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Sameer Wankhede writes to SC Commission over harassment by Nawab Malik, wife approaches CM’s office

OpIndia Staff
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Sameer Wankhede writes to SC Commission over harassment by Nawab Malik, wife approaches CM’s office

NCB Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede on Thursday wrote a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes alleging his continuous harassment by Maharashtra government minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik.

Sameer Wankhede has been facing a barrage of allegations and harassment right after he dared to arrest Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in the Cordelia Cruise drugs bust case on October 2.

Interestingly, Malik going personal against Wankhede and hitting below the belt stems from the fact that Wankhede had arrested Sameer Khan, son-in-law of the minister in a separate drugs case earlier in January 2021.

Malik released some documents in the public domain to claim that Wankhede was actually a Muslim who took benefit of reservation for Scheduled Caste to get the coveted job in Indian Revenue Service. Malik released his purported birth certificate and Nikahnama. Malik claimed that on December 7, 2006, when Wankhede was married to Shabana Qureshi his name was mentioned as Sameer Dawood Wankhede in the Nikahnama.

Malik had further alleged Wankhede had tried to extort money from Shah Rukh Khan. He raised suspicions on Maldives visit of the officer and later on shared a letter against Wankhede purportedly written by an NCB officer. Malik has been aimlessly shooting in the hope that some of them might work against Wankhede and he may be withdrawn from the investigation.

The NCB officer writing to the SC Commission has come after he had approached the Bombay High Court for protection. Fearing his arrest by Mumbai police, Wankhede on Thursday had requested that any investigation against him should be conducted only by CBI or NIA, and not by Mumbai Police. 

However, the court rejected his petition following an assurance from the Maharashtra government that he will be given three days’ notice before police arrest him in the extortion case.

Earlier on October 27, a complaint was lodged with the Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Home Ministry and National Commission of Scheduled Castes against Nawab Malik under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act, for Obstruction of Justice, misuse & abuse of power to threaten & intimidate NCB officer Mr Sameer Wankhede belonging to SC/ST community.

The complaint was filed by some Dalit activists.

 Kranti Redkar Wankhede, the wife Sameer Wankhede writes to Maharashtra Chief Minister

On Thursday, Kranti Redkar Wankhede, the wife of NCB officer Sameer Wankhede, wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. She stated that Thackeray’s minister is carrying out an attack on her family and her personal life. Kranti Redkar is a Marathi actress by profession and she was married to Wankhede in 2017. She posted the letter on her Twitter handle and tagged it to the Maharashtra CMO.

“Being a Marathi person, I expect justice from your side since my personal life is unnecessarily dragged into a controversy. Had late Balasaheb Thackeray been alive today, he would not have tolerated any personal attack on a woman’s dignity. The dignity of a woman has become a joke in the regime that draws inspiration from king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” she said.

On Thursday, Kranti Redkar along with her father-in-law Dnyandev Wankhede also met senior Maharashtra BJP leader Kirti Somaiya. “They are disturbed by the Slanderous / Dirty Propaganda by the Minister against their Family Members,” Kirti Somaiya tweeted.

Wankhede’s sister writes to National Commission for Women

It seems that the Wankhede family has now pulled up its socks to legally fight the low politics of minister Malik.  Wankhede’s sister advocate Yasmeen Wankhede, has approached the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the police against Malik. Yasmeen wrote to the Women Commission requesting to “safeguard her constitutional rights as a woman” as Malik has been violating her privacy. She said that the minister is sharing her pictures from her social media profiles to make baseless allegations against her brother.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma told ANI that Yasmeen in her letter has said that she is being stalked online and her pictures were downloaded from social media and circulated in the press. She said that the Commission will write to Maharashtra DGP about it.

“Right to privacy is her right and how come anyone circulates her pictures which were taken out without her permission. We will take up this matter on police apathy also,” the NCW chairperson said.         

Islamist outfit PFI files defamation suit against Republic TV for their coverage of Darrang incident, court summons Arnab Goswami: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Islamist outfit PFI files defamation suit against Republic TV for their coverage of Darrang incident, court summons Arnab Goswami: Details

On Thursday (October 28), a Delhi Court summoned Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami after Islamist group Popular Front of India (PFI) filed a defamation suit against him and fellow Editor Ananya Verma. PFI had accused the duo of ‘false reporting’ and tarnishing its image.

