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Ex-Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad takes Congress-friendly Mint columnist Abhishek Baxi to cleaners, here is what happened

Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad stripped pro-Congress Mint journalist Abhishek Baxi after he ridiculed him, insinuating that Prasad was a BJP operative. Baxi insinuated that Prasad was a BJP operative on Twitter, quoting a tweet in which Prasad called out those who were engaging in whataboutery on a previous tweet in which he condemned the hanging of an effigy of ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Baxi, quoting the tweet by Venkatesh Prasad wrote, “Why don’t you call Jay Shah directly and work it out instead of sending these feelers?”

To that, pulling Abhishek Baxi, Prasad quoted his tweet and wrote, “Why do you flaunt your stupidity and polish your ignorance and make it shine further instead of learning not everything in this world works according to your stupid assumptions and hallucinations.”

Again, Baxi quoted Prasad’s tweet and wrote, “Calm down, Mr. Prasad. My tweet, in fact, was quite respectful because if you’re peddling what you are without any expectations, it really is embarrassing.”

To which, Prasad underscored Baxi’s allegiance to the Congress and gave a befitting reply to Abhishek Baxi, writing, “Stop embarrassing yourself Mr. Baxi. If upon speaking ones heart and mind, you by your intolerance you put your stupid allegations, by that logic the kind of blind licking you have been doing for years, you should have been Congress President by now. BUT such things don’t work.”

This comes after Venkatesh Prasad voiced his displeasure and condemned the hanging of an effigy of ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma outside a mosque in Belgavi, Karnataka, over her remarks regarding Prophet Muhammad in a tweet on Sunday.

Earlier, Prasad voiced his dismay at the hanging effigy in a tweet, saying he couldn’t believe this was India in the twenty-first century.  He had pleaded with everyone to let rationality take precedence over politics. However, his plea for logic infuriated some ‘liberals,’ Islamists, and others, who, rather than agreeing to cease the violence and death threats, engaged in whataboutery.

Some even attempted to defend it by noting that political workers and cricket fans have both burned effigies. However, burning an effigy as a means of protest is not the same as hanging an effigy as a death threat and a message to others that if they hurt the religious emotions of one community, they would face the same destiny.

The former cricketer, frustrated by hardliners’ refusal to let rationality win, described it as crazy.  He indicated explicitly that this effigy poses a threat to several people, not only Sharma. Notably, when the Taliban, an Islamist fundamentalist group, toppled the Afghan government, bodies were hanged from cranes for public display.

Covid-19 infected Sonia Gandhi admitted to hospital, Congress plans demonstrations before ED office as Rahul Gandhi summoned on June 13 in National Herald case

The interim president of Congress Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on 12th June 2022. Days after getting infected with Coronavirus, Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to the hospital as health deteriorated. Her condition is said to be stable. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala has informed about her hospitalization.

The Enforcement Directorate case had sent a notice to Sonia to appear before it on June 8 for interrogation in the National Herald case. But due to the Covid-19 infection, she now has to appear before the ED on June 23.

Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital today owing to Covid-related issues. She is stable and will be kept at the hospital for observation. We thank all the Congressmen & women as also all well-wishers for their concern and good wishes.”

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi was issued a notice by the ED to appear before it on June 8. But due to being infected with corona, Sonia Gandhi had then sought three weeks time from the ED. In the same case, the Enforcement Directorate also issued summons to former Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The investigating agency has summoned Rahul Gandhi for questioning on June 13. After the agency issued the summons, the Congress leaders had accused the central government of misusing the government agencies.

The Congress party is preparing for a protest on June 13, the day of Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled interrogation. A meeting of senior Congress leaders has also been held in this regard. In this meeting, the preparations for the demonstrations on June 13 were discussed. The Congress has decided to hold a so-called ‘satyagraha’ in front of ED offices across the country including Delhi. Besides, the party has decided that it will organize a march to the ED office in Delhi.

Afghan football players indulge in a brawl with the Indian team after India registered a 2-1 win in the Asian Cup qualifiers

Ugly scenes broke after India registered a fantastic 2-1 win against Afghanistan in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on Saturday. After the match that took place at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata, a few Afghan players came over towards the Indian contingent and started arguing. The argument soon escalated into a brawl resulting in ugly scenes.

In a video shared by a Twitter user Navaneed M, three Afghani players could be seen pushing two players from the Indian side after the argument. The spat escalated after an Afghan player pulled an Indian player’s shirt. Indian Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu quickly intervened and tried to cool the situation down.

