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‘Ruining her life’: Bombay HC orders release of student jailed for post criticising Op Sindoor, calling Kashmir “occupied”, and saying “Pakistan Zindabad”

OpIndia Staff
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‘Ruining her life’: Bombay HC orders release of student jailed for post criticising Op Sindoor, calling Kashmir “occupied”, and saying “Pakistan Zindabad”

On Monday (May 26), the Bombay High Court issued a stern rebuke to the Maharashtra government for the arrest and rustication of a 19-year-old engineering student over a social media post critical of Operation Sindoor. The student, Ms Shaikh, currently incarcerated in Yerwada Central Prison, was granted immediate relief by the court, which ordered her release and permitted her to appear for her ongoing university examinations.

The second-year student from Sinhgad Academy of Engineering in Pune—a private institution affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University—had filed a plea asserting that her expulsion was “arbitrary and unlawful.” The court, led by Justice Gauri Godse, did not mince words in condemning the state’s actions.

“What is this?” Justice Godse asked pointedly. “You are ruining the life of a student. What kind of conduct is this? Somebody expresses something, and you want to ruin her life? How can you rusticate her without even seeking an explanation?”

Appearing on the student’s behalf, advocate Farhana Shah urgently sought relief, emphasizing that the student’s liberty had been curtailed while her semester examinations were underway. The college’s counsel, in response, suggested she be permitted to write exams under police escort. The court sharply dismissed the idea, stating, “She is not a criminal.”

Using powerful words reflecting on the “purpose of education”, Justice Godse remarked, “What is the role of an educational institution? Is it merely to provide academic instruction, or to reform and guide young minds? Do you want to create a student or a criminal?”

The court unequivocally directed the state to facilitate the student’s release, insisting that she be allowed to appear for her remaining examinations without intimidation or surveillance. “She cannot be stopped from appearing in exams,” the judge said. “She cannot be asked to appear with police around her.”

The court also permitted the matter to be converted into a criminal writ or for a fresh petition to be filed as needed.

The case traces back to May 7, when the student reposted a social media post critical of the Indian government’s stance during its confrontation with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. She maintained in her plea that the post was deleted within two hours. Despite this, she faced a torrent of online threats and was arrested two days later on May 9.

Rustication letter of Ms Shaikh Khadeejah

In her Instagram story, the student had reshared content that echoed blatant pro-Pakistan propaganda, describing the Indian government as “fascist” for its calibrated airstrikes targeting terror camps across the border in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The post went further, dismissing India’s right to self-defence as mere “vehement scapegoating,” accusing the government of using cross-border terrorism as a pretext to mask its so-called failures in what the post provocatively termed “Occupied Kashmir”—a terminology that directly challenges India’s sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir.

Ms Shaikh shared a story that promoted Pakistan talking points and propaganda on Kashmir

In another story she shared, the divisive Two-Nation Theory was explicitly praised, while India’s pursuit of justice for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre was maligned as state-sponsored vengeance by “Hindutva regime” against “innocent” citizens. Apparently, the “innocent” citizens being referred to were Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorists killed in India’s retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror camps.

Racist New Zealand Immigration Minister Erica Stanford faces severe criticism over her offensive comments against Indians

OpIndia Staff
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Racist New Zealand Immigration Minister Erica Stanford faces severe criticism over her offensive comments against Indians

Outrage has been triggered by New Zealand Immigration Minister Erica Stanford’s discriminatory comments on Indians, stating that she “never responds” to emails from Indians because she views them as “akin to spam” during a 6th May session in the Parliament.

She made the comment in answer to a question from Willow-Jean Prime, a Labour MP, who wanted to know if all of the emails she wrote and received about her ministerial duties using her personal account had been formally documented. This came after Stanford acknowledged that she had sent certain official correspondence including pre-Budget materials through her personal email.

“I have complied with the Official Information Act. I have also made sure that everything is available to be captured and have forwarded everything that I’ve needed to my parliamentary email address,” she pointed out.

The lawmaker then added, “I will acknowledge, though, in a very similar case to Kelvin Davis (New Zealand politician), I receive a lot of unsolicited emails like, for example, things from people in India asking for immigration advice, which I never respond to. I almost regard those as being akin to spam, and so there are those ones. But, similarly, other ministers have probably had very similar issues.”

Meanwhile, Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who was born in Chennai, countered that Stanford negatively stereotyped Indian immigration. The immigration minister’s remarks, according to her, were “careless at best and prejudiced at worst.” She charged Stanford with cultivating unfavorable preconceptions about Indians.

She also remarked that it was deplorable that the immigration minister singled out members of a certain ethnic group and “wrote them all off” by claiming their emails were junk and not worth answering.

“If you’re from India, don’t bother emailing her because it’s automatically considered spam. So much for the National government’s all-of-government focus on strengthening the relationship between India & New Zealand and focus on people-to-people links,” she posted on social media.

“Particularly given New Zealand’s important relationship with India, comments like these serve to reinforce negative stereotypes against an entire community of people,” Radhakrishnan expressed while talking to The Indian Weekender.

Stanford later alleged that Radhakrishnan hasn’t fully understood what she tried to convey which was that she frequently gets emails on her personal email from foreigners looking for immigration guidance. “In this instance, I recalled a recent email I’d received of this nature when answering in Question Time. I did not say it is automatically considered as spam, I said I almost regard those as being akin to spam,” she mentioned in an attempt to justify her bigoted statement.

Social media reacts

On the other hand, her comments came under fire from other New Zealand politicians and netizens as well. Former MP Willow-Jean Prime shared a report in which Prime Minister Christopher Luxon advocated for collective investment in the relationship with India. She highlighted to remind Stanford of the same and referenced her derogatory comment.

A user highlighted the extensive attention Stanford’s comments received in India, questioning whether she has effectively dashed Luxon’s aspirations for a New Zealand-India free trade agreement.

Another noted that New Zealand seeks to boost bilateral trade and sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India and referenced Standford’s commnets as concerning. The person further asked, “What do you expect from India?”

Indians in New Zealand

According to the 2023 New Zealand Census, 292,092 individuals reported Indian heritage, positioning the Indian community as the third-largest ethnic group within the country. This indicates a 22% growth since 2018. The Indian demographic in New Zealand has been on a steady rise, having increased significantly from 65,000 in 2001.