It had also attached the News Broadcast standards Association (NBSA) as one of the respondents in the matter. As per reports, the outfit sought ₹1 lakh in damages and a ‘mandatory injunction’ on Republic TV against reporting anything defamatory about PFI. The order for the summons was issued by Additional Civil Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan. The matter has been adjourned until January 3 next year.

The defamation suit pertained to the coverage of the Darrang incident in Assam. PFI had accused Republic TV of publishing an article titled, “Darrang Firing: 2 arrested with PFI links, accused of mobilizing crowds for protest”, which was published on the website of Republic TV. The Islamist outfit had also alleged that the news channel aired another programme titled, “Assam violence probe: Two PFI men arrested” on the live telecast.

Scrrengrab of the Repunlic tV article Ananya Verma

The Popular Front of India claimed that the two people arrested in the Darrang violence, namely, Md Asmat Ali and Md Chand Mamud were not connected to the outfit. In its defamation suit, it alleged, “In the said news article/ telecast, the defendants have made false and frivolous accusations against the plaintiff with the intent to provoke people and to cause prejudice to the name, image and goodwill of the plaintiff… The defendants have deliberately made such libellous, defamatory and derogatory allegations with the motive to defame and malign the image of the plaintiff.”

PFI claimed that Republic TV published the news without proper verification and enquiry and that its coverage was a blot on freedom of speech and expression. It had cited the statement of Darrang SP who supposedly claimed that the two accused were panchayat members and not that of PFI. The radical Islamist outfit, represented by one Shakeel Abbas, added that it had sent a legal notice to Republic TV on September 30 seeking an unconditional apology but in vain. It added that the channel had sent a ‘false and evasive reply’ in return.

Violence in Darrang district in Assam, encroachers resist eviction drive

On September 23, an eviction drive conducted by the administration in Darrang district in Assam had turned violent after encroachers of the land attacked security forces. While 9 policemen were injured in the attack by the mob of illegal encroachers, 2 attackers were killed in retaliatory police firing.

The incident took place at the Dholpur in the Garukhuti area near the Sipajhar town in Darrang district in Assam, where the Himanta Biswa Sarma government is conducting an eviction drive of illegal settlers on land belonging to the government or other organisations like temples. When the eviction party reached the place inhabited by Bengali-speaking Muslims on Thursday, hundreds of people clashed with the police, attacking them with stones, machetes, pointed bamboo sticks, etc.

Congress supporters try to claim ‘clean chit’ in 2G and Coal scam by spinning an apology by former CAG Vinod Rai to Sanjay Nirupam

OpIndia Staff
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Congress supporters try to claim ‘clean chit’ in 2G and Coal scam by spinning an apology by former CAG Vinod Rai to Sanjay Nirupam

Former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai has tendered an unconditional apology to Sanjay Nirupam for taking his name as one of the Congress MPs who was pressurising him to leave the former PM Manmohan Singh’s name out from his report on 2G Spectrum allocation. In response to a defamation case filed by Sanjay Nirupam, Vinod Rai tendered an apology and said that he had erroneously taken Nirupam’s name. Rai said this in an affidavit before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s court in Patiala House where Nirupam had filed a defamation case against the former CAG.

This apology, however, was spun by Congress supporters, leaders and trolls to allege that the former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress had got a ‘clean chit’ in the allocation scam. They further used the apology to allege that the 2G allocation scam did not take place at all and that the nation was misled by Anna Hazare and Vinod Rai.

Manish Tewari took to Twitter to congratulate Sanjay Nirupam for the apology from Vinod Rai. He further ended his tweet by saying, “He (Vinod Rai) should apologise to the nation for his fanciful 2-G & Coal Blocks allocation Reports also”.

Congress troll Rachit Seth “reminded” people that Vinod Rai and Anna Hazare “damaged the nation”. Essentially, he meant that Vinod Rai’s report on the 2G Spectrum allocation scam “damaged the nation” because it was false.

Another Congress troll said that Vinod Rai’s “unconditional apology” was not enough for misleading the nation. He even termed his CAG report an ‘anti-national act’.

There were 100s of other tweets from Congress leaders, trolls and supporters that used the apology by Vinod Rai to Sanjay Nirupam to insinuate that the 2G scam did not happen at all and that the apology exonerated Congress and former PM Manmohan Singh.

