Home Blog Page 3964

USA announces an additional $64 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, calls it ‘commitment to Afghan people’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
USA announces an additional $64 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, calls it ‘commitment to Afghan people’

A week after the Taliban formed an interim government in Afghanistan, the United States announced an additional $64 million in ‘humanitarian aid’ for the war-torn country. The funds will be transferred by the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to independent organisations including NGOs and agencies of the United Nations.

In a press release on Monday (September 13), USAID stated that the common Afghans have been facing the ‘compounding effects’ of conflict, Coronavirus pandemic, insecurity and natural disasters. “For assistance to be effective, we will need an environment conducive to the principled delivery of aid, including the ability for both female and male aid workers to operate freely. This contribution underscores the United States’ commitment to the Afghan people,” it stated.

USAID informed that it has been supporting over 18 million people in Afghanistan, even prior to the ongoing crisis and ‘recent insecurity.’ It added that the newly sanctioned funds would provide vulnerable Afghans with much-needed relief including hygiene and medical supplies, health care, food and nutrition. “USAID has also activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) – based outside of Afghanistan – to lead the U.S. Government’s humanitarian response. This team, which is based outside of Afghanistan, is working with partners to provide aid and adapt programs in response to the new environment,” it continued.

In its press release, the US Agency for International Development claimed that it is the largest donor in Afghanistan with an estimated humanitarian aid of $330 million in 2021 alone. USAID stated that it will continue to deliver critical assistance to the vulnerable population and alleviate their sufferings.

Taliban forms interim caretaker government in Afghanistan

On September 7, the Taliban announced the names of cabinet members of the interim government, which would rule the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ till a permanent government was constituted. It was declared that Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund would be the acting Prime Minister and have two deputies, namely, Mullah Abdus Salam and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. The acting Prime Minister was chosen by the supreme leader of the Taliban aka Maulvi Haibatullah Akhundzada.

Several members of the cabinet are designated terrorists with a bounty on their heads.

Govt to Delhi High Court: Nizamuddin Markaz building is part of an ongoing investigation, can’t reopen yet

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Govt to Delhi High Court: Nizamuddin Markaz building is part of an ongoing investigation, can’t reopen yet

On September 13, the Delhi Police has submitted an affidavit in the Delhi High Court duly authorised by the Home Ministry in which it has opposed the reopening of Nizamuddin Markaz for public entry, stating it is part of an ongoing investigation. The affidavit stated that the cases registered last year have ‘cross-border implications’ involving diplomatic considerations.

Delhi Waqf Board had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking orders to reopen Nizamuddin Markaz and restore its original character. The court had asked the Centre and Delhi Police to submit a reply to the plea. Notably, last year, the Tablighi Jamaat congregation took place at the Markaz despite Covid-19 protocols in place. The structure was sealed by the Delhi Police on March 31 last year.

In the reply, the centre said, “The present premises has been kept under lock and key in view of the fact that the organisers of Markaz and the masjid are under investigation in an FIR… and the said case is under investigation wherein notices have already been served seeking details of plot/plots related to Masjid Banglewali Markaz, Kashif-ul-Uloom madarsa, Basti Nizamuddin to provide ownership documents etc.”

The affidavit further reads, “It is submitted that since about 1300 foreigners were found to be residing in the said premises and cases against them have cross border implications and involves nation’s diplomatic relationship with other countries, it is necessary and incumbent on the part of the Respondent to preserve the said premises for the purpose of Section 310 of CrPC”.

The said section gives the judge the power to visit any place where an offence took place for the purpose of appreciating the evidence. DCP Joy Tirkey, the signatory in the affidavit, emphasised the importance of the preservation of the case property so that the due process of the law can be followed.

It further read, “As such the reasonable restriction which has been imposed on the petitioner’s right if any under Article 26 of the Constitution of India is on the ground that the said premises were not being used in accordance with law and on public order considerations and therefore cannot be faulted or held to be violative of Part III of the Constitution of India. It is submitted that in view of the aforesaid, in the respectful submission of the deponent, there has been no impingement of petitioner’s fundamental right under Article 26. The same has been curtailed for a short duration on public order considerations and therefore cannot be said to be ultra vires the constitution.”