Approximately 7,300 Indian students were enrolled in New Zealand’s educational system in 2024. It is projected that 22,225 Indian students will be studying in New Zealand by 2025. Indian pupil intake is expected to increase by 93.9% between 2025 and 2030 from 22,225 to 24,594 students which made New Zealand an appealing alternative to more conventional study abroad options.

Additionally, New Zealand is home to around 221,400 Indian immigrants. Furthermore, the government lowered the three-year work experience requirement for migrants to two years, in January. Indian workers, who contribute a multitude of abilities to the New Zealand labor market, were anticipated to gain from this modification.

New Zealand also updated its employment and immigration regulations in multiple ways. These policies aimed to alleviate the labor deficit and draw in qualified people, providing improved prospects for migrants, many of whom are Indians and are vital to the nation’s labor force.

On one hand, PM Luxon reaffirmed the significance of India to New Zealand and referred to it as a big geopolitical power and a critical participant in global and regional security. “Our relationship with India is so significant that I want to see an ‘all of New Zealand’ effort, with government, business and community all moving in the same direction,” he declared at the India New Zealand Business Council summit which took place earlier in Month.

On the other hand, the Indian population including students and workers, is consistently growing in New Zealand. The latter is also striving to attract as many Indians into its economy for its own benefit.

However, on the flip side, the racist and discriminatory statements from ministers like Stanford have the potential to undo the progress attained in the bilateral relations and disrupt the fragile friendship. Additionally, such remarks could create anxiety and concern within the Indian community, many of whom might genuinely need assistance from her ministry.

This could generate apprehension and inflict real detriment on many such candidates seeking to go to New Zealand for work or study. The bigoted comments could even harm the future relations between the two countries.

What is Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, the execution model of which was approved by Indian Defence Ministry: Here is why it is important for IAF

OpIndia Staff
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What is Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, the execution model of which was approved by Indian Defence Ministry: Here is why it is important for IAF

On Tuesday (27th May), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The development was confirmed via a tweet by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on X (formerly Twitter).

AMCA is an indigenous, 5th generation fighter jet which is currently under development in India. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has been tasked to execute the programme.

The development and rapid induction of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft into the fleet of Indian Air Force has become crucial in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan, which was decimated by India with its precision strikes, is now procuring 40 fighter jets (J-35s) from China. The AMCA project received a green signal from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in March 2024.

A sum of ₹15000 crore was earmarked for the programme, which happens to India’s only 5th generate fighter jet development project.

It must be mentioned that the design of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has already been readied. The first prototype will be avilable by 2028 – 2029. And the production of the indigenous fighter fet will begin by 2032 – 2033.

AMCA will be a major milestostone towards Atmanirbharta in aerospace sector

The objective is to induct AMCA in the fleet of Indian Air Force in next 9 years i.e. by 2034. The project is essential to develop indigenous expertise and capacity building and make India ‘Atmanirbhar (self reliant).

In a statement, the IAF stated, “The Execution Model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on competitive basis. They can bid either independently or as joint venture or as consortia. The entity/ bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country.”

“This is an important step towards harnessing the indigenous expertise, capability and capacity to develop the AMCA prototype, which will be a major milestone towards Aatmanirbharta in the aerospace sector,” it added.

The AMCA project is a long-term requirement of the Indian Air Force. India had previously developed the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas indigenously.

Features of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

AMCA is a medium weight, deep penetration fighter jet, which will be equipped with advanced stealth features.

It will possess internal weapons bay and diverterless supersonic intake (internal carriage of 1,500 kg of payload and 5,500 kg of external payload). AMCA will have a 25-tonne twin-engine.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be the leading the production of AMCA, alongside private companies to speed up the project.

AMCA will be developed in 2 phases –

  • A MK1 with the General Electric F-414 engine.
  • A Mk2 with a more powerful engine.

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft will feature an Aritificial Intelligence-powered Electronic Pilot for advanced decision-making.

AMCA will be equipped with a Netcentric Warfare Systems for real-time combat coordination, Integrated Vehicle Health Management and an internal weapon bay for a range of weapons (4 four long-range air-to-air missiles and several precision-guided munitions) .

The fighter jets will be helpful in complex combat situations, and ensure seamless coordination with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

AMCA is a 5th generation fighter jet, which is different from Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). It will have low electromagnetic signature, and hence will be difficult to detect by enemy radars.

With the production of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, India will join the likes of China, Russia and United States that have already developed 5th generation stealth fighter aircrafts.

Turkey has steadily moved away from Ataturk’s secularism towards Islamist fundamentalism under President Erdogan: Read how this shift gradually took place during last 20 years

Shraddha Pandey
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Turkey has steadily moved away from Ataturk’s secularism towards Islamist fundamentalism under President Erdogan: Read how this shift gradually took place during last 20 years

Turkey or Türkiye straddles Europe and Asia. Bordered by eight countries, Turkey is home to a diverse landscape of mountains, plains, coastlines along the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean. The country, however, is fast losing its cultural diversity and principles of secularism to Islamist fundamentalism thanks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s unannounced yet desperate desire to revive the Caliphate and become its Khalifa (Caliph).

Abolishment of the Islamic Caliphate and the rise of a secular Turkey

The Republic of Turkey was established on 29th October 1923, by the military commander and an imposing political figure, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following the Treaty of Lausanne. Ataturk envisioned Turkey as a secular and democratic modern nation-state modelled on Western values.  

The first Turkish President, whose reforms came to be known as the Ataturk Reforms or Kemalism, focused on severing ties with the Ottoman past, which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk viewed as backward and overly Islamist. Mustafa Kemal’s ideology, rooted in secularism, liberal republicanism and a rather modern version of Islam, became the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. This earned him the title of Ataturk—the Father of Turkey.

Under the famous Hat Revolution in 1925, Ataturk banned religious attire like the Fez (traditional head covering) and headscarfs and veils. In 1926, Ataturk introduced a Swiss-inspired civil code, which replaced the Islamic law. He promoted a unified Turkish identity over those based on ethnicity.

Over much of the 20th century, Turkey adhered to Kemal’s principles even after his death, with the Turkish military guarding secularism and ensuring least influence of religion in politics. Turkey during Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s tenure and under the influence of Kemalism after his death, witnessed rapid industrialisation, economic growth, urbanisation and integration into Western groupings like the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1952. While Ataturk and his principles were not against Islam and Islam remained a cultural force in Turkey, the state ensured religion does not dominate public life.