However, is that true? Does the apology by Vinod Rai exonerate Congress? Does it mean that Congress MPs actually did not pressurise him to leave Manmohan Singh’s name out of the report?

What former CAG Vinod Rai said in his apology to then Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam

Former CAG Vinod Rai had repeatedly said in 2014 and during the launch of his book that several Congress MPs had then pressurised him to keep former PM Manmohan Singh’s name out of the 2G Spectrum allocation report. In his affidavit, Rai said, “I made certain statements against Sanjay Nirupam particularly in 2014 subsequent to the launch of my book ‘Not just an Accountant: The Diary of the Nation’s Conscience Keeper’. I have realised that I had inadvertently and wrongly mentioned the name of Sanjay Nirupam as one of the MPs who pressurised me to keep the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s name out of the CAG report on 2-G Spectrum allocation during the meetings of the Public Accounts Committee and on the sidelines of the Joint Parliamentary Committee”.

Rai also apologised for the agony his remarks caused to Nirupam and his well-wishers. Nirupam had pressed defamation charges against Rai after the ex-CAG made references in respect of the Congress leader in his book and in media interviews that followed the launch of the book.

“Vinod Rai stands discharged in the case. His apology was accepted by Sanjay Nirupam and the matter was disposed of after recording Nirupam’s statement,” said RK Handoo, Nirupam’s lawyer.

Does the apology by Vinod Rai change anything? Does it exonerate Congress or former PM Manmohan Singh?

Congress trolls and leaders have come out of the woodworks after the apology from Vinod Rai. They have insinuated that Vinod Rai’s apology for taking Sanjay Nirupam’s name means that the entire 2G Spectrum allocation report had been discredited.

However, that is not the truth.

Vinod Rai said, in his apology, “I have realised that I had inadvertently and wrongly mentioned the name of Sanjay Nirupam as one of the MPs who pressurised me to keep the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s name out of the CAG report on 2-G Spectrum allocation during the meetings of the Public Accounts Committee and on the sidelines of the Joint Parliamentary Committee”.

Essentially, his apology meant that him taking Sanjay Nirupam’s name specifically was a mistake. However, he did not say that other Congress MPs did not pressurise him to keep former PM Manmohan Singh’s name out of the scam report.

He also did not say anything about retracting his findings of scam in the report that he had submitted, detailing the scam.

Therefore, it is inexplicable how Congress is spinning this as a “clean chit” to either Manmohan Singh and the Congress in the 2G scam and the coal scam. It also does not mean that other Congress MPs did not pressurise him to leave Manmohan Singh out of the report.

Interestingly, in 2017, a special CBI court had acquitted all accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, in the 2G spectrum allocation scam cases. All of the 19 accused were acquitted of all charges in the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering case which comes under the gamut of the 2G scam case.

Even then, the Congress and their sympathetic journalists had taken to Twitter to exonerate Congress and claim that the 2G scam did not happen at all.

However, the Supreme Court had in 2012 itself declared that the allocation of 2G spectrum by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was “illegal” and was an example of the arbitrary exercise of power. It had then cancelled all 122 telecom licences allotted on or after January 10, 2008, to 11 companies during the tenure of the former telecom minister, A. Raja.

In this case, it was akin to saying that the murder did not occur simply because the accused was acquitted. Now, it is like saying that just because one lackey was named wrongly, the others did no wrong either. The 2G scam was pegged at Rs. 1.76 lac crores by former CAG Vinod Rai. In this case, it would seem like the loss is there, but Congress wants us to believe that nobody really committed the scam at all.

Congress is clearly desperate to wash away the Congress’ image of being corrupt, however, at this point, it would seem like the Congress is clutching on to straws.

No Ram to Jai Shri Ram: U-turn Kejriwal building Ram Mandir replica for ‘Dilli Ki Diwali’ celebrations

OpIndia Staff
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No Ram to Jai Shri Ram: U-turn Kejriwal building Ram Mandir replica for ‘Dilli Ki Diwali’ celebrations

Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government is reportedly building a replica of the under-construction Ayodhya Ram Mandir, at the Thyagaraj Stadium Complex in New Delhi as part of its ‘Dilli ki Diwali’ celebrations. 

Reportedly, the temple replica is set to be 30-foot-high and 80-foot-wide. It will be a part of the stage where the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will perform Diwali puja on November 4.

