2022. The Jan Adhikar Party’s protest in Patna on this day was led by Patna University Students’ Union President and Jan Adhikar Party’s Yuva Morcha functionary Manish Yadav. OpIndia spoke to Manish Yadav, who led the protests. Manish said, “I don’t know the boy who is seen in the viral video, but that day the protests led by me took place at Dak Bungalow Chauraha Patna. The boy may have come with an acquaintance of mine.”
Manish Yadav admitted that the video footage was from the same protest that he led. Manish Yadav had also given a 72-hour ultimatum to the central government to withdraw the Agnipath scheme during the protest in Patna on Friday.
In Bihar, another leader named Manish Yadav of Jan Adhikar Party of Saharsa district also admitted that the Manish Bhaiya the boy is talking about in the viral video is Patna University’s Student Union President and his own party leader Manish Yadav.
‘Team Saath’, a malicious troll account on Twitter that routinely indulges in targeted harassment of people who do not conform to its views, has made a hit list of celebrities for taking a nationalist stand.
Earlier today, the troll account that often works as a mouthpiece for Islamists and targets accounts for voicing nationalist views took to Twitter to unleash an online mob of Islamists and extremists against celebrities that it claimed are working for the BJP government.
“After the grand success of @sachin_rt , @akshaykumar and @NSaina, the BJP government presents @TandonRaveena and @venkateshprasad as the new saviors of India,” the Twitter account of ‘Team Saath’, which has over 54,000 followers, including the likes of Rohini Singh, Sushant Singh, Swati Chaturvedi, Swara Bhasker and other such ‘eminent’ leftist ideologues, tweeted.
Source: Twitter
‘Team Saath’ lets loose Islamists against celebrities voicing nationalist causes
No sooner did the ‘Team Saath’ put out a list of celebrities who have been assertive and unapologetic about their Hindu identity and linked them to the BJP than its toxic troll army unleashed its harassment and began attacking the personalities for subscribing to an ideology that did not jibe with theirs.
“Cricketers and Bollywood stars have proven to be some of the most over-rated human beings in the world. All show but rotten from the inside out. Jitna sarr pe chadaoge utna inka gandagi bahar aayega,” tweeted one Pramit who identifies himself as a reviewer.
Source: Twitter
Another Islamist, Shirin Khan, who is based out of the US as per her Twitter bio and has over 15,000 followers, responded that Raveena Tandon is not new.
Source: Twitter
Venkatesh Prasad slams ‘Team Saath’ for targeting people for speaking up against injustice; netizens join in to call out ‘Team Saath’
However, many others pointed out the glaring irony of trolling and harassing celebrities online while being an initiative that stood against online trolling and targeted harassment.
Venkatesh Prasad, one of the cricketers mentioned in Team Saath’s tweet, called out the inherent hypocrisy of the account in indulging in targeted harassment while professing to be against it. The former cricketer also slammed the account, asserting that if speaking up for injustice means supporting the BJP or saviours of India, then its IQ needs some serious work.
“Your handle calls itself Against Troll and harassment. Well, if irony had a face. Oops..Sorry you don’t have a face. If speaking up for injustice means BJP government or saviour of India, well your IQ needs some serious work. Just intolerance towards others expressing their POV,” Prasad tweeted.
Your handle calls itself Against Troll and harassment. Well, if irony had a face. Oops..Sorry you don’t have a face. If speaking up for injustice means BJP government or saviour of India, well your IQ needs some serious work. Just intolerance towards others expressing their POV https://t.co/EuVrEvIRqd
SAATH (Stand Against Abuse Troll Harassment) – But they are the ones trolling a minimum of 5 respectable people in this one single tweet!!! https://t.co/8QMPEIZIAI
When one of the Twitter users asked ‘Team Saath’ to speak about the violence meted out on Kashmiri Hindus, the Islamist account was quick to pass the buck and take a dig at actor Anupam Kher and director Vivek Agnihotri instead.
Source: Twitter
Modus Operandi of the Islamist organisation and its past antecedents
Notably, this is not the first time that ‘Team Saath’ has indulged in targeted harassment of dissenting voices. Earlier too, ‘Team Saath’ has used its Twitter account to paint celebrities that stand for Dharma as BJP supporters and let loose their social media army against them.