Among the major reforms introduced by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk which changed the destiny of modern Turkey were Civic Independence (popular sovereignty) (1921), Abolition of the Caliphate (1924), Creation of a Directorate of Religion Affairs (1924), settling the new capital at Ankara (1923), Advancement of freedom of the press (1925), Creation of a Government Statistics and Census Bureau (1926), Reform aimed at separation of church and state (1934), Introduction of women’s participation in politics (1934), and Introduction of equality of the sexes in other areas (1926).

Other reforms included changing personal names from Islamic to Western style, Reform of the calendar (1925-26), Establishment of co-education and education of women (1927), Industrialisation and creation of a banking system (1927-1931). While Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s reforms propelled Turkey toward progress and modernisation, a persistent Islamist undercurrent quietly simmered in the country’s socio-political fabric, poised to resurface.

Erdogan, Caliph dream and Turkey’s gradual departure from its secular foundation

Over the past years, Turkey is witnessing a transformation from a secular state to one increasingly falling into the clutches of Islamist fundamentalism under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This transformation is indicative of Turkey’s departure from the vision of its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The turning point was the rise of Erdogan in 2003, when his conservative Adalet ve Kalkınma Partis (AKP) or Justice and Development Party came to power. Erdogan’s political roots lie in the Islamist movements that sought revival of the Ottoman ‘glory’. Erdogan emerged from the banned (in 1998) Welfare Party (Refah Partisi) and its successor, the Virtue Party Fazilet Partisi). These Islamist political outfits advocated for incorporation of Islam into Turkish politics, which so far had been governed by secular principles of Ataturk. These outfits challenged the country’s secularism and were thus banned.

Being a shrewd political leader driven by Islamist passion, Erdogan adopted a gradual approach in pushing his Islamist agenda, avoiding overt confrontation with the secular establishment. In a shocking result, Erdogan won the mayoral elections in Istanbul when he was least expected to win. However, he had to give up his position after he faced a political ban in 1998 when he was convicted of inciting religious hatred. The judges found Erdogan guilty of reciting a pro-Islamist poem by Ziya Gökalp that compared mosques to military barracks and Muslims to an army.

A 10-month prison sentence was imposed on Erdogan, of which he served four months, and a subsequent ban from holding political office. However, the AKP government, led by the party’s co-founder and Prime Minister Abdullah Gül, lifted the ban on Erdogan, allowing him to contest the 2003 Siirt province by-election. Erdogan emerged victorious. Following this, Abdullah Gül resigned and Erdogan became the 25th Prime Minister of Turkey on 14th March 2003, commencing the era of Turkey’s subtle and gradual shift from its secular foundation to “Neo-Ottomanism”.

In the initial phase of his tenure, Erdogan positioned AKP or the Justice and Development Party as a moderate, pro-democracy force, promising economic growth and EU integration. These promises brought him public support; however, over time, Erdogan started showing his true colours.

The AKP leader expanded Islamic education in the country, appointing thousands of imams and ordering the construction of mosques at an unprecedented scale, including the magnificent Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul. As per a 2017 NYT report, Erdogan, since assuming office as Prime Minister, has got around 9,000 new mosques constructed in Turkey, and by now this number must have gone way higher.  

Notably, Erdogan served as Turkey’s prime minister from 2003 and then as directly elected president since 2014.

Back in 2015, the Erdogan-led government launched an international mosque-construction program. This program involved construction of 10 massive mosques across the many countries including Albania, the United States, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the Palestinian Territories and Somalia.

The motive behind Erdogan’s push for a rapid Islamisation of Turkey stems from his obsession with the fallen Ottoman Empire. Under the Ottoman Empire, Turkey was a leader of the Muslim world or the Ummah from the 13th to the early 20th century until Ottoman Empire was dissolved after the first World War. Erdogan wants to orchestrate the return of the Ottoman Empire and position himself as a modern Caliph or Khalifa, an aspiration he has held in his heart since 1994, when he first contested election for Istanbul mayor.

Domestically, Erdogan craftily consolidated power to advance his Islamist agenda. After surviving a rare 2016 coup attempt, the AKP leader purged the military, judiciary and academia of secularist elements and replaced them with his loyalists. Reports say that Erdogan has significantly curbed media freedom, with critical outlets either shut down or co-opted. Evidently, the aspiring Caliph wants to control the narrative and promote a conservative Islamist ethos.  

Under Erdogan, the education system of Turkey has been overhauled to emphasise Islamism. His government has been funding Islamic Imam Hatip schools, which originally trained Islamic imams and preachers, at a large scale. Back in 2018, President Erdogan explained the rationale behind funding Islamic schools and said that he wants to forge a “pious generation” in predominantly Muslim Turkey “that will work for the construction of a new civilisation”.

A Reuters report from 2018 stated that Turkish government planned spending on Imam Hatip upper schools for boys and girls aged 14 to 18 will double to 6.57 billion lira ($1.68 billion). While the Imam Hatip students make up only 11 percent of the total upper school population, they receive 23 percent of funding, Reuters reported.

The influence of the Diyanet or Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, has also grown exponentially over the years. The Diyanet has been promoting a Sunni Islamic identity aligned with Erdogan’s vision of Islamist homogeneity, even at the cost of marginalising non-Sunni groups like Alevis.

Turkey has also extended support to Palestine after a full-fledged war erupted between Israel and Islamic terror group Hamas following the latter’s unprovoked attack on 7th October 2023. In November 2024, Erdogan announced that Turkey will sever all ties with Israel.

“The government of the Republic of Turkey, under the leadership of Tayyip Erdogan, will not continue or develop relations with Israel. Our ruling coalition is resolute in its decision to cut ties with Israel, and we will maintain this stance in the future as well. We, as the Republic of Turkey and its government, have currently severed all relations with Israel,” the Turkish President said.

Erdogan has also been vocally critical of Western policies in the Middle East and has also time and again slammed Western governments of indulging in ‘Islamophobia’, in an apparent attempt at bolstering his image as a leader and defender of Islam and Muslims. The Turkish leader often gives statement glorifying the erstwhile Ottoman Empire, its history and ‘achievements’, in his bid to deflect the Turkish populace from secularism and push them towards neo-Ottomanism or simply a Turkish version of rigid Islamism.

