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Muslim doctor charged with female genital mutilation of nine minor girls, lied to FBI: Read what the US Federal authorities said

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim doctor charged with female genital mutilation of nine minor girls, lied to FBI: Read what the US Federal authorities said

Dr Jumana Nagarwala, a Muslim doctor in the United States is facing trial on charges of performing female genital mutilation on minor girls, all seven-year-olds. But the federal authorities have now revealed that Ms Nagarwala was not the only doctor cutting the children. 

Nagarwala is reportedly a part of a secret nexus of doctors who travelled across the country carrying out the brutal procedure under the guise of performing religious rituals. 

In November 2018, a federal judge acquitted Ms Nagarwala of female genital mutilation charges on the grounds that a law banning the practice was unconstitutional. 

However, the Muslim doctor is still facing an obstruction charge for allegedly concealing information during the trial. As per a report published in Detroit Free Press, prosecutors on Thursday revealed that there were other doctors in California and Illinois who were also cutting young girls as a part of religious rites followed by the Indian Muslim sect, Dawoodi Bohras. 

The prosecution also asserted that Ms Nagarwala travelled to the Washington DC area to perform female genital mutilation (FGM) on as many as five minor girls there. 

Besides Nagarwala, one Dr Fakhruddin Attar was also charged with mutilation, conspiracy and obstruction, for allowing her to perform the surgeries at his clinic in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. 

Additionally, the same charges were also levelled against Attar’s wife, Farida, a woman named Tahera Shafir who reportedly helped in the procedure, along with four other women who suckered their daughters into undertaking the procedure for religious purposes. 

During the trial in November 2018, the US district court dismissed all the cases except one obstruction charge against Nagarwala, Attar, his wife Farida and Shafiq. The judge cited a 1996 federal law to declare the ban on the practice as unconstitutional and concluded that it’s up to the states to regulate female genital mutilation.

The trial was brought to a halt as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe, including in the United States. Later in March 2021, the prosecutors issued a superseding indictment with five new charges, including conspiracy to make false statements and witness tampering. 

As per prosecutors, Nagarwala and her three cohorts lied to the FBI about the female genital mutilations they were performing and threatened others in their community to lie should the FBI decides to interview them about it.

After being arrested, Nagarwala claimed FGM was a religious ritual followed by Dawoodi Bohra Muslims

Nagarwala was arrested in April 2017 after two young girls accused her of performing mutilation procedures on them earlier that year. She had then fiercely contested the allegations and asserted that she was only performing a religious practice as ordained in Islam and in accordance with the customs followed by the Muslim sect of Dawoodi Bohras. Nagarwala had said that the procedure only involved scraping the membrane of the girls’ genitalia as part of the religious custom.

However, the doctor’s reports procured by the Detroit Free Press reveal the FGM procedure often rendered severe injuries, including scarring, a small tear, lacerations and other complications.

As per federal authorities, Nagarwala and her cohorts are performing female genital mutilation procedures since 2015, and charged her with mutilation of seven other girls from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota.

Court records cited by reports revealed victims who were subjected to FGM whailed, screeched and bled during the procedure, with one of them drugged with Valium ground in liquid Tylenol to calm her down during the procedure,.

Jammu Kashmir: Govt employees required to maintain absolute allegiance to India, detailed verification to be carried out

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu Kashmir: Govt employees required to maintain absolute allegiance to India, detailed verification to be carried out

The Government of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir headed by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha will undertake discrete verification of the character and antecedents of its employees in the wake of the reports of direct or indirect involvement of some of the government employees in terrorist activities.

In the order issued on Thursday by the General Administration Department under the signature of Manoj Kumar Dwivedi (commissioner/ secretary of the government) the administration has once again asserted that it is mandatorily required for employees to maintain absolute integrity, honesty and allegiance to the Union of India and its Constitution and do nothing which is unbecoming of a Government servant.  

The government order further notes that employees are bound by the J&K Government Employees Conduct Rules, 1971.

In case if an employee fails in the integrity verification their promotion (Functional/Non-functional) will be put on hold immediately. Further, such cases will be submitted to the UT Level Screening Committee constituted for the purpose under the rules of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Verification of Character & Antecedents) Instructions, 1997 for its decision.

