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Kerala: Dalit man assaulted for refusing to convert to Christianity after marriage

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Dalit man assaulted for refusing to convert to Christianity after marriage

Just two days after marrying a Christian girl, a Dalit man was thrashed brutally by his brother-in-law for refusing to convert to Christianity. As per the police, an FIR, under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, was lodged the same day the complaint was received.

Reportedly, Mithun Krishna, a Dalit married Deepthi (Christian) on October 29. However, two days later on October 31, Deepthi’s brother, who is a doctor by profession, assaulted Krishna for not converting to Christianity.

The incident came to light after local media telecasted the CCTV visuals of the violent assault on Krishna. Deepthi’s brother had allegedly invited the couple to his residence in Chirayinkeezhu, to persuade the man to change his religion.

The accused, however, has been absconding since the incident and the police has launched a hunt to nab Deepthi’s brother. 

Two sides of the story

According to an official of Chirayinkeezhu Police Station, someone from the husband’s side had allegedly spoken inappropriately to the wife’s mother, which provoked the incident. 

However, the couple in their complaint stated that Krishna’s family was beaten up for not converting to Christianity. 

The couple had tied the knot at a temple 

As per the initial probe, police said that the couple tied the knot at a temple on October 29. Following this, the woman’s father had lodged a missing person’s complaint at the police station. 

When the couple was brought to the police station, the bride’s father promised to get the two wedded officially as per rituals after which Deepthi left with her husband. 

Krishna along with his family and wife visited her residence the next day to discuss the same. The two families also went to a church to discuss holding a wedding there.

Later, the same day, the couple went to meet Deepthi’s mother and a confrontation broke out, which led to the assault, the police said.

As per Deepthi, her brother asked the couple to come and meet her mother to resolve the matter. However, when they were nearing her house, a group of her brother’s friends attacked Krishna who sustained injuries on his head. 

“I also suffered injuries when I tried to intervene and Krishna was badly injured,” said Deepthi accusing her brother. Krishna is currently being treated at the state Medical College hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Virat Kohli refrains from giving ‘personal tips’ on Diwali, netizens thank him for not virtue signaling and respond with cracker jibes

OpIndia Staff
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Virat Kohli refrains from giving ‘personal tips’ on Diwali, netizens thank him for not virtue signaling and respond with cracker jibes

Virat Kohli wished people a happy Diwali on Thursday. Contrary to expectations, the Indian cricket captain kept his message short and simple. It could even be considered sweet, an adjective that is generally not used to describe Kohli’s words.

People were pleasantly surprised by the wish, especially since only days earlier, Virat Kohli had said that he will share ‘personal tips’ on how to celebrate a ‘meaningful Diwali’. However, the batsman appears to have abandoned the futile pursuit.

And they wished the captain, who has been going through troubled times recently, a very happy Diwali in turn.

Some, however, did respond to the Diwali wish with cracker jibes.

Virat Kohli had received a lot of stick from fans recently for his comments on matters off the pitch. While the Indian cricket team has come under the scanner for its defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand, Virat Kohli was at the receiving end of criticism even before the tournament began.

Kohli had said that he will share tips on how to celebrate a ‘meaningful Diwali’ and given his previous anti-cracker comments, he was slammed for it by people on social media.

‘Come and join my party’: Israeli Prime Minister tells PM Narendra Modi, watch video

OpIndia Staff
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‘Come and join my party’: Israeli Prime Minister tells PM Narendra Modi, watch video

On Tuesday (November 2), Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to join his ‘New Right’ party, given his popularity in the Jewish nation. Bennett made the remarks during a sideline interaction at the COP26 climate summit at Glasgow in the United States.

In a video shared by the official handle of the BJP, PM Naftali Bennett could be heard as saying, “You are the most popular person in Israel…” PM Modi responded with a thank you. He then asked the Indian Prime Minister to join his ‘New Right’ party. “Come and join my party,” Bennett remarked as both world leaders broke into fits of laughter.

