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Jackie Chan expresses desire to join China’s Communist Party, gets ‘rejected’ by Chinese people on social media

OpIndia Staff
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Jackie Chan expresses desire to join China’s Communist Party, gets ‘rejected’ by Chinese people on social media

Martial arts legend and Hong Kong-based Hollywood actor Jackie Chan has expressed his admiration for and desire to join the Chinese Communist Party. 

As per a report in SCMP, Chan praised the ruling Communist Party and expressed his interest to join the party at a symposium organized by the China Film Association in Beijing last Thursday.

In a video published by M Video News, an outlet under state broadcaster Central China Television, Chan while addressing the audience was heard saying that when he’s abroad, he often says that he’s “proud of being Chinese”.

“I also envy that you are Communist Party members, I think the Communist Party is just great, what the Communist Party says, what they promised, will always be delivered within a few decades,” he said further.

Concluding his speech, Chan said with a smile “I want to be a Communist Party member, thank you.”

Chan’s pro-communist statements have stirred multiple controversies. The 67-year-old actor is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a legislative advisory body in Beijing that is largely made up of members of the Communist Party. 

CCP not welcoming Chan

Chan’s Beijing loyalist views have had no effect on the Chinese people. His comment expressing his desire to join the CCP was mocked on Weibo, with users saying he’s unworthy of a CCP membership.

“I have no doubt over his patriotism and professionalism, but his lifestyle … our party members need to set a positive example,” a user wrote.

Another opined, “He’s probably not serious, he’s just acting on different occasions.”

The criticism is mostly due to Chan’s controversial personal life hinting at his previous extramarital affair, and his son Jaycee Chan’s drug offense and six months of jail time on the mainland.

Chan’s fan unhappy with his support to the CCP

On the other hand, Chan’s fans have shown utter disappointment in him for supporting the communist party, as per the report in SCMP. Some have asked for a boycott of Chan’s movie, while some other have expressed that they are disappointed about the behavior of their favorite star.

Anti-democracy statements

In 2019 calling the condition of Hong Kong ‘sad and depressing’, Chan said he hoped Hong Kong “can return to peace soon”.

Expressing his concerns over ‘too much freedom’, Chan in 2009 had said, “I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. I’m really confused now. If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also very chaotic.”

Congress mouthpiece Editorial Consultant is upset at ‘friendly’ fact-checkers. Here is why

OpIndia Staff
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Congress mouthpiece Editorial Consultant is upset at ‘friendly’ fact-checkers. Here is why

Editorial Consultant of Congress mouthpiece National Herald, Sanjukta Basu, on Wednesday criticised so-called independent fact-checkers who regularly fact-check memes after a meme with her picture on it was fact-checked.

Sanjukta Basu’s tweet

In a tweet, she expressed disappointment that ‘independent’ fact-checkers, like Boom and Congress-friendly fact-checkers like Alt News did not bother to fact-check her tweet on Mayawati which had gone viral where in she appeared to be mocking Mayawati.

Her disappointment came after Jagran Publication’s fact-checking portal Vishvas news fact-checked a meme which contained her image.

Vishvas News had ‘fact-checked’ a meme which showed Basu with a glass of wine and food in front of her with a caption that read ‘Meet the JNU’s poor student who has taken subsidy’.

As part of its investigation, Vishvas News said that they reverse-image searched Basu and found her Twitter account which is verified by Twitter. They then shared another image of Basu juxtaposed with the viral image to show that the two images are indeed of same person, i.e. Sanjukta Basu.

Vishvas News’ investigation on Basu

Vishvas News then said that they confirmed with Basu that she is not a student studying in JNU. They said that while Basu has claimed she is pursuing PhD on ‘Women’s political space’, she has not mentioned which university she is studying it from.

Soon after a meme containing her picture was fact-checked, many people from the Congress-left ecosystem came out in support of Sanjukta and found fault with propaganda outlets like Alt News, which otherwise have helped Congress party through their ‘fact-checks’.

