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‘Likely stopped because my book criticises Modi’: Aakar Patel after being stopped from flying abroad in connection with FCRA case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Likely stopped because my book criticises Modi’: Aakar Patel after being stopped from flying abroad in connection with FCRA case

The former head of Amnesty International India, Aakar Patel, had alleged that he was stopped from travelling abroad likely because of a book he had written against PM Modi. The conjecture was made by Patel during his interview with Karan Thapar for The Wire, a left-leaning portal that has earned the dubious distinction of peddling fake news and leveraging its platform to whitewash serious offences.

Patel was stopped from boarding a flight at the Bengaluru airport on April 6, following which he took to Twitter to state that he was put on an exit control list by the CBI. The central agency had issued a Look Out Circular against him in connection with a case registered against Amnesty International India for committing alleged FCRA violations.

But, during his interview with Thapar, Patel surmised that he was stopped from travelling abroad not because of the serious allegations of money laundering and FCRA violations levelled against him but because of a critical book he had written against the Modi government.

“I believe I was stopped likely because my book criticises Modi,” Patel tells Thapar when the latter asks him what could have been the probable reason for the issuance of the LOC to the embattled former Amnesty International India head.

Aakar Patel
Aakar Patel talks to Karan Thapar(Image Source: YouTube)

Patel challenges CBI’s Look Out Circular issued against him in connection with alleged FCRA violations by Amnesty International India

It is noteworthy to mention that the CBI in the Delhi Court had highlighted that Patel was issued the LOC in connection with a case registered against Amnesty International India for alleged FCRA violations.

Patel had approached a Delhi court against the Look Out Circular issued against him. The court had then instructed the central probe agency to withdraw the circular forthwith and had also asked the CBI to issue an apology to Aakar Patel for restricting him to travel abroad.

Hours later, Patel tweeted that he was stopped at the immigration yet again as the CBI had not taken him off their Look Out Circular yet. In a subsequent tweet, Patel had vowed to move court again if needed.

Special CBI court overturns Delhi court’s order, asks Aakar Patel to not leave the country without its permission

However, on Friday, a special CBI court in Delhi stayed the court order that allowed former Amnesty India head Aakar Patel to travel abroad and said that he can’t leave the country without the permission of the court. The Special CBI court in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court stayed the order issued by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the same court yesterday, where CBI was instructed to withdraw the Look Out Circular against Patel immediately.

Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann stayed the order by the ACMM Pawan Kumar and directed Patel not to leave the country without the permission of the Court. The CBI had argued against the court order saying that no time was given to them to challenge the order, as they were asked to withdraw the circular immediately.

The judge agreed with this argument, saying, “there has to be a reasonable time to a party, who feels that the order isn’t favourable to approach the authority. The remedy is there.”

Assam: Muzammil Sheikh, Nazibul Sheikh and Farouk Rahman awarded death sentence for rape and murder of two minor tribal girls

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Muzammil Sheikh, Nazibul Sheikh and Farouk Rahman awarded death sentence for rape and murder of two minor tribal girls

In connection with the rape and murder of two tribal girls in June last year, a special court in Kokrajhar, Assam, has awarded the death sentence to three people. On Wednesday, April 6, the three accused, Muzammil Sheikh, Nasibul Sheikh, and Farouk Rahman, were found guilty.

The conviction relates to a case in which two Rabha community girls, aged 14 and 16, were raped and subsequently murdered by the culprits. It was first reported as a suicide. However, the victim’s relatives refused to accept it and sought an investigation.

They were given the death penalty by Special Judge C Chaturvedi of the Korajhar fast-track court. The suspects were apprehended on June 14, last year, just 72 hours after the girls were found dead.

Last year, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had taken cognizance of the issue and directed the police to conduct an intensive investigation to apprehend the offenders.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, upon getting information about the order of the court, took to Twitter and stated, “Hon. Sessions Court, Kokrajhar awarded the death sentence to accused Muzamil, Najibul & Farizul in the gruesome case of rape & murder of two tribal minor girls. I visited the family on 13.6.21 and directed @Irbishnoiassam to form SIT and take the case to its logical conclusion.”

In response to his tweet, Kokrajahr IGP LR Bishnoi complimented the CM and Kokrajhar police for conducting a thorough and fast investigation. Bishnoi headed the Special Investigation Team that solved the case within 48 hours of the occurrence.

