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Tikait gives ultimatum to Union govt till Nov 26, says ‘will occupy govt offices if evicted from protest sites’

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Tikait gives ultimatum to Union govt till Nov 26, says ‘will occupy govt offices if evicted from protest sites’

Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait has issued yet another threat to the Government of India. Giving an ultimatum till November 26, Tikait in a Tweet said the protest will only intensify thereafter. 

“The central government has time till November 26, after that from November 27, farmers will reach the border by tractors to occupy the protests sites around Delhi and strengthen the tents,” Tikait Tweeted in Hindi. 

‘Will turn govt offices into mandis’

The so-called farmer leader further threatened to turn government offices into mandis if the government tried to dismantle their protest sites and tents. 

“If there is an attempt to forcibly remove the farmers from the borders, then we will turn government offices across the country into Galla Mandi,” Tikait declared in another Tweet. 

“If the farmers fail to sell their produce in mandis at a fair price, then, what better place to do so than the government offices?” he said additionally, as quoted by DNA. 

In a statement to the Hindustan Times, Tikait claimed, “Protest is a constitutional right. Farmers have been peacefully camping at the borders. If that right is taken away, then we will turn all main offices in districts across the country into grain markets. Our farmers are prepared to do it.”

Set to sell crops at parliament

As the Delhi police on Friday began removing the barricades from the Ghazipur (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) border, Tikait claimed that it was a move to dislodge the farmers’ protest.

The BKU leader has been issuing threats after threats since then. While speaking to Zee News, Rakesh Tikait had said, “They are removing the walls that they have built. Once the roads open, we will go to the Parliament to sell our crops. We will go once the roads open. We will do what the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) decides. We also wanted to go to Delhi for the past 11 months but they did not allow us to go. Our tractors will reach Delhi first.”

It is imperative to note that the Government of India has held 11 rounds of discussions with various farmer unions, however, the unions have demanded a complete rollback of the three Farm Laws leaving no scope for amendments or negotiations, and without even pointing out which parts of the farm laws are problematic for them. 

Kalinga Rights Forum urges NCPCR to take action over attack on 2-month-old Hindu kid by Islamists in Seelampur: Details

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Kalinga Rights Forum urges NCPCR to take action over attack on 2-month-old Hindu kid by Islamists in Seelampur: Details

Hindu activist group, Kalinga Rights Forum, has written to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), urging them to take cognizance of the attack on two-month-old Hindu kid and their parents in Seelampur, Delhi by Islamists. The attack reportedly took place on October 24 after the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match. The Islamists were celebrating the win of Pakistan over India. The Father of the kid asked to lower down their volume and was then attacked by the Islamists using bricks, gunfire, and bombs.

As per the complaint, the Muslims in the Seelampur area were bursting firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan’s win over India. The two-month-old kid was sleeping on the terrace. The father of the kid forbade the Islamists from bursting firecrackers as it would wake up the kid. Irked by the father, the Islamists allegedly started throwing bricks and bombs towards the terrace. The father claimed they did firing on the terrace with a motive to murder the kid. They attacked the parents of the kid with sharp weapons that led to deep injuries on the head of the father and another man who had rushed to their rescue.

A video of the father had surfaced on social media platforms in which he claimed that when they made an SOS call to the Police, no one came to save them. They were not provided with basic medical facilities or an ambulance. The father claimed they narrowly escaped from the area.

KRF said in the complaint that the family is being punished for being Hindu residing in Seelampur, Delhi. They said, “This shows gross mismanagement & inaction by Seelampur Police in this issue & there is no action done by police whatsoever to arrest the culprits who happen to be part of Muslim community.”

They further added that such inaction by the Police gives Islamists a free hand to initiate attacks and riots, just like the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots of February 2020. The group urged NCPCR to order a probe by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) against the Police for the inaction.

The group urged NCPCR to file FIR under sections of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection Act) 2015, UAPA, 307, 505 and 124A of IPC, Explosives Act and relevant sections against the culprits.

