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West Bengal govt cuts PWD budget by 60% to fund welfare schemes, puts a stop on road widening and strengthening works

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal govt cuts PWD budget by 60% to fund welfare schemes, puts a stop on road widening and strengthening works

The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has decided to spend money on social welfare schemes by deducting funds from ‘unnecessary’ activities like repairing and building new roads and bridges. In order to cut costs, the state government has announced a drastic 60% cut in the budget for the PWD department.

The state’s finances are badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, and the CM has repeatedly spoken about reducing costs. As part of such cost-cutting measures, the Public Works (Roads) Directorate issued a notification on August 26, ordering a 59.55% cut in the budget of various road schemes. Even after cutting the budget, the officers have been asked to further reduce various road-related activities to cut costs.

The total budget for PWD and PWRD has been cut almost 60% from ₹4618 crore to ₹2750 crore, a cut of ₹1868 crore.

The budget for road works of South, West and North zone has been reduced from ₹1183 crore, ₹1335.72 crore and ₹581.94 crore to ₹700 crore, ₹795 crore and ₹395 crore, each reduction of 59.55%. Similarly, the budget for common schemes under PWRD, old and new bridges under PWD & PWRD, utility shifting and road works of PWD have been cut by 59.55%.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari posted a copy of the notification ordering budget cut in PWD on Twitter. He said that the WB govt is forcing the PWD department to bear the brunt because the govt has gone bankrupt. He questioned if development has taken a backseat in Bengal.

However, budget cut is not the only measure taken by the Mamata Banerjee government to cut costs. The government has asked to avoid widening roads as far as possible, virtually stopping any road widening project. The order also asks to convert ‘strengthening estimates’ to ‘surfacing estimates’ if feasible. This means roads that were supposed to be strengthened will now only get a fresh layer on their top, without strengthening the foundation of the roads.

The govt has also asked the officials to send the estimates of those roads first which are in bad condition.

This order to cut the PWD budget comes after the state government had announced the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme, the state’s largest cash transfer scheme to women. The Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme aims to financially empower women aged between 25 and 60 from lower socio-economic classes who are not employed in government or the private sector. According to the scheme announced by the Mamata Banerjee government, ₹1000 will be given to female heads of SC and ST families, while ₹500 will be given to women who head general caste families. It is interesting that while Mamata Banerjee has been direct cash transfer schemes of the central govt, the money under this scheme will be paid through direct bank transfer to the beneficiaries.

Rajdeep Sardesai blames ‘Hindutva forces’ for Indian Muslims cheering for Taliban, how the ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ narrative is being played up

Nirwa Mehta
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Rajdeep Sardesai blames ‘Hindutva forces’ for Indian Muslims cheering for Taliban, how the ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ narrative is being played up

Rajdeep Sardesai, while interacting with Bollywood entertainer Naseeruddin Shah on Tuesday tried to put the blame on ‘rising Hindutva forces’ in India for the unabashed cheering of Taliban by certain section of Indian Muslims.

In the video, he asks Shah if he expected the backlash he received, especially from some of the educated, influential Indian Muslims for expressing caution and concern. Shah says that he should have been ‘clearer’ in his video and specified he did not mean entire Muslim community. “Muslims have taken an offence to it, the Hindus are celebrating. Neither of this was my intention,” he said.

Shah further claimed that Muslims in India are already being demonised and their lives and livelihoods are being threatened and ‘openly vilified’, and hence, his cautionary message against celebrating Taliban was ‘badly timed’ he felt.

Sardesai then at around 6 minute 30 seconds mark urges Shah to be ‘honest’ and claims how a section of Indian Muslims feel they have “been pushed on the backfoot by the rising Hindutva forces in the country. So when they the Taliban in Afghanistan taking on western power, perhaps they seem to identify with the Taliban. Almost seeing this as a war against Islam,” he said.