In fact, ‘Team Saath’ has been notorious for misusing Twitter for online bullying and targeted harassment of individuals whose political views do not align with theirs. ‘Team Saath’ Official is the go-to Twitter account for left-liberals and rabid Islamists to silence nationalist voices in the country. Not just celebrities, but even influential Twitter accounts, are subjected to targeted harassment by ‘Team Saath’ and its army of brainwashed Islamists.
The account had earlier tried unsuccessfully to deplatform a popular Twitter user named Saffron Sniper. In a tweet, ‘Team Saath’ Official wrote, “A compulsive abuser, a regular harasser and a persistent stalker have been suspended.” However, when the Twitter account of Saffron Sniper was restored, the troll account was quick to delete the tweet.
Investigative journalist Vijay Patel reveals ‘Team Saath’ is owned and operated by a bunch of radicalised Muslims
According to Investigative journalist and political observer Vijay Patel, ‘Team Saath’ belongs to a boy based out of Imphal, Manipur. Most of the members of the group, Patel says, are radicalised Muslims, with many of them studying in Jamia Millia Islamia and other universities in New Delhi.
Patel had also shared screenshots of the social media posts made by Team Saath’s account owner where he had spewed venom against the BJP government, PM Modi, and RSS.
‘Team Saath’ and its links with actor Sushant Singh
However, as per speculations on social media, actor Sushant Singh is inextricably linked to the account ‘Team Saath’, with rumour mills claiming that he is the founder of the troll account meant for targeting and browbeating nationalistic voices into silence.
Singh also boasts of his support to ‘Team Saath’ by mentioning it in his Twitter bio, raising suspicions that the account is indeed operated by him.
Source: Twitter
However, a tweet by ‘Team Saath’ clarified that Sushant Singh is not the founder of the group and is rather ‘The Goodwill Ambassador’. The account, the tweet said, is run by one ‘The Linguist’, who, according to Vijay Patel, is an inveterate Islamist harbouring pathological hatred for PM Modi.
Sushant Singh and his penchant for fake news
Sushant Singh may not be the founder of the group but he shares the same characteristics as embodied by the group. Aversion to facts, peddling fake news and pushing propaganda are chief among them.
Sushant Singh has been caught out several times for peddling fake news on the micro-blogging site. He had earlier shared a picture of a deceased elderly man and passed it off as that of a farmer protestor. He had claimed that the ‘farmer’ died at the Haryana-Delhi border during the farmer protests.
Interestingly, it was an old picture of a man, which was first shared on the Facebook page ‘Gareeb Jatt’ in September 2018 i.e. 2 years before the farmer protests began. He was also caught sharing fake news pertaining to the release of suspended police cop Davinder Singh, who was arrested last year for his alleged ties with the terrorists.
The Indian government, in consultation with the heads of the three armed forces, unveiled the Agnipath scheme for the recruitment of youngsters in the armed forces on Tuesday (June 14). The new recruits under the initiative will be referred to as ‘Agniveer’ from now on. Both men and women would be eligible to join for a four-year term, including training. Agniveers would be given precedence for jobs in PSUs and state governments once their service is completed.
Hundreds of armed forces ‘aspirants’ rushed to the streets soon after, damaging public property under the guise of ‘peaceful protests’ and demonstrations. While protesting the government initiative, they vandalised public property, burned trains, and brought life to a halt in several Indian states.
To assuage critics’ concerns and offer a comprehensive picture of the scheme, OpIndia spoke with several armed forces veterans to understand the nitty-gritty of it. Here is an excerpt of the remarks given by the veterans of the armed forces.
Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM, ADC (Retd.)
I am supportive of the Agnipath scheme as I find this scheme a part of a major National Security makeover. That is why it has to be seen from that perspective. Numerous measures are being taken in procurement, innovation, OFB reforms, DRDO all that stuff. The Agnipath scheme is a comprehensive reform which has 3 modules – Recruitment, Training, and re-enrollment. This is not just about the armed forces but it is a comprehensive scheme.
In recruitment, there is a major change in the metrics. The present recruitment system has gone obsolete as it is 70 years old where the emphasis is only on physical and medical. It is a modified and greatly improved system. The Agnipath scheme is linked further to ITIs and Skill India so that we get better recruits. And when we get better recruits, and as per the retention policy, we will retain the best of the best. All the candidates will go through focused and Scientific training modules in accord with the global standards.