Ban on fireworks in Delhi

It is noteworthy that there is a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi till January 1, 2022, as per the orders of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee under the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government. On October 25, Gopal Rai, Delhi Environment Minister, had announced that strict action would be taken against those found bursting firecrackers. The ban on firecrackers for Diwali 2021 was first announced that by CM Kejriwal on September 15, where he had claimed it was “essential to save lives”. DPCC issued the orders on September 28. Despite the ban, the Islamists not only got possession of the firecrackers under Delhi Government’s watch but also burst them to celebrate Pakistan’s win over India in the T20 World Cup match.

Celebrations by Islamists on October 24

Several reports had emerged on October 24 that Islamists have celebrated Pakistan’s win over India in T20 World Cup match. Videos of Kashmiri students also emerged from different parts of the country where they were seen celebrating the win. Cases under UAPA have been filed against those who celebrated Pakistan’s win.

Nawab Malik blames Devendra Fadnavis for rising drug cases in Maharashtra, rants against SC commission VC for visiting Wankhede

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Nawab Malik blames Devendra Fadnavis for rising drug cases in Maharashtra, rants against SC commission VC for visiting Wankhede

On Sunday, October 31, the vice-chairperson of the National SC commission Arun Halder had visited NCB officer Sameer Wankhede’s home following the officer’s complaint of harassment against Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.

Following Halder’s visit, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had again launched his rant against the officer. Speaking to the media, Malik stated that Arun Halder giving a ‘clean chit’ to Wankhede was wrong and he should have conducted an investigation first and submitted a detailed report.

Malik added that he will complain against Halder to the president. Further, Malik stated that a person named Jaydeep Rana, currently in jail in connection to a drug trafficking case has links with former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Malik stated that Jaydeep Rana was the financial head of the ‘famous river song’ by the former CM’s wife Amruta Fadnavis. He also added that the ‘drug business’ grew in Maharashtra under Devendra Fadnavis rule.

Taking to Twitter, Malik shared a screenshot from YouTube, showing Jaydeep Rana in the credits for the ‘Mumbai River Anthem’ released by Amruta Fadnavis a couple of years ago.

Nawab Malik shared some photographs, saying they are of Jaydeep Rana posing with the former Maha CM and his wife. Malik also stated that another person close to the Fadnavis couple named Neeraj Gunde used to visit the NCB office often. Malik asserted that the cruise ship raid case was ‘fake’.

National SC commission VC says state can conduct a probe if needed

Arun Halder had reportedly examined some documents and had stated later that the officer belongs to the SC Mahar community and the attacks against him and his family are wrong. Halder had added, “In the central government, caste verification is not mandatory, but the state government is empowered to probe into the caste certificate of a resident of Maharashtra.”

Maharashtra’s Social Justice minister Dhananjay Munde had also confirmed that if the competent authority receives a complaint about forgery in the caste certificate, it will be investigated as per rules.

It is notable here that NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had been levelling continuous allegations against NCB officer Sameer Wankhede after Aryan Khan was arrested in the cruise ship drug case. Malik has stated that Wankhede is a Muslim and he had forged his caste certificate to show himself as an SC to get the job under quota. Malik had also been sharing the Wankhede family’s personal photographs and documents in the public to fan public opinion against the officer. He had also accused Wankhede of taking bribes.

It is notable here that Malik’s son in law Sameer Khan was previously arrested in a drug case under Wankhede and had spent several months in jail.

PM Modi to hold review meet with 48 districts that reported less than 50% first COVID vaccine dose coverage: Details

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi to hold review meet with 48 districts that reported less than 50% first COVID vaccine dose coverage: Details

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a detailed review meeting on Wednesday with 48 districts that have reported low first dose Covid-19 vaccine coverage. With over 106 crore vaccine doses administered in the country, over 40 districts have not achieved 50% of first-dose coverage.

To understand the cause and concern, PM Modi will have a detailed review meeting with the district magistrates of these districts. The meeting will also be attended by several Chief Ministers. 

As per an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, “Immediately after returning to the country after attending the G20 Summit and COP26, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will hold a review meeting with districts having low vaccination coverage, on 3rd November at 12 noon via video conferencing.”

“The meeting will include districts with less than 50% coverage of the first dose and low coverage of the second dose of Covid vaccine,” the statement stated further. 

