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AAP nominated Raghav Chaddha, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, founder of Lovely Professional University and others for Rajya Sabha

OpIndia Staff
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AAP nominated Raghav Chaddha, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, founder of Lovely Professional University and others for Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha elections are scheduled for March 31. Aam Aadmi Party has nominated five of the seven seats from Punjab. As per reports, Raghav Chaddha, Delhi MLA and national spokesperson AAP, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Professor Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, founder Lovely Professional University and Sanjeev Arora, Businessman, have been nominated by AAP for the five Rajya Sabha seats. As AAP has won assembly elections with 92 out of 117 seats in Punjab, all five vacancies would be filled by the party nominees.

Raghav Chaddha played a vital role in the Punjab elections. His nomination to Rajya Sabha is being seen as an award for his efforts in the assembly elections. Sharing the video of Chaddha filing nomination, AAP wrote on its official Twitter handle, “AAP’s Firebrand Spokesperson Raghav Chaddha files his nomination as AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. As the Punjab co-in charge, he has played an important role in AAP’s landslide victory & is now set to raise people’s voice in the Upper House as its YOUNGEST Member!” It is noteworthy that during a visit to Ludhiana, Chaddha was chased by local AAP workers for alleging the party had distributed tickets in exchange for money.

A few days ago, there were speculations that Harbhajan Singh would be nominated for Rajya Sabha, and OpIndia had reported the same. Sharing the video of Singh filing nomination, AAP wrote, “Cricketer Harbhajan Singh files his nomination as AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. After making India Proud as a bowling legend, Mr Turbanator is now going to raise his voice for the people of Punjab in Parliament.”

Sandeep Pathak, an assistant professor at IIT Delhi, has been working as a strategist for AAP for years. On Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had mentioned him for his contributions as campaign designer and political strategist for the Punjab elections and thanked him for the same.

Ashok Mittal is the founder of Lovely Professional University, one of Punjab’s largest universities. Sanjeev Arora is a businessman from Ludhiana.

Twitter bends to Woke mafia, locks account of website ‘The Babylon Bee’ for satire article on transgender Rachel Levine

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter bends to Woke mafia, locks account of website ‘The Babylon Bee’ for satire article on transgender Rachel Levine

Twitter has locked the profile of the famous satirical website ‘The Babylon Bee’ stating violation of rules for promoting ‘hateful content’. The website had shared a featured article on Twitter that conferred transgender government official Rachel Levine the title of ‘The Babylon Bee Man of the Year’. It would appear that Twitter has not ceded space to the Woke liberals to a point where even satire is considered ‘hateful’ by the platform.

The Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon announced Twitter’s restriction of his website today on his personal account. The Big Tech’s thought policing crossed limits when it charged a satirical article under ‘Hateful Conduct’. The website has been ‘locked’ by Twitter for its tweet on Rachel Levine, the US Assistant Secretary for Health.

In a notification received to the website’s Twitter account on Sunday, Twitter said the account has been blocked for supposedly indulging in “promoting violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”

Furthermore, Twitter has threatened The Babylon Bee to remove its Tweet on Levine by limiting certain features of its account. It said that the account will be restored to the fullest after 12 hrs provided the tweet is deleted by the website.

Upon the move, CEO Seth Dillon has maintained that no content will be deleted by his team. “We’re not deleting anything. Truth is not hate speech. If the cost of telling the truth is the loss of our Twitter account, then so be it,” he tweeted. Furthermore, he has advised his followers not to bend before the censorship of the Big Tech. “Insist that 2 and 2 make 4 even if Twitter tries to compel you to say otherwise. Make them ban tens of millions of us,” he wrote.

Who is Rachel Levine, a satire article on whom got The Babylon Bee account locked?

Born as a biological man named Richard, Rachel Levine is a paediatrician in the US who transitioned in 2011. Under the Joe Biden administration, Levine was sworn in as an assistant secretary for health and is the highest-ranking transgender official in the country. After USA Today named her ‘Woman of the Year’ for 2021, The Baylon Bee took a dig at Levine by calling her ‘Man of the Year’ instead in what was openly a satirical piece. The article stated that Rachel ‘serves proudly as the first man in the position to dress like a western cultural stereotype of a woman.’

By restricting a satirical website like The Babylon Bee to put out content, Twitter’s policy to curb hate speech comes more like a punishment for not towing its ideological line.

