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Chinese state media mocks USA over baby formula: Read about the 2008 melamine baby milk scandal that had poisoned 3 lakh children in China

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese state media mocks USA over baby formula: Read about the 2008 melamine baby milk scandal that had poisoned 3 lakh children in China

On Tuesday, the China State-affiliated media ridiculed the baby formula shortage situation that the United States is facing since January 2022. “The United States is busy quality checking the military arms and ammunitions, and planning to save other countries instead of focusing on the bad that is happening due to the formula shortage in its land”, the cartoon by China Daily roughly illustrated.

This is probably hours after Joe Biden’s statement in Tokyo over Taiwan. President Joe Biden on May 23 asserted that the US would militarily defend Taiwan if it came under attack from China. Speaking against the backdrop of growing concern over Chinese military activity in the region, Biden added that the US’s responsibility to protect the self-ruled island, which China considers a renegade province, was ‘even stronger’ after Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Any attempt by China to use force against Taiwan would just not be appropriate. It would dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine”, said Biden. In response the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin slammed the US for interfering in the ‘internal affairs’ of China. “Taiwan issue is a purely internal affair for China. On issues touching on China’s core interests of the sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has no room for compromise or concession,” Wang said on Monday.

Baby formula shortage in USA

According to the reports, the US government on May 18 invoked the Defense Production Act to boost the production of baby formula and approved flights to bring infant formula from abroad amid a nationwide shortage.

It directed the infant formula manufacturers to prioritize and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs and asked the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture to use Department of Defense commercial aircraft to pick up overseas infant formula that meets US health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster.

Reportedly, on May 22, the 35 tons shipment of baby formula arrived in Indianapolis on a US military aircraft from Germany. The shipment included 132 pallets of formula, which arrived on one C-17 cargo plane. The formula originated from Zurich, Switzerland, and was trucked to Germany, where it was loaded on the C-17 and flown to the US. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that Sunday’s shipment was the first of Operation Fly Formula and would provide enough formula for 9,000 babies and 18,000 toddlers for one week.

A C-17 Globemaster III plane carries pallets of infant formula at Ramstein airbase, Germany (Image Source- Guardian)

2008 melamine baby milk scandal in China

China had, in the year 2008 faced a major food safety scandal over baby milk. The 2008 incident, very well known as the Chinese milk scandal involved the supply of melamine adulterated Sanlu Group’s milk and infant formula along with other food materials and components, which resulted in kidney stones and other kidney damage in infants.

According to the reports, the chemical melamine was used to increase the nitrogen content of diluted milk, giving it the appearance of higher protein content to pass quality control testing. Around 3 lakh children were identified who were severely affected due to the adulterated supply and only 52,898 were hospitalized then.

Melamine adulterated milk products (Source- Asia news)

The first case of the scandal was reported in December 2007 when the parents complained about an infant’s kidney stone problem. More complaints started to follow in the year 2008, leading to suspicions over Sanlu’s diluted milk. The Chinese government however revealed the scam in September 2008 and added that products from 21 other companies were also tainted, including those from Arla Foods–Mengniu, Yili, and Yashili. While several cases had reached the hospitals by December 2007, the first report to the government by any hospital was made only on July 16 and onwards.

China was then ridiculed for the concerns about food safety and political corruption that damaged the reputation of the country’s food exports. The World Health Organization had also condemned the scandal and had called the incident ‘deplorable’. More than 11 foreign countries had halted all kinds of imports of Chinese dairy products.

Baby Formula shortage

The United States has been experiencing a scarcity of baby formula, which has distressed parents. Many parents are finding it difficult to obtain baby formula thanks to a combination of short and long-term issues that have plagued most of the major US brands.

The majority of newborns in the United States rely on formula, which is the sole recommended source of nourishment for infants who are not completely breastfed. The problems with baby formula supply began last year when the Covid-19 epidemic impacted the whole economy. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, parents stockpiling formula packs drastically decreased the availability of baby formula. Supply disruptions and a recent safety recall have left numerous pharmacies and supermarkets out of stock.

