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‘Now his car will be safe’: Weeks after ‘quitting politics’, former BJP leader Babul Supriyo joins TMC. Here is what he said

OpIndia Staff
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‘Now his car will be safe’: Weeks after ‘quitting politics’, former BJP leader Babul Supriyo joins TMC. Here is what he said

Weeks after announcing that he is quitting politics, former BJP leader Babul Supriyo joined the Trinamool Congress today. The official Twitter handle of the TMC announced today that the former union minister joined the Mamata Banerjee led party in presence of senior TMC leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien.

Less than two months ago, Babul Supriyo had said that he is exiting politics, saying that he will also resign from the Lok Sabha. However, he has resigned as MP yet. He had taken the decision after he was dropped from the union ministry in the recent cabinet reshuffle. He was the Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in the Modi government, but he was dropped from the govt during the cabinet reshuffle on July 7.

On July 7, Babul Suprio had expressed disappointment after he was excluded from Ministership following the Cabinet reshuffle. He had posted on Twitter that he was “asked to resign”, but later he had deleted that and posted “Yes, I have resigned from the Council of Ministers”. Following this, he had announced his exit from politics on 31 July.

However, his joining the TMC today has meant that he has not quit politics, and he had only left BJP. After quitting ‘politics’ and BJP, he had claimed that he will not be joining any other party. He had even dismissed rumours that he was joining TMC, but he has taken a massive U-turn now.

The presence of Abhishek Banerjee during his joining TMC is very crucial because Abhishek is the nephew of Mamata Banerjee is considered the closest to the TMC supremo in the party. It shows that TMC is considering Babul Supriyo as a heavyweight leader.  

It is also being reported more BJP leaders in West Bengal are leaving the party to join TMC. Earlier in June, Mukul Roy had left BJP to return to Trinamool Congress, after BJP could not win the assembly elections and Mamata Banerjee returned to power for the third term.

Babul Supriyo speaks out after jumping ship

Babul Supriyo who joined TMC after fighting the recent assembly elections on a BJP ticket has said that he is very happy with his decision to join TMC.

“I meant it from my heart when I said I’ll leave politics. However, I felt there was a huge opportunity that was entrusted upon me (on joining TMC). All my friends said my decision to leave politics was wrong and emotional. I’m very proud that I am changing my decision. I am coming back for a great opportunity to serve Bengal. I am very excited. I will meet Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) on Monday. I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome”, he said.

Social Media reacts

Social media users reacted sharply to this sudden development, as even Babul Supriyo had said that he will be attacked by TMC goons during pre-polls and post-violence in Bengal. When asked to do something to protect the BJP workers facing violence, he had said that he can’t move immediately because even his car will be atttacked.

Netizens commented that Babul Supriyo has joined TMC to protect his car, and now his car will be safe.

Alex Jones led InfoWars files lawsuit against US authorities over drone ban after video surfaced that showed migrant gathering

OpIndia Staff
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Alex Jones led InfoWars files lawsuit against US authorities over drone ban after video surfaced that showed migrant gathering

Alex Jones of InfoWars has filed a lawsuit against the US FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) for its ban on drones near the the border areas after several videos of migrants gathering started circulating on social media.

The declaration of a no fly zone by the FAA for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) along the Del Rio International Bridge, South Texas led to widespread criticism as the decision is believed to be the FAA’s response to stop the drones from capturing videos and circulating them online showing large gathering of illegal migrants. The US department claimed the ban was due to “special security reasons”. The videos of the illegal migrants crowded beneath the bridge caused a significant outrage on social media.

According to reports, law enforcement agencies warned that the number of migrants gathered will increase as thousands more are expected to arrive soon. Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano estimated the number of migrants gathered to be more than 10000.

The lawsuit filed identifies InfoWars as the plaintiff and the FAA administrator Steve Dickson as the the defendant. It reads “The United States government has grown to recognize the danger that UAS present in terms of limiting how the government might control the narrative of a crisis and exposing government falsehoods and/or malfeasance.” Alex Jones is the founder of InfoWars.

President Joe Biden received heavy criticism for the failure of the US administration and mishandling of the border security affairs. Senator Ted Cruz said, “This manmade disaster was caused by Joe Biden,”  and claimed that there were 10,503 illegal aliens under the Del Rio International Bridge along with a video message in a tweet.