The video clip of the light-hearted conversation has gone viral on social media. PM Modi and Naftali Bennett met formally for the first time during the COP26 summit. Reportedly, they reviewed bilateral ties and vowed to expand cooperation in the fields of innovation and technology. “Glad to have met, yet again, PM Naftali Bennett. We had fruitful talks on boosting India-Israel friendship in sectors such as research, innovation and futuristic technologies. These sectors are critical for empowering our youngsters,” PM Modi said in a tweet.

During their meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister emphasised on the ‘deep relationship’ between the two countries. He said, “I want to thank you. You’re the person who restarted the relationship between India and Israel, which is a deep relationship between two unique civilizations – the Indian civilization, the Jewish civilization – and I know it comes from your heart. It’s not about interests; it’s about a deep conviction that you harbour and we feel it.”

Naftali Bennett was also invited to visit India by PM Modi on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Reportedly, the Israeli Prime Minister had visited India on three occasions in the past as a Minister of his country.

Watch: New York celebrates Diwali with fireworks show over Hudson River

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: New York celebrates Diwali with fireworks show over Hudson River

On November 3 (Local Time), New York City celebrated Diwali with a fireworks show over the Hudson River. It was a part of three-day Diwali celebrations.

Notably, Carolyn Maloney, Congresswoman, New York, will introduce a bill in Washington to make Diwali a federal holiday on Wednesday. Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and other advocates are co-sponsoring the bill along with Indian American community members Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director, Indiaspora. Maloney has been a long supporter of Indians living in the US.

If the bill gets approved, a holiday will be observed on Diwali in federal institutions. It will be the 12th federal holiday observed by the United States. Notably, there is a significant population in the US that celebrates Diwali. In the past, Maloney has successfully urged the US Postal service to approve and issue a commemorative stamp to honour Diwali. The stamp has been in circulation since 2016.

In a tweet, she said, “I am so excited to introduce my Deepavali Day Act which would enshrine Diwali as a federal holiday. Let’s celebrate light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil, and the pursuit of knowledge over ignorance during this special time of year!”

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi also joined the press conference on the resolution to make Diwali a federal holiday.

In a tweet, he thanked Maloney and said, “Thank you to Carolyn Maloney for hosting a press conference today on your resolution to make Diwali a federal holiday, which I’m proud to cosponsor. The celebration of the triumph of light over darkness is especially important during this pandemic.”

In his statement during the conference, he said, “On this Diwali be the light we wish to see in the world. Be the light in the community that is needed to dispel the darkness. Be the light in this community that brings hope to the hopeless. Let us be the light that helps the last, the least and the lost.”

Delhi: Gang war in Khyala leaves one dead, three injured, brutal video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Gang war in Khyala leaves one dead, three injured, brutal video goes viral

On Monday (November 1), a gang war broke out between two groups, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. The incident took place at night in Raghubir Nagar in the Khyala area of West Delhi.

In a tweet on Wednesday (November 3), Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa informed, “Shocking pictures of an alleged gang war in Khyala! Son of granthi Jarnail Singh Ji was brutally beaten & killed.” He added, “I spoke to DCP Delhi to take strict action. She apprised me that a case has been regd against attackers; 2 ppl arrested so far & section 302 would be added to case.” Sirsa had also shared a video where two men could be seen brutally thrashing the son of the granthi with batons.

The victim was identified as one Jaskaran and was involved in a criminal case. The two perpetrators were identified as Ramesh and Sadick (aka Ajju). At about 9:13 pm on Monday (November 1), the police control room had received information about a firing incident and a gang war at Raghubir Nagar. During the preliminary investigation, the police found that a scuffle broke out between the gangs of Jaskaran, Heera and Firoz and that of Fateh and Sachin Manchanda (Bunty). The trio had fired at Bunty, post which he suffered a bullet injury to his thigh.

