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LiveLaw and Bar&Bench: Supporting Hijab for girls in school, fighting for it legally, while tarnishing Sabarimala

Nupur J Sharma
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LiveLaw and Bar&Bench: Supporting Hijab for girls in school, fighting for it legally, while tarnishing Sabarimala

On the 15th of March 2022, The Karnataka High Court pronounced its verdict in the hijab case filed by Muslim girl students. The court, as per its order, stated that the hijab is not an essential practice of Islam, and therefore, all the petitions filed by Muslim girl students seeking permission to wear the hijab in educational institutions stands dismissed.

The global media and Indian liberals almost immediately termed the verdict as a “hijab ban”. There were several individuals who went into a complete breakdown. A case in point is TheWire’s founding editor, Siddharth Varadarajan, who compared the Hijab verdict to Muslims being treated as jews and alleging that India was one step away from pushing Muslims to death camps as the Nazis did in Germany.

Outlandish claims aside, the core of the judgement in the Hijab case was that educational institutions have the right to decide their uniform and since Hijab is not an essential religious practice, schools cannot be enforced to allow it. The court found that wearing of hijab is not an essential religious practice and the prescription of a uniform is a reasonable restriction on fundamental rights. The court further stated in the order that no case is made out for invalidating the Government Order of February 5.

While the verdict has its own pros and cons, pro being that the Court stepped in before a ridiculous issue snowballed further and con being the slippery slope that the “essential to religious practice” argument is, one has to take a moment of pause and wonder how the Hijab row became an issue where even the USCIRF tweeted against the verdict. Who were the people involved in making this non-existent issue a relevant rallying point for Islamists and their sympathisers?

It is important to bear in mind that not just PFI, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, another radical Islamist outfit accused of receiving funds from abroad to promote Islam in the country, played an influential role in the Hijab controversy. But apart from the obvious Islamist outfits, there were other players who were actively pushing the Hijab row – not the usual Liberals, but platforms that one least suspects due to the veneer of neutrality.

There are two major legal platforms in India that most people rely on for legal news – LiveLaw and Bar&Bench. On Twitter and elsewhere, these two platforms are looked upon as the go-to destinations for legal developments, verdicts and commentary on the law.

Interestingly, both these platforms are now actively involved in pushing the pro-hijab agenda.

How was LiveLaw involved in pushing the pro-Hijab agenda

LiveLaw on their Twitter profile claim to be the “World’s No. 1 legal news website in terms of traffic and content”. The managing editor of the platform is Manu Sebastian, who is also very active on Twitter.

LiveLaw on Twitter

The platform, which claims to be #1 in the world, has to be cognisant of the stands they take, or, at the very least declare their own bias so the readers know where they come from.

However, that is not the case.

Manu Sebastian, who is the Managing Editor of LiveLaw has been pushing the pro-Hijab agenda rather aggressively from his personal Twitter handle and that stand reflects in the kind of content LiveLaw is publishing as well.

Manu himself penned an article in LiveLaw where he contended that “preconceived notions” had trumped “Judicial reasoning” in the Karnataka hijab order.

In the article, Sebastian was deeply troubled by the fact that the court made a universal declaration in the judgement that Hijab is not an essential practice in Islam. He does not consider the fact that many Islamic countries have themselves banned Hijab. Perhaps Manu wanted the court to consider how ISIS and Taliban practice Islam before delivering their verdict.

He further added that the court did not consider the petitioner’s “indirect discrimination” argument, where the petitioners had argued that the uniform rule is discriminating specifically against Muslim girls. The petitioner had asked why bangles, bindis etc are not banned either. To this, the court had said that the uniform rule is the same for everyone. Sebastian takes umbrage to the “one-line dismissal” of the argument without realising that the argument itself was so asinine that the court did not have to comment further on it. It is indeed true that uniform rules are the same for everyone and there is no discrimination against Muslim students alone.

Interestingly, right after talking about Hindu students, he takes umbrage to the court supporting homogeneity in the classroom instead of diversity. The court in its verdict had said that homogeneous uniform in the classroom supports secularism.

Most of all, Manu Sebastian was upset that the court thought banning Hijab was an “emancipation of Muslim women”. He wrote that the court did not depend on any material to claim that the wearing of the hijab was limiting the rights of Muslim women. He further drags in Sabarimala just to make his point – Defending Islam and deriding Hinduism.