Former Border Patrol agent and intelligence analyst, Jenn Budd told the BBC, “When you have large numbers of people who need refugee or asylum status, and have essentially closed down the system that deals with refugees and asylum seekers, then you have people with no other choice but to cross illegally,” Jenn Budd also a Immigrant rights activist blamed Joe Biden’s administration pandemic policy to pursue Title 42 from Trump period and that helped in expelling undocumented migrants.

Amarinder Singh set to resign at 4 pm as Punjab CM due to humiliation he has been forced to suffer: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Amarinder Singh set to resign at 4 pm as Punjab CM due to humiliation he has been forced to suffer: Report

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is set to submit his resignation at 4 pm on Saturday, Republic TV has reported. Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami revealed that Amarinder Singh will submit his resignation unless there is some late last minute dramatic change in the affairs of the Congress party.

“It’s all over. Amarinder Singh is putting in his papers and there is going to have to be a new Chief Minister of Punjab. This is all going to happen very very soon, 4 pm Amarinder Singh is quitting. I don’t think there is any immediate solution that anyone can have right now unless there is going to be an outreach by the Congress party. It has to happen within the next one hour,” Arnab Goswami said.

Earlier, Singh had reportedly told Congress president Sonia Gandhi that he cannot continue with the humiliation he is subjected to. The CM expressed his frustration after the Congress High Command called for an emergency meeting of party MLAs in Punjab today. The party has called an emergency meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) on Saturday evening to resolve the growing dissent in the party.

Harish Rawat, AICC in-charge of Punjab tweeted last night to inform that the meeting was requested by a large number of Congress MLAs. “The AICC has received a representation from a large number of MLAs from the Congress party, requesting to immediately convene a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party of Punjab. Accordingly, a meeting of the CLP has been convened at 5:00 PM on 18th September at Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee office,” he tweeted.

‘Very embarrassing, I can’t take it’: Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar loses his mind as New Zealand cricket team cancels tour

OpIndia Staff
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‘Very embarrassing, I can’t take it’: Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar loses his mind as New Zealand cricket team cancels tour

Pakistan was left humiliated on Friday after New Zealand pulled out of their limited-overs tour just an hour before the first ODI in Rawalpindi. This was New Zealand team’s first tour to Pakistan since 2003. New Zealand’s decision has left Pakistan former pacer Shoaib Akhtar fuming.

Shoaib Akhtar has taken to his YouTube channel to rant against the New Zealand team for abandoning their tour of Pakistan.

The furious cricketer can be heard saying, “Phichle panch che din se aap Islamabad mein ghoom rahe ho, kisi chidiya ne par bhi nahi mara” (For the last five to six days you all have been roaming around in Islamabad unharmed).

In a chuckle-worthy statement, Akhtar asserted that “Pakistan is one of the safe havens in the world” and that New Zealand should have trusted the country’s security. He said that the country’s security agencies have been working relentlessly to secure peace. “You should have faith in our intelligence agencies”, the former cricketer advises, continuously reassuring team New Zealand that Pakistan is one of the safest countries in the world.

Looking visibly irked, the pacer said that the touring team should not have embarrassed Pakistan as they did. “You should not have come to our country in the first place. Coming and then leaving abruptly will give a bad name to Pakistan,” lamented the Pakistani former cricketer.

‘There is no place on this earth where there is no security threat’: Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar further rued that Pakistan’s intelligence and security agencies had put in a lot of effort and arranged foolproof security for the New Zealand cricket team but “you ran away because of just one threat”.

The Pakistan former cricketer was so enraged and disappointed at the abrupt departure of the Kiwis that he seems to have lost his sanity. For him, security concerns is not a big enough reason to abandon the tour. Criticising the latter for the same, Shoaib Akhtar exclaimed that there is no place on this earth where there is no security threat. “You should have trusted our security system”, deplored the former cricketer.

This is very embarrassing, I can’t take it: Shoaib Akhtar

“Leaving like this is again a huge embarrassment for Pakistan. I can’t take it, it is very embarrassing”, said Akhtar during his 5.51-minute rant, adding that Pakistan will suffer. “I can see that whatever happened in Afghanistan, there a lot of countries will be out there to hurt Pakistan”.