“Hon’ble CM @himantabiswa sir it became possible under your consistent guidance! The efforts by SIT & @KokrajharPolice to ensure a quick & scientific investigation are laudable! @assampolice,” tweeted IPS, Dr LR Bisnoi.

The incident took place in June 2021. The girls were first choked to death before being hung from a tree in an attempt to deceive the public and make it look as though they had committed suicide.

According to accounts, three of the males were directly engaged in the rape and murder of the two girls, while four others attempted to destroy evidence and mislead police. All seven were arrested in June 2021.

Maharashtra: Protesting State Transport workers pelt stones and slippers at Sharad Pawar’s residence

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Protesting State Transport workers pelt stones and slippers at Sharad Pawar’s residence

In Mumbai, hundreds of enraged State Transport workers broke into the residence ‘Silver Oak’ of veteran Marathi politician and NCP president Sharad Pawar on 8th April 2022. The ST workers pelted stones and slippers on shared Pawar’s residence. Policemen are currently deployed in large numbers near ‘Silver Oak’ and many of the protesting State Transport workers are taken into custody. The workers’ strike going on for the last few months in Maharashtra took an unexpected turn when it was apparently about to end. The workers suddenly became aggressive with a demand to dissolve the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and absorb all the workers as government employees.

The protest took place all of a sudden. Transport workers gathered in huge numbers near ‘Silver Oak’ and started pelting stones and slippers at the bungalow. In the beginning, the security persons and the police deployed inside the bungalow tried to stop the protesting workers but they could not control the mob of hundreds of protesters. Later, a bigger police force led by IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil joined them.

There were many women amongst the protesting Transport workers. They registered their protest by making noise with the bangles in their hands. They held Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar responsible for the suicides and deaths of more than 120 transport workers during the last six months of protest and strike.

Sharad Pawar’s daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule came out to talk with the protesting workers. She said, “We are ready to talk with the workers. Please maintain silence. Please don’t pelt stones and slippers. My father, mother, and my daughter are inside the house. Their safety is of utmost importance to me. I am ready to listen to everyone if they maintain silence.”

Many protestors were taken into custody by the police. Police vans were not insufficient to take them into custody and therefore, school buses were called. Even while being arrested, the protesting workers kept on raising slogans against the government and in support of the demand to dissolve the ST corporation in the regular government services.

On Thursday 7th April 2022, the Bombay high court ordered that transport workers should join back their duties by 22nd April 2022 and no action will be taken against them if they do so. The court also instructed the state transport corporation to give pensions and gratuities to the workers and not to take any action against them.

Islamic terrorist Hafiz Saeed sentenced to 31 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Islamic terrorist Hafiz Saeed sentenced to 31 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan

An anti-Terrosim court in Pakistan has sentenced Islamic terrorist Hafiz Saeed to 31 years in jail. As per reports, the Pakistan government has been ordered to confiscate all assets of Saeed.

Hafiz Saeed is the founder of the banned Islamic terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been the mastermind of many terrorist attacks against India, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Reports say that the court has also imposed a monetary fine on Saeed.

Though the reason behind Saeed’s sentencing is said to be the FATF pressure, where Pakistan continues to be in the grey list, many experts speculate that given the precedents in Pakistan, Saeed may even walk free soon or continue to enjoy a lavish life.

Though Saeed has been sentenced by courts earlier, he had been living a lavish life, under the security provided by the Pakistani government. In 2020, a video had surfaced where Saeed, who was supposed to be in jail, was seen travelling with a large convoy of SUVs with Pakistani rangers protecting him.

Rajasthan Police tries to blame Hindus for Karauli violence, says stones pelted because songs played were ‘objectionable’

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan Police tries to blame Hindus for Karauli violence, says stones pelted because songs played were ‘objectionable’

On Friday, April 8, the Rajasthan government ordered an administrative probe in Karauli anti-Hindu violence incident and sought a detailed report within 15 days. This is after the Rajasthan Police began a ‘fair’ investigation in the case and arrested 105 for inciting the violence on April 2.

On April 2, when Hindus across the world were celebrating their new year, communal violence broke in Rajasthan’s Karauli when a motorcycle rally marking Nav Samvatsar passed through a Muslim-dominated neighborhood. Incidentally, 42 people including cops were injured in the communal riots that broke out when stones were thrown at the rally conducted by Hindus by locals in the area.