On confirmation of the adverse report by the UT Level Screening Committee, further action will be initiated against such adversely reported employees including termination from government services. However, such orders of the screening committee can be reviewed by the Review Committee or at the request of the aggrieved employee concerned.

The administration has categorically defined parameters of discrete verification under seven broad categories that will be undertaken from time to time to spot such rogue employees working against the interest of the nation.

This includes involvement in any act of sabotage, espionage, treason, terrorism, subversion, sedition, secession, facilitating foreign interference, incitement to violence or any other unconstitutional act. Employees must not keep any association or sympathy with persons who are attempting to commit any of the above acts or involved in aiding or abetting or advocating the above acts.

The discrete verification will also look into the involvement of an individual’s immediate family, persons sharing residential space with the employee to whom he or she may be bound by affection, influence or obligation or involved in any of the acts having the potential of subjecting the individual to duress thereby posing a grave security risk.

“Failure to report relatives, persons sharing residential space or associates who are connected with any foreign government, associations, foreign nationals known to be directly or indirectly hostile to India’s national and security interests and failure to report unauthorized association with a suspected or known collaborator or employee of a foreign intelligence service,” are among other parameters of discrete verification of character and antecedents of employees.

The failure of the employees to inform about unauthorized association with a suspected or known collaborator or employee of a foreign intelligence service will be verified and pointed out during the verification.

Service rules of employees were amended in 2020

In July 2020, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir had introduced amendments in the service rules of employees to spot and quick dismissal of employees who are a threat to the security of the state. A mechanism was devised for the termination of anti-national employees without facing judicial scrutiny if the evidence is concrete.

After the new rule was introduced, one Idrees Jan, a teacher at Government Middle School, Kralpora in Kupwara was dismissed for his anti-national activities.

Earlier the government had dismissed 11 more employees, including sons of designated global terrorist Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, for working for various terror groups. Prior to this, as many as seven government staff including DSP Devendra Singh were dismissed from the service. The National Investigation Agency is also investigating a case of narco-terrorism where employees of a cooperative bank were arrested for terror funding.  

New Zealand abandons cricket series in Pakistan citing security concerns even after Imran Khan told their PM they have the ‘best intelligence system’

OpIndia Staff
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New Zealand abandons cricket series in Pakistan citing security concerns even after Imran Khan told their PM they have the ‘best intelligence system’

An hour before the start of the 1st ODI match with Pakistan at Rawalpindi, the New Zealand cricket team decided to ‘abandon’ their tour of Pakistan over security concerns. The development came following a security alert from the Government of New Zealand.

The ‘B’ team of New Zealand was scheduled to play a 3-match ODI series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, followed by a 5-match T20 series against them in Lahore. “However, following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the BLACKCAPS will not continue with the tour. Arrangements are now being made for the team’s departure,” read a statement posted on the website of New Zealand Cricket Board. 

Health Mills, Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket Players Association remarked, “We’ve been across this process throughout and are fully supportive of the decision. The players are in good hands; they’re safe – and everyone’s acting in their best interests.” ESPN Cricinfo reported that players of both teams did not leave their hotel since morning and spectators were also barred from entering the stadium.

Despite Pakistan’s claims of ‘fullproof 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.

Pakistan Cricket Board says Imran Khan told New Zealand they have ‘best intelligence system’

The Pakistan Cricket Board informed that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan had personally spoken to his New Zealand counterpart and assured her that they have the best intelligence system. But the team decided to cancel despite that.

PCB said in a statement on social media, “The Prime Minister spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and informed her that we have one of the best Intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team.”

Pakistan cricket board statement on New Zealand team withdrawal

“PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and around the world will be disappointed by this last minute withdrawal,” it added.

Rakesh Asthana accuses two Prashant Bhushan linked NGOs of running a ‘proxy war’ against him, one has links to missionary funded group: Details

K Bhattacharjee
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Rakesh Asthana accuses two Prashant Bhushan linked NGOs of running a ‘proxy war’ against him, one has links to missionary funded group: Details

Rakesh Asthana, Delhi Police Commissioner, has accused two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of running a ‘personal vendetta’ or ‘proxy war’ against him under the garb of public interest litigations. The two NGOs he named are Common Cause (CC) and the Center for Public Interest Litigations (CPIL).