Users supporting Basu

Although a quick check of ‘Proudcommunist’s Twitter profile suggested that it could be a meme account itself and not really a ‘proud communist’ as the name proclaims, in today’s day and age of wokeness, one can never be too sure what is parody and what is real.

However, even though Sanjukta thought that the fact-check by the website run by Jagran group would cause an end to her featuring in memes, looks like it has given rise to another meme, which might require another fact-check.

Netizens are now wondering where Basu is now doing her ‘Women’s Political Space’ PhD from.

However, Basu, after this meme containing her image and incorrect claim of her being poor student on subsidy studying at JNU was fact-checked, she addressed her grievances with other ‘friendly’ fact-checkers which did not pay heed to her previous request to ‘fact-check’ claims on her.

Basu’s tweets on Mayawati drew ire

In May this year, Basu’s earlier tweets from over a decade ago had gone viral where she appeared to be making fun of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.

Sanjukta’s tweet on Mayawati from 2009

In a June 2009 tweet, Basu had tweeted that Mayawati may be single as no ‘elephant is ready to screw her’. In May, many Twitter activists who tweet on ‘Pro-Dalit’ causes, had discovered old tweets of various celebrities mocking Mayawati and threatened them with legal action. Basu was one such celebrities whose tweet made rounds. However, she claimed her tweet was sarcastic on the trending hashtag.

Basu’s grievances with Congress-friendly ‘fact-checkers’

Basu alleged that Boom and Alt News did not fact-check tweets against her on Mayawati tweets because the ones attacking her were ‘left liberal Dalit activists’ whom these ‘friendly fact-checkers’ could not call out. She showed that while Boom at least responded, Alt News ignored her plea.

This is not the first time she has reached out to ‘fact-checkers’ who have not helped her out with fact-checking inconvenient fact-checks.

In May 2020, Basu was flummoxed when she found out that the entire process of Halal slaughter must ensure that only a person belonging to Islam faith can carry it out. That for meat to be ‘halal’, entire process from slaughter to packing must include only a Muslim person.

For example, the guidelines for preparing Halal certified meat make it abundantly clear that only Muslim employees are allowed to participate in the entire process at every stage from slaughtering to packaging, and if any non-Muslim is involved in the process, the product becomes Haram, or not allowed as per Islam.

But of course, ‘fact-checkers’ did not ‘fact-check’ it even back then.

However, ‘friendly’ fact-checkers have recently jumped in quite often to lowkey help Congress and Aam Aadmi Party to defend themselves.

Rajasthan: Gehlot govt to demolish heritage hotel Laxmi Vilas to build a Rs 100 crore Gandhi museum

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Gehlot govt to demolish heritage hotel Laxmi Vilas to build a Rs 100 crore Gandhi museum

The Rajasthan government is set to demolish the historic Laxmi Vilas Hotel for constructing the Rs 100-crore Mahatma Gandhi museum project despite facing protests. As per a Times of India report, the government has called for tenders to demolish the structure surrounded by the ecological zone, built during the tenure of Sawai Man Singh II, the last ruler of Jaipur. 

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced the construction of the Gandhi Darshan Museum and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences project in the 2021-2022 Budget on land situated inside Central Park.

However, the decision to raze the heritage hotel that houses 40 palatial rooms has not gone well with environmentalists and the opposition. 

A member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur and currently Rajsamand MP, Diya Kumari remarked, “It has come to my knowledge that the state government was planning to demolish the hotel located in Central Park. The building has historic and heritage value. To my mind, such a structure should not be demolished. If a museum or an institute has to be made, it should be done within the same building.”