However, the whole Afghanistan team descended upon the Indian team that escalated the fight. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu could also be seen getting slapped in the video. Soon, the Indian contingent also joined in and it turned out into a massive brawl. The players could be seen heckling, pushing and shoving each other. It was time for AFC authorities who entered the scene late and after much moderation, the scuffle ended.

Earlier, India won the game after a tense finale that saw 3 goals being scored in the last 5 minutes of the game. Sunil Chhetri gave India the lead with a brilliant free-kick in the 86th minute only to see Afghanistan equalize just 2 minutes later. However, Sahal Abdul Samad got India the crucial winning goal in the injury time to keep the Blue Tigers on track for the Asian Cup qualification.

With yesterday’s win, India now stands at second position in Group D and will play Hong Kong to try and qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup while Afghanistan is out of the reckoning after yesterday’s defeat.

Uttar Pradesh: House of Prayagraj violence mastermind Javed Ahmed bulldozed by authorities

The Uttar Pradesh Police is in action after the violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Prayagraj after the Friday prayers on June 10. The violent protests were against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s allegedly derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad. The Yogi government has bulldozed the house of Javed Ahmed alias pump, the mastermind of the violence. The administration has initiated action to demolish his house on 12th June 2022 in the afternoon.

In view of the situation, a heavy police force has been deployed around Javed’s house. Terming the house of the accused Javed as illegal, the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) had earlier put up a notice at his residence asking him to vacate the house by 11 am today.

According to reports, Javed Ahmed alias Pump is the one who had executed the stone-pelting at the police by pushing the children in the front during the violence in Prayagraj. He used stone-pelting kids as rioters’ shields during the violence. He was arrested on Saturday. This was confirmed by Prayagraj SSP Ajay Kumar. Action will also be taken against Javed Ahmed’s daughter in the case.

SSP Ajay Kumar said, “Javed’s daughter is also involved in such activities. She is a student in Delhi. If needed, we will contact the Delhi Police and send our teams.” Sara Ahmed is the daughter of Javed Ahmed. She studies at JNU.

Yesterday the authorities had issued a notice to Javed informing that the house will be demolished by 11AM today. The notice was issued by the zonal officer of the Prayagraj Development Authority on June 10, asking to vacate the illegal premises till June 12. As per the notice, the house in the Kareli Police Station area was built unlawfully and without approval from the competent authorities. 

According to the notice, Javed Ahmed did not appear before the authority, thus the authority issued orders to self-demolish the house by June 9th. However, the authority discovered that the instructions were not followed and that the home was not demolished, therefore the authority issued this notice to evacuate the premises by June 12 in order to raze the property.

There are also reports of people associated with Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM being involved in the incident. On this, the SSP said that no such connection has been confirmed at the moment.

In Prayagraj, strict action has been taken in the case of violence by Islamic fundamentalists. According to SSP Ajay Kumar, a case will be registered against the accused under 29 important sections, and action will be taken under the Gangster Act and NSA. A case has been registered against 70 accused and 5,000 unidentified persons.

Kuwait: Expat Muslims including Indians who held protest against Nupur Sharma in Kuwait City to be arrested and deported

Asian Muslim expats including Indians who staged an agitation against Nupur Sharma in Kuwait City will be arrested and deported to their home countries, Kuwaiti media has reported. The expat Muslims had gathered at the Fahaheel area in Kuwait City in Kuwait on June 10, Friday and held a demonstration against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her comments on Prophet Mohammed. The protestors had chanted slogans against Sharma and in support of Prophet Muhammad during the demonstration.

The Kuwait govt decided to take the action because its national law bars expats to participate in sit-in protests or demonstrations in the country. Holding protests and agitations by foreigners is considered a serious crime in Kuwait. The authorities also aim to set an example, so that in future expats don’t engage in such violations.

On Friday, expat Muslims from various Asian countries including Indians had gathered in Kuwait’s Fahaheel area to protest ‘in support of Prophet Muhammad’ after Friday prayers, according to various media sources. However, perhaps they were unware that they were violating local law by this act, as foreigners are not allowed to indulge in political activities like protests and agitations.

A video of protestors in which 45-50 men can be seen giving the chants of ‘Allahu-Akbar’ and “La Ilaha Illallah” was widely shared on social media. The protestors were later removed from the spot. A large police force in riot gear had arrived at the protest area and the agitators were taken away in trucks.

Reportedly, the authorities have started to identify and arrest those foreigners who had participated in the protest. Their visas will be cancelled, they will sent to a deportation centre from where they will be deported to their native countries. A probe has also been launched to find who had organised the protest.