What Manu Sebastian wrote in LiveLaw

In this para, Manu’s agenda shines through as bright as the sun. He forgets to add that it was mostly non-Hindu women who had created a ruckus about Sabarimala while devotee women stood for the practises and against the court’s interference. In the Hijab case, however, it was not about the practice being banned across the board. It was specific to educational institutions which aren’t places of worship like that of Sabarimala but are meant to be secular institutions with autonomy. The court in its verdict has not said that Muslim women cannot wear the Hijab in the mosques. Therefore, for the managing editor to compare a hijab ban in educational institutions that have a uniform to the practice of a religious place shows his nefarious agenda.

LiveLaw, in its coverage, tried to discredit the Karnataka HC verdict and push the Hijab agenda rather aggressively, even apart from this shameful article penned by Sebastian.

Sebastian also endorsed foreign interference in internal matters.

Manu went on to retweet several tweets and articles that peddled the mythical Muslim victimhood as well.

Why was the LiveLaw managing editor bringing in Sabarimala argument while defending regressive Hijab

As mentioned above, Manu Sebastian made a facetious argument trying to connect the Sabarimala issue with the Hijab issue. It is pertinent to note that in 2018, an application was filed in the Supreme Court that argued against the traditions of Sabarimala. It was filed as an intervention application against the review petition filed by Nair Service Society.

The intervention application against the tradition of Sabarimala was filed by one TP Sidhu.

The application filed by TP Sindhu alleges that the NSS’s review petition, which contends that women aged between 10 and 50 should not be allowed inside Sabarimala temple since the presiding deity Lord Ayyappa is a ‘naishtika brahmachari’ (perpetual bachelor), is an insult to Ayyappa as well as anti-women.

“The contention that a ten-year-old girl’s presence will affect the celibacy of the ‘Lord Ayyappa’ is a derogatory and offensive remark not only against ‘Lord Ayyappa’ but more so on children of such tender age,” the application said.

TP Sindhu is none other than one of the Directors of LiveLaw.

LiveLaw Directors

With such antecedents, it is no surprise that LiveLaw has been campaigning for a regressive practice like Hijab in Educational Institutions and rallying against the religious practice in one temple.

How was Bar&Bench involved in pushing the pro-Hijab agenda

On the 15th of March, one Anas Tanwir, advocate on record in Supreme Court, tweeted that he, along with others, has filed an SLP against the Karnataka hijab verdict.

One of the people mentioned was one Areeb Uddin. Upon closer examination, his close association with Bar&Bench reveals itself.

Areeb Uddin Ahmad was working with Bar&Bench and reported for them extensively. One has to wonder what an employee with a legal firm was doing filing SLPs to force women to wear Hijab in educational institutions.

Once he was called out for his association with Bar&Bench, Areeb tweeted that his association with the legal portal had ended on the 11th of March 2022.

This update came on the 16th of March, 1 day after he had filed the SLP along with others and after he was called out for it.

While Areeb said that he was no longer a reporter at Bar&Bench and his last date of March 11th, one of the reports by him on the platform was on the 14th of March 2022.

Till March 14th, Areeb was posting legal updates tagging Bar&Bench. This method is followed by reporters who report an incident on Twitter but want to tell readers that they are reporting for a certain platform. One sees several journalists from various newspapers and platforms following t his format on Twitter. It serves as an identification of sorts that the reporter is reporting for a particular platform.

His Twitter account is littered with stories of fake Muslim victimhood and fervent support for women wearing Hijab.

Not just Areeb, there are other reporters from Bar&Bench who have been pushing the pro-Hijab agenda.

Zeb Hassan, a reporter with the Bar&Bench peddled the same agenda. Even though she reports on the law, she misrepresented the case as a “hijab ban” and not about hijab in schools with a uniform.

And expressed sympathy with hijab wearing girls.

Another journalist from Bar&Bench who has been denying Hindu genocide and rallying for women to wear Hijab.

While reporting on the Hijab ban in educational institutions, she has been talking about how justice is being denied.

Retweet by Khan
Retweet by Khan

She has also been busy tarnishing Kashmir Files and denying the Hindu genocide in the 1990s by calling the movie “one sided”.

It would certainly appear that LiveLaw and Bar&Bench have a problem of either bad recruiting or slant towards Islamists and Leftists rather categorically and as an editorial policy.

