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Video of Kavita Krishnan comparing Hindutva to Taliban, Ku Klux Klan surfaces, she alleges that her comments were ‘twisted’

OpIndia Staff
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Video of Kavita Krishnan comparing Hindutva to Taliban, Ku Klux Klan surfaces, she alleges that her comments were ‘twisted’

On Friday (September 3), Communist leader and ‘activist’ Kavita Krishnan came under fierce criticism after she was found drawing a false equivalence between the Taliban, Ku Klax Klan, and the Hindutva.

During the ‘Janta Ka Mukadama‘ show on India News, host Pradeep Bhandari emphasised how Hinduphobia is the grim reality of the day and efforts are being made to defame the Hindu religion. In this regard, he had shared an ‘exclusive’ video clip wherein Kavita Krishnan unveiled her motive behind mainstreaming Hinduphobia by peddling false narratives around Hindu supremacy.

“The Hindus in India are fighting against Hindutva, just like Muslims are fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Those running away from the Taliban are Muslims. Similarly, we Hindus are fighting Hindus here,” Kavita Krishnan was heard a saying. She later tweaked her statement to replace ‘Hindus’ with ‘Hindutva.’

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/India News)

“The conference is about dismantling global Hindutva. I have been invited there as one of the speakers. The world knows about the Taliban, the Ku Klux Klan of the United States (white supremacy) but doesn’t know much about the politics of Hindu supremacy… I want to clarify that those who organised the conference are Indians and most of them are Hindus,” Kavita Krishnan stated.

A three-day conference on Hindus and Hindutva co-sponsored by some of the departments of universities, most from the USA is scheduled to be held from September 11. On its website, the organisers of the event – “Dismantling Global Hindutva”, have listed the names of more than 40 top American universities as their sponsors and cosponsors.

The controversial propaganda event has caused a massive uproar globally amongst Hindus, with several Indians accusing the left-liberals of organising a Nazi-style event to justify the impending genocide of Hindus. The ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ event is set to see the participation of several Hinudphobic elements such as Audrey Truschke, Naxal sympathiser Anand Patwardhan and Nandini Sunder, self-proclaimed far-left journalist Neha Dixit and many others.

Kavita Krishnan cries foul, claims her statement was ‘twisted’

On Sunday (September 5), Kavita Krishnan took to Twitter to claim that she was being targeted for raising her voice against ‘Hindu supremacy’. She alleged that ‘Jan ki Baat’ had been running a show to brand her as ‘anti-Hindu’ on the basis of a short video clip.

“I have never spoken to this channel. This clip is from a long interview (with) 2 kids from a Facebook page. I challenge Pradeep Bhandari to air it in full. In the interview, I spoke on why I oppose the Taliban in Agfghsnisdtam just as I oppose the Hindu supremacist outfits that attack women/s and human rights in India,” she tweeted.

Screengrab of the tweet by Kavita Krishnan

Furthermore, the Communist justified her bizarre analogies by citing the example of Brian Tyler Cohen, who in her view had earlier compared the ‘Christian fanatic attacks on abortion rights in Texas with the Taliban’. This is despite the fact that Cohen had made no such analogies. Kavita Krishnan also accused ‘Jan ki Baat’ founder of labelling her as ‘anti-Hindu’ and ‘anti-India.’

“Also, I want Pradeep to disclose where he got the clip from. He claims it is an “exclusive tape”. Did he send two youngsters under a false identity to my home to take an interview? Because the clip is certainly from an interview I did with them not with Jan Ki Baat,” she further challenged Pradeep Bandari.

Screengrab of the tweet by Kavita Krishnan

Kavita Krishnan, a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), is a hyper-activist and doubles up as a freelance protestor once in a while to support anti-India causes. Krishnan, who came into the limelight during the 2016 JNU anti-national slogans incident, has become the face of the far-left ‘protests’ in the country. Over the last few years, Kavita Krishnan has been caught several times for peddling fake news, however, she continues to do so with impunity.