The protesters will be not just deported, but they may also be banned for life by Kuwait. According to Al Rai newspaper, the authorities have decided not to allow them to return to Kuwait in any further arrangements in future.

The Kuwait govt will also take appropriate actions against locals who were part of the demonstration. While the Kuwaiti govt has issued a statement condemning the comments by Nupur Sharma and had summoned the Indian ambassador to demand an apology from the Indian govt, the govt is of the view that this does not mean that foreigner will be allowed to hold protests violating the country’s laws.

In India, the week saw large-scale agitations, stone peltings and violent demonstrations by Islamic arsonists that saw many cities including Kanpur, Prayagrag and others held on a rampage. Meanwhile, suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma continues to receive death and rape threats, with her effigy openly hanged in Karnataka’s Belgavi – all for quoting hadiths during a TV debate, that sparked the Islamist row.

West Bengal: Mob attacks car with stones and sticks, police watch as mute spectators

Amidst the ongoing violence in West Bengal, an undated video of a frenzied mob attacking a car has surfaced on social media.

As per reports, the incident took place in the Rajarhat locality of Kolkata. Rioters, armed with stones and dressed in skull caps, gheraoed a red car from all sides. The car was moving but it stopped on the side of the road after the mob started pelting stones at it, breaking the front passenger window. After the vehicle stopped, the mob continued to pelt stones at the vehicle and broke the remaining glass windows. Meanwhile, other rioters hit the bonnet of the car with sticks.

With absolutely no concern about the safety of the individuals trapped inside the vehicle, the rioters continue with their onslaught. Two police officers, dressed in khaki, could be seen in the viral video.

Instead of trying to pacify the situation or disperse the crowd and protect the people inside the car, the cops become part of the mob and watch the carnage unfold in silence.

Sreyashi Dey, Assistant Editor at The Print, informed that posters and cutouts, calling for the death penalty of ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, could be spotted in the same Rajarhat locality of Kolkata.

Islamists unleash an orgy of violence in West Bengal

On Thursday (June 9), a mob of frenzied protestors blocked the National Highway connecting Howrah and Kolkata, thereby resulting in traffic woes and public inconvenience. The protestors, dressed in skull caps and lungi, created a ruckus on NH116.

They yelled Islamist slogans and burnt tyres. In videos that have now surfaced on social media, dark smoke could be seen engulfing the skies. Reportedly, the blockade began from Nibra (Kona Expressway-NH16 junction) at around 10:30 am and ended at 9:30 pm.

Located at about 12 km from the second Howrah bridge, it extended up to the AJC Bose Road in Kolkata.Instead of acting against the mob that had brought traffic to a near halt in Howrah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked them to disrupt public life in other states instead.

On Friday (June 10), the Islamists disrupted the vehicular movement in the Park Circus area in Kolkata. Following the Friday prayers (Jumma Namaz), Islamists began gathering on the road and demonstrating against the remarks made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. 

Similar scenes were seen in Kolkata’s twin city Howrah, where Muslim mobs resorted to violence and vandalism. They burnt down vehicles and police booths during the violent protests.

On the same night, a frenzied mob of Muslim men ambushed the Beladanga police station in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. As per reports, they hurled stones and bricks at the police station and demanded the arrest of a Hindu girl named Aishwani, who had asked rioters in the State to migrate to nearby Islamic countries.

Forced by circumstances, the cops had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the violent mob and pacify the situation. The girl was subsequently detained by the police.

Goons attack the woman who had accused Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi’s son of rape, ask her to withdraw the case

The rape case against the son of Mahesh Joshi, a minister in the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan, has taken a new turn. The victim has alleged that on Saturday (11th June 2022) night, some goons tried to kill her and threw a blue liquid on her face and hand.

The victim told that she was attacked by two youths while she was walking with her mother in southeast Delhi. The goons attacking her said, “Won’t you listen? Why you are not withdrawing the case?” The victim had feared an attack and asked for protection earlier as well.

Police have registered a case under sections 195 A (threatening any person to give false evidence), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and started the investigation. The woman was taken to the AIIMS trauma center after the attack for her medical examination.

An FIR was lodged by the woman against Rohit Joshi under several serious sections including rape in Delhi’s Sadar Bazar police station. Rohit Joshi is the son of Mahesh Joshi who is the water supply minister in the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. The victim woman works for a Rajasthan-based news channel.

The girl has stated in her complaint that Rohit attacked her and forced her to get an abortion when she became pregnant. The victim stated in her police complaint that the accused raped her multiple times in Jaipur and Delhi. In addition, the victim has reported rape and unnatural sex with her in Delhi.

