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Court vs Kisan: Kisan Mahapanchayat parts ways with other protestors, SC issues notice to 43 office bearers from various groups

OpIndia Staff
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Court vs Kisan: Kisan Mahapanchayat parts ways with other protestors, SC issues notice to 43 office bearers from various groups

Kisan Mahapancahyat, a farmers’ body, has distanced itself from other protesting farmers amidst the ongoing protests. Filing an affidavit before the Supreme Court, Kisan Mahapanchayat said that it is not part of the protesters blocking highways or restraining police personnel at the Delhi-NCR border.

“…the Petitioner Kisan Mahapanchyat, is neither the part of protestors, who have been stopped and restrained by the Police/ Security Personnel at any National Highway nor is the members of the Petitioner farmers body involved in any activity causing any permanent/temporary blockage on the movement on any road,” read the affidavit. 

The Kisan Mahapanchayat further stated that it parted ways with other farmer organizations after differences of opinions emerged on the manner of protests, especially after January 26 riots. 

The affidavit has been filed in the writ petition seeking permission to hold satyagraha at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

“The Petitioner has approached the Delhi Police to stage peaceful Satyagrah after having difference of opinion regarding the subject matters, manner and mode of protests with other farmer’s body and separated their way after the Incident of 26th January 2021,” it said in the affidavit. 

It further stated that the union wanted to appear before the committee constituted by the Supreme Court for holding talks over the contentious farm laws, however, other farmers’ bodies refused to appear.

“The Petitioners, in fact made a statement before the Hon’ble Court on 12.01.2021 expressing their willingness to appear before the Committee constituted by this Hon’ble Court, while other farm bodies refused to appear,” read the affidavit further. 

They also informed that the Kisan Mahapanchayat has approached a High Court challenging the farm laws and seeking implementation of the Minimum Support Price for agriculture produce.

‘Now you want to come inside the city?‘: Supreme Court

Commenting on the petition seeking permission to hold yet another protest, a bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar remarked, “You have strangulated the entire city, now you want to come inside?” 

The petition was considered in another hearing today. Hearing the petition, the Bench questioned the intention to hold a ‘satyagraha’ at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. 

Considering a petition has been filed challenging the validity of the Farm Laws, the Bench asked, “Where is the question of holding protest?” “..once you go to court and challenge executive action, how can the same party say that even if the matter is before the court I will still protest,” remarked Justice Khanwilkar further. 

The Court then asked advocate Ajay Choudhary representing Kisan Mahapanchayat to clarify the intent of the petition. 

“There’s no act in place at the moment as the act has been stayed by the court. The government has assured they won’t give effect to it, protest is for what?” questioned the Bench. To this, advocate Choudhary said that the Union of India has enacted a law. 

Slamming the advocate for filing a petition for two different reasons, the Bench observed, “..then you come to the law. You can’t do both, challenge law and then protest. You’ve asserted you’ve challenged the validity of the act, so we will decide the validity first. Where’s the question of protest?” 

The Supreme Court further said that it will determine if the right to protest is an “absolute right” and whether a sub-judice issue can be protested against on the streets.

Notice issued to 43 office bearers of farmer organizations

In another case pertaining to the farmers’ protest, the State of Haryana has moved an application before the Supreme Court seeking to implead 43 officer bearers of various farmers’ organizations in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a Noida-resident Monicca Agarwal.

The petitioner had complained of delays in daily commute caused due to the road-blockade owing to the ongoing farmers’ protests. She stated that traveling to Delhi for her marketing job from Noida turned into a nightmare. The 20-minute commute allegedly took two hours due to the protests and road blockade. 

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta on Thursday had apprised a Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M Sundresh that a High-Level Committee had been constituted to hold talks with the farmers on September 19, 2021, but the protesting organizations had refused to participate.

Owing to this, he had sought the Court’s leave to implead the protesting organizations as respondents in the matter. He was then directed to file an application to this effect. Reportedly, alleged farmer leaders such as Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh among others have also been named in the impleadment application.

The Supreme Court announced issuing notice to the 43 office bearers of various farmer organizations.

The matter will be heard on October 20, 2021. 

All roads lead to Lakhimpur Kheri: Politicians get innovative as they form a beeline because of FOMO in election season

OpIndia Staff
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All roads lead to Lakhimpur Kheri: Politicians get innovative as they form a beeline because of FOMO in election season

Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri has been identified as the new political tourist destination for the opposition parties to further their anti-BJP propaganda ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections. And with FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) kicking in, everyone decided to go to Lakhimpur Kheri in poll-bound state to ‘express solidarity’ and ‘condemn’ state administration, which they could have otherwise done via tweet as they normally do.

In an incident from Sunday, a Bhartiya Janta Party’s convoy was attacked by alleged farmers which led to a fatal clashes. As many as nine people have been reported dead in the violence including a journalist Raman Kashyap, three BJP workers along with a driver. The clash also led to the death of four protesting farmers. 