Lieutenant General Raj Shukla.
Now, the worry is for the people who will go out after the service period. Since several state governments and central authorities have announced that they will give priority to the Agniveers in various other services, even that concern stands allayed. Also, as this scheme gains momentum over some time, there would be no need left to worry about jobs and pensions. The products will be so superior that companies like Larsen & Toubro will take them firsthand.
This is a capacity-building scheme which adds value to the individual. All soldierly attributes are not martial in nature. Things like motivation, discipline and focused execution have nothing to do with combat but they are very important skills that we need as a society.
But, since this is just a concept, the devil lies in the detail and implementation. So, there will be some apprehensions as there is change and those need to be addressed. There is one apprehension that the political class has dumped it on us, but it is not true. For two and a half years consultations have been on. It is a well-thought change and it must be taken to accomplishment.
Coming to the point of pension, gone are the days when such things were expected by people. It was because opportunities were limited to defence, railways, education, but now things have completely changed as there are a lot of new domains open for the people. The pension was for those who were dependent, now the scenario is of gaining independence. We have to understand that this is a win-win situation for both, the recruit and the recruiter.
Brigadier DS Tripathi (Retd.)
The government’s Agnipath scheme is a significant step forward in the modernization of the troops. However, there appears to be some misunderstanding about the scheme’s specifics, which must be rectified. The strategy was put in place after much debate and discussion from people both inside and outside the system. The concept is not flawless or without problems, but it must be acknowledged that if the top military generals and chiefs of all three forces have opted to execute it, there must be an element of quality associated with it.
I am not disputing that there may be some faults in the Agnipath scheme, but we will only learn about them if it is implemented. And, because 25% of all recruits will be retained, we will have a great batch of highly skilled troops.For the rest 75 percent people, the opportunities are plentiful. Several state administrations have come forward to support that 75%. I also believe that the government should devise specific programmes to grant waivers to these persons in the Group B and Group C services. Because India is rapidly growing, these Agniveers should be deployed in a variety of places, including villages, to provide remarkable results.
Complaints are not to end anyway. One of the prominent complaints raised by the aspirants is that they have lost two years and there was no recruitment in the forces. The government addressed the concern very well by granting relief of 2 years in the first batch. Also, even after the forces find that they need more troops, I believe that routine recruitment will be done to induct more personnel.
The major challenge of the time is to clarify the doubts of the aspirants. As I find it, the best way to convey the demands will be to approach ex-servicemen and the veterans as the forces are in constant connection with their men. This is a wrong message being disseminated in the world if we look at the mishappenings across the country. Even armed forces never entertain such kind of behaviour. This must be stopped at the earliest.
We need to understand that Agniveers are not just military assets, they are social assets. They will be better than all others in every aspect and they will contribute more than an average individual in each and every sector, whether it be public or private.
Brigadier Bhuwnesh Chaudhary (Retd.)
The Agnipath scheme is a great and wonderful scheme brought forward by the government that will transform the entire orientation of the defence apparatus at first, followed by social reform. The youth would join the army at an early age and receive life-long training that they would not receive even if they spent lakhs of rupees. Here, they will get trained and then be paid for it, and after 4 years, they will have a handsome amount in their hands plus several other opportunities. Everyone is announcing that they will give preference to the Agniveers. This is going to be a revolutionary scheme.
One other point has to be understood that we will have enough reserve with us. It is not just an employment scheme, it involves management of defence of the country. The people who are protesting violently and burning trains have been badly misguided. Whatever is happening is very unfortunate. They must understand that our country is passing through difficult times post coronavirus infection. They can play a big role and they should not indulge in activities like this.
Brigadier Bhuwnesh Chaudhary.
We have to understand that the youth is not much experienced. So they cannot decide right and wrong. They are being misguided by some elements continuously which is very bad. I am saying that let the scheme be implemented first and then find the reasons to criticize. This is like one has become a fortuneteller who knows that this is going to fail. People are unnecessarily professing dooms. I’ve been a short service commission officer and I am also a doctor. I got commissioned just for five years and got my permanent commission just after three and a half years. Till then even I was not sure but through determination I got it. Some of my colleagues missed it but they are doing well.
