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“We know that the SIT is not functional,” says Calcutta High Court on Bengal post-poll violence case

OpIndia Staff
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“We know that the SIT is not functional,” says Calcutta High Court on Bengal post-poll violence case

The Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court; Rajesh Bindal, on Tuesday observed the court was aware of Special Investigation Team (SIT) not functioning which the five -judge bench of the High Court, on August 19. The SIT was to be formed to look into the cases of post poll violence other than cases of murder and sexual assault assigned to the CBI for investigation.

“We know that the SIT is not working and necessary steps will be taken,” the court observed when Ravi Shankar Chatterjee, counsel for Kashinath Biswas raised this matter.

The observation of the High Court is a thick hint to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee that she better not take the judicial system for granted.

During the course of hearing the court of Acting Chief Justice directed the CBI and the SIT to file a status report to it within six weeks.

Kashinath Biswas who is a local BJP leader had filed a petition at the High Court stating that even after 10 days have passed West Bengal government has not made the three-member Special Investigation Team functional. Speaking to

News18.com quoted Biswas saying, “I filed a PIL and mentioned that CBI has started investigating the matter in the concerned districts of Bengal where post poll violence took place but SIT could not be seen anywhere. Today, the matter was mentioned by my lawyer Ravi Shankar Chatterjee.”

The SIT comprising IPS officers namely Soumen Mitra (Calcutta police commissioner), Suman Bala Sahoo (DG telecommunications) and Ranbir Kumar (ADG (administration I)) is yet to become functional.

Notably, on August 19, the five member bench of the Calcutta High Court passed the order to form the SIT as well as the CBI investigation after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) submitted its report on human right violation in West Bengal. The NHRC has made quite a few damning revelations in the report which detailed the barbarity unleashed upon the political opponents.

The court had categorically stated that the SIT investigation will be monitored by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court. It means it will be difficult for the West Bengal Police and the Mamata Banerjee to distort and suppress facts of post poll violence which Mamata Banerjee has denied.

West Bengal witnessed an unprecedented post poll violence where a large number of BJP workers and leaders were allegedly brutally murdered, prosecuted and raped by leaders and workers of Mamata Banerjee led ruling Trinamool Congress. This alleged state managed violence started right after assembly poll results were declared on May 2.

Even the victory of Trinamool Congress was not sugar coated. Trinamool Congress had won but Mamata Banerjee lost her Nandigram bastion from her BJP rival Suvendu Adhikari that came as bitter pills for her. The BJP tremendously gained and emerged as the main opposition party.  

Mangaluru: Police inspector Albert Lasrado stops Hindu activist’s car, asks him to remove religious sticker

OpIndia Staff
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Mangaluru: Police inspector Albert Lasrado stops Hindu activist’s car, asks him to remove religious sticker

The Mangaluru traffic police stopped a car belonging to Hindu activists on Tuesday and questioned them over the religious stickers they had put up over the car, fuelling a war of words between the police officials and Hindu activists.

According to the reports, on Tuesday, August 31, Assistant sub-inspector Albert Lasrado stopped Hindu activist Babish Poojary, who was travelling in his Maruti car near the Thokottu flyover. Albert Lasrado, who stopped the car for allegedly checking the documents, demanded that the Hindu activists pay a fine for putting up religious stickers on the car, claiming that the stickers were against the law.

Hindu activist Babish Poojary refused to remove the stickers from his car, saying they were his religious feelings. However, the traffic police assistant sub-inspector Albert Lasrado demanded that the Hindu activist removed the stickers. “Team Parashuram” and “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah” appearing on the number plate of the car and also the “Om Sai” and “Swami Koragajja” stickers were fixed on the window glasses.

A heated argument erupted between the cop and Hindu activists over removing Hindu religious stickers from the car. Arjun Madoor of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who arrived on the scene, said that the cop wanted the stickers to be removed because of religious considerations. The Hindu activists alleged said that the assistant sub-inspector is opposed to the Hindu religion. They demanded the state government remove him from his post and urged the senior officials will be urged to take action.

