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California: Parents blast teachers for carrying out clandestine coaching of their 12-year-old daughter into trans identity

OpIndia Staff
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California: Parents blast teachers for carrying out clandestine coaching of their 12-year-old daughter into trans identity

Angry parents vented their spleen during a California school board meeting where they alleged teachers in a district tried to clandestinely coach students into believing they are transgender. The parents alleged that teachers went behind their back to coax impressionable children into adopting transgender identity.

A video of the same has now gone viral on the internet, in which Jessica Konen, mother of a 12-year-old girl, alleged that school staff indoctrinated her daughter in an LGBTQ club disguised as an ‘Equality Club’.

As per Konen, one of the teachers at the California school had invited her daughter to join in on a lunch-hour “Equality Club” where they persuaded her to believe that she was transgender. In the video, Konen calls out two Buena Vista Middle School teachers who she says coached her daughter into creating a secret trans identity, complete with a boy’s name, behind her back.

Konen, in his fiery outburst, hauled the teachers over the cause, saying she was completely kept in the dark about her child’s alleged trans identity and accused teachers of germinating doubts and confusion in her daughter’s minds with respect to gender, excoriating them, “Your job was to educate my child in Math, Science, English etc. Do your job and let me do mine.”

The child’s father, Gunter Konen, also flayed the teachers and the school principal during the board meeting.

Child Protective Services(CPS) sent to Konen’s house after she refused to accept her daughter’s alleged trans identity

As per a report published in The Epoch Time, Jessica Konen was summoned by school officials to a meeting where she was told about her daughter’s newfound “gender-fluid” identity. After her emotional outburst during the meeting, Konen was asked to address her daughter by a male name and was accused of not being “emotionally supportive” of her daughter when she refused to accept her alleged trans identity and lambasted the school for initiating children into LGBTQ fold behind their parents’ back. A few days later, Child Protective Services(CPS) showed up at her home, Konen said.

The incident comes hot on the heels of a stark admission during a California Teachers Association Meeting in late October where they admitted to using “Equality Club” as a pretext to enlist students into a pro-LGBTQ group known as the “Gay-Straight Alliance” (GSA) and fool conservative parents with the charade.

Teachers at California Teachers Association admitted to using “Equality Club” as cover to operate pro-LGBTQ groups

In the CTA that was held on October 29 and 30, teachers were reportedly “showing others how to undercut the authority of parents and school administrators and hide activities related to gender inclusion and sexual orientation from them,” according to The Epoch Times.

Besides, the conference also included a workshop conducted by two Buena Vista Middle School teachers regarding how they operated a GSA in conservative communities. In the workshop, they explained measures undertaken by them to circumvent impediments posed by conservative parents and keep students’ participation in LGBTQ clubs under wraps.

The teachers had then also admitted to keeping a tab on students’ internet search histories and online activities, along with eavesdropping on the conversation to find potential LGBTQ recruits.

Following the explosive admission, Spreckels School District was forced to issue a statement last month announcing it would suspend the club’s activities as well as chastise the teachers if deemed appropriate.

Decision to increase marriageable age of girls to 21 against Muslim Personal Law: IUML moves motion in Parliament

OpIndia Staff
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Decision to increase marriageable age of girls to 21 against Muslim Personal Law: IUML moves motion in Parliament

On Friday (December 17), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) submitted an adjournment notice in the parliament after the Union Cabinet gave a nod to increasing the minimum marriageable age of women from 18 years to 21 years.

Mathrubhumi reported that IUML had dubbed the move as an attempt to bring about Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country. The Islamist party also claimed that it would affect society in the future. The Indian Union Muslim League leaders also stated that the move to increase women’s legal marriageable age to 21 years was against the Muslim personal law.

The adjournment motion was moved by IUML MPs Abdul Wahab, ET Muhammad Basheer and Abdussamad Samadani. They informed that a future course of action will be taken after consulting parties with similar ideologies.

