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Maharashtra: Kashmiri Hindu activist detained by police for seeking permission to attend a propaganda program against The Kashmir Files, released after hours

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Kashmiri Hindu activist detained by police for seeking permission to attend a propaganda program against The Kashmir Files, released after hours

On 7th April 2022, Kashmiri Hindu activist Rohit Kachroo was illegally detained by Maharashtra police when he visited a police station in Pune to seek permission to peacefully question a talk by a propagandist. Yuvak Kranti Dal led by 80-year-old Kumar Saptarshi has organized a talk by Ashok Kumar Pandey on the topic ‘The Kashmir files: A Half Truth’ at Gandhi Bhavan situated in the Kothrud area of Pune.

The talk was organized by Yuvak Kranti dal led by 80-year-old Kumar Saptarshi.

Rohit Kachroo decided to attend the program and ask some questions to Pandey after his talk. In order not to appear as an intruder, he felt it necessary to get the help of the Pune police to get a safe presence in the program and seek permission to question the speaker as to what exactly did he find to be not true in the film The Kashmir Files. But instead of helping Rohit Kachroo, the Pune police illegally detained him for a few hours and then released him only after handing over a notice that holds him responsible if any unsolicited incident occurs after he attends the program.

Rohit Kachroo narrates the incident

While speaking to OpIndia, Rohit said, “Today I visited the Kothrud police station in Pune with an application. A program is organized in Pune where a speaker Ashok Kumar Pandey will be speaking on the topic ”The Kashmir files: A Half Truth’. I felt it necessary that the Pune police must know in advance that we are going to attend that program and we must not be seen as some intruder there. We are Kashmiri Hindus. When the program heads into the question and answer session after the talk is delivered, at that time we want to ask the speaker and the organizer what exactly did they find to be untrue in the film ‘The Kashmir Files’? If the film is half true then please answer our question.”

He further said, “So we gave an application to the police. We told the police that if you feel like a law and order situation may arise there, then please cancel the program. And if they can’t cancel the program citing freedom of expression then allow us to attend the program and peacefully ask them a question because we also have freedom of expression. We told the police that we are here just to inform you of all these things.”

Informing about the detention, Rohit Kachroo said, “From 11 AM, the police detained us. They kept us in a small chowki made in the backyard of the main premises of the Kothrud police station. We asked for a written notice so many times but they did not provide any notice till 5:30 PM. We asked them to at least put a received stamp on our application, but they refused to do so. It is my right to know why I am being detained and on what charges. This should not happen with anyone who is willing to express himself in a civilized manner that too giving an idea to the police department in advance. Otherwise, people will directly go anywhere and do whatever they want.”

He further said, “I was accompanied by two of my friends. I was advised to just drop an application at the CP office and go to the program. But I thought the local police station must be informed. Because if we don’t follow the law of the land, then who else will? Such bad treatment should not be given to a law-abiding citizen. I could have directly gone to the program and asked them my questions, but I felt it necessary to seek the help of the police because I too come from a law-enforcement agency background. I know what is the proper way to put up the things. But unfortunately, this happened to me.”

Rohit Kachroo was handed over a notice by the Pune police. The notice is given as per section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The notice said, “You have applied for the cancellation of the ‘Kashmir Files – Ek Ardh Satya’ program to be held at Gandhi Bhavan in Kothrud police station limits to maintain peace and order. At present, the subject of the film ‘The Kashmiri Files’ is sensitive in the country. Therefore, there is a possibility of a law and order problem if you go to the venue of the ‘Kashmir Files A Ardh Satya’ event to be held at Gandhi Bhavan and take any action. However, you are hereby advised that you should not go to the venue of this event. If you go there and a law and order problem arises, it should be noted that action will be taken against you under the prevailing law, holding you solely responsible for it.”

This notice is given to Rohit Kachroo.

Pune’s mayor expressed his concern for Rohit Kachroo

Muralidhar Mohol is the mayor of Pune. He tweeted, “It was shocking that Kashmiri Pandit Rohit Kachroo and colleagues, who had gone to the Kothrud police station to seek permission for the agitation to protest against ‘The Kashmir Files Ardh Satya’ program, were made to sit in the police station.”