The AKP leader’s gradualist approach has been instrumental in the success of mainstreaming the Islamist Neo-Ottomanist agenda. Instead of imposing Islamism overnight, Erdogan focused on normalising Islamic influence through incremental transformations to avoid a backlash that would have triggered from a sudden shift. However, Erdogan’s Islamist designs have not gone down without resistance. The Turkish secularists, urban elites and minority groups have protested against creeping Islamisation, pointing to restrictions on alcohol, which is prohibited in Islam though an abundance of the same is promised to Muslims who would enter Jannat in afterlife. What came as a major shock to the world was the conversion of the historic Hagia Sophia Church into a mosque by the Erdogan regime, with several countries criticising the Turkish President.

Erdogan’s expansionist actions rooted in Islamism and Misak-i-Millî

This desire to transform Turkey into the leader of the global Muslim Ummah has brought Erdogan’s foreign policy at odds with the country’s secular past, although continuous electoral wins have only emboldened the AKP leader. During his election campaign in 2007, Erdogan had promised to lift the ban on headscarves in the civil service and in 2013, the AKP government lifted this decades-old ban.

Back in 2003, the former Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gül had openly declared his expansionist designs rooted in the ideology of neo-Ottomanism. “Turkey cannot be confined to Anatolia; its full borders extend beyond the official ones,” he told a Turkish newspaper.

He added that The Balkans, the Middle East, and Central Asia are regions of direct concern to us. Turkey cannot be locked inside Anatolia. Gül had also invoked the 1920 Misak-ı Millî (National Pact), an Ottoman-era territorial claim to emphasise Turkey’s ‘authority’ over Syria and Iraq which inhabit a mix of Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmens and other nationalities.

In 2011, as violence and chaos engulfed parts of the Middle East, Turkey saw it as an opportunity to intervene in Syria, a country neo-Ottomanist consider a part of Misak-i-Millî and its issues, their domestic matter. “Syria is not a foreign issue for us; we consider it a domestic matter,” Erdogan said on 8th August 2011.

Erdogan has also been granting Turkish citizenship to Syrian refugees. Justifying this, Süleyman Soylu said in 2019, “They come from lands within the Misak-ı Millî borders, which gives them a rightful claim to become Turks.”

In Syria, the Erdogan-led government deployed its forces and supported the anti-Assad regime, Syrian National Army. Turkey, through its Syrian proxies has expanded its influence in the country and occupied many cities such as Jarablus, al-Bab, Azaz, Afrin, Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye), and Tel Abyad (Gire Spi). Turkey also plans to establish military bases in Syria.  

Erdogan’s suppression of the Kurdish people in the region is a disgraceful chapter of his political career. Under the garb of fighting terrorism, the Turkish government has been targeting Kurdish activists, politicians, and media outlets, through detentions, restrictions on freedom of expression and dismissal from office etc.

Recently, Erdogan met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Shaara, who was previously with Al Qaeda, in Istanbul. Shaara thanked Erdogan for his role in lifting Western sanctions against Syria. Interestingly. in March this year, Ahmad al-Sharaa signed a provisional constitution that placed the nation under Islamist governance but claimed to uphold the rights of all Syrians, for a period of five years during the transition.

After the hardline Sunni organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, spearheaded an insurgency that toppled the 24-year-long dictatorship of President Bashar al-Assad in December, the country’s current rulers have found it difficult to maintain control over a large part of Syria. This has been undeniably beneficial for the Erdogan government which aims to consolidate Muslim Ummah and position Turkey as its leader. Despite Syria being in a transitional phase, Turkey and Syria are already set to sign many deals including the ones for export of gas and electricity to Syria.

Erdogan Islamist adventures also extend to Iraq. In 2016, he invoked Turkey’s Sejluk, Ottoman history, and Misak-i-Millî to lay claim over Iraq’s Mosul. Turkey over the years has been expanding its military presence in the Kurdistan region of Iraq by setting up military bases. Turkish expansionist policies have also infested Libya under the pretext of national security. In August 2024, an MoU was signed between Turkey and Libyan Parliament, granting the Turkish forces access to Libya for extensive operational freedom and legal protections.

Turkey’s alignment with Islamic terror groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and its jihadist activities indicate that Erdogan government does not even want to conceal its support to Islamist causes.

Unsurprisingly, Turkey also has longstanding disputes with neighbours Greece, Armenia and Cyprus. In January 2024, Erdogan while addressing an AKP meeting said that “Our struggle did not end with expelling the enemy [Greeks] from our lands and throwing them into the sea from Izmir.”

In the Smyrna (now Izmir) Massacre carried out by Turkish forces, over 1 lakh Greek Christians of Anatolia and many Armenians were killed in 1922. Erdogan hailed this event, in fact, Turkish Islamists consider “throwing Greeks into the sea” as matter of pride.  

Turkey has also been laying claims over 152 islands and islets in the Aegean Sea awarded to Greece in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, 1932 Convention between Turkey and Italy, and 1947 Treaty of Paris. Erdogan also sides with an Islamic Azerbaijan against Armenia even as the latter has occupied around 215 square kilometers (83 sq mi) of internationally recognized Armenian territory since 2020. Erdogan has been blinded with his ‘Khalifa’ ambition so much so that last year, he openly claimed credit for Azerbaijan’s win in  the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War against Armenia. Azerbaijan had raised strong objections over Erdogan’s statement.  

Turkey backs terror-sponsor Pakistan against India: Desperation of wannabe Caliph Erdogan trumps fight against terrorism

Driven by the ambition of positioning himself as the leader of the Muslim Ummah and consolidate Turkey’s influence across Islamic nations, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has historically backed Pakistan against India. In spite of Pakistan’s documented sponsorship of cross-border Jihadist terrorism against India over the years, Turkey has been using international forums to bolster Pakistan’s sinister narrative on Kashmir. Turkey has also been providing material support to Pakistan including weaponry. Erdogan’s self-imposed imperative to revive a Ottoman-like caliphate has led him to ally with Pakistan, a nation that has historically leveraged Islamist terrorism as a state policy.