From Congress to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Trinamool Congress (TMC), the opposing political parties have announced innovative ways of sending delegations to meet only the ‘farmers’ affected by the violence. 

Punjab CM seeks permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri by chopper

Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi has expressed his willingness to visit the violence-affected area of Lakhimpur Kheri by chopper. 

For the same, the Punjab government civil aviation director has sought permission from Uttar Pradesh’s additional chief secretary Awanish Awasthi for the landing of the chief minister’s helicopter. 

Punjab CM seeks permission to land his chopper in UP. Image Source: ANI

Meanwhile, the UP government has written a letter to the Punjab chief secretary, urging not to let anyone from the state go to Lakhimpur Kheri.

CM Baghel to alter his plans

Just like Punjab CM, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had also sought permission to land in Uttar Pradesh. However, the additional chief secretary of the UP government in a letter to the director of Airport Authority of India (AAI) in Lucknow on Monday has asked the officials to not grant any permission to the leaders. 

Owing to this, CM Bhupesh Baghel may alter his plan and instead proceed to the national capital to enter the state of Uttar Pradesh. 

While the CM has condemned the imposition of Section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) in the violence-affected area of UP, prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kawardha in Chhattisgarh”s Kabirdham district after people from two communities clashed over the removal of a religious flag on Sunday.

Interestingly, the political situation in Chhattisgarh is quite volatile and there have been rumours that the state government may collapse because of internal fighting between Congress leaders.

SAD holds emergency meeting

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has also announced dispatching a delegation led by Prem S Chandumajra to meet the ‘bereaved farmer families.’

The party has also demanded strict action against the accused and will hold an emergency meeting of the core committee on the same. 

TMC evades detention to visit Lakhimpur Kheri

As tweeted by journalist Anindya Banerjee, Trinamool Congress is planning to send a delegation to Lakhimpur Kheri by road from the national capital to evade detention. 

“TMC delegation doing a Priyanka Gandhi. To evade detention either by Lucknow or @lakhimpurpolice, the delegation flew in to Delhi this morning and taking a car till #Lakhimpur. They reached Delhi around 8.30 am today,” tweeted Anindya Banerjee. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressing her ‘anguish’ had Tweeted on Sunday saying, “I strongly condemn the barbaric incident in Lakhimpur Kheri. The apathy of @BJP4India towards our farmer brethren pains me deeply. A delegation of 5 @AITCofficial MPs will be visiting the families of the victims tomorrow. Our farmers will always have our unconditional support.

Reportedly, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Pratima Mondal, Dola Sen, Sushmita Dev and Abir Ranjan Biswas are the five leaders being sent to UP by the TMC. 

AAP’s Raghav Chadha said to leave for UP

The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to send Punjab Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, Raghav Chadha, Kultar Sandhwa and Baljinder Kaur to Lakhimpur Kheri today. 

The same was informed by the Arvind Kejriwal-led party through a Tweet. 

The UP police in the wee hours of Monday had stopped AAP MP Sanjay Singh in Sitapur when he was en route to Lakhimpur Kheri. As per reports, Singh refused to step back and continued to remain on the spot.

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad reaches Tikunia

Meanwhile, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad has reached a makeshift stage at the protest site constructed at Tikunia, a nagar panchayat located near Lakhimpur Kheri.

“It is a sad moment for the farmers of this country. The death of farmers shows that the government has crossed all limits. I assure you that farmer’s struggle will triumph. I extend my full support to this fight to get justice for the families who have lost their family members here,” he said from the site.

Akhilesh Yadav arrested

On Monday (October 4), a contingent of police officials and Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed outside the residence of Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav. In a bid to avert a law and order situation, the police officials restrained Yadav from travelling to Lakhimpur Kheri.

He has now been detained after he sat on a dharna outside his Vikramaditya Marg residence.

Priyanka Gandhi sweeps room

After being stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri, videos of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sweeping the floor of a guesthouse in the Sitapur district has surfaced on social media.

Acting as an opportunist, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and JKNC (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference) leader Omar Abdullah compared Uttar Pradesh to J&K.

“Uttar Pradesh is the naya J&K,” he said in a tweet.

Lakhimpur Kheri is part of UP’s ‘Mini Punjab’ where Khalistani terrorists flourished during Punjab insurgency: All you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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Lakhimpur Kheri is part of UP’s ‘Mini Punjab’ where Khalistani terrorists flourished during Punjab insurgency: All you need to know

During the Khalistan insurgency, the Mini Punjab of Uttar Pradesh used to be a safe haven for Khalistani outfits. They flourished for decades in UP but went into hibernation following the crackdown in the 1990s. Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) was one of the most active outfits in the region during the insurgency.