“The construction work is being done as per the directions from the Deputy Chief Minister’s (Manish Sisodia) office. An event management company was selected and a work order has been issued,” reported the Hindu quoting a source. 

Talking about the setup, a worker said, “The Ram Mandir will be part of the stage. It will be built on a metal frame and will have plywood over it. The exterior of the temple will be made of thermocol.”

The construction of the replica began on Thursday and is said to be completed by Sunday. 

From ‘No Ram’ to ‘Jai Shri Ram’

Kejriwal and many of his ministers had objected to the Ram Mandir and had even tried to shame and condemn the Hindu community for wanting to build it. However, as the Supreme Court verdict came and the overwhelming public opinion seemed to be favouring the Temple, Kejriwal quickly took one of his famous U-turns.

The AAP leadership have turned into devotees running pillar to post or rather temple to temple to allegedly seek blessings of Hindu deities. 

Kejriwal who vehemently opposed the construction of Ayodhya Ram Mandir for political gains is now participating in multiple programs, offering obeisance to Lord Ram. 

Early this week, Kejriwal sporting a rather awkward look, attended the Aarti on the banks of the Saryu River.

Prior to this, declaring himself a Ram Bhakt, Kejriwal announced taking senior citizens from New Delhi to a trip to Ayodhya Ram Mandir. 

However, not long ago, Kejriwal on several occasions had questioned the need for a Ram Mandir. 

In 2014, he had shamed the Hindus for trying to build a temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram saying his Nani (grandmother) would never have approved of it.

When Ayodhya Ram Mandir was a distant reality, Kejriwal mocked the intent and repeatedly said that the government should instead build schools, colleges and hospitals. However, Kejriwal found his way to the same temple, the day PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of the temple. 

Not just the Delhi CM, his colleagues have also time and again opposed the construction of Ram Mandir. AAP leader Sanjay Singh, in an attempt to gain relevancy in politics, had run a misinformation campaign alleging funds misappropriations by the BJP and Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust in June this year. 

Mumbai: Youth who complained to BMC against Munawar Faruqui’s now-cancelled shows receives death threats

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Youth who complained to BMC against Munawar Faruqui’s now-cancelled shows receives death threats

Rattled by the embarrassment, fans of Munawar Faruqui have issued death threats to Siddhant Mohite, founder of Saffron Think Tank for speaking out against the communal and out-on-bail comedian. Mohite has also written a letter asking for police protection owing to the death threats.

Faruqui was all set to perform his next act ‘Dongri to Nowhere’ in Mumbai, however, a fierce campaign led by Mohite has resulted in the cancellation of the former’s shows by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) citing ‘administrative reasons.’ 

‘Go Back Munawar’

Faruqui was all set to perform on October 29 at Prabodhankar Thackeray Natya Mandir hall in Mumbai suburbs (Borivali) and on October 30 and 31 at Rangsharda auditorium in Bandra.

However, sharing Faruqui’s anti-Hindu stand-up comedy clips, Mohite shot a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, governor and other security agencies opposing Faruqui’s shows in Mumbai. 

In his letter dated October 15, Mohite stated that the supposed comedian has active criminal cases filed against him for stirring religious unrest and that no organizer should promote such artists. 

Detailing Faruqui’s history, Mohite mentioned how the artist sang offensive songs/anthems during the anti- CAA protests, worded his insulting stand-up comedy act on Hindu gods such as Lord Ram and Maa Sita.

Specifying the sections under which Faruqui has been charged, Mohite also mentioned that the comedian’s latest act is supposedly based on the story of a criminal and that such content should not be encouraged amongst youngsters.

“Munawar is currently out on bail and he has not apologized as yet for hurting the Hindu sentiments. He can very well perform after he receives a clean chit from the relevant Courts,” said Mohite while speaking with OpIndia. “Surprisingly, the organizers of Faruqui’s shows had not sought police permission for conducting the event,” informed Mohite further.

Munawar took to Instagram to announce the cancellation of his shows claiming that the safety of his fans may be compromised if he goes ahead with the shows.

Munawar Faruqui’s Instagram post

Prior to Mumbai, organizations such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal had risen in protest resulting in the cancellation of all shows organized in Gujarat for the alleged comedian.