At present, the baby formula that arrived on Saturday through the military planes aimed at relieving the shortage is still a worry for the parents as it contains formula packed with speciality hypoallergenic formula to be distributed through channels such as hospitals, doctors’ officers and pharmacies, for babies intolerant of the protein in cow’s milk. The formula contents have been rushed to health system outlets to feed babies only with specific allergies.

Karnataka: Two women perform namaz next to judges’ podium, video viral

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Two women perform namaz next to judges’ podium, video viral

A video of two women performing namaz next to judges’ podium in Karnataka High Court has gone viral on social media platforms. The video was first uploaded by a media channel ‘Samvada’ on its YouTube and Facebook channels. The title of the video in Kannada read, “Karnataka High Courtnalli Namaz (Namaz in Karnataka high court)”. Since then, many netizens have shared the video on Twitter and other social media platforms.

On May 15, Mohan Gowda, State Spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Karnataka, shared the video on Twitter and said, “Muslims offered Namaz inside the Karnataka High court Hall. Respected Praveen Sood (DGP Karnataka), Araga Jnanendra (State Home Minister Karnataka, Dr. Sanjeev M Patil(DCP West BCP), DCP Central BCP, any action taken against culprits who violate high court rule? Doesn’t misuse of High Court premises?”

FIR registered against Samvada

On May 16, 2022, a First Investigation Report (FIR) was registered against the channel for uploading a video shot on High Court premises without permission. The FIR was registered by Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru based on a complaint filed by the in-charge Registrar (administration) NG Dinesh under Sections 447 (criminal trespass) and 505(2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

FIR copy. Source: Karnataka Police

The FIR reads that a one minute 48 seconds video was uploaded on May 14 under the caption in Kannada’ Karnataka High Courtnalli Namaz’ (namaz in Karnataka high court). It read, “Entering and making videos inside the high court premises without permission is prohibited. The video footage, filmed by violating rules, spreads hatred between two communities. We seek legal action against those who have filmed and uploaded the video.”

The FIR also mentioned the links to the videos on Facebook and YouTube. However, as of now, both videos have been removed from the channel.

Complaint filed over namaz in High Court at High Court Registrar

Speaking to OpIndia, Mohan Gowda said a complaint has been filed with the registrar of the Karnataka High Court. Karnataka Daily Hosadigantha quoted advocate R Putteraiah saying that he has filed a complaint in this regard. “I have lodged a complaint against two persons for allegedly entering and worshiping in front of a bench of judges. In this regard, the registrar, who filed a police complaint against the video channel’s YouTube channel, is confident that the two individuals who have entered the courtroom will be prosecuted.”

Source: mechirubhat/Twitter

In the complaint addressed to Chief Justice High Court of Karnataka he said, “We the Advocates consider Courts as a Temple of Justice, which never discriminated any person based on his wealth, caste and religion, for the said reasons even to this day the citizens of this County repose complete faith and trust in the Judicial system.” He added, “a video which appears to be videographed in the court hall of Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka, wherein it can be seen that 2 persons are illegally using the Hon’ble Judges podium/dias for their religious purpose. It is well known that the said podium/dias which is exclusively used by Hon’ble Judges to deliver Justice.” Putteraiah further requested CJI to take appropriate action in this regard.

‘Don’t cancel projects because of corruption allegations by BJP’: Shiv Sena leader Kishori Pednekar to BMC chief

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t cancel projects because of corruption allegations by BJP’: Shiv Sena leader Kishori Pednekar to BMC chief

Shiv Sena leader and Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar has written to incumbent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Chahal, asking him to not cancel tenders/ decisions made by the Standing Committee before March 8 this year.

Urging the civic body administration to not get bogged down by corruption allegations, she requested Chahal to not change decisions made by the Standing Committee.

“Many corporators and officials called me saying that some decisions taken before March 7 were tweaked. I don’t know how true this is, but I have written a letter that says decisions that were cleared by the general body must not be changed,” she wrote.