Apart from Lakhimpur Kheri, the regions that were part of Mini Punjab were Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur of Uttar Pradesh and Uddham Singh Nagar district which is now a part of Uttarakhand.

During the 90s, agencies had arrested 12 individuals linked to BKI. They were lodged in Shahjahanpur district jail. After they were released, some of them stayed back while others shifted to Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit. Some of them migrated to Punjab.

Who are the Sikhs living in Western UP?

When the partition happened in 1947, several Sikh families who came from Pakistan were settled in Uttar Pradesh. The majority of these families got settled in Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Rampur, Sitapur and Bijnor districts. A couple of small villages comprised of Sikh families only. The land originally belonged to a local King, Raja Vikram Shah. When Sikhs came to UP after the partition, he gave up the land and donated it to the Sikhs.

Lakhimpur Kheri emerged during 2017 raids

In October 2017, Punjab Police and Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad arrested several operatives and sympathizers of BKI. At that time, agencies said that these operatives and sympathizers had gone into hibernations following the crackdown on BKI in the 1990s. However, BKI’s name became prominent during Nabha Jailbreak in Punjab.

During the investigation, agencies traced the whole incident to the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh that included districts like Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri and other regions in close proximity to the Nepal border.

Intelligence agencies alerted that an extensive network of BKI was operating in the regions of western UP. Notably, the region has several tehsils and hamlets where Sikhs form a significant chunk of the population. Around the time raids were conducted, two of the 12 individuals who were under the watch of intelligence agencies disappeared. The agencies at that time noted that they might have been involved in expanding the BKI network in the region.

Two individuals linked to Lakhimpur Kheri who were nabbed by UP ATS and Punjab Police were identified as Jitendra Singh Toni and Satnam Singh. Jitender was wanted in the Nabha jailbreak case of November 2016. He was accused of supplying arms. He was arrested in Mailani, Lakhimpur Kheri, UP. Satnam Singh was resident of Sikandarpur, Lakhimpur Kheri. He was named by a BKI operative who was arrested in August 2017 from Lucknow.

Khalistani sympathizers activated during 2020 referendum

When Khalistani terrorist organization Sikhs For Justice announced the 2020 referendum, Khalistani sympathizers living in the mini Punjab region were activated. There were several reports of arrests of such individuals from the area. In September 2018, Udham Singh Nagar police had arrested two young Sikh individuals identified as Kulwinder Singh and Harjeet Singh, who had been publishing pro-Khalistani posts on social media. They also created a WhatsApp group named 20-20 Khalistan Referendum.

Sikh Man is seen with Bindranwale t-shirt during farmer protests in Lakhimpur Kheri

On October 3, alleged farmer protesters attacked the BJP convoy and pelted stones at them. The clash resulted in the death of eight people, including four protestors, three BJP workers and a driver who was part of the BJP convoy. While the protesting farmers made allegations that the son of the State Home Minister was driving the car that met with an accident leading to the death of the protestors, reports emerged that he was not even present at the scene at the time of the incident.

While a violent mob was attacking BJP workers with batons and calling for their death, an individual was allegedly seen wearing a Bhindranwale t-shirt in some images. The presence of Khalistani supporters raised many questions on the movement, and questions were raised if it was pre-planned violence.

Pandora papers: Satish Sharma, Congress minister and close friend of the Gandhi family had undisclosed offshore assets

OpIndia Staff
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Pandora papers: Satish Sharma, Congress minister and close friend of the Gandhi family had undisclosed offshore assets

Congress leader Captain Satish Sharma, who had close ties with the Gandhis and had passed away in February this year, is among those who had undisclosed properties and entities abroad, an investigation conducted by the Indian Express into leaked Pandora Papers revealed.

At least 10 members of Captain Satish Sharma’s family, including his wife Sterre, children and grandchildren, are listed as beneficiaries under a trust named Jan Zegers Trust—an organisation incorporated in the Cayman Islands in 1995. The trust was later registered under the governing law of New Zealand as well.

Significantly, Sharma was then Union Minister of Petroleum and Gas under the Congress-led government at the Centre and had not made any declaration about the same to the Election Commission while filing poll nomination papers. He was an MP from the Amethi and later Raebareli Lok Sabha seats, the two seats preferred by the Gandhi family.

There was another trust named JZ II Trust that was incorporated in October 2015 when Sharma was a Congress Rajya Sabha member. The investigation by the Indian Express found Sharma to be the protector of the two aforementioned trusts and his wife Sterre listed as a beneficiary under them.

The list of beneficiaries of the Jan Zegers Trust as mentioned by a document from August 2014 includes Satish Sharma (protector), Henriette Jeanette Zegers Ten Horn, Sterre Candida Maria Sharma Zegers, Mei Celesta Regina Zegers, Engelien Felicia Gabrielle Zegers, Samir Sharma, Sarika Sharma, Patrick Brenny, Paul McGowan and the Kalakar Trust.