‘The Kashmir Files’ unstoppable, Box Office collection set to cross the 200 crore mark: Here are the details

OpIndia Staff
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‘The Kashmir Files’ unstoppable, Box Office collection set to cross the 200 crore mark: Here are the details

‘The Kashmir Files’, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, has crossed the ₹170 crore mark in box office collections, within 10 days of its release in theatres. The film is slated to enter the ₹200-crore club by the next week.

As per reports, the absorbing movie earned ₹19.15 crores on Friday (March 18), followed by an additional ₹24.80 crores on Saturday (March 19). The film grossed a total of ₹26.20 crores on Sunday (March 20). It made a whopping ₹70.15 crores over the weekend. ‘The Kashmir Files’ had a net collection of 97.30 crores in the first week.

In a tweet, movie critic Taran Adarsh wrote, “TheKashmirFiles [Week 2] is a TSUNAMI at the #BO… Packs a SUPER-SOLID total [₹ 70.15 cr] in Weekend 2… #TKF REFUSES TO SLOW DOWN, should hit ₹ 200 on weekdays [by Wed or Thu]… Fri 19.15 cr, Sat 24.80 cr, Sun 26.20 cr. Total: ₹ 167.45 cr. #India biz.”

“The film is an unstoppable force at the moment and is now eyeing the Rs 300 crore club, and given the 10-day trend, the benchmark will be breached in the days to come. The movie is among the most profitable Hindi films of all times and is joining Jai Santoshi Maa in the list of those rare small budget films that emerged as a blockbuster,” reported Pinkvilla.

‘The Kashmir Files’ movie narrates the 1990 genocide of Kashmiri Pandits

The Kashmir Files’ is inspired by the true stories of Kashmiri Pandits. It takes viewers back to 1989, when conflict erupted in Kashmir due to rising Islamic Jihad, forcing the great majority of Hindus to flee the valley.

According to estimates, roughly 100,000 of the valley’s total 140,000 Kashmiri Pandit inhabitants migrated between February and March 1990. More of them fled in the years that followed until just about 3,000 families remained in the valley by 2011.

The movie based on video interviews with first-generation Kashmiri Pandit victims of the Kashmir Genocide was released in India on March 11 and is open to watch in theatres.

No class 12 re-exam for hundreds of students who boycotted practical exams demanding Hijab in their institutions: Details

OpIndia Staff
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No class 12 re-exam for hundreds of students who boycotted practical exams demanding Hijab in their institutions: Details

Hundreds of pre-university II (PU II) students who had boycotted practical examinations in Karnataka will not get another chance to appear in the exams, according to a Times of India report. In Karnataka, class 12 is called PU II. They had boycotted these exams demanding hijab to be allowed inside the classrooms of their institutes.

Earlier, the government had hinted that they may give these students another chance to appear for the examinations. However, on Sunday, the government clarified that the students marked absent during the examinations will not get another chance.

Making the government stand clear, primary and secondary education minister BC Nagesh said, “How can we even consider the possibility? If we allow students who boycotted the practicals for not being allowed to wear hijab to the exam even after the high court gave its interim order, then another student will come citing some other reason and seek a second chance.”

Practical exams carry a weightage of 30 marks out of the total 100 marks in board exams in Karnataka, with the balance 70 for the theory exams.

The Hijab row started in Karnataka in early February as some students insisted on wearing hijab inside the classrooms, against the uniform rules in their institutes. The row escalated to become worldwide news with troublesome neighbour Pakistan even trying to start a diplomatic row over it.

Several write petitions were filed in the court demanding hijab inside the classrooms against the uniform rules in the educational institutes. However, last week, Karnataka high court held that the hijab is not an essential religious practice and dismissed all such petitions.

Hijab row

The hijab controversy in Karnataka gained momentum since the first week of January after eight Muslim girls were denied entry to classes in a Udupi college because they were wearing hijab. The college authorities had informed that the hijab was not a part of the uniform dress code mandated for the students. 

The Muslim girls, adamant about wearing hijab, then filed a petition in High Court seeking permission to attend classes with hijab. They stated that wearing the hijab was their ‘fundamental right’ granted under Articles 14 and 25 of the Indian Constitution and ‘integral practice of Islam’.

The controversy spiralled as Hindu students in Karnataka styled with saffron scarves around their necks and protested against Muslim girls continuing to wear hijab to the college. Tensions also prevailed at some educational institutions in Udupi, Shivamogga, Bagalkote, and other parts, as stones-pelting and violence were reported from various parts of the state.