Moplah massacre: Classical dancer Kalyanikutty Amma’s granddaughter recounts how their ancestral home is now occupied by Muslims

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Moplah massacre: Classical dancer Kalyanikutty Amma’s granddaughter recounts how their ancestral home is now occupied by Muslims

Smitha Rajan, one of India’s finest Mohiniyattam performers and granddaughter of the legendary Indian classical dancer couple of Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, has slammed the “secular-liberal” historians for whitewashing the Moplah massacres, in which Islamists had butchered over 10,000 Hindus in Kerala.

Amidst the ongoing campaign to “secularise” the Moplah Hindu massacres and portray it as a freedom struggle, Smitha Rajan has put out a Facebook post recounting how legendary Mohiniyattam performer Kalyanikutty Amma and her family had to flee from their own house in Kerala during the Moplah Hindu massacres in 1921 after Islamists had stormed into her ancestral house.

Calling out those people who justify the Malabar communal riots as a ‘freedom struggle’, Smitha Rajan recounted how her grandmother had to run for her life as a six-year-old during the Moplah Hindu massacres of 1921 after encountering religious fanaticism. Smitha Rajan shared that a group of religious fanatics had surrounded Kalyanikutty Amma on one such night during the Moplah Hindu massacres. The family realised that they were in danger, wrote Rajan in her post.

“The women and children were forced to flee into the woods through the back door of the house to escape. On the night of the terror attack, the family fled their homes, lands and crossed the river in the darkness to save their lives. Many unfortunates who could not do flee were mercilessly killed. Sakshal Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, who became the cultural heroine of Kerala, was just a six-year-old girl who escaped from her homeland to save her life,” Smitha Rajan narrated in the post.

Smitha Rajan, who herself is a well-known classical performer, said Kalyanikutty Amma’s suffered from those fears for the rest of her life. Rajan also added that Muslim families have now occupied the ancestral home of Kalyanikutty Amma after the family had to flee during the Moplah massacres.

“Years later, I was lucky enough to get a look at the interiors, verandas and terraces of the house that my grandmother told me about. The mother herself went to the family yard, appealed to the Muslim families living there and arranged for the opportunity for her youngest daughter. I still vividly remember my mother standing outside with the memories of childhood inside,” Rajan wrote.

She slammed the neo-historians, intellectuals and local rulers for attempting to re-interpret and whitewash the horrific Moplah massacres of Hindus as part of the freedom struggle. She warned them against forgetting that a generation of victims of the terror of that time is still alive to recount the terror that was unleashed during the Moplah massacres.

In her post, Smitha hoped that the next generation would at least understand what is real and not repeat the mistakes.

Moplah massacres

The Moplah riots of 1921 were a systematic campaign of Jihad against Hindus. The genocide, orchestrated by the likes of Variankunnath Kunhamad Haji, Ali Musaliar and others, led to the brutal murder of an estimated 10,000 Hindus in Kerala. It is believed that as many a 100,000 Hindus were forced to leave Kerala in the wake of the massacre.

The number of Hindu Temples that were destroyed in the genocide is speculated to be a hundred. Forcible conversion of Hindus was rampant and unspeakable atrocities were poured upon the Hindus in the name of Caliphate.

In his book, Pakistan or the Partition of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar wrote, “The blood-curdling atrocities committed by the Moplahs in Malabar against the Hindus were indescribable. All over Southern India, a wave of horrified feeling had spread among the Hindus of every shade of opinion, which was intensified when certain Khilafat leaders were so misguided as to pass resolutions of “congratulations to the Moplas” on the brave fight they were conducting for the sake of religion'”.

The Khilafat movement was launched to support the Khalifa or the Ottoman Caliph of Turkey, who was considered the leader of all Sunni Muslims in the world. It had nothing to do with India’s freedom struggle.