It is worth noting that the Delhi address listed by The Kalakar Trust is a property owned by Sharma’s wife Sterre, according to an affidavit filed with his Rajya Sabha nomination in 2010.

In his declarations during nominations for his Rajya Sabha elections in 2004 and 2010, there was no mention of any other immovable property outside India save for Sterre’s “inherited house” in Amsterdam.

Jan Zegers Trust and underlying companies dissolved to be replaced by JZ II Trust and other set of underlying companies

Sharma’s network of offshore companies was revealed through a document belonging to the AsiaCiti Trust. It said the Jan Zegers Trust and its underlying companies—Dansor SARL (Luxembourg), Anenice Limited (UK), and Lomond Investments Limited (Cayman Islands) —was later dissolved and replaced by Univest Capital Limited (Samoa); JZ II Trust and its underlying companies, Univest Capital Limited (Samoa) and Fortune Skyline Limited (British Virgin Islands).

Sharma gave his “consent” to pay EUR 0.9799 million, USD 0.1885 million, and 2 lakh Singapore dollars to various entities through some third party accounts, the report said while citing documents.

About Rs 4.28 crore were to be funnelled in several batches to Sterre Sharma via Kul Rattan Chadha in his account at the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Vasant Vihar, Delhi branch. Notably, Chadha was named in the Panama Papers and lives in Amsterdam. He has also signed as “witness” on requisite documents at the time when Jan Zegers Trust was formed in 1995.

The Indian Express report mentioned that remittances paid to Sterre Sharma were classified as ‘high risk’ with specifically mentioning that she is married to “an Indian politician Satish Sharma”.

Captain Satish Sharma’s wife denies any wrongdoing

Sterre, Sharma’s widow, repudiated claims of any wrongdoing and asserted that the trusts were incorporated by her father as Settlor, as a mechanism to manage his assets and distribute his inheritance to the beneficiaries, which included his wife, children, their wives, husbands, widows and widowers of the issue of the settlor and his wife and the Kalakar Trust in New Delhi.

When asked why Jan Zegers II trust was incorporated after dissolving the first one, Sterre said it was done to help liquidate the trust assets to pay French taxes on trust property, whose tax demand far surpassed the value of the trust property.

She said the family settlement made to pay French taxes is yet to come and once it arrives, she will pay the due taxes on them. She also said that her late husband owned no assets abroad and that trustees were strictly mandated to carry out all regulatory compliances.

“Late Mr Satish Sharma was made a Protector of the Trust, who could act in place of Settlor(my late father), in case Settlor is not living (died) or was under a disability or incompetency to provide continuity. For all purposes heirs of my late father were beneficiaries and all powers and control vested in my late father….,” said Sterre in her response to the Indian Express.

She further added that she had declared the Trust in her IT returns since 2016-2017, claiming that final French tax claims have been settled only in this year and once the family settlement arrives, she would pay whatever tax due in each jurisdiction.

“Companies are formed solely to manage assets under the trust which holds inheritance of my late father and are to be duly wound up with the Trust. None of my family members or myself to my understanding have any role in these companies,” Sterre said.

Why Congress ecosystem is counting dead bodies? They see hope. Read why they see another ‘Belchi moment’ in Lakhimpur Kheri

Jinit Jain
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Why Congress ecosystem is counting dead bodies? They see hope. Read why they see another ‘Belchi moment’ in Lakhimpur Kheri

Earlier yesterday, senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi hightailed it to Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh after a rampaging mob of ‘protesting’ farmers clashed with BJP workers, resulting in the death of 8 people.

Gandhi, who seems desperate to prowl for issues that could be exploited to corner the Yogi administration and brighten Congress’ otherwise gloomy prospects in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, decided to politicise the incident after having pulled a similar kind of PR stunt in Hathras, another UP town which was convulsed by the gang-rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl in October 2020.

As she tried to enter Lakhimpur Kheri on the night of October 3, the police stopped her. While UP Police was trying to detain the Congress leader, she threatened the officers that she would file cases of molestation and kidnapping against them.

Video of Gandhi went viral on social media platforms where she was seen threatening the Police. She said, “Are you forcing me to sit in this [pointing to the police vehicle]? Are you trying to kidnap me? This is your legal status? Are you getting it? Do not think that I do not understand.”

The Police officer said he would arrest her if she did not let them detain her. She said, “Arrest me. I will go happily with you.” It seems like she also alleged they were forcing her to sit in the vehicle. The Police officer said, “Who is forcing you? We are not.”

She replied, “You are pushing me. If you keep doing so, it will attract cases of assault, attempt to kidnap, kidnap, attempt to molest, attempt to harm. Are you getting me? I understand everything. Try to touch me.”

Similarly, other politicians, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, were also arrested as a preemptive measure to keep the volatile situation in Lakhimpur Kheri under check.

