Home Blog Page 3367

Friend of PM Imran Khan’s wife flees from Pakistan amid corruption charges, her ‘$90,000 bag’ picture goes viral

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Friend of PM Imran Khan’s wife flees from Pakistan amid corruption charges, her ‘$90,000 bag’ picture goes viral

Farah Khan, the much-talked-about friend of Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has reportedly fled Pakistan amid rumours of corruption. Apparently, on April 3, Farah Khan left the country to flee to Dubai being amid the political turmoil which saw Imran Khan’s stepping down as the Prime Minister.

Opposition leaders claim Farah fled with a bag that costs a whopping $90,000

Shortly after she left, the photo of Farah Khan with her bag which allegedly cost USD 90,000 has made waves on Pakistani Twitter. The controversial photo features Farah Khan sitting inside a flight with a purple coloured-luxury handbag. After the picture went viral on social media, PML-N leader and former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Miftah Ismail took a press conference alleging that Farah’s bag featured in the picture cost USD 90,000. In the press conference, Ismail along with former Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi charged Farah Khan for taking the money for the transfer of civil servants in Pakistan’s Punjab.

Ismail asked ‘Whom did the money go to?’ dismissing PTI’s cover that Farah Khan cannot be a corrupt person because she was a “private person”. Ismail said in the press conference, “She can engage in corrupt activities because she is friends with the wives of public officeholders. She was someone’s frontwoman,” Ismail alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was also ‘someone’s frontman’. While talking about Fraha’s high-value bag, said, “Farah Gujjar, while using a Punjab government’s plane, had a bag that was worth $90,000 were told to have “one roti” instead of two,” during skyrocketed inflation in the country.

Charges on Farah Khan

Opposition parties in Pakistan alleged that Farah Khan received a huge sum of money for getting government officers transferred and posted according to their choices. Calling Khan’s scam the “mother of all scandals”, certain opposition leaders estimated that Farah Khan snatched 6 billion Pakistani rupees ($32 million). PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz reiterated the claim that Farah Khan has done these activities at the behest of Imran and his wife. Amidst reports of Imran Khan’s close aids leaving the country, Nawaz alleged that Imran Khan is frightened as thefts will be now exposed.

It was estranged PTI leader Abdul Aleem Khan, who first took Farah Khan’s name as a party in the illegal transactions done at the behest of Imran Khan. Aleem Khan had demanded an investigation to uncover who Farah was forwarding the corrupt money received by her over transfers and postings of government officers in Punjab.

After the allegations of Farah Khan’s closeness with Bushra Bibi, her son Musa Maneka said that she betrayed his mother and Imran Khan. “My family had nothing to do with any dealings of Farah Khan or her husband” he added. Geo News reported that Farah Khan fled Pakistan on the very next day when Imran Khan dissolved the assembly. On reaching Abu Dhabi she apparently attended an Iftar dinner at Bushra Bibi’s sister’s house.

After NEET, Tamil Nadu govt now opposes Common University Entrance Test, CM MK Stalin urges PM Modi to withdraw it calling it ‘regressive’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
After NEET, Tamil Nadu govt now opposes Common University Entrance Test, CM MK Stalin urges PM Modi to withdraw it calling it ‘regressive’

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to withdraw Common University Entrance Test (CUET). In the letter dated on 6th April 2022, MK Stalin called the centralized exam for admission to colleges and universities to be disadvantageous for students in marginalized communities including those in rural areas, economically backward students, and those studying on the state boards.

MK Stalin said that CUET is regressive

MK Stalin called the Common University Entrance Test to be a regressive step that will benefit coaching centers and not the students. He said, “This regressive step has clearly vindicated the consistent stand of our Government, which is based on the consensus across sections in Tamil Nadu that the introduction of NEET for MBBS admissions was not an isolated instance but a definitive prelude to the larger attempt of the Union Government to centralize higher education admissions. There is no doubt that this CUET, similar to NEET will side-line the diverse school education systems across the country, grossly undermine the relevance of overall development-oriented long-form learning in schools and make students rely upon coaching centers for improving their entrance examination scores.”