Rohit and the girl had been Facebook friends for almost two years, according to the girl. As per the complaint, on January 8, 2021, Rohit drove her to his friend’s residence in Sawai Madhopur where Rohit raped her after forcing her to consume psychoactive substances. When she became unconscious, Rohit filmed and photographed her naked. 

The complainant says when she became pregnant, Rohit coerced her into having an abortion, as per the complaint. The girl claimed that on August 12, 2021, Rohit summoned her to his friend Ajay Yadav’s workplace and assaulted her during a conversation. After that, on September 3-4, Rohit brought her to a Delhi hotel and raped her. After that, on April 17, 2022, raped her again.

According to the FIR, Rohit repeatedly threatened the victim in the name of his father. Rohit further stated that he has had contacts with miscreants and the mafia and that he is not frightened of the cops. He warned her about being treated like Bhanwari Devi. The woman claims that the father-son duo poses a threat to her and her family’s lives.

The case was filed on May 8 at a police station in the North District under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offense), 312 (causing miscarriage), 366 (kidnapping, abducting, or inducing woman to compel her for marriage, etc), 377 (unnatural offenses), and 506 (criminal intimidation). According to a top Delhi Police officer, the Rajasthan Police has been notified of the FIR and will probe further.

Islamists and ‘liberals’ rally behind Prayagraj riots accused Javed Ahmed, call demolition of illegally constructed house ‘vendetta’

Islamists and ‘liberals’ have now flocked to the defence of Javed Ahmed, the alleged mastermind of the Prayagraj riots, whose unlawfully constructed residence is set to be razed as per the competent authorities’ directives. Self-proclaimed intellectuals and activists like Sharjeel Usmani and Suchitra Vijayan stood up to the defence of Javed Ahmed, who has been arrested by the police over his role in the violence in Prayagraj on Friday.

Sharjeel Usmani resorted to Twitter to defend the riot-accused Ahmed whose unlawfully constructed home is being razed by authorities. Usmani defended the accused in a series of tweets. He even mentioned Javed’s daughter, Afreen Fatima, who has been a JNU student and has periodically defended terrorists.

Usmani characterised the entire investigation and action by the Prayagraj Development Authority as “revenge.” In a tweet, he wrote, “Afreen Fatima and her family is paying a price for who they are. This is dangerously cruel. This is a witch hunt. May Allah have his mercy on all the families who keep the wheels of struggle moving despite huge personal risks. May Allah protect them and all families. Ameen.”

Similarly, ‘intellectual’ Suchitra Vijayan came to Twitter to express her solidarity with Afreen Fatima and Javed Ahmed. Suchitra posted a tweet with the hashtag #StandWithAfreenFatima and a picture urging people to storm Twitter with additional hashtags such as #MuslimLivesMatter.

Rana Ayyub, a Washington Post columnist accused of financial fraud, also joined in to defend the family accused of instigating riots. Rana employed the same strategy to play the victim when wrongdoing is unearthed. Labeling the action by the authorities as ‘oppression,’ she tweeted, “Another day of Oppression in India. The injustices against #AfreenFatima ; the teenagers who were murdered for protesting, the brazen demolition of houses. Muslims in India are being made to pay for the international outrage.”

Legal demolition of the illegal residence of Javed Ahmed

Javed Ahmed, the accused mastermind of the riots in Prayagraj on June 10th, was detained by the Uttar Pradesh Police. On June 10, the Prayagraj Development Authority served him a notice to abandon the premises of his illegally constructed residence by 11 AM on June 12.

The notice was issued by the zonal officer of the Prayagraj Development Authority. According to the notice, the property in the Kareli Police Station area was erected illegally and without the consent of the competent authorities. A show-cause notice was issued in this regard on May 10 of this year.

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The notice.

As per the notice, Javed Ahmed failed to appear before the authority, thus the authority issued orders on May 25 for the house to be self-demolished by June 9th. However, the authority discovered that the orders had not been observed and that the house had not been demolished, thereafter the authority issued this notice to evacuate the premises by June 12.

Kanpur Violence: Another key conspirator arrested, former SP leader Nizam Qureshi was absconding for 8 days

The second mastermind of the Kanpur violence, Nizam Qureshi, has been arrested by the SIT. Nizam Qureshi is a former SP leader. Earlier, prime accused in the case, Islamic leader Hayat Zafar Hashmi was arrested by the police. The police are likely to confront Hayat Zafar Hashmi and Nizam Qureshi over their roles in instigating the riots. More information about the riots can be revealed through their face-to-face confrontation.