Besides expressing solidarity to anti-national elements, Kavita Krishnan has a history of backing radical Islamists, fake news peddlers, and pro-Pakistan propagandists. Last year, she was exposed for standing in support of a notorious fake news peddler Mohammad Asif Khan, who has a history of propagating communally sensitive fake news.

What BBC’s defense of Pakistan really tells us: The West is not the hero in Afghanistan

K Bhattacharjee
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What BBC’s defense of Pakistan really tells us: The West is not the hero in Afghanistan

An interesting event transpired on the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) on Sunday. A noted academic was cut off by the anchor of the channel when she elaborated on the assistance Pakistan provided to the Taliban in their war against the USA and the west-backed Government in Afghanistan.

Christina Fair was shut down because it would somehow violate the channel’s “impartiality” doctrine as there was no Pakistani diplomat on the show to provide a response. But it is an open secret that the Taliban has been receiving help from the Pakistani Government.

The Taliban acknowledges the support and calls Pakistan their second home. Pakistani Ministers, too, have been celebrating their victory in Afghanistan. It is unclear how elaborating the same would violate policy in any manner.

But the incident perfectly highlights something that we have always known: The West is not the hero in Afghanistan. It beggars belief that the United States and western countries continued to rely on Pakistan as their trusted ally even as the latter undermined the US-backed government in Afghanistan.

On one hand, the West claimed that it was waging war against a medieval army that seeks to impose Shariah law in the country and oppress women and minorities in Afghanistan. On the other hand, they treated as their ally the very country which was helping this band of merry Jihadists. How does that work?

Needless to say, one of the primary reasons why the western media is not too keen on highlighting the role of Pakistan is because it will expose the duplicity of their own governments. And it is quite clear that western countries have still not learnt anything from their mistakes in Afghanistan.

Only a couple of days after the Kabul airport attack, United States Senator Lindsey Graham was openly batting for Pakistan. “Any sustainable solution in Afghanistan must include Pakistan,” the Senator said only two days after a terrorist attack caused the death of nearly 200 people, including American service members.

Source: Twitter

To be fair, the conduct of US forces in Afghanistan has been far from exemplary. Corruption was so rampant under the US-backed government that widows of Afghan soldiers had to offer sexual favours to secure the pensions that were promised to their husbands.

The CIA was going around distributing Viagra to aging tribal warlords in order to secure their support. As US President Joe Biden would say, “here’s the deal”, if you have to rely on helping tribal warlords copulate with their four wives better and have as an ally a country that is supporting your arch enemy, then perhaps the war is not going so well.

Apart from all of this, there was the serious matter of the killing of Afghan civilians. From George Bush to Joe Biden, all the four American presidents who have presided over the Afghanistan are guilty of killing innocent Afghan children. It might be a bit difficult to win popular support as a foreign invading force when you are busy bombing hospitals, weddings and killing children in residential areas.

Even after all of this, there are expectations from certain quarters that the USA could still help the people of Afghanistan. It is something that US officials have been promising too, that they will use diplomatic efforts to build pressure on the Taliban to address the human rights concerns in the country.

Such efforts are doomed to fail, especially because the USA appears desperate to form a partnership with the Taliban. The excuse is that the ISKP is a threat to Afghanistan and the world and therefore, the USA might be inclined to support them.

A partnership between the two is not unthinkable, especially since the USA collaborated with the Taliban during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and even handed out a list of Americans and Afghan collaborators to the Jihadist outfit.

It is perfectly consistent with the USA’s larger policy towards Jihadist outfits it has described as terrorists at some point. For instance, the USA funded Jihadists against Basshar al-Assad in Syria and armed Al Nusra as well. Indeed, there are very few terrorist groups in the world the USA has not collaborated with.

The BBC anchor’s current stance against an academic highlighting the role of Pakistan in the Afghan war is in great consonance with western policy. It is understandable that western media does not wish for their citizens to know the fact that their government has been actively allying with a state that sponsors terrorism. Under such circumstances, censorship of opinion is the only credible option.

It is also for the same reason that while the western media and its academia-NGO nexus lectures others on human rights, they ignore the fact that the USA has been killing Afghan children at an alarming rate for two decades. Despite the war crimes western forces have committed in Afghanistan, their media continued to portray them as heroes and the prince in shining armour out to save Afghan women and children.