To this, Naseeruddin Shah justified the cheering of Taliban as ‘desire for vengeance’. “A section of Muslim community feels the need for… because of the way they have been vilified and attacked. But they should also realise that the people whom the Taliban have oppressed, beheaded, hanged and castrated were all Muslims. Taliban will not be bothered by the cause of Indian Muslims and the people who think they have another thing coming,” he says.

Rajdeep then likens the Taliban to Bajrang Dal, the Hindu organisation that supports and fights for Hindu rights, does not really advocate beheading in name of blasphemy unlike the other group. To that, Naseeruddin Shah goes ahead and dismisses claims that Hindus in India are also persecuted and that temples are also attacked only because of their religious identity. Shah claims that Hindus in India cannot feel threatened because Muslims are in ‘minority’.

Ever since the Islamist group toppled the Afghanistan government, a certain section of Indian Muslims have been rooting for them and referring to them as some sort of saviours from the ‘oppressive’ American forces. Earlier this month, Naseeruddin Shah cautioned Indian Muslims against cheering for Taliban and was attacked by educated and influential Indian Muslims for the same.

Now, Rajdeep Sardesai has put the blame for some Indian Muslims cheering for Taliban on ‘rising Hindutva forces’, thereby furthering the ‘Dara Hua Musalman’ narrative that has been making rounds since the Modi government took charge for the first time in 2014. In fact, just recently, senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Krishna Janmashtami pushed the same ‘Dara Hua Musalman‘ construct. This, too, came close on heels of Taliban taking over Afghanistan.

Amusingly, both Shah and Rahul Gandhi spoke about ‘hate crimes’ against Muslims, but both of them forget to mention the hate crimes against Hindus. That when a temple is desecrated and idol demolished by culprits who believe idol worship is a sin and they destroyed it because their faith asks them to, then it is a hate crime. Even if Hindus are in majority.

When an entire community is asked to leave their homes overnight or get converted to Islam. When announcements are made from loudspeakers to leave the women behind asking Hindus to leave their homes, it is hate crime. These hate crimes are either dismissed or watered down because perpetrators are ‘dara hua’ in India.

When a Hindu woman is harassed, stalked, raped and murdered because she refused to give in to advances of the ‘dara hua’ man and did not want to convert her religion, and when people speak out against it, it is called ‘hate speech’. This crime of forced religious conversion is dismissed because ‘hateful Hindus’ do not believe in love.

Sardesai an old player in the narrative

Sardesai has been an old hand who plays to the gallery. And it was not even after 2014. Back in 1993, right after the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai perpetrated by Dawood Ibrahim in response to the communal riots that broke out earlier in the year after the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya often referred to as Babri Masjid, Sardesai in an article wrote how Indian Muslims were being maligned just because Dawood Ibrahim – a Muslim – was accused of carrying out the Mumbai serial blasts. 

Later in an article published in Hindustan Times in September 2015, Sardesai said, “Soon after the 1993 Mumbai blasts, I had raised a controversial question — why had Dawood, who in October 1992 was seen waving the Indian tricolour during an India-Pak cricket match in Sharjah and had offered gifts to the Indian team if they won, been transformed into the man who bombed Mumbai six months later in March 1993? Why had a Dubai-based smuggler become a Karachi-based terrorist? Was the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992 the turning point?”

This is how Sardesai gave ‘context’ to Dawood Ibrahim turning a terrorist. That the one who waved Indian flag just weeks ahead of Babri demolition, turned murderous and killed hundreds, mostly Hindus, in a series of bomb blasts by that just one point. Like how ‘rising Hindutva forces’ are making certain sections of Indian Muslims cheer for Taliban.

Sardesai quite nicely painted a global terrorist a victim of politics around the Babri demolition. Poor little dara hua Dawood Ibrahim who got radicalised and turned into a global terrorists planting bombs and killing people in just few months because a disputed structure was pulled down.

And poor little ‘dara hua people’ who root for Taliban because Bajrang Dal fellow in neighbourhood likes to chant Jai Shri Ram.