“I state and submit that as a part of this selective campaign against me, proceedings are being consistently filed against me by these two organisations, while outside court the people having control of the said organisation spearhead a malicious campaign against me. This has been regularly happening since I was appointed as Special Director in Central Bureau of Investigation,” Rakesh Asthana said in an affidavit.

Rakesh Asthana further argued that the campaign against him has been continuing ever since he became the Special Director of CBI.

Who are behind the Center for Public Interest Litigations (CPIL)?

The CPIL was founded by retired Supreme Court judge V.M. Tarkunde in the late 1980s. The other founding members of the NGO included Fali S Nariman, Shanti Bhushan, Rajinder Sachar and Anil Divan. Colin Gonsalves of the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is also a member of the group’s governing body.

The HRLN is a division of the Socio-Legal Information Center, a foreign-funded NGO that receives huge funds from Christian missionary organisations abroad as well as governmental institutions such as the European Commission. It received more than Rs 11 crores in firect foreign contribution for the financial year 2019-2020 and more than Rs 18 crores in 2018-19. The SLIC had received over Rs. 3 crores from the European Commission in 2018-19 and almost Rs. 1.5 crores in 2019-2020.

Source: SLIC’s FC4 Return, 2019

Prashant Bhushan regularly appears as an advocate for the CPIL. The Supreme Court had taken a harsh view of the CPIL in 2016, inquiring how they had assumed the authority to become a center for filing PILs.

A bench led by CJI TS Thakur had said, “Prashant Bhushan, you have an image of a crusader. But can you become the centre for public interest litigation? Can the system be taken for a ride in such a manner? We cannot allow this. We must be satisfied that you have a committee which scrutinizes the complaints and allows only genuine ones to be converted into public interest litigations.”

The bench proceeded to add, “Has this matter (Jio telecom) been examined by the committee? We must have the confidence that when CPIL files a petition, it is not prompted by someone who has a vested interest even though the cause may appear genuine. If a corporate rival gives documents for filing of a PIL, will you do it? Why would that corporate source not come out in the open and pursue the litigation in its own name? Why should CPIL be a front for settling corporate rivalry or personal vendetta? CPIL should not become proxy litigant. It should not become an instrument in the hands of commercial players.”

Following the scrutiny, Fali S Nariman had resigned from the group in 2016. “Fali Nariman was not a member of the sub-committee which decides on filing of PILs, but he was a founder member and was a member of the governing body of CPIL. It is hereby affirmed that any impression that Shri Nariman had scrutinised the petitions filed by CPIL, including the present petition, is incorrect,” the group said in a written submission to the Supreme Court, signed by Anil Divan, Shanti Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves, Kamini Jaiswal and Prashant Bhushan.

The CPIL had also filed a case against the PM CARES Fund in the Supreme Court, demanding that all the donations be transferred to the National Disaster Response Fund.

Who are behind Common Cause?

Common Cause was founded by H.D. Shourie, a civil servant for 35 years. It had Prashant Bhushan in its Governing Council but he has resigned since then. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta still sits on the council. While it does have an FCRA approval, it has not received any money through it as per the FC4 returns it has filed over the years.

Common Cause has a history of filing PILs on contentious matters. In 2013, it filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court for “Strengthening the institution of the Lokayukta” where it urged “the High Court to set aside the orders of the Lt. Governor.” It also filed a PIL in the Supreme Court of India seeking an inquiry against Justice K.G. Balakrishnan which could have led to his removal from the chair of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

CC has also filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court for the non-appointment of Lokpal by the NDA government. CC has also filed a PIL challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the Special Director (SD) CBI. The matter was dismissed by the Supreme Court on November 28, 2017. It has also been trying to influence the National Education Policy.

Prashant Bhushan had resigned in 2019 from the governing councils of Centre for PIL (CPIL), Common Cause and Swaraj Abhiyan after a complaint was registered against him for violating Bar Council of India Rules on Professional Standards.