None of this is intended to absolve the Taliban of its numerous sins. It is only to lay emphasis on the fact that in the Afghan war, there were no heroes, only monsters of varying shades. As Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said in 2011 about the actual objectives of the Afghan War, “The goal is to use Afghanistan to wash money out of the tax bases of the US and Europe through Afghanistan and back into the hands of a transnational security elite. The goal is an endless war, not a successful war.”

Tokyo Paralympics: Indian athletes create history with 19 medals, thank Modi government for the support they received

OpIndia Staff
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Tokyo Paralympics: Indian athletes create history with 19 medals, thank Modi government for the support they received

In Tokyo Paralympics, India created history as the athletes won 19 medals in total. Notably, India managed to win four medals in the previous Paralympics at Rio in 2016. A lot has changed in the past five years in terms of Para Sports as the government of India has paid significant attention to the training of the athletes.

Reports suggest that private entities still hesitate to invest in para-athletes. However, this time Indian government did a lot to ensure that the sportspersons get whatever support they needed for their participation in the competition. Times Now talked to four medal winners in the 2020 Paralympics. Sharad Kumar, who won a bronze medal in the High Jump T63 event at the Tokyo Games, revealed that even athletes from the USA complimented the efforts the Indian government has made to provide support to para-athletes. He said such recognition and effort that the government has made is much bigger than any medal for the athletes.

He said, “You look at Tokyo 2020, the Japanese government wanted to make the Paralympics a bigger event than Olympics. In India, no private equities had come forward to help us. That is when the government stepped in, helping us with expensive equipment and whatever our requirements were.” He added that Devendra Jhajharia went to Athens Games at his own cost. On the contrary, this time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only ensured that the government bears all the costs but also called the winners to congratulate them on their achievements. He said, “Even the USA athlete who won the gold medal in my event said ‘nothing can get bigger than this, not even a gold medal”.

Sharad appreciated the efforts of the Government of India as they are trying to bring the athletes in equally. The government is observing what athletes need in terms of facilities or equipment and approving them accordingly. The motivation from the government helps the athletes to look at things professionally, which is bringing the much-needed change in the para-sports.

Sumit Antil, who won gold in Jevelin Throw, said that it is difficult to explain in words how he feels. “Every athlete dreams of bringing a medal for his country, and that dream of mine has been fulfilled. I am proud of myself and thank the nation. I felt different energy as I went to the ground.” He added.

Yogesh Kathuniya, who won a Silver medal in Men’s Discus F56, said, “My experience was great. I expected myself to get gold but unfortunately couldn’t. I have learned a lot. Sumit was my room partner. He used to scare me with his antics in the room. I had told him to get gold as I couldn’t.”

Devendra Jhajharia, who won the Silver medal in Men’s Javelin F46, said that he dreamt of making a hattrick of medals that he fulfilled. “My back hurts because of the power I had put into my throw. Honoured to have won three medals for the country. My daughter was 5 when I had won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games. She understands things now. Since I won a medal in Tokyo, she has been calling me to ask when I am coming back.”

The medal tally

In Tokyo Paralympics, India has won 19 medals which is the best ever performance in a single edition of the games. India has won five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals and stood at 24th position in the games. In the last games, India was able to send only 19 athletes who won four medals. But this time, India sent a 54-strong team of para-athletes who lived up to the expectations and won medals like never before.

Who won what at Tokyo Paralympics?