Fateh, on the other hand, was shot in the stomach. However, the other accomplices of Fateh and Bunty managed to overpower the gang of Jaskaran. Firoz sustained a bullet injury to his stomach while Jaskaran was beaten black and blue by Saddick and Ramesh. The son of the granthi was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday (November 2). Reportedly, Firoz has been recovering his bullet injury while Heera had been absconding since the time of the incident. The cops had recovered firearms and cartridges from the crime site.

It must be mentioned that a social media user named Imran Haider had earlier tried to give a communal spin to the incident. He had claimed that religious minorities such as Sikhs and Muslims were unsafe in India. While reacting strongly to it, Manjinder Singh Sirsa underlined, “It’s better if you don’t bring any communal element to this. FYI the one who attacked this guy is named Atik and a Muslim!”

Lawlessness and violence in Khyala area

Khyala in New Delhi is where one of the most high-profile cases of a Hindu man, Ankit Saxena, becoming the victim of a hostile Muslim family because they disapproved his relationship with their daughter, took place. The young man was killed by her Muslim girlfriend’s family because they were strongly opposed to their relationship. Ankit was stabbed and beheaded by the family members of his girlfriend Shehzadi on February 1, 2018.

Eyewitness accounts suggested that Shehzadi’s mother wore a helmet and rode her scooter to the traffic intersection where they knew Ankit was present. She then rammed her scooter into Ankit’s vehicle so that Ankit would be forced to step out to help. As she was wearing a helmet, Ankit could not identify her and stepped out to help.

The woman then confronted Ankit and soon she was joined by her other family members. They all began to heckle and abuse Ankit blaming him that he had influenced Shehzadi to leave the house. When Ankit bent down to help his mother get up, the girl’s uncle and brother then caught him by his hair and pulled him up. At that moment, while the two of them held Ankit’s arms from behind, the girl’s father had slit his throat using his butchering knife.

‘Dangerous proposition’ to remove PM Modi’s picture from vaccine certificate, says Kerala HC

OpIndia Staff
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‘Dangerous proposition’ to remove PM Modi’s picture from vaccine certificate, says Kerala HC

While hearing a petition on the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture from the Covid-19 vaccine certificate, the Kerala High Court orally remarked that it is a highly dangerous proposition. 

Justice N Nagaresh while hearing the plea remarked, “This is a very dangerous proposition. Tomorrow someone can come here and protest that they don’t like Mahatma Gandhi, and seek the removal of the image from our currency saying it’s their blood and sweat and they don’t want to see his face on it. What will happen then?”

‘Vaccination certificate is a private space’

The petitioner- a senior citizen and RTI activist alleged that a vaccination certificate is his private space and he has certain rights over it. 

Aggrieved on receiving a vaccine certificate from a private hospital with PM Modi’s photograph, the petitioner moved the court alleging several fundamental rights violations.

The activist further prayed that he should be issued another Covid-19 vaccination certificate without the Prime Minister’s photograph affixed on it. 

‘Photograph serves no purpose’

Apart from claiming violation of fundamental rights, the petitioner also stated that a photograph of the Prime Minister on the Covid-19 vaccination certificate serves no utility and has no relevance.

The activist also took strong objection to the messaging on the certificate and claimed the content in the certificate is no more than ‘preaching to the converted.’

He claimed that the recipient of the certificate is already convinced of its utility and has taken the vaccination voluntarily and hence the photograph, as well as the messaging, serves no purpose. 

‘State has no right to claim credit’

Ironically, the petitioner also objected to the ‘state claiming credit’ for the vaccines which were made available by the very same state. 

The activist said that he had paid for his vaccination with no subsidy available. In fact, it was the non-availability of free vaccines that forced the petitioner to opt for the paid vaccination. Citing this as a reason, the petitioner claimed that the state has no right to insert the image of the Prime Minister or take credit. 

However, the petitioner himself stated that getting jabbed was voluntary and the government had made available the options of both free and paid vaccines. 