Our youth must be ready to face the modern day challenges and that can be well taught in the forces. I have been in service for 33 years and no one can tell better about this scheme. I find this scheme exceptionally wonderful.
Colonel S Dinny (Retd.)
This is a transformational decision the government of India has taken as far as the human resource management of the Indian Armed Forces are concerned. There has been a radical change in the way warfare has evolved over time since the Indian independence. Technology has changed but what has not changed for so many years is the human resource management of the forces and especially of the Indian Army. So, this present scheme will try to overcome many of the present issues in the forces as far as the management of the forces is concerned.
Colonel S Dinny.
One of the most important issues to be addressed is the high age profile of the armed forces. The present average age is 32 which is on the higher side when compared to the professional forces across the globe. So, there is a need to bring down the age to a reasonable point of around 20 to 25 and this particular scheme will help to achieve that in the next 5 to 7 years.
The second very important point is that through this scheme, we will be able to overcome the colonial baggage of the British way of recruitment system in which a particular class or composition was recruited. There is a need to have an ‘All India All Class’ composition across the armed forces.
The third point I want to make is that since only 25% of the people will be retained for continuation in the services and that through a stringent selection process, only the best of the best will be chosen. So, in the future, the quality will definitely go up. One more point I would like to make is that about 58 per cent of the defence budget is spent only on salaries and pensions. So there is a need to get this bill down so that we can have more amount for capital expenditure thereby helping in the modernisation of the armed forces. This scheme would help us achieve that goal. And though many people are saying that the reduction in the pension bill is the only reason behind this, I find this conclusion to be untrue. It is to be accepted that it is just one offset of this scheme.
Coming to international standards, such schemes have been implemented in several countries across the globe. Many of the countries have already tested and proved the worth of such a scheme in which a civilian comes, gets trained for a particular period of time, then leaves and finds another job based on the experience he has gained from his service. This is another reason why I am very much optimistic about the success of the Agnipath scheme. I also do understand that the challenges India faces are different from other nations but even keeping in mind those challenges, I don’t see a reason why the Agnipath scheme should be called a disaster.
The present t agitation which has gone violent has to be understood in a different way. First of all, there has been no recruitment in the last two years owing to the coronavirus pandemic so that is one frustration that is coming out. So, when this scheme came, many thought that their chances have gone and they won’t be able to make it to their dream of joining the armed forces. This is the reason which led to an initial spontaneous protest. However, after a while, like all other protests in India, it got hijacked by some anti-social elements pushing it to a different level. I can say that we could have communicated that in a better manner.
All the veterans were interviewed by OpIndia virtually.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang was targeting more celebrities apart from Salman Khan and his father Salim Khan, investigations in the the Salman Khan threat case have revealed. Sourav Kamble alias Mahakal – the accused arrested in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case – has informed during the investigations that the Bishnoi gang was targeting another Bollywood celebrity, producer and director Karan Johar.
According to reports, Karan Johar was also on the hitlist of the Bishnoi gang besides Salman Khan and Salim who was threatened by the gang. During the interrogation by the Pune police, Sourav Kamble alias Mahakal made this revelation.
Sourav Kamble told Pune police that according to the Bishnoi gang, Karan Johar was responsible for the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and they were enraged at Karan Johar for this. The Bishnoi gang was therefore planning to threaten Karan Johar and extort Rs 5 crore from him.
Sourav Kamble also told Pune police that he was working only for Vikram Brar with whom he was connected through the Signal App. Therefore Sourav Kamble knew many moves and targets of the Bishnoi gang well in advance. Pune police are further investigating to verify the claims made by Sourav Kamble during the questioning. Vikram Brar is brother of Canada-based gangster Goldie Brar.
According to Kamble, a woman allegedly involved in drug dealing and a doctor accused of desecrating a Sikh holy book was also on the hitlist ofthe gang.
However, the police have said that the claims of Kamble have not been verified yet, and there is a possibility that Kamble could be exaggerating his statements. A a senior official of Pune rural police said, “With some accused, there is an element of bragging in their confessions. The motive behind bragging is to gain publicity and get bigger extortion amounts. This phenomenon is common in Punjab and other neighbouring states. They (gangsters) want their names to get associated with high-profile cases.” The police officer said that they are verifying the claims.