Bijnor murder case: Shahzad alias Khadim had planned to rape Dalit girl, strangulated her brutally when she struggled and screamed

OpIndia Staff
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Bijnor murder case: Shahzad alias Khadim had planned to rape Dalit girl, strangulated her brutally when she struggled and screamed

On September 14, Bijnor Police have arrested a palledar (loader) identified as Shahzad alias Khadim for the brutal murder of a 24-year-old national Kho Kho player who belonged to the Dalit community.

In a statement, Superintendent of Police Dharamveer Singh said that when Shahzad attacked the young girl, she was talking on the phone with her friend. Shahzad, a drug addict, was detained by Police based on the physical, electronic and circumstantial evidence. As per the Police, Shahzad has confessed to the crime.

In a video statement, Singh said, “On September 10, the dead body of 24-year-old Kho Kho player was found near the Railway station’s platform. She was killed by strangulation. The Police have arrested Shahzad alias Khadim in the case. He was arrested from his home in Adampur village that is 1.5 KM from Bijnor. He works as a loader at the railway station. Shahzad was previously jailed three times in theft-related cases on railway station under RP ACT.”

He further added, “He came to the Railway Station for work. Shahzad saw the victim when she was going via Railway Station in the morning. When she was coming back, he attacked her with the intention of rape. She was killed in a pathway near the platform using her own dupatta and a rope. When she was attacked, she was talking on the phone with her friend.”

Singh said that Shahzad heard some people coming towards the platform, due to which he could not sexually assault her and strangulated her to stop her from screaming. “Her phone was ringing, so Shahzad took the phone with him. The friend who was talking to the victim had informed the locals. The Police were informed, after which the dead body was found by the investigating team.

The Police found a slipper near the dead body. The other slipper was found a few meters away. There were struggle marks on Shahzad when he was arrested. The Police also recovered the shirt with bloodstains. Though his wife had washed the shirt, the stains were still visible. The Police had recovered buttons near the dead body which were from the shirt that the Police recovered from Shahzad’s house.”

Details of the incident

The young victim, a national-level athlete, was looking forward to becoming a sports teacher. On Friday, she went to submit her resume for a job in a local private school. The route she took via Railway Station was the route she always took as the Railway Station was hardly 100 meters away from her house. When her dead body was first recovered, the family suspected rape, but it was ruled out in the medical report. However, later Shahzad confessed that he grabbed her with the intention of rape but could not do so and killed her.

The young girl was the second of the four children in the house. While her elder sister works as a tubewell operator, the younger ones are still studying. Her father is a daily wage worker, while her mother works as domestic help. She belongs to the few Dalit families living around Railway Station in Bijnor.

Her elder sister told The Print that she regularly participated in Kho Kho competitions, and even if the events happened without competition, she would happily participate in them. Apart from trophies, she brought gifts after winning sports competitions, including bags, crockery items and blankets.

Her sister said, “She was a very talented girl… She was keen to make her career in sports. Not just Kho Kho, she used to participate in every possible sport she got a chance to — whether it was basketball or athletics. She was helping the family financially by providing tuition. How will my parents and small brothers live now?”

Mukul Kumar, secretary, district Kho Kho association in Bijnor, recalled her as one of the most promising athletes. He said, “She couldn’t get into the UP team in 2016 as it was very competitive, so she gave trials in Bihar and got selected in their team for the national championship. She once got into the UP team, but due to viral fever, she couldn’t participate in the national camp.”

Her mother said, “My daughter used to help me with household chores and manage her outdoor activities and job as well… She was preparing to leave for college in a few days. I gave my kids education by working as a daily wager.”

The phone went off at around noon

The victim had left home to submit her resume at DDPS School at around 11:40 AM on September 10. Around 2 PM, her family tried to contact her on her phone, but it was switched off. At 2:30 PM, a relative informed the family that a woman’s body was lying in the pile of cement railway sleepers behind their house. When the family reached the spot, they found her tiffin, bag and certificates scattered near her body. She was rushed to Beena Prakash Hospital, where she was declared brought dead.

Confusion over the jurisdiction

The Police were informed immediately, but allegedly there was confusion between the jurisdiction among Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Bijnor Police. However, a Police officer of GRP Najiabad ruled out any conflict among departments over jurisdiction.