As reported earlier, the students had begun to wear hijab to schools and colleges after they had met the Campus Front of India (CFI), the student branch of the Islamist organization Popular Front of India (PFI), in October 2021. The students confessed that they had spoken with the CFI.

Watch: Aamir Khan, whose then wife was scared to live in India, says he will watch Kashmir Files, what happened to Kashmiri Hindus condemnable

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Aamir Khan, whose then wife was scared to live in India, says he will watch Kashmir Files, what happened to Kashmiri Hindus condemnable

On March 20, during a media interaction at a press conference in Delhi for the upcoming Telugu film RRR, actor Aamir Khan praised filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s latest film, The Kashmir Files, and urged everyone to watch it. When Khan was asked about his views on the film, he said, “I would definitely watch the film. It is a part of history that breaks our hearts. Whatever happened to the Kashmiri Pandits, it is condemnable.”

He further added, “Any film made on such topic must be seen by all Indians. It has touched the emotions of all the people who believe in humanity, and this is a beautiful aspect of the film. I will definitely watch it, and I am delighted to see the film is successful at the box office.”

Aamir said, “Ji zaroor dekhunga main…Wo ek history ka aisa hissa hain jo dil dukta hain usme…jo Kashmiri Pandits k sath hua hain, wo dukh ki baat hain…aur aise film jo bani hain uss topic pe woh yakennan har Hindustandi ko dekhna chaiye (Yes, I will definitely see. The story is a part of our history and whatever happened with the Kashmiri Pandits was really sad. Any film on such a topic must be seen by all Indians).”

Khan’s ex-wife suggested leaving India

In 2015, speaking on alleged increasing intolerance in the country, Aamir Khan had claimed his ex-wife Kiran Rao had suggested leaving India as she felt unsafe in the country. Six years later, in 2021, the couple had announced divorce.

The Kashmir Files

Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files is based on the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in the 1990s. The film has been a major success at the box office. Several states have made it tax-free. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Home Minister Amit Shah and UP, CM Yogi Adityanath has praised the film.

Though the film has been received with open hearts by the majority of the viewers, a section of society, especially the liberals and Islamists, have opposed the film, claiming it hurts the sentiments of the minority. A full-fledged agenda to discredit the film has been running since before the launch of the film in the theatres. So much so, NDTV had deemed it a propaganda film even before the release. The word ‘propaganda’ was removed from the description after the uproar.

‘Save yourself from Triple Talaq’, ‘will harm brothers and sisters if you complain’: Muslim woman thrown out because she voted for BJP in UP

OpIndia Staff
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‘Save yourself from Triple Talaq’, ‘will harm brothers and sisters if you complain’: Muslim woman thrown out because she voted for BJP in UP

A Muslim woman has been thrown out of the house by her in-laws allegedly for voting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. She had voted for BJP for the work it has done, including the law against Triple Talaq and free ration to the poor. The victim has been identified as Uzma. She got married to Taslim Ansari in January 2021. It was a love marriage. Uzma is the daughter of one Tahir Ansari, a resident of Ezaz Nagar Ghautia colony.

In a statement, she said, “I voted for BJP that has irked my husband’s uncle Tayyab. I voted for BJP because they brought a law against Triple Talaq. My family is very poor. My father is a labourer. We are five sisters. The government also provided us ration.”

She further added she had a love marriage over a year ago. “When BJP won the elections, my husband’s uncle said Yogi won again. I laughed and said I also voted for BJP. I told him he was doing good for the people. It is a good government. They brought law against Triple Talaq.”

She said he got irked by her statement and told her to save herself from Triple Talaq. She claimed they were living happily separated from her father-in-law and mother-in-law. “My husband is with his uncle on the matter. He is not supporting me. But I do not have any issues with my husband,” she added. When asked if her husband threw her out, she said, “Yes, he threw me out and threatened to divorce me. He has not given me divorce but threatened and challenged me to do whatever I can to save myself from Triple Talaq.”

When she said she would file a complaint, they threatened to harm her brother and sisters.

Husband and his uncle threw her out for voting BJP

Reports suggest a man named Maulana Tayyab, uncle of the victim, and Uzma’s brother-in-law Ayaz came to know that she might have voted for BJP in the Assembly polls. When they confronted her and asked who she had voted, she told them that she voted for BJP. Irked by the confession, they threw her out of the house. Uzma alleged Tayyab said as she voted for BJP, her husband would divorce her. He also challenged BJP if the party could stop the divorce.