The Mumbai Mayor claimed, “Some opposition party leaders are trying to get decisions changed. The administrator must not tweak any decisions till the new general body is elected in the next four months. You can make new decisions as an administrator, but if you change old decisions, then it is not fair.”

It must be mentioned that the BMC elections will be held in October- November this year and that the tenure of Shiv Sena in the civic body ended on March 7, 2022. Thereafter, the Maharashtra government appointed BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal as the civic body’s administrator.

While speaking about the matter to Free Press Journal, Pednekar claimed, “I am not disappointed with the administrator. I have only made suggestions to him.” BMC Commissioner has however claimed that no decision by the Standing Committee was cancelled by him.

The development comes after BJP had alleged corruption while awarding contracts for some of the projects, including a ₹160-cr tender for constructing a tunnel laundry and a ₹291 crore project for building new animal enclosures in Byculla.

Both of these projects were cancelled by the BMC Commissioner, although they did not have the approval of the Standing Committee. According to BJP leader Prabhakar Shinde, the Sena had bypassed rules and approved several project proposals in the Standing Committee.

“Many times they didn’t allow BJP members to even speak during the meeting. If proposals and decisions which are not related to public interest have been cancelled by the commissioner then we welcome move,” he added.

NCPCR Chief pulls up journalist for glorifying madarsas, says depriving children of education in the name of the madarsa is a violation of child rights

OpIndia Staff
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NCPCR Chief pulls up journalist for glorifying madarsas, says depriving children of education in the name of the madarsa is a violation of child rights

‘Independent journalist’ Ranvijay Singh who often writes op-eds in mainstream media publications was seen glorifying Islamic preaching schools or madarsas on Twitter. In a tweet on Monday, he ascertained that madarsas are nothing but normal schools. He said, “History, Civics, Mathematics, Science and Urdu/English/Hindi are also taught in madarsas. By studying from a madarsa, children also become IAS, they will be made in future also. Do not raise your eyes after seeing Arabic words, read a little and let them study.”

Screengrab of Tweet from @ranvijaylive

To this assertion, Priyank Kanoongo the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection Of Child Rights (NCPCR) flagged Ranvijay Singh’s tweet saying it is nothing but a glorification of madarsas devoid of their grim reality. What followed was a heated exchange wherein Kanoongo asserted that depriving children of basic education in the name of madarsas is a violation of their child rights. “It violates Article 21 ‘A’ of the Constitution,” he wrote.

Screengrab of Tweet from @KanoongoPriyank

To this, Singh was quick to rebut stating, “According to this statement of the NCPCR Chief, governments should be prosecuted because the government itself is running the madrasa. Further quoting Urdu poet Shauq Bahraichi, he said, “Just one owl was enough to destroy. But while an owl is sitting on every branch, what will happen to the tree?”

Screengrab of Tweet from @ranvijaylive

Responding to Singh’s allegations, Kanoongo clarified that the government does not run unmapped madarsas. He further stated that more than 1.25 crore children have been forced to study in the Islamic religious schools, which follow the syllabus made by Aurangzeb. He quoted a report drafted by NCPCR in March 2021 which documents the education of children in India studying in the minority communities.

Screengrab of Tweet from @KanoongoPriyank

The Report by NCPCR

Titled the ‘Impact of exemption under article 15(5) W.R.T. Article 21 (A) of the constitution of India on Education of children of minority communities,’ the report by NCPCR examines exemption under Article 15 (5) of the Constitution has benefited the children of minority communities. The report combines secondary data analysis of the trends regarding minority schools as well as consultations with their stakeholders such as students, teachers and principals.

Asserting that the 86th Amendment to the Constitution of India makes the Right to Education a fundamental right for children between 6-14 years, the report studies the impact of the exemption made to this law for education institutes belonging to religious minorities.

Article 15(5) empowers the government to form any policy for the upliftment of the socially backward classes, thus accelerating affirmative action in private unaided schools in India. However, it has been made inapplicable to minority schools along with the exemption under RTE Act.