Congress playing with fire again? While trying to appear neutral, here is how it is fanning discord after the Karnataka High Court hijab verdict

OpIndia Staff
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Congress playing with fire again? While trying to appear neutral, here is how it is fanning discord after the Karnataka High Court hijab verdict

Following the Karnataka High Court’s decision to ban hijab in educational institutions, the Congress, in concert with some Islamic organizations, appears to be stirring unrest in the country. Muslim organizations said on March 16 that they will go to the streets in Karnataka on March 17 to protest the Karnataka High Court’s judgment, which upheld educational institutions’ rights to outlaw hijab and claimed that it is not an important Islamic practice.

The bandh organized by Islamic organizations, on the other hand, appears to have failed in the state, with fewer stores closing and most people returning to their regular activities. Even while Congress has sought to present itself as impartial, a number of occurrences suggest that they are evidently seeking to take advantage of the situation.

Traces of events demonstrate that the Congress party is working behind the scenes to inflame tensions over the subject. After the Karnataka High Court dismissed petitions challenging the state government’s ban on hijab in schools and colleges, the Congress said on Tuesday, absolving themselves of all responsibilities as a party to assist in maintaining peace and supporting the court’s decision, that the Basavaraj Bommai government bears the responsibility for maintaining peace and harmony in the state. DK Shivakumar, the president of the Karnakata Congress, said his main concern after the judgment is education, and law and order.

Some Congress legislators in the state also reportedly opposed the judgment of the High Court. Senior Karnataka Congress leader Tanveer Sait said on Tuesday that the high court order against hijab should be questioned before the Supreme Court. Sait, who is a former primary and secondary education minister, told reporters, “We have decided to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court questioning the high court order. The order is, fundamentally, unacceptable,”

“Instead of building the nation progressively, attempts are being made to divide children and disrupt unity. All these seem to target a specific community,” Sait added stating the ruling in the triple talaq case and anti-conversion law.

Zeeshan Siddiqui, a Congress MLA from Mumbai, said he would support the petitioner students if they took the HC judgment to the Supreme Court. “Like many others who believe in freedom of choice, I am disappointed by the court order. I will support the girls if they decide to challenge the verdict in the SC,” he said. Siddiqui was one of the people who went to Muskan Khan’s house in Mandya, Karnataka, to congratulate her after she shouted Allahu Akbar cries in her college.

The verdict by Karnataka High court

The Karnataka High Court ruled on Tuesday that the hijab is not an important religious practice and maintained the state government’s decree prohibiting the wearing of religious apparel on the premises of educational institutions in a 129-page judgment. The order said that schools and colleges have the legal authority to impose a uniform dress code on their campuses.

Furthermore, a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court’s decision has been filed in the Supreme Court. The plea will be heard by the Supreme Court post the Holi vacation.

Karnataka hijab row

Some Muslim students at a Pre-University College in Udipi, Karnataka, petitioned the High Court to be permitted to attend lectures while wearing the hijab. They were denied entry to classes, according to the college administration, since the hijab is not part of the college uniform and so cannot be worn in class. Since then, the students have been holding demonstrations dressed in burqas.

In December 2021, several Muslim students began wearing hijab and burqa to school and college in violation of uniform regulations after meeting with the Campus Front of India (CFI), the student section of the Islamist organization Popular Front of India (PFI). 

Maharashtra: NCP decides to take away Nawab Malik’s portfolios, adds ‘but he’ll continue to be a Minister’

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: NCP decides to take away Nawab Malik’s portfolios, adds ‘but he’ll continue to be a Minister’

The Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday decided to give away the responsibilities of Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik to different people amid his arrest in the Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case. However, the party has said that Malik will not tender his resignation and will continue to be the Minister.

Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Jayant Patil commented on the issue and said, “Malik will continue to be a Minister. We’re not taking his resignation. Since he has been arrested, he hasn’t been able to carry out his duties so his responsibilities will be temporarily given to different people”. “Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will be informed about the decision and he will take the final call in this regard”, he added.

This is a day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a meeting with the party’s senior leaders at his Mumbai residence. The meeting was held to discuss the case of Nawab Malik and his Ministerial position in the state government.

Nawab Malik at present serves as the minority affairs minister and skill development minister in the MVA-led Maharashtra government. According to the reports, two working presidents will be appointed by the party for its Mumbai unit which is also currently headed by Malik. The meeting which was attended by Dy CM Ajit Pawar, Ministers Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, and senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare supported the party’s decision to keep Nawab Malik as a Minister.