  1. Avani Lekhara won Gold in Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1
  2. Pramod Bhagat won gold won Men’s singles SL3 badminton
  3. Krishna Nagar won Gold in Men’s singles SH6 badminton
  4. Sumit Antil won Gold in Men’s Javelin Throw F64
  5. Manish Narwal won Gold in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1
  6. Bhavinaben Patel won Silver in Women’s Singles Class 4 Table Tennis
  7. Singhraj won Silver in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1
  8. Yogesh Kathuniya won Silver in Men’s Discus F56
  9. Nishad Kumar won Silver in Men’s High Jump T47
  10. Mariyappan Thangavelu won Silver in Men’s High Jump T63
  11. Praveen Kumar won Silver in Men’s High Jump T64
  12. Devendra Jhajharia won Silver in Men’s Javelin F46
  13. Suhas Yathiraj won Silver in Men’s Singles Badminton SL4
  14. Avani Lekhara won Bronze – Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1
  15. Harvinder Singh won Bronze in Men’s Individual Recurve Archery
  16. Sharad Kumar won Bronze in Men’s High Jump T63
  17. Sundar Singh Gurjar won Bronze in Men’s Javelin Throw F46
  18. Manoj Sarkar won Bronze in Men’s Singles Badminton SL3
  19. Singhraj won Bronze in Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1

Some athletes won multiple medals, such as Avani Lekhara, won a gold medal and a bronze medal in shooting. Singhraj won a silver and bronze in the shooting. Avani will be the flag-bearer for India on Sunday’s closing ceremony for India. She is the first Indian woman to win a Gold medal in Paralympics history.

The importance of government initiatives in athletes’ training and development

Since PM Modi took charge, his government has brought several schemes and programs for the athletes to ensure adequate support for the sportspersons. One of such programs is TOPS, i.e. Target Olympic Podium Scheme. Specially designed schemes to give much deserved financial support and assistance to top athletes of the country to improve India’s position in Olympics.

TOPS aims at helping sportspersons secure Olympic medals for the country, a TOPS Elite Altheltes’ Identification Committee and a Mission Olympic Cell were set up. The body was tasked to identify top athletes and parathletes and provide them with several benefits.

The scheme includes training by reputed coaches at world-class facilities, purchase of equipment, supporting the services of physical trainers, sports psychologists, mental trainers and physiotherapists. At the same time, the athletes are provided with a monthly incentive of ₹50,000. It covers sporting activities such as table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, hockey, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting and para-sports.

The scheme had witnessed much-needed success starting from 2016 when PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik won medals for India at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It continued with India won 2 gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the 2016 Paralympic games. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, 47 of 70 athletes supported by the TOPS programme won medals for the country. About 100 Indian athletes were covered under TOPS in 2016, and the number has increased since then. According to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) website, about 106 athletes/teams are part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme as of February 2021. The success stories continued as athletes won seven medals in the Olympics and 19 in the Paralympics.

Amid Covid-19 crisis, Nipah virus haunts Kerala again as 12-year-old boy dies in hospital, centre rushes expert team

OpIndia Staff
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Amid Covid-19 crisis, Nipah virus haunts Kerala again as 12-year-old boy dies in hospital, centre rushes expert team

Kerala continues to worry the nation on the health front as the state has reported the death of a 12-year old boy due to Nipah virus infection in north Kerala’s Kozhikode on Sunday morning at 5AM. The boy belonging to Choolur in Chathamangalam panchayat was hospitalized on September 1 with fever, myocarditis and encephalitis.

The last rites of the deceased was scheduled at 10 am under strict protocol. As precautionary measures, district and health authorities have kept the persons under observation who had come in touch with the deceased and collected samples of 17 of them for testing. Authorities have identified 188 primary contacts, of which, 20 persons are in high-risk category. They are being shifted to Kozhikode Medical College.

Among the 20 identified high-risk people, two have been identified with the symptoms of Nipah virus infection, according to Health Minister Veena George.

“We have identified 188 contacts till now. The surveillance team has marked 20 of them as high-risk contacts. Two of these high-risk contacts have symptoms. Both are health workers. One works with a private hospital, while the other is a staff member of Kozhikode Medical College hospital,” the minister told reporters.

Confirming the development Kerala Health Minister Veena George in Thrissur said that the boy admitted to a private hospital at Kozhikode died on Sunday due to Nipah virus infection. She also informed that samples of Plasma, CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) and Serum were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune and the test result came positive for Nipah virus.

Although health minister Veena George has told the people that there is no need for panic and the health department has taken all necessary steps, but common people are reasonably worried.  She added that the government will strictly follow the Nipah protocol to control the situation.