Neeraj Chopra’s javelin, Lovelina’s boxing gloves and much more: Gifts received by PM Modi to be e-auctioned for Namami Gange Mission

OpIndia Staff
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Neeraj Chopra’s javelin, Lovelina’s boxing gloves and much more: Gifts received by PM Modi to be e-auctioned for Namami Gange Mission

On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 71st birthday, the Ministry of Culture has organized an e-auction of gifts and mementoes presented to the PM.

As per a press release issued by the ministry, the auction includes sports gear and equipment of the medal-winning Olympians and Paralympians, a replica of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Char Dham shrines, Rudraksh Convention Centre, models, sculptures, paintings, angavastras and 1300 such items. 

The replica of Ayodhya Ram Mandir was presented to the PM by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath whereas a wooden replica of the Chardham was presented by Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj.

Reportedly, the auction could fetch over Rs 10 crores, the proceeds of which will go towards the Namami Gange Mission aimed at conserving and rejuvenating the Ganga.

The memorabilia presented by the athletes include, 

  1. Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra’s javelin with a base price of around Rs 75 lakh
  2. The T-shirt worn by Avani Lakhera with a base price of Rs 15 lakh
  3. Javelin thrown by Sumit Antil with a base price of Rs 1 crore
  4. Lovlina Borgohain’s boxing gloves with a base price of Rs 80 lakh
  5. A stole with signatures of Tokyo Olympic players carries a base price of Rs 90 lakh

“These items are expected to fetch even more during the auction given the euphoria in the country over the performance of the Olympic and Paralympic contingents and we expect people to bid encouragingly for these items,” claimed a senior government official in a statement to News18.

The e-auction will be held virtually in which individuals and organizations can participate through the website https://pmmementos.gov.in starting today till October 7. 

The highest bidders will be notified through emails when the auction ends. As per officials, an upper limit has been set for each bid to prevent fake participation. 

Fourth such auction

This is the fourth such auction since Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014. The previous three were conducted by the Culture Ministry in February 2015, January 2019, and September 14 to October 24, 2019. Under these auction, all the gifts that the PM receives from various politicians, world leaders, institutions and individuals are auctioned and the proceeds are donated.

The last auction conducted in September 2019, had as many as 2,770 objects including paintings, sculptures, shawls, jackets and traditional musical instruments. The proceeds from that auction were also donated to the Namami Gange Mission.

‘Anil Deshmukh wanted to arrest Arnab Goswami in the TRP case’: Sachin Vaze submits before ED. Read Arnab’s response

OpIndia Staff
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‘Anil Deshmukh wanted to arrest Arnab Goswami in the TRP case’: Sachin Vaze submits before ED. Read Arnab’s response

Sachin Vaze, the Maharashtra police officer currently under arrest has told the Enforcement Directorate that the former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh had wanted Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami to be arrested in the TRP rigging case where some TV channels were accused of manipulating TRP to claim an inflated viewership.

As per reports, the tainted cop has revealed that Anil Deshmukh, NCP leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister, had been personally involved in the attempt to get Arnab Goswami arrested, apart from demanding bribes and extortions worth crores from business owners.

Sachin Vaze has submitted before the ED that after he was reinstated into the force by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh after paying Rs 2 crores, Anil Deshmukh used to personally call him at his office or home to brief him on various cases. These included the TRP rigging case, Arnab Goswami’s arrest in the abetment to suicide case regarding the death of architect Anvay Naik, Dilip Chhabria’s case, and the social media fake follower case.

“In TRP case Anil Deshmukh wanted to arrest Arnab Goswami. In the Dilip Chhabria Case, Anil Deshmukh wanted me to get some kind of settlement with his partner of approx. Rs.150 crores. In Social Media Fake follower case he wanted to have all-out action against the culprits.” Vaze revealed this in his statement to the ED.

A screengrab of Sachin Vaze’s statement to the ED

‘The conspiracy is out, Republic and Arnab have won’, Republic TV responds to the statement by Sachin Vaze

Responding to the explosive revelation made by the tainted Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze who is currently lodged in Taloja jail in connection with the Antilia bomb-scare case and the subsequent murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, Republic TV Tweeted: “The conspiracy is out: Republic and Arnab have won. But more importantly, the people have won”.