The FIR was finally registered at around 10 PM under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code. Rape was later ruled out. The case was then transferred to the city Police. Once Shahzad was arrested, Police added Section 511 (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment) was added to the FIR.

Sarvez Khan, GRP sub-inspector, said, “The nearest railway station was Najibabad, which is 40 km away. The case was registered at 10 PM, but the details were noted at around 8 PM. It takes 1.5 hours to reach the Najibabad police station. Before that, they had also taken the girl to the hospital.” DIG Moradabad, Shalabh Mathur, is also overseeing the case.

‘I had bad thoughts about her’, said Shahzad

During interrogation, Shahzad confessed to the crime and said that the victim was regularly seen near the railway station while commuting. “I would often have bad thoughts about her. That day, I did not have any work, so I was sitting on the tracks and was having ganja (marijuana). I saw her passing from there around 12, and I kept waiting for her to return.”

The Police said as the girl returned to cross the Railway Station, he pulled her towards a corner to rape her. But the victim struggled and started screaming, and he heard someone coming towards them. He panicked and to silence her, he strangulated her with a rope and her own dupatta. When she fell unconscious, he picked up the rope and her mobile phone and ran from the spot.

The Police traced the location of the mobile phone near Shahzad’s house. Based on the evidence, he was detained. Police recovered the rope and bloodstained shirt from his house. He also had struggle marks on his neck, face and chest that shows the brave girl had given a strong fight to save herself. Reportedly, when the Police found her body, her hair was scrambled, and there was blood on her mouth. Her tooth was found broken. The cause of death was determined as strangulation.

Taliban Defense League gets a new cheerleader – Rajdeep Sardesai. Here is what he said

OpIndia Staff
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Taliban Defense League gets a new cheerleader – Rajdeep Sardesai. Here is what he said

India Today journalist Rajdeep Sardesai on Tuesday put the blame of Indian Muslims cheering for Taliban on ‘rising Hindutva forces’. He was interacting with Bollywood entertainer Naseeruddin Shah who had recently released a video cautioning Indian Muslims against cheering for Taliban after the Islamist group took over Afghanistan.

“There is a section of Muslims in this country who feel they have been pushed on the ‘backfoot’ by the rising ‘Hindutva’ forces in the country so when they see Taliban taking on Western powers in Afghanistan perhaps they seem to identify with the Taliban seeing this as a war against Islam,” alleged Sardesai.

The statements were made by Sardesai after Shah clarified in an India Today interview that his comments on Indian Muslims celebrating the Taliban’s return in Afghanistan were only about a section of backward people in the country and not the entire community.

However, Naseeruddin Shah also claimed that the reason why a section of Muslims is cheering the Taliban’s takeover is because ‘they feel they need vengeance for attacks on them.’

“Maybe I made a mistake by not speaking clearly enough and clarifying that I didn’t mean the entire Muslim community, which is how it’s being interpreted by interested parties,” Shah justified himself after facing a huge backlash from his community on talking about reforms. 

“Muslims are demonized enough”

Toeing in line with Sardesai’s “we the victims” narrative, Shah further said that he had no intentions to ‘vilify’ the community that is already ‘demonized.’

“At this time, Muslims are already being demonized enough when in several instances their livelihoods are being threatened, their lives are sometimes in danger, they are being attacked and openly vilified. (There are) several right-wing Hindu preachers – who have said absolutely offensive statements propagating violence against the Muslims,” alleged Shah. 

“This was perhaps an inopportune time to say this, but what other time could I have said this? I didn’t intend to add to the demonization of the Muslim community. Am I an idiot that I will demonize my own community and include myself in it?” he said further in a bid to save himself from further outrage by his community. 

“Islam needs reforms”

Shah landed up in a controversy after he released a monologue where he condemned the one rejoicing the return of the Taliban and said, “(they) should question themselves if they want to reform their religion or live with the old barbarism”.