Here, after ranting and raving for almost 6 minutes flat, the former cricketer asks his nation to stay strong and stand firmly with their establishment at a time as difficult as this. “We need to turn this embarrassment into courage, just go out there and win the world cup”, the former cricketer concluded his rant with a piece of advice for the Pakistan cricket team.

New Zealand abandon tour of Pakistan citing security threat

New Zealand Cricket had said it received a security alert from its government and made the decision to cancel the tour just moments before the scheduled start of the one-day international series in Rawalpindi.

Despite Pakistan’s claims of ‘fool-proof security,’ the New Zealand team decided against taking any chances. It was the latter’s first visit to Pakistan after a period of 18 long years. Although there was an initial period of uncertainty, the statement by the New Zealand cricket Board made it clear that the team will soon be departing for their homes. It comes as a major embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Imran Khan government, who have been trying to improve the global image of its country.

Indian Air Force signs deal to purchase 24 phased out Mirage 2000 aircraft from France

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Air Force signs deal to purchase 24 phased out Mirage 2000 aircraft from France

The Indian Air Force has decided to purchase phased out Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft from the French Air Force. According to government sources, a contract was signed for the purchase of a squadron of Dassault Mirage 2000 jets which were phased out by the French Air Force some time ago. The jets are being purchased to improve the serviceability of the existing Mirage 2000 jets of the IAF.

“A squadron of the French Mirage jets had been phased out some time ago. On August 31, a contract was signed for acquiring these phased-out planes to improve the spares and airframe capability to help improve the serviceability of the around 50 Mirage 2000s in the Indian fleet,” reports said quoting government sources.

However, IAF is not purchasing these aircraft for flying, instead, they will be used to scavenge spare parts from them. 24 Mirage 2000 jets will be supplied in containers to the Indian Air Force.

An earlier report by Hindustan Times had said that the deal is worth 27 million euros, costing each aircraft 1.125 million euros. The report had also said that out of the 24 fighters being purchased, 13 are in complete condition with engine and airframe intact, and eight of them are ready to fly after servicing. However, the latest reports today said that none of the planes will be used for flying.

This is the second time IAF purchasing phased out Mirage 2000 jets for spare parts. Last year such phased out jets had reached India from France, which had helped in improving the Mirage-2000 planes of the IAF.

French Air Force is retiring its Mirage-2000 fleet as it is replacing them with the newer Rafale Fighter Jets.

Indian Air Force operates 49 Mirage 2000 jets at present. It had purchased 51 jets in the 1980s, but two have been lost in crashes. IAF had used Mirage 2000 planes in the Balakot Airstrikes against terror camps in Pakistan.

Kabul suicide bomber was arrested in Delhi 5 years ago while planning to attack ‘cow worshipping Hindus’, ISKP says

OpIndia Staff
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Kabul suicide bomber was arrested in Delhi 5 years ago while planning to attack ‘cow worshipping Hindus’, ISKP says

The suicide bomber responsible for the Kabul Airport Attack in August was arrested in India five years earlier, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed in the latest edition of its propaganda magazine. The magazine claimed that he was arrested in India while planning to carry out an attack against ‘cow worshipping Hindus’ “in revenge for Kashmir”.

The suicide bomber, Abdur Rahman al-Logri, was deported to Afghanistan after serving his prison term. The ISKP also called the Taliban ‘Murtad’ for cooperating with the departing US forces. The word ‘Murtad’ means apostate and the punishment for apostasy is death, according to Jihadist outfits.

The ISKP have been very active in India in recent times with numerous arrests having been made by law enforcement authorities. Last year in March, a couple was arrested in Delhi for attempting to use the CAA unrest to incite Muslims to commit terror attacks inside the country. Earlier in February, a pro-ISIS media had launched a publication with a Muslim lawyer on its cover page.

The lawyer, Mahmood Paracha, had found himself in a controversy after declaring that he will teach Muslims and Dalits about how to apply for a firearms license. Paracha was of the opinion that ‘mob lynchings’ would not have happened if the victims had firearms. Later, he was found holding a training camp inside a Lucknow Mosque providing lessons regarding the same.