Police offered to facilitate a personal meeting of Rohit Kachroo with the organizers of the event

Rohit Kachroo told OpIndia that the police officials, at one point in time, were ready to facilitate a meeting with the organizers of the program in presence of the police officials if it was so important. He said, “The police said, we will come with you and you meet the organizers in personal capacities. We are suggesting this for your safety. I said I will not meet them personally because they are taking a program in the public domain. They are saying something publicly. They are saying that The Kashmir Files is a half-truth. They are claiming that they are speaking the truth. So, someone who is speaking the truth in a public event should welcome someone else publicly. Why I should meet him in private? So, I rejected this offer.”

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s film The Kashmir Files is based on the true incidents related to the genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus by Islamic terrorists in 1990 and the subsequent exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir valley. The film has attracted large crowds to the theatres and brought the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits to the mainstream. 

Controversy over ‘only Muslim’ recruitment at Mini-Ratna Pawan Hans helicopter service, here is how there could be a Jamia connection

OpIndia Staff
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Controversy over ‘only Muslim’ recruitment at Mini-Ratna Pawan Hans helicopter service, here is how there could be a Jamia connection

On Thursday, 7th of April 2022, a controversy broke out on Indian social media over the recruitment practices of Pawan Hans Limited, a Mini Ratna of the Government of India. As per the viral message circulating on social media, all the new apprentices joining Pawan Hans are ‘Muslims’, with no representation of any other religion.

The controversy started when Pawan Hans limited shared the list of new graduate apprentices to join the organization, and all of them were from one religion.

Pawan Hans
List of Pawan Hans Apprentices

Once this information got viral, many netizens criticized the Government of India for recruiting People from only one religion for this apprentice program.

Pawan Hans Limited is a government-owned outfit under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, that is tasked with providing exclusive helicopter services at offshore locations for Indian Oil companies, and at holy pilgrimage destinations like Kedarnath and Vaishno Devi shrine. They are also used by state governments while dealing with Maoist insurgency.

The controversy reminded people of a similar list of all Muslim candidates selected by West Bengal Police in the year 2020. However, that turned out to be a case of reservation as many Muslim castes are also listed under OBCs in the state of West Bengal. One wondered if this list by Pawan Hans Limited had a similar reason.

However, it seems that this is not a case of reservations for Muslim candidates due to any OBC list, but due to an exclusive agreement of Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) with Jamia Milia Islamia, a ‘minority educational institute’ based in New Delhi.

In the year 2017, Pawan Hans Limited had entered into an agreement for a two and a half years full-time basic aircraft maintenance training course in collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia University. In all probability, the list viral on social media is the list of students enrolled in the aforementioned course of Jamia Milia Islamia being run in collaboration with Pawan Hans Limited.

This possibility is confirmed when one searches for the names of the students as seen on the list along with the name of Jamia Millia Islamia University. The search results take us to LinkedIn profiles of these students, which confirm them being students of Jamia Milia Islamia, pursuing courses like B.Sc. (Aeronautics) and B.Sc. (Aviation).

It thus indicates that Jamila Milia Islamia could be admitting only Muslim students in their courses being run in partnership with Pawan Hans Limited. We tried to confirm the same by calling Mohammad Ameer, the Joint General Manager (Aviation Academy) with Pawan Hans Limited but we could not get any answer. OpIndia will continue to pursue the story and will update this article as and when we get more updates.

If the list indeed is of Jamia Millia Students being given apprenticeships at Pawan Hans Limited, it raises a serious question as to how come not a single non-Muslim student could find their way to the list. Did the university not find a single non-Muslim student worth enrolling in the aviation courses being funded by a government outfit?

The incident also points out the merits in demand of many activists who have been asking that reservations for SC/STs must be implemented in ‘minority institutes’ because such institutes have poor diversity in admissions, perhaps owing to a prejudicial admission system. A constitutional change will be needed in order to make institutes like Jamia Millia Islamia implement reservations for SC/STs to avoid a repeat of such a scenario.

Washington Post columnist Khaled Beydoun spreads lies, blames Hindus for the attack on Hindu New Year celebration in Karauli in Rajasthan

OpIndia Staff
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Washington Post columnist Khaled Beydoun spreads lies, blames Hindus for the attack on Hindu New Year celebration in Karauli in Rajasthan

Washington Post columnist and law professor Khaled Beydoun posted lies on his Twitter handle regarding the recent attack on Hindus in Rajasthan. In Karauli of Rajasthan, on 2nd April 2022, Muslims had attacked a rally of Hindus celebrating the Hindu new year when it was passing through a Muslim-dominated area. But Khaled Beydoun blamed Hindus for the crime committed by the mob of Muslims.