Low coverage in Northeast and Jharkhand 

Out of the 48, 27 districts to have reported low coverage are in states of the Northeast, including eight districts each in Manipur and Nagaland.

As per data from the Health Ministry, the state of Jharkhand has as many as nine districts with less than 50 per cent first-dose vaccination coverage. 

Apart from this, six districts from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Haryana have also reported low vaccine coverage. 

Second dose to be accelerated

The data collated by the ministry on low first-dose vaccine coverage is from October 27. Additionally, Health Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has also raised alarm over dipping second-dose vaccine coverage. 

Reportedly, more than 10.34 crore people across the country have failed to take the second dose at the end of the prescribed interval. The Minister has asked the states to accelerate second-dose coverage.

Out of the eight large states, four have reported a coverage higher than the national average of 31 per cent. These include Gujarat (55%), Karnataka (48%), Rajasthan (39%), and Madhya Pradesh (38%).

However, Uttar Pradesh (22%), Bihar (25%), and West Bengal (30%) are reporting second-dose coverage that is lower than the national average.

Assessing the numbers, Mandaviya in an in-person review meeting held with health ministers of all states stated, “(Our) aim is to cover all eligible with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by end-November 2021”.

‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign

The government is all set to launch ‘Har Ghar Dastak’- a door-to-door inoculation drive in these districts with the aim of achieving full coverage.

“We’re going to launch a mega vaccination campaign ‘har ghar dastak’. We have decided that for the next one month, healthcare workers will go door-to-door to vaccinate people eligible for the second dose and also those who have not taken the first dose, especially focusing on the poorly performing districts…” announced Mandaviya after the meeting. 

The minister also assured the states that adequate vaccine doses are available in the country to meet the required demand. Moreover, at least 120 million balance and unutilised vaccine doses are still available with the states.

Maharashtra: Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan, along with 4 others, booked for molestation

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan, along with 4 others, booked for molestation

A prominent Congress leader in Maharashtra, Arif Naseem Khan, has been booked by the State police following a complaint by a woman. The former Minister of Textiles and has been charged along with 4 other accused. A case was registered against him at the Andheri police station in Mumbai.

Charges were filed against him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (provocation), 506 (criminal intimidation )and 509 (word/gesture/act to outrage the modesty of a woman).

The Free Press Journal reported that the FIR was lodged on October 25. It was initially registered at the Sakinaka police station as zero FIR and later transferred to the Andheri police station over jurisdiction.

National SC Panel backs Sameer Wankhede, condemns personal attacks by Nawab Malik against his family

OpIndia Staff
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National SC Panel backs Sameer Wankhede, condemns personal attacks by Nawab Malik against his family

The vice-chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Arun Halder on Sunday said that Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede is being targeted despite doing good work.

“One officer is doing his duty and making the department proud. So how can a minister personally attack him and his family members? The government should carry out an investigation in why he is doing so,” commented Arun Halder after visiting Wankhede’s house. 

“I feel that he belongs to the SC community and hails from Mahar caste and rose to such a position despite belonging to a poor family,” said Halder further defending the NCB official. 

However, the vice-chairperson also clarified that the state can initiate a probe in case of doubt about a person’s caste certificate. “In the central government, caste verification is not mandatory, but the state government is empowered to probe into the caste certificate of a resident of Maharashtra,” informed Halder. 

Social justice minister Dhananjay Munde also confirmed that if the competent authority receives a complaint, it will be investigated as per rules.

Committee to probe the matter

As informed by the officials, a caste certificate is issued by the sub-divisional officer/deputy collector. A high-level committee headed by an officer of the rank of joint secretary or additional collector then verifies the certificate. 

It then goes for validation to the caste scrutiny committee as per the guidelines prescribed by Supreme Court in the Madhuri Patil case.

Divulging information about the process in case a complaint of forged or false certificate is received, the official said, “The committee hears all parties, asks for all relevant certificates and if needed, visits the residence against whom the complaint has been made.”

“The social justice department has made the entire procedure very stringent and all cases are disposed of in a time-bound period,” he added further. 

As per rules, if the certificate is found to be forged or false, it will invite a six months’ jail term and fine. 