Observations of the report

The report came up with detailed statistical data on the condition of minority school education in the country. The key findings were as follows –

  1. The Christian community which makes up 11.54% of the total religious population, contributes to 71.96% share of the total religious minority schools in the country.
  2. The Muslim community despite contributing a share percentage of 69.18% to the religious minority population in the country, contributes only 22.75% to the religious minority schools.
  3. 85.33% of minority schools secured their Minority Status Certificate from 2006 onwards. A sharp increase was observed in schools securing the Certificate post passage of the 93rd Amendment in 2006.
  4. A glaring revelation came when it was found that 62.50% of students in minority schools belong to non-minority communities. In the states as UTs of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand this percentage goes up to more than 70%.

The above data collected in the report shows the grim picture of minority schools in the country being run for disseminating religious fundamentalism, extremism and acting as a means of conversion under the garb of religious doctrine.

The report contains certain key recommendations that were put forward, owing to the education of minority children. It includes –

  1. Mapping of all Unrecognised Institutions during Survey to Identify Out of School Children Greater role of the Minority Cell in NCERT/ SCERTS to take the fundamental right to elementary education to all children especially children of minority communities.
  2. Need for appropriate steps to extend the provisions of RTE to minority educational institutions or make laws with similar effect to ensure RTE of children studying in minority educational institutions.

Jug Jugg Jeeyo controversy: T-Series hits back at Pakistani singer, says ‘Nach Punjaban’ rights were legally acquired

OpIndia Staff
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Jug Jugg Jeeyo controversy: T-Series hits back at Pakistani singer, says ‘Nach Punjaban’ rights were legally acquired

On May 24, Music Record Label and Film Production Company T-Series issued a statement refuting the claims of Pakistani singer and politician Abrar-Ul-Haq that the song was stolen for Dharma Production’s upcoming film Jug Jugg Jeeyo.

In the statement released on social media accounts of T-Series, the company wrote, “We have legally acquired the rights to adapt the song Nach Punjaban from the album Nach Punjaban released on iTunes on January 1, 2002, and is also available on ‘Lollywood Classics’ YouTube channel, owned and operated by Moviebox Records Label, for the film Jug Jugg Jeeyo produced by Dharma Productions. All due credits shall be included across all platforms when the song releases.

As represented by Moviebox Records Label, the said song copyrights exclusively vest with Moviebox only with all valid documents.”

Moviebox Records Label, a UK based Record Company, also issued a statement on Twitter and said, “Nach Panjaban has been officially licensed for it to be included in the Film “JugJugg Jeeyo” by T-Series. Karan Johar and Dharma Productions have the legal rights to use this song in their film, and the tweet by Abrar-Ul-Haq earlier today is defamatory and completely unacceptable.”

The song is available on two channels. On Moviebox Pakistani, the original version of the song is available.

It is also available on Lollywood Classics, a YouTube channel maintained by Moviebox. This version of the song was used in the ‘Kaun Bane Ga Carorpati’, a 2002 Pakistani film. That particular film is also available on another channel maintained by Moviebox.

Abrar-Ul-Haq, on the other hand, claimed that the song had not been licensed to anyone. He said, “Song “Nach Punjaban” has not been licensed to anyone. If someone is claiming it, then produce the agreement. I will be taking legal action.”

The controversies around Jug Jugg Jeeyo

Dharma Production’s upcoming film Jug Jugg Jeeyo is scheduled for release in June. Within hours of the trailer release, controversies erupted around the film. First, Vishal A Singh, a creative executive producer and Chartered Accountant, accused Dharma Productions of using a script he shared with them in 2020 for their latest film. Then Abrar-Ul-Haq claimed his song was picked for the film without permission.

Jug Jugg Jeeyo starring Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, and Neetu Kapoor, is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, and Apoorva Mehta. It is directed by Raj Mehta. The film deals with the sensitive subject of divorce and separation with a comic touch.