The Police had initially detained 30 persons in the case and had registered FIR against 37 people for instigating the violence. However, on April 8 the Police tried to blame the Hindu rally for the violence while trying to convey that stones were pelted in response to ‘objectionable’ songs. Mohan Lal Lather, DGP, Rajasthan said that the way the Nav Samvatsar procession was carried out was dubious and objectionable songs were played, that’s why stone pelting took place.

He further added that peace ensued across states and people celebrated festivals with amity except in Karuli’s Hatwada Bazar. “Such incident happened in Karauli as no procession was taken out the area since 2015. The Police had given permission to the organizers after monitoring the situation but no permission was granted for use of DJs”, DGP Lather added.

Earlier, the Rajasthan Police had registered an FIR against 37 people for instigating the violence. While the police had identified Congress Councillor Matloob Ahmed as the main conspirator in the case, it booked BJP leader and Jaipur mayor Somya Gurjar’s husband Rajaram Gurjar for his alleged involvement in violence. The authorities also booked convenor Neeraj Sharma who had applied for permission for the rally, Sahab Singh Gurjar, state president of the Hindu Sena, and Rajaram Gurjar, former Chairman of the Municipal Council, Karauli.

To avoid further clashes, 600 policemen including 50 deputy superintendents of police have been deployed in the city. Curfew has been imposed, internet service has been shut down.

Indian liberals rush to save their favoured elites and GHQ as poor Sri Lankans suffer: Will they now blame Brahminical patriarchy? RSS? Modi?

Ganesh R
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Indian liberals rush to save their favoured elites and GHQ as poor Sri Lankans suffer: Will they now blame Brahminical patriarchy? RSS? Modi?

If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes’s stories, you will remember one of his earliest cases – the first story in his “Adventures” collection – Scandal in Bohemia. In that story, a woman holds letters written by an ex-lover who is a powerful and rich Prince. Holmes tries to steal that letter from her on behalf of the royal to avoid blackmail or bad publicity.

Despite all the efforts, he cannot find where she has kept them hidden. He then uses a powerful psychological weapon – when there is a fire or imminent danger, a person will rush to first save that which is most precious to him or her. For example, a mother may protect her child even before she cares for herself. He engineers a fake fire to force the woman to reveal where she has hidden the letters. He almost succeeds, but the lady is smarter than him and saves those letters, but that’s not the main point of my using this example. It is about Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. And about our left-liberals rushing to save what’s precious to them.

As Sri Lanka suffers its worst economic nightmare in memory, some analysts even calling it “burning”, the rush to save favourites is obvious. In the glorious tradition of the liberal left, they rush to save their favoured elites and GHQ, not the poor Lankans that are suffering. 

We now see articles and soundbites telling us that we should not blame three factors – China, Organic farming and family rule. No prices for guessing who tries to save who. 

Hindu has an article that tells us blaming the Chinese debt trap is a “pat explanation”. Of course, durbari propaganda media servants routinely “prove” Yogi mishandled COVID saying some bodies were floating in the Ganges, something that has been happening for decades if not centuries. That is not simplistic or pat but is profound intellectual insight. No proof needs to be offered beyond that. You just mention it and the job is done. 

Interestingly, it is hard to see many references to China in the Op-Eds on the Sri Lanka crisis in The Hindu, other than to perhaps to say China is trying to help them. But Indian help is portrayed as “tied”. Of course, the article conveniently quotes local sources. Guess there were no local sources blaming China or its white elephant projects.

Quint’s opinion piece says blaming organic farming is wrong. Why? Because the “fossil fuel” industry wants to use such failures. It was just not done right. There must have been adequate preparation etc., and a ready market should exist for “premium” priced organic stuff. Wow, so a country should grow rich first to afford fancy prices for organic stuff then think about going organic, not the other way around. Thanks for telling us!

Interestingly, how many of these eco-warriors offered such sage advice when the Lankans jumped eagerly into the chasm? As far as I can recall, they were all cheering and clapping like Dr Vandana Shiva. How many said “Look! The idea is good but goes slow or it can lead to disaster!” Now that the foolish move has created a huge mess, everyone is wise. And they rush to save organic from any blame, much like leftist “intellectuals” telling us each and every variation of their murderous ideology tried out by despots in each and every country followed the “wrong model” and we still must try their version because it is distilled purer from the book.

And “journalist” Ravish Kumar has been quoted as saying dynastic politics aka Parivar-wad is not to blame. No prices for guessing why. As an independent, fearless activist journalist, he wants to make sure nothing reflects badly on corrupt dynasties. After all, that is essential to the Indian, or for that matter, global liberal business model.