Khaled Beydoun posted, “40+ Muslim homes + businesses were set on fire in 24 hours’ time, during Ramadan in Rajasthan India. Hindutva is terrorism.” He also posted a video in the same tweet.

In a subsequent tweet, he wrote, “Hindutva is ethnic cleansing.”

In another tweet about the same incident in Karauli of Rajasthan, he wrote, “Police and Hindutva thugs destroy 40 homes and businesses belonging to Muslims.” By mentioning the police, he blamed the Rajasthan’s Congress government for the violence that was actually committed by Muslims against the Hindus.

He also incited western media to report against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He wrote, “Why are western media outlets and ‘social justice’ leaders quiet when it comes to Narendra Modi, the BJP, and violent Hindu supremacy in India?”

On 2nd April 2022, in Karauli of Rajasthan, tension prevailed in the city after a bike rally taken out on the occasion of Hindu New Year was attacked while passing through the Muslim-dominated area of Hatwara Bazar in the city. Stones were pelted at the rally, and the miscreants set on fire more than a dozen shops and three bikes. The rally was organized to celebrate ‘Nav Samvatsar’, the first day of the Hindu New Year. There is no reports of Muslim houses being attacked or burnt, as alleged by Beydoun.

‘Better do a DNA test, you can’t be a Muslim’: MNS corporator gets threats for supporting Raj Thackeray’s call for ban on loudspeakers in Mosques

OpIndia Staff
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‘Better do a DNA test, you can’t be a Muslim’: MNS corporator gets threats for supporting Raj Thackeray’s call for ban on loudspeakers in Mosques

News has come from Maharashtra’s Nashik where a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator Salim Sheikh has received threat calls over his statements in support of Raj Thackrey’s comments over the ban on Loudspeakers in Mosques. On April 2, in a passionate address MNS Raj Chief Thackrey had asserted that if the government is not going to ban the loudspeakers in the mosques, he will put double loudspeakers in front of the mosques and chant Hanuman Chalisa.

In a new development, Salim Sheikh – MNS’ Muslim face in Nashik and a corporator in the Nashik Mahanagar Palika – has received threat calls on his phone over his statements on loudspeakers in Mosques. Earlier, Sheikh had issued a statement requesting his community to voluntarily give up playing Azaan on loudspeakers atop the Mosques.

On Thursday, Sheikh received a call from a person who has been identified as Javed Mulla, a resident of Jamner. In the conversation, Mulla can be heard saying, “What did you suggest on the loudspeakers Sheikhbhai? If you have supported Raj Thackrey then better you would have also read the Hanuman Chalisa as well. You should definitely do your DNA test, you can not be a Muslim (Aap Muslim Ho Hi nahi Sakte).” Mulla who was seen threatening Sheikh over the call concluded that for a minor post of a (corporator) Sheikh is sabotaging his community (Kaum).

Talking to the press on the incident, Salim Sheikh said, “I openly request all the Muslim brethren, that if we are the law-abiding citizens of the country who have faith in the constitution, then we should give up on the loudspeakers on our mosques, only then it will send a message all across the country and the world.” Sheikh said that believes the Muslim community will abide by the teachings of the Prophet.”

On April 2, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray, at the annual Gudhi Padwa rally of the party asserted that the government should take action against the sound pollution caused by loudspeakers in the mosques. Thackeray launched much criticism on the current MVA alliance in power which has caused ripples in the unsteady waters of Maharashtra politics.

Punjab: AAP’s promise of 300 units of free electricity out of sight after almost one month of winning elections

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: AAP’s promise of 300 units of free electricity out of sight after almost one month of winning elections

It has been almost a month since Aam Aadmi Party won the Punjab Assembly Elections and formed the government. One of the main promises that AAP’s Chief Arvind Kejriwal had made to the people of Punjab was that they would get 300 units of free electricity every month. The tariff for electricity for this year has been announced, and there is no sign so far that the government has any plans to fulfil the pre-poll promise.

On April 5, it was reported that the newly elected Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has not put up the request to the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to provide subsidies to the consumers. PSERC has kept the tariff similar to the last year in its tariff order for 2022-23. The average cost per unit in the state stands at Rs 6.48 like last year.

If any request for the subsidy had been made to the regulator, the average cost per unit would have increased, but it is not the case. The previous Congress government had also announced subsidies that ramped up the PSPCL bill to Rs 13,929 crores. If AAP’s scheme is implemented, the bill will go as high as Rs 21,000 crore, the experts told The Tribune.