Besides toeing Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir, Turkey has also voiced support to Pakistan even after the 2016 Uri Attack, 2019 Pulwama Attack and 2025 Pahalgam Attack. Turkish media had amplified Pakistan lies and propaganda after India revoked Article 370 and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. Erdogan also backed Pakistan after India carried out Balakot Airstrikes in 2019 in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pakistan-sponsored Pulwama Attack, making it abundantly clear that he is willing to court Islamic nations, even those with evident record of fostering, funding and shielding Jihadi terrorists, to bolster his global Islamic leadership.

Predictably, the Turkish media has also been echoing Pakistani lies even as India inflicted massive damages on Pakistan through Operation Sindoor. Pakistan and Turkey had also weaponised the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to push anti-India narratives citing Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC, in a bid to further the apocryphal ‘Islamophobia’ narrative. Just days back, Pakistan attempted to rally support of OIC against India, however, the hostile neighbour’s attempts fell flat.

It must be noted that Turkey’s support to Pakistan is not confined to just rhetoric and Kashmir advocacy in UN and other international forums, but also extends to trade and defence cooperation. After Indian Armed Forces launched a strike against Pakistan fostered terror hubs, the hostile neighbour launched a retaliatory drone offensive using Turkish-supplied Bayraktar TB2 drones. While India successfully thwarted Pakistani attacks, compelling Pakistani forces into begging before Indian forces for a ceasefire, Turkey has voiced support for a ‘brotherly’ Pakistan.

While Turkey’s religious and ideological support to Pakistan is widely known, the ideological hostility has now crossed into the realm of military aggression, with Turkey supplying Pakistan with lethal aerial assets used against Indian targets.

Not just supplying arms, reports have indicated that Turkish advisers were working with Pakistani military to help them use these drones against India. Two Turkish drone operators were reportedly killed in the retaliatory strikes by India, revealing Turkey’s on ground support during the war conflict India.

Additionally, a Turkish Ada-class anti-submarine corvette docked at Karachi port on May 2, 2025, and a Turkish C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft landed at Karachi airport on April 27, 2025, possibly carrying arms while the conflict was brewing and Pakistan was anticipating retaliation by India for the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

On 25th May 2025, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul and the duo said the two countries would strive to boost cooperation, particularly in defence, energy and transportation. Ironically, Erdogan’s office said that Turkey would collaborate with Pakistan in fighting against terrorism, yes, the very Pakistan where a UN-designated and sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Abdur Rauf conducts the funeral of the terrorists killed by India while Pakistani soldiers stand behind, where son of a UN-designated terrorist is serving as Director General of PR wing of Pakistan ‘Aand’ Forces.

Earlier, Erdogan extended solidarity to Pakistan after India killed over 100 terrorists and said, “I pray for Allah’s mercy for our brothers who lost their lives in the attacks, and I extend my condolences to the brotherly people and state of Pakistan.”

It is evident that Erdogan’s support for Pakistan is intricately linked to his goal of consolidating the Muslim Ummah under his leadership. The Islamist leader envisions himself as a modern caliph leading an Ottoman-fashioned Islamic empire. Besides the domestic policy shifts aimed at transforming Turkey into a proper Islamic nation severing ties with the Ataturk’s vision of a secular Turkey, Erdogan is deliberately unleashing rhetorics and actions to rally support of Islamic nations by championing Islamist causes although Saudi Arabia is largely seen as the leader of the Muslim Ummah. Turkey’s support to Pakistan, however, has not only triggered outrage in India but also raised concerns over its credibility as a NATO member.

Behind the veneer of democratic legitimacy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is operating a brand of Islamism blending populism, Islamist nationalism and quest for the revival of an Ottoman past. Gradually, Turkey has moved away from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s secular vision towards Erdogan’s Islamism. Erdogan’s support for terror-sponsor Pakistan, his suppression of secular elements within Turkey, and his global ambitions of becoming a modern Caliph or a neo-Ottoman Empire, however, betrays Turkey’s secular legacy and pushes the country towards potential diplomatic and military conflicts.

Has Rajdeep Sardesai been sacked from India Today? Controversial comment advocating PoK to be given to Pakistan fuels exit speculations

Jinit Jain
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Has Rajdeep Sardesai been sacked from India Today? Controversial comment advocating PoK to be given to Pakistan fuels exit speculations

Social media has been abuzz with speculation that ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai has been unceremoniously removed from India Today. The chatter intensified when ABP News journalist Megha Prasad tweeted, “A high and mighty in the media just got booted out,” without naming anyone. But it wasn’t long before netizens began connecting the dots, with many pointing fingers at India Today’s senior anchor Rajdeep Sardesai, especially after his controversial take on PoK even as national sentiment runs high in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. 

Adding fuel to the fire are multiple posts across X (formerly Twitter) alleging that Sardesai has been unceremoniously removed from the channel amid rising internal discomfort over his increasingly controversial positions and perceived conflicts of interest.

The PoK comment that sparked outrage

The immediate trigger, according to online observers, may have been Sardesai’s recent remarks on a televised debate regarding Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). During the discussion, he controversially stated that India should “consider formalizing the Line of Control (LoC) as the international border” and advised against pursuing the return of PoK. Sardesai went a step further to caution that India “must not underestimate Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities” and suggested that such ambitions could be destabilizing.

The statement was met with fierce backlash online, with many accusing him of fear-mongering and echoing Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir. Critics slammed the remarks as defeatist and anti-national, particularly at a time when there is growing consensus within India about reclaiming its rightful territories under illegal occupation.

A history of peddling fake news

This is not the first time Rajdeep Sardesai has courted controversy — or disciplinary action. In January 2021, he was taken off air by India Today for two weeks and docked a month’s salary after spreading misinformation during the farmers’ protest. Sardesai had tweeted that a protester who died during the tractor rally on Republic Day had been killed in police firing. It was later confirmed that the individual had died after his tractor overturned. The false claim drew heavy criticism, and India Today was compelled to take punitive action against him.

Conflict of interest and questions of bias

This isn’t the first time Sardesai has come under fire. His critics have often accused him of going soft on opposition parties, while displaying open hostility and cynicism towards the BJP and PM Modi. These concerns took on a new dimension when his wife, Sagarika Ghose, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) — a party fiercely opposed to the ruling BJP.

The nomination revived questions about journalistic neutrality and conflict of interest. Can a senior editor at a leading national channel be expected to report impartially when their spouse is an active member of Parliament from the opposition ranks? Many argue that since Ghose’s elevation to the Upper House, Sardesai’s tone has increasingly resembled that of an opposition spokesperson rather than a neutral journalist. His consistent criticism of the Modi government and conspicuous silence or deflection when it comes to the opposition’s failures have not gone unnoticed by viewers or media analysts.