MK Stalin used state boards as a shield in his argument

MK Stalin used the difference between the state board of education and NCERT as a shield in his argument against CUET. He said, “I wish to reiterate that any entrance examination that is based on NCERT syllabus will not provide an equal opportunity to all students who have studied in varied State Board syllabi across the country. In most States, State Board syllabus students constitute more than 80% of the total student population and these students invariably hail from the marginalized sections. Hence an NCERT syllabus-based entrance examination would place this deserving majority in a disadvantageous position in securing admission to Central Universities. In Tamil Nadu’s context, this is likely to drastically reduce the number of students from our State in various Central Universities and their affiliated colleges.”

MK Stalin then cited the poor-rich divide

Further in his argument against CUET, MK Stalin said that he is worried for the students coming from the marginalized sections of society. He said, “The people of Tamil Nadu are apprehensive that like NEET, CUET also will be against the interests of the rural poor and socially marginalized students from the State and will only favor further mushrooming of coaching centers in the domain of admission in humanities also. Further, we feel that the indirect pressure brought on by the UGC on Non-Central Universities to adopt CUET is likely to make this centralization process even stronger. This trend would, over a course of time, undermine the State syllabus-based school education system by pushing students to opt for costly schools adopting NCERT syllabus.”

MK Stalin wrote a letter to PM Modi asking him to withdraw CUET. Image Source: Twitter

Concluding the CUET to be a wrong step by the central government, MK Stalin demanded to withdraw the test. He wrote, “Considering the above issues, we view this step of making CUET mandatory for all Central Universities as yet another undesirable step in the current trend of the Union Government trying to sideline both the roles of State Governments as well as the significance of school education system in the process of admission to higher educational institutions. Therefore, I strongly urge you to withdraw this step immediately.”

What is CUET?

On Monday, 21st March 2022, the University Grants Commission directed that admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered in Central Universities should be strictly done on the basis of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). The new decision does away with the criteria for considering Class 12 marks for UG admissions from the session 2022-23.

The Common University Entrance Test or the CUET will be conducted in the first week of July by the National Test Agency (NTA). UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar while announcing the exam said that the computer-based exam will be conducted in 13 regional languages including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The test will be mandatory for seeking admission into 45 central universities in the country.

It may be noted that Tamil Nadu govt is also opposing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to medical and dental colleges, and DMK had promised to get an exemption from it for Tamil Nadu before the assembly polls. In September lasts year, the Tamil Nadu assembly had passed a bill against NEET, however it was returned by the governor. After that, the assembly re-adopted it in February this year, and it will be sent to the President for assent.

Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Arif Masood criticizes party’s decision to celebrate Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, asks why Ramzan not included in celebrations

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Arif Masood criticizes party’s decision to celebrate Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, asks why Ramzan not included in celebrations

After glaring defeat in the assembly elections and diminishing relevance of the Congress in the societal sphere, the party’s Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Kamal Nath instructed party workers to celebrate the upcoming Ramnavmi and Hanuman Jayanti within the state. However, Arif Masood, an MP from Bhopal, has objected to Kamal Nath’s orders stating that Congress being a secular party should take along people from all faiths.

After Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s temple runs did not materialise Congress’ exercises in soft Hindutva, Kamal Nath has now ordered its foot workers in Madhya Pradesh to celebrate the Hindu festivals of Ram Navami falling on April 10 and Hanuman Jayanti on April 16 this month. However, Congress MP from Central Bhopal Arif Masood objected to the decision stating that Congress is a Secular party. Talking to the media on Tuesday, Masood said, “Such instructions from the top brass will set wrong precedents.”

“Why such directives were not issued for Congress workers about celebrating Ramadan and festivals of other faiths? Being a political party, Congress should not have issued such a circular. We take along all the religions,” Masood was replying to some questions by the media. Masood added that he would not hesitate in raising any issue that will harm the party’s prospects and go against its constitution. “My colleagues in Congress and other party workers celebrate Ram Navami with fervour but there was no need to issue any circular,” he added.

Further pointing out Congress leader Chandra Prabhash Shekhar’s letter, Arif Masood said that it did not mention the ongoing Muslim fasting month of Ramzan, Chaiti Chand, and Mahaveer Jayanti. “I objected because for Congress all the festivals should be equal,” Masood commented.