Even with the net revenue expected to be Rs 36149.60 crores in the year 2022-23, there will be a gap of Rs 88.05 crores that would be carried forward to be adjusted at the time of tariff determination in the financial year 2023-24.

The Promises made by AAP

AAP has been talking about free electricity in Punjab for a long time. It was one of the first promises it had made since the party started campaigning in Punjab. The promise can be traced back to June 29, 2021, when AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced that not only the old domestic bills will be waived off, but the AAP government, if elected in Assembly elections, would provide 300 units free to every household without any discrimination.

To be noted, he had claimed his government was providing 24×7 uninterrupted power in the national capital. Interestingly, AAP’s Delhi Government was found selling electricity in the national market when there was an alleged shortage of coal, and AAP leaders were blaming the BJP-led central government for the possibility of a blackout in Delhi.

The manifesto announcement did not mention 300 units

When Kejriwal announced the manifesto for Punjab, he only mentioned free electricity but skipped the promise of 300 units. He only said that the AAP government would provide 24×7 electricity and free units without mentioning how many units each household in Punjab would get.

The additional pressure of Rs 20,000 crores

Experts believe that with over 13,000 crores worth of financial support to all women above the age of 18 in Punjab and free electricity that would raise the bill by over 5,000 crores, the debt-ridden state will be in deep trouble. The total freebie bill may go beyond Rs 20,000 crores per annum which is not going to be easy for the state government.

Interestingly, Bhagwant Mann has already put up a demand of Rs 50,000 crores for two years to the central government during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a recent interview, when Kejriwal was questioned when they announced freebies, why they were asking for money from the centre, he said, “It is Punjab’s money. We only requested to give back the money of the people of Punjab.”

‘It’s extremely disrespectful’: Actor Yami Gautam Dhar slams Anupama Chopra’s Film Companion for mocking her acting abilities in ‘Dasvi’ review

OpIndia Staff
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‘It’s extremely disrespectful’: Actor Yami Gautam Dhar slams Anupama Chopra’s Film Companion for mocking her acting abilities in ‘Dasvi’ review

Bollywood actor Yami Gautam Dhar, whose latest movie ‘Dasvi’ was released on Netflix on Thursday, April 7, 2020, has taken to Twitter to slam the movie critic Anupama Chopra led organisation “Film Companion” over a review of the movie. In a series of Tweets, the Bollywood actor chastised the organisation for dismissing her acting abilities while reviewing ‘Dasvi’, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Yami Gautam Dhar in the lead role.

The actor shared the screenshot of an excerpt from an article published by Film Companion wherein the entertainment journalism platform criticises Yami Gautam Dhar for her performance in the movie. While criticising the movie as “juvenile storytelling”, the platform wrote, “Yami Gautam is no longer the dead girlfriend in Hindi films, but the combative smile is starting to get repetitive.”

The excerpt from the article published by Film Companion reviewing Abhishek Bachchan and Yami Gautam starrer film ‘Dasvi’

Taking offence to the remarks, Yami Gautam Tweeted, “Before I say anything else, I’d like to say that I usually take constructive criticism in my stride. But when a certain platform keeps trying to pull you down consistently, I felt it necessary to speak up about it”.

In her next Tweet, the actor slammed Film Companion for ‘reviewing’ her work solely based on her performance in this particular film, despite the fact that she has given some super hit movies such as ‘A Thursday,’ ‘Bala,’ ‘Uri,’ and so on. “It’s extremely disrespectful!” she lambasted.

“It takes years of hard work for anyone & especially a self-made actor like me to keep proving our mettle again & again with every opportunity. This is what it comes down to from certain reputed portals!” Yami Gautam Dhar added.

She went on to write that it’s heartbreaking because, like many people from the industry she used to look up to Film Companion, but she hasn’t done so in a long time now. “I would request you not to ‘review’ my performance henceforth ! I’ll find grace in that & it’ll be less painful,” Yami said, tearing into the organisation for mocking the actor’s acting skills.

In the film review, Anupama Chopra’s Film Companion has used extremely harsh words to critic Dasvi which the organisation had rated as “the kind of movie that will scold you for cringing at it, or for not leaving your brains at home (which is ironically where it will stream). It positions itself as the sort of low-stakes comedy designed to guilt-trip the viewer for ‘misreading’ humour as jarring mediocrity.”

“It’s like a sanitized Adam Sandler comedy gone wrong, which is saying a lot, because Adam Sandler comedies are wrong to begin with,” wrote Film Companion journalist Rahul Desai, while completely dismissing the movie as one which lacks identity.