Malik arrested in money laundering case, opposition demands resignation

On February 23, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik was arrested by the ED for his alleged links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Since then, the opposition party in the state has been demanding his resignation. BJP’s Chandrakant Patil and Devendra Fadnavis had demanded Malik’s resignation on the day the Maharahstra’s Budget Session began and had said that the party would not allow the legislature to function until Malik resigned.

Fadnavis had also slammed the MVA led govt and had stated that the state government was dedicated to terrorist and gangster Dawood Ibrahim. “For the first time in Maharashtra, a minister is behind bars but his resignation hasn’t been taken. This government is coming together to save people who keep relations with Dawood. That’s why we have started protests and we demand that his resignation be taken immediately”, he had said. Last week, on March 9, Former CM Fadnavis and other BJP leaders had staged protests at the Azad Maidan, Mumbai demanding the resignation of State Minister Nawab Malik. They were then detained by the Mumbai Police amid protests and were taken to the Yellow Gate Police Station.

Earlier in November 2021 too, Fadnavis had exposed Malik and said that he and his family had bought land parcels from people linked with the underworld. The ED in the investigation process happened to learn that Malik had purchased land at Kurla in the year 2005 from Haseena Parkar at a lower price bid. The sale deed was deliberately made to look like the cost of the land was lower when the practical cost transacted was much higher. The balance amount was satisfied in cash by son Faraz Malik.

It is important to note that the MVA govt and the National Congress Party (NCP) have been supporting Malik since the beginning of the case. The alliance has cleared that they had no intentions to make him resign from the Ministry. On March 2, the NCP had toughened its stand in the case and had affirmed that Malik would continue to be the Minister.

At present, Malik’s son Faraz has failed to appear before the ED for the second consecutive time. The agency had on Tuesday summoned him for questioning in connection with Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case. According to the reports, Faraz will soon be sent a third summon asking him to appear for questioning. ED wants to question him about the deals and payments regarding Goawala Building in Kurla, Mumbai.

The case is under investigation by the ED who is tracing all the linkages of illegal money transfers, land purchases, and involvement of NCP’s Nawab Malik in the Dawood Ibrahim case.

Did you know: Farooq Abdullah and Rajiv Gandhi-led govt had released 70 dreaded Pakistan-trained terrorists, who led genocide against Kashmiri Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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Did you know: Farooq Abdullah and Rajiv Gandhi-led govt had released 70 dreaded Pakistan-trained terrorists, who led genocide against Kashmiri Hindus

On Thursday, former Jammu and Kashmir Police Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid blamed the Congress government at the centre in 1989 for the rise of terrorism in the country.

Taking to Twitter, SP Vaid said that not many people in the country know the fact that the first batch of 70 terrorists trained by ISI was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police. The former cop disclosed that the ill-thought political decision by the then Jammu and Kashmir government led by Farooq Abdullah had got these terrorists released, who went on to lead many terrorist organisations in the erstwhile state.

Shesh Paul Vaid, the former DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, also disclosed the names of some of the notorious terrorists released by the Farooq Abdullah government who later went on to carry out terror activities against the Hindus in the valley.

Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 1987 to 1990, during which the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus took place in the valley.

Pointing fingers at the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government at the centre, the former DGP asked, “Could this have been possible without the knowledge of the Union Government of 1989?”

Some of the terrorists whom the former DGP mentioned include Mohammed Afzal Sheikh of Trehgam, Rafiq Ahmed Ahangar, Mohammad Ayub Najar, Farooq Ahmed Ganai, Ghulam Mohammed Gujri, Farooq Ahmed Malik, Nazir Ahmed Sheikh and Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Teli.

It is pertinent to mention that between July and December 1989, 70 hardcore Islamic terrorists were released by the Farooq Abdullah government. These individuals went on to become dreaded terrorists with the active support of Pakistan and went on to unleash massive terror against the Indian state. These terrorists played a significant role in promoting insurgency and creating an anti-Hindu atmosphere in the valley.

In 1990, this anti-Hindu narrative in the valley led to the atrocities on Kashmiri Hindus, which grew manifold, reaching to the extent of committing genocide against the community. The radical Islamists, backed by madrasas in the valley, forced Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits to leave the valley overnight, leading to a mass exodus.

By March 1990, most of the Hindus residing in the valley had escaped saving their lives. Thousands of Kashmiri Hindus were raped, looted and butchered by the Islamic terrorists in the valley. Those who survived left Kashmir out of fear became refugees in their own country. They were rehabilitated in inhuman conditions in camps in Jammu.