According to reports, Madhya Pradesh Congress had asked its workers to celebrate the Hindu Festivals by organising mass recitals of the Sunderkand and Hanuman Chalisa. Narottam Mishra, Home minister of the state took a dig at Congress saying infighting within the Congress is not surprising because it is only concerned for the Muslims. To be noted, Arif Masood is the same leader who infamously wished to crush French President Emmanuel Macron’s face in the Prophet cartoon row in 2020. The radical Islamist leader had filed a plea in the MP High Court in a move to oppose Surya namaskar programmes being held in government schools to commemorate 75 years of Independence.

‘India has been an elder brother to Sri Lanka’: Former SL cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga lauds PM Modi for assistance amid economic crisis

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘India has been an elder brother to Sri Lanka’: Former SL cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga lauds PM Modi for assistance amid economic crisis

As India extended help to Sri Lanka amidst the biggest economic crisis since its independence, former cricketer and Sri Lankan politician Arjuna Ranatunga thanked PM Modi and India for supporting Sri Lanka in every possible way in the hour of its need. Arjuna Ranatunga said India has been an elder brother to Sri Lanka.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ranatunga said, “PM Modi was very generous to give the grant to start Jaffna International Airport. India has been an elder brother to us… They’re looking at our needs like petrol & medicines… India has been helping us in a big way.”

He further added, “India has been like an elder brother to us. I am glad that they are monitoring rather than just giving money to Sri Lanka. They are looking at our needs like petrol and medicine. I am sure that those are the things we will lack in the next couple of months. I think that is why India might have come out and India has been helping us in a big way.”

Talking about his other major concerns for his country, Arjuna Ranatunga said, “My major worry is that I don’t want to see a bloodbath. I am very very scared. I don’t want people to start another war which we suffered for thirty years. Some of the politicians who are in the government are trying to show that this is created by the Tamils or the Muslims. By doing that they are trying to divide this country again. That is my major worry.”

Arjuna Ranatunga further said, “General Public is only asking for basic things in protests like milk powder, gas, rice, petrol. I don’t agree with the violence happening. The country has gone into a major crisis in the last 2 years, they can give excuses like COVID but the world went through it.”

Ranatunga slams the Rajapaksa government for the current predicament of Sri Lanka

Criticizing the current government in Sri Lanka, Arjuna Ranatunga said, “This govt changed the entire constitution for their own benefit. Unfortunately, these people didn’t handle COVID properly and were cocky & overconfident. If President thinks he can’t handle it, he can step down. We’re begging for money around the world. Luckily there are countries helping us out, mainly India.”

It is notable that the economic crisis in Sri Lanka has forced the country to give up on its primary needs including healthcare. India has extended a very firm helping hand to its neighbour, assisting it to recover from the current economic crisis.

The dire economic crisis that is engulfing Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is faced with the worst economic crisis in its history, with inflation reaching a record high of 17.5% in February 2022. The residents of the island nation are struggling with an acute shortage of food, and cooking gas. Power cuts are frequent and people are seen standing in long queues in the National Capital for buying diesel fuel.

The government, headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has been seeking credit lines from countries such as India, China and even Bangladesh for purchasing milk powder and diesel. The situation is so grim that the central bank is forced to buy oil from Iran by bartering tea leaves.

Schools in the western province of Sri Lanka were forced to postpone the exams of their students because the country had run out of printing paper. Due to a shortage of US dollars, it had become impossible to finance the imports. Electricity power cuts have stretched up to 14-16 hours a day, making it impossible for factories to churn out products and remain profitable.

Haldiram’s trends on social media after TV reporter confronts store employee over “Urdu” text on product packets

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Haldiram’s trends on social media after TV reporter confronts store employee over “Urdu” text on product packets

On Tuesday, netizens were surprised to know that popular food company Haldiram’s dominated trends across social media platforms. A heated exchange between a TV reporter and a Haldiram’s outlet manager over the usage of “Urdu” labelling on its food products sparked off a fresh debate on social media platforms.

In a video going viral, a reporter from Sudarshan News TV was seen having an intense debate with a woman employee at a Haldiram’s store. The lady reporter was heard asking the staff the reason behind the usage of Urdu on the packaging of a product made for people fasting during Navratri.