Faruqui’s fans issue death threats

After the BMC ordered the cancellation of Faruqui’s shows in Mumbai, his fans have been issuing death threats to Mohite. The founder of Saffron Think Tank has been receiving ‘Rest In Peace’ messages from Faruqui’s fans who have initiated a targeted campaign to attack him.

Interestingly, Faruqui assured Mohite that he will ask his fans to stop issuing death threats, however, in the same message the alleged comedian claimed, “Fans get sentimental at times.”

Munawar Faruqui’s Instagram chat

Mohite in a letter dated October 27 has urged for police protection. 

Faruqui’s ‘comedy’ acts

During a show in April last year, Munawar Faruqui had mocked the 2002 Godhra carnage where 58 Hindus returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive by a Muslim mob. In a part of the clip that had gone viral on social media, one can hear him refer to the carnage as a fictional film ‘directed’ by Amit Shah and ‘produced’ by RSS.

Participating in the anti-CAA protests, Faruqui made a song in which he said, ‘Changa Changa bolke Danga Karaoge’

In January this year, Faruqui had mocked Mata Sita by comparing her to Bollywood actresses. 

Munawar Faruqui’s Instagram Post

Faruqui in an attempt to encourage the ongoing farmers’ protest, in his Instagram post asked the farmers to “grow weed, instead of wheat,” thereby, promoting drug consumption and unrest. 

‘Desperate’ Utah hospitals appeal for donation of used crutches and wheelchairs as the USA faces massive supply chain chaos

OpIndia Staff
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‘Desperate’ Utah hospitals appeal for donation of used crutches and wheelchairs as the USA faces massive supply chain chaos

While the United States of America remains worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic superpower is facing a massive shortage of various products due to supply chain issues. The problem has become so big that one healthcare provider in the US has asked the citizens to donate used wheelchairs, crutches etc.

Intermountain Healthcare, a healthcare system in Intermountain West that provides services in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, has issued an appeal to people in Utah recently where it asked people to check their closets, attics and garages for used metal crutches and other walk-assist equipment.

Reportedly, hospitals in Utah are facing critical shortages of aluminium crutches, canes, walkers and nonmotorized wheelchairs, forcing the hospitals to seek donations of used items from the public. Intermountain Healthcare, University of Utah Healthcare, the Utah Hospital Association and Steward Health Care have launched a donation drive called LeanOnUtah, seeking donations of used but working equipment that may be sitting idle in closets, garages or attics in the houses.

“We are in desperate need of your canes, walkers, wheelchairs and crutches in order to provide patients with the care they need,” said Dr. Joey Kamerath, senior medical director for rehabilitation at Intermountain Healthcare.

According to doctors, the crisis is not limited to Utah, but all the states are facing the same at various scales. And the worst part is that nobody knows when the supply of such essential items will return normal.

Conservative TV host Tucker Carlson strongly criticised the Biden administration over the shortage. He said on Thursday that in 2019, USA had donated crutches and wheelchairs to enemy nation Venezuela, but now the country itself is facing massive and dangerous shortage of everything.

The shortage of walking aides is partly caused by the global shortage of aluminium, and along with that raw and fabrication materials are also in shortage. But that is only part of the problem because USA is facing a supply chain crisis across the board, resulting in a shortage of a range of products, not just healthcare equipment.

Reportedly, shelves in stores in the USA are turning empty as everything from food to toys are in short supply. Medical labs are running out of supplies like pipettes and petri dishes, and restaurants are facing trouble sourcing food. Automobile, paint and electronics firms are curtailing production due to the global semiconductor shortage. Burger King in Florida even had to stop selling French Fries as they had run out of potatoes. Americans not getting French Fries at a fast-food store is no small matter.

The supply chain issues that started with the Covid-19 pandemic last year has not been resolved yet, and the USA is facing long delays in the arrival of products from manufacturing countries in Asia.

There are several reasons behind the shortage of products in the USA. In most countries in the world, lockdowns imposed due to the pandemic have been lifted, which has resulted in a spike in the demand for goods. But the production and supply chains disrupted during the lockdown are yet to bounce back, resulting in shortages. Disruption in the supply of one product leads to disruption in the production of every other product that uses it as input. For example, the global semiconductor shortage has affected everything that uses chips, from cars to electronics devices. The shortage of truck drivers in various countries has also resulted in disruptions in the supply of products.