Additionally, activists who have been fighting a case for the past 20 years to preserve the ecological park have also taken strong objection. Yogesh Yadav, the president of the Central Park Bachao Sangharsh Samiti revealed, “The land was acquired for public utility and not for a multi-crore rupee project. It’s an ecological and no-construction zone and a violation of Supreme Court orders. For the past 20 years, we are fighting to maintain the sanctity of this green zone. The government, however, is coming up with fancy projects to benefit the influential. We will approach the court again.”

As per the report, the Jaipur Development Authority had taken possession of the hotel, Kanak Bhawan and a horse stable at Central Park spread across nearly 35,000 sqm following a Supreme Court order on May 5, 2017.

The environmental activists, however, allege that the JDA has been making use of the land as per their whims and fancies with complete disregard to orders. 

Speaking about the change in power, a senior official said, “When the BJP government was in power, a proposal was received to dedicate the building for public use and a yoga or wellbeing centre be developed for morning walkers.”

Commenting on the demolition of the heritage hotel, a JDA official said, “The last date for submission of expression of interest is July 15. The firm winning the contract can take away the materials after dismantling the structure. Soon, the authority will appoint an architectural and engineering consultant based on quality and cost-based selection system (QCBS).”

Surrounded by greenery and jogging tracks, a golf course, a polo ground, Lakshmi Vilas hotel has been a popular tourist destination from the time it was converted to a heritage hotel in the early 1970s.

UP: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind comes to the rescue of Al-Qaeda terror suspects nabbed by ATS, decides to provide legal aid

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind comes to the rescue of Al-Qaeda terror suspects nabbed by ATS, decides to provide legal aid

Deoband-based Islamic organization Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has decided to come to the rescue of recently arrested alleged Al-Qaeda terrorists in Uttar Pradesh. The organization has declared that it would provide legal assistance to the two terror suspects.

According to the reports, Maulana Arshad Madani, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, announced legal aid for suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists who were recently arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police.

“The process of using terrorism as a weapon to destroy the lives of Muslim youth continues. Our legal struggle will continue till the honorable release of innocent Muslims,” said Maulana Arshad Madani, who is also the chief of Darul Uloom Deoband. Maulana Madani also claimed that the police and investigative agencies carry out operations against Muslims based on their religion and claimed that they would take the legal battle to a logical end.

The cleric also demanded that the case should be heard by a fast-track court, so that the trial could be completed soon. “If they (terror suspects) are really guilty, they should be punished, or they should be released if proven innocent,” said Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief.

As per reports, the father of one of the arrested terror suspects had written a letter to Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind seeking legal aid. As a result, Gulzar Azmi, the president of the Legal aid Committee of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, decided to provide legal assistance to the two terror suspects arrested by the Uttar Pradesh ATS.

According to a report by Amar Ujala, Jamiat’s advocate Furkan Khan will represent the two Al-Qaeda terror suspects in the court. Gulzar Azmi also added that senior advocate Muhammad Shoaib had also requested Jamiat Ulema to provide legal assistance to the terror accused. 

Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests five terror suspects linked to Al-Qaeda

Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested two terror suspects – Minhaz Ahmed and Maseerurddin hiding in a house in Kakori’s Dubagga area and seized a detonator, six-seven kgs of explosives and two pressure-cooker bombs.

According to the police, the two suspects were in touch with their handlers in Pakistan. They reportedly planned to execute explosions, including using “human bombs”, at several places in Uttar Pradesh. A primary investigation revealed that the two were planning to target a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and several other senior party members in Lucknow.

A few days later, the Uttar Pradesh ATS nabbed three more terror suspects linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a Kashmiri wing of Al-Qaeda. The arrests were made after the previous two arrested terror suspects revealed the names of their accomplices during the interrogation. 

The Uttar Pradesh ATS had arrested – Shakeel (35), Mohammed Mustakim (44) and Mohammed Mueed (29), who confessed to their crimes.