In the clip, the reporter was also heard asking what Haldiram’s was trying to hide was and whether the snacks contained beef oil or any oil produced using animal fat.

The Sudarshan News reporter confronted Haldiram’s over a company’s product – ‘Falhari Mixture’, a Gujarati snack that is a mix of peanuts and potatoes.

The packaging of the product shows text in English and Gujarati on the front, along with a green dot, symbolising it’s a vegetarian product. On the backside of the product, there are details about ingredients written in Arabic, which was presumed to be Urdu by the reporter.

As the reporter asked the Haldiram’s staff to explain the rationale behind the inclusion of Urdu on a product catered to Hindu customers, the staff got infuriated. The reporter also said that the company was betraying Hindus who fast during Navratri.

“You can do whatever, mam. Haldiram’s will not entertain such tantrums,” the staff can be heard telling. As the reporter continued to confront the staff, the angry lady claimed that people of all communities who speak different languages come to the store.

“Why do you have to read in Urdu, mam? It is written in English and Hindi as well,” the staff said.

As the reporter continued to ask the motive behind the usage of Urdu, the staff retorted, “If you want to have this, you can have it. If you do not want to have it, you can just keep this here and go from my outlet.”

The incident has evoked mixed responses on social media platforms. While the left-liberals and Urdu fanatics jumped to hail the Haldiram’s staff for shouting at the Sudarshan News reporter, several netizens demanded answers from the company for using “Urdu” packaging, a product that is used explicitly by Hindus, especially during Navarathri.

It may be noted that several products made by Indian manufacturers use Arabic text also on the packages, because those products are exported to the Gulf countries. Haldiram products have a huge market in the Gulf nations, and as those counties use Arabic language, several Haldiram products use Arabic text. However, it does not answer the question why the company use same packaging for both domestic and export market. The company can easily use different packaging with different labels and avoid such controversies.

Akhilesh Yadav downplays the Gorakhnath Temple attack and accuses BJP of exaggerating it, calls the attacker ‘mentally unstable’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Akhilesh Yadav downplays the Gorakhnath Temple attack and accuses BJP of exaggerating it, calls the attacker ‘mentally unstable’

On Wednesday, the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav downplayed the seriousness of the Gorakhnath Temple attack and accused the BJP of exaggerating the issue, days after one Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi attacked police personnel and forcibly tried to enter the premises of the hallowed temple.

In an attempt to downplay the attack on the temple, Yadav on April 6 alleged that the BJP was exaggerating the matter, adding that the attacker was suffering from psychiatric problems. “His father said he has a psychiatric problem, dealing with the bipolar issue, I feel we need to pay heed to that as well (for probe)…BJP is a party that exaggerates”, Yadav said.

On April 3, a man identified as Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi attacked Police personnel outside Gorakhnath Temple, Gorakhpur. The incident took place a day before CM Yogi Adityanath was scheduled to visit the temple. Abbasi severely injured two Police personnel with a sharp weapon. Reports suggest he was with another man who escaped when Abbasi was overpowered by the Police personnel. During the investigation, the security agencies found he was influenced by banned Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and might have ISIS links.

Doctor who treated the Gorakhnath Temple attacker refutes reports of him being mentally unstable

Soon after the attack, the family members of the accused claimed that he was mentally ill. However, the doctor who treated Abbasi refuted the claims that he was mentally unstable. The Superintendent in Chief of Gorakhpur District Hospital JSP Singh said that the accused was talking coherently during the medical examination. He was responding to the queries of the Police and the doctors. He further added Abbasi did not display any signs of being violent, which made the doctors believe he was not mentally unstable.

It is pertinent to note that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is the head priest (Mahant) of Gorakhnath Temple and has his personal accommodation on the temple premises. At the time of the attack, CM Yogi was not at the temple.