Shah, reportedly, was taken aback by the intense reaction from his community slamming him for ‘maligning’ Islam. To join the condemnation wagon were Saba Naqvi and Rifat Jawaid who seemed rattled at the thought of disapproving the Taliban. 

Shah justifies ‘Indian Islam’ claim

The 71-year-old actor was also thrashed for using the phrase ‘Indian Islam.’ Justifying the same in the interview, Shah claimed, “Indian Islam doesn’t follow the middle eastern Sharia laws. There is no amputation of arms of thieves. We don’t suppress women’s rights; we don’t make women cover their head to toe in a hideous burqa-like garment; we don’t stone adulteresses.”

“Women are not denied an education or their right to work They are allowed in public life. Indian Islam has given the richest poetry, art, literature and music. Indian Islam has been represented by secular saints like Nizamuddin Auliya and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti – that is what I was implying,” he said adding that he did not call ‘Indian Islam’ a separate entity. 

Shah further went on to say how the Indian Muslims are indeed persecuted in India and slammed Hindus ‘for playing the victim.’ He also dismissed the reality of ‘love jihad’ and ‘narcotics jihad’ calling it a far-right conspiracy. 

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Mark Milley had gone behind President Trump, promising advanced warning to China in case of USA’s ‘surprise attack’

OpIndia Staff
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Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Mark Milley had gone behind President Trump, promising advanced warning to China in case of USA’s ‘surprise attack’

A new book- ‘Peril’ by renowned journalist Bob Woodward and veteran Washington Post reporter Robert Costa has sent shockwaves after an excerpt of the book detailing a planned coup against former US President Donald Trump surfaced in the media.

Reportedly, General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Trump administration, placed roadblocks in front of former US President Donald Trump and had made secret calls to his Chinese counterparts. 

Milley allegedly had promised China to give them an “advanced notice” if Trump decided to order a strike against China. Milley was concerned about Trump’s mental health especially after the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He also assumed Trump’s ability to call for a nuclear attack. 

‘Trump could go rogue’

The book details a conversation Milley had with other senior officials emphasizing on Trump’s rogue behavior. 

“You never know what a president’s trigger point is,” said Milley to an official as per the book. In an unprecedented move, Milley called for a secret meeting and ordered senior military officials in charge of the National Military Command Center to not take orders from anyone unless he was involved.

“No matter what you are told, you do the procedure. You do the process. And I’m part of that procedure,” instructed Milley. 

Calls to China

Milley, reportedly concerned with Trump’s behaviour, had made two back-channel phone calls with China’s top general and assured them of warning in advance in case Trump orders an attack against China. 

The first call took place on Oct. 30, a few days before the 2020 election when China expressed concerns over Trump launching an attack because of tensions in the South China Sea.

“Gen. Li, I want to assure you that the American government is stable and everything is going to be OK,” Milley told the Chinese general. “We are not going to attack or conduct any kinetic operations against you,” he reiterated. 

“Gen. Li, you and I have known each other for now five years. If we’re going to attack, I’m going to call you ahead of time. It’s not going to be a surprise,” assured Milley.

The second call was made on January 8 when once again Milley promised China of ‘no attack.’

“We are 100% steady. Everything’s fine. But democracy can be sloppy sometimes,” Milley told Li. 

“He’s been crazy for a long time”

Amidst the Capitol Hill attack, Milley also received a call from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the transcript of which was obtained by Woodward and Costa. 

A frantic Pelosi said, “You know he’s crazy. He’s been crazy for a long time.”

“What I’m saying to you is that if they couldn’t even stop him from an assault on the Capitol, who even knows what else he may do? And is there anybody in charge at the White House who was doing anything but kissing his fat butt all over this?” continued Pelosi. 

Milley then reportedly assured Pelosi that the nuclear weapons were safe. 

The book has been written using accounts of over 200 people most of whom did not wish to be named. Authors Woodward and Costa tried interviewing both Trump and Biden for the book but they declined. 

The book is expected to launch on September 21. 

Following the revelations, Milley is being called widely a “Traitor”, for going against his commander in chief and working in collaboration with another country.

