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Woman accuses cricketers, senior Congress leader of rape, police says no FIR filed and no evidence found yet

OpIndia Staff
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Woman accuses cricketers, senior Congress leader of rape, police says no FIR filed and no evidence found yet

The wife of underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s aide Riyaz Bhati has reportedly filed an application with the Mumbai police accusing her husband of rape and running a high-profile sex racket. In the requisition, besides naming her husband, the other people she has accused of rape are Indian cricketers, a senior Congress leader and one other individual.

Rehnuma Bhati alleged that her husband, Riyaz Bhati, a suspected gangster, pushed her to have sexual relations with his business associates and other “high-profile” individuals.

“I have been trying to get the police to register an FIR, but they aren’t complying. My application was submitted in September, it is already November now,” she told The Print, adding: “I have followed up with various levels of police authorities multiple times. I was told to give some money, but why should I spread corruption? I am right in my place. They are the ones who are criminals.”

Asked for his comment on the matter, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the jurisdiction, Manjunath Singhe, acknowledged that an application has been submitted, but said he “does not have any more details at the moment”.  

Social media user, Sameet Thakkar has taken to Twitter to share a copy of the complaint filed by Riyaz Bhati’s wife in Santacruz, Mumbai Police Station on September 24, 2021.

According to the screenshots posted by Sameet Thakkar, the complaint was filed for offences committed under IPC sections 406, 420, 354, 354(A), 354(B), 509, 370, 376, 376(D), 377, 356, 386, 506(II)232, r/w 120(B), sections 66(A), 66(E) of the Information and Technology Act 2000, sections 8 and 6 of the POCSO Act 2012, Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Indecent Representation of the Women’s Act and sections 5B and 5C for the Immoral Traffic (Protection) Act 1956.

In the complaint, the victim alleged that her husband threatened her widow mother and compelled her to marry underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s alleged aide Riyaz Bhati when she was 15-years-old. She further added that immediately after the marriage, Riyaz Bhati forcefully established a sexual relationship with her.

She further accused Riyaz Bhati of torturing and also physically assaulting her on various occasions.

She further added that Riyaz Bhati started forcing her to honeytrap his business associates. He forced her to engage in sexual activities with his business partners and beat her up and tortured her whenever she tried to resent, she alleged.

Rehnuma Bhati further revealed in her complaint that in the year 2011-12, her husband introduced her to one individual in Trident hotel, where the latter raped her one entire night. When she came back home and sought answers from her husband for the inhumane treatment he placed a knife on her and her elder son’s neck and threatened to kill them if she did not submit to his demands.

In her complaint, Rehnuma Bhati also accused two Indian cricketers and a senior Congress leader of raping her. She wrote that she was forced to sleep with one cricketer in a continental hotel, and with another cricketer in a hotel named Trident. According to the complaint, the cricketer and his two friends committed all kinds of unnatural sexual activities with her including oral sex and anal sex, and all of them were drunk.

The woman further alleged that when she refused to sleep with the Congress leader, she was beaten by the leader and his friends. She was also forced to dance nude without clothes in front of him and his friends, after which she was raped by them. She added that the Congress leader kept photos and videos of this first encounter in 2012-13, and used the same to continue to exploit her.

Riyaz Bhati’s wife alleged that her husband has forced her to sleep with 15 to 20 people, which includes his business partners, friends and high-profile individuals. Allegedly, Bhati got several contracts by forcing her to sleep with other people. She also alleged that she was even sent to Dubai to sleep with rich sheikhs, and she was treated very badly there. She said that her husband is continuously forcing her to continue the prostitution work for money and other benefits. Bhati’s wife alleged that he had raped her sister also.

Rehnuma Riyaz Bhati has informed that due to this torture, she had started living separately in 2016, but later he kidnapped her and again forced her into prostitution from 2019. He had threatened that he will kill her or their two sons if she does not sleep with others as per his instructions.