‘The biggest conspiracy against any media house in the history of independent India’: Arnab Goswami

Meanwhile, speaking to OpIndia, Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami said: “Now that it’s clear that the TRP case against Republic TV was a malicious fabrication done on political instructions, the media that was complicit owes an apology to me and an explanation to the nation”, said Goswami.

“This is the biggest conspiracy against any media house in the history of independent India. The darkest aspect is that many in the media were part of this sleazy attempt to target Republic,” added the journalist.

It is notable here that former Mumbai CP Parambir Singh had accused Republic TV of TRP manipulation in a much-publicised press conference. The accusations were later found to be fabricated, as the channel accused of TRP manipulation in the FIR by BARC was India Today, not Republic TV.

What followed with the constant attacks over the TRP case, and the forceful reopening of the Anvay Naik death probe was exposed to be a sinister attempt by the political powers to target Arnab Goswami and Republic TV.

The abetment to suicide case in which Arnab Goswami was arrested

Reportedly, Vaze was given instructions by Deshmukh in the abetment to suicide case regarding the death of architect Anvay Naik in which journalist Arnab Goswami was arrested. The closed 2018 case was opened and Arnab was arrested from his house, despite having no direct links with the architect. The Supreme Court had stayed the proceedings against Arnab Goswami later. 

Vaze ‘the encounter specialist’ had personally led Arnab Goswami’s probe shortly after being reinstated by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. Prior to this Vaze was facing suspension for 16 years on murder charges in a 2003 custodial death case. 

‘Deshmukh asked me to collect money from bars’: Sachin Vaze to ED

Besides, Sachin Vaze in his statement to the Enforcement Directorate had (ED) also revealed that Deshmukh had asked him to collect money from bar and hotel owners.

Vaze in his statement has listed three ‘good’ cases for which he received instructions from Vaze. Vaze accused Deskhmukh of giving “instructions” for the TRP rigging case, the abetment to suicide case in which Arnab Goswami was implicated and Vasooli’ from bars and restaurants. 

Sachin Vaze named in ED chargesheet

Vaze has been named as an accused by the ED in its prosecution complaint filed in connection with bribery and money laundering case. 

Vaze’s statements are a part of this charge sheet filed by the ED recently against Deshmukh’s personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde in an alleged money laundering case.

13 others named in the charge sheet include a trust and other companies linked to Deshmukh and his family including two of his staffers, Kundan Shinde and Sanjeev Palande, who were arrested in June.

I do not endorse ‘fokat class’, for good roads you must pay toll: Nitin Gadkari on demand for exemption from toll tax for media persons

OpIndia Staff
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I do not endorse ‘fokat class’, for good roads you must pay toll: Nitin Gadkari on demand for exemption from toll tax for media persons

On Thursday, September 16, 2021, while interacting with the media in Dausa, Rajasthan, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was heard delivering a witty response to a journalist who urged that all NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) toll taxes be waived for media persons.

Mai fokat class ka samarthan nahi karta: Nitin Gadkari

“Tumko bilkul nahi milega. Main yeh fokat class ka samarthan nahi karta. Jisko achhe road par jana hain usko paisa dena padega. Swatantrata sangram senani, divyang, patrakar phir mahila. Ye dhandha bilkul bandh hain, aapko toll dena padega,” (You will not get it at any cost. I do not endorse the ‘fokat class’. It is necessary to pay the toll in order to travel on a good road. Be it freedom fighters, individuals with disabilities, journalists, or women. This sort of activity is not tolerated. You must pay toll), the minister quipped, making it clear that he does not endorse those who seek things for free. This practice should be stopped, advised the union minister.

The full video of the program and media interaction can be watched here.

The minister was addressing the press in Dausa, Rajasthan on Thursday after he reviewed the progress of a section of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway (DME) covering Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The Union Minister has been conducting a two-day aerial survey of the 1380-km eight-lane Delhi-Mumbai expressway. During the survey, the minister made a halt and interacted with the media in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, Dausa in Rajasthan and Sohna in Gurgaon, Haryana.

374 km of road in Rajasthan would be built under this expressway at a cost of 16,600 crores. The entire project has been approved. The state’s districts of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bundi, and Kota will benefit from this highway, informed the union minister in his Tweet dated September 16.