The Union Ministry of Health also shared information on the fresh case of Nipah adding “Centre rushes team to Kerala to support State in Public health measures.”

The Central Government has rushed a team of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to the State to provide technical support. The team is reaching Kerala by today.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nipah virus has hit Kerala after a gap of three years. The last time it was reported was in May-June 2018. It had hit Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in Kerala the worst claiming 17 lives. A total of 23 cases were identified that time out of which 18 cases were confirmed by the lab testing. This was the first Nipah virus case in South Indian states. In June, 2019 a single case of Nipah was reported at Kochi in Ernakulam, luckily the person got cured.

Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted to humans from animals such as bats and pigs. The disease has a high fatality rate — above 80 % — with no known treatment and vaccine, and is genuinely a cause of concern.

Among the states, Kerala headed by Pinarayi Vijayan of Communist Party of India (Marxist) continues to report the highest number of Covid 19 cases even if a section of media is still peddling the famed Kerala model of Covid control.

Rohtak: 20-year old murders parents, grandmother, sister for opposing homosexual relationship

OpIndia Staff
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Rohtak: 20-year old murders parents, grandmother, sister for opposing homosexual relationship

Abhishek, son of a Rohtak based property dealer named Pradeep Malik, shot dead his sister, grandmother, mother and father over a homosexual relationship with one of his classmates. The murders were committed on August 27 and Abhishek was arrested on 31 August by the Rohtak police.

The incident took place in the Rohtak’s Vijay Nagar area and police investigation revealed that Abhishek’s homosexual relationship led to conflicts in the family and possibly the main reason behind the murders.

A senior police officer said about the case, “This was unacceptable to Abhishek’s parents who wanted him to discontinue his relationship. On the other hand, Abhishek was adamant on continuing the relationship and wanted to live with his companion. He demanded money from his parents, but they refused. Eventually, he shot his parents, sister and maternal grandmother.”

According to the sources, Abhishek had breakfast with his family and then left for his sister Neha’s room and shot her. Then he invited his grandmother to his room and continued with his shooting, killing his mother and father in the process. Abhishek allegedly stole his father’s revolver to eliminate his family.

According to reports, the accused’s companion met him before and after the murders. “After having shot his parents, Abhishek went to meet his friend at the hotel. Then he returned home and acted shocked and devastated on seeing the bodies lying in a pool of blood,” sources are reported to have said.

Rohtak SP Rahul Sharma gave a statement on the matter, “As per the investigations conducted till now, Abhishek is our main suspect. He does not have any prior criminal record. As of now, it would not be appropriate for me to say if others were involved in the incident as the probe in the case is ongoing.” A police spokesperson also said, “Abhishek was arrested after collecting information regarding his personal conduct, the tension in the family, and financial reasons.”

Abhishek’s Uncle, who is also happens to be a neighbour, said “Abhishek stayed with us till the police caught him on Thursday. We were shocked and couldn’t believe that he was capable of doing anything like this. His parents loved him a lot and gave him everything he wanted.”

Anti-farm law protesters harass Aaj Tak editor Chitra Tripathi, Newsclick ‘journalist’ celebrates the harassment

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-farm law protesters harass Aaj Tak editor Chitra Tripathi, Newsclick ‘journalist’ celebrates the harassment

AajTak journalist Chitra Tripathi, and editor, was harassed by anti-farm law protesters in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday where they gathered around her and chanted ‘Godi media haay haay’. Ultimately, the journalist, who had gone to cover the event, was chased away from the spot.

A ‘journalist’ with Newsclick, Shyam Meera Singh, instead of condemning the harassment, justified the atrocious conduct accusing Chitra Tripathi of ‘fooling’ the public. Shyam Meera Singh of Newsclick said that the same people would appreciate Ravish Kumar but were against Ravish Kumar.

Anti-farm law protesters have been regularly indulging in vile conduct throughout the protests. The protests turned violent on Republic Day where riots ensued at the national capital. Earlier, an India Today editor had revealed that the protesters had been harassing female reporters, pinching their buttocks among other things.