Abhishek Bachchan-starrer Dasvi co-starring Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur started streaming on Netflix and Jio Cinema on 7 April, 2022. Abhishek Bachchan has played the role of Ganga Ram Chaudhary the CM of a fictional Harit Pradesh, who is sent to judicial custody for the teacher recruitment scam. While languishing in jail, Ganga Ram Chaudhary, whose schooling stopped after Class 8, decides to give the Standard X (dasvi) examination a shot. Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam Dhar), the uncompromising and intrepid superintendent, ultimately helps Chaudhary in his endeavour. The movie has not been receiving very good reviews since its release.

The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri slams film critic Anupama Chopra and her organisation ‘Film Companion’

Notably, prior to this, Film Companion was in the news after Vivek Agnihotri had alleged that Anupama Chopra, the head of Film Companion, was trying to ‘sabotage’ his recent movie – The Kashmir Files.

On February 23, 2022, Agnihotri had Tweeted his allegation against Film Companion head Anupama Chopra that she is playing ‘dirty tricks’ in the background to target his movie. Vivek Agnihotri asked Anupama, calling her Shoorpankha, “If you have any guts, sabotage ‘The Kashmir Files’ openly. Please stop playing dirty tricks from the background. Your only qualification is that you are married to a Producer who despite being a KP (Kashmiri Pandit), stabbed KPs in their back.”

A day later, the national-award-winning director Vivek Agnihotri released a Youtube video exposing the self-proclaimed movie critic’s inherent prejudice against his films. He accused the movie critic Anupama Chopra and her organisation – “Film Companion” of carrying out a concerted campaign against his movie.

Naming certain production houses and producers, including Anupama Chopra’s husband Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vivek Agnihotri pointed out that these entities have become the establishments of the Bollywood that set the rules and decide on the success of the individuals who enter the industry.

“Only those people who bend before this establishment will survive in the industry. Vivek Agnihotri never bows down to this establishment, never will do. Hence, I have been made to pay a price,” said the director in his video.

In his latest expose, the Bollywood director said that micro-blogging site Twitter recommended him one of the tweets of Film Companion that promoted Deepika Padukone-starrer movie Gehraiyaan. According to Vivek, Anupama Chopra’s organisation has aggressively marketed the movie even after the movie flopped at the box office. The Karan Johar-produced movie has been rejected by the viewers and has also been declared a massive flop.

After ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ and ‘legendary sniper Wali’, lady sniper ‘Charcoal’ becomes the latest mythical hero for Ukraine

OpIndia Staff
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After ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ and ‘legendary sniper Wali’, lady sniper ‘Charcoal’ becomes the latest mythical hero for Ukraine

After the “Ghost of Kyiv“, the Snake Island resistance, and “Wali – the greatest sniper”, the latest myth to take the internet by storm from Ukraine is “Charcoal”. A lady sniper who has emerged as the legend keeping Russian forces at bay.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Army posted a series of images of a female sniper, “Charcoal“, seen in camouflage, covering her face with a green mask. In these images, Charcoal was seen carrying a sniper rifle.

According to the New York Post report, Charcoal joined the US Marines in 2017, hoping to impress her younger brother. The Ukrainian forces have hailed her a “hero of the modern war.” She is now being compared to the legendary Second World War sharpshooter, nicknamed “Lady Death”.

The reports also claimed that the lady sniper has fought in Ukraine’s east region against Russia-supporting separatists and served until the end of her contract in January this year. Later, she returned to fight the Russians after they launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24.

“These are not people. The Nazis were not as vile as these orcs. We must take them all out!” a report by the Independent quoted her as saying.

However, no other information on Charcoal is available in the public domain. The Ukrainian army has refused to divulge any information regarding her combat successes.

Is the “Charcoal” story another myth propagated by the pro-Ukrainian media?

With this, Charcoal has become the latest sensation in this theater of war, similar to reports of a mysterious fighter ace destroying Russian fighter jets in the early days of the war. They had claimed that the “Ghost of Kyiv”, a MiG-29 pilot, had downed two Su-35s, one Su-27, one MiG-29, and two Su-25s of the Russian Airforce.

Well, it did not end with the mysterious ghost of Kyiv. Weeks later, another name popped up on social media platforms, an elite Canadian sniper, nicknamed “Wali” became the talking point as pro-Ukraine social media users described him as the world’s greatest sniper. The rumors were that “Wali” has arrived in Ukraine to fight the Russians as a volunteer fighter.