Madrasas, Assamese history, and Rahul Gandhi: Here is what Assam CM said at the ‘Organiser’ event

OpIndia Staff
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Madrasas, Assamese history, and Rahul Gandhi: Here is what Assam CM said at the ‘Organiser’ event

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was invited as a guest at the ‘Media Mahamanthan’ event, organized to commemorate 75 years of Organiser and Panchjanya on Sunday, May 22. During the event, he spoke on an array of issues, ranging from madrasas to changing demographics in Assam.

Addressing the issue of madrasas, the Assam Chief Minister said, “All madrasas should become non-existent. As long as they remain in the public consciousness, Muslim children can never become doctors and engineers. If you seek the opinion of such children and give them the liberty to choose between a normal school and madrasa, then none would choose madrasa.”

“Getting children enrolled in madrasa is akin to violating human rights, given that their door to a prosperous career gets shut. I don’t have a problem with Islamic studies or teachings of the Quran but the focus must remain on the teaching of Science, Maths, and Biology,” Sarma added.

The Assam CM further said, “As such, madrasas should become non-existent. There should be a prevalence of normal education. You can teach religion at home, if necessary for 2-3 hours. Keep schooling mainstream such that the Muslim children can become doctors, engineers, and scientists.”

“When I talk about shutting down madrasas, I am not doing it for the welfare of Hindus but for Muslims. Similarly, when we talk about Uniform Civil Code (UCC), we are not doing it for the Hindus, it doesn’t apply to them. But, it applies to the practitioners of Islam,” he pointed out.

Himanta Biswa Sarma further emphasized that none could be a bigger friend to Muslims than those who advocate bringing in UCC and shutting down schools imparting Islamic education. “We are the greatest fans of Indian Muslims. People like Owaisi should be regarded as enemies of Indian Muslims,” the Assam Chief Minister had said.

Congress and Dynasty politics

During the program, Himanta Biswa Sarma was quizzed about his experience while working with both the BJP and the Congress. In response, the Assam CM recounted his experience of working for Congress for 22 years by stating, “There is nothing beyond the Gandhi family in the Congress. The party members put out statements in the public domain that if you defy the Gandhis, then you have defied the nation. Within the Congress party, the Gandhi family is equivalent to the nation.”

He further pointed out how the nation is above electoral politics in the BJP. “In my party, individuals and leaders come second to the nation. If you say the same to the Gandhi family, then, your job will be terminated.”

The firebrand BJP leader also hit out at Congress scion Rahul Gandhi for limiting the idea of nationhood to a ‘Union of States.’ He asked, “If India is merely a Union of States, where does our 5000-year-old history fit in? Rahul Gandhi is making it sound like a contract of States with the Centre.”

He lambasted the Congress leader for encouraging secessionism in the country. “He is saying that States negotiated to be a part of India. It is like giving them an option to re-negotiate and go about their own way,” Sarma said.

The Assam CM added, “I don’t blame Rahul Gandhi. He must be tutored by his advisors, who graduated from JNU.”

Assam history and debate on Hindi

During the ‘Media Mahamanthan’ event, Himanta Biswa Sarma also pointed out how most Indians are oblivious to the legacy of military commander Lachit Borphukan. “Assam resisted Islamic invasions 17 times. We did not let any Khilji or Aurangzeb expand (their empire) up to our land. People in the rest of the country must know this history,” he emphasized.

He also shared that the Assam government will commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan this year.

On being asked about the ‘linguistic debate’ that rages in the country from time to time, the Assam CM said, ” I do not think that this is a big issue. The National Education Policy (NEP) recognizes the significance of mother tongue and emphasizes education in the same language.”

The Assam Chief Minister opined that if an Assamese boy has to work in a factory in Uttar Pradesh, then learning Hindi will be useful in such a case. “Read and study in your mother tongue and if you learn Hindi for the sake of employment, then I do not see a problem in it,” he concluded.

Changing Demographics of Assam

During the event, Sarma also highlighted the dangers of demographic change in India. “In Assam, Bhartiya people are in minority, illegal immigrants are in majority and it is our duty to bring Bhartiya people in the majority,” he stated.