But, as Priyanka Gandhi was prevented from entering the village and detained by police officials, the Congress ecosystem went into overdrive to draw a parallel between the Gandhi scion’s detention in Lakhimpur Kheri with her grandmother Indira Gandhi’s Belchi visit.

Congress supporters and sympathisers compare Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Lakhimpur Kheri with Indira Gandhi’s Belchi visit

Several sympathisers and Congress-leaning propagandists saw Priyanka Gandhi’s detention in Lakhimpur Kheri as yet another starting point of her political rebirth and the revival of the Congress party in UP politics just like Indira Gandhi had resurrected a moribund Congress party after her visit to Belchi in Bihar 1977.

Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, whose predilection for the Congress party is often apparent and unmistakable, posted a tweet wondering if Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Lakhimpur Kheri is her “Belchi moment”.

Before long, social media websites were replete with posts speculating if Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Lakhimpur Kheri is her “Belchi moment.”

Amusingly, this is not the first time that Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to a village struck by violence is hailed by some sections of the commentariat as her “Belchi moment.” Just like the slavish media have been persistently trying to announce Rahul Gandhi’s ‘coming of age’ for more than a decade now, they have also been earnestly involved in describing every other visit by Priyanka Gandhi to violence-stricken areas as her ‘Belchi moment’.

This is Priyanka Gandhi’s 2nd, sorry, 3rd ‘Belchi moment’

Back in 2019, Gandhi visited the bucolic town of Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh after 10 tribals were gunned down by the land mafia. That visit, too, was characterised by the media channels and Congress sympathisers as her attempt to fill in her grandmother’s shoes. Then, there was the Hathras incident in Uttar Pradesh last year, when journalists and supporters fell over themselves to conjecture that it would play a pivotal role in reviving the Congress party, just like Belchi visit by Indira Gandhi did back in the 1970s.

Every once in a while, when Congress leaders sense their popularity is on the wane and the party is in dire straits, they pull off a stunt of visiting the aggrieved family with the aim of cashing in on the public sympathy. There hope is that such visits would attract positive coverage and undercut the groundswell of resentment brewing against the Congress party. It is this hope that is making Congress supporters and sympathisers hark back to Indira Gandhi’s visit to Belchi village in 1977 that was so hyped media that it ended up dramatically upended the ebbing fortunes of the party then.

What is Indira Gandhi’s Belchi moment?

It was 1977, the public discontent against Indira Gandhi was on its peak, thanks to the simmering anger among the people over her misbegotten plan of imposing the Emergency in the country and curtailing individual rights. When about 14 Dalits were massacred in Bihar’s town of Belchi, Gandhi sensed it as a political opportunity to placate the resentful sentiments people harboured against her.

She immediately rushed to Belchi along with a cavalcade of 35 cars, rode an elephant and managed to attract popular grandstanding despite a recent election defeat and had the locals applaud her as the saviour of the oppressed class. The result was evident in the next elections when Indira regained power handsomely.

Indira Gandhi arriving on an elephant to Belchi, Bihar(Image Source: Ind.Tv)

Indira, whose political career was about to hit the rock bottom, found the ladder made of these 14 Dalit lives and made a strong comeback. The Belchi visit was hailed by the media as the watershed moment that tipped the odds in favour of Indira Gandhi. Hailed and hyped by a pliant media and ecosystem, Belchi helped Indira and the Congress party to remain relevant in the national politics, and it even laid the foundation for her coming back to power in 1980.

About four and a half decades later, the Congress party is again at the crossroads, with its popularity and acceptance at its nadir. The recent Punjab fiasco has also eroded whatever little trust people had in the leadership acumen of the current generation of Gandhi leaders.

As questions are raised over Gandhis’ claim on Congress leadership, the partisan media journalists and sycophant members of the Congress party are desperately hopeful that Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Lakhimpur Kheri would garner the same amount of sympathy and support as grandmother’s visit to Belchi did and once again reverse the downward spiral of the Congress party.

UP Govt announces Rs 45 lakh compensation for kin of all dead in Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Rs 10 lakh for injured: Details

OpIndia Staff
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UP Govt announces Rs 45 lakh compensation for kin of all dead in Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Rs 10 lakh for injured: Details

The Uttar Pradesh Government has announced that Rs. 45 lakhs will be handed over to the kin of all those who have died during the violence at Lakhimpur Kheri. Those who were injured will be given Rs. 10 lakhs. A government job will also be given to the families of the deceased as per their qualifications.

In a joint press conference with Rakesh Tikait, UP Police announced that no criminal will be spared and a strict investigation has already been ordered into the matter. Uttar Pradesh ADG for Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said that arrests will be made soon.

Prashant Kumar also said that district authorities had informed earlier that no political personalities will be allowed entry to Lakhimpur Khiri. He said that the post-mortem of the deceased will be conducted as per legal procedures and subsequently, their last rites will be performed.