Former Afghan President Ghani had informed Biden that Taliban was advancing with ‘full Pakistani support’. Read excerpts

OpIndia Staff
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Former Afghan President Ghani had informed Biden that Taliban was advancing with ‘full Pakistani support’. Read excerpts

In July 2021, the then-President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani in a phone conversation with US President Biden told US President Joe Biden how the Taliban was advancing quickly with the help of Pakistan, as per a Reuters report.

He had said, “Mr President, we are facing a full-scale invasion, composed of Taliban, full Pakistani planning and logistical support, and at least 10-15,000 international terrorists, predominantly Pakistanis thrown into this.”

Ghani had urged US President to take note of Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban into consideration while making any decision about the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan.

The phone conversation between Ghani and Biden

As per experts of the call provided by News Agency Reuters, on July 23, then-President Ghani and President Biden had a conversation about the ongoing scuffle between Afghan forces and Taliban. Biden said that after having discussions with the officials in Pentagon, NSA and others, he came to the conclusion that the perception around the world, and in parts of Afghanistan, “is that things aren’t going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban.” He added that there was a need to project a different picture of the whole situation.

Biden urged Ghani to put Bismillah in charge of military strategy

During the conversation, President Biden urged then-President Ghani to give Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi powers to execute strategies focused on key parts of the population centres. He added that it would change the allies’ perception across the spectrum about how Ghani has been handling the situation in Afghanistan.

He further asked Ghani to consider bringing everyone from Former Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum to Former President Hamid Karzai to back the military strategy that gives Bismillah powers to execute military actions; it will change the perception to a large extent.

Biden promised to provide air support

While mentioning that Afghan forces include over 300,000 well-armed personnel, which is over 3-times in size of what the Taliban had at that time, Biden said that the US would continue to provide close air support during military operations of Afghan forces through the end of August. However, US troops had left several bases in Afghanistan much before the August 31 deadline. In some cases, they did not even inform the Afghan forces about the withdrawal.

Biden further promised Ghani that in addition to the air support, the US would continue to “fight hard, diplomatically, politically, economically, to make sure your government not only survives but is sustained and grows because it is clearly in the interest of the people of Afghanistan, that you succeed and you lead.”

Ghani had raised concerns over Pakistan’s involvement

The Reuters article further stated that President Ghani said that Afghanistan was facing a full-scale invasion by the Taliban with the support of Pakistan in terms of planning and logistics. He further added that the US should consider the fact that there were 10,000 to 15,000 international terrorists, mainly from Pakistan, that were fighting against the Afghan forces. Ghani added that there was a heavy reliance on air power during the war between Afghan forces and the Taliban.

Ghani added he has high expectations regarding the close air support from USA and asserted that the Afghan forces are dependent on it. However, as there was an agreement with the Taliban regarding [air strikes] that Ghani’s administration was unaware of, US Air Force was extremely cautious in attacking the Taliban.

He further added that Dr Abdullah, who went to negotiate with the Taliban, made it clear that the Taliban had no inclination. “We can get to peace only if we rebalance the military situation. And I can assure you…,” Ghani said.

The urban resistance in major cities

Ghani said that he had been travelling to the four key cities with the vice president and others and assured Biden that the urban resistance had been extraordinary in those cities. Some of them had taken a siege of 55 days but did not surrender. Thus, Biden’s assurance of support would go a long want. Biden replied that CAS would only work if there was a military strategy on the ground.

What is close air support?

According to DOD, “Close air support (CAS) is air action by fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and requires detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces.”

CAS is a critical part of military action and requires detailed planning, coordination and training of the ground and supporting air forces to ensure safe and effective execution of the military operations.

The current situation in Afghanistan

As of September 1, US troops have completely withdrawn from Afghanistan. There are some US citizens and allies left in Afghanistan, and it is unclear when would they get evacuated. Taliban has taken complete control of the country except for a few regions, which are expected to fall into the hands of the Taliban soon. The Jihadists have imposed several restrictions on women, like the compulsory burqa. They have restricted women employees from joining their positions in several establishments, both private and government.