Viola! Three of the biggest causes are wiped clean! Zero blame. 

One wonders what or who is left to blame. Perhaps Brahminical patriarchy? RSS saazish? Modi? Amit Shah? Or the fact that they are close to India where the mahaul is just not right these days? If you think that is a joke, wait until a JNU, DU or TISS worthy proves you wrong and writes exactly that.

Rahul Gandhi predicts violence and chaos in India, thanks to politics he himself has been playing

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi predicts violence and chaos in India, thanks to politics he himself has been playing

Just two months after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi fuelled separatism in the country by claiming that India is not a nation but just a union of different states, he made a U-turn today. Not only that, he also threatened violence accusing BJP of dividing the country, that he himself had said was already divided.

Talking to reporters after meeting Sharad Yadav in Delhi today, Rahul Gandhi accused BJP of diving the country, saying that it has created violence. “India has been divided into groups, earlier it used to be one country, now it has been several countries inside the country, these people have different country, those people have different country, those others have different country, and all of them are being made to fight among themselves,” he said.

After that Rahul Gandhi said that this will lead to violence, by saying, “when this pain will be felt, violence will happen”. He said that people may not agree with him, but will see this situation after 2-3 years.

The Kerala MP added that the country is in a very bad situation, hatred is being spread and the nation is being divided. “We’ve to bring the nation together and once again walk on the path of the brotherhood which has been a part of our history,” he said.

Blaming the BJP, media, RSS and others of hiding some truth, Rahul Gandhi said, “In the last two-three years, media, institutions, BJP leaders, RSS have hidden the truth. Slowly the truth will come out. That is what is happening in Sri Lanka. The truth came out there. The truth will come out in India. Economists and bureaucrats make their plans by looking at other nations. PM Modi says we’ve to become like them. It can’t be done like that. First, we’ve to realise who we’re and what’s happening here. They’ve broken the backbone, terrifying results would come in next three-four years.”

For some reason, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Sri Lanka is facing unprecedented economic crisis because ‘truth came out’, and warned that India will also face the same situation soon.

It is interesting to note that Rahul Gandhi is warning that India is will face violence because the country is being divided, when he himself has been active in dividing the country. In Parliament in February this year he had claimed that Indian Constitution describes India as a union of states and not a nation. Attacking the Modi govt, he had claimed that India is actually a partnership.

By claiming that he power arrangement between the states and the centre is of a “negotiation” and insinuating that India did not have a single national identity, Rahul Gandhi was fuelling sub-nationalism, by challenging the very idea of India as a nation.

But now, he is saying that India was a single country earlier, and is being divided by BJP. Not only that, he is also threating violence for such ‘division of the country’.

Rahul Gandhi visited Sharad Yadav at his residence in Delhi days after Yadav had merged his Loktrantik Janata Dal (LJD) with Lalu Prasad Yadav led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

‘The Kashmir Files’ continues its record-breaking spree, set to cross 250 crores mark in the domestic market

OpIndia Staff
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‘The Kashmir Files’ continues its record-breaking spree, set to cross 250 crores mark in the domestic market

Vivek Agnihotri’s reality-based film, The Kashmir Files, continues its record-breaking spree at the box office as it is set to breach the 250 Crores mark in the Indian market. The Kashmir Files, based on the Kashmiri Hindu genocide of the late 1980s and early 1990s, has become one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters in the post-pandemic era.

Sharing the film’s record-breaking numbers, film critic and movie trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, “#TheKashmirFiles slows down in Week 4, but the lack of new film/s this weekend should take it to ₹ 250 cr… [Week 4] Fri 1.50 cr, Sat 2.25 cr, Sun 3 cr, Mon 1 cr, Tue 80 lacs, Wed 75 lacs, Thu 65 lacs. Total: ₹ 248.23 cr. #India biz. ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER”

The film was also given ‘tax-free status’ in several states like Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Apart from setting the box office on fire, the film has also received wide praise for its depiction of the atrocities faced by Kashmiri Hindus during their exodus from the valley. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit SHah have praised the film.

The film has also revived the discussion around the plight of the Kashmiri Hindus who were forced to leave their homes behind, and become refugees in their own country. Following the film, Kashmiri Hindus in Haryana got land ownership papers after a long wait of 30 years.

Even though the film got nearly universal praise, sections of Indian opposition parties did try to run down the film or discredit the story shown within it. While some directly called the film a pack of lies, others tried to blame BJP for the Kashmiri Hindu genocide. Multiple theories were peddled to try and discredit the film and its makers, but the public verdict has muted all criticism.