Indian Coast Guard rescues seven fishermen stranded in sinking boat off Diu in daring night mission

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Coast Guard rescues seven fishermen stranded in sinking boat off Diu in daring night mission

On September 13, the Indian Coast Guards (ICG) rescued seven fishermen from the coast of Vanak Bara in Diu. As per reports, ICG received a distress call from Diu Administration at 8 PM. The ICG responded immediately and deployed an indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter from Porbandar. The Coast Guard rescued the stranded fishermen just when their boat was about to sink.

In a tweet, the Indian Coast Guard wrote, “SAR In a daring night rescue operation amidst challenging weather @IndiaCoastGuard indigenous advanced light helicopter rescued 7 crew from distressed IFB Ram aground off Diu. All personnel safe #HarKaamDeshKeNaam.”

The lifesaving operation took place in pitch-dark conditions amidst harsh weather at a distance of around 175 KM from Porbandar. Highly qualified Coastguard Commandant Kunal Naik and Commandant (JG) Saurabh flew the aircraft for the rescue operation and displayed exemplary flying skills to manoeuvre the aircraft from low-lying clouds to reach the boat in stipulated time.

The rough sea conditions and pitch-dark night made the situation difficult. However, their expertise helped in completing the operation within one hour from the time the aircraft left Porbandar. Reportedly, the boat had lost power due to a machinery breakdown. It was grounded off Vanak Bara in the sea. The Coast Guards airlifted all seven crewmembers and brought them to safe ground.

The rescue operation was a fine display of advanced night capabilities of the indigenous aircraft, highly qualified aircrew and the Indian Coast Guard’s ethos “Vayam Rakshamah”. Notably, a day earlier on September 12, the Indian Coast Guards had rescued eleven fishermen stranded in the Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island after their boat suffered an engine failure.

From blackmail to cheating in name of marriage: Meet ‘human rights activist’ Shirin Hussain of Ujjain

OpIndia Staff
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From blackmail to cheating in name of marriage: Meet ‘human rights activist’ Shirin Hussain of Ujjain

The arrest of Shirin Hussain of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, in an appointment fraud case unraveled long list of twisted facts pertaining to blackmail, deception and fraud. Shirin distributed pamphlets in the Hindu areas to target vulnerable Hindu women suffering from harassment, domestic violence, land dispute and exploitation amongst others. She specifically preyed on those women who were not helped by the police promising to get them justice.

Shirin Hussain used to personally contact the victims of domestic violence and get information about the abusers. The abusers were later blackmailed by her with the information obtained from the victims. Shirin allegedly extorted huge sum of money from the abusers. Nagziri police arrested her under the sections 420,468, 471, 506.

Shirin Hussain who used to identify herself as the National Secretary of United International Human Rights Trust was accused of giving out fraud appointment and appointment letters charging sixty thousand for each person. She was kept in remand by the police after she appeared before the Court on Sunday, September 12. The statements given by Shireen during the interrogation were also found misleading. She also put several allegations against one Madhu Yadav, who was the National president of the United International Human Rights Trust based in Lucknow Uttar Pradesh.

Madhu Yadav had said that Shirin was appointed by her organization in 2019 as a secretary of the trust in Madhya Pradesh but she was suspended after few months because of some troubles that she got into with her female coworkers.

According to report, Shirin used to get Hindu women married to middle-aged and old Muslim men and after the marriage, manipulated the women to lodge complaints against their husbands in order to extort money. The matter is under investigation.

On Tuesday, a fourth case was registered against Shirin. She was accused of taking Rs 13,000 from a man on promise of getting him married but no marriage took place yet. As per reports, one Kanhaiyalal got married in 2013 and in 2016 he got divorced. He has a six year old son. Two months back, one Premlata introduced him to Shirin two months back. Shirin promised him marriage in two months and took Rs 13,000 from him. When marriage did not materialise, he demanded money back but Shirin refused. In Tajpur, Shirin had arranged two programmes under the name of solving family disputes.