ANI has reported now that though no FIR has been filed, Mumbai Police has said that they are investigating the case, however, they have found no evidence so far.

Update: an earlier copy of this report mentioned the names of a senior Congress leader and some cricketers as having been accused of rape. The same names were widely reported by other mainstream media outlets such as Hindustan, ABP News, Deccan Herald, Lokmat, Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar, ThePrint, and others. Within a day or two, all of these named media companies have either deleted their news reports or removed the name of the senior Congress leader from their published reports. Our attempts to get an official reaction from Mumbai police has not been successful either, as they don’t want to say anything or record, though it is confirmed that such a complaint was indeed filed. In such a scenario, where the police are unwilling to officially confirm the names of the accused while the primary media sources have either deleted their news reports or retracted the names, this copy is also being updated to retract the names. We will keep the readers updated.

Guwahati Airport refutes media report that operator Adani Group has banned traditional clothes, sindur, bindis for female employees

OpIndia Staff
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Guwahati Airport refutes media report that operator Adani Group has banned traditional clothes, sindur, bindis for female employees

The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport, which is operated by the Adani group, has refuted a report by a major Assamese media house that it has banned traditional clothes for its female employees. The official Twitter handle of the Guwahati International Airport posted a message on Twitter refuting the allegations.

The statement issued by the airport said, “A private TV channel has alleged that the female staff of ‘Pranaam’ service at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, have been told to avoid traditional clothing and ornaments. This is totally baseless and untrue. Airport staff have been given no such instructions. We greatly admire and revere the culture and traditions of Assam and the Northeast.”

The Airport added in the tweet that the allegation levelled by a private TV channel against the female team members of Pranaam is baseless and untrue.

The Airport management was referring to a report published by Assamese news channel Pratitin Times, which is run by left-wing media house Sadin – Pratidin Group. The group runs the largest circulated Assamese daily Asomiya Pratidin. In its report, Pratidin Times had claimed that Adani group has issued the contract to a company named Pranam, and this company has issued a dress code where female employees have been banned from wearing traditional clothes. It had claimed that even Sindur and bindis will not be allowed for female employees.

Fake news by Pratidin Times

“According to the new rule, the female employees can’t wear Mekhala Chador (the traditional dress of Assam), can’t wear bangles, mangalsutras and can’t even wear sindoor while on duty at LGBI Airport,” the report had claimed. It went on to claim that even married women will not be allowed to wear bindis. The report stated that this is a sheer insult to the Assamese culture and tradition.

However, this has turned out to be fake news as the airport administration has refuted the report and clarified that no such dress code has been issued by Pranam, an Adani group company that runs guest services at airports operated by the Adani group.

Pratitin group is known for being extremely critical of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, and this report can be assumed to part of propaganda against the Adani Group that the opposition parties in Assam are running ever since the company took over the operations of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.

The CM had criticised the media group owner Jayanta Baruah several times on social media.

NCPCR tells SC that many NGOs including Harsh Mander’s ‘Centre for Equity Studies’ have been receiving funds from suspicious sources

OpIndia Staff
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NCPCR tells SC that many NGOs including Harsh Mander’s ‘Centre for Equity Studies’ have been receiving funds from suspicious sources

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has said that many children shelter homes in the country are running illegally and receiving funds from certain suspicious foreign organisations. NCPCR said this in its reply affidavit filed on November 6, in a case on several petitions challenging to the provisions of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA),

In its reply affidavit filed in the court, the NCPCR highlighted the names of certain NGOs, including Harsh Mander’s Centre for Equity Studies (CES), where funds had allegedly been diverted or were received from suspicious sources. 

The NCPCR filed the reply affidavit in one case among a batch of petitions challenging the validity of section 7 of the FCRA Act, which prohibits the transfer of foreign funds. A Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Ravi Kumar had reserved this batch of petitions for orders on November 9, 2021.

The reply by the apex child body states that the affidavit is being filed to document NCPCR’s efforts to prevent NGOs from misusing foreign funds. It goes on to say that there are NGOs that do not have FCRA registration but are sponsored by NGOs that do have FCRA registration to receive foreign donations.