Notably, five people have been allowed to offer namaz five times a day on the premises. The Delhi Police said there is no violation of any fundamental right of the Waqf Board or anyone related to the Markaz or the case.

The court has posted the matter for November and asked Delhi Police the timeline by which it intends to release the property. The court said, “Due to the pandemic, an FIR was registered… (and) you take possession as case property. It has to be handed over. It can’t be that the property is kept forever (subject to court orders)… You tell me from whom you took it. How long will you keep it locked as case property?”

The Nizamuddin Markaz controversy

In March 2020, hundreds of people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz tested positive for coronavirus. Reportedly, thousands of people had travelled to attend the event from various states. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there were 1746 people living in Markaz, including 216 foreign nationals. The Delhi government said that the congregation violated the Covid-19 protocols in place that prohibited large gatherings.

Countering the allegations, Markaz claimed that they had not flouted any rules and ended the congregation when the nationwide lockdown was imposed. It alleged that several of the participants were stuck as no mode of transport was available.

From the Markaz, Tablighi Jamaat members travelled all over India, often hiding their travel details and avoiding quarantine. Those members that were caught and sent to institutional quarantine centres, were found misbehaving with healthcare staff and creating a nuisance.

On March 31 last year, Delhi Police registered a case against the officials of the Markaz, including Maulana Saad, under sections of Epidemic Disease Act,1897 and Section 269, 270, 271, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. By April 3, 2020, 30% of the Covid cases in India were reportedly linked to the congregation that took place at the Markaz.

Google launches news startup in partnership with an outfit whose VC is accused of money laundering and has ties to Urban Naxal Gautam Navlakha

K Bhattacharjee
-
0
Google launches news startup in partnership with an outfit whose VC is accused of money laundering and has ties to Urban Naxal Gautam Navlakha

Google has announced that it has launched the Google News Initiative (GNI) Startups Lab India in partnership with the Digipub News India Foundation, a member of which is under the scanner for money laundering. Google said that GNI is “an accelerator program tailored to the needs of content startups in India, to help 10 businesses achieve sustainability.”

Source: Twitter

Google India said in a statement, “Created in partnership between the Google News Initiative (GNI), global innovation lab Echos, and DIGIPUB News India Foundation – the GNI Startups Lab India program supports high-quality reporting for local communities, single-topic audiences and/or previously underserved communities across India.”

“GNI, Echos and DIGIPUB have built a 16-week program specifically tailored to the needs of content startups in India. You will benefit from Echos’ experience in supporting media startups through design thinking and from DIGIPUB’s extensive network and active community in India: there will be workshops, coaching and high-profile networking opportunities,” it added.

Digipub News India Foundation, the group that Google India is partnering with, has Prabir Purkyastha as its Vice Chairperson. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Newsclick. The Enforcement Directorate had raided Purkyastha’s residence in connection with allegations of money laundering.

The company is alleged to have received over Rs. 30 crores in 3 years. It is further alleged that the funds were disbursed to journalists/activists in the name of salary or consultation fee. The beneficiaries include those associated with Teesta Setalvad. Other beneficiaries include Gautam Navlakha, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta among others.

Gautam Navlakha is an accused ‘Urban Naxal’ in the Bhima Koregaon case. The ‘Urban Naxal’ was a partner with Prabir Purkyastha in at least two companies. Gautam Navlakha was an “Independent Partner” of PP NEWSCLICK STUDIO LLP where he was appointed to the position on the 17th of April, 2017. It is pertinent to note here that PPK NEWSCLICK Studio Private Limited, the current owner of Newsclick, was incorporated on the 11th of January, 2018, 10 days after the Bhima Koregaon violence.

The founding members of Digipub itself provides abundant evidence of its leftist ideological orientation. It includes Alt News, Newsclick, Newslaundry, Scroll, The News Minute, The Quint, The Wire and among freelancers, the names include Akash Banerji, Faye DeSouza, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Neha Dixit.

According to ZaubaCorp, Prabir Purkayastha was one of the Directors at Digipub. Other Directors at Digipub included The News Minute’s Dhanya Rajendran, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhi, and Ritu Kapur of The Quint.

The Leftist takeover of Big Tech in recent times has been well documented. Big Tech platforms have been engaging in the censorship of conservative and right-wing political opinion since the advent of Donald Trump. The new partnership between Google India and Digipub News India Foundation is further evidence of the alliance between the Left and Big Tech.