While India Today has so far remained tight-lipped, speculation abounds that Sardesai’s exit — if true — may have been an internal editorial decision aimed at damage control. Some rumours suggest that the channel, long criticised for employing political party spokespersons as journalists, may have finally drawn the line and come down hard against propagandists who fail to realise when their pathological hatred for Modi devolves into hate for India.

Given the growing public scrutiny and outrage against Rajdeep’s brand of journalism, India Today might be attempting to restore balance by distancing itself from a figure whose perceived partisanship was becoming a liability.

At the time of publication, OpIndia has reached out to Rajdeep Sardesai via email to seek clarification on the speculation surrounding his status at India Today. We have not received a response yet.

What’s next for Sardesai?

If the chatter is indeed accurate, Rajdeep Sardesai would be the latest in a line of partisan media figures shown the door for peddling propaganda under the guise of journalism. He could, like others before him — Ravish Kumar, Abhisar Sharma, Ajit Anjum — play the victimhood claiming he was dismissed for asking “uncomfortable questions” and simply shift to YouTube, where echo chambers are plentiful and accountability minimal. There, he can continue delivering his increasingly delusional takes on Indian politics without editorial oversight or the inconvenience of being challenged.

Disclaimer: This article is based on unverified social media chatter and public speculation. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from India Today or Rajdeep Sardesai.

Bhopal: Zoya trapped, threatened Hindu girls on behalf of ‘Muslim gang’ led by her brother, blackmailed them with their obscene videos

OpIndia Staff
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Bhopal: Zoya trapped, threatened Hindu girls on behalf of ‘Muslim gang’ led by her brother, blackmailed them with their obscene videos

In April this year, a ‘Muslim gang’ that preyed on Hindu girls was busted in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Obscene videos of 64 girls were found on the phone of Farhan, the leader of the gang, 58 of these videos were of girls from the same educational institution. It has also come to light that his sister, Zoya, assisted him in luring Hindu girls.

Zoya would intimidate Hindu girls by threatening to make their explicit videos public. Meanwhile, Farman forced Hindu girls to recite the Kalma and told them about Roza. All these findings have emerged from the SIT (Special Investigation Team) investigation.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, Farhan specifically targeted female students from TIT College in Bhopal. Most of the girls trapped were from there. The report revealed that Zoya was involved in trapping Hindu girls for him. She also did this for his other friends. Zoya would call a girl even if she stopped speaking to Farhan.

Zoya often informed them that her brother was distressed because they stopped talking to him and urged them to start communicating again. She would then issue the blackmail threat of releasing their graphic videos to the public. Zoya told a girl that Farhan would eventually make the video viral but Zoya would do it even before him. At the same time, Farhan and his friends were making every effort to convert the girls to Islam.

The report indicated that Farhan and his associates would inform the girls about the significant power of their prayers. Additionally, they would provoke them against Hinduism. They even attempted to indoctrinate the girls regarding Roza and taught them Kalma. An SIT investigation is currently underway in the matter. Farhan and four others have been arrested in the case while one accused is still absconding. Efforts are ongoing to locate him. New information is being uncovered each day during the interrogation.

The SIT investigation is currently in progress. The authorities have uncovered that Farhan even engaged in share trading using the accounts of two girls. The police have discovered that he conducted transactions amounting to lakhs from these accounts. He has executed transactions ₹15 lakh from these two accounts in total.

Moreover, transactions amounting to ₹50 lakh have also been found in Farhan’s accounts. Farhan is currently under further questioning and attempts are being made to identify the parties with whom he transacted.

The Muslim gang that assaulted and raped Hindu girls in Bhopal did so for the purpose of gaining rewards. They viewed their actions as virtuous. They aimed to target as many Hindu girls as they could. These disclosures were made by Farhan.

During police interrogation, Farhan stated that he feels no remorse for trapping, raping and threatening the girls via their objectionable videos. He informed the police that this is considered a virtuous deed for them in accordance with Islamic beliefs. The police are diligently working to apprehend the other suspects in this case.

Taking a dig at the opposition, PM Modi says everything was recorded on camera during Operation Sindoor so that no one back home can ask for proof

ANI
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Taking a dig at the opposition, PM Modi says everything was recorded on camera during Operation Sindoor so that no one back home can ask for proof

Terming Operation Sindoor as a “decisive action” PM Narendra Modi said that nine terrorist hideouts were destroyed in 22 minutes during India’s airstrikes against Pakistan adding that the entire action was recorded in front of cameras so that nobody will ask for proof.

Addressing a rally in Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister said that India is a “land of the brave” and highlighted that the terror attacks on the country can now no longer be termed as “proxy wars”.

“This is a land of the brave. Until now, what we used to call a proxy war, after the scenes witnessed post-May 6, we can no longer make the mistake of calling it a proxy war. The reason is that when nine terrorist hideouts were identified and destroyed within just 22 minutes, it was a decisive action. And this time, everything was done in front of the cameras, so that no one back home would ask for proof,” PM Modi said.

Addressing the rally, the Prime Minister said, “I say this can no longer be called a proxy war because the terrorists whose funerals were held after May 6 were given state honours in Pakistan. Pakistan’s flags were placed on their coffins, and their army saluted them. It proves that terrorist activities are not a proxy war but a well-planned war strategy. You are already at war, and you will receive the response accordingly. We do not seek enmity with anyone. We want to live peacefully. We also want to progress so that we can contribute to the welfare of the world…” Furthermore, PM Modi highlighted how the country was ruined due to the Indus Water Treaty.

“I want to tell the new generation how our country was ruined. If you study the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, you’ll be shocked. It was decided that the dams built on the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir would not be cleaned. Desilting would not be done. The bottom gates for clearing sediments were to remain shut. For 60 years, these gates were never opened. Reservoirs that were supposed to be filled to 100 per cent capacity have now been reduced to only 2 per cent or 3 per cent…”

Taking a dig at Pakistan, PM Modi stated that till now he has not done anything but people in the neighbourhood are “sweating”.