Film writer Salim Khan was seated on a bench at the Bandra Bandstand after a morning stroll on Sunday, June 5 morning at about 7.40 AM, according to the police, when an unidentified individual handed him a note. After the threat letter was delivered to Salim Khan the Maharashtra Department of Home Affairs reinforced the security of Bollywood actor Salman Khan and his father Salim Khan. “Salim Khan, Salman Khan, Bahut Jald Aapka Moosewala Hoga KGBLB” (Salim Khan, Salman Khan, very soon you will end up like Moosewala), said the anonymous message addressed to the star and his father.
On 7th June 2022, Mumbai Police Department recorded Salman Khan’s statement in the death threat case. The actor was asked whether he had gotten any recent threat calls or messages or had any disputes or arguments with anyone. Salman Khan stated that he has not received any threats. He also indicated that he had had no recent conflicts with anyone that may have resulted in the death threats.
Mumbai Police traced the links of the threat to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang which was already making headlines over their links to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Now the investigations have revealed that other Bollywood celebrities like Karan Johar were also the targets of the Bishnoi gang.
A restaurant in Karachi, Pakistan, named Swing, has received severe backlash on social media in Pakistan for using a scene from the Bollywood film Gangubai Kathiawadi featuring Alia Bhatt to promote its special offer, only for men. In its advertisement posted on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook on Friday, June 17, the restaurant used a scene from Bhatt’s movie to promote a special “Men’s Monday” discount, where it offered a 25 per cent discount only for men.
The restaurant used a scene in which Alia Bhatt, who played a sex worker in the film, was seen propositioning men on the Mumbai streets. “Aja na Raja – what are you waiting for? Swings is calling out all the Rajas out there. Aajao and avail a 25% discount on Men’s Monday at Swings!?” the caption of the advertisement read.
The advertisement did not go down well with Pakistani Netizens who slammed the restaurant for promoting sexual abuse of women for cheap publicity. A Facebook user named Daniyal Sheikh wrote, “Ajaa na raja? What is this? It’s promoting sexual abuse of women and literally making fun of women who are forced to be a prostitute. Try to be responsible.”
An Instagram user farihaa.irrfan said, “You really need to look into what’s being put up here. To use a painful scene to justify whatever you’re offering is reeking of misogyny, ignorance.”
Many other social media users criticised the Pakistani restaurant for stooping so low for publicity.
To defend its advertisement, the restaurant posted a follow-up post saying, ‘It was just a concept and not meant to hurt anyone.’ “Arey logon, itna dil pe kyun le liya? Movie kare tou aag, restaurant kare tou paap?” the restaurant asked. Further, it said, “The movie and this post is based on a concept. Like before, we’re open to all and will be serving you with the same love like we always have.”
The so-called apology further angered the already miffed Netizens who took off at the restaurant for issuing such an unapologetic response. “The movie depicted a STORY of a girl who was forced into prost¡tution. It was not a commercial to appeal men and sell them a product. Do you really not understand the difference? How tone-deaf is it? You are literally digging it deeper!” wrote one Khadija Abbas on Facebook.
“Despicable!! Boycotting Swings for their sick sense of humor. I feel for the women who work at your restaurants. Wonder what they have to face!” another person on social media chastised the restaurant for using a cheap PR stunt.
Alia Bhatt starter ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and was released in the cinemas on February 25. The film is an adaptation of Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ which records the life of Gangubai Kothewali, a matriarch of a brothel in Mumbai’s Kamathipura.
On Saturday 18th June 2022, at around 1:30 am, Bharatiya Janata Party’s MP from Bhopal, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur received a death threat via a phone call. The caller posed as a man from the gang of Iqbal Kaskar, brother of the underworld don and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Iqbal Kaskar is a notorious criminal who runs an extortion gang. A video of this incident has also appeared on social media where Sadhvi Pragya can be seen talking to the man giving her threats on phone. A case has been registered in this regard in the TT Nagar police station of Bhopal.