Farhat Naqvi, sister of Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, met the victim and urged the government to take strict action in the case. Notably, Farhat also raised the issue of Triple Talaq in UP. Reports further suggested the in-laws of the victim had threatened her if she complained to the Police, they would kill he brother.

Naqvi said in a statement that Uzma had approached her and informed her about the incident. She further added they would file a police complaint about further action.

Maulana Shahabuddin Rizvi, National General Secretary, Tanzeem Ulma-e-Islam, was quoted by Live Hindustan saying every person has the right to vote for the party of their choice. He said, “Any man or woman can vote for the party of his/her choice as per the constitution. It should not be politicized. The in-laws and husband are threatening the victim of divorce as she voted for BJP. It is wrong. They should apologize to the victim. If they fail to do so, they will be deemed criminals as per Sharia.”

Under PM Modi’s leadership, BJP will complete every unfinished task: BJP Minister Jitendra Singh on re-integrating PoK into Indian territory

OpIndia Staff
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Under PM Modi’s leadership, BJP will complete every unfinished task: BJP Minister Jitendra Singh on re-integrating PoK into Indian territory

On Sunday (March 20), the Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the BJP government is firm in its goal of re-integrating the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) into the Indian territory. He made the remarks after unveiling Maharaja Gulab Singh’s statue in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir.

While speaking to the media, he said, “In 1994, a resolution was passed by the Indian Parliament under the leadership of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao that the only bone of contention between India and Pakistan is that of PoK.”

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the part of Jammu and Kashmir, which still remains under the illegal occupation of Pakistan, is re-integrated into the Indian territory,” Singh emphasised.

“When BJP sets out to achieve something, many don’t take us seriously or think about it deeply. When we used to talk about the abrogation of Article 370, many would poke fun at us. But, you saw it turning into a reality,” he pointed out.

Jitendra Singh added that many ridiculed the saffron party when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced in the 1980s that BJP would come to power one day. “Under the leadership of PM Modi, BJP will complete every unfinished task,” the BJP Minister concluded.

Jitendra Singh shared a throwback video on PoK hours after Russia annexed parts of Ukraine

Last month, Singh shared a snippet from a 2019 speech in the Lok Sabha to commemorate the historic Parliamentary resolution on Jammu and Kashmir that was adopted on February 22, 1994. The development coincided with the decision of the Russian government to identify rebel-held territories in Ukraine as independent nations.

While speaking in the Lower House of Parliament, the BJP lawmaker had said, “There are no two opinions about the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. This Parliament had passed a resolution about the same in 1994. It was done by the government of PV Narasimha Rao and we had supported it then. The only dispute that exists is how and when we can retrieve the other part of Kashmir that continues to remain under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.”

The Parliamentary resolution of February 22, 1994, read, “On behalf of the People of India, this House firmly declares that the State of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means.”

Bihar: Hindu man dead after being taken in custody for playing music on Holi, cops say killed by ‘bees’, irate mob kills cop over alleged custodial death: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Hindu man dead after being taken in custody for playing music on Holi, cops say killed by ‘bees’, irate mob kills cop over alleged custodial death: Details

On March 20, Bihar Police arrested at least 14 people in connection to the incident where an agitated mob killed a constable and injured three others following an alleged custodial death of a villager. Reports suggest that Hindu man Aniruddh Kumar alias Amrit Yadav was arrested by the Police for the violation of prohibitory order for playing DJ music on Holi.

On Saturday, a DJ system was being played on the occasion of Holi. There was prohibitory order in place. Block Development Officer (BDO) Meera Sharma and CO Manish Kumar confiscated the DJ system and sent it to the police station.

Yadav was the driver of the DJ team that was playing the music on a truck on Holi. Yadav, who was a resident of Aryanagar under Balthar Police station, had gone to the police station to get the DJ system released. He died allegedly after getting beaten up by the Police.

Praveen Kumar, DIG, Champaran Range, was quoted by Hindustan Times saying, “So far, 14 people have been arrested in connection with Balthar incident as per the information available. Search for other accused is on.”

Kanhaiya Yadav, Aniruddh’s brother, accused Police of beating his brother to death. Alleging cops themselves burnt the police vehicles, he said, “After he died, the policemen fled from the police station, setting the vehicles on fire themselves.”