Police investigation has revealed transactions worth lakhs of rupees in her bank account. The details about her houses are also under investigation. Reports suggest, many politicians and other influential people may also be involved with Shirin.

Canada: Hindu family assaulted, abused and pelted with rocks while performing Puja in Mississauga

OpIndia Staff
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Canada: Hindu family assaulted, abused and pelted with rocks while performing Puja in Mississauga

As per reports, on September 11, a 44-year-old Hindu man and his family were performing a small religious ceremony in the Streetsville park in Mississauga city, Canada at around 5:30 PM when two male teens approached them and started abusing them. They also assaulted the man and threw rocks at him.

The man was able to flee from the park with his family in the car. The accused kept throwing rocks at them while they were leaving the park resulting in damaging the car. The victim went to the hospital, where he was treated for the injuries. As per the doctors, his injuries were not life-threatening. The wife and two children escaped physically unharmed.

Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Police Chief, issued a statement that the Police department would not tolerate such hate crimes in Peel which is known for its diversity and culture. He said, “The abundance of rich culture and diversity that we have here in Peel Region is one of our many strengths.  Being able to practice and celebrate one’s faith in peace and safety is a fundamental right here in Canada. Hateful, deliberate acts such as this will not be tolerated, and I can assure you that the appropriate resources are being allocated to identify those responsible.”

Police said that the attackers had been described as 16 and 18 years old. They both had dark hair. One of the attackers is believed to be white, while the second one was an Asian. In the official statement released on Peel Police’s website, the Police has requested the witnesses to come forward and provide whatever evidence they might have of the incident, including dashcam videos if any.

As per the Police, the members from the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Bureau have initiated the Reassurance Protocol to ensure social support and relevant services to the family, if needed.

Crimes against Hindus

This is not the first time Hindus faced hate crimes in Canada. In recent times, the global Hindu diaspora came together to fight against a well-planned attempt of the Hinduphobic gang that organized an anti-Hindu conference named Dismantling Global Hindutva.

Since farmer protests broke down in India, several cases of hate crimes against Hindus have been reported, especially in Canada. during Holi celebrations in April this year, a group of around 100 protesters barged into the area where around 400 Hindus were celebrating Holi. They started shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government. They also blocked the route on which the Tiranga Yatra was supposed to take place. The event was delayed for around three hours. reportedly, Khalistani flags were raised by the protestors.

In March 2021, Jodhveer Singh Dhaliwal, a Khalistani sympathiser, Pro-Khalistani Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh’s relative, came under investigation after videos of him attacking Hindus in Tiranga rally went viral.

Government puts ten foreign NGOs related to environmental and child labour activism, including Omidyar Network, under FCRA watchlist

OpIndia Staff
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Government puts ten foreign NGOs related to environmental and child labour activism, including Omidyar Network, under FCRA watchlist

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has limited the funding of ten non-governmental organizations (NGOs) related to climate and child labor after suspending the FCRA approval of other foreign funded NGOs including the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

According to a report by The Hindu, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sent an internal note to all the banks directing them to put a specific number of foreign organizations in the PRC list (Prior Reference Category) under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010.

There are more than 80 such foreign organizations under the radar of the government’s PRC list. The new ones added include three NGOs from the USA named the Omidyar Network International, Humanity United and Stardust foundation. Two NGOs from Australia named Walk Free Foundation and Minderoo Foundation are also included in the list along with Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Freedom fund and Laudes foundation from the UK.

According to a copy of the notice obtained by The Hindu which was sent by a private bank to different branches, it was said, “The RBI has instructed that any fund flow from the (specified) donor agencies to any NGO/Voluntary organization/ persons in India should be brought to the Ministry of Home Affairs so that the funds are allowed to be credited to the recipients only after clearance/ prior permission from the MHA’s Foreigners Division of the FCRA wing.”