Taliban has put a ban on music, co-education and more as per the Sharia law. Executions in broad daylight are happening in Afghanistan for petty reasons like not wearing a burqa or donning the Afghan flag. As the situation worsens in Afghanistan, the US is getting heavily criticized for abandoning Afghanistan on its fate after 20 years of war.

No, Chetan Bhagat, you don’t get to take credit for India’s record breaking vaccination numbers

Nirwa Mehta
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No, Chetan Bhagat, you don’t get to take credit for India’s record breaking vaccination numbers

Author and columnist Chetan Bhagat on Wednesday took to Twitter to pat himself on the back for India’s phenomenal numbers in Covid vaccination.

He plugged his blog link from May 2021 where he had questioned India’s vaccination programme. In fact, he had claimed that when rest of the world was busy developing and procuring vaccines in April-June 2020 as the pandemic spread, India was busy discussing the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. He claimed that in September, everyone was obsessed with Bollywood actors smoking weed.

Nowhere does he mention how the Indian government was working on war footing to set up healthcare infrastructure for a country with over 130 crore people and working on developing a homegrown coronavirus vaccine as well. Because if vaccines were made available in January 2021 for healthcare workers and eventually for all, things didn’t really materialise overnight.

On 31st August, 2021, India has administered one dose to at least 64 crore people. In fact, on Tuesday, India perhaps set a world record by inoculating 1,28,68,559 doses. That is vaccinating entire population of New Zealand twice over and more. In one single day.

That Bhagat would choose to take little bit of credit for the vaccination amused netizens to no end.

Many pointed out how it was inappropriate to gloat over an article that was more like rooting for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines while dismissing Indian government efforts on vaccination.

What is amusing is that back when Bhagat has been regularly rooting for Pfizer vaccines. He has been trying to put pressure through his tweets for Indian government to approve Pfizer. Here are some of his tweets:

Bhagat was upset that Indian government did not give emergency approval for Pfizer in December itself. The American pharmaceutical giant has been in talks with the government over vaccine approval in India. However, it wanted significant regulatory relaxations, including indemnification or protection from compensation claims in case of adverse events.

Indian government has not given regulatory relaxations to any companies so far. Despite Pfizer’s reluctance to take responsibility for the possible adverse effects of its own vaccine, Bhagat, amongst various other influential people like Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, have been rooting for Pfizer.

Here is more of his defence for Pfizer.

His argument was we (India) needs Pfizer more than it needs us. But with the ramped up vaccination, this argument doesn’t quite hold water.

What is more amusing here is that soon after his April tweets on Pfizer, he wrote the blog in Times of India about vaccination, which he is plugging now to pat himself on the back.

Here is a small discussion he held with his buddies mocking India’s vaccination programme.

Columnist Sadanand Dhume and troll masquerading as columnist Rupa Subramanya too joined him to mock the comparatively slow pace of vaccination back in May 2021.

And some more sarcasm.

On 1st May, India had opened vaccination for all who are above the age of 18. With a population of 130 crore, clearly it was a huge task. At that time, state governments were in charge of procuring vaccines. This was because state governments, especially non-BJP ruled ones, wanted their independence in managing the healthcare crisis. Some state governments thought they could do better without Central government’s involvement. Since health is a state subject, central government had relented.

However, by June when state governments struggled in procurement of vaccines and things started to go out of hand, Union Government came to the rescue making vaccines free and available for all from June 21 onward. Since then, the vaccination has been regularly ramped up.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had informed that India took 85 days for administering the first 10 crore vaccines, 45 to touch the 20 crore mark, 29 days to reach 30 crores, 24 days to reach 40 crores and 20 days to touch the 50-crore mark. It took only 19 days to reach the 60 crore mark. The reducing number of days to achieve the 10-crore vaccine dose milestone shows how India’s inoculation drive is on the right path to vaccinate its gargantuan population.

This ramping up of facilities was happening even without the wisdom imparted by Bhagat.

Bengal post-poll violence: 10 more cases registered by CBI after orders of Calcutta High Court came, total cases now 31

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal post-poll violence: 10 more cases registered by CBI after orders of Calcutta High Court came, total cases now 31

Following Calcutta High Court’s order, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday registered ten more cases related to the brutal post-poll violence in West Bengal. With this, the total count of cases registered by the CBI has reached 31.