Right now, I haven’t done anything and people are sweating there (Pakistan). We have opened small gates for cleaning the dams, and there is already a flood there…”

Remembering the time of India’s partition in 1947, PM Modi stated that Pakistan annexed a part of Kashmir with the help of terrorists. He said that if those terrorists had been killed that day and if Sardar Patel’s advice had been accepted, then the series of terror activities in India would have stopped, which has been going on for the past 75 years.”

“In 1947, Mother India was torn into pieces. The chains should have been cut, but the arms were chopped off. The country was divided into three parts, and the same night, the first terrorist attack took place on the soil of Kashmir. Pakistan captured a part of Mother India with the help of terrorists, in the name of Mujahideen. If these Mujahideen had been killed on that day and Sardar Patel’s advice had been accepted, then this series (of terrorist incidents) that has been going on for the last 75 years would not have been seen.

The Prime Minister said that the country has decided to root out the thorn of terrorism. “…Shareer kitna hi swasth kyu naa ho lekin agar ek kaanta chubhta hai toh poora shareer pareshan rehta hai. Ab humne tay kar liya hai uss kaante ko nikaal ke rahenge…” (No matter how strong or healthy the body is, even a single thorn can cause constant pain–and we’ve decided that the thorn must be removed)”, PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister further exposed Pakistan’s capability and stated that it cannot defeat India in war, due to which they have begun a proxy war. He asserted that the terrorists kept on attacking India, and the citizens tolerated every attack.

“When the need for war with Pakistan arose, India’s military power defeated Pakistan all three times. Pakistan understood that it could not defeat India in a war. It started a proxy war against India. They kept attacking wherever they got a chance, and we kept tolerating it”, PM Modi said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Gujarat: Muslim mob assaults Dalit family with ‘Allahu Akbar’ slogans for objecting to recording videos when women were changing clothes

ભાર્ગવ રાજ્યગુરુ
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Gujarat: Muslim mob assaults Dalit family with ‘Allahu Akbar’ slogans for objecting to recording videos when women were changing clothes

A Muslim mob reportedly assaulted a Dalit family from Surat who were visiting a reservoir in Thuti village, located in the Uchchhal area of Tapi district. The women were bathing along the banks of the Ukai dam reservoir and were changing their clothes. However, some Muslim youths were seen recording their video. When the family objected to filming and asked to respect the privacy of the women, they were assaulted. Furthermore, a group of 15 Muslims subsequently attacked them in the hospital and on the road.

An FIR (First Information Report) has been lodged at Uchchhal Police Station on the basis of a complaint. OpIndia has a copy of the official complaint. According to the complaint, the incident transpired on 18th May. Sections 115(2), 117(2), 189(2), 190, 191(2), 191(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 135 of the Gujarat Police (GP) Act have been invoked against 15 unidentified individuals of the Muslim community.

Accusation of capturing video of women and assault

According to the allegations, Pratap Singh Chauhan, a Dalit man employed as a driver in the emergency ward of Kiran Hospital in Surat, along with his family and neighbors, traveled to the Ukai dam reservoir in Thuti village of Uchhal taluka by bike and car. They were accompanied by women and children. They went to bathe in a reservoir in the afternoon. According to the complaint, after exiting the bathing, one of the women was changing her clothes behind a bedsheet.

As per the complaint, the family noticed that some Muslim individuals were filming the woman. Furthermore, an individual accompanying the complainant was assaulted by the Muslim men. Once the incident came to light, all members of the Dalit family came together and requested the Muslim youth to refrain from making the video. However, the accused attacked the family members. Moreover, when the latter checked the mobile phone of one of the offenders, they found no video present, but the other one did not allow them to examine his device.

Afterward, the confrontation ended and the Muslim men exited the area. However, shortly after, at approximately 4 pm, the Muslims accompanied by a group of 15 to 20 other members of their community returned armed and initiated a direct assault. It is reported that a member of a Hindu family sustained serious injuries during the attack and was subsequently transported to Songadh Hospital.

On their way to Songadh, two other members of the Muslim mob came onto the road and began to target the vehicle. According to the complaint, following this incident, the Dalit family members made their way to the Hospital where the wounded were given first aid and subsequently admitted to Kiran Hospital. However, it is charged that a Muslim mob gathered at the hospital and created a scene.

Accusations against the police

A video showcasing the victim family has gone viral on social media in which they recount their harrowing experience. A young man revealed that when he visited the Songadh police, they responded, “It’s a good thing you survived, otherwise, the Muslims of Songadh would have killed you.” Furthermore, in the video, someone has likened this incident to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The woman also recalled her experience and stated that as she was changing her clothes, two Muslim men and a Muslim woman began to record her from above. When the family questioned them, the youth came down and started to argue. Furthermore, another person also shared the incident in the video.

‘Mob raised Allahu Akbar slogans’, says victim family

In an interview with OpIndia, Pratap Singh Chauhan, reported that a Muslim mob assaulted his family while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The attack also resulted in injuries to women and children. Additionally, a group of Muslims congregated at Songadh Hospital and issued threats. He further mentioned that the Songadh police earlier accepted a complaint lauched by the perpetrators in the matter.

A local Hindu organization official Chandan Singh Gohil informed OpIndia that one of the accused is a Muslim individual who serves as a local councilor. He also mentioned that the latter has previously been involved in several crimes and on one occasion, the police even organized his public procession. He informed that the Muslim mob filed a false complaint against the family and the police even accepted the same.

Singh added that the culprits are strongmen of Songadh. Only two months ago, one of the accused and his father were paraded in a procession by the police. Furthermore, accusations were made concerning their role in a murder case. He also criticized the local police. He indicated that a councilor was part of the group that arrived to confront which swayed the police’s action in their favour.

The Hindu leader indicated that when the accused became aware of the intention to file a case, they swiftly went to the police station to lodge a complaint claiming that the Dalit family had molested a Muslim woman. He voiced, “There is no rationale behind this complaint. Since Hindu men were present with their wives, children, and families, how could they have acted in such a manner?” He also accused the police of registering complaints in succession with the intention of settling the issue.

Police pressure on Hindu man

Gohil mentioned that for the majority of the time, this instance went unnoticed. However, after a day or two, a Hindu individual filmed the victim’s family and shared it on social media, leading to the incident gaining attention in Gujarat. The person who captured the video hailed from Surat. Gohil stated that the Police Inspector of the relevant area in Surat began to exert pressure him, ultimately resulting in deletion of the footage.