It may be recalled that on February 20 2021, the Economic Offence Wing of Delhi Police had registered a case under multiple sections against Harsh Mander’s Centre for Equity Studies (CES) and its officials after an inspection by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) revealed financial irregularities in shelter homes established by the NGO. A case of child sexual abuse was also alleged in one of the shelter homes.

In the reply, NCPCR said it discovered that Harsh Mander’s Centre for Equity Studies, which has FCRA registration and is eligible to receive foreign funding, provided funds to another NGO, Rainbow Foundation India, which does not have FCRA registration but operates CCIs in various cities across the country.

NCPCR raids several children shelter homes and find financial irregularities

During the inspection of the aforementioned CCIs in Delhi, NCPCR allegedly discovered non-compliance with mandatory requirements of the Juvenile Justice Act, as well as numerous offences under the POCSO Act.

Likewise, the NCPCR affidavit cited another example where inspection of 5 children homes in Assam and Manipur run by Markaz-ul-Maarif revealed that these homes have also been receiving funds from certain foreign agencies in addition to receiving government grants. The probe had also revealed how the children were kept in these homes without being produced before the Child Welfare Committees and with no registration as mandated under the Juvenile Justice Act 2015. 

Further, the reply affidavit mentioned a home called Markaz Darul Yatama Home, Dhurbi that has been receiving funds from a Turkey-based organisation called IHH. The Turkish law officers interrogated IHH and found out that it is linked with international organisations. The reply states that an FIR has been registered by Assam Police against Markaz Darul Yatama for Boys and Hojai.

In fact, last year, the apex child rights body had expressed apprehensions of possible financial irregularities in over 600 child care institutions, run by NGOs and housing 28,000 children as it informed that these shelter homes received up to Rs 6 lakh per child in foreign funds in 2018-19, far more than the estimated average expenditure.

Owing to such a large extent of financial irregularities, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has backed the Centre’s concerns about non-government organisations (NGOs) misusing foreign donations, prompting Parliament to modify the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).

These changes are now being challenged in a series of petitions before the Supreme Court, which were reserved on Tuesday.

Justifying the Centre’s decision to amend the FCRA Act to regulate foreign contribution to NGOs, SG Tushar Mehta, appearing for the centre, told in the Supreme Court that “there are intelligence inputs that most of the time, money is received by NGOs like Harsh Mander’s Centre for Equity Studies (CES) for development works but is used to train Naxalites”.

The Centre also noted that foreign contributions had doubled during the years 2010-19 and several recipients of foreign funding had not utilized the funds for the purposes specified for receiving donations.

While reserving the matter for pronouncing judgment, the Supreme Court, in turn, said that the NGOs should not be allowed to receive foreign funds if the donor did not declare the purpose for which the money is to be spent and said the Centre has diluted the intent of FCRA by not insisting on such a provision. It allowed the Central govt and petitioners to submit notes of their submissions within this week.

Chhath Puja ends with ‘Arghya’ to the rising sun: Check out these great visuals of celebrations around the country

OpIndia Staff
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Chhath Puja ends with ‘Arghya’ to the rising sun: Check out these great visuals of celebrations around the country

The Chhath Puja ended today morning with devotees offering ‘Arghya’ to the rising sun at water bodies. Devotees reach rivers and other nearby water bodies before sunrise for the rituals, stand in the water, and make offerings to the Sun God. The devotee also ended their fast after worshipping the God Surya.

Social media users took to Twitter today to share photographs of people gathering before the dawn for Chhath Puja rituals. Popular Twitter user Ankur Singh posted an image of Chhath Puja celebrations in Begusarai in Bihar, and asked others to post their photographs of the same.

Responding to the Tweet, many Twitter users posted images of Chhath Puja held at their respective places in almost all states in the country. (As this report contains a large number of embedded tweets, please wait some time for all images in the tweets to load on your browser/device.)