In the video, the BJP MP is talking to the unidentified caller who claimed to represent Iqbal Kaskar. The caller refused to share his name when the MP repeatedly asked him to reveal his identity. The caller just said that he works for Iqbal Kaskar. Subsequently, MP Pragya Singh Thakur asked him who is Iqbal Kaskar and from where does he belong. However, the caller refused to provide any details.
VIRAL OF THE DAY: Gangster Iqbal Kaskar’s man calls Bhopal’s Member of parliament @SadhviPragya_MP to threaten to kill her. Pragyaji’s response will blow your mind. ??? pic.twitter.com/qI3vKX44Jc
During the call, Sadhvi Pragya asked, “You want to kill me. What is the reason?” In response, the caller said, “Action has a reaction and you will see it. Spewing venom against Muslims, and targeting Muslims is the reason. I was supposed to warn you and that I have done.”
In response to this, MP Pragya Singh Thakur said, “Okay you will kill me, no issues. But why are you so hurt, tell me about that. Because anyways you will kill me according to your faith. How would I know the reason after getting killed? So better tell me the reason till I am alive. Have you had any guts, you would tell this to me coming in front rather than calling on the phone. Shut up.”
A case was lodged in the TT Nagar police station of Bhopal. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, Assistant commissioner of police, Umesh Tiwari said, “When the leader was sitting in her office, a call was received and one caller posing as a man of Ibrahim Kaskar, gave a threat call. In the call, he stated that he is giving prior information about her killing. None of the organizations has taken the responsibility for the threat call and the caller also did not reveal the name of the organization.” The police have registered the case under sections 506 and 507 of IPC and have started the investigations.
It is notable that Iqbal Kaskar is the brother of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, who was sent to jail by the Enforcement Directorate in February 2022 in connection with a money laundering case registered against the don and his aides.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur supported the remarks by Nupur Sharma. She had tweeted, “If speaking the truth is rebellion then we are also rebels. Jay Sanatan, Jay Hindutva.”
सच कहना अगर वगावत है तो समझो हम भी वागी हैं। जय सनातन, जय हिंदुत्व…
— Sadhvi Pragya singh thakur (@SadhviPragya_MP) June 9, 2022
This is not the first time that Iqbal Kaskar’s man has issued threats on a phone call. On 11th June 2022, Waseem Rizvi alias Jitendra Narayan Tyagi wrote a letter to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath saying that he is getting death threats on phone from foreign countries. He wrote that he received death and beheading threats via a WhatsApp call from Dubai on June 10, at around 11.30 pm.
In his letter, addressed to Yogi Adityanath, Waseem Rizvi wrote that he had received the threat call from a Dubai number (+971569781862). A person who identified himself as the brother of terrorist Iqbal Kaskar warned Tyagi that he would behead him in the coming three days. Jitendra Narayan Tyagi is the ex-Shia Waqf Board Chairman (UP), who has left Islam and accepted Hinduism. Ever since he has accepted Hinduism, he is getting death threats from Islamists.
The Kerala Police on Saturday used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the Youth Congress workers who protested outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. The protesting workers also demanded the resignation of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the 2020 Kerala gold smuggling case.
According to the reports, the workers of the Youth Congress marched to the state Secretariat demanding the resignation of CM Vijayan. The Police used water cannons as some of the protesters tried to enter the north gate of the Secretariat.
#WATCH | Police use water cannons to disperse Youth Congress workers who are protesting outside Secretariat in Thiruvanathapuram demanding resignation of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in a gold smuggling case pic.twitter.com/71bfZJ20Tl
The protests turned violent after the protesting workers pelted stones at the Police officers and tried to get past the barricades posted in the area. The Police then resorted to lathi-charge and dispersed the violent crowd in order to maintain peace.
Reportedly, around 300 Youth Congress workers participated in the protests against CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the 2020 case of gold smuggling that was executed through diplomatic baggage to the UAE Consulate. The Congress wing has been staging a protest in Thiruvananthapuram and several other parts of Kerala after Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case made crucial claims against CM Vijayan.
Swapna Suresh names CM Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala Gold Smuggling Case
Suresh on Tuesday revealed that she was called by Sivasankar, the Principal Secretary of CM Vijayan, during his visit to Dubai back in 2016. “Sivasankar told me that the CM had forgotten to carry a bag, which needed to be taken to Dubai. When the bag was brought to the consulate (in Thiruvananthapuram), we scanned it and realized that it contained currency. I cannot reveal everything about my statement before the court,” she was quoted.