Numerous political leaders have attempted to visit the site of the violence but have been prevented from doing so by UP Police. Akhilesh Yadav has been put under house arrest and Priyanka Gandhi has been placed under detention.

Punjab Chief Minister Chiranjit Singh Channi and Chhatisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel have also expressed their wish to visit Lakhimpur Kheri and a delegation from Trinamool Congress is also on the way.

Nine individuals have lost their lives so far in the incident, 4 of them said to be farmers and one among them a journalist.

Lakhimpur Kheri: Disturbing visuals show ‘farmer protestors’ thrashing man who kept begging for his life, violence leaves 8 dead

OpIndia Staff
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Lakhimpur Kheri: Disturbing visuals show ‘farmer protestors’ thrashing man who kept begging for his life, violence leaves 8 dead

This report was published on October 4. The latest updates have been added on October 5.

Amidst the violence orchestrated by farmer protestors in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday (October 3), disturbing video footage of a person being gheraoed, thrashed, and forced to make a confession, has gone viral on social media.

In the video clip, the victim was seen bleeding from his head, after being possibly assaulted by the farmers. He admitted that he was sent by MoS Mishra to keep an eye on the situation. However, the frenzied mob of farmer protestors was not convinced by his response. They tried to put words into his mouth and said, “You were sent to run over the farmers.” When he refused about being instructed by anyone to kill farmers, the protestors coerced him into accepting that he was a hitman.

With folded hands, the victim begged, “Dada, dada, dada” and asked them to spare his life. “We will not beat you,” a ‘farmer’ protestor was heard saying in the background in the hopes of soliciting a false confession.

One can see fear in his eyes as he kept looking here and there in hopes that he will be spared. As someone who could be watching death from close quarters, the driver looked terrified. Unfortunately, he was subsequently killed by the rioting mob of ‘farmers’.

Violence in Lakhimpur Kheri

On October 3, eight people died after BJP workers were attacked by protesting ‘farmers’ at Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, a large group of alleged farmers had gathered in Lakhimpur Kheri to mark their protest against the three Agriculture laws enacted in September last year. Deputy CM was scheduled to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. The protesters went violent and pelted stones at BJP’s convey.

One of the cars allegedly hit the protestors, after which the protestors not only burnt two vehicles but also ambushed the people and beat the occupants of the vehicle to death. Disturbing visuals had emerged of the incident that led to several speculations. CM Yogi promised to take strict action against whoever was behind the incident. A heavy police force was deployed in Lakhimpur Kheri to maintain law and order.

As per the latest reports, the driver of the vehicle was named Hariom Mishra. The person who was seen being thrashed by the farmer protestors was named Shyam Sunder. Both Hariom Mishra and Shyam Sunder were brutally beaten to death by the murderous mob of farmer protestors. In the incident, a BJP worker named Shubham and a local journalist named Raman Kashyap were also killed. A total of 8 people, including 4 farmer protestors have died in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

A latest video shows the said vehicle being already damaged by stone peltings and attacks by the protestors when it suddenly runs over some of the protestors blocking the road, indicating that the driver may have lost control. The vehicle was toppled and set on fire by the protestors. Disturbing videos on social media had shown a frenzied mob beating up occupants of the vehicle after dragging them out.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her sweeping (literally) drama: Princess pretends to be a commoner while the farmers she supports lynch people

Nupur J Sharma
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her sweeping (literally) drama: Princess pretends to be a commoner while the farmers she supports lynch people

On Sunday, the so-called farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh reportedly attacked a car carrying BJP workers. As per Minister of State A K Mishra, the ‘farmers’ pelted stones and attacked the convoy. Because of this, the driver lost control and the car overturned killing two ‘protestors’. Angered, the ‘farmers’ then attacked the BJP workers killing at least four BJP workers. Some members of the frenzied mob were wearing t-shirts with the image of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

The videos that went viral on the internet were nothing short of horrifying. Angered “farmers”, several of them Sikhs, were seen mercilessly beating BJP workers to death. In one video that went viral, a bloodied man was seen folding his hands and pleading for his life. The “farmers” asked him to “confess” that he was sent by BJP leader MoS Mishra, to ‘run over the farmers’. He refuses to confess to the lie they wanted him to peddle and then, they proceeded to beat him up mercilessly.

In Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday, a large group of alleged farmers had gathered in Lakhimpur Kheri to mark their protest against the three Agriculture laws enacted in September last year. Deputy CM was scheduled to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. The protesters became violent and pelted stones at BJP’s convey. One of the cars allegedly hit the protestors, after which the protestors not only burnt two vehicles but also ambushed the people and reportedly beat one driver to death. 

While Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and a host of other politicians play vulture politics, the truth of what happened in Lakhimpur Kheri is far from their narrative. They want the world to believe that BJP deliberately ran over farmers and therefore, the protesting farmers got angry and lynched BJP workers to death. And after lying and supporting the murderers wearing t-shirts with the face of a terrorist, who wish to call themselves ‘farmers’, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra specifically started indulging in her usual drama to win political brownie points.

First, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tried to enter Lakhimpur Kheri to foment trouble, when the UP police detained her. Priyanka, on her part, created a drama threatening the police officers, a video of which went viral. She was seen saying, “Are you forcing me to sit in this [pointing to the police vehicle]? Are you trying to kidnap me? This is your legal status? Are you getting it? Do not think that I do not understand.”

The Police officer said he would arrest her if she did not let them detain her. She said, “Arrest me. I will go happily with you.” It seems like she also alleged they were forcing her to sit in the vehicle. The Police officer said, “Who is forcing you? We are not.” 

She replied, “You are pushing me. If you keep doing so, it will attract cases of assault, attempt to kidnap, kidnap, attempt to molest, attempt to harm. Are you getting me? I understand everything. Try to touch me.”

Interestingly, while she was threatening the police officers with fake molestation cases, she was heard specifically telling the police officers not to send the women officers to detain her. Essentially, she wanted the male police officers to be at the forefront so she could play the woman card and cry molestation. It is to be borne in mind that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is in Lakhimpur Kheri not to demand action against the violence but to support the Bhindranwale-picture-on-t-shirt wearing farmers who murdered people in broad daylight.

But the drama of being an ‘abhla naari’ battling the tyrannical police is probably not enough to win elections. Congress can’t possibly be stupid enough to truly believe that this drama of “police is molesting me” is going to fly anymore. In the video itself, it was apparent that the police was being respectful and only trying to do his job. If anything, it is the police officer who should book Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for harassment and criminal intimidation. But that is a discussion for another day.

After intimidating and threatening police officials stopping her from creating riots where multiple people had been murdered (and playing the victim while doing it), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had to do another drama to convince people that she was just a commoner trying to stand up for the oppressed.

The princess, who decided to descend from her throne after she smelt the sweet smell of a BJP worker’s blood, was detained in a PAC guest house. As she was detained, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after ensuring that one of her lackeys were holding the camera at the right angle, proceeded to sweep the floor of the guest house where she was detained.

The video was then promptly sent to the media, that tweeted it out to create a buzz almost instantly.

There are certain aspects that we must ponder on, as this video is tweeted repeatedly by multiple Congress-friendly media channels. What the Princess is trying to do here, is essentially tell the people that she is, in fact, not a princess and is capable of being a humble ‘sevak’ to the people. This phenomenon of babu-log trying to be like the unwashed masses basically started with PM Modi’s election, considering his humble background has been an endearing factor for his supporters and voters.

The political princess is no commoner and perhaps, can never be. The Gandhis are simply not wired that way. They have always been political royalty, right from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, and it is now because of PM Modi that the royalty is being forced to prove to that people that they can be just as humble, even if their beginnings were not. In fact, they want people to believe that while PM Modi comes from a humble background, it is far more difficult for royalty to be so frugal and therefore, they deserve more respect.

Jawaharlal Nehru was the same leader who was kept in a lavish “jail” while others languished in the inhuman prisons in Andaman and Nicobar islands by the British. Here is a simple comparison between the cells of Nehru and Veer Savarkar.

Priyanka Gandhi sweeps floor in Lakhimpur Kheri: Read about how drama
“prison cell” of Jawaharlal Nehru vs prison cell of Veer Savarkar

This is the same party where every family members who entered politics (and all of them do – it is a family business after all) are accused of multiple scams. From Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi. From Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to her husband Robert Vadra. They are accused of making several crores by illegal means.

In fact, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra are constructing a house in Shimla – a house also mired in controversy. Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, has never earned an honest living in his life. Never held a job. Never done anything really. He has lived a lavish life on the millions and millions that his parents, grandparents and probably brother-in-law “earned” (nobody really knows how). In fact, when the Punjab crisis was brewing recently, Rahul was in Shimla holidaying. In the past, while his party disintegrated, he has been on vacations to Thailand and Italy.

It is only the ‘babu-log’ who get to live a life like that. And when the babu-log pretend to be commoners, sweeping the floors in slow motion with their lackey holding the camera, they except the unwashed masses to thank them for descending from their self-bought throne. What is worse, that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra seems to be doing this while at least 8 people have been killed, many BJP workers, lynched by the very farmers who she is supporting in Lakhimpur Kheri.

It is perhaps the nature of royalty that the blood of the unwashed masses is simply a commodity to be used to either further or strengthen their own hold on power, or at the very least, to get the power that they no longer have. And it is that quintessential quality of royalty that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is displaying here. “Look here – I am a princess and this is what I am doing for you. Be thankful. Bow down. Be my slave”. The only problem is that after being enslaved by royalty for over 70 years, the people of India are wiser. And perhaps, these shenanigans won’t work anymore.