Several Muslims from Kerala have fled the country to join the ISKP over the years. Four couples had left Kerala for Afghanistan to wage war against the US forces in ISIS-controlled Khorasan Province. The women were identified as Nimisha Fathima alias Fathima, Sonia Sebastian alias Ayisha, Merrin Jacob alias Mariyam, and Raffaela.

Watch: US military expresses ‘regret’ after killing Afghan aid worker and 7 children instead of ISIS-K terrorists

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: US military expresses ‘regret’ after killing Afghan aid worker and 7 children instead of ISIS-K terrorists

On Friday (September 17), the Head of the US Central Command, General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. admitted that the drone strike that was conducted to avenge the killing of 13 US soldiers by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP or ISIS-K) resulted in the death of 10 civilians. The development comes days after the New York Times published a detailed report highlighting how a 43-year-old aid worker Zemari Ahmadi and 9 of his family members (including 7 children) were killed in the strike of August 29.

In a video message, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie conceded, “Having thoroughly reviewed the findings of the investigation and the supporting analysis by interagency partners, I am now convinced that as many as 10 civilians including up to 10 children were tragically killed in that strike. Moreover, we now assess that it is unlikely that the vehicle and those who died were associated with ISIS-K or a direct threat to US forces.”

He further added, “I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed. This strike was taken in the earnest belief that it would prevent an imminent threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport, but it was a mistake and I offer my sincere apology. As the combatant commander, I am fully responsible for the strike and its tragic outcome.”

The Background of the incident and the initial cover up by Pentagon

The ability of the United States, to carry out counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan from afar, came under the scanner following the bombing inside the Hamid Karzai international airport in Afghan’s capital Kabul on August 26. The deadly attack claimed more than 100 lives, including that of 13 US soldiers. Islamic State’s regional affiliate Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) had taken the responsibility for the attack and the suicide bomber was identified as one Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri. The terror attack also temporarily disrupted the evacuation of tens and thousands of stranded civilians.

On August 29, the US Army conducted a drone strike to avenge the suicide bombing attack at the Kabul airport by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). It had claimed to target a vehicle within a residential area, supposedly carrying ‘multiple’ ISKP suicide bombers. However, an exclusive investigation by the New York Times (NYT) had revealed that the drone attack killed a 43-year-old aid worker named Zemari Ahmadi and 9 of his family members (including 7 children) instead of ISKP terrorists. At that time, he was driving his 1996 Toyota Corolla car carrying water jugs, which the Pentagon apparently mistook for explosives.

Initially, the Pentagon justified the attack claiming it to be based on an intelligence assessment. According to Pentagon officials, a second blast took place after the drone strike. They alleged that it was caused due to explosives in the car of Ahmadi. New York Times analysed the pictures from the scene and found no evidence of a second bomb blast. Had there been a second explosion, experts told NYT that the walls would have collapsed. However, there was only one minor dent on the security gate, implying only one shock wave. 

‘CPM should stop its double standards’: BJP asks Kerala govt to acknowledge the presence of Love Jihad in the state

OpIndia Staff
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‘CPM should stop its double standards’: BJP asks Kerala govt to acknowledge the presence of Love Jihad in the state

BJP state president K Surendran has said that CPM should publicly admit that ‘Love Jihad’ or Grooming Jihad is prevalent in the state of Kerala as the party has now mentioned the same in the note that the party’s state unit has prepared. Kerala CPM has prepared the note for distribution on September 10 to all its lower committees, which are getting ready to meet ahead of the upcoming state conference of the party scheduled to be held in Kochi in February next year.

It may be noted that the Pinarayi Vijayan led CPM government in Kerala had circulated a note on ‘minority communalism’ among its cadre that talks about girl students of professional colleges in Kerala falling prey to radical thoughts.

CPM should stop its double standards on the issue: Kerala BJP

Now, the state BJP has targeted Kerala’s communist govt asking it to shun its double standards and order a proper probe in the issue as serious as love jihad.

“CPM should stop its double standards on the issue. There should be a proper investigation on the matter. The influence of terrorists is rising in the state and they are using love jihad to further their goals,” the BJP state president asserted.