On March 31, the intelligence agencies had sent a list of 16 suspects to UP Police. Ahmad Murtaza’s name was on the list. Earlier, it was reported that Murtaza was under ATS’s scanner. The investigation agencies have also sealed Murtaza’s house for further investigation. Reports suggest that during the attack, Abbasi was accompanied by another man who escaped when Abbasi was overpowered by the Police personnel. During the investigation, the security agencies found he was influenced by banned Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and might have ISIS links.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar meets PM Modi over ED’s action against Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut in Rs 1034 land scam case

OpIndia Staff
-
0
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar meets PM Modi over ED’s action against Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut in Rs 1034 land scam case

On Wednesday, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the ‘intensified’ investigation by the Enforcement Directorate against the leaders of the Maharastra Vikas Aghadi. The meeting that was arranged in the Prime Minister’s Office lasted for around 20 minutes.

According to the reports, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said that he brought to the notice of the Prime Minister the matter regarding ED attaching properties of Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut. “If a central agency takes a step like this, then they have to take responsibility for it. Was this action taken against him because he speaks against the Govt?”, Pawar said defending Raut in the Rs 1034 crore land scam case.

Meanwhile, NCP leader and Dy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar when asked about the meeting said that he had no idea why Sharad Pawar met PM Modi. He also stated the possibility that the duo might have met to discuss the development issues. However, BJP leader Pravin Darekar confirmed that NCP Chief had met PM Modi in the backdrop of ED’s action against Sanjay Raut.

“ED is investigating several MVA leaders. Two NCP leaders are in jail. Several Sena leaders are being investigated. Maybe because of this, Pawar met the PM,” Darekar said. He also said that PM Modi, speaking after the results of the recent Assembly elections in five states, had made it clear that action against wrong-doers would continue.

On April 5, the Enforcement Directorate had provisionally attached properties worth Rs 11.5 crores owned by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and his family members in connection with its probe into the Rs 1034 crore floor space index (FSI) fraud at Patra Chawl in Goregaon. The properties seized include eight land parcels in Alibaug and one flat at Dadar in Mumbai.

Sanjay Raut responding to the seizure had said that he will expose the BJP led government and that he will not stay quiet. “I’m not one to get scared, seize my property, shoot me, or send me to jail, Sanjay Raut is Balasaheb Thackeray’s follower and a Shiv Sainik, he’ll fight and expose everyone. I’m not one to stay quiet, let them dance. The truth will prevail”, he added.

The meeting also comes on the day when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh into custody from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail in connection with an alleged corruption allegation raised against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. While ED is investigating Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s role in the Rs 1,034 crore re-development land scam, Pawar before the press has accused the central agencies of deliberately taking action against Raut for he speaks against the government.

AMU professor suspended, booked for hurting religious sentiments after he linked the history of rape in India to Hindu deities: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
AMU professor suspended, booked for hurting religious sentiments after he linked the history of rape in India to Hindu deities: Details

The Aligarh Muslim University(AMU) has once again found itself in the eye of a raging controversy after one of its professors made derogatory references to Hindu deities while teaching about the history of rape in India. The professor was suspended and a police complaint has been filed against him for making objectionable remarks against Hindu deities.

Dr Jitendra Kumar, an assistant professor of the department of forensic medicine at JN Medical College attached to the Aligarh Muslim University was teaching about sexual offences in his classroom. In the PowerPoint presentation he used to explain the topic, Dr Kumar made derogatory references to Hindu deities. Summarizing a brief history of rape, he linked rape to Hindu deities.

The photograph of the slide that went viral read bullet points viz. Rape – Historical perspective (India), Story of Brahma raping his daughter, Indra impersonation of Rishi Gautam and raping his wife, Lord Vishnu raping the wife of King Jalandhar, Different types of marriage as per Hindu traditions, Two main cases that drastically changed rape laws in India – Mathura rape case and Nirbhaya rape case.

This photograph of the presentation used by the AMU professor in the classroom went viral. Image source: Twitter

It is notable that besides insulting Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Indra, the professor also included Hindu marriage systems to explain rape thereby indicating that both are equivalent.

Complaint against the professor

After the picture of the PowerPoint was shared online, former AMU student and BJP leader Dr Nishit Sharma lodged a complaint against the accused assistant professor at the Civil Lines police station on Wednesday 6th April 2022. In the complaint, he said that the assistant professor made egregious remarks about the gods and goddesses while teaching the subject of rape. The complaint also stated that Dr Kumar’s presentation had hurt the sentiments of Hindus. Following the complaint, the police launched an investigation into the matter.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Aligarh’s DSP and CO Shwetabh Pandey said, “A complaint has been received about derogatory remarks on Hindu deities being taught in AMU. The matter is under investigation. The AMU administration is also investigating the matter. A complaint has been lodged against the accused professor. Further action will be taken on the basis of the investigation.”