‘Welcome home Prince Aryan’: Bail celebrations for SRK’s son spark mockery, netizens question cracker hypocrisy

OpIndia Staff
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‘Welcome home Prince Aryan’: Bail celebrations for SRK’s son spark mockery, netizens question cracker hypocrisy

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was granted bail in the Mumbai cruise ship drugs case by the Bombay High Court on Thursday. Subsequently, celebrations have begun outside the actor’s residence ‘Mannat’. Fans are celebrating the fact that ‘Prince Aryan Khan’ has been granted bail.

A banner was spotted outside Mannat that said ‘Welcome home Prince Aryan’. The banner has attracted severe mockery from people on social media. Users do not appear to have much good to say about the celebrations that have ensued over the bail, and especially, the banner.

One user rued the time that was invested in making the banner.

Others commented that the banner was reflective of an unemployment crisis in the country.

Netizens question hypocrisy over firecrackers after Shah Rukh Khan fans burst crackers to celebrate bail for Aryan Khan

However, most users were incensed over the fact that firecrackers are discouraged and banned during Diwali but bail celebrations for Aryan Khan used firecrackers in abundant measure. People questioned the blatant duplicity in the manner in which the ban on firecrackers is imposed.

Others said that it would have been better if Aryan Khan was released during Diwali so that Hindus could use the excuse to burst firecrackers.

Some said that the firecrackers have ‘secular’ immunity.

Aryan Khan, Arbaz and Dhamecha were arrested by NCB on October 3, following a raid on the cruise ship Cordelia in Mumbai by the bureau on October 2. After the bail order was granted, former Advocate General Mukul Rohatgi, who had appeared for Aryan, stated that the formal order of the HC will be given on Friday, October 29.

Malaysia: Court of Appeal quashes conversion of minors to Islam by mother without father’s consent, cites landmark Indira Gandhi verdict

OpIndia Staff
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Malaysia: Court of Appeal quashes conversion of minors to Islam by mother without father’s consent, cites landmark Indira Gandhi verdict

The Court of Appeal (COA) of Malaysia on Wednesday upheld the judgment of Kuala Lumpur High Court in the conversion case of two minor children by their mother without the consent of the father. In the judgment given three years back, the High court had set aside the conversion of two minor children from Buddhism to Islam. The court had also again defined that in religious conversion case the word parent in the Federal Constitution refers to both parents and not just one of them.

COA referred to the landmark Federal court judgment in the M Indira Gandhi case, where a unilateral decision for the conversion of children to Islam by their father was declared unlawful by the apex court.

The three-judge bench headed by Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin and Md Diah unanimously upheld Kuala Lumpur High Court the verdict. Two other members of the bench Justice Zabidin and Justices Datuk S Nantha Balan and Datuk Nordin Hassan had their consent to this judgment. “We are of the opinion that the High Court judge and this Court of Appeal bench are bound by the Federal Court decision in the M Indira Gandhi case. There is no appealable error in this matter. We find there is no merit in the appeal. The decision of the High Court judge is affirmed,” the bench said while delivering the judgment on October 27. The Court withheld the identity of mother and minors.

In the current case, a woman who was Buddhist by birth converted to Islam sometime in 2015. And, the next year, she had converted her children to Islam, by bringing them to the Registrar of Muallaf, without the consent of their father. The children — a girl and boy who are 13 years and nine years old respectively — are under the custody of their father, who is a businessman by profession and Buddhist by faith.

The mad had filed a petition at the High Court against the conversion of the two minor children, and had made the mother, Muallaf, the director-general of the Education Ministry, the director-general of the Federal Territories Islamic Department and the federal government as respondents of this case. On Oct 16, 2018, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur allowed the judicial review by the father and accepted his contention that his two children born in a civil marriage, were converted to Islam without his consent.

By this time the five-man panel of the Federal Court in January 2018 had delivered judgment in the Indira Gandhi case and settled the matter that the consent of both parents in the conversion of a minor is a must. It was categorically said that the mother or father of such minor children can’t take any unilateral decision.