“We have all the documents”

Rattled by Aryan Khan’s arrest by the NCB, Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik had accused Wankhede of forging his caste certificate and other documents to secure a job under the SC quota for the civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The minister informed that a complaint is likely to be filed in a day or two. “We have all the documents and records to establish that Wankhede is from a Muslim community and does not belong to a scheduled caste,” Malik said.

Ramdas Athawale extends support

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes on Friday had taken cognisance of the complaint filed by the Zonal Director of Mumbai’s NCB Sameer Wankhede over the continuous harassment meted out to him by Maharashtra government minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik.

Apart from the National SC panel, Wankhede’s family also visited Union Minister and Republican Party of India president Ramdas Athawale on Sunday. 

Voicing his support for the NCB official, Athawale said, “NCP minister Nawab Malik was targeting Sameer Wankhede as he had arrested his son-in-law (Sameer Khan) in a drug-related case. This was politics of vengeance. I have gone through all the documents. Sameer Wankhede is Hindu and not Muslim. He has not used any fake certificate to get the job.”

He also warned Malik to refrain from “conspiring” to defame the NCB officer and his family members.

Terrorist org SFJ begins ‘referendum’ on Punjab from London amidst anti-India and ‘Khalistan zindabad’ slogans

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Terrorist org SFJ begins ‘referendum’ on Punjab from London amidst anti-India and ‘Khalistan zindabad’ slogans

On October 31, US-based Sikh for Justice, a Khalistani terrorist organization banned in India, held the first round of a so-called referendum on Punjab in London. SFJ has been demanding a separate country, Khalistan. British Sikhs reportedly travelled to London to cast their vote on if Punjab should become a separate country. SFJ would hold voting in other cities of the United Kingdon (UK) and would then hold voting in Europe, US and Canada before heading to India.

SFJ had called all Sikhs of Indian ethnicity of the age 18 and above to vote. The voting was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster. Those who had come to vote not only raised anti-India slogans and ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ but also carried Khalistani flags.

Reports suggest that the question on the ballot paper was, “Should Indian governed Punjab be an independent country?” SFJ’s Pannu alleged that around 30,000 Sikhs voted for the referendum on Sunday.

Khalistan Map

Notably, SFJ had recently released a ‘proposed’ map of Khalistan in which they conveniently left out Pakistan’s Punjab. Throughout its campaign, SFJ has strategically avoided mentioning the parts of Punjab that went to Pakistan during the partition in 1947. Pakistan has been a vocal supporter of Khalistan and allegedly hosted several Khalistani terrorists who fled to the neighbouring country during the crackdown on Khalistani terrorists.

SJF’s role in causing unrest in India

Sikhs for Justice is a banned organization in India. Its founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu was declared a terrorist under UAPA by the Indian government in 2020. SFJ has released countless videos and statements in the past provoking the Sikhs living in India. From luring them to hoist Khalistani flags on government buildings on Independence day to threatening leaders against celebrating Independence Day or Republic Day, SFJ has been trying to create unrest in Punjab and neighbouring states.

Furthermore, in January 2021, SFJ had announced a prize for anyone who would hoist the Khalistani flag on Red Fort on Republic Day. In the guise of farmer protests, the ‘attendees’ of the ‘tractor rally’ had barged in Delhi and hoisted two flags with a Sikh holy symbol on Red Fort, which was perfectly in line with what SFJ wanted.

Akhilesh Yadav compares Jinnah with Gandhi and Patel, refers to him as a hero of India’s freedom movement

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Akhilesh Yadav compares Jinnah with Gandhi and Patel, refers to him as a hero of India’s freedom movement

Samjwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav glorified Muhammad Ali Jinnah today while addressing a party rally during the Samajwadi Vijay Rath Yatra. The meeting was organized at Hardoi district in UP where the Samajwadi Party Chief was seen praising the founder of Pakistan and the architect of the Indian partition, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

On the pretext of remembering Sardar Patel, Akhilesh Yadav said, ‘Sardar Patel used to know the land, Sardar Patel took decisions holding the land, he used to understand the land so he made his decisions and that is why he is known as the Iron man Of India. Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Jinnah, they all came out of the same institution. They all studied at the same institute, they became barristers and gave freedom.’