While speaking about the matter, Basheer remarked, “IUML opposes the government’s move which aims to unify the legal age of marriage. Muslim personal law clearly describes marriage, divorce and the right to property. All these matters belong to our faith. The central government is trying to intrude into our constitutional rights.”

Union Cabinet raises minimum marriageable age of women, personal laws to be amdended

On December 15, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to raise the legal age of marriage of women from 18 years to 21 years. During the Independence Day address in August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the same and said the Government was planning to amend the law for the same. He again pointed out the same in an address to the people of the nation in October 2020 and said the government would soon take a decision over it. Once the law is amended, the legal marriageable age for both men and women would become the same, i.e. 21 years.

The speculation was that the Muslim personal law would give the community the right to marry their girls at 15, and Hindus would follow the law, thereby affecting the fertility rate and affecting the demographic equations further. OpIndia reached out to sources in the know to get clarity on the issue. Government sources have clarified that all personal laws would also be amended to increase the marital age of women to 21.

North Korea: Kim Jong Un bans laughing, drinking, shopping for 11 days on death anniversary of his father Kim Jong Il, people not looking sad to be punished

OpIndia Staff
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North Korea: Kim Jong Un bans laughing, drinking, shopping for 11 days on death anniversary of his father Kim Jong Il, people not looking sad to be punished

Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea has imposed a ban on laughing, drinking, grocery shopping, and any kind of activity showing signs of happiness in the country.

The 11 days restrictions come into force from December 17 to mark the 10th death anniversary of his father and former ruler Kim Jong Il who had ruled the country from 1994 to December 17, 2011.

Kim Jong Il had succeeded his father, national founder Kim Il Sung, after he died in 1994. And Kim Jong Un succeeded his father after he died in 2011 following a heart attack at the age of 69.

Needless to mention that anybody found violating the order of this despotic and equally whimsical communist ruler, will be severely punished.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoting a source from the southwestern province of South Hwanghae has claimed that police have been instructed to keep a tab on those who do not look sufficiently upset.

A file picture of people of North Korea mourning death of their leader. Image source AP

Referring to sources, RFA reported that the sense of collective mourning across North Korea must reflect from the first day of December. Police have been put on a month-long special duty to crack down on those who harm the mood of collective mourning.

People not mourning are treated as ideological criminals. In the past, many people who were caught drinking, celebrating or not looking sufficiently upset were taken away by police and never seen again.

According to the resident, all leisure activities stand suspended till the mourning period is over during which people are not even allowed for grocery shopping.

Residents said that restrictions are so stringent that “even if your family member dies during the mourning period, you are not allowed to cry out loud and the body must be taken out after it’s over. People cannot even celebrate their own birthdays if they fall within the mourning period,” RFA quoted.

North Koreans have also been asked to take care of people who are hungry, impoverished, and homeless. Besides, companies have been ordered to collect food for residents and employees who cannot come to work due to food shortages.

Hit hard by coronavirus pandemic and economic sanctions, North Korea is also facing acute food shortages. Notably, the regime of Kim Jong Il is treated as the darkest period in North Korea’s history. The nation was hit by famine from 1994-1998 resulting in the death of around 3.5 million citizens due to disease and starvation. The period is now referred to by North Koreans as the Arduous March.

Kim Jong Un forces citizens to mourn for his father and grandfather

Periods of mourning are held every year for both leaders. The mourning period of Kim Il Sung lasts only a week whereas mourning is observed for 10 days for Kim Jong Il. Since this year his death has completed a decade hence an additional one day has been added.

Every year since his father’s death, Kim pays respects at his memorial. During the mourning period art exhibitions, a remembrance concert and an exhibit of the Kimjongilia flower, named after the departed leader will be held.

‘Let him suffer!’: CJI quashes appeal by journalist sentenced to 1 month in prison for a defamatory article against lawyers

OpIndia Staff
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‘Let him suffer!’: CJI quashes appeal by journalist sentenced to 1 month in prison for a defamatory article against lawyers

The Chief Justice of India(CJI) N V Ramana on Friday rejected an appeal filed by a journalist who was sentenced to 1 month in prison for a defamatory article against lawyers.