As per Zee News, CBI Spokesperson RC Joshi sharing details of the new cases filed said, “The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered ten more cases in compliance of the orders of Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta, passed in connection with WPA(P) 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149 & 167 of 2021, dated 19.08.2021 and taken over the investigation of these cases, earlier registered in different police stations of West Bengal on various allegations.”

This comes shortly after the CBI made the first two arrests on August 28 of Biju and Aasima Ghosh, charged with the murder of BJP worker Dharma Mondal and two others in West Bengal’s Nadia district. On the same day, the CBI had filed another ten cases in the matter. 

Details of the ten new cases filed

Amongst the ten new cases filed, the first was registered in Birbhum district’s Nalhati police station after a villager from Jagdhari village was found dead in a paddy field on May 14. 

The second case was of a gruesome gang rape registered at Shantiniketan police station. In the third, the victim was killed and bombs were hurled after he tried to stop the accused from extorting money from shopkeepers. A case was registered by the victim’s father in Ramnagar police station in South 24 Parganas. 

The fourth case was registered in Jagaddal police station in 24 Pargana after the accused carrying firearms beat the bike-borne victim when he honked for way. His elder brother too was thrashed mercilessly as one of the accused put his firearm in his mouth and sat on the chest. He was beaten continuously by another accused with arm butts. They then shot the victim in his belly and fled after hurling bombs. The victim succumbed to his injuries. 

Another case registered at Narendrapur police station, South 24 Parganas is of murder and molestation. The accused attacked the house of the complainant with an iron rod, bamboo, pistol and stick.

“It was further alleged that the accused tied the hands and feet of the complainant’s husband and started beating him severely. When the complainant tried to save her husband, she was allegedly pushed down and molested. It was also alleged that the accused threw the blood-soaked victim in a jungle on the bank of a pond,” informed the CBI spokesperson. 

In the new set of cases filed, six were registered on allegations of murder, two of gang rape and rape and the others are related to assault and destruction of property.

The High Court is currently listening to the matter following the submission of an NHRC committee report on the violence unleashed in the state of West Bengal by TMC goons after their win in the state assembly elections on May 02 this year. 

Ghaziabad: 3 FIRs filed against Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati for his vile remarks against women in viral video

OpIndia Staff
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Ghaziabad: 3 FIRs filed against Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati for his vile remarks against women in viral video

Recently, a video of Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati had gone viral on social media where the priest was seen making distasteful and vile remarks against women. Speaking to some people around him, the priest was seen saying that women who are in politics are usually there for providing sexual benefits to political leaders.

Following this, the Ghaziabad police have filed three FIRs against the priest. Two FIRs have been registered basis the complaint lodged by sub-inspectors Logesh Kumar and Anil Kumar. 

A pinned Tweet on Ghaziabad Police’s handle in this matter reads, “Three FIRs have been filed against Yati Narsinghanand for his remarks against women. The separate incidents were brought to our notice through social media in which remarks against women were made.”

The priest had also made objectionable remarks against National Commission of Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma. Acting on the complaints filed by NCW,  the third FIR against Narsinghanand has been registered.

“The National Commission for Women had also objected to it, following which complaints were registered. Further investigation is pending,” the update read further. 

The police have filed an FIR under sections 505 (1) (c) (intent to incite offence), 509 (insult modesty of a woman, 504 (intentional insult), 506 (intimidation) of the IPC and section 67 of the IT Act.

Reacting to the huge backlash faced especially by the BJP, Narsinghanand defended his comments made in the video saying they were taken out of context and that the video was “heavily edited”.

Narsinghanand’s viral video

In an undated video that went viral recently, Narsinghanand was seen saying that that women in politics rise up the rank only after providing sexual favours to male leaders who are influential in the parties.