She added that utensils used to cook ‘biryani’ were sent to the CM’s residence. She stated that Biryani is edible, and food item has a minimum weight but the vessels that were delivered without any security check had unusual weight. Suresh meanwhile also alleged that CM Vijayan’s wife Kamala, daughter Veena and other top aides were also involved in the case.
However, senior officer M Sivasnakar who was suspended as principal secretary to the CM when the scam first emerged in 2020 stated in his recently launched book named ‘Aswathamavu Verum Oru Aana’, (Ashwathamavu is just an elephant) that Suresh had sought help form the CM, to which he had clearly refused. Suresh had asked the CM to clear the diplomatic baggage cleared from the customs. The bag contained smuggled gold.
On July 5, 2020, customs authorities at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport seized gold weighing more than 30 kg and worth around Rs 15 crore. This gold was hidden in diplomatic luggage and air freighted to the UAE embassy. Customs officers took action after receiving evidence that the luggage was part of a smuggling network attempting to misappropriate the name of a diplomat with diplomatic immunity.
According to a statement released on Saturday 18th June 2022, National Conference (NC) head Farooq Abdullah has decided to withdraw his name from the consideration for the ‘unified’ opposition’s Presidential candidate. His name was proposed along with Gopal Krishna Gandhi for the upcoming Presidential election in a meeting of opposition party leaders. Farooq Abdulla’s name was proposed by Mamata Banerjee at the end of the meeting held on 15th June 2022.
In his statement, Farooq Abdullah said, “I am honored to have had my name proposed as a possible joint opposition candidate for the office of the President of India by Mamata Banerjee Sahiba. Subsequent to Mamata didi proposing my name, I have received a number of calls from opposition leaders offering their support for my candidature.”
Furthermore, he added, “I have taken a few days to discuss this unexpected development with my family and senior colleagues. I am deeply touched by the support that I’ve received & honored to have been considered for the highest office in the country. I believe that Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a critical juncture and my efforts are required to help navigate these uncertain times. I have a lot more active politics ahead of me and look forward to making a positive contribution in the service of Jammu and Kashmir and the country.”
Farooq Abdullah added, “Therefore, I withdraw my name from consideration as joint opposition’s candidate for the President of India. I am grateful to Mamata Didi for proposing my name. I am also grateful to all the senior leaders who offered me their support.”
On June 15, the opposition parties held a joint meeting in which they agreed that a joint candidate from the opposition should contest the upcoming Presidential election scheduled on July 18. Farooq Abdullah and Gopal Krishna Gandhi were the two names opposition parties were looking at as potential candidates. Gopal Krishna Gandhi is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s grandson and former governor of West Bengal.
On June 15, the process of submitting presidential nominations began. Nominations are accepted till June 29, and papers will be reviewed on June 30. The deadline for withdrawing from candidacy is July 2. The election will take place on July 18, and the results will be announced on July 21.
Amidst violent protests over the newly enacted Agnipath scheme for recruitment into armed forces, several central govt ministries have started announcing reservations for jobs for the Agniveers after they retire on completing their 4-year term. After the home ministry announced 10% reservation in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Riffles, now the Defence Ministry and the Civil Aviation Ministry also announced jobs for the Agniveers in their ministries.
The Defence ministry has approved a proposal to reserve 10% of vacancies for Agniveers after they complete their terms. In a tweet, the Office of the Defence Minister of India said, “Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to reserve 10% of the job vacancies in Ministry of Defence for ‘Agniveers’ meeting requisite eligibility criteria.”
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has approved a proposal to reserve 10% of the job vacancies in Ministry of Defence for ‘Agniveers’ meeting requisite eligibility criteria.
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) June 18, 2022
The Ministry informed that the 10% reservation will be applicable for defence civilian posts, Indian Coast Guard and 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings. “This reservation would be in addition to existing reservation for ex-servicemen,” it said.
“Necessary amendments to relevant recruitment rules will be undertaken to implement these provisions. Defence Public Sector Undertakings will be advised to make similar amendments to their respective recruitment rules. Necessary age relaxation provision will also be made,” it further added.