The Uttar Pradesh police had said the members of this terror racket belong to several other cities besides Lucknow, including Kanpur. Raids were conducted at different places to apprehend associates of Al-Qaeda suspects Ahmed and Naseeruddin, the ADGP had said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav cast asphersions on anti-terror operations of UP ATS

Earlier, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had courted a controversy after he had raised aspersions and fuelled doubts about the Yogi government’s anti-terror crackdown. 

Reacting to the arrests of two youths from Kakori, the SP supremo had said, “I can’t trust the actions of the Uttar Pradesh police and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state.

Tamil Nadu: Church in Kanyakumari raided for running a sex racket, pastor and 6 others arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Church in Kanyakumari raided for running a sex racket, pastor and 6 others arrested

The Tamil Nadu police have arrested seven people, including a pastor named Lal NS Shine Singh and four women, for running a sex racket under cover of a church, reports Communemag.

According to the reports, the Federal Church of India, affiliated with the Diocese of Christ Anglican Church of India, located at Jyothi Nagar in ST Mangadu in Kanyakumari district, was raided by Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday. The police had received information that several men and women frequently visited the Church premises in luxury cars.

Reportedly, the Federal Church of India is one of the largest Churches in the Kanyakumari area. Bishop Lal N S Shine Singh is the founder and president of this Church. The initial investigation had revealed that the Church authorities had used the premises to run a brothel. Following the inputs, the police raided the church premises and caught several women and men red-handed.

One of the arrested ladies was a 19-year-old girl who was forced into sex work by her own mother, as per reports.

The police have arrested seven people, including four women, and pastor Lal N S Shine Singh has also been taken to custody. During the interrogation, Pastor Lal Shine Singh and another person named Shibin admitted that they were involved in running a sex racket.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu police have registered a case against the pastor and six others with the Nithiravilai police.

South Africa continues to burn, over 8000 crore rupees worth of properties looted or damaged in Durban alone

OpIndia Staff
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South Africa continues to burn, over 8000 crore rupees worth of properties looted or damaged in Durban alone

As violent protests, riots, and arson engulf South Africa, the city of Durban has been witnessing an unprecedented amount of damages caused due to continuous looting and rioting.

According to eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, around 45,000 businesses have been deemed out of commission, and it is estimated that properties worth R16 billion (around 8225 crores) have been looted or destroyed during the riots that include damage to infrastructure and equipment.

Kaunda said, “Preliminary estimate of the economic impact revealed that the unrest had cost R1 billion in terms of loss of stock and around R15 billion in terms of damage to property and equipment.” He further added that around 45,000 businesses that include 5,000 informal traders have been severely affected by the riots. “Small businesses may never recover from this upheaval,” he said. 

According to some estimates, over 1,29,000 jobs are at risk in Durban as malls, factories, and certain industries have been burnt down to ashes. A large portion of workers were dependent on these establishments, and it will now add to the already skyrocketing unemployment figures in the country.

Schools burnt down

The rioters have not spared the schools as well. Radha Roopsingh School outside Stanger, KZN, has been burnt down. A video emerged on social media networks where firefighters could be seen dozing off the fire.

Warehouses looted

In another video, a warehouse of Bidvest Logistics was under attack by the rioters and looters. Notably, Bidvest Logistics is one of the largest logistics companies and provides logistical and supply chain solutions to the hospitality and restaurant sector in the UK.

‘It could be very well a scene from a movie

In another video, a large mob of rioters was seen moving towards the police guarding the road. The Twitter user who posted the video said, “This could’ve been a deleted scene from Dawn of the Dead.”

‘Famine is imminent’

Many believe that such destruction will lead to famine in the country. In another visual, gallons of milk was emptied from the container trucks onto the road as the depots that were supposed to take them in were destroyed by the rioters. The damage to the infrastructure is going to overwhelm the government of South Africa in the coming days.

Business owners indulge in all possible tactics to save their establishments

In another set of visuals, the shop and mall owners were seen spreading oil on the floor to restrict rioters and looters from damaging and looting the premises. However, other than a few falling on the floor, it did not stop the rioters from causing the damage.