The Kashmiri Hindus hoped to go back, however, their dreams of returning to the valley faded away, and most of these people shifted to other parts of the country. Most of the Hindu’s houses were burnt down in the valley, and whatever properties were left was looted.

The release of the movie – ‘The Kashmir Files’ has ignited a debate on the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists and how the centre and the state government turned a blind eye towards the suffering of Kashmiri Hindus.

‘Politics is not a part-time job, UP loss a blot on Priyanka’s career’: Shankersinh Vaghela criticises Congress leadership, says they need better advisers

OpIndia Staff
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‘Politics is not a part-time job, UP loss a blot on Priyanka’s career’: Shankersinh Vaghela criticises Congress leadership, says they need better advisers

After the Congress party faced a humiliating defeat in the recent assembly elections in five states, many senior leaders and veteran loyalists have been raising questions over the party’s functioning and leadership. Recently, former Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela stated, “Handling UP affairs to Priyanka was a political misfire”.

As per reports, Vaghela stated, “There are expectations from the party high command. High Command means Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi. That should have happened at the right time for Priyanka. Political misfire happened when Priyanka was made the General Secretary of UP”.

“I pray that the problems engulfing the Congress Party erupt into the flames in the Holika Dahan,” Vaghela stated.

Vaghela’s statement has come a day after he attended the so-called ‘G-23’ meeting at the residence of senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Delhi. G-23 is a group of senior Congress leaders who have been demanding a structural and administrative overhaul within the party, indirectly opposing the leadership by the Gandhi family.

Vaghela also hinted that Priyanka is yet untrained, hence giving her the responsibility of UP may have been a mistake. “Everyone has a career and there should be grooming… In UP, Priyanka was handling everything but this election (result) also tarnished Priyanka. There are no more right advisors”, Vaghela was quoted in a New Indian Express report.

Generation gap in leadership

Vaghela also added that there is a lack of discussion and dialogue at the leadership level. “Rahul Gandhi is not a bad person. But Sonia Ji used to listen to everyone. There is a question mark because of the generation gap.”

Vaghela, who had resigned from Congress in 2017 and has not been associated with any other party, added that Congress lost power in Madhya Pradesh and is also barely surviving in Rajasthan. Punjab could have been handled better. “Someone should have advised Rahul Gandhi not to change horses in an ongoing race. Such a situation should not have happened in Punjab,” Vaghela stated of the political fiasco in Punjab, making Amarinder Singh resign, making Sidhu the party president and then making Channi the CM.

If Ahmed Patel were alive, Congress would have been in a better position

Vaghela added that after the death of Ahmed Patel, there is no one in Congress to give proper advice to the Gandhi family, and the entire party is suffering because of that.

“The recent performance of Congress in elections shows the party is suffering because of Ahmed Patel’s absence. After his demise, there is no one to take his place and guide the leadership. If the party had found his replacement, there was no reason to form this G-23,” NIE report quoted him further.

UP loss a blot in Priyanka’s career

Adding that giving the responsibility of a major state like UP to ‘inexperienced’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was a ‘misfire’, Vaghela stated that the loss in UP is now a blot in Priyanka’s career. “There is no one to advise the leadership (Gandhi family). The G-23 leaders are not revolting against the party. They just want the leadership to listen to them. No one listens to them”, he added.

He again lamented the loss in Punjab, adding that even a political novice should know that it is wrong to remove a sitting CM just months ahead of elections.

Vaghela added that politics is a full-time job. Taking an indirect dig at Rahul Gandhi, who is often away on international vacations, Vaghela added that Rahul Gandhi’s advisors should have told him that politics is not a part-time job.

Kerala: Priest Pondson John arrested for sexually abusing a minor girl twice, one at Church while ‘counselling’ her, once in her own home

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Priest Pondson John arrested for sexually abusing a minor girl twice, one at Church while ‘counselling’ her, once in her own home

On Thursday, an orthodox church priest was arrested for sexually abusing a minor girl in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.

According to reports, the pastor identified as Pondson John, a priest from the Orthodox Church at Koodal, repeatedly sexually abused a 17-year-old minor girl. The priest sexually abused the 17-year-old girl when she was left in his care for counselling.

The victim’s parents had sought the help of the priest for counselling her, as she was facing academic troubles.

As per the police complaint, the accused misbehaved with her two times at two different locations on March 12 and 13. At first, the priest sexually abused the victim at the church. Following the incident, the girl refused to go to the church the next day. However, the priest himself went to her home, took the girl inside a room, closed the door, and sexually harassed her.