Several people shared blissful images without mentioning the place.

The most famous images from this year’s Chhath Puja came from the heavily polluted Yamuna River in Delhi, where devotees were seen standing in foam-filled water for the prayers.

Even though the Delhi govt had banned Chhath Puja rituals at public places including Yamuna River, devotees had defied the ban to throng the river.

Risk of road accidents increase on the Delhi-Hisar highway as farmers start to burn stubble on the roadside at night

OpIndia Staff
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Risk of road accidents increase on the Delhi-Hisar highway as farmers start to burn stubble on the roadside at night

There is an impending threat on the Delhi-Hisar highway that might turn into an accident zone as farmers have allegedly started to burn stubble (Parali) on the roadside of the highway during nighttime. According to a report, commuters claimed to have seen farmers burning stubbles at as many as 45 places on the stretch of this busy highway. Such cases have been reported on the stretch between Rohtak and Hansi, and Rohtak and Maham.

Due to the unopposed stubble burning by farmers on the roadside, it has become a nightmare for drivers at night, as the smoke reduces visibility substantially. This has in turn increased the chances of road accidents on that section of the highway.

Subhash Kumar from Kaithal, who prepares different projects for the agriculture department, said to OpIndia that he has witnessed farmers burning stubbles during nighttime on the roadside. “I frequently travel on Delhi-Hisar highway. In recent weeks, I noticed that farmers are burning parali after sunset. The thick smoke reduces visibility and can cause accidents. People are already grappling with the parali causing air pollution but now this has posed the threat of road accidents. The major chunk of agricultural fields is situated on the flanks of the highway which farmers set on fire to burn parali. With the onset of winter every year Delhi and NCR particularly turns into a gas chamber due to stubble burning,” he told OpIndia over the phone. He claimed to have taken some pictures also to show to authorities.

Not just Delhi-NCR, residents of most of the towns of Haryana continue to breathe polluted air with the air quality remaining severe to very poor. As per the report, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the towns are alarmingly poor including Jind (362), Hisar (415), Bahadurgadh (370), Rohtak (338), Karnal (304), Sonipat (381) and Faridabad (350).

In 2018, the National Green Tribunal had banned the burning of stubble on grounds of damaging the environment. The NGT had ordered states to impose a fine of Rs 2,500 if the straw is burnt on 2 to 5 acres of land and a fine of Rs 5,000 if stubble is burnt on the area more than 5 acres.

Incidents of tragic death caused by stubble burning fire have been reported in the past. In November last year, a 70 years old woman Manjeet Kaur had died whereas his grandson miraculously escaped. The incident took place in Tarantaran of Punjab. The deceased was travelling along with her grandson when grandson lost direction due to smoke caused by parali fire and his bike landed in a burning field.

Parali fire causing road accident is not a new thing

Incidents of tragic death caused by parali fire have been reported in the past.  In November last year, a 70 years old woman Manjeet Kaur had died whereas his grandson miraculously escaped. The incident took place in Tarantaran of Punjab. The deceased was traveling along with her grandson when grandson lost direction due to smoke caused parali fire and the bike landed in a burning field.

In November 2017, 10 passengers had died and 22 others were injured when a moving bus hit a parked truck on Faridkot-Fazila road due to reduced visibility caused by parali fire.

‘BSF is our own force, stop politicising national security’: Amarinder Singh slams Channi govt over resolution in Punjab assembly

OpIndia Staff
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‘BSF is our own force, stop politicising national security’: Amarinder Singh slams Channi govt over resolution in Punjab assembly

The Punjab assembly today passed a resolution against the Central government’s order to increase the BSF’s jurisdiction in the border states from 15 km to 50 km. As per reports, the resolution was tabled by Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhwa.

Speaking to media later, Congress CM Channi stated that the assembly has passed the resolution against the Centre’s decision to extend BSF’s jurisdiction in the border state to 50 km. He added that his government is committed to ‘protect’ Punjab and if needed they will approach the Supreme Court in this matter.