The CJI affirmed the sentence of 1 month of jail term to a journalist, raising questions over the kind of journalism practised and asserting that the jail sentence is quite mild.

While quashing his petition, CJI said, “Let him suffer! What kind of journalism is this? We have to protect lawyers too. One month is very less.”

CJI Ramana laments over the steady decline of investigative journalism in India

Earlier yesterday, the CJI brooded over the state of journalism in India, adding that the concept of investigative journalism is, unfortunately, vanishing from the media canvas.

“In the past, we have witnessed newspaper reports on scandals and misconduct creating waves, leading to serious consequences. (But) barring one or two, I don’t recall any story of such magnitude in recent years. Everything in our garden appears to be rosy. I leave it to you to arrive at your own conclusions,” the CJI said at the launch of the book “Blood Sanders: The Great Forest Heist”, by Sudhakar Reddy Udumula.

Setback to West Bengal govt: Supreme Court stays Pegasus inquiry by state govt appointed commission

OpIndia Staff
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Setback to West Bengal govt: Supreme Court stays Pegasus inquiry by state govt appointed commission

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the enquiry into the Pegasus case by a judicial constituted by the West Bengal government. A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India expressed unhappiness that the commission constituted by the state govt started working even after the Supreme Court has constituted an independent committee to probe the matter. Moreover, the West Bengal government had assured the Supreme Court that the Inquiry Commission will not proceed with the probe until the apex court hears several petitions filed in the case.

The Supreme Court was hearing an urgent petition filed by NGO Global Village Foundation Charitable Trust, challenging the proceedings of the two-member Judicial Enquiry Commission led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur. The SC asked West Bengal govt’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi what happened to the assurance given by the state govt.

“Mr Singhvi, what is this? Last time you gave the undertaking. We wanted to record you said don’t record. Again you started the inquiry?”, CJI N. V. Ramana asked Singhvi. However, Singhvi replied that the state govt can’t control the commission.

“I said I don’t control the Commission and I’ll convey the constraint. I did. The commission started. Please call their counsel and pass orders. As a State, I can’t restrain the Commission”, he told the court.

The Supreme Court said that it understands the predicament, and ordered a stay on the proceedings of the commission. The court also issued notices to all the parties.

The petitioner NGO was represented by Senior Advocate Harish Salve. The petition was filed on Thursday seeking urgent intervention saying that the West Bengal govt appointed commission is going ahead with the probe after the Supreme Court constituted an independent expert committee to examine the Pegasus allegations, and after the state govt had assured that the committee will not function when the apex court is dealing with the matter.

In August, the West Bengal government had submitted an undertaking with the SC that the commission will not go ahead with the inquiry till the court hears the bunch of pleas on the issue. The state govt had assured this after the apex court had asked them to maintain restrain as the court was already hearing the allegations into the use of Pegasus software.

The court had said that issue is connected with several other issues, and they likely have pan Indian impact, therefore the state govt should wait before the court hears the matter first. The court had not passed on order staying the commission as the state govt had assured that the commission will not start working.

But despite the assurance, the commission started the probe, forcing the Supreme Court to stay its functioning.

‘Dangal’ actor Fatima Sana Shaikh to play Indira Gandhi in upcoming movie ‘Sam Bahadur’, had denied relationship rumours with Aamir Khan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Dangal’ actor Fatima Sana Shaikh to play Indira Gandhi in upcoming movie ‘Sam Bahadur’, had denied relationship rumours with Aamir Khan

Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, who started her career with Aamir Khan’s Dangal is all set to essay the role of the first female Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi in Vicky Kaushal led ‘Sam Bahadur’, the biopic of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

Vicky Kaushal shared the update about the film on Instagram on director Meghna Gulzar’s birthday. He wrote: “It’s a very special day for us as we celebrate our director @meghnagulzar’s birthday and welcome the leading ladies @sanyamalhotra_ as Silloo Manekshaw and @fatimasanashaikh as Smt. Indira Gandhi to the Sam Bahadur family!” Sanya even commented to the post, “Can’t wait.”

