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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Complaint against the professor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unconditional apology from the professor

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

The professor furnished an unconditional apology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sabnam plays the victim card and threatens to commit suicide

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

Screenshot of Sabnam’s Insta story.

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

CBI takes former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh into its custody on charges of corruption

OpIndia Staff
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CBI takes former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh into its custody on charges of corruption

On Wednesday, 6th April 2022, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took Anil Deshmukh into its custody from Arthur road jail in Mumbai in connection with a corruption case.

CBI had sought permission from a special CBI court to arrest Anil Deshmukh. The court had allowed the central agency to take Anil Deshmukh into its custody. Anil Deshmukh moved the high court challenging the order of the special CBI court. A single-judge bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere recused herself from hearing his plea. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court had ordered the superintendent of Arthur road jail in Mumbai to hand over Anil Deshmukh’s custody to the CBI. Anil Deshmukh had also challenged this order.

Last week, the special CBI court at the Mumbai sessions court had allowed the probe agency to take custody of Sachin Vaze, Sanjeev Palande, Kundan Shinde, and Anil Deshmukh in connection with the extortion case in which these four are accused of grossing a sum of Rs 100 crore per month. Accordingly, two assistants of Deshmukh – Palande, and Shinde – along with Sachin Vaze, were arrested by the CBI on Monday 4th April 2022. The three were produced before a special CBI court in Mumbai after their arrest and the court granted CBI to take the three accused into custody for seven days.

But the main accused in the case, Anil Deshmukh, was suddenly rushed to JJ Hospital after his health reportedly deteriorated. Deshmukh was discharged on 5th April 2022, following which he knocked on the doors of the high court to avoid his arrest by CBI. However, the premier investigative agency arrested the former Maharashtra Home Minister on Wednesday.

Deshmukh was booked under Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The ED had initiated a probe under money laundering charges against Anil Deshmukh who was in trouble due to a letter written by former Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh to the chief minister. Last year, the ED registered had a case against Deshmukh and arrested Deshmukh after 12 hours of interrogation. Since then he has been in Arthur road jail. On 29th December 29, 2021, the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against Deshmukh and the other accused in a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Deshmukh has filed a plea for bail in the HC after the Mumbai sessions court rejected his bail application. It is scheduled to be heard next week.

Veteran singer Anuradha Paudwal seeks ban on loudspeakers Azaan, says even Muslim countries have banned it

OpIndia Staff
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Veteran singer Anuradha Paudwal seeks ban on loudspeakers Azaan, says even Muslim countries have banned it

On April 5, veteran singer Anuradha Paudwal expressed her views on the issue of playing Azaan on loudspeakers during an interview with Zee News. She said though she was not against any religion, things are unnecessarily exaggerated and promoted in India. She was referring to the practice of playing Azaan on loudspeakers in Mosques across the country. She added while travelling across the world, including Muslim nations, she noticed playing Azaan on loudspeakers is banned.

She said, “I have visited many places in the world. I have not seen anything like this happening except in India. I am not against any religion, but it is being forcibly encouraged here. They play Azaan on loudspeakers from Mosque. Other communities question if they can use loudspeakers why cannot others do the same.”

She further added, “I have travelled to Middle Eastern countries. There is a ban on loudspeakers. When Muslim countries are discouraging it, what is the need for such practices in India?” Paudwal said if the practice continues, people will start playing Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers. “It will lead to disharmony, which is not good,” she said.

Teach the young generation about Indian culture

Speaking on Navratri and Ramnavmi, the singer said that the young generation should be aware of the Indian culture. It is the responsibility of the older generation to teach children about the culture of the country. They should know that Adi Shankaracharya is our religious leader. She pointed out how Christians know about Pope as their religious leader. “This is why we should know about our religion and culture. We should know about four Vedas, 18 Puranas and four Mathas that we have. These are the basics that we must know,” she said.

Sonu Nigam has raised the issue before

In 2017, popular singer Sonu Nigam had also raised the issue. In a now-deleted tweet, he had expressed his displeasure about the Azaan happening on loudspeaker every morning. In retaliation, he had to face abuses on social media platforms. The courts have on several occasions directed the authorities to remove loudspeakers from places of worship, but no concrete action has been taken.

Recently, an MNS leader was arrested by Mumbai Police for playing Hanuman Chalisa on a loudspeaker without permission. Following his arrest, Mahendra Bhanushali said that the Mumbai police took away his speaker. “But I’d like to say, in the coming times, ‘Jai Shree Ram’ will be played on loudspeakers,” he said.

Delhi Court seeks reply of CBI on former Amnesty India head Aakar Patel’s plea against Look Out circular

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Court seeks reply of CBI on former Amnesty India head Aakar Patel’s plea against Look Out circular

On Wednesday, the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court sought the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the plea moved by Aakar Patel, former chief of Amnesty International India. Chief Metropolitan Pawan Kumar issued notice on Patel’s application and sought a response from CBI for removal and withdrawal of the Look Out Circular against Patel and seeking permission to travel to the US till May 30 to take up his assignments and lecture series.

Patel on April 6 was stopped at Bengaluru airport from boarding a flight to the USA. He took to Twitter to inform us that the CBI had put him on the exit control list because of the case against Amnesty International India regarding the FCRA violations. “Stopped from leaving India at Bangalore airport. I am on the exit control list. Got passport back through court order specifically for this trip to the US”, he tweeted this morning.