Upendra Nath Verma, Superintendent of Police, Bettiah, claimed Yadav died after he was attacked by bees. He said, “He was not as such under our custody or kept in police lockup. Rather, he was attacked by a swarm of bees when he was drinking water, using a hand pump on the premises of the police station. He was taken to the hospital but died. Bees also emerged from his ear cavity.”

Kundan Kumar, a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Narkatiaganj, told Hindustan Times that a policeman died after a mob attacked the police station. He further added the miscreants set six vehicles on fire, out of which three belonged to Police, two were private vehicles, and one was a fire brigade vehicle. The deceased police officer was identified as Ram Jatan Rai. He was posted at the Prushottampur police station. Three injured police officers were admitted to the hospital.

Reports further suggested the Police had to open fire to control the mob. A total of 15 rounds were fired. The police personnel at Prushottampur and Gopalpur police stations had to flee the scene to save themselves.

Clashes over the unveiling of Shivaji statue in Nizamabad, BJP says AIMIM and TRS workers pelted stones, section 144 imposed

OpIndia Staff
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Clashes over the unveiling of Shivaji statue in Nizamabad, BJP says AIMIM and TRS workers pelted stones, section 144 imposed

Section 144 has been imposed in Bodhan town of Telangana’s Nizamabad district after AIMIM and TRS workers violently opposed the unveiling of a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, said the local BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri.

Taking to Twitter, MP Dharmapuri said, “The same crooked mindset..Demolish ours—Accomplish theirs! MIM & TRS goons trying to thwart the unveiling of the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & destroy the statue set up at Bodhan Ambedkar Chowrasta accepted by a municipal resolution!”.

The MP shared a video of the incident as well where a large mob could be seen gathered around the statue.

Local BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri said that a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was planned to be erected at the Ambedkar crossroad of Bodhan town, which shares a border with Maharashtra.

Vishnu Varshan Reddy, the State General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh also took to Twitter to say that AIMIM supporters and workers were pelting stones at those unveiling the statue saying that the statue was being installed in “their area”.

Reportedly, to ensure that matters don’t escalate further, section 144 has been imposed in the area.

MP Arvind Dharmapuri has also alleged the tacit involvement of the police and the state administration. Taking to Twitter, Dharmapuri said that the police and the state administration were opposing the installation of a Shivaji Maharaj statue while allowing the construction of illegal structures called “mosques”.

“Now, the ruling party TRS’ counsellor openly threatening to disrupt law & order of the Bodhan town, if #ShivajiMaharaj’s idol is installed!” he further said posting a video on Twitter.

Reportedly, clashes erupted after AIMIM and TRS workers were pitted against BJP and Shiv Sena workers who were installing the statue.

Dispute leads to a clash between two groups of Sikhs in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, where they beat each other with baton, pull hair: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Dispute leads to a clash between two groups of Sikhs in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, where they beat each other with baton, pull hair: Details

On March 20, two groups of Sikhs fought on the streets of Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. As per the Times of India report, the scuffle broke over financial matters. Three people were injured in the clash, and one of them got a head injury. Police have arrested at least five Sikhs in the case.

A video of the clash went viral on social media in which groups of Sikhs could be seen fighting with each other. In the video, a Sikh man could be seen beating another Sikh with a baton while the other one pulled him with his hair. Screams could be heard throughout the 26-second video shared by journalist Ravinder Singh Robin. He wrote in his tweet, “What could be worse than that? Two groups of Sikhs of Nankana Sahib brought up their fight to the streets of Nankana Sahib. As expected, local police arrived after they had brutally injured each other & arrested 5 persons.” He added money was said to be the reason behind the scuffle.

As per the TOI report, one Amarjit Singh, a resident of Nankana Sahib, took a loan from other Sikhs to open a cosmetic shop in the Shahdara area. He did not pay back the loan in the prescribed time. The Sikhs who had loaned the money asked him several times to pay it back but could not get their money back. On Sunday, they formed a group and went to forcefully take over the cosmetic shop that led to the scuffle.

The police were informed about the incident, after which five people, including Amarjit Singh, were arrested. Mohinderpal Singh Sikh Member Provisional Assembly told TOI that the Gurudwara was trying to mediate between the groups. He said, “local Sangat had requested both the groups to resolve the issue at Gurdwara and not in a police station or court.”

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