AMU sets up the probe, seeks clarification, and suspends the professor

The Aligarh Muslim University constituted a two-member team to probe the matter. Two senior professors have been entrusted with the investigation of the case. AMU’s public relations officer Umar Peerzada said that an explanation has been sought from the assistant professor. Prof. Shafi Kidwai, in charge of AMU’s Public Relations Department, said that the concerned professor has been suspended until the investigation into the case is completed.

A press release of Aligarh Muslim University in this regard reads, “The Aligarh Muslim University administration and the Faculty of Medicine today strongly condemned the content of a slide on the mythical reference of rape and issued a show-cause notice to Dr Jitendra Kumar for hurting the religious sentiments of the students, staff, and citizens. He has been asked to submit his reply in 24 hours.”

The press release was shared by Aligarh Muslim University’s Twitter handle. Image Source: Twitter

It further states, “The University has also set up a two-member inquiry committee on the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Professor Rakesh Bhargava to look into the whole matter and suggest steps that this sort of incident does not recur. Meanwhile, Dr Jitendra Kumar has submitted an unconditional apology.”

Another press release by the Public Relations Department of the Aligarh Muslim University informed about the suspension of the professor. The press release said, “In view of the prima facie evidence of misconduct and seriousness of the matter, Dr Jitendra Kumar (Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, JN Medical College, AMU) has been placed under suspension pending inquiry. Further action will be taken depending upon his reply to the show-cause notice.”

AMU informed about the suspension of the professor through the press release. Image Source: Twitter

Unconditional apology from the professor

Following the incident, Dr Jitendra Kumar tendered an unconditional apology. In a letter addressed to the vice-chancellor of the university, the professor said, “I write to say tender my unconditional apologies for making certain derogatory mythical references on rape in my class (3rd Year MBBS 2019 Batch) on 05.04.2022 at 8 am on the topic of sexual offences.”

The professor furnished an unconditional apology.

He further said in his letter, “My intention was not to hurt the religious sentiments of any particular religion and the reference was only to highlight that rape has been a part of society for a long, which I considered being an inadvertent mistake on my part. I assure you that such type of lapse will not occur in the future and I again tender my unconditional apologies.”

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran wins copyright trial over ‘Shape of You’ after London High Court rules that he did not lift a phrase from another track

OpIndia Staff
-
0
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran wins copyright trial over ‘Shape of You’ after London High Court rules that he did not lift a phrase from another track

British Singer Ed Sheeran has won the copyright battle over his most successful single ‘Shape of You’ in the London Hugh Court. The Court has ruled that the singer ‘neither deliberately nor subconsciously’ copied any phrase from Sami Chokri’s ‘Oh Why’ while creating the globally popular sensational soundtrack.

On Wednesday, Justice Antony Zacaroli concluded in a ruling that Ed Sheeran and his co-writer John McDaid “neither deliberately nor subconsciously” copied a phrase from Oh Why when writing Shape of You. It all started in 2018, when Sami Chokri, a grime artist alleged that the “Oh I” hook in Sheeran’s Shape Of You was strikingly similar to an “Oh Why” refrain in his 2015 track which goes by the same name. Sheeran along with his co-writer John McDaid and producer Steven McCutcheon denied copying the song by Sami Chokri.

In the same year, Sheeran, McDaid and McCutcheon with publishers Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Rokstone Music Limited, Polar Patrol Music and Kobalt Music, issued legal proceedings against Oh Why’s songwriters Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue in a bid to get a legal declaration clarifying that there was no copyright infringement with Shape of You. Reportedly, Two months later, the ‘Oh Why’ duo issued a counterclaim to the Shape of You team alleging direct copyright infringement and asked for damages and an account of profits.