Following the traumatic experience, the girl refused to go for counselling on the second day, said the police. She later informed one of her friends, who revealed it to the school authorities.

The school authorities later registered a complaint to the childline, following which the police arrested the accused pastor.

Emails to Ukrainian energy company to racist chats, sex clippings: Federal probe confirms existence of laptop belonging to Hunter Biden, USA President’s son

OpIndia Staff
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Emails to Ukrainian energy company to racist chats, sex clippings: Federal probe confirms existence of laptop belonging to Hunter Biden, USA President’s son

The ongoing federal probe on Hunter Biden has recently released a comprehensive report, in which the existence of his controversial laptop has been validated. The laptop was deposited by Biden at a Delaware repair shop in April 2019 after which its hard drive was found containing controversial emails regarding his overseas business dealings, documents, text messages with racist overtones, sex clippings, etc.

It is reported that after getting hands over Hunter Biden’s contentious content, the repair shop owner submitted the details with the laptop to the FBI. As reported by The New York Times, prosecutors have looked into specific emails exchanged between Hunter Biden and his former business associates that were recovered from the laptop. An email with an associate named Devon Archer who was Biden’s co-member on the board of a Ukrainian energy company Burisma seemed to have come from a laptop abandoned by Biden in the Delaware repair shop.

Apart from the shreds of Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Asia and Europe, the laptop contained personal files including his text conversations with this lawyer. This involved racist exchanges with the use of the ‘N-word’ with his corporate attorney George Mesires followed by discussions on unconditional love and jokes on his pen*s. What made headlines was him keeping a racist meme of Ex-President Obama being called by his father Joe Biden a n*gga, who was the Vice President in Obama’s administration.

Investigation of Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden paid a tax liability of USD 1 Million while undergoing an investigation regarding tax fraud. In the December of 2020, he confessed to undergoing an investigation into his tax affairs. However, an enquiry into his global business dealings will continue, according to the reports. The federal investigation of Hunter Biden regarding his tax evasions started in the Obama administration. It was suspected that the son of VP Joe Biden failed to pay due taxes while defrauding the reserves.

However, the probe against Biden widened in 2018, after Hunter was suspected of using his father’s influence to sign deals with foreign companies worth millions. While Hunter Biden worked as a professional lobbier for domestic American interests, it is said that he used his father’s clout to sign deals and pursue clients in Asia and Europe. Currently, the investigation agencies are finding details about money received by Hunter Biden from the Ukrainian energy company.

While Biden has not been charged under any crime as of now, he might attract FARA or violations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In the 2020 Presidential Elections race, Joe Biden had to face the brunt of his son’s overseas dealings, especially with the Ukrainian company, Burisma.

Maharashtra: A mob of Islamists lynches a youth Rameshwar Kharat over a minor dispute in Ambad town

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: A mob of Islamists lynches a youth Rameshwar Kharat over a minor dispute in Ambad town

A 20-year-old Hindu youth named Rameshwar Ankush Kharat was killed by a mob of Islamists in Ambad town in the Jalna district of Maharashtra. The violence is said to have erupted over a reason as minor as swimming in a well. Rameshwar Kharat was beaten with iron rods and wooden sticks by the mob in the Pathan Mohalla area of Ambad at around 4:30 PM on 12th March 2022. He died in a hospital at Jalna on 13th March 2022 at 6 PM. The people protested at Ambad police station till 12 at the night to arrest the accused in connection with the incident.

Sudarshan News journalist Jitendra Pratap Singh has tweeted a video of the family members mourning the loss of Rameshwar Kharat who was the only son of his parents. He has written in his tweet, “In Ambad town of Maharashtra, the bloodshed of jihadis continues, there is an uproar everywhere. The lone minor Hindu youth was brutally murdered by a total of 15 jihadis. The helpless mother is screaming and crying for justice, but no one is going to listen.”

According to a report by Pudhari, on 13th March, an FIR was lodged in the Ambad police station in connection with the case. On the 12th of March, deceased Rameshwar Ankush Kharat, a resident of Holkar Nagar in Ambad, had gone with Prasad Pralhad Kharat to the well owned by a person named Fulare. He had gone there for swimming at around 1 PM. The well is situated on the Bhagwan Mahadev Mandir road.