Besides, the movie will also feature Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Dangal co-star Sanya Malhotra who would be portraying the role of Silloo Manekshaw, wife of the former CAOS who led India’s heroic triumph in the 1971 India-Pakistan war that liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan.

Director Meghna Gulzar said the team is excited to have Sanya and Fatima on board. “There is pride in the commemoration of 50 years of the historic win of our forces in the 1971 War. And it’s very exciting to have Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh join the team of Sam Bahadur. Both their roles in the film require a great deal of sensitivity, dignity and composure and I’m looking forward to the ladies bringing these characters to life,” the director said in a statement.

Indira Gandhi’s character had previously been portrayed by actresses such as Lara Dutta, Suchitra Sen, and Supriya Vinod, among others, in a number of Bollywood films.

“A woman who defines courage, power and dignity! It’s with great pride that I am joining the team of #Samबहादुर to depict the role of India’s first female Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi!”, the actress wrote in her Instagram post.

Speaking about the role, Fatima also said: “I’m very happy to join the Sam Bahadur’s family and take on the challenge of essaying the role of one of the most influential and talked about women in Indian history. What intrigued and excited me the most was the passion with which the makers hope to honour his memory and legacy through this film.”

Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aamir Khan relationship rumours go viral

Interestingly, Fatima Sana Shaikh is the same actress who hogged a lot of limelight after the rumours of a romance between her and Aamir Khan started doing the rounds in 2016. The duo was spotted together several times, walking hand in hand.

After the success of the sports drama ‘Dangal’, in which Fatima Sana adorned the role of Aamir Khan’s daughter, the actress signed ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ with Aamir Khan. This led to further speculation that the duo is dating each other.

Recently, when Aamir and Kiran Rao, who have been together for 15 years, announced their divorce, many netizens were quick to connect Fatima Sana Shaikh and Aamir Khan’s old link-up rumours with the announcement and felt that it was the real reason behind the couple’s separation.

It was widely reported then that Kiran Rao was furious after being informed about the rumoured affair between Aamir Khan and Fathima Sana Sheikh. There are also rumours that Fatima was the one who created a wedge between Aamir and his wife, Kiran Rao. 

The news of Aamir Khan’s second divorce led to further speculation that Fatima Sana Shaikh and Aamir Khan will get married post the release of the film Lal Singh Chaddha.

In fact, a publication- Gyan TV, reported that the actor intends to announce his marriage after the release of his and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s film, Laal Singh Chaddha, as he doesn’t want to interfere with the film’s limelight.

The rumours of Aamir planning to announce his wedding grabbed the attention of several netizens, who brutally trolled the actor for marrying his ‘daughter’, as Fatima Sana Shaikh had portrayed the role of Aamir Khan’s daughter in the film Dangal. Netizens invoked Aamir Khan’s Muslim identity to further castigate him for marrying for the third time.

Fatima had then addressed these rumours saying: “Earlier, I used to get affected. I’d feel bad. Because I’ve never dealt with anything of this sort at such a big level. A bunch of strangers, whom I’ve never met, are writing things about me. They don’t even know if there’s any truth to it. People reading it assume that I’m ‘not a good person’. You feel like telling that person, ‘Ask me, I’ll give you an answer’. It disturbs me because I don’t want people to assume wrong things. But I’ve learnt to ignore it. Yet, there are some days when I do get affected.”

Virat Kohli captaincy row: Sourav Ganguly refuses to comment on Kohli’s press conference, says BCCI will deal with it

OpIndia Staff
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Virat Kohli captaincy row: Sourav Ganguly refuses to comment on Kohli’s press conference, says BCCI will deal with it

A day after former India white-ball captain Virat Kohli kicked up a raging storm with his press conference, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly declined to comment on the matter, saying the Board will deal with it.

Kohli, in his press conference ahead of the South Africa tour, had publicly contradicted assertions made by Sourav Ganguly, stating that he was not asked to continue as T20I skipper and was informed about his removal from ODI captaincy only one and half hours before the official announcement.