I demolished my father-in-laws’ house without telling my wife to make a road: Nitin Gadkari

During media interaction, the minister, sharing his personal life experience, opined that politicians should not block development efforts.

Gadkari shared how he had once demolished his father-in-law’s house without telling his wife. “Many years ago, my father-in-law’s house was demolished to make a road. I did not tell my wife before the demolition. That’s how it should be. Leaders should not be impediments in progress,” said Gadkari.

Addressing media in Sohna, Gadkari said, “Delhi-Katra expressway will be launched in two years, to reduce the distance from 727 to 572 kilometres, you will reach Katra from Delhi in six hours. We are also working on new roads from Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Dehradun and Delhi-Haridwar, to take you there in two hours.”

Gadkari described the expressway as a matter of pride, saying it will connect Delhi’s urban centres through the Delhi-Faridabad-Sohna part of the corridor with a spur to Jewar Airport and Jawaharlal Nehru Port to Mumbai through a spur in Mumbai.

“The expressway will have wayside amenities such as resorts, restaurants, food courts, fuel stations, facilities for truckers, logistics parks, at six points in Haryana. We have also envisaged a helicopter ambulance service for accident victims and there will be a heliport, which will use drone services for business as well. I also want to build electric highways along the expressway,” said Gadkari.

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to be ready by 2023

The highway, which cost Rs 98,000 crore to develop, is expected to be completed in March 2023. Depending on future traffic volumes, the eight-lane access-controlled expressway could be expanded to a 12-lane expressway.

By March 2022, the first stretch from Delhi to Jaipur (Dausa)-Lalsot and Vadodara to Ankleshwar should be open to traffic.

Gadkari emphasised the importance of roads in a country by quoting former US President John F Kennedy, who said, “American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good”, Kennedy said this. I have this saying written in my office. Roads lead to prosperity and development, stressed the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

Islamic Radicalisation and extremism main challenges to peace and security: Here is what PM Modi said at SCO summit

OpIndia Staff
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Islamic Radicalisation and extremism main challenges to peace and security: Here is what PM Modi said at SCO summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 21st meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) today. Leading the Indian delegation, PM Modi addressed the plenary session of the SCO Summit via video link, while External Affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar is representing the country at the meeting being held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The SCO summit is being held in a hybrid format in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, where some participants are attending the meetings physically, while others joined via video links.

PM Modi started his speech by welcoming the latest member of SCO, Iran, and three new dialogue partners, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar. With Iran, the number of full members of SCO has gone up to nine, the existing members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

The PM said that the expansion of the SCO shows the growing influence of the organisation, adding that SCO will become more powerful and credible with the inclusion of new members.

Narendra Modi said that the biggest challenges in the region are related to peace, security and trust deficit, and the prime reason behind these problems is growing radicalisation. He added that the recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge even more prominent, and suggested that the SCO should take the initiative to work in this regard.

Saying that the Central Asia region has been a pillar of moderate and progressive cultures and values, PM Modi said that SCO should develop a common template to fight radicalisation and extremism based on this historic foundation of Central Asia. He said that there are moderate, tolerant and inclusive organisations and traditions associated with Islam in India and other SCO countries. He suggested that SCO should work towards developing a network among such institutions.

He praised the useful works done by the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO in this regard. He said that while the fight against radicalisation is important for regional peace and mutual trust, it is crucial for bright futures of the youths.

The Indian prime minister said that to compete with the developed world, the region will have to become a stack holder in emerging technologies. For this, science and rational thinking will have to be encouraged among the youths. He suggested that such innovative spirits can be encouraged by interlinking entrepreneurs and start-ups. With this thinking, the first ever SCO Startup Forum and SCO Young Scientists Conclave was organised in India last year.

PM Modi said that due to radicalisation and lack of security, the economic potential of this vast region remains untapped. He emphasised on connectivity among the member states to realise the full benefits of minerals and intra-SCO trade. Saying that connectivity is the foundation of the prosperity of the region, he said that India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. ‘We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India’s vast market,’ he added.