A woman from West Bengal was also raped at the Tikri border protest site. After the death of the victim on April 30, the protesters had taken out a procession by placing the dead body in an open jeep, even though she allegedly died of Covid-19.

The protests have organised a ‘Mahapanchayat’ at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

Jharkhand: Dalit woman files complaint against Christian villagers alleging torture to forcefully convert her family, harassment of minor daughter

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand: Dalit woman files complaint against Christian villagers alleging torture to forcefully convert her family, harassment of minor daughter

A woman health worker of Jamdih village of Gumla district of Jharkhand has lodged an FIR at Kurkura police station alleging that some villagers are torturing her family members to accept Christianity. The complainant, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste, said that assailants even sexually abused her daughter who is now in a state of shock.

On the basis of the written complaint of the woman, Gumla police lodged an FIR on August 30 under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 448 (punishment for house-trespass), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 509 and (insult the modesty of any woman) of IPC, section 4 (forceful conversion) of Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act and section 8 (sexual assault of a minor) of POCSO Act. The village is situated about 70 km from Gumla district headquarters which is worse affected by left-wing extremism.

Sources in the police confirmed that an FIR has been registered in the case stating that an investigation has been assigned. The officer in charge of the Kurkura police station is investigating the case. The complainant has named Paulina Bilung, Akash Dungdung, Nisha, Sheila, Phoolmani Surin, Urmila, Santoshi, Janki, Shital Ram, Gangi Devi, Akash Dungdung and Sushila Devi in the complaint. All of them are followers of Christianity. The woman said that the accused came to her residence on August 14 asking the family to accept Christianity. The victim who belongs to the Scheduled Caste refused, stating that she was happy with her current faith.

An altercation took place among them and soon the accused became violent. They threw the religious flag from the house and also sexually abused and misbehaved with her 16-years-old daughter. The attackers pulled the clothes of the girl and said that they will marry her and then convert her to Christianity.

The woman said that accused persons also instigated the villagers against her family.

Gumla has been the centre stage of religious conversion by Christian missionaries. Notably, according to media reports, during the lockdown last year Christian missionaries had converted a large number of people.

During the regime of the Raghubar Das government, the religious conversion remained under control. The Raghubar Das government in 2017 had brought the Freedom of Religion Act making any fraudulent and forcible conversion as an offence, with a penalty of a 3-year sentence and a fine of Rs 50,000. But the church had opposed the law.

BBC shuts down senior academic when she talks about how Pakistan has harboured and nurtured terrorists

OpIndia Staff
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BBC shuts down senior academic when she talks about how Pakistan has harboured and nurtured terrorists

On Sunday (September 5), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) news courted controversy after its presenter Philippa Thomas deliberately shut down senior academic Christine Fair for exposing the role of Pakistan in harbouring and nurturing terrorists.

In a video clip of the BBC interview shared by journalist Kyle Orton, Christine Fair was heard discussing the role of Pakistan in aggravating the geopolitical crisis in Afghanistan. “What Pakistan wants (in Afghanistan) is an instability it can manage. Also, Pakistan will use the refugee story as part of its usual rent-seeking strategy. You see, Pakistan likes to be thought of as the fire brigade when Pakistan itself is the arsonist. And Pakistan will monetise this (crisis).”

At that point, the BBC presenter Philippa Thomas interjected and claimed that Pakistan would ‘absolutely deny’ the allegations levelled at it by the senior academician. “How do you know?” inquired Christine Fair. Thomas ignored her question and went on to claim that managing an ‘unstable Afghnaistan’ will be a risky affair for Pakistan. Fair responded, “Pakistan has always been accepting of the risk… They have never been risk-averse. Whether you are looking at incredibly outrageous terror attacks in India or the support of the Taliban in the 1990s.”

The expert of Southeast Asian geopolitical affairs highlighted how Pakistan harbours terrorists in its own country with the hopes that it would attack only its ‘neighbours.’ At that point, an enraged BBC presenter stopped Christine Fair from speaking further on Pakistan under the pretext that there was no diplomatic official available to speak to the news channel for countering the allegations. “Thank God, you don’t (have a Pakistani diplomat)! Else, he would peddle his fiction,” Fair stated.