The rumors were that Wali is one of the world’s best snipers. A veteran of the Royal Canadian 22nd Regiment, Wali had arrived in war-torn Ukraine earlier this month to fight the Russian forces, the reports had claimed.

Wali’s story was nothing short of a fairy tale. He was sold as one of the best snipers in the world as he provided 40 kills on a productive day. The pro-Ukraine social media accounts had also claimed that Wali had served twice in the Afghanistan war between 2009 and 2011.

However, there was no solid evidence to prove the existence of either “Ghost of Kyiv” or “Wali”. Very similar to Snake Island heroes who actually surrendered

The story of “Charcoal” could also be another fairy tale peddled by the NATO-backed media to feed false information to the people of Ukraine to prop up their confidence in the face of the Russian invasion.

The orchestrated campaign of spreading misinformation aims to influence public opinion at large, especially in the west. However, so far, the disinformation blitzkrieg on social media has not helped Ukraine, as nothing has changed on the ground in favor of Ukraine.

Media reports claim Bareilly man Kamran thrashed for equating Modi and Yogi to Lord Ram and Krishna, Uttar Pradesh police say they are checking the veracity of the claims

OpIndia Staff
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Media reports claim Bareilly man Kamran thrashed for equating Modi and Yogi to Lord Ram and Krishna, Uttar Pradesh police say they are checking the veracity of the claims

On Thursday, April 7, many mainstream media houses reported that a man named Kamran was thrashed by a mob in the Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh for praising PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Soon after the news was reported by media outlets, social media users began widely sharing it on the microblogging site Twitter.

A report by Live Hindustan said that Kamran equated PM Modi to Lord Ram and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to Lord Krishna. Reportedly Kamran had also praised the Central and the state government’s announced schemes. This infuriated members of the locality, who then, in their fit of rage, brutally assaulted him, leaving him critically injured. 

Kamran, who suffered serious head injuries in the incident was rushed to the district hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

On the same development, a News18 Hindi report stated that Kamran had told the media that he had confessed before the mob that he had voted for the BJP in the last concluded Assembly elections. He had further told them that PM Modi was an embodiment of Lord Ram. He also praised PM Modi’s approach to leadership and the roles he took on as a leader. Kamran went on to say that he saw CM Yogi as Lord Krishna, who takes care of his people’s most basic needs, such as food and healthcare.

News18 Hindi further quoted Kamran as stating that he was assaulted two days earlier also, but this attack was a more lethal one. He has urged BJP workers to support him as he supports them.

The report further mentioned that the police have begun an investigation based on Kamran’s complaint by filing an FIR against five people. According to Inspector Neeraj Malik of the Baradari police station, Kamran’s nephew along with his aides thrashed him and a formal complaint has been filed against the 5 suspects.

Hindi Asianet News quoted Kamran as saying that some religious fundamentalists took offence to his statements praising the BJP government in the state and the centre and attacked him.

After the incident was widely reported, the Bareilly police issued a statement and a video byte on its official Twitter account. While it confirmed that Kamran was assaulted, it did not confirm the media claims that he was assaulted for praising PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath. The police said that they are checking the veracity of the claims made by various media outlets.

The police confirmed that based on Kamran’s complaint, an FIR under IPC sections 323 and 506 has been filed against his three relatives. The police confirmed that Kamran had said in his complaint that his relatives had beaten him up in the middle of the road and even threatened to kill him.

The police further added some additional information has been shared on electronic and social media regarding the case. The media has quoted the victim as saying some things which he did not mention in the complaint filed by him at Baradari Police station.

The Bareilly police added that they are attempting to contact the victim and that they will conduct a prompt and impartial investigation of the case only after verifying the veracity of the additional information provided by media outlets.

In a similar case that happened recently, many media houses had extensively reported how a man named was beaten up by his neighbours for putting up a BJP flag in his neighbourhood. They further added that Shakeel had alleged that his neighbours threatened him with gouging his eyes out and slitting his neck. Some media organisations even linked this entire matter to the incident of Babar Ali of Kushinagar.

Then too Kanpur Police swung into action to get to the bottom of the truth. In a video released by the police, Shakeel’s neighbour, Rajendra Singh, debunked the false claims that were being bandied around on social media platforms and by various news organisations.