Necessary amendments to relevant recruitment rules will be undertaken to implement these provisions.
Defence Public Sector Undertakings will be advised to make similar amendments to their respective recruitment rules. Necessary age relaxation provision will also be made.
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) June 18, 2022
It may be noted that under the Agnipath scheme, the Agniveers will be able to apply for permanent commission after they complete their 4-year term, and 25% of them will be recruited for permanent posts in the armed forces. How additional jobs under the defence ministry have been reserved for them.
Civil Aviation ministry
Similarly, the ministry of Civil Aviation also has announced that they will recruit the Agniveers for various posts. The ministry informed that various services like air traffic services, aircraft technician services, maintenance, repair & overhaul of aircraft, meteorological services, air accident investigator services etc will be opened up for them. The Agniveers can also work in flight safety, administrative, finance, IT & communications staff, logistics and supply chain, and management wings of Ministry.
Earlier on Saturday (June 18) morning, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that 10% of the vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles will be reserved for Agniveers after the completion of their service under the Agnipath scheme.
In addition, the ministry has declared that Agniveers would be offered a three-year age relaxation above the specified maximum age restriction for service recruitment in CAPF. The ministry has also declared that 5 years of age relaxation will be provided for the first batch of Agniveers.
This move comes at a juncture when a lot of misinformation and apprehension is being spread against the scheme and its utility. By making this decision, the government has reiterated its former position that Agniveers would be provided with a variety of opportunities once their Tour of Duty is complete.
On Friday, the senior officers of the Maharashtra Police sought an explanation from the investigating officers for applying section 66A of the Information Technology Act against Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale.
Chitale was arrested on May 14 for sharing an allegedly derogatory post on Facebook against NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. She was charged under section 66A of the IT Act and also under the sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
According to the reports, the Maharashtra Police senior officers have questioned the investigating officers over-application of section 66A of the IT Act that has already been scrapped by the Supreme Court. “We have sought a report from the officers investigating the case to find out why they applied section 66A. There have been repeated reminders sent to the officers asking them not to use it”, the senior officers were quoted.
This is a couple of days after the National Commission of Women (NCW) raised the issue and questioned the Maharashtra DGP over invoking section 66A of the IT Act. The Commission also stated that no arrest warrant was issued to Chitale which is necessary for the non-cognizable offense. It directed that the police should not act based on political vendetta but should rather proceed in an unbiased manner in every matter.
Don’t act on basis of ‘political vendetta’: NCW to police on Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale’s arrest https://t.co/ryHCGLjMy3
Appearing on behalf of the Maharashtra DGP before the Commission, Milind Bharambe, Special IG (law and order) noted that the application of 66A was applied out of oversight and that it would be taken off. However, he stated that even if that one section is taken off, the other sections still would remain valid.
The NCW on June 16 meanwhile had also sought an explanation from the Maharashtra Police regarding the arrest of Chitale without prior investigation. “As per Section 41 A of CrPC, the police is supposed to give notice to the accused before arrest and prior permission is to be taken from the magistrate in non-cognizable cases. However, the police failed to comply with this mandatory provision of law”, the Commission was quoted.
Scrapping of Section 66A of the IT Act
The Supreme Court in the year 2015 scrapped section 66A of the Information Technology Act in the Shreya Singhal case after it was challenged through a PIL on the grounds that it was being misused. The court struck down the provision and called it unconstitutional and a violation of free speech.
Section 66A of the IT Act empowered the police to arrest persons over what policemen could subjectively construe as offensive. The Court observed that the weakness of Section 66A lay in the fact that it had created an offense based on undefined actions, such as causing inconvenience, danger, obstruction, and insult, which do not fall among the exceptions granted under Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of speech.
The court had also observed that the challenge was to identify where to draw the line. Traditionally, it has been drawn at incitement while terms like obstruction and insult remain subjective, it had added. Later in the year 2021, the center had also written to all the states barring them from registering cases under the repealed provision. The Centre had also ordered to withdraw any such case that may have been filed under the section.
Reportedly, the Thane court on June 16 granted bail to the Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale in a case registered against her under the SC/ST Act. Though Chitale has been granted bail, she continues to stay in jail as there are more than 22 FIRs registered against her in connection with her alleged Facebook post.