Philippa Thomas went on claim that Pakistan had denied any role in the creation of the Taliban in Afghanistan and shut down Christine Fair from further speaking on the show. “You are doing their propaganda work,” the senior academic commented before being cut off by the channel. In his tweet, Kyle Orton remarked, “Quite gross from BBCNews: our “impartiality” doctrine was used to basically shut down ChristineFair when she explained Pakistan’s jihad policy in Afghanistan that has brought us all to this catastrophe — an issue on which there is no “balance” or “other side”, factually.”

Watch: Citizens of France protest against Macron’s vaccine passport mandate, chant ‘freedom’, force police to retreat

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Citizens of France protest against Macron’s vaccine passport mandate, chant ‘freedom’, force police to retreat

Anti-vaccine passport protesters in France invaded a mall on Saturday and raised slogans of ‘freedom’. Visuals of the protests have gone viral on the internet where law enforcement authorities can be spotted retreating before the march of the citizens.

Freelance journalist Clement Lanot shared visuals of the protests on his Twitter account which show a tense confrontation between law enforcement authorities and protesters. The protesters invaded the Chalet shopping center that reportedly requires vaccine passports for people to enter. One video shows protesters chanting ‘freedom’ in French.

Another video shows law enforcement authorities in riot gear enter the shopping center to flush out the protesters. However, they were forced to retreat under pressure from citizens exercising their democratic right to protest.

Jharkhand: BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan threatens legal action against allotment of namaz room in the assembly

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand: BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan threatens legal action against allotment of namaz room in the assembly

The Jharkhand assembly secretariate allocating a dedicated room in the assembly premises to offer Namaz may escalate into a legal battle.

BJP MLA from Bokaro Biranchi Narayan, who is also the chief whip of the party in the assembly, has shot a missive to the Speaker stating that he will be forced to approach the court for withdrawal of this order. He termed the decision of the assembly as unconstitutional.

“Like the Hemant Soren government, the assembly too has gone extra miles to appease Muslims. In the letter I have requested him to withdraw the decision else I will file a case at the court. India is a secular country. There is a tradition in India to honour all religions.  But by allotting a dedicated room for Namaz is an insult to other religions. This is an insult to Sanatan dharma,” said Narayan.

Narayan said that if the Speaker is so concerned he should make temples and churches.  

In the letter, Narayan has pointed out that the assembly building was constructed out of public money and there can’t be special provisions for any religion.

On the controversy, a source in the assembly that OpIndia spoke to said that never in the past any place of worship (namaz) on the assembly premises was notified officially.

On the condition of anonymity, the official in the assembly said, “The official notification looks like a gross violation. There are court judgments clearly stating that the state is not bound to make provisions for worship for employees/ public servants at their workplace. From the days of Bihar there was an unofficial arrangement to fix any room or place for employees to offer namaz on Friday during the session. But how can one officially notify a room as a place of worship.”

The newly constructed sprawling and majestic building at Kute gram situated on the outskirts of Ranchi is the new address of Jharkhand. It was constructed by the previous BJP-Ajsu Party government headed by Raghubar Das worth Rs 465 crore.

As the weeklong monsoon session of the assembly started on September 3, the assembly secretariat issued an order that room number TW 348 in the new assembly building will be allocated for Muslims to offer the Namaz.

In the house of 81, there are four Muslim MLAs Irfan Ansari and Alamgir Alam from Congress, and Dr Sarfaraz Ahmad and Hafizul Ansari who are the JMM MLAs.

Veteran MLAs and those who have covered proceedings of Jharkhand assembly session said that as per practice any session falling on Friday was curtailed so that Muslim MLAs can offer namaz.

“That was the practice followed all these years so that Muslim MLAs and staffs offer prayer. But the assembly secretariat has touched a new low of appeasement. The assembly is not different. Recently, the Hemant Soren government removed Hindi and made Urdu a compulsory subject for any recruitment examination,” said two time BJP MLA Anant Ojha.

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