The legal tussle started in May 2018 continued for four years and concluded in a ruling in Ed Sheeran’s favour on Wednesday. In his ruling, Justice Zacaroli asserted, “that there were ‘similarities between the one-bar phrase’ in ‘Shape of You’ and ‘Oh Why’ saying, ‘such similarities are only a starting point for a possible infringement’ of copyright.” After studying both songs, the Justice concluded that there were “differences between the relevant parts of the songs, which provide compelling evidence that the ‘Oh I’ phrase in Shape of You originated from sources other than Oh Why.” The anticipated cost for the legal battle was touted to be £3M between both parties.

In his defence, Sheeran said that he did not borrow ideas from unknown songwriters without acknowledgement and insisted he ‘always tried to be completely fair’ in crediting people who contributed to his albums. With the ‘Oh I’ phrase in the song, Sheeran said that he has used a basic minor pentatonic pattern which is entirely commonplace in compositions. According to Indian Classical Musicians, The Pentatonic scale in Western music is also related to the ‘Audav’ Jaati Ragas or compositions which are strictly based on five notes.

It is possible for musicians to base the tune on similar scales in their compositions, which does not account for copyright infringement as musical scales are universal. However, this is not the only case where Ed Sheeran is facing a lawsuit. In 2016, he was sued over his single ‘Photograph’ which was settled outside the court and a USD 100 Million legal battle over ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is still ongoing.

‘Hindus should be raped, identified and killed’: Audio clip of Instagram influencer Sabnam and her friend Nadeem goes viral

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Hindus should be raped, identified and killed’: Audio clip of Instagram influencer Sabnam and her friend Nadeem goes viral

On April 6, an audio clip of Instagram influencer Sabnam and her friend Nadeem went viral on social media platforms in which Nadeem was heard saying Hindus should be raped, identified and killed. Sabnam could be heard laughing and giggling when Nadeem was continuously abusing Hindus in the 2-minute clip. At one point, she even declared Nadeem the “funniest guy”.

The audio clip was shared on Twitter by one TiredBhiim. In his tweet, he said, “Absolutely Sickening!! See the amount of hate these people have for Hindus. They are Sabnam & her friend Nadeem.” OpIndia has decided not to transcribe the audio as it is but to provide a gist of the conversation as the content is too vile and abusive.

Nadeem said, “I have seen three Hindus being killed in front of my eyes. They die daily in our area. They should be killed openly. A few days ago, a cow was being killed. A Hindu approached and raised an objection. I told him to call Police and administration. They would not do anything.”

Continuing his abuse while Sabnam kept giggling, Nadeem said, “Hindu religion is nothing. These people imagine things. One God of them has the head of something else. Another is half and half. These people are the garbage of the world.” To his abuses, Sabnam said, “I choked while laughing. Nadeem comedy king, seriously!”

Nadeem challenged everyone and said, “If anyone wants to report me, go ahead. If I had an AK 47, I would have identified and killed them one by one. Hindus should be raped. I will do it. I have raped three Hindu women.” He kept using vile, absolutely filthy abuses for Hindus throughout the clip.

When Sabnam asked him to calm down, he said, “I want them to kill me. Make me a martyr. There will be 100 more after me. What will they do then?”

Another part of the audio file has also been going viral on the internet. In the audio, Nadeem could be heard saying that Hindus are afraid of death while Muslims are fearless.

“You Hindus might be afraid of death, we are not. Because we are Muslims. We don’t fear death,” the person who identifies himself as Nadeem said.

Sabnam plays the victim card and threatens to commit suicide

After the audio went viral, Sabnam played the victim card in her Instagram stories. She said, “For the first time, you have been giving me rape and death threats for the last two days. You are adding me to random groups and abusing my religion. I cannot take it anymore. When I was alive, others like Abhishek Dev, Yuvraj etc., gave me rape and death threats. My mental health is ruined. I was already in a depression, and you have made it easier for me. I have talked to my parents for the last time. Now Police will handle this.”

Screenshot of Sabnam’s Insta story.

She added, “I am freeing myself from this life. You have forced me to take this step. No one is saying anything to the guy who spoke in a live session. I am a girl, and alone that is why you all are threatening me. I have written a not with the names of those who have threatened me. If I am abused without any mistake, this story should be shared widely. Thank you for motivating me to end my life.”

1...3,3663,3673,368...7,642Page 3,367 of 7,642