Channi speaks against Article 370 abrogation, calls Akalis ‘supporters of drug mafia’

The Punjab CM also attacked the Akali Dal for supporting the centre when Articles 370 was abrogated. He reportedly added that the said articles should not have been abrogated and it was Akali Dal’s ‘double faced’ policy when they supported the BJP government at the centre for the same. Channi stated that abrogation of Article 370 was a move that undermined the federal structure of the country.

Channi even called the SAD the gateway through with the RSS and the BJP entered Punjab. He also called the Akali leaders ‘supporters of drug mafias’.

Following Channi’s remarks, SAD started protesting strongly and Congress and Akali leaders almost came to blows inside the assembly. Finally, the speaker had to adjourn the house.

Amarinder Singh criticises resolution

Following the events at the Punjab assembly, former CM Amarinder Singh has criticised the Channi government’s move. Singh stated, “Extending operational jurisdiction of BSF neither infringes upon the federal authority of Punjab, nor questions competence of state police in maintaining law n order, as some vested political interests are trying to make out. It concerns national security, must not be politicised.”

Singh tweeted, “Unfortunately people playing up the issue are unable to make out the difference between law & order and national security. BSF like Punjab Police is our own force and not an external or foreign army coming to occupy our land.”

It is notable here that Amarinder Singh had been vocal against Channi’s attempts to politicise the BSF jurisdiction issue. He had stated earlier too that BSF will only help and assist Punjab Police and they are for Punjab’s protection. He had asserted that there are cross border threats that the state police are not equipped enough to face and BSF will ensure the state’s security, especially in cases of narco-terrorism that are now rampant in Punjab.

Sagarika Ghose blames Hindus for doing Chhat Puja instead of questioning Delhi CM over poisonous froth in Yamuna River

OpIndia Staff
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Sagarika Ghose blames Hindus for doing Chhat Puja instead of questioning Delhi CM over poisonous froth in Yamuna River

On November 11, journalist Sagarika Ghose blamed devotees celebrating Chhath for going into the polluted river without consideration for ‘public health’. She called it ‘blind faith over public health’. Ghose wrote, “Blind faith over public health. Is there anything ‘holy’ about a river submerged in poisonous froth?” Ghose had quoted ANI’s video in which a woman was seen taking a dip in the polluted Yamuna river in Delhi, followed by several other devotees doing the same.

Journalist Sagarika Ghose blamed devotees and called them followers of blind faith but did not mention Delhi govt. Source: Twitter

Interestingly, Ghose did not mention the Kejriwal-led Delhi government that had promised over and over to clean the Yamuna but did not do so apparently to keep it alive as a ‘promise’ that they can give during elections. The journalist, who often peddles fake news, also seems to not comprehend that just because a politician failed to clean the river, as he had promised, it does not stop being holy for Hindus.

Sagarika Ghose was also quick to denigrate Hinduism by calling Chhat Puja, celebrated by millions, “blind faith”. From the tweet, it was apparent that Ghose had no intention to raise awareness for public health or even question the AAP government for not fulfilling its promise. Her intention seemed to be to take potshots at Hindu festivals celebrated with great piety and fervour.

Ghose’s tweet attracted sharp criticism across sections on social media for two reasons. First, she called the helpless devotees followers of ‘blind faith’ and second, she completely ignored the incompetence of the Delhi government to clean the river.

Supreme Court Advocate and Goa Chronicle editor Shashank Shekhar Jha said, “Instead of questioning the Delhi government, you’re villainizing the devotees and calling the celebration of Chhath as “Blind faith”?! Shameful!”

Instead of replying to him, Ghose decided to quietly block Shashank.

Twitter user Vishal Kulshrestha said Ghose’s tweet shows she has blind faith in Aam Aadmi Party. He said, “Sagarika Ghose this shows your blind faith in Aam Aadmi Party, rather than making the government accountable to clean the river you are blaming people.”