Indians came out to provide food

Despite the continuous attack on the Indian community, the Indians came out to hand over bread to anyone who needs it.

The South Africa Riots

Last week, former President Jacob Zuma got arrested that irked his followers. They started protesting on the streets that soon turned violent. Protests got converted into arson, looting, and other criminal activities. Despite the government’s announcement of the deployment of SA National Defence Forces, the arson and looting continued on July 13 and July 14.

The country is also facing racing tension as residents have armed themselves to save their community and business establishments from the looters and vandals. In his statement, Kaunda said, “This morning we have committed to further engage with committees, and this will be a month-long programme that the city will be rolling out in an attempt to defuse the simmering racial tension in these communities, which have been living together for many years.”

So far, 75 have reportedly died, but the actual figures might be much higher.

Pakistani minister opposes restrictions on the religious conversion of minors, says ‘it’s their choice’

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani minister opposes restrictions on the religious conversion of minors, says ‘it’s their choice’

The Imran Khan-led Pakistan government has opposed the idea of imposing strict restrictions against converting people less than 18 years of age, claiming that if someone aged 14 years intends to convert to some other religion, they could “not be stopped”, reports Dawn.

According to the reports, Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs – Noorul Haq Qadri, has rejected the proposition to impose strict rules against converting religion before the age of 18 years.

During a meeting of the Senate parliamentary committee on minorities’ rights on Wednesday, Noorul Haq Qadri said the government does not support a restriction on religious conversion before 18 years of age. Qadri, who is also a member of the committee, said that there were several incidents when someone expressed their wish to convert their religion out of their own choice before the age of 18.

“There are several examples in Islam of religious conversion before 18. If someone wished to change their religion before reaching the age of 18, it was their choice, Qadri said, adding that the matter of child marriages was “another issue”.

The Minister for Religious Affairs said that the matter related to setting the minimum age limit for marriage has been forwarded to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). Qadri said that they would carry out investigations if someone was “forcefully converting others in Sindh”.

In the meeting, Minister Qadri also said Mian Abdul Haq, commonly known as Mian Mithoo, who is notoriously known for the forceful abductions and conversions of Hindu girls in rural Sindh, should be summoned to appear before the committee and said that what he was doing was “damaging Islam and Pakistan”.

Mian Abdul Haq, the chief of the Bharchundi mosque who is commonly known as Mian Mithoo, is accused of systematically carrying out the kidnapping and forced conversions of underage Hindu girls in the area. Mian Mithoo belongs to an influential family in the Sindh province and is an influential political and religious figure in Ghotki, Sindh.

The minority Hindus of the area claim that Mithoo protects those who kidnap underage Hindu girls and forcibly converts them to Islam before marrying them off to their kidnappers. Further, he also wields his political power to influence legal processes in case the families of kidnapped girls decide to go to court.

Mian Mithoo and the rampant kidnapping, forced conversion and marriage of underage Hindu girls

Mian Mithoo is accused of kidnapping and forcing religious conversions of several Hindu teenage girls in Pakistan. In May 2020, a young Hindu girl named Kavita Kumari was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. Mian Mithoo, the extremist Muslim cleric and an influential politician that Hindu families dread in Sindh, was believed to be behind the incident.

This is, however, not the first incident where the ‘Mithoo mafia’, as the Mian Mithoo’s goons are commonly referred to, has been instrumental in carrying out abductions and forced conversions of several Hindu underage girls in the area. Prior to this, he was accused of abductions, and forceful conversions of one Hindu named Mahek Keswani and two other underage Hindu girls Raveena (13) and Reena (15) – who were abducted from the Ghotki in Pakistan’s Sindh on the eve of Holi. The girls were later forcefully converted and married off to older Muslim men.