There erupted a dispute among the youths there over getting into the well for swimming. The culprits abused and threatened Rameshwar Kharat saying ‘if you are seen in the mohalla, you will be killed’. Rameshwar Kharat called his brother Ganesh Kharat and informed him about the abuse and threats.

Rameshwar Kharat was stopped by the mob of Islamists in front of Khalil Maulana’s shop while he was going to the farm from Holkar Nagar around 4:30 PM through Pathan Mohalla. They asked him, ‘why did you quarrel with us while swimming in the well’ and started abusing him again. Meanwhile, Rameshwar was seriously injured when Shoeb Sulani Shafiq Sulani hit him with an iron rod in his hands.

Avez Siraj Sheikh, Shohel Shah Mohammad Pathan, Anis Gaffar Sheikh, Wajed Ismail Sheikh, Amir Chand Pathan beat Rameshwar Kharat with wooden sticks on his feet, back, and head. The other accused in the crime kicked and punched him. As a result, Rameshwar Kharat was seriously injured.

Sunil Diwte and Balu Datta Kharat brought Rameshwar Kharat to the Seva Hospital in Ambad. Due to severe injuries, Rameshwar Kharat was moved to a private hospital in Jalna. At 6 PM on 13th March, he passed away.

Baburao Kharat is the uncle of the deceased youth Rameshwar Ankush Kharat. He has lodged a complaint in the Ambad police station against the 15 accused in this case. A crime has been registered in response to his complaint. API Somnath Narke is doing further investigations.

The accused in this case are 1) Ibrahim Siraj Sheikh 2) Adnan Sulani Shafiq Sulani, 3) Shoeb Sulani Shafiq Sulani, 4) Azhar Ijaz Ali Sheikh, 5) Faizan Amjad Pathan, 6) Arbaaz Shah Mohammad Pathan, 7) Muradi Mehra Sheikh, 8) Awez Siraj Sheikh, 9) Shohel Shahmohammed Pathan, 10) Anis Ghapfar Sheikh, 11) Wajed Ismail Sheikh, 12) Amir Chand Pathan, 13) Abhay Babasaheb Kharat 14) Arshad Khurshid Jilani, and 15) Sheikh Nasser Sheikh Ismail. All of them live in Ambad.

BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar has raised this issue in the state legislative council of Maharashtra. He has said that the matter should be thoroughly investigated and as the deceased boy was the only son of his parents, the government must ensure some help and relief to the family. He also insisted that the government must provide a good lawyer so that the conviction of the accused and justice to the deceased boy is ensured.

As soon as the information about the murder spread in the area, hundreds of people came together and protested in the Ambad police station. Superintendent of Police Vinayak Deshmukh, Upper Superintendent of Police Vikrant Deshmukh and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sunil Patil, Assistant Police Inspector Nitin Patange tried to calm the people down and assured that the culprits will be arrested soon.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Traders Federation and Dhangar Samaj came to the fore on 14th March 2022 to close down the entire market in Ambad town in protest against the murder of Rameshwar Ankush Kharat. At this time, a peaceful march was organized in Ambad and demanded that action be taken and the accused be arrested.

India is dependent on oil imports and always exploring options, Russia not a major supplier: MEA on reports of India buying discounted Russian oil

OpIndia Staff
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India is dependent on oil imports and always exploring options, Russia not a major supplier: MEA on reports of India buying discounted Russian oil

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Thursday clarified that Russia is not a major crude oil supplier for India, and the country is “always exploring all possibilities in the global energy markets” to bring oil home. The statement came amid reports by many media outlets that India is accepting Moscow’s offer of discounted crude oil and getting closer to establishing an alternative payment system in order to maintain trade with Russia.

“We are always exploring all possibilities in global energy markets because of the situation of importing our oil requirements. I don’t think Russia has been a major supplier,” news agency ANI quoted MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi as saying.

When asked if India intends to import more Russian oil, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that almost all of India’s energy requirements are imported, and the country is always looking for new options. According to the MEA spokesperson, “a number of countries are importing energy from Europe, particularly from Europe.”

“The majority of India’s oil needs are met by imports. As a result of the situation of importing our oil requirements, we are constantly exploring all options in global energy markets. I don’t believe Russia has been a significant supplier”, he said when asked if India buys crude oil from Russia.

US journalist threatens India with sanctions for buying Russian oil

On March 14 it was reported in many media outlets that Russia has offered India crude oil at a discounted price. A report in Reuters quoted an unnamed Indian government official saying that Russia is offering crude oil and other commodities at a discounted rate and India is considering to take the offer.