In fact, Kuala Lumpur High Court had based its judgment on the Indira Gandhi case. During the hearing, the Buddhist turned Muslim mother and Muallaf had tried to defend the conversion of the children and stated that it was quite a different case and it will be wrong to apply the judgment of Indira Gandhi case. It was stated that unlike in the Indira Gandhi case, where her children were not produced before Muallaf, the children in the current case had appeared before the Federal Territories Registrar of Muallaf and willingly recited the ‘syahadah’ (affirmation of faith).

Landmark judgment of Indira Gandhi

The Federal Court ruling in the M. Indira Gandhi case is hailed as a landmark decision that reaffirms the civil courts’ powers to declare unilateral conversions of children as unlawful. In that case, K. Pathmanathan, a Hindu, converted to Islam on March 11, 2009 and he became Muhammad Riduan Abdullah. On April 2 in the same year, he converted his three children to Islam who were born out of his civil marriage held in 1993 with Perak-based Hindu mother M. Indira Gandhi. He had converted them without her knowledge and consent.

M. Indira Gandhi had filed a case against this conversion of her three children without her consent, and in 2013, the Ipoh High Court had declared the conversion certificates of the three minor children Tevi Darshiny, Karan Dinesh and Prasana Diksa, as null and void. The high court had stated that consent of both parents is required for the religious conversion of minor children. However, in 2015, the Court of Appeal had quashed the high court order, saying that civil courts have no jurisdiction over matters related to conversion to Islam.

The Court of Appeals had ruled that whether a person is Muslim or not can be determined by the Sharia court only. It had said that the high court order declaring the conversion of three children as null and void had transgressed the exclusive jurisdiction of Sharia courts. The court order was applicable for the two younger children, as the eldest child had turned 18 and had the right to decide her religion.

Following this, M Indira Gandhi had approached the Federal Court, the apex court in Malaysia, and the court in 2018 had overturned the order by court of appeals. The court had ruled that consent of both parents must be sought for religious conversion of minors, said that the word “parent” should not be construed literally.

“The word ‘parent’ – is a case of being lost in translation. Both parents have equal rights,” the Federal Court had said.

The Federal Court had resolved a long-standing dispute over the word “parent” mentioned in Article 12 (4), as many argued that the consent of a parent may suffice. Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says that the religion of a person under the age of 18 years shall be decided by his or her parent or guardian. The Federal Court in the Indira Gandhi had ruled that parent means both the parents, settling the dispute.

However, this Hindu woman is still fighting to trace her daughter Prasana who is missing right after the conversion.

‘Industry kids are not targeted but outsiders are’: Actress Esha Gupta speaks up about casting couch in Bollywood

OpIndia Staff
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‘Industry kids are not targeted but outsiders are’: Actress Esha Gupta speaks up about casting couch in Bollywood

Actress Esha Gupta has spoken up about Casting Couch in Bollywood. In a recent interview, she has revealed that she does not get a lot of work because she would not consent to trade sex for roles. She made the comments during an interview with Bollywood Bubble.

Esha Gupta said about Casting Couch during the interview, “Yeah, two people, They’ve done that to me. One of them, well I did the film still. Because it was a little sly move. I think they also expected an outdoor shoot, we’ll just be really nice to her, things may change then. But I am also really smart, I said I am not going to sleep alone. I used to make my makeup artist sleep in the room with me. I said ‘Oh I am scared, I won’t sleep’. But, it’s not the ghosts that you are scared of, it’s the person. Because you never know when they…You also dont want to be disrespectful.”

She continued, “But the problem is also they only do it to us, they won’t do it to the industry kids because there their parents will come and kill you. But to us, they would do thinking she wants work. So eventually I saw a very dirty side of the person I worked with because they became very vindictive when they realised that ‘shit she is not going to do anything’. Because that is the only film where my mother also went with me.”

Regarding her second experience, Esha Gupta revealed,  “Then there was where halfway through the film, the co-producer told the maker of the film, ‘I dont want her in the movie. Why is she there?’ This is after 4-5 days of starting the shoot. He said, ‘No she is my Heroine.’ The maker came to me and asked ‘Did this happen with this guy?’ and I looked at him and laughed saying yes sir.” Consequently, she realised it was because she had refused to have sex with him.

She also said, “There are also people who dont give me work because they say, ‘She is not going to do anything, what’s the point?’ But you realise that you make your own way.”

Esha Gupta has acted in movies such as Jannat 2 and Raaz 3. Rockstar actress Nargis Fakhri had also opened up about Casting Couch in Bollywood and revealed that she had lost jobs because she would not sleep with the director.