While the Kerala High Court discouraged the plea, the Additional Solicitor General has sought more time to file a statement in the matter. The case will be heard next on November 23.

As security forces continue operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi to celebrate Diwali with soldiers in Rajouri

OpIndia Staff
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As security forces continue operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi to celebrate Diwali with soldiers in Rajouri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate Diwali on October 4 along with armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir. He is expected to visit Nowshera, Rajouri border post on the Line of Control (LoC) to join the celebration where a massive security operation is underway against Pakistan sponsored terrorists. Senior army officials will accompany him in the Diwali celebrations at the border post.

Modi has just returned to India after his five-day visit to Rome and Glasgow where he attended the G-20 Summit and the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference respectively.

Celebrating the festival of light with armed forces is the tradition that Modi had started after he became the prime minister in 2014. Last year, PM Modi was at the Longewala border at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Prior to this, in 2019, Modi had celebrated the festival with soldiers at the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister’s Nowshera and Rajouri visit for Diwali celebration has come at a time when security forces have launched a massive operation to eliminate Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorists, including the ongoing encounter in Poonch. The encounter at Bhimber Gali in Poonch is still going on and it has entered its 24th day. There were attempts of infiltration in Rajouri and Poonch that security forces foiled.

In the past few weeks, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the targeted killings of minorities, both Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris, by terrorists. While Union Minister of Home and Affairs Amit Shah has already visited the Valley and supervised the ongoing operation. Quoting the officials, media reports said that the presence of Modi will boost the morale of the jawans on the ground and it will be a message for Pakistan that India will respond to any such proxy war in its own way.

War hero Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman promoted to the rank of Group Captain in Indian Air Force

OpIndia Staff
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War hero Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman promoted to the rank of Group Captain in Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday promoted its war hero, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, to the rank of Group Captain. The position is equivalent to the post of Colonel in the Indian Army. The IAF has cleared the promotion of this decorated officer and he will be putting on the new rank shortly.

This has come as a Diwali gift for Abhinandan who was also conferred with Vir Chaktra for showing exemplary courage while defending the nation when a war-like situation between India and Pakistan had escalated in February 2019. He had shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in Pakistan occupied Kashmir with his Mig-21 Bison on February 27, 2019, when India and Pakistan’s air forces had engaged in a dog fight after India had destroyed terrorist camps in Balakot.

Abhinandan was captured by enemies after his Mig 21 was shot down by a Pakistani missile right after he destroyed a Pakistani jet. But Pakistani Army and Imran Khan government released him within 48 hours of his capture after India signaled to Pakistan that it would further carry Balakot like strikes if Abhinandan was not released. India also warned Pakistan against harming its officer. On 28th February, Imran Khan had announced that his govt has decided to return Abhinandan as a “gesture of peace”, and the Wing Commander had crossed the India-Pakistan border at Wagah on 1 March 2019. Some of his videos in the custody of the Pakistani army became viral where he can be seen bravely confronting his questioning.

Abhinandan was part of the Srinagar-based 51 squadron and he had flown to foil an aerial attack launched by the Pakistanis on February 27, 2019.

India had carried a massive aerial at a terror training centre in Balakot of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26, 2019. This was done to avenge Pulwama terrorist attack on February 14 that left 40 soldiers dead. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed was behind this attack.

‘We are for no cracker ban’: ISRN’s Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe clarifies after controversy over the NGOs 2020 cracker ban petition gathers steam

OpIndia Staff
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‘We are for no cracker ban’: ISRN’s Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe clarifies after controversy over the NGOs 2020 cracker ban petition gathers steam

As parts of India celebrate a cracker-less Diwali, social media users yet again, spoke about how a New Delhi-based NGO working in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility and with several BJP functionaries on the board had filed a PIL seeking a ban on firecrackers. The posts spoke about how it was the ISRN petition that started the cracker ban fiasco in India.