The Assam CM pointed out that the arson attack at the Batadrava police station by a frenzied mob was the fallout of the demographic change in Assam. “Whatever response was required, we gave it overnight. I don’t think that they will dare to do it again.”

It must be mentioned that on Sunday (May 22), the houses of 5 such rioters were razed down by the Nagaon administration in the Salonbari village of Assam.

The Assam Chief Minister also informed that about 6000 hectares have been freed by the BJP-led government from illegal encroachment. He further shared that about 1-1.5 lakh hectares of land are still under illegal occupation.

CM Sarma said that 16 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in the state are the prime hotspots of encroachers, out of which 4 have been freed. “Our immediate objective is to stop illegal land encroachment, to not lose more constituency in Assam,” he said.

He informed that Assam has a 36% Muslim population, which can be divided into 3 categories: Indigenous Muslims, converted Muslims, and Miya Muslims (immigrant Bengali Muslims).

Fact-check: Did the UP govt ask some beneficiaries to surrender their Ration Cards under new ration card rules? Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-check: Did the UP govt ask some beneficiaries to surrender their Ration Cards under new ration card rules? Here is the truth

Several rumors have been spread on social media by the usual propagandists alleging that the Uttar Pradesh government has framed new laws for the retention of a Ration card, asking some individuals to surrender their cards with specific recommendations.

According to rumours, the Uttar Pradesh government issued directives stating that anyone with a motorcycle, a poultry farm, a dairy, any piece of land, or a house in an urban locality is no longer eligible for ration cards. They were accordingly instructed to return the ration card, and if they do not, the market value of the food grains allocated to them would be recovered from them subsequently.

However, The Uttar Pradesh government has stated that no fresh orders relating to the surrender or cancellation of ration cards had been issued by the government. It further stated that no such order has been issued, neither by the government nor by the respective departments.

Sourabh Babu, the commissioner of food and civil supplies, confirmed that the eligibility/ineligibility criteria for home ration cards were established by a Government order dated October 7, 2014, and that no further adjustments have been made since then. He further stated that no cardholder may be found ineligible because they possess a pucca home under the government programme, have an electricity connection, own a solo weapon licence, ride a bike, or operate a poultry/cow producing farm.

The government order.

According to him, the department always distributes new ration cards to eligible beneficiaries based on their eligibility, and from April 1, 2020, to the present day, the department has granted a total of 29.53 lakh new ration cards to qualifying recipients in the state.

The commissioner indicated that orders for ration card authentication based on eligibility criteria were issued from time to time, but no modifications to the criteria have been made after 2014.

Saharanpur: Imam arrested for killing his 8-months pregnant wife after suspecting she was pregnant with a girl, tried to blame the murder on ‘7-headed Kali’

OpIndia Staff
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Saharanpur: Imam arrested for killing his 8-months pregnant wife after suspecting she was pregnant with a girl, tried to blame the murder on ‘7-headed Kali’

In a shocking incident from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, an Imam killed his 8-months pregnant wife inside the mosque by throwing her off the roof of the mosque. As per reports, the Imam suspected that his wife was pregnant with a girl while he wanted a boy, so he killed her. The Imam apparently discovered she is pregnant with a girl based on his ‘tantra’ education.

The Imam, who killed his wife in a mosque located on 62 Futa Road in the Qutub Sher police station area, has been arrested by the police. The accused has also admitted to committing the murder. The accused told the police that his wife was eight months pregnant when he came to know from his system that his wife is pregnant with a girl while he wanted a son. Afterward, he pushed his wife from the roof of the mosque 12 days ago and she died, and then he buried her dead body. The police got the dead body of the woman removed from the grave on Sunday.

Qutub Sher police station in-charge Piyush Dixit said that the Imam of the mosque, Usman son of Hussain, was arrested by the police near the mosque on Sunday afternoon. Usman told that he was married to Hina and Hina was eight months pregnant. The Imam revealed during the interrogation that he wanted a son from Hina, but she was pregnant with a daughter. After that, on May 12, he called Hina to the mosque on some pretext and took her to the roof of the mosque, and pushed her from the roof.