In February this year, the Enforcement Directorate had attached movable properties of Amnesty India worth Rs 17.66 crore in a money laundering case. During the investigations, ED had found that after the cancellation of the FCRA license by the Indian government, Amnesty International India Foundation Trust and Amnesty entities had adopted ‘new methods’ to receive money from abroad.

Earlier in November 2019, the CBI officers had raided Amnesty India offices in New Delhi and Bengaluru where it had come to the fore that the organization had allegedly violated the FCRA (Foreign Currency Regulation Act) provisions.

It was reported that activities carried out by Amnesty India were not commensurate with activities of a for-profit company. These activities by Amnesty India were allegedly either prohibited or were regulated under the FCRA. The CBI had said that Amnesty International (UK) invested approximately 10 crores as a fixed deposit (FD) in Amnesty India Private Limited, Bengaluru, by subscribing to the debt instruments, and debentures.

CBI had registered an FIR against Amnesty International India Foundation Trust and Amnesty International South Asia Foundation under sections of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the Indian Penal Code (120-B which denotes criminal conspiracy). Based on CBI’s FIR, ED had also registered a money laundering case against the NGO. The matter will now be heard tomorrow at 10 am on Thursday.

Telangana: AIMIM Corporator Ghousuddin Mohammed booked for threatening and abusing cops on duty, had said police can’t enter the locality during Ramzan

OpIndia Staff
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Telangana: AIMIM Corporator Ghousuddin Mohammed booked for threatening and abusing cops on duty, had said police can’t enter the locality during Ramzan

The Hyderabad police have registered a case against AIMIM leader and Bholakpur corporator Ghouseuddin Mohammed for abusing and threatening cops in the city for asking a shop owner to close down an eatery that was operating beyond permissible hours. The cops were asking the Muslim shopkeepers in Bholakpur to shut their shops after 12 AM, to which Ghousuddin objected. He claimed that shops are allowed to remain open in Old City, therefore it is should be allowed in Bholakpur too.

A video had gone viral on the internet, which shows AIMIM corporator Mohammed Ghousuddin threatening two police personnel on duty and abusing them in vile language after they asked one of the shop owners to shut down his shop. The incident occurred in the city’s Bholakpur area around 2:15 am on Tuesday.

Two constables from Musheerabad Police Station, who was on night patrol, tried to close down eateries operating beyond the time limit. The angry shopkeepers informed AIMIM corporator Mohammed Ghousuddin, who reached the spot and started abusing the cops.

“This is Ramzan month, this is our area. We (Muslims) will not tolerate this. Why did you come to this area? Had we not warned you not to enter this locality for the next one month,” Mohammed Ghousuddin was seen shouting at the cops.

The AIMIM leader called one of the constables “sau rupaye ka aadmi” (you are a man worth Rs.100) while the other policeman tried to explain that he was just following orders.

BJP MLA T Raja Singh took to Twitter to condemn the arrogance of the AIMIM leader. In his tweet, Raja Singh said, “A clear warning to Hyderabad city police not to enter his area for the next 30 days & abusing the officers on duty. Too much freedom leads to this. The video is from the Musheerabad area of Hyderabad city”.

He also asked the Hyderabad Police whether they could expect some action against such people. The incident has sparked massive outrage on social media, with netizens questioning the arrogance of the AIMIM leader to abuse and threaten cops.

Initially the police didn’t register a case, as reportedly the AIMIM leader had apologised over the incident. But later they filed a case after the video of the incident went viral on social media. Minister KT Rama Rao had also asked the police to “take stern action against the individuals who obstructed police officers on duty” in a tweet earlier today. He had added, “No such nonsense should be tolerated in Telangana irrespective of political affiliations”.

Following the outrage over the incident, Hyderabad Police booked Mohammed Ghousuddin under sections 353 (obstructing a public servant from discharging duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the incident.

Pakistan political crisis: Imran Khan’s aide Fawad Chaudhry loses cool amid presser, calls reporter ‘Kiraye ke log’

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan political crisis: Imran Khan’s aide Fawad Chaudhry loses cool amid presser, calls reporter ‘Kiraye ke log’

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in the neighbouring country of Pakistan, former Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday indulged in a verbal fight with a journalist. The incident took place when PTI leader and former Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar was holding a press conference outside the Supreme Court.

Imran Khan’s close aide Chaudhry lost his cool as one of the journalists named Matiullah Jan asked the question about Farah Khan who is a close friend of Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and has serious allegations of corruption levelled against her. She is accused of accepting bribes from officers for facilitating their transfers to postings of their choice. Fawad initially directed the journalist to ask the questions after the press briefing. “Let me talk. We’ll take questions and answers later”, he said arrogantly.

Jan however kept on asking questions about Farah Khan amid the press briefing and said that Chaudhry was making attempts to avoid the questions. “What do you have to say now that it has been established that there was no conspiracy? Why are you running away from the question”, he asked. Fawad then responded harshly saying that people like Matiullah Jan had taken money from someone to ask such questions. He blatantly called Jan ‘kiray ke log (people for hire)’, the video of which went viral over social media.

The situation intensified as the other journalists protested against Chaudhry’s comment and demanded an apology for calling the journalist a mule for hire. While Fawad denied apologizing, the journalists in Pakistan have called for a boycott and have decided not to attend any of the press briefs by PTI.

It is important to note that the National Assembly of Pakistan was dissolved by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament on Sunday, who also dismissed the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. The Opposition claimed that no constitutional authority rested with the Deputy Speaker to throw out the no-confidence vote and that it was just a move by Imran Khan to retain power.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, headed by Justice Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, is hearing the arguments from Khan’s lawyers and the Opposition since Monday.

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