The PM said that unfortunately, several connectivity options are not open for the Central Asian countries at present. He said that any connectivity initiative cannot be a one-way street, connectivity projects should be consultative, transparent & participatory to ensure mutual trust, and should include the respect for territorial integrity of all the countries. SCO should develop appropriate norms for connectivity projects in the region based on these principles, he added.

PM Modi said that only this will restore the traditional connectivity in the region, and connectivity projects will join the nations instead of increasing the distance among them.

Closing his remarks, the PM assured India’s full cooperation in the connectivity projects, and said that his suggestions on radicalisation, connectivity and people-to-people contacts will strengthen the roles of the SCO.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the summit. He also held meetings with his counterparts from Iran, Armenia and Uzbekistan, and exchanged views on the recent developments in Afghanistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also attending the meeting via video link. Afghan issue is likely to dominate discussions at the summit, as most SCO members are neighbours of Afghanistan. The leaders of most neighbours of Afghanistan are gathering at Dushanbe for the first time after the Taliban took over Afghanistan, and it is expected that a joint declaration on Afghanistan issues may be issued in the summit.

Aligarh Muslim University releases a ‘comprehensive’ book on their founder, the man who first propagated the two-nation theory

OpIndia Staff
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Aligarh Muslim University releases a ‘comprehensive’ book on their founder, the man who first propagated the two-nation theory

Aligarh Muslim University or the AMU as it is popularly known recently paid tributes to its founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, who was also one of the earliest proponents of the divisive two-nation theory that led to India’s partition and the creation of Pakistan on the basis of Islam, by launching a book eulogising him and his work.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice-chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor on Thursday released a book glorifying the controversial figure. The book, ‘Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion and Nation’ authored by Professor M Shafey Kidwai is billed as a “comprehensive” account of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s life.

“This book gives a comprehensible, intelligible and lucid narrative on AMU founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s life and his invaluable contribution to the democratic consciousness in India,” Mansoor said during the launch of the book.

Published by Routledge, the book is claimed to have been based on archival research and works of Sir Syed, including his writings, speeches, and addresses.

Besides the vice-chancellor, the event was attended by AMU Registrar Abdul Hamid, IPS; Prof A R Kidwai (Director, UGC HRD Centre), Prof Mohammad Asim Siddiqui (Department of English), Prof Mohammad Sajjad (Department of History), Prof Pitabas Pradhan (Chairman, Department of Mass Communication) and Mr Ajay Bisaria (Department of Hindi). 

Controversial statements made by AMU founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

While the Aligarh Muslim University eulogised its founder, it is worth noting what he stood for and his controversial antecedents. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had stated that it was the duty of Muslims to be loyal to the British empire. He even called the Revolt of 1857 an act of ‘haramzadgi’. He further asserted that being subjects of the British Empire which was Christian was preferable to being that of Hindus as the former were ‘people of the book’.

And most importantly, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the first true proponent of the Two-Nation Theory. He had even asserted that it was ‘impossible and inconceivable’ for Hindus and Muslims to coexist peacefully and it was necessary for one to vanquish the other.

Congress trolls abuse journalist Shiv Aroor, call him a ‘p*mp’ for sharing ‘edited’ video of Rahul Gandhi, end up exposing their master further

OpIndia Staff
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Congress trolls abuse journalist Shiv Aroor, call him a ‘p*mp’ for sharing ‘edited’ video of Rahul Gandhi, end up exposing their master further

India Today journalist Shiv Aroor has been the latest victim of online abuse and bullying by the Congress ecosystem after he had shared a video clip of Rahul Gandhi shaming RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for not having women around him.

On Wednesday (September 15), Aroor had posted a 28-second video, originally published by Asianet News, on his Twitter timeline. Congress scion Rahul Gandhi was heard as saying, “You must have seen 3-4 women around the picture of Gandhiji. Did you see any woman with Mohan Bhagwat? Did you see it? It can never ever happen.” He was addressing a large meeting organised by the All India Mahila Congress.

Shiv Aroor’s tweet was also accompanied by a ‘facepalm’ emoji. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera retweeted a longer version of Rahul Gandhi’s speech and insinuated that the India Today journalist had deliberately edited out the longer version of the video clip. “Some of us were perhaps wrong in expecting better from Shiv Aroor,” wrote Khera.