Nizam Qureshi was absconding since the violence. He was dodging the police for the past 8 days. The SIT team was constantly trying to arrest Nizam Qureshi. On Saturday, the SIT team arrested him from Beckonganj.

Who is Nizam Qureshi?

According to a report by Navbharat Times, Nizam Qureshi, accused of the Kanpur Violence, has a strong political connection as he has been City level secretary of the Samajwadi Party. He also happens to be the district-level president of the All India Jamiyatul Qureshi Action Committee. On 22nd May 2022, Dr. Imran – the city president of the Samajwadi Party – expelled Nizam Qureshi from the party, citing that he is not showing a keen interest in the party initiatives. Nizam Qureshi has a stronghold in the local body of the Samajwadi Party as well as the Muslim community living in Kanpur.

A WhatsApp group named ‘Team Nizam Qureshi’ was found active on his phone. Screenshots of the chat from the very group had gone viral, which revealed that Kanpur Violence was a well-planned attempt to disturb the harmony of the city. Three MLAs of the Samajwadi Party were admins of this group. Samajwadi Party’s city president Dr. Imran was also a member of that group. But all of them have exited the group after the Kanpur Violence.

Economic boycott of Hindu businesses

The chat from Nizam Qureshi’s phone revealed that an appeal was made to the local Muslims to buy all their daily needs from the shops owned by Muslims and that they should always observe a complete economic boycott of the Hindu businesses. Dayaram Sweet House, Bansilala General Stores, Gupta Coolers, F=Sumit’s Fruit Shop, etc. were among the major names mentioned in that chat. Besides, the chat contained many other provocative things.

The Kanpur police are further investigating this case and they are interrogating Nizam Qureshi. Nizam Qureshi has close links with Hayat Zafar Hashmi, the mastermind of the Kanpur violence. Nizam Qureshi had called a meeting for the market closure on June 1, in which an appeal was made for a market closure on Friday, June 3. This was being done in protest against Nupur Sharma’s controversial remarks about the Prophet Muhammad Nizam Qureshi was also present there on 3rd June 2022, when the shutdown calls were being made that caused the subsequent riots. After his name appeared in the FIr, he went absconding.

Hayat Zafar Hashmi is already arrested

Kanpur violence mastermind Hayat Zafar Hashmi is on police remand for two days. At the same time, the police arrested the second mastermind. The police are also likely to confront Hayat Zafar Hashmi and Nizam Qureshi so that more details can be revealed. On Friday, June 3, there was a clash in the name of a market shutdown in the Yatimkhana area under the Beckonganj police station. There was heavy stone-pelting between the two sides, in which dozens of vehicles were damaged. At the same time, many policemen and passersby were also injured. The Kanpur violence was instigated in a planned manner. The police have got strong evidence of WhatsApp chats.

United States: Partially nude transsexual twerks in front of underage children during Pride March

On Saturday (June 11), a transsexual woman resorted to sexually inappropriate behaviour in front of minor children during a Pride Parade in Washington DC, USA.

The event, organized by Marriott International, was supposedly meant to acknowledge the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods in the US Capital. Considered to be one of the largest parades, the event witnessed the presence of both adolescent and pre-pubescent children.

During a march by European Union staff and supporters, the transsexual woman displayed his breasts in full public glare. He also twerked his hips as the frenzied crowd cheered in unison.

This was despite knowing that a large number of children had come to attend the event. With a sign that read ‘Sex work’, the semi-nude transsexual was also spotted twerking for the bystanders and entertaining them.

The sign, carried by him, also bore the name of Mary Magdalene (one of Jesus’ followers and a witness to his crucifixion and resurrection). He was also seen carrying a trolley during the 1.5 km-long parade.

The event continued between 3 pm to 7:30 pm at Logan and Dupont Circle neighbourhoods in Washington, DC. The contentious videos went viral when journalist Andy Ngo drew the attention of his followers to the disturbing trend of exposing underage children to sexual behaviour.

Last year, US shot putter Raven Saunders courted controversy for twerking in front of the camera to celebrate her silver medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Needless to say, Saunder’s twerking created quite a flutter on the internet, with reactions pouring in from a large number of social media users. One user was sardonic in criticising Saunders for twerking on camera.

In a sarcastic jibe, the user said “nothing screams oppression better than multicoloured hair guy twerking on live TV”. Another concerned American on Twitter remarked that twerking on live TV in a country that clucks over chewing food in public has made the United States a laughing stock.