Hina fell on her head, due to which she died in the mosque itself. After this, the Imam told Hina’s mother Khurshida that it was a tantric action that resulted in her death. When Khurshida reached the spot of the crime, she saw that Hina’s body had cuts on her neck, nose, and ears. To pacify Khushida, Usman repeatedly said that a 7-headed Kali caused her death and Khurshida was advised not to complain lest she brings disrepute to the mosque.

After which Khurshida did not complain and handed over the dead body to the Imam. However, 9 days later, suspecting foul play, she met the SSP of the region and raised suspicions over her son-in-law’s role in her daughter’s death. Following that, police conducted an investigation and arrested the culprit.

Congress leader Dr Udit Raj shares a meme mocking Adivasis; netizens slam him for stereotyping tribals

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Dr Udit Raj shares a meme mocking Adivasis; netizens slam him for stereotyping tribals

Congress leader Dr Udit Raj, while taking a dig at Uttar Pradesh’s action against illegal Ration Cardholders has made a derogatory meme against Adivasis (Tribals). In a recent tweet, he has mocked the primitive lifestyle of Adivasis and superimposed that with the poor nearly having any clothes to wear.

On Monday, the Chairman of Unorganized Workers & Employees Congress, Dr Udit Raj shared a meme on Twitter with a picture of a partly naked tribal with a caption, “Now this is the bare minimum requirement for getting a Ration card.” Raj tried to suggest that tribals who willingly live a primitive lifestyle being cut off from civilization are poor and that such extreme poverty would be essential to get a Ration card issued in UP.

Screengrab of a Tweet from @Dr_Uditraj

With the meme, the Congress leader was seen criticising the UP Government’s action against illegal beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana releasing new eligibility criteria for holding a legal Ration card. According to the new rule, the monthly income of the family should be less than Rs 15,000. Also, the family should own less than 2 hectares of irrigated land to become eligible for getting affordable or free ration. Clearly, a family with a monthly income close to the given bracket does not live the way Raj pointed out.

Netizens slam Dr Udit Raj for stereotyping tribals through his meme

This angered Adivasi activists, Tribal workers and people from the community who flagged Raj’s characterization of tribals showing them in poor light. He faced a backlash for his tweet, after which some Twitter users went haywire.

Screengrab of a Tweet from @KraantiKumar
Udit Raj
Screengrab of a Tweet from @Bhil_Binita
Udit Raj
Screengrab of a Tweet from @_INDN

A Twitter user also alleged that the Congress party has not sent any person from the Tribal communities to the Rajya Sabha for the last 36 years. Dr Udit Raj who styles himself as a voice for Dalits and the oppressed was himself caught casually stereotyping Adivasis while he played his politics on social media.

Udit Raj
Screengrab of a tweet from @Bohrakiran2

After the controversy erupted on Twitter and people started calling him out, Dr Udit Raj justified his tweet by saying that he did not mention that the person in his tweet was a tribal when he shared the image.

He tweeted, “Some tribal well-wishers are so foolish that in this picture they are seeing the reflection of tribal society. Are there not tribal ministers, officers, teachers, or traders? Will they keep comparing themselves to this? Do they not have the right to wear suit-boots? Such mindless tribals are the enemies of the society.” He further said that people are misquoting him to deviate from the topic of the debate. However, Dr Udit Raj could not dissociate himself from his tweet with many people calling him out over his recent tweet.

At PFI rally in Alappuzha, Muslim boy chants for death to Hindus, offering ‘Suhoor’ at Babri again, probe ordered: Here are the hate comments made

OpIndia Staff
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At PFI rally in Alappuzha, Muslim boy chants for death to Hindus, offering ‘Suhoor’ at Babri again, probe ordered: Here are the hate comments made

Kerala Police have launched a probe after a video of a Kerala boy making provocative slogans against Hindus and Christian went viral on social media platforms.

The incident took place on 21 May 2022, during the event of “Jana Maha Sammelanam”, organised by the Popular Front of India ( PFI), an organization always under the radar for terrorism and activities against the country. This event happened at Alappuzha, Kerala.