Watch: Authorities in Gujarat evacuate stranded citizens as Saurashtra gets ravaged by floods

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Watch: Authorities in Gujarat evacuate stranded citizens as Saurashtra gets ravaged by floods

The Saurashtra region in Gujarat has been inundated with heavy rains in the past 24 hours, leading to massive floods. At least 18 dams have overflowed in Jamnagar district with the administration rushing in to rescue civilians from the area. Circumstances are dire in Rajkot as well and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is expected to reach the state to aid in the rescue efforts as well.

Numerous visuals have emerged on social media of authorities working hard to rescue people in the state. In one incident in Rajkot, one person was rescued from a car while two remained missing.

Another video shows a helicopter attempting to evacuate people in Jamnagar.

Parts of Saurashtra region have been completely flooded with Rajkot and Jamnagar severely affected.

Numerous other videos have also surfaced on social media that portray the extent of the devastation in the state.

The Indian Air Force has been requested to evacuate citizens stranded in Jamnagar and Kalavad Talukas. Bhupendra Patel, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat, has also held a meeting to take stock of the situation in the state. District authorities have been directed by the Chief Minister to make arrangements for the evacuation of people stranded in the flooded region.

Rajiv Saxena, who had turned approver in AgustaWestland case, arrested by ED in fraud case where Kamal Nath’s relative is accused: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rajiv Saxena, who had turned approver in AgustaWestland case, arrested by ED in fraud case where Kamal Nath’s relative is accused: Details

Dubai-based businessman and accused-turned-approver in AgustaWestland chopper scam case Rajiv Saxena has been arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a bank loan fraud case.

The Central Bank of India had accused Moser Baer, its directors and others of defrauding the bank of Rs 354 crores. They had further alleged that the directors of the company had forged and fabricated documents to get the Central Bank of India to release the funds. 

As per a Times Now report, Rajiv Saxena had acted as a middleman in this case and had also diverted funds in question abroad. He will soon be produced before a Delhi Court.

A case had been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2019 against Ratul Puri the former executive of Moser Baer India Limited, his father Deepak Puri, also a relative of Congress leader Kamal Nath, and others on a complaint filed by the Central Bank of India. 

Reportedly, Saxena while seeking pardon in AgustaWestland scam case previously had assured complete disclosure of facts and information in his knowledge. He was later allowed to be an approver subject. 

However, the CBI soon sought cancellation of his bail and approvership in April this year accusing him of concealing information and misguiding the investigation. 

Seeking his judicial custody, the CBI contended that Saxena doesn’t deserve a “parity” with other accused in the case, and alleged that the accused-turned-approver had misled the probe agencies and did not cooperate in the investigation. 

Saxena, described by the ED as one of the “key money launderers” was picked up by UAE government security agencies in Dubai and later extradited to India on January 30, 2019. Both ED and CBI were eager to seek cancellation of his bail as the accused had already sought the citizenship of Caribbean isle Dominica. India has no extradition treaty with Dominica. 

“Saxena is a hawala operator who runs accommodation entry business in Dubai through numerous companies, known as Matrix group companies, and has laundered proceeds of crime in the cases of AgustaWestland chopper scam (linked to purchase of VVIP choppers by India) and Moser Baer bank fraud case,” the ED had revealed.

AIMPLB’s Sajjad Nomani alleges reverse ‘Love Jihad’ days after supporting Taliban, claims over 5000 Muslim girls converted to Hinduism

OpIndia Staff
-
0
AIMPLB’s Sajjad Nomani alleges reverse ‘Love Jihad’ days after supporting Taliban, claims over 5000 Muslim girls converted to Hinduism

A video of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Sajjad Nomani has come to light in which he alleged that Hindu boys are indulging in ‘Love Jihad’. The video was uploaded on September 9. Nomani claimed that over 5,000 Muslim girls have run away with Hindu boys, got married to them and converted to Hinduism. He further said the majority of these girls belong to high-profile families.

Sajjad Nomani blamed mobile phones and education

He blamed access to school and college education along with mobile phones. He said Muslim girls are using the freedom to make friends in the other community, and their parents are unaware of what they are doing. He further added that the parents are not teaching their girls about Islam or telling about what is happening around them.