Kohli’s revelation was in stark contrast to statements made by Sourav Ganguly, who had claimed that he had personally tried to talk Kohli out of quitting the T20I captaincy.

“No statements, no press conference. We will deal with it appropriately, leave it to the BCCI,” Sourav Ganguly said.

Kohli contradicts Ganguly’s statements, says he was not asked to continue as T20I captain

Kohli on Wednesday dropped a bombshell during his press conference when he revealed that he was informed about his removal from ODI captaincy just one and half hours before the decision was taken officially. Addressing a press conference, the former white-ball captain of the Indian cricket team said that he was ready to continue as the one-day captain even after resigning as the T-20 captain, but the BCCI had other ideas. It is notable that BCCI had appointed Rohit Sharma as the one-day captain, saying there is no need for two white-ball captains.

He said that reports about the BCCI’s communication with him ahead of the decision were inaccurate, and he was contacted just before the selection committee meeting for the test team. There was no prior communication from BCCI after he had announced resigning as the T-20 captain. Virat Kohli said that he got a call from BCCI one and half hours before the meeting, and he was informed that all five selectors have decided to remove him from the captaincy of the one-day team. He accepted the decision of the committee, he informed.

Sourav Ganguly backs Rohit Sharma’s appointment, says he had asked Kohli to continue as T20I captain

The controversy erupted after BCCI on December 8 announced Rohit Sharma as the replacement of Virat Kohli to lead the Indian side in white-ball cricket. Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, had then responded to the raging controversy, justifying the Board’s decision to go ahead with Rohit Sharma and providing a rationale for the same. In his exclusive interview with News 18, Sourav Ganguly threw his weight behind Rohit Sharma, stating that the Mumbai Indians captain deserved the full-time role and has also proved his pedigree as a white-ball skipper in the past.

Ganguly cited Rohit’s record and said the batter had led India to an Asia Cup victory without the presence of Kohli in the squad.

In addition to this, Ganguly revealed that he had personally requested Kohli to reconsider his decision of quitting the T20I captaincy and continue leading the side in the shorter format. However, Kohli went ahead with his decision to announce his resignation from the T20 captaincy, which ultimately paved the way for his removal from ODI captaincy.

“It’s like I said… I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up T20I captaincy. Obviously, he felt the workload. Which is fine, he has been a great cricketer, he has been very intense with his cricket. He has captained for a long period of time and these things happen,” Ganguly had said as the controversy surrounding Kohli’s abrupt removal from ODI captaincy started gaining traction.

Ganguly further explained how he did not believe in split white-ball captaincy that led to Kohli’s dismissal as the ODI captain. “Because I have captained for a long period of time; therefore, I know. Also, they wanted only one white-ball captain. And that’s why this decision. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. But as I said, it’s a good team and it has some fantastic players and I hope they will turn it around,” Ganguly said in an interview.

One Shakil Qurashi arrested for celebrating the death of Gen Bipin Rawat, had said Allah gave ‘punishment to oppressor’

OpIndia Staff
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One Shakil Qurashi arrested for celebrating the death of Gen Bipin Rawat, had said Allah gave ‘punishment to oppressor’

Ratlam police, Madhya Pradesh have arrested one Mohammad Shakil Qurashi for celebrating the death of military genius and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.  

The accused has been booked under sections 153 (B) (imputations prejudicial to national integration) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) had made an objectionable comment in a Whatsapp group ‘Mera Bharat Mahan.’

Officer-in-charge of Manak Chowk police station, Dilip Rajoria said that the accused Qurashi has been forwarded to jail whereas the identity of the group admin is being established through his mobile number as the police have also booked the admin of that Whatsapp group.

The accused had posted pictures of the crashed military chopper and celebrated saying “Allah gave due punishment to the oppressor (Rawat)”.

“Mission Kashmir, hero of article 370, General Rawat who had played a role in keeping in confinement men, women, children and sick at their home for six months. Allah jalimon ko behtar saja deta hai,” the accused had posted a forwarded message in the group.