“Russia is offering oil and other commodities at a heavy discount. We will be happy to take that,” the quote mentioned. Another report in Mint quoted two unnamed officials stating that India is working on a currency arrangement for the trade, preferable a Rupee-Rouble trade.

Due to sanctions imposed by US and European nations, Russia is find it difficult to export oil. Although European countries have not stopped buying oil and gas from Russia, sanctions on Russian banking system have caused difficulties for the oil sector along with all other sectors.

As soon as the reports were shared, many US and European ‘experts’ started condemning India while saying that the US government should sanction India if India buys Russian crude oil. Some ‘experts’ even brought in sanctimonious dismissal, claiming that buying crude oil from Russia is immoral and against values.

‘Journalist’ Trish Regan’s tweet was worded as a threat, saying that if India buys Russian oil, there should be US sanctions against India. She even added that US sanctions will devastate the Indian economy.

Trish Regan’s tweet warning India of sanctions got a wide variety of responses from Indians. Many reminded Regan that the US cannot keep threatening every country with sanctions, because sanctions, in the long run, are mostly unproductive and hurt both ways. Moreover, despite announcing sanctions against Russia, European countries have not stopped buying Russian oil and gas, because they don’t have any alternate source for the same at present.

Some pointed out that Indian Oil has bought the Russian crude at a significant discount from Vitol, reportedly 3 million barrels for May delivery and it did not see a problem paying for it because oil, as a commodity, is not banned.

India’s plans to buy discounted crude oil from Russia not a violation of sanctions: US

On Wednesday, March 16, the US clarified that India’s plans to purchase discounted crude oil from Russia will not lead to violation of sanctions. However, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that supporting the Russian leadership will mean supporting a ‘devastating’ invasion.

It is notable here that after a lot of angry venting and ‘sanctions’ against India after the 1998 nuclear tests, the USA had quietly removed most of the civilian sanctions by the end of 1999 and by the end of 2001, all defence sanctions against India were abolished too. By 2008, the USA had recognised India as de-facto civilian and military nuclear power. Multiple US governments over the years, have proclaimed India as a “major strategic partner’.

India, as a rapidly growing economy with a population of over 1.3 billion people, is a big market and USA understands that it is not in their interests to go against India, not when they are looking for allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida to arrive in India on a two-day visit on 19th March, Australian PM Scott Morrison to hold virtual summit with PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida to arrive in India on a two-day visit on 19th March, Australian PM Scott Morrison to hold virtual summit with PM Modi

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will arrive in India on a two-day visit. He will be in Delhi on 19th and 20th March 2022. Here, he will participate in the 14th India-Japan Summit. India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced this on Thursday 17th March 2022. Japan and India are expected to cement economic cooperation and share assessments on the crisis in Ukraine and Indo-Pacific region. Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India has published a press release in this regard.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The India-Japan summit will be held on March 19. At the invitation of PM Modi, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida will make an official visit to New Delhi on March 19-20 for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be the first meeting of these two leaders.”

Arindam Bagchi further said that India-Japan has multi-faceted cooperation within the ambit of the Special Strategic, Global Partnership. The Summit will provide an opportunity to review and strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse areas as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

After the visit of the Japanese PM Fumio Kishida is over, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will hold the second India-Australia Virtual Summit on 21 March 2022 with PM Modi. The Summit follows the historic first Virtual Summit of 4 June 2020 when the relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the upcoming virtual summit, the Leaders will take stock of progress made on various initiatives under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The virtual summit will lay the way forward on new initiatives and enhanced cooperation in a diverse range of sectors between India and Australia. The Leaders are expected to commit to closer cooperation in trade, critical minerals, migration and mobility, and education, among others.

According to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, views on regional and international issues of mutual interest will also be discussed by the Leaders. The Summit highlights the importance attached by both countries to their bilateral relations as also their close cooperation on regional and global issues.

The press release says, “The India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has maintained the momentum of an upward trajectory with both countries continuing to collaborate closely, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, in wide-ranging areas including science and technology, defense, cyber, critical and strategic materials, water resource management, as well as public administration and governance.”

It further says, “Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Morrison met in Washington DC for the first in-person meeting after the Covid-19 pandemic in September 2021 on the margins of the Quad Leaders’ Summit and jointly launched the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) in Glasgow on the margins of the COP26 in November 2021.”

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