“CPM has been opposing us whenever we had told in the last 10 years that terrorists were using love jihad for religious conversions and sending people for extremist activities. Now the CPM has in a party report said that the girls are being lured in campuses,” added K Surendran.

The BJP state president suggested that if the CPM has any data in the matter, they should make it public. “We wish to know if there is any evidence on this and if any case has been registered in the matter”, said Surendran.

Kerala Church comes forward warning Christians against Love Jihad

The issue has made headway in the state after many Church organisations and bishops in Kerala have come forward to warn their community against the menace of ‘Love Jihad’. Many Christian religious leaders have spoken about how Christian girls have been trapped in relationships with Muslim men in a systemic manner, only to be brainwashed and end up as ISIS terrorists.

Recent remarks by Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt of the Pala diocese of the Syro Malabar Church had highlighted that Christian youth in Kerala are increasingly becoming the victims of not just ‘Love Jihad’ but also ‘Narcotic Jihad’.

Reportedly, the Church handbook has detailed the modus operandi of ‘love jihad’ to warn and educate the girl students of religious study classes in Class X, XI and XII. 

The handbook allegedly said that Islamic clerics often use a type of “black magic” (kaivisham) to seduce girls.

‘Cannot continue with such humiliation’, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh tells Sonia Gandhi, may quit: Details of strife in Congress

OpIndia Staff
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‘Cannot continue with such humiliation’, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh tells Sonia Gandhi, may quit: Details of strife in Congress

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has reportedly told Congress president Sonia Gandhi that he cannot continue with the humiliation he is subjected to. According to reports, Captain Amarinder Singh has also offered to resign from the post of Chief Minister amid increasing pressure from the Navjot Singh Sidhu for change in leadership.

According to some reports, the High Command has asked Amarinder Singh to submit his resignation, but these are unconfirmed reports at present.

The CM expressed his frustration after the Congress High Command called for an emergency meeting of party MLAs in Punjab today. The party has called an emergency meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) on Saturday evening to resolve the growing dissent in the party.

Harish Rawat, AICC in-charge of Punjab tweeted last night to inform that the meeting was requested by a large number of Congress MLAs. “The AICC has received a representation from a large number of MLAs from the Congress party, requesting to immediately convene a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party of Punjab. Accordingly, a meeting of the CLP has been convened at 5:00 PM on 18th September at Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee office,” he tweeted. He also asked all Congress MLAs of Punjab to attend the meeting.

Reportedly, around 40 MLAs had written to party leadership expressing their dissatisfaction with captain Amarinder Singh and demanding his removal from the post of chief minister.

The AICC took the decision to hold the meeting at a time when a large number of Congress MLAs, including ministers, are calling for a change of Chief Minister in the state. The dissenting MLAs are led by state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been revolting against the CM for several months now. He had tasted victory two months ago when the party leadership made him the chief of the state unit.

Actor Sonu Sood raided for three days in a row, total tax evasion unearthed so far amounts to more than Rs 20 crore: IT Dept

OpIndia Staff
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Actor Sonu Sood raided for three days in a row, total tax evasion unearthed so far amounts to more than Rs 20 crore: IT Dept

Actor Sonu Sood has evaded taxes of over ₹20 crores, the income tax department said in a statement Saturday, September 18, after searching his Mumbai home for three days in a row. “During the course of search at the premises of the actor and his associates, incriminating evidence pertaining to tax evasion found. The main modus operandi followed by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in form of bogus unsecured loans from many bogus entities”, ANI quoted the statement released by the department.

The department also informed that the agency has conducted a search and seizure operation at various premises of actor Sonu Sood Mumbai and also a Lucknow-based group of industries engaged in infrastructure development. It revealed that 28 premises in Mumbai, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Gurugram have been searched by the CBDT team so far.

OpIndia had reported on September 15 that the Income Tax department had carried out survey at Bollywood actor Sonu Sood’s office over allegations of tampering of books of accounts related to him. As per reports, six locations associated with Sood and his companies were surveyed.

Earlier, the actor was in trouble with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation over allegation of carrying out illegal construction in a residential building which he had converted into a hotel without permission. In an affidavit submitted in Bombay High Court, the BMC had called him a habitual offender.

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