Sajjad Nomani claimed well-planned conspiracy

He said it is being done under a well-planned conspiracy to lure Muslim women towards Hinduism. He said, “From the other side, there is a conspiracy to lure as many Muslim women as possible, ruin their religion and throw them as used lemon peel. This is being done with proper planning. They find contact numbers of these girls to lure them into friendship.”

“I came to know from my source that there is a group that gives training to the boys to learn how Muslims talk to each other. They tell them to greet with “Salaam Walekum” and ask “kaise mizaz hain”. They are also trained to use “Khairiyat hai”, “Inshaallah”, “Mashallah”, “Rehmudillah”, “Subhanallah” and other words. They speak softly to our daughters to lure them, and we are doing nothing about it,” he added.

He further alleged that Muslims in the past were aware of their surroundings, but nowadays, no one cares about other Muslims. He said, “They used to be aware of their surroundings, and they were worried about Islam. When Khilafat ended in Turkey, Tehreek-e-Khilafat flourished in our country. Do you know what is happening around you? Only doing Namaaz is not enough.”

Allegations of reverse ‘love-jihad’

Interestingly, while Nomani alleged Hindu men are luring Muslim girls, there are next-to-none such cases that have come to light. The majority of the cases of Love Jihad that have come to light in recent years involved a Muslim man and a Hindu woman. Notably, Love Jihad has also spread rapidly among Christian women, and Christian leaders have raised the concern multiple times in Kerala.

The planned conspiracy that Nomani claimed against Muslims is, in reality, done by Muslim leaders against Hindus. Last year, a racket was busted in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where several Hindu girls were allegedly lured into an affair by Muslim men. All of them had hidden their identity and projected themselves as Hindu men to lure the women. Reports suggest that there are groups that allegedly pay Muslim men to marry as many as Hindu women and convert them to Islam.

Sajjad Nomani had supported Taliban

In August, reports came out that Nomani had openly praised the Taliban’s take over in Afghanistan. He allegedly had said, “this Hindi Muslim salutes you”. After the backlash, AIMPLB issued a statement saying the board did not praise the Taliban and a member’s statement was wrongly portrayed as viewpoint of the board.

It said, “All India Muslim Personal Law Board has neither expressed any view nor given any statement on Taliban and recent political situation of Afghanistan. Opinion of some Board members has been portrayed as board’s stand by few media channels and wrong thing is being attributed to the board. These practices are against the spirit of journalism.”

Amarinder Singh instigates farmers to agitate in Delhi and Haryana, says protests in Punjab are not in state’s interest

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Amarinder Singh instigates farmers to agitate in Delhi and Haryana, says protests in Punjab are not in state’s interest

On Monday (September 13), Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh courted controversy after he instigated farmer unions to agitate in the National Capital instead of the State.

While speaking about the ongoing farmer protests, Captain Singh blamed the demonstrators for causing economic loss to Punjab. “I want to tell Punjab farmers that this is their land. Their ongoing protests here are not in the state’s interest,” he stated. Furthermore, the veteran Congress leader instigated them to storm Delhi and pressurise the Centre to repeal the farm laws.

“Instead of holding protests in the state, farmers should mount pressure on the Centre to get farm laws repealed,” he added. As per a report in India Today, Captain Amarinder Singh also instigated the farmer protestors to cause disruptions in the neighbouring State of Haryana. “If the farmers were stopped in Punjab, they would not have reached the Singhu and Tikri borders. You do whatever you want in Haryana and Delhi but why are you causing loss to Punjab?” he emphasised. He has also accused the farmers of hampering the development in the state by holding protests at 113 places in Punjab.

The Punjab Chief Minister spoke about the matter after laying the foundation of a government college in Hoshiarpur. The Punjab Congress has been a vocal supporter of the anti-farm law agitation since its onset and has been instigating the protests in the Delhi border.

However, the grand old party had to soften its stance from time to time to counter the massive economic losses.

Recently, while the police in his own state Punjab lathi-charged and fired water cannons on protesting farmers, Amarinder Singh was seen calling out Haryana CM ML Khattar for firm action against agitating mobs in Karnal.