“The women you see in politics now are, or have been, the m*str*ss of at least one male politician. If she is not a m*str*ss, she is a close relative of an influential leader.” He further said that during Samajwadi Party’s tenure, the same situation continued. However, during Mayawati’s tenure, it was not possible for male leaders to promote their m*str*sses,” alleged Narsinghanand. He then went on to allege that now, during the BJP’s tenure, the women in politics are not limited to one leader, they provide sexual favours to multiple leaders.

Yati’s comments had triggered wide reactions on social media for the sexist and misogynist remarks. Many leaders had demanded action against the temple priest.

Al-Qaeda congratulates ‘Islamic Ummah on Victory’ as Taliban takes over Afghanistan, calls for ‘liberation’ of Kashmir

OpIndia Staff
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Al-Qaeda congratulates ‘Islamic Ummah on Victory’ as Taliban takes over Afghanistan, calls for ‘liberation’ of Kashmir

Islamic terror group Al-Qaeda has released a two-page statement congratulating the “Islamic Ummah” on the occasion of the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan. The statement comes hours after Biden claimed Al Qaeda has been decimated in Afghanistan. “”We delivered justice to bin Laden on May 2nd, 2011, over a decade ago. Al-Qaeda was decimated,” Biden had said in an address on Tuesday.

According to the reports, the congratulatory message was released by As-Sahab, al Qaeda’s media arm, in Arabic and English just hours after the last American soldier withdrew from Afghanistan.

In its statement titled “Congratulations to the Islamic Ummah on the victory granted by Allah in Afghanistan!”, Al-Qaeda’s leadership has praised Allah for the victory, saying it “soothed” their hearts to hear verses from the Quran recited in the Presidential Palace in Kabul after it had been “cleansed from the filth of the Americans”.

In its statement, Al-Qaeda has also called for the “liberation” of Kashmir and other so-called Islamic lands from the “clutches of the enemies of Islam” in its message congratulating the Taliban for its victory in Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda’s statement after the complete take over of Afghanistan by the Taliban/ Image Source: Twitter

“We praise the Almighty, the Omnipotent, who humiliated and defeated America, the head of disbelief,” the statement read, adding, “We praise Him for breaking America’s back, tarnishing its global reputation and expelling it, disgraced and humiliated, from the Islamic land of Afghanistan.”

Referring to the Taliban as the Islamic Emirate in its statement, Al-Qaeda said that Afghanistan was a “graveyard of empires” and an “impregnable fortress”.

The statement also praised four Taliban leaders for achieving victory in Afghanistan, the three emirs of the group since its founding and Jalaluddin Haqqani, one of Osama bin Laden’s first benefactors in Afghanistan.

“On this historic occasion, we would like to offer our congratulations to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, specifically Haibatullah Akhundzada,” the statement read. “May Allah accept your martyrs – the men, women and children who offered sacrifices in this path!” the statement said.

Al-Qaeda praises Taliban for giving safe-haven to Islamic terror groups

Further, Al-Qaeda recalled that Mullah Omar defied America by refusing to turn over Osama bin Laden in 2001. “With firm trust in Allah’s promise of victory, [Omar] made his famous statement, the echo of which can be heard today, loud and clear, all across Afghanistan, indeed all across the Islamic World,” the letter read.  

Al-Qaeda then describes Mullah Omar’s vow in 2001 that read, “Allah has promised us victory, and Bush has promised us defeat; we shall see which of the two promises shall be fulfilled!”.

The statement continues, “May Allah bless the soul of the Emir of the Believers, the defiant, uncompromising leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour!”.

Al-Qaeda also asks Allah to “have mercy on the mentor of the Mujahideen, the father of martyrs, Sheikh Jalaluddin Haqqani.”

In the statement, Al Qaeda also called Afghans to “unite around the blessed leadership of the Islamic Emirate — a leadership that has over the years proven its sincerity and keenness to safeguard the interests of the masses and protect their religion, lives, and wealth.” 