The SP Chief also noted that the focus of all those who talk about the country today is dividing it by caste and religion. He also stated that the biggest identity of our country is that people from different castes and religious backgrounds work to live here together. 

Yadav also said that BJP does not have anything to show in its work. He also claimed that the Chief Minister’s helicopter, sofa, car were all bought by the previous SP government.

BJP has slammed Akhilesh Yadav for saying that Jinnah was a hero of India’s freedom movement. BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, “Mulayam Singh ji will also hold his head after hearing this from Akhilesh Yadav, who has studied in Australia. The country considers Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the villain of the partition. Calling Jinnah the hero of freedom is the politics of Muslim appeasement.”

Madras High Court halts melting of temple gold in Tamil Nadu till appointment of trustees, govt issues advertisement for the appointments

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Madras High Court halts melting of temple gold in Tamil Nadu till appointment of trustees, govt issues advertisement for the appointments

Madras High Court had restrained the Tamil Nadu government from melting gold jewellery of Temples after hearing PILs filed challenging the gold monetization scheme which proposed to melt unused temple jewellery into gold bars. The scheme under question was passed in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly. The court halted the process of melting gold donated by devotees to Hindus temples in the state till trustees are appointed to the relevant temples.

According to reports, Advocate Niranjan Rajagopalan had mentioned that there were three Writ petitions which argued that the administration of every Hindu religious institution should be done by trustees.

M Saravanan and A V Gopala Krishnan were the petitioners who had challenged the decision of melting temple gold. Advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram then informed the court that advertisements had been issued for the appointment of temple trustees. It was also told that the appointment process would take four to six weeks to be completed.

Shunmugasundaram said, “The work of carrying out the inventory of the offerings at the temples and the properties of the temples may continue, but the decision of whether or not to melt the jewellery which has been offered in the temples would be taken after the trustees are installed in the relevant temples.”

T.R. Ramesh, president of Indic Collective Trust and Temple Worshippers Society had earlier objected to the appointment of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments  (HR&CE) department employees as Fit Persons in temples through deputation. He had claimed that the appointment of HR&CE department employees violated the provisions of the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Act of 1959 and the Fundamental Rules of the Government of Tamil Nadu. He also said that that payment of salaries to such officials on deputation from temple funds was illegal and amounted to misuse of the funds.

However, HR&CE department told the Madras High Court that advertisements for the appointment of district-level committee members were issued who would then appoint trustees for all temples. The department said that the appointment of Fit Persons was an interim arrangement.

Earlier, advocate general R Shunmugasundaram had informed the court that the scheme for melting gold jewellery donated to temples for monetisation is not new and it had been in existence since 1977. He had informed that so far, about 5 lakh grams of gold jewellery have been melted and deposited in various nationalised banks which is fetching around Rs 11 crore as interest.

Sabyasachi withdraws controversial Mangalsutra ad, offers no apology

OpIndia Staff
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Sabyasachi withdraws controversial Mangalsutra ad, offers no apology

Designer Sabyasachi has withdrawn its controversial advertisement where it had used semi-naked models to market Mangalsutra. The designer said that the ad was withdrawn because it had offended “a section of our society”. There was no apology over the matter.

Sabyasachi said in an Instagram story, “In the context of making heritage and culture a dynamic conversation, the Mangalsutra campaign aimed to talk about inclusivity and empowerment. The campaign was intended as a celebration and we are deeply saddened that it has instead offended a section of our society. So we at Sabyasachi have decided to withdraw the campaign.”

Source: Instagram

Earlier, Ashutosh Dubey, the legal advisor to BJP Maharashtra, had issued a legal notice to the ace designer for “using semi-naked models for a Mangalsutra collection advertisement.” Dubey said on Twitter, “I have issued a Legal notice to Sabyasachi Mukherjee Indian fashion designer regarding using “semi-naked models for a Mangalsutra collection advertisement as Mangalsutra is part of Holy Hindu Marriage. He outraged the holy Hindu Marriage (Mangalsutra).”

Sabyasachi recently found himself at the receiving end of the social media ire after it came up with a new ad campaign for the latest Royal Bengal Mangalsutra 1.2. The promotional photoshoot features models wearing the mangalsutra while posing solo or in intimate positions with others.

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