Earlier in July, ex-Punjab Congress Chief Sunil Jhakar had conceded that it was the Punjab Chief Minister who had instigated the farmers to go to Delhi and protest. Jhakar was speaking during the inauguration of Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Punjab Congress chief. “BJP leaders are hiding in their homes because farmers are against the black farm laws introduced by the party. If Captain Amarinder had not handled them aptly and sent these farmers to Delhi against the BJP, we would have had to deal with them and their anger in Punjab. This is one of the biggest achievements of our CM,” he had revealed.

Italy: Somali migrant stabs two bus ticket controllers and injures 3 under the influence of drugs

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Italy: Somali migrant stabs two bus ticket controllers and injures 3 under the influence of drugs

A Somali migrant residing in a migrant home run by the Catholic community in Rimini town of Northern Italy was arrested for stabbing two bus ticket controllers and attacking three more people along the way. The incident took place on Saturday night.

The man was apparently under the influence of drugs before he lost his mind and attacked the ticket controllers with a knife. Investigators ruled out terrorism as the reason behind the attack. The 26-year-old man was travelling without ticket and when the bust ticket controllers came for it, the man went violent and stabbed them with a knife. He fled after the bus door was opened and attacked two more women and a six-year-old kid on his way.

The Italian police pursued the man and nabbed him later. A total of four women and a 6-year-old boy were injured. The boy received a neck wound and was in serious condition after undergoing surgery on Sunday.

The man, who has not been identified, arrived in Europe in the year 2015 and appeared to be on the run after having been denied asylum in other European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Netherlands as per the Italian ANSA news agency. According to reports, the Somali man had appealed for asylum in Italy.

Italian Minister of the Interior Lamorgese termed the incident as “the very grave episode.” Lamorgese had been under criticism from the right-wing leader Matteo Salvini who demanded stricter crackdown on the illegal migrants.

Another milestone achieved, India has now given 75 crore doses of Covid vaccine

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Another milestone achieved, India has now given 75 crore doses of Covid vaccine

India on September 13 achieved another major milestone in the fight against Covid-19. On this day, India crossed 75 crore total doses administered.

Vaccination in India has been proceeding at a remarkable speed under the Union Health Ministry. Over the last several weeks, daily doses administered have crossed the 1 crore mark multiple times and the numbers are constantly high.

In the month of August alone, India had given over 180 million doses, which was more doses than all the G7 nations, USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan put together. PM Modi had announced that India will vaccinate all its eligible citizens by the end of 2021.

The CoWin platform makes booking of slots, scheduling and tracking vaccination easy for citizens. Several ministers, health experts and leaders have congratulated the government of India for achieving this milestone.

Mamata Banerjee visits Sola Ana Masjid in Bhabanipur to seek blessings ahead of by-poll at the assembly constituency

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mamata Banerjee visits Sola Ana Masjid in Bhabanipur to seek blessings ahead of by-poll at the assembly constituency

Mamata Banerjee, ahead of the by-poll for the Bhabanipur assembly constituency, paid a visit to the Sola Ana Masjid in the area to seek blessings. The by-poll for the constituency will be conducted on the 30th of September, with results to be declared three days later on the 3rd of October.

The Sola Ana Masjid is located in the Bhabanipur constituency itself. The West Bengal Chief Minister had filed her nomination from the constituency on Friday. Ahead of the polls earlier this year, Mamata Banerjee had decided to contest the elections from Nandigram, where she lost against former TMC stalwart and current BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

Prior to that, Banerjee had been an elected representative from Bhabanipur itself. After Trinamool Congress secured a comprehensive victory in the assembly elections, Banerjee is making a return to the constituency that had been her own for 10 years. Earlier, TMC MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay had resigned after winning the seat.

The BJP has decided to field Priyanka Tibrewal for the Bhabanipur by-poll. Priyanka Tibrewal is an advocate by profession who had joined the BJP in the year 2014. She is a practicing lawyer at the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court. Prior to joining BJP, she had worked a legal counsel for singer and BJP leader Babul Supriyo.

Priyanka Tibrewal is one of the petitioners in the Bengal post-poll violence cases, which have led to the Calcutta High Court ordering CBI and SIT probe in the cases. Her petition has also led the high court order for a second autopsy of BJP leader Abhijit Sarkar, who was killed in post-poll violence on May 2.

1...3,9633,9643,965...7,679Page 3,964 of 7,679