Whatsapp message

The police said that the accused during questioning pretended that he forwarded the message without verifying the content. 

Police lodged the FIR at Manak police station based on a complaint lodged by one Ashish Soni, a resident of Amtalas Colony of Ratlam. The complainant said that one of his friends informed him about an objectionable post in a Whatsapp group who also sent him the screenshot of that objectionable post.

As the news of the insult of General Rawat became viral, a large number of members of Hindu outfits and residents gathered outside of the police station. They demanded the police to book the accused under provisions of the National Security Act.

Usual suspects celebrate death of General Bipin Rawat

After the unfortunate death of General Bipin Rawat, several Islamists, Leftists and anti-Nationals celebrate his demise. General Rawat, his wife Madhulika, and 12 other army personnel lost their lives on December 8 near Ooty in Tamil Nadu after their chopper crashed.

Earlier, Tonk Police in Rajasthan arrested a 21 years old youth Jawwad Khan for making derogatory statements over General Rawat with an intention to promote enmity between communities. Pratapgarh police in Rajasthan arrested Manish Kumar Meena and Jeevanlal Ninama for posting offensive material on the crash to hurt public sentiments.

In Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a shopkeeper Mohammad A Shafi from Rajouri district for circulating a hate post on Facebook that allegedly originated in Pakistan.

Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Srinagar suspended its employee Afreen Hassan Naqash for making derogatory remarks on a social media platform.

Earlier this week, a case was registered in Mangaluru after two Facebook accounts shared controversial posts celebrating the death of the late CDS. Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai issued a stern warning to those commenting disrespectfully of General Rawat.

A man named Firoz Diwan from Gujarat was arrested for abusing General Rawat after his demise. He was using profile photo of NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar on Facebook.

Amreli police in Gujarat arrested Shiva Bhai Ahir, a former deputy sarpanch of Bherai village for an alleged post regarding the crash.

In Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district, a tribal leader of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti, Durgesh Vaskale, was arrested for mocking the death of General Rawat. BJP MLA Ram Dangore had complained against Vaskale.

Political analyst Abdul defends rape joke by Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar, had earlier said Kamlesh Tiwari deserved to be murdered

OpIndia Staff
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Political analyst Abdul defends rape joke by Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar, had earlier said Kamlesh Tiwari deserved to be murdered

Hours after Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar made a rape joke in the Karnataka State Assembly, political analyst Abdul Razack Khan sought to defend the former’s contentious remarks.

During a debate on the ‘Newshour’ programme of Times Now, Abdul was asked whether the Congress party would sack Ramesh Kumar for his rape joke. “Should the Congress party sack Ramesh Kumar,” asked host Navika Kumar. The political analyst went on to defend the Congress MLA. “You are questioning about Ramesh Kumar. Did he say anything wrong? If this was wrong, why did the Speaker not object to it?” Abdul brazened it out.

A miffed Navika Kumar interjected, “Are you saying this is not wrong? If you are raped, then, lie back and enjoy it. You are saying this is not wrong. What is not wrong? Is the statement not wrong or the Assembly not wrong? Is the fact that he is a lawmaker, not wrong? Is the fact that the Speaker is laughing, not wrong?”

“Ramesh Kumar is a 6th time MLA and a former Speaker,” Abdul continued his defence of the Congress MLA. “I am a first-time woman. And I cannot tolerate a lawmaker talking in this kind of language,” Navika Kumar snapped.

‘When rape is inevitable, enjoy it’: Karnataka Congress leader

On Thursday (December 16), Karnataka Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar sparked a controversy after he made a casual rape joke in the State Assembly. His comments came at the backdrop of the Speaker’s lament that there was no order in the House.

Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, the Speaker of Karnataka Vidhan Soudha, had said, “I have no objection to more members speaking about the subject, but my concern is that no other business can be conducted if we stick to one particular issue. My position is like a person who would enjoy something when it is inevitable.”

He further added, “You know, Ramesh Kumar, I now feel that we should just enjoy the situation. I have decided to give up on trying to control and streamline this situation… I’ll just let them talk.” Kageri was miffed at the fact that the MLAs were talking over each other during a discussion on flooding and crop losses in Karnataka.”

Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar, however, chose to draw an analogy with the heinous crime of rape and asked the House Speaker to enjoy the lack of order in the Assembly. “There is a saying that when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it,” he was heard as saying.

The Congress MLA broke into fits of laughter after making the contentious remarks. Instead of condemning the remarks by Kumar, House Speaker laughed along and refused to expunge the comments from the records.

Abdul Razack Khan had defended the murder of Kamlesh Tiwari

In October 2019, Abdul had said that the slain Hindu leader Kamlesh Tiwari deserved the brutal death at the hands of Islamists and that he would not condemn his killing. The horrific killing of Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari by Islamists has shaken the collective conscience of the society. The killing of Kamlesh Tiwari was even welcomed by some sections of Muslim societies, as they expressed their jubilation over his death on social media.

I am Neha Bazdan, not a Harvard professor but this is how I am a victim

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I am Neha Bazdan, not a Harvard professor but this is how I am a victim

Hi, I am Neha Bazdan. I had a long career doing secular news anchoring for India’s most secular news channel, the Mughal Delhi TV or MDTV. Before some uncouth RSS men came to Delhi and took away all the charm and secularism out of the beloved city, we were all having a gala time. We had all built a career slamming those same RSS men after 2002. But alas, 2014 happened and unsophisticated RSS men grabbed power by polarising the country.

After 2014, all the Hindu Nationalists became hyper-active. They were everywhere. They were all over social media. MDTV was called a fake news channel! Imagine their guts. They even called me out. The Hindu Nationalists are like locusts. No matter how many of them you block on Twitter, they keep creeping into your TL, pointing out flaws in interviews, ‘exposing’ hypocrisy, finding out faults in every news coverage.

See how they troll me. I am one anchor who has always asked bold questions, even to Obama. So what he ignored and humiliated me, I did ask my question. I have also asked questions when the Centre decided to change the default setting on AC temperatures. That is what a journalist is supposed to do, they had told me when I joined MDTV. Nobody said anything about applying a little brain before asking questions. How was I supposed to know about remote controls and ACs? But Hindu Nationalist trolls kept pointing out that the default setting can be changed. Misogynist mansplainers, all of them.

I was so desperately looking for a job because MDTV was in a coma. I was smart. Have you seen how beautifully I speak English? With a smile on my radiant face and confidence of a true blue MDTV anchor? I never grimace, like my senior Ghavish Kumar, who has been suffering from severe constipation since May 2014. I am just pretty. I knew I could land a super fancy high profile job. My friends Monia and Sriyanka kept telling me there is a great demand for secular Indian journalists who can do brave journalism against the tyrant Modi government, especially in foreign publications.

If that noodle-haired Fana can write for Washington Post, why can’t I be a star anchor for CNN? But I had had enough of anchoring. I wanted to be a professor. So when that beautiful email came, telling me that Harvard was looking for a professor of journalism, I knew I was just born for it.

I felt like flying. It was going to be great. Imagine Neha Bazdan, the pretty, smart Harvard professor, who will teach journalism to future Pulitzer winners. This was even better than an exclusive Rahul Gandhi interview. The Hindu Nationalists BJP trolls will just burn. The words were like sweet music. They first told me I am invited to a seminar. Then, if I am interested, there is a vacant teaching position.

Did I have any reasons to doubt? None at all. It was not like that time when I accidentally downloaded a link from that Nigerian guy or sent money to Mrs Karen for a security deposit so that I could claim that 5 billion dollar inheritance. It was a teaching position, at Harvard. Why would I be suspicious?

The phone calls were very exciting. They were very interested in my work, my style and my brave journalism of worrying about genuine issues like AC temperatures. The person at the other end sounded vaguely like a Pakistani, but he said he is a middle-eastern immigrant working in the Boston area.

I promptly told MDTV that I was quitting and announced to everyone on Twitter that I was going to be a Harvard professor. My friends were happy, the Hindu nationalists were burning with jealously and many of my politician friends wished me good luck.