The tweet by the Congress spokesperson, coupled with allegations of ingenuity, invited the wrath of the party’s trolls against the reputed journalist. “One quick question Aroor – Is your father also a thief like you,” asked one Twitter user (hurry808) that had the display picture of Rahul Gandhi.

Screengrab of the tweet

Rahul Gandhi fanboy, Armaan, compared the India Today journalist with a ‘traitor’ and a news broker/trader (Dalal). “Mum calls your Dallal as well? Remember, the future generation will call your kids as traitor’s kid,” the Congress supporter wished,

Screengrab of the tweet

One Gokul Lisha Krishna asked Shiv Aroor when was he doing to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata party.

Following the social media outrage, the noted defence journalist published an extended clip of Rahul Gandhi’s speech. Besides the comparison between Mohan Bhagwat and Mahatma Gandhi in terms of female companionship, he was also heard claiming that the RSS and the BJP are anti-women. “Their organisation subdues/crushes women empowerment. Our organisation gives women a platform. Narendra Modi, RSS did not make any woman their Prime Minister. Only the Congress party did (while referring to his grandmother Indira Gandhi).”

It can be observed that the extended version of Rahul Gandhi’s speech is a mere continuation of his earlier statement. In order to claim that the BJP and RSS are anti-women, the Congress scion first drew a comparison between the incumbent RSS Chief and the deceased Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi. The shorter version of the video, in no way, contradicts his later statement and as such, there was no question of quoting Rahul Gandhi out of context.

Despite being well aware of the facts, the Congress trolls continued to attack Shiv Aroor. Unlike the first time, the reactions were more personal, vile and highly objectionable. Congress supporter Ajay Kamath claimed that Shiv Aroor’s mother was right when she said that she was wrong in expecting better from him. Further commenting on his lineage, one Congress troll wrote, “Not surprising…one have to have a lineage for having such a mindset.”

The online abuse soon escalated to threats of physical harm. One Congress supporter warned, “Kabhi raste peh mil… there ko pata chalega r*ndi ki aulad (Meet me someday on the road. I will show you, your place, son of a prostitute).”

Screengrab of the tweet by Congress troll

Another Congress fanboy wished that Shiv Aroor was killed on the day he was born. “Your family should have killed you the day you were born… Tell your kids you are a pimp,” the man wrote.

Screengrab of the tweet

Faced with a barrage of abusive tweets, the India Today journalist tried to brush off the matter and said that his tweet helped the trolls earn a living. “Boy, has my Timeline paid a lot of salaries in the last 48 hours,” he concluded.

Shiv Aroor was targetted, humiliated and called names, only because he had shared a video clip of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi making baseless remarks. The India Today journalist did not make personal attacks on Gandhi and in fact, did not criticise the Congress leader at all. However, for the Congress trolls, ridicule of their leader that he had brought upon himself, is intolerable and must be compensated for through intimidation of other individuals. Be it the ruling BJP leaders or journalists, none have been spared by the trolls for pointing out the obvious.

Intriguingly, Rahul Gandhi’s comment about Mahatma Gandhi being always chaperoned by women has brought under the spotlight the well known but little-discussed aspect of Gandhi’s life: his experiments with celibacy. Though widely known, this unflattering aspect of Gandhi’s life, which involves shocking experiments undertaken to test his sexual resolve, has meticulously been swept under the rug by his supporters and the Congress party.  But Rahul’s remarks have inevitably brought to light the controversial practices followed by Gandhiji. 

Not only that, Rahul Gandhi was patently lying in the extended video posted by Congress. While claiming that RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is not seen with women, the claim that the organisation does not support women is patently false. RSS has a thriving women’s wing, The Rashtra Sevika Samiti, where several women voluntary join to serve the nation. It is also the RSS that has repeatedly called for the greater role of women in public life.

While Rahul Gandhi blames BJP for not appointing a woman as the Prime Minister, he forgets that it was the Modi government that had 11 women cabinet ministers, the highest in 17 years.

It is clear that Rahul Gandhi is merely repeating tropes that sound like he wants the progress of women, however, he is either not aware of what the government is doing, given that he is often vacationing, or he does not care if his entire political career, whatever little there is, is based on a plethora of lies.

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