Advocate Shubhendu wrote, “Shame on Sagarika Ghose! Instead of questioning and blaming Arvind Kejriwal & his government for destroying Yamuna, she is blaming the helpless (because they have no other place to go and observe Chhath Puja) devotees and calling their faith ‘blind faith’.”

Twitter user Singh Surya Dev Ajit said, “Raise questions on faith but don’t question the ones sitting in the government. Especially Delhi AAP government. Arrangements should have been done by govt. Where they failed and citizens were bound to get into the toxic waters. Sad state of 4th pillar Of democracy.”

Twitter user NagpurKiRani questioned her why she hates Hindus so much. She said, “Hello Sagarika Ghose, Why you hate Hindus and Hinduism so much?”

Twitter user Rajeev Dubey said, “Bigotry needs no introduction. Sagarika Ghose demeans Hindus rather than questioning her favorite Arvind Kejriwal. The writer, really (?), of something called ‘Why I’m a Liberal…’, then blocks a SC lawyer when questioned! How scarcely liberal, rather cheaply illiberal.”

Sagarika Ghose’s previous stunts

This is not the first time Ghose tried to play ‘genius patrakar’ but failed miserably. In January 2021, while Delhi was facing the violent mob of so-called farmers on Republic Day, Ghose was busy celebrating the violence. In the same month, she had quoted a handle named Hindutva Watch and shared fake news that Right Wing Hindus were involved in the Capitol Hill incident. In December 2020, she shared her views on issues like Love Jihad and expressed that Hindus should be okay with it just because she liked a Turkish show she was ‘binge watching’ at that time.

Kejriwal’s scientific ways to control pollution in Yanmuna

Amidst backlash over pollution in the Yamuna river, the Delhi Jal Board, which comes under the supreme leadership of Aam Aadmi Party’s founder and Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, came up with amazing “scientific” solutions to provide some relief from the toxin pollutants in the river. They lodged bamboo brigades to stop the toxic foam and also dispersed water on the river to control the toxic foam. Both the methods were mocked on social media. Notably, Kejriwal has promised the people of Delhi to clean the Yamuna several times and crores of rupees were allotted for the same but no groundwork is visible since Kejriwal became CM for the first time in 2013.

‘Reading Quran every day’: Mathew Hayden reveals Muhammad Rizwan gifted him an English translation of the Islamic holy book

OpIndia Staff
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‘Reading Quran every day’: Mathew Hayden reveals Muhammad Rizwan gifted him an English translation of the Islamic holy book

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden, who has been appointed as the Batting Coach of the Pakistan cricket team for the 2021 T20 World Cup, has revealed that he was gifted a copy of the Quran by Pakistani cricketer Muhammad Rizwan. In an interview given to News Corp Australia, Hayden said that Rizwan gave him an English version of the Islamic Holy Book.

Matthew Hayden said that he was curious about Islam, and knowing this, Rizwan gifted him an English translation of the Holy Quran. He informed that the duo also talked about Islam and its beliefs, and he is reading Quran a bit daily. Talking about the moment when he was given the book, Hayden said, “It was Rizzy (Mohammad Rizwan) and I have to say it was a beautiful moment I will never forget. I am curious about Islam even though I am a Christian. One follows Christ and the other Muhammad and in a sense never shall meet but he presented me with an English version of the Quran. We sat on the floor for half an hour and talked through it. I am reading a bit of it each day. Rizzy is one of my favourite individuals, a champion human being.”

Hayden also praised the Pakistani cricket team for the spirituality of the cricketers. “I was taken aback by how neutral and humble these guys are. How everything is just meant to be. It has been great fun. They are really coachable athletes as well. It stems from a deep sense of spirituality. As a westerner, you don’t realize the implications of having that commitment and faith. Even their salat – their five different prayer sessions a day. You can be outside a lift or even in a lift and if it is time for salat that is what happens. These guys connect at a higher level. It’s not like ‘how ya going, today mate?’” he said.