UP Govt seizes property worth crores from Haji Galla, the kingpin of Meerut’s infamous car theft syndicate

OpIndia Staff
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UP Govt seizes property worth crores from Haji Galla, the kingpin of Meerut’s infamous car theft syndicate

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has, until now, seized properties worth Rs 10 crores belonging to Haji Galla alias Haji Naeem, the kingpin of Meerut’s auto theft syndicate. On Saturday (October 23) alone, Meerut police seized Haji Galla’s luxurious bungalow worth Rs 4 crore 10 lakh on the orders of the district magistrate. Moreover, his eight big shops were also seized and all his bank accounts were frozen.

Earlier, on Wednesday, October 20, the police had seized two residences and a warehouse belonging to Haji Galla.

The Meerut police, however, feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that Haji Galla still has Benami properties worth crores spread across UP. “We cannot give a figure at this point as to how much Galla is worth, but there are still a number of properties like shops in Sotiganj Market and a 1,200 sq yard land in Cantt area which are not under his name, but we believe belong to him. We are looking at his benami properties as well,” said additional superintendent of police Suraj Rai, who is spearheading the investigation.

Meerut police seizing properties belonging to Haji Galla

In addition, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched an investigation into 32 junkyards in Meerut’s Sotiganj Kabadi Bazar which are believed to be associated with Haji Galla aka Haji Naeem. Reports suggest that the Meerut police invoked the Gangster Act against the notorious scrap dealers who have been aiding Haji Galla in his car breaking business in Meerut.

Intense raids were conducted and a reward of Rs 25,000 and an attachment warrant was issued by the Meerut police, which compelled history-sheeter Haji Galla and his four sons to surrender before the court on October 7.

Following Haji Galla’s arrest, the Meerut police started secretly keeping a watch on 32 junkyards of Meerut’s Sotiganj Kabadi Bazar which used to cut up stolen vehicles. Complete evidence was collected and it was found that they have illegally made property worth about Rs 48 billion. Based on the evidence collected, the Meerut police began the crackdown on Meerut’s biggest car breaking business.

Who is history-sheeter Haji Galla

According to reports, for decades, Haji Galla’s family has been leading the business of stolen vehicles in the infamous Sotiganj Market of Meerut. Cars from several states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab but especially from NCR-Delhi were brought here and dismantled in no time. Haji Galla started his career as a car mechanic. Soon he started running one of the countries biggest car theft syndicates.

Haji Galla, the notorious car

His gang rose to infamy after mastering the art of dismantling cars in 15 minutes flat. It is believed that even if it took 3 hours to get a car from NCR to Meerut, in the 15 minutes after that, it vanished without a trace. National Highway 58 was the lifeline of Haji Galla’s operations.

The profitable components of the cars were retained and sold in shops, while others are “transplanted” into other vehicles. Galla, 70, and his four sons have been running this illegal yet extremely lucrative car-breaking business for decades.

Haji Galla escaped the police because of his strong political connection in the previous regime: Meerut Police

Galla, who was carrying a cash reward on his head had been evading the police for the last 15 years. The police said that many times prior to this they got their hands on the history-sheeter, but because of his strong political connection in the previous regime, he escaped arrest.

Meerut police raid Haji Galla’s scrapyards

According to the police, action against Galla began on February 27 when his son, Mohammad Shadab, opened fire on Arman Ahmad, a rival scrap dealer, in a dramatic shootout in the city. The incident, in which a bystander, Ajay Kumar, was tragically injured, almost pushed the city to the brink of communal riots.

Galla was eventually apprehended near his home in Sotiganj late on the night of October 6, after a reward of Rs 25,000 was placed on him by senior superintendent of police Manzil Saini.

He was apprehended for the first time in February 2015, after having been an absconder for 12 years. His political ties had, however, ensured his immediate release. Galla is notoriously known for his involvement in auto theft syndicates that operates throughout the northern states of the country. He was charged with violating the National Security Act (NSA) in 2006.

According to circle officer, Cantonment, Satpal Antil, a total of 27 criminal cases, including murder cases, have been filed against Galla. Some of which are registered in Delhi itself. Meerut SSP Manzi! Saini said that now since he has been arrested in the murder case, his other illegal activities and previous cases filed against him will also be dealt with.

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