The conversation gathered steam after criticism faced by several states over their decision to ban bursting firecrackers during the Diwali festivities. So far, many states, including Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, and Rajasthan have placed a ban on firecrackers.

However, social media user Alok Bhatt pointed out how it was one Chirag Jain and one Shobit Shukla on whose plea the NGT had ordered a ban on crackers last year. 

“Both the orders – one banning sale in NCR of 9 Nov 20 and later order of 1 Dec 20 for extending ban in NCR to every city with poor ambient air quality was NOT passed on ISRN petition but ON those filed by Chirag Jain and Shobhit Shukla,” Bhatt said in a tweet. 

Bhatt further informed that ISRN had withdrawn its name from the petition. He also said that the original application moved by ISRN was limited to NCR only and that for a limited time during the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the repeated warnings of the rising number of cases.

Moreover, the plea was not moved by ISRN but by one of the functionaries of the NGO in his personal capacity.

As it turns out, the official Twitter account of ISRN had on November 2, 2020, tweeted that the petition for firecracker ban was filed by Santosh Gupta, one of the functionaries of the NGO, in his personal capacity.

“A plea about banning firecrackers filed by Shri Santosh Gupta who is a functionary of @ISRN is in his personal capacity! ISRN or its Governing Body has nothing to do with the plea. It is hereby made clear that ISRN as an organisation is not associated with this plea!” the tweet by ISRN said. 

‘Petition filed by one of the functionaries in his personal capacity’: Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe

As the conversation around ISRN mounted this Diwali, OpIndia got in touch with Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice Chairperson at Indian Social Responsibility Network (ISRN), for his views on the controversy. Dr Sahastrabusshe is a Member of the Parliament of India representing the state of Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. He has also served as National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party from Aug 2014 – Sep 2020

Dr Sahasrabuddhe said the PIL that was filed in the name of ISRN has already been withdrawn. He further added that neither he nor BJP is associated with the NGO group anymore. 

“We are all for no cracker ban,” Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said. 

Reiterating what was tweeted by ISRN a year ago, Dr Sahasrabuddhe said the petition that is being bandied around on social media to insinuate that the group had asked for a cracker ban was unilaterally filed by one of the functionaries without any consultation with trustees. It was strongly objected to by the group, after which it was withdrawn. 

Sumeet Bhasin, an advisor to the NGO group, corroborated the statement saying that the petition was withdrawn as it was taken unilaterally.

Petrol and diesel prices to come down from tomorrow as centre cuts excise duty, urges states to reduce VAT too

OpIndia Staff
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Petrol and diesel prices to come down from tomorrow as centre cuts excise duty, urges states to reduce VAT too

Giving some relief to the common man on the eve of Diwali, the central govt had decided to reduce the excise duty on petrol and diesel, which will lead to a cut in the price of both fuels.

The Government of India has announced that the excise duty on petrol will be reduced by Rs 5, and the excise duty on diesel will be cut by Rs 10 from tomorrow, according to a tweet by news agency ANI.

According to ANI, govt sources have said that this tax cut will come as a boost to the farmers during the upcoming Rabi season. The central govt also urged the state governments to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel to give relief to consumers.

Despite this cut, the price of petrol will remain more than Rs100 in most places, as the current price is more than Rs105 almost everywhere, and more than Rs110 in most states.

On the other hand, with a cut of Rs10, the price of diesel is expected to come down below Rs100 in most places. If the state govts follow suit and cut VAT on petrol and diesel, the prices will come down even further.

The petrol and diesel prices have risen sharply in the last few months, caused by price rise in global oil prices. This has led to a price rise of almost every other commodity due to cascading effects. Taxes, both the excise duty levied by the central govt and VAT levied by state governments constitute the major part of the fuel price in India. In fact, taxes comprise more than 50% of the retail fuel prices.

The Union government has been trying to bring petroleum products under the ambit of GST, which will result in a significant decrease in fuel prices. But almost all state governments are against it, as it is a major source of income for the states.

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