Earlier also Matthew Hayden had talked about the spirituality of Pakistani cricketers. He had said that the current unit of the Pakistan Cricket Team is united and focused on their ultimate goal. He said he has witnessed remarkable spirituality that bonds the team which he has not seen in any other team, and the team has spectacular discipline. Hayden had informed that the whole team prays together and this is the incredible experience of his life.

“Every day there is this unbelievable discipline. You can be walking to the lift, and there will be prayer time and at the base of the lift, there will be the whole of the team praying in unison. It’s a phenomenal cultural experience for me personally,” Hayden had stated.

While Hayden is all praise for the spirituality of the Pakistani cricketers, some Twitter users saw this from a different angle. Many Twitter users, mainly from India, said that Muhammad Rizwan is trying to convert Matthew Hayden to Islam by gifting the copy of Quran.

Some people even ‘warned’ other cricketers that they may be the next target of this ‘conversion attempt’.

It is notable in this regard that several Pakistani cricketers are known for their communal bigotry against non-Muslims. Several cricketers like Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Anwar, Muhammad Yusuf etc have made communal remarks against non-Muslims. Moreover, it was revealed that ex-cricketer Danish Kaneria was mistreated by the team and the administration for being Hindu.

Besides UNICEF India and CBFC, NCPCR pulls up West Bengal Govt over screening of films on same-sex relations in schools

OpIndia Staff
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Besides UNICEF India and CBFC, NCPCR pulls up West Bengal Govt over screening of films on same-sex relations in schools

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote a letter to the West Bengal government on November 10, Wednesday, in addition to shooting off letters to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and UNICEF India, seeking information about eight short films on same-sex relationships scheduled to be screened at schools in West Bengal.

In the letter addressed to Hari Krishna Dwivedi, the Chief Secretary for the Government of West Bengal, the apex child rights body sought the state government’s comments on the matter. NCPCR posed identical questions to the West Bengal government that it had asked CBFC and UNICEF India to answer within 10 days of receiving the letter signed by NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanungo.

SS of the letter by NCPCR to the Govt of West Bengal

It asked the Mamata Banerjee government whether the films have obtained certification for screening in the state or not. NCPCR also wanted to know what category of certification has been provided to the selected movies, if they obtained certification.

NCPCR further asked under which mandate the movies have been selected to be screened for minor children in West Bengal in collaboration with UNICEF, and what factors were taken into consideration for screening the films on same-sex relationships.

Like the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and UNICEF India, the government of West Bengal has also been asked to provide this information within 10 days of receiving the letter.

NCPCR wrote to the two organisations and to the WB state government on the basis of a complaint submitted with it, based on a Times of India report published on November 9 which said that 8 short films based on same-sex relationships will be screened in schools of Kolkata to promote ‘inclusive education’. The films are to be screened after the schools are reopened.

The child rights body also wrote to UNICEF India regarding the matter, as the films are being screened in collaboration with UNICEF.

SS of NCPCR’s letters written to UNICEF India and the Censor Board

The eight short films scheduled to be screened before minors in schools in Kolkata are made by young filmmakers and have been shortlisted for the Bad and Beautiful World Film Festival organised by Prayasam, a Kolkata based NGO. Prayasam is a UNICEF partner organisation, and the filmmakers are students of Prasayam Visual Basics, a grassroots film studio supported by Adobe.

The eight films are made by four filmmakers, ‘Dwitiyo Purush’, ‘Dekha’ and ‘Dakkhina’ by Salim Sheikh; ‘Dhora Pore Gechi Aami‘, ‘Dutto‘ and ‘Deya Neya‘ by Manish Chowdhury; ‘Durbin‘ by Saptarshi Ray and ‘DumbBell’ by Avijit Marjit. The films deal with subjects like homosexuality, live-in same-sex relationship, male escort etc. There are concerns that the movies may not be appropriate for children, due to which a complaint was filed with NCPCR and it prompted NCPCR to take cognizance of the same.

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