However, it already gained significant traction online through alternative channels and subsequently came to the attention of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. The video continues to circulate widely on social media. The authorities have initiated action regarding the issue and received complaints from both parties. In a conversation with OpIndia, the Police Inspector of Uchchhal police station stated that following the incident, six individuals have been apprehended for rioting, and two complaints have been lodged against them.

Notably, several days have passed since this incident and two days since the video went viral, however, no information has surfaced in any media regarding the case. There are probably two likely explanations behind this. One is that the media is intimidated by the accused councilor, who has significant influence and the second is that the police themselves are suppressing the matter. It is difficult to ascertain what the truth is. Nevertheless, it is evident that efforts have been made and are ongoing to conceal the incident.

Read the report in Gujarati here.

BSF hit terror hubs 3 KMs inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, destroyed LeT launchpad

ANI
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BSF hit terror hubs 3 KMs inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, destroyed LeT launchpad

Stressing that India’s response to the cross-border shelling from Pakistan was answered loudly and in an effective manner, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday reiterated that they were planned to also strike the terrorists launchpads near the Line of Control on the night of May 9 and 10.

Addressing a press conference, Shashank Anand (BSF IG), Jammu Frontier emphasized that the Pakistani post opened fire on India’s positions, for which it was already prepared.

“As a result of this preparedness, we inflicted heavy damage on several Pakistani posts during the cross-border firing. We did not suffer any losses ourselves,” Anand said.

“On the night of May 8, when we carried out this operation, the enemy’s morale in that area was visibly shaken. The next day, i.e., on May 9, Pakistan began unprovoked cross-border firing along the international border in the northern areas of Jammu, moving away from the Samba region. The BSF was already prepared for such a situation, and on May 9 and 10, the BSF launched heavy shelling on Pakistan’s border belt. During this period, we had planned that if the opportunity arose, we would also strike the terrorist launch pads located near the international border,” he said.

He further said that the BSF carried out a “deliberate” attack on a Lashkar-e-Taiba launch pad in Looni area near the LoC.

“As part of this operation, on the night of May 9 and 10, the BSF carried out a deliberate and planned attack on a Lashkar-e-Taiba launchpad in “Looni”, which is located in Pakistan just 3 kilometers from the international border,” Shashank Anand said.

Virender Dutta, DIG Sector Sundarbani, said that they had an input of the presence of 18-20 militants in Looni area who were planning to infiltrate by taking the advantage of cross-border firing.

“After May 8, we received intelligence that 18-20 militants were present in Looni, and it was expected that they would attempt to infiltrate by taking advantage of the cross-border firing. Their intention was likely to target our installations later. We executed a highly coordinated and well-planned operation in two phases to inflict maximum casualties. We achieved that goal, and Looni was completely destroyed,” Dutta said.

Operation Sindoor was India’s decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor led to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres, and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan.

After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

India unveils the Bharat Forecast System, the world’s most precise weather model with 6 km resolution. Powered by the supercomputer Arka: Details

OpIndia Staff
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India unveils the Bharat Forecast System, the world’s most precise weather model with 6 km resolution. Powered by the supercomputer Arka: Details

On 26th May, India unveiled the Bharat Forecast System (BFS), a breakthrough in indigenous weather modelling that now allows forecasts down to the village level. The BFS has been developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). It was launched by Union Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This system is backed by the supercomputer ‘Arka’ and marks India’s entry into the world’s most accurate weather prediction league. With BFS, India is now ahead of the US, UK and EU.

A leap from 12 km to 6 km resolution

Until now, India’s forecasts were based on a 12 km grid model. The new BFS shrinks it to a 6 km resolution, which enables hyperlocal predictions for every village, rather than a cluster of 4–5 villages. This development has placed India’s model at the highest spatial precision among global weather systems that operate at resolutions of 9 km to 14 km.

According to the ministry, this leap could mean a 30% improvement in extreme rainfall forecasts and a 64% boost in monsoon core zone accuracy, which means it will significantly enhance disaster preparedness and agricultural resilience.

India-made system, India-wide impact

Speaking at the launch, Dr Singh said, “This indigenous breakthrough positions India among global leaders in weather prediction. The efforts are Indian, the technology is Indian, and the beneficiaries are Indian. This is true Atmanirbharta.”

The system has been developed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. It uses the advanced Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid model and will also serve other tropical regions between 30°S and 30°N latitudes.

In simpler terms, the system uses a special 3D grid system called the Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid that helps divide the Earth’s surface more evenly than regular square grids. This makes weather predictions more accurate, especially in complex areas like the tropics, which is the region around the equator between 30 degrees South and 30 degrees North, including India and many other developing countries. With the help of the new system, farmers and local authorities in the area will get more precise and timely weather alerts.

The BFS is powered by the new High-Performance Computing (HPC) system ‘Arka’, located at IITM Pune and NCMRWF Noida. With 11.77 petaflops of computing speed and 33 petabytes of storage, Arka slashes model run time from 10 hours (on the previous system ‘Pratyush’) to just four hours.

In simpler terms, the earlier system Pratyush was taking 10 hours to run forecasts. With Arka, the same process can be completed in just four hours.

Women scientists

One of the most significant highlights of BFS is the announcement that the project is being led by four women scientists, which is a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Nari Shakti. Dr Singh remarked, “Science ministries no longer empower women, we are being empowered by them.” Dr Suvarna Fadnavis, Dr Swapna Panickal, Dr Susmitha Joseph and Dr Medha Deshpande are leading the team.

Designed for today’s climate realities

The government’s Economic Survey has already pointed out how weather volatility, including heatwaves and sudden rains, has driven up food inflation and crop losses. Between 2022 and 2024, the IMD observed heatwaves on 18% of days, a steep rise from 5% in 2020–21.

BFS will be supported by 40 Doppler weather radars across the country, which will address these challenges. The government is planning to expand the number of radars to 100. It will enable real-time alerts and “nowcasting”, which is forecasting events in the next two hours, in every part of India.

A whole-of-government, whole-of-science approach

Dr Singh praised the collaborative effort of institutions including IITM, IMD, ISRO, and others in realising the BFS. With over 20 ministries relying on weather data daily, from agriculture to transport, the Bharat Forecast System is not just a scientific feat but a national asset, which will reduce losses, boost gains, and fuel India’s ascent to become the world’s top economy.

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