The film stars Darshan Pathak, Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi in lead roles.

Fierce clashes between Taliban and Pakistan Army after Taliban shoots down Pakistani helicopter: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Fierce clashes between Taliban and Pakistan Army after Taliban shoots down Pakistani helicopter: Reports

The rift between the Pakistan Army and the Taliban has intensified yet again as the two sides engaged in fresh clashes along the Durand Line on Friday, as per reports. The prevailing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan took a dangerous turn on Friday after Afghanistan Taliban shot down a Pakistan Army helicopter near the Nimoz sector along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Hashim Wahdatyar, an Afghanistan-based US journalist, revealed that the Taliban forces shot Pakistan’s helicopter in Nimroz province, along the Durand Line.

The Taliban’s attack on Pakistan’s helicopter led to serious injuries to a Pakistani Army General. Following the incident, the Pakistan Army requested the Taliban to hand over the attackers in the next 24 hours, as per reports.

However, according to Wahdatyar, the Taliban rejected the request. An intense fight erupted after the Taliban denied Pakistan’s request to hand over the attackers.

It is being reported that Afghanistan is preparing for a possible Pakistani attack in the coming days.

The ongoing clashes come just months after similar gunfights between the Pakistan Army and the Taliban. In February this year, the Pakistan Army and the Taliban had fought each other as the latter had opened fire against the Taliban troops in the Dangam district of Kunar.

The Pakistan Army had also used heavy artillery against the Taliban, leading to clashes between the two sides. The Taliban troops had assembled in the area to re-engage with the Pakistan Army.

Similarly, in December 2021, a major clash was reported along the Durand line in Kunar province. There were reports of heavy firing from both sides along with the border areas in December last year.

Durand Line has been a conflict point between the Taliban and Pakistan. Earlier in December 2021, the Taliban had objected to Pakistan fencing its side along the Nimroz sector.

‘Permitting inflow of foreign donations is a state policy’: SC affirms the constitutional validity of the FCRA Act, 2020

OpIndia Staff
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‘Permitting inflow of foreign donations is a state policy’: SC affirms the constitutional validity of the FCRA Act, 2020

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the constitutional validity of the Foreign Contribution(Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020, which regulates how NGOs, associations, companies and individuals receive and utilise contributions made from abroad.

Hearing on the constitutional validity of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act (FCRA), 2020, which imposes several new conditions on the receipt and use of funds by the NGOs, besides making it mandatory for them to receive foreign funds only in an SBI account, the court opined that citizens do not have any right to receive foreign contributions and allowing the same is a matter of State policy.

“It is open to the State to have a regime which may completely prohibit receipt of foreign donation, as no right inheres in the citizen to receive foreign contribution (donation),” a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar observed.

The court further noted that there is no “paucity of donors” in India and asked charitable organisations and NGOs to seek donations from within the country, obviating the influence of foreign countries owing to foreign contributions.

The court stated that foreign donations have the ability to influence the policies of the country and hence should be reduced and avoided. The court said receiving foreign donations is not absolute or even a vested right.

“Foreign contribution is qualitatively different from foreign investment. Receiving foreign donations cannot be an absolute or even a vested right. By its very expression, it is a reflection on the constitutional morality of the nation as a whole being incapable of looking after its own needs and problems,” the judgment states.

The verdict came on a batch of petitions challenging provisions of the FCRA Act that prohibited the transfer of foreign funds by the recipient NGOs to other NGOs; requiring Aadhaar as identification for prior approval, registration etc (Section 12A) and mandating the opening of an FCRA primary account exclusively in a branch of State Bank of India in New Delhi notified by the Centre (Section 17).

Earlier, an NGO or an individual could utilise more than 50 per cent of the contribution for meeting administrative expenses. The Bill brought the limit down to 20 per cent.

The Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) had filed an affidavit in the apex court, stating that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act passed by the Parliament lays down a clear legislative policy of strict controls over foreign contributions for certain activities in the country and the manner in which they are utilised by the beneficiaries.

The MHA said the “legislation has also prohibited acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

Under the FCRA Act, 2020, the designated accounts for transfers to a single NGO are specifically mentioned as ‘FCRA account’ in the State Bank of India, parliament street branch in Delhi. The account cannot receive any other funds except the foreign contribution. An individual may open another FCRA account in any scheduled bank of their choice for keeping or utilising the received contribution.

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