Ex-Amnesty India head Aakar Patel roots for American interference after Ilhan Omar repeats her Anti-Modi rhetoric again

OpIndia Staff
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Ex-Amnesty India head Aakar Patel roots for American interference after Ilhan Omar repeats her Anti-Modi rhetoric again

On Wednesday, the US representative for the state of Minnesota, Ilhan Omar delivered yet another propaganda speech targeted at India and PM Narendra Modi in the House of Representatives. In her typical Islamist rhetoric, Omar claimed that the human rights of people, especially those of Muslims have been trampled upon in India when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.

“How are we promoting a free and open (Indo-Pacific) region by supporting Modi? Why has the Biden administration been so reluctant to criticise Modi’s government on Human rights?” Omar asked in the House. She was seen suggesting that the US’ Cold War foreign policy of supporting dictators in the name of having a common enemy was indirectly equivalent to US’ support for India with Modi at the helm today.

Omar then went on to ask, “How much does the Modi government have to criminalise the act of being Muslim in India for us to say something? What would it take for us to outwardly criticise the actions that the Modi administration is taking against its Muslim minorities in India? Because if we remain silent and the situation gets out of control – in the way that it did with the Rohingyas, we all of a sudden show our interest in the genocide that’s taking place.” Omar suggested that America now has an opportunity to lead and make sure that there is “action” against the Modi Government’s policy concerning Muslims.

To Omar’s accusations, US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman stated that it is important for America to talk to countries with which it has multiple interests. “(We do so) by meeting with the civil society that supports our human riots concerns, that we support NGOs and the freedom of journalists. When I visited India last time, I met with the LGBTQIA+ community, and I have to tell you, five years ago, no such thing would exist and it is partly because of the advocacy of NGOs and civil society and our affirmation of them that people have more freedom than they once had,” Sherman stated.

As soon as the ex-Amnesty India head Aakar Patel heard about NGOs being discussed in the US House, he grabbed an opportunity to thank Ilhan Omar for her calls for intervention in the internal matters of India.

Omar who is known for peddling the Islamist narratives often directed against the Narendra Modi dispensation was seeking Biden Administration’s official help in her propaganda war. Aakar Patel replied to her in a tweet, “Thank you, Rep. Omar. Please continue to raise issues relating to human rights and civil liberties in India.”

On Wednesday, Patel was stopped by Immigration officers at Bengaluru Airport after CBI officers launched a Look Out Notice against him. Patel was supposedly travelling to the US to deliver lectures on American University campuses. The notice against Patel was concerned with a CBI case against Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) and Amnesty International South Asia Foundation for violating FCRA (Foreign Currency Regulation Act) provisions in the name of running a ‘non-profit’ organisation in India. However, a Delhi court today ordered CBI to withdraw the Look Out Notice against Patel, and allowed him to travel abroad.

Who is Ilhan Omar?

A representative of Minnesota, Ilhan Omar is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party who has often toed a radical Islamist line in American politics. She has been unequivocally taking up the issue of Kashmir in the US House of representatives with a pro-Jihad stand calling US agencies to intervene in the issue. A known anti-semite in the US, Omar has often targtetted the Narendra Modi dispensation and the BJP of trampling human rights, freedom of sppech in India – especially when it comes to the Muslims residing in the country. In a US House Foreign Affair’s Committee Hearing on South Asia Human Rights, Omar attacked Journalist Aarti Tikoo who was representing the Indian panel on behalf of the Kashmiri Pandits engaging in their genocide denial.

Arvind Kejriwal claims Bhagwant Mann was demanding Punjab’s own money while seeking central aide, this is why he is playing a dangerous game

Raju Das
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Arvind Kejriwal claims Bhagwant Mann was demanding Punjab’s own money while seeking central aide, this is why he is playing a dangerous game

Aam Aadmi Party, which won an impressive victory in recent Punjab assembly elections, has been supporting separatist elements in Punjab and Kashmir. The party has been openly colliding with Khalistani separatist groups, which have been revealed even by former party leaders, and have been supporting Kashmiri terrorists, which was evident when Arvind Kejriwal had mocked the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus. In yet another such incident, AAP supremo gave hints of his separatist intentions, by implying that the states in India are different from the India as a nation.

Arvind Keriwal made a potentially secessionist remark on NDTV India, where the anchor had questioned the party for seeking aides from centre for Punjab after announcing freebies before the elections. It may be noted that before the Punjab elections, Arvind Kejriwal had claimed the freebies announced by the party will be funded by saving ₹54,000 crore from ‘wastage’ of public money through corruption. However, immediately after becoming the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann had demanded ₹1 lakh crore from the centre in the next two years.