“We call upon the Afghan nation to abide by the decisions and Shariah-based policies of the blessed Islamic Emirate,” the statement read. Al Qaeda also asked the Islamic ummah to extend its total support to the Islamic Emirate in all fields, specifically at this critical juncture in which all forces of disbelief have set their eyes upon this Islamic nation.

Al-Qaeda calls for “liberation” of Kashmir

In the detailed statement issued by Al-Qaeda hours after the Taliban declared “full Independence” of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces, the terror group has called for the so-called liberation of regions such as Kashmir, Palestine, the Levant, Somalia and Yemen.

“0′ Allah! Liberate the Levant, Somalia, Yemen, Kashmir and the rest of the Islamic lands from the clutches of the enemies of Islam. 0’ Allah! Grant freedom to Muslim prisoners across the world”.

In the message, Al-Qaeda has said that the victory of the Taliban proved that the way of Jihad is the only way that leads to victory and empowerment.

The defeat of the “American Empire of Evil” is a “tremendous source of inspiration for the oppressed of the world”, read the statement offering Al-Qaeda’s congratulations to the Taliban leadership hours after the complete withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan.

The United States on Monday completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan. A US military C-17 carried the last American troops out of Afghanistan on Monday, marking the formal end of the longest war in US history. The final US withdrawal came ahead of the August 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden.

Why do real investors have hope in India even if ‘opinion writers’ don’t?

Abhishek Banerjee
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Why do real investors have hope in India even if ‘opinion writers’ don’t?

We have all heard of Neeraj Chopra, but how many have heard of Andy Mukherjee? In November 2020, Andy Mukherjee wrote an opinion piece in Bloomberg titled “Why I am losing hope in India.” The piece apparently led to a global rethink about India and even a headline in Scroll that ran “Why columnist Andy Mukherjee is losing hope in India…” Eventually, the Society of Publishers in Asia decided to give an award to this piece for “Excellence in Global Writing.”

What did Andy Mukherjee get from Indians in return for his grand intellectual contribution? Trolling, mostly. Is that how a nation should treat its op-ed heroes? Oh, and he also got this.

Bloomberg on Indian Economy

It’s called data. It’s not as valuable as opinion, but it’s better than nothing at all. And data is nothing unless you have the right people to interpret it. Take for instance Kaushik Basu, one of the most prominent economists on Twitter, and a professor at Cornell University.

Economist Kaushik Basu on WPI Inflation in August

How did WPI inflation go into double digits? Some would say base effect. For example, in May 2021, WPI inflation surged to +12.94% because it used to be (-)3.37% in the same month in 2020. But Kaushik Basu knows better than to believe in myths such as “base effect.” Except when he does. That’s why he sees it only as double digit inflation. But wait. Doesn’t he also mention low growth? How can GDP growth expected to be around 20% still be considered low? Haven’t you heard of base effect?

You can’t fool Kaushik Basu. He is too clever by half.

But one problem remains. Real investors continue to invest real money in India. In the most recent quarter, it was $22.5 billion.

India’s investment in Q1

As for FDI equity inflows in Apr-Jun 2021, that was up by 168 percent. In case Kaushik Basu is having difficulty counting, that’s triple digit growth.

In the same quarter last year, FDI in India did decrease significantly. But in the remaining quarters of 2020, it rose drastically, so that India’s total FDI in 2020 was up by 13%. This made India one of just two major economies to actually see FDI growth in 2020. The other was China, which saw 4%.

Somehow the pandits know something that the real investors just don’t seem to get. India’s economy is collapsing. It was collapsing even before the pandemic struck. And the blame goes to one man: Narendra Modi.

Bloomberg on India in September 2019

That came out in Sep 2019, when India’s stock market was in steep decline. But since then, the same market has seen a phenomenal rise. The BSE Sensex stood over the 57,000 mark yesterday. So where is the screaming headline giving credit to “Narendra Modi’s India”? And why did the global investors not listen to the pandits since 2019? Who are we supposed to question, the investors or the pandits?