Being a professor at Harvard is not a small thing. I was invited as a speaker at various events. It felt so nice to see my photo introducing me as a Harvard professor in their communications. Sadly, it all came crashing down like a bad dream. It took me a year to realise that the tickets are never coming. The professorship is never happening and there was no Harvard position for me. There never was.

I was so heartbroken. I had thrown away a 20-year-old career on TV and the humiliation, oh the humiliation. Those who were pretending to be my friends, even my political friends could not hide their glee. The Hindu nationalists celebrated, calling me a fool and a bimbo! That Right-Wing site OpIndia wrote 7 articles on me. It felt so sad.

Then I got another phone call, from the headquarters. Not MDTV headquarters, but you know, the real headquarters! I don’t need to spell it out, right? They said I will have to talk with another set of people, from the White York Times. I was so angry, I said no. I was done talking to random Abduls from Karachi fish market who claim to be Touseef from Boston. But White York Times was not bluffing, they came to meet. They said the media can do anything.

“If we can turn rapists into saints and drug peddlers into high profile politicians, what is a little phishing scam? We are the White York Times. Just like the intellectuals in India turn Mughals into reformist, progressive kindhearted fluffy rabbits, we will turn you into a star journalist in Modi’s India who is so oppressed that she cannot even verify credentials before agreeing to job offers,” they said.

“There will be a stellar article claiming hi-tech investigation into the shameful phishing scam that targeted one of India’s most prominent news anchors. There will be top class PR and who knows! A book deal may follow.” I was glad that Biden’s USA is so much better than Modi’s India. White York Times was doing brave journalism. I asked If I could join their team. They changed the subject.

I nodded in agreement. White York Times was all I needed. As we talked and discussed the fine details of the proposed article, we applied a lot of brain. We will have to admit the Pakistan link, they explained. But the secular in me was furious. That will be Islamophobia, I declared. The secular in me was hurt.

They said it was going to be hard. A BJP spokesperson herself was almost scammed by the same people who scammed me and unlike me, she had actually reached out to Harvard and had alerted them about it.

I sat on meditation and focused my mind on Nehru. I prayed to him for guidance. I begged him to show me a way to blame Modi for it and not Pakistan, or my own stupidity.

Nehru heard my prayers like he always does. He appeared in my dream and asked me to consult Mr Power from Maharashtra. Mr Power is in power nowadays and is very happy. When I reached out to Mr Power, he said, “Beta, maintaining secularism is very important to preserve the secular fabric of this country. Back in 1993, I had invented a bomb blast to show that it was not just Hindus who were targeted. There were 12 blasts, but I had added a blast from my own imagination to make it secular blasts.”

I had my solution. I promptly brought my brand new iPhone to call and tell the guys at the White York Times that they will have to add secularism to the investigative article by saying the people who targeted me for this shameful scam were Hindu Nationalists who support the BJP.

“But Neha, it was Abdul from Karachi”, they insisted. But I was adamant. Finally, they agreed. Their article said the people who scammed me on Twitter maybe, possibly, kinda sorta, be pretending to be Hindu Nationalists that support BJP and Modi. That will be enough for now.

As a victim, and as an anti-Modi journalist, I will be given ample publicity for falling victim to a scam. I was assured that with careful handling and proper coverage, a book deal might follow. Not bad. If Fana can claim she is being tortured by the Modi govt while sitting on her giant fluffy sofa inside her plush Mumbai house and can get op-eds in WaPo, why can’t I peddle my victimhood? Fana never had a job. I had to quit a nice, well-paying job over this scam. I am a genuine victim here.

Any trolling, or the vaguest of social media comments, will be called attack and torture by PM Modi’s agents. It is just about how we handle it, WYT convinced me. I have followed the path of Nehru and Mr Power. I am a soldier of secularism and I will fight till the end. So what I never bothered to ask enough questions to the scammers, I will keep asking questions to the Modi government about cooler settings and microwave settings next. I will fight against the RSS agenda and I will get rich doing it.

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