When asked about the reason behind the inclusion of several environmental NGOs in the PRC list, an official was quoted saying that “global pressures are intensifying on India to raise the Nationally Determined Contributions”. The official further added, “In order to create noise in the media, several pro-climate NGOs are focusing on advocacy against coal, which is considered a violation of FCRA provisions.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) mentioned in Parliament that more than 6600 NGOs’ FCRA licenses were cancelled with around 260 of them suspended by the government during the period 2016-2020.

On Monday, it was reported that the MHA had cancelled the FCRA approval of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in June this year, along with other NGOs.

USA: While American elites party around at Met Gala without masks, this is what two educational institutes are doing to vaccinated students

Jinit Jain
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USA: While American elites party around at Met Gala without masks, this is what two educational institutes are doing to vaccinated students

Amidst a raging pandemic in the United States, driven by the more transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus, American elites congregated on the second Monday of September in 2021 to participate in The Met Gala, one of the biggest and the starriest events, touted as the fashion world’s Oscar Night.

Some of the best-known celebrities from around the world graced the Met Gala red carpet wearing the most surreal, extravagant, bizarre costumes and looks, in a bid to draw attention towards themselves. The celebrities were seen sashaying in their eye-raising costumes, posing for the paparazzi and commingling with others, ostensibly without masks and in absence of COVID-related restrictions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

While they were busy partying around maskless indoors, the ordinary folks are chafing under the inexplicable restrictions they are forced to endure despite being fully vaccinated. Students at Brown and Connecticut Universities are chafing under the COVID restrictions, which could be described as deeply invasive and infringing on their individual rights. Students, regardless of their vaccination status, are barred from attending public gatherings, visiting bars and restaurants, and suggested to keep their social circle small and consistent.

Students reeling under the stifling measures imposed by Brown and Connecticut Universities while celebrities enjoy Met Gala

Brown University issued a set of new restrictions for students that include strict mandate for indoor masking, limit on social gathering for up to 5 students, a halt in in-person dining and abstention from “small-group hopping”.

The new rules ordains mandatory twice-weekly testing for COVID-19, notwithstanding the fact that Brown University student body has already undergone mandatory vaccination.

As per the new suite of restrictions issued by Brown University, all students, including the vaccinated ones, are mandated to wear masks. The requirement also extends to students’ off-campus residences, with the exception only in cases when the students are either alone or are with those they immediately live with.

From today, i.e September 14, Brown Dining Services will halt in-person dining in all campus eateries. Instead, a programme called “Grab and Go” is being promoted where students are encouraged to get takeaways from the eateries.

Additionally, limits are imposed on social gatherings, with no more than 5 people, whether indoor or outdoor, allowed to congregate. The restrictions applies both on and off campus.

Furthermore, the rules also encourage students to engage consistently with the same small set of social group, rather than attending or “hopping” multiple small social groups over the course of day or small span of time.

The Tale of a Connecticut College

Journalist Michael Tracey has been at the vanguard highlighting the propensity of authorities to impose stifling COVID-related restrictions on students in universities around the country. In an article published on September 11, Tracey pointed out the strictures imposed in a Connecticut College to illustrate how the officials are aping the “Australia-style” lockdown in the United States.

The Connecticut College in New London had its entire student body under mass quarantine. An email sent by Dean Victor Arcelus outlined the oppressive restrictions that were put in place.

Source: Michael Tracey

Students were mandated to stay inside their rooms with their roommates. Visits from friends were prohibited. Students were permitted to socialise with a maximum of three people who are socially distanced and wearing masks.

Tracey mordantly noted that the “Alert” system by Connecticut University was colour coded, seemingly reminiscent of the model adopted by the Department of Homeland Security’s dopey old “Terror Alert” system, which was slammed in the early 2000s for its uselessness and absurdity, but is now hailed as a perfectly reasonable model for the present “crisis”.

Campus centres were closed down with limited access to students with permission. So was the bookstore, which was restricted to pick-up only. Students were even asked to seek permission from their class dean to leave campus to attend to urgent matters in New London County. Camel Ride by Lyft service was also suspended.

Thus, while students at these two institutions endure oppressive Covid restrictions, celebrities and American politicians do not appear to endure such thing at the Met Gala.

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