As the videos from the event went viral, the police took cognisance of the incendiary sloganeering and sprung into action. In its statement, the police said, “The video came to our notice yesterday only, and we are examining where this happened.”

According to reports, a mob of over 1,000 PFI supporters and members hit the streets, engaged in threatening, abusing and calling for violence against Hindus and Christians. The mob warned Hindus and Christians of dire consequences if they did not live peacefully in the country. The mob threatened that they have not forgotten the Gujarat Riots of 2002 and cautioned the Sangh Parivar to not mistake Kerala for Gujarat.

Incendiary slogans made at the PFI rally in Kerala

“Be ready for your death rituals if you won’t live in our land quietly. Be ready with rice flakes to fill your mouth, if you won’t live quietly (For Hindus ). Be ready to burn amber in your home if you won’t live quietly ( For Christians). Because we are coming, we are your death. We won’t go to Pakistan or Bangladesh, you have to live here as we say, or else we know how to make you live quietly, we will kill you even if we are attacked. We take pride in being a martyr, we salute them. If you won’t live quietly, we know how to ask for ‘Azadi’. Be prepared for your death,” the PFI members shouted in Malayalam.

Furthermore, the mob also vowed to conduct ‘Sujood’ ( kind of prayer ) in the disputed building of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya again. Also, they have decided to continue ‘Sujood’ in the disputed structure called ‘Gyanvapi Mosque’ which is built on the ruins of a temple in Varanasi. They said they are not leaving for Pakistan or Bangladesh and if they do so, they will take the Sangh Parivar along with them.

“Will do Sujood in Babri Masjid again. We will do Sujood in Gyanvapi too. Insha Allah Insha Allah…Reminding you Sanghis..Won’t leave for Pakistan, won’t leave for Bangladesh. We will go to 6 feet down under instead. Sanghis, listen to us before we go, If we go, we will “take” you also with us,” said the protesters who attended the PFI demonstration.

In the video, a boy could be heard raising the slogan, “Hindus should keep rice for their last rites, and Christians should keep incense for their last rites. If your life decently, you can live in our land, and if you don’t live decently properly, we know Azadi (freedom). Live decently, decently, decently.” People attending the rally were repeating the slogan.

BJP Kerala state office secretary Jayaraj Kaimal said, “Hindus should buy rice and flowers for their last rites, Oh! I forgot one thing. Christians should also buy incense for their last rites. If you want to live here, live ‘decently’; otherwise, we know how to implement ‘Azadi’.” – Slogans are from the PFI rally in Alappuzha.”

In a follow-up tweet, he said, “The soft approach of the Left and Right political parties towards the Popular Front is literally intimidating. It has been 48 hours since the slogan of annihilation of Hindus and Christians was uttered. Kerala is going through a terrible situation.”

Stating similar slogans were raised in Kashmir in the 90s, he said, “Similar slogans were heard in Kashmir in the 90s. The regime has adopted a “singular” approach to extremism. Today’s Kerala is very similar to Kashmir then.” [Tweets translated from Malayalam to English using Google Translate]

The threat calls ends with the famous ‘Intifada Assalam”, the Islamist salute to the people who have been killed in political murders recently in Kerala. It is worth noting that the Intifada Assalam salutes were used in Iraq in 1952 before the horrifying spate of mass murder, rioting and killings gripped the country. The same pattern continued till 2015, during the Syrian and Lybian civil wars. The calls for intifada have become a common sight in PFI rallies in Kerala nowadays.

PFI claims they stopped the sloganeering

PFI officials have claimed that when workers associated with the organization noticed the slogans, they stopped them. PFI spokesperson Rauf Pittambi drew a parallel between Hinduism and Hindutva to justify the slogans. He was quoted by India Today saying, “Many raised slogans against Hindutva terror. This boy also raised slogans. We regret the few lines of the slogans and will look into it. His slogans were not against Hindus or Christians but against Hindutva terrorists planning genocide.”

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