When the NDTV anchor questioned Kejriwal about it, he bluntly replied that Mann had gone to demand their own money. He said that money belonging to people from various states are ‘lying’ with the central govt, and they are just asking the centre to give the money of people of Punjab.

Kejriwal claimed that Punjab CM went to the centre to say, ‘Give us the money of Punjab, we have to work’. He shamelessly ignored that he had promised to save ₹54,000 crore just by eliminating corruption like he has ‘done in Delhi’, even after claiming that Bhagwant Mann has already ended corruption in 10 days.

Kejriwal’s comments that money belonging to states are lying with the centre again raises questions on his understanding of economics despite being a CM and a former revenue official. Time and again, he tries to create a divide between the centre and the states, implying that the states are sovereign entities separate from the government of India.

The fact is, the central govt is not some foreign bank that states have deposited their money, and can withdraw ‘their money’ at will. Despite Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims that India is just a union of state, the Indian constitution makes it clear that India is a nation, and the states form this nation.

In the GST regime, states collect State GST while the centre collects central GST, both of which are the 50% of the GST applicable on a taxable item. Which means, states already collect 50% tax on most goods and services on their own. Apart from this, a share of central GST is also distributed among the states, along with other taxes like Income tax and Corporate Tax. Central govt also compensate the states for any shortfall due to moving from VAT to GST regime.

State CMs don’t have to go to the centre to ask for their share of revenue, the same is already allocated by the centre on the basis of recommendation of the Finance Commission. For example, in the union budget 2022-23, Punjab has been allocated ₹14,756.86 crore from various taxes collected by the central govt.

Most importantly, Bhagwant Mann was not demanding Punjab’s share in revenue from centre as Kejriwal claims, the CM was demanding additional ₹50,000 crore per year for two years claiming that the state’s economy is in very bad position. But Arvind Kejriwal termed it as Punjab demanding its own money from centre, which is completely false.

Moreover, no state can say that it wants 100% of its share in taxes, because all the taxes that centre collects come from states only, and the centre also has its own budget to fund. As the Govt of India does not have a separate territory and separate taxpayer base as Kejriwal seems to be suggesting, it can’t distribute all the revenue among states in cash form. Just like states get the benefit of various central govt schemes and the services of central departments, they also have to contribute to the central fund.

There are several sectors where the central govt spends money, all of which ultimately benefit the citizens living in the states only. The central govt has huge departments to run like defence, internal security, infrastructure development etc. Central govt also spends large amounts of money on various central welfare schemes and several subsidy programs, which benefit the citizens.

If the centre is building roads and railway lines, running welfare schemes for farmers and the poor, those are benefiting the people of respective states only, the centre does not have separate citizens to cater to.

It is not that the central govt is hoarding state’s money as Kejriwal is claiming, the money is being distributed among states and various central departments and schemes, which are detailed in the budget, on the basis of recommendations of various committees, the finance commission etc. The departmental parliamentary committee goes through all these details, none which are done in secretly. Therefore, with MPs in both houses of the parliament and with two state governments, the AAP chief knows all these details.

But still, Arvind Kejriwal continues to fuel centre-state divide by making baseless claims, by which he is playing a dangerous game of dividing the country. India has been battling separatism for decades in Punjab, in Kashmir, and in North Eastern state. The country has also been facing regionalism from several states, all of which ultimately harm the nation as a whole.

As a CM and the chief of party ruling two states, Arvind Kejriwal should be fighting separatism and regionalism, but he is fuelling them instead.

By demanding money from centre, Arvind Kejriwal has proved that his tall claims of funding his populist schemes by curtailing corruption were just tall claims, and now he and his party is actively preparing ground for blaming the Modi govt at centre to failure of fulfilment of their election promises.

It seems non-NDA parties have decided that weakening the nation by creating internal divisions is the best way to defeat BJP in polls, because Arvind Kejriwal is not the only one to adopt this strategy. Rahul Gandhi has started to challenging the idea of India in recent times, claiming that India is just a “union of states” and not a nation.

The Congress leader had said that the power arrangement between the states and the centre is of a “negotiation” and insinuated that India did not have a single national identity. By claiming that centre is hoarding money belonging to states, Arvind Kejriwal is also basically making the same allegations.

Other non-NDA state governments like West Bengal and Maharashtra governments have also chosen to fight with the centre on almost every aspect of governance instead of collaborating together for development and welfare of people. By doing this, major political parties in the county ruling some major states are actively supporting anti-nationalism and separatism in the country, which is a very dangerous sign.

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