Lakhimpur Kheri: Priyanka Gandhi threatening UP Police of accusing them of molestation is shameful and must be called out

Nirwa Mehta
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Lakhimpur Kheri: Priyanka Gandhi threatening UP Police of accusing them of molestation is shameful and must be called out

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday left for Lakhimpur Kheri where protesting ‘farmers’ attacked BJP workers’ convoy and subsequent violence led to death of at least eight people. Of these, four were BJP workers. However, since Priyanka is part of the ‘agitation committee’ set up by Congress earlier this year, she is now playing the role assigned to her of ensuring that the protests continue to happen across India. And if they are in a poll-bound state such at Uttar Pradesh, nothing better, eh?

When she reached Lucknow and proceeded towards Lakhimpur Kheri, she was stopped by the Police. In such a politically volatile situation, where every who’s who and who even is that from the political world has decided to make Lakhimpur Kheri their destination, it is obviously the state administration’s responsibility to ensure law and order situation is maintained.

This video here will explain how exactly the political game was at play.

In the above video, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is seen threatening the UP Police. She said, “Are you forcing me to sit in this [pointing to the police vehicle]? If you do it, it will be my kidnapping. This is your legal status? Are you getting it? Do not think that I do not understand.”

When Police said that he would have to arrest her if she does not let her detain her, she said, “Arrest me. I will go happily with you. You are pushing me. If you keep doing so, it will attract cases of assault, attempt to kidnap, kidnap, attempt to molest, attempt to harm. Are you getting me? I understand everything. Try to touch me.”

She then pointed to women police officers who were present there and said, “Do not bring women officers in front. Learn to talk to the women. Are you getting it?”

As per Indian laws, a woman can be taken into custody only in presence of a woman police officer. An all-male team cannot be taking a woman in custody or detaining her.

Why Priyanka Gandhi’s statements are problematic

Firstly, to begin with, she is insisting that the women officers who are present there should not come forward. All this is being recorded on camera where a huge crowd is present. In case some miscreant does some mischief and the police uses force, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could then claim she was ‘assaulted’ by all male police force. Even if the police then would be trying to maintain law and order, a ‘woman leader assaulted by police’ would be the narrative.

Secondly, and more importantly, when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra threatens the UP Police that she will accuse them of ‘attempt to molest’ it undermines the horrendous crime. Women in India are subjected to molestation, rape and sexual assault. There are, unfortunately, number of cases where victims are not even believed. And here we have a star kid, so to say, who has been born in an illustrious political family which has given India three prime ministers, threatening police of accusing them of attempt to molest her, only because they said they will detain her.

As a party whose leader, Rahul Gandhi, who happens to be her elder brother, keeps on speaking about women empowerment and women safety, how does she get to get away with making threats about accusing men of molestation even if no such thing has taken place? Is this the empowerment Rahul Gandhi keeps promising?

How is this okay?

And only someone who is privileged and perhaps never really had to face molestation can throw such terms so casually. That casual groping in metro, the hand on the chest on the crowded street of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk near the Jama Masjid and the sheer dread of walking alone from metro station to home after sunset, clutching on to one’s bag with hand curled up in fist for instant reflex – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has perhaps never experienced this. I have. The crippling fear every time I take a cab and making sure I keep sharing my location with family and friends to ensure at least someone is aware in case I go missing – I’m sure Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cannot relate to this ever.

Sexual harassment is not a joke. Molestation is not a joke. Rape is not a joke. Maybe as a woman leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could introspect and be a little more responsible before throwing words like molestation so casually.

MP: Kareem poses as Karan to lure Hindu woman, booked for rape after sexually assaulting her for 11 days

OpIndia Staff
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MP: Kareem poses as Karan to lure Hindu woman, booked for rape after sexually assaulting her for 11 days

A case of Grooming Jihad has come to light in Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district. An FIR has been filed by the police against one Kareem (32) who posed as Karan to lure a Hindu woman. 

Reportedly, Kareem introduced himself as Karan Jadhav to a 22-year-old woman doing her second year of graduation from a college in Pansemal town. He had been making WhatsApp video calls to her for the past two months. 

On September 20, Kareem lured the woman and took her to Indore where he sexually assaulted the victim for 11 days. As the victim got to know of Kareem’s identity, she protested after which Kareem fled leaving the woman alone. 

The victim then returned from Indore and revealed to her family about Kareem. She informed that the accused had lied to her to take her to Indore. The woman also said that Kareem had introduced himself as Hindu and not a Muslim.

The girl along with her family immediately registered a case against the accused at Pansemal police station. A case has been registered under the IPC section 376 for rape, SC/ST Act for impersonation and anti-conversion law. 

As per Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP) PS Baghel, the accused has been taken into custody. He also informed that Kareem worked as a welder.

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