Event management, the intellectuals say. They say PM Modi is the best event manager ever. But it has been like three years now since the opinion pages of the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have been filled with articles explaining just how bad the Indian economy is. Then there are interviews, tweets, Instagram posts and Indian liberal portals that made this point repeatedly. Last year, when the pandemic struck, they said there is no chance of a V-shaped recovery. This year, they say there is no chance of another V-shaped recovery. Eventually, they are bound to get something right. Why won’t investors bet their fortunes on that?

If I may dare, let me suggest something to the pandit class. It might help them reach out to those who are engaged in creating wealth and other activities of a less exalted, more proletarian nature. How about a bit of self-reflection? You have been running down India’s economy endlessly for three years now. But investors are not listening. They are voting with their feet and their wallets. There was a time when they used to take you seriously. Now they don’t. How much longer before you become completely irrelevant?

Yes, you still have prestige. You can take a two bit troll comedian from India, get him published in the New York Times and turn him into an intellectual overnight.

But the pushback is building. On the economy, on covid management and everything else. You have been campaigning relentlessly for India to beg the world for vaccines. That didn’t happen. Yesterday, India vaccinated over 13 million people. A few days ago, we vaccinated over 10 million people in a single day. At this, a major newspaper came up with an editorial complaining about lack of “consistency.” Yes, you are a joke.

How long are you going to run on empty? Your obsession with bad-mouthing India is hurting your brand. Don’t worry about the Indian liberal outlets. They lost their reputations a long time ago. An article in an Indian liberal outlet bashing Modi is now almost a joke in itself. I am willing to bet their biggest audience is now Modi supporters reading as they say, for the lulz. Indian liberal rejects have therefore headed for global outlets to peddle their opinions. Do yourselves a favor and don’t feed these rejects. They have destroyed the reputation of Indian liberal media. And now they are out to ruin yours.

And remember one thing. The day your prestige runs out, the money does too. If nothing else, the Chinese are canny with doing business. So, going forward, don’t count on Huwaei to sponsor articles on the greatness of Kerala model.

‘Taliban’ accounts mock USA and western culture with Pepe the Frog and other ‘edgy’ memes

OpIndia Staff
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‘Taliban’ accounts mock USA and western culture with Pepe the Frog and other ‘edgy’ memes

If people had any doubt that 2021 could get even crazier, then it is safe to say that Qasr Bakhaly of the Taliban has safely dispelled any such notions. After the end of the 20 year US occupation of Afghanistan, the Taliban is mocking the United States with memes of Pepe the Frog and other memes.

Although the authenticity of the account could not be confirmed, its following and followers list does appear to suggest that the account does belong to a Taliban member. There also appears to be consensus among journalists on the social media platform that it is indeed a Taliban account.

The account posting Pepe the Frog memes

The account posted a meme that showed a based Taliban Pepe. Rainbow flags pasted on the walls of the US Embassy were burning, which indicates their stance towards LGBT Rights. The meme also shows US citizens running helter-skelter to escape from the top of the roof while mocking the death of Afghan civilians who died after falling off a US aircraft after take off.

Taliban mocks USA with Pepe the Frog memes

Another meme shared by the same account asserts rather proudly that they are going to stone people to death.

Taliban is sharing ‘edgy memes’

It was not the only Taliban account mocking the USA and the West with what are considered ‘based memes’. Another account, with the username @MalangKhostay with over 25,000 followers on the platform, shared ‘Wojak’ memes to mock western culture.

The Jihadist outfit mocks the western culture of sexual liberation

One account targeted France as well with a ‘Chad’ meme.

A ‘Chad’ meme

We cannot confirm whether these are authentic Taliban accounts but people on Twitter, including journalists, believe that these are accounts actually operated by members of the Jihadist outfit.

Malang Khostay called Qaser Bakhaly a friend in one of his tweets.

It is hard to say what is real and what is not anymore. Although these accounts could very well be impostors, on the face of it, it does appear that these are authentic Taliban accounts. Memes have been flooding the internet since the USA’s unceremonious exit from the country and it does appear that the Jihadist outfit has decided to participate in the ‘meme wars’ as well.

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