Similarly, Rinkle Kumari was abducted and forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man named Naveed Shah under his supervision. Rinkle Kumari, the daughter of a local school teacher Nand Laal, was a mere teenager at the time of her abduction. Nand Laal had allegedly fled to Lahore soon after accusing Mian Mithoo of the abduction and forced conversion.

The government and police of the region is often accused of turning mute spectators, even enablers of such crimes.

Pakistan is notoriously known for its persecution of not only religious minorities but also ethnic minorities within their own country. The forceful conversion programmes have often been unleashed against the minorities, especially Christians, Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan, with utmost brutality.

Bangladesh to lift strictest ever lockdown for Eid despite surge in Covid-19 cases

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh to lift strictest ever lockdown for Eid despite surge in Covid-19 cases

Bangladesh on Wednesday lifted its nationwide coronavirus lockdown to prepare for the second-biggest religious festival of Eid al-Adha despite a surge in Covid-19 cases. The festival will be celebrated from July 20 to 22 this year after which the country will go back into a strict lockdown. 

The restrictions in the Muslim-majority country with a population of 169 million people were eased from 6 am on July 14 to enable pre-Eid business and trade, allow homebound journeys and purchase of sacrificial cattle.

The decision to withdraw the restrictions for an interim period was formally announced through a notification by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday. The notification justifying the need for a temporary unlock read, “(the decision has been taken) considering the socio-economic condition and the need to maintain normal economic activity.”

However, strict orders have been given to follow the appropriate health protocols and Covid behavior like wearing masks. 

During the temporary unlock public transports will ply on a limited scale, shops, stores and malls will be allowed to open on the condition of maintaining health guidelines and cattle markets will be operational across the country.

Bangladesh had imposed its strictest-ever lockdown on July 01 as new Covid-19 cases and deaths witnessed a surge. The government has announced a similar lockdown post the breather with factories, industries, shops and private offices shutting once again. 

“If needed army should be deployed” says virologist

A virologist on the national Covid advisory panel Prof Dr Nazrul Islam expressed his concerns over the exodus of people from Dhaka to travel back home. “But if public transports are operational, the crowd will be less as opposed to what we have seen during previous lockdowns ahead of the festivals when hundreds of thousands leave the city either way,” he remarked.

“The risk of contagion can be minimized if transport operators follow health protocol. Moreover, the risk of infection through the cattle markets can be avoided, if health rules are followed. If needed, the army should be deployed in the cattle markets,” he added.

Mohammad Shahidullah, who heads an advisory health committee to the government on handling the Covid crisis, informed that his group of experts opposed the easing of the lockdown.

“The committee opines that this strict lockdown should be continued till there is a declining trend in infections,” Shahidullah told AFP.

“Amid the lockdown, there is an increasing trend of infections and fatalities. The infection level is still very high,” he added.

There are also fears that the markets could become the new super-spreaders.  

Surge in infections

Bangladesh on Tuesday recorded over 12000 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to just over one million.

While the official death toll has risen above 16,600, experts say the real figures could be much higher amid fears of underreporting.

China threatens to nuke Japan non-stop if it tries to defend Taiwan, says it is making an ‘exception’ in the no first use policy for Japan

OpIndia Staff
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China threatens to nuke Japan non-stop if it tries to defend Taiwan, says it is making an ‘exception’ in the no first use policy for Japan

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has threatened that it will nuke Japan if the country defends Taiwan. In a video uploaded to Xigua Video, a Chinese online video-sharing platform, China has said that if Japan ‘dares to intervene when it decides to ‘liberate’ Taiwan, it will launch a full-fledged war against Japan, starting with attacks with nuclear bombs.

In the video uploaded on a Chinese Military channel named Liu Jun Tao Lue (roughly means “Military strategies”) on the platform, the CCP said that even if Japan deploys only one soldier, one plane and one ship in support of Taiwan, it will not respond with equal measure, but instead will start a full-scale war against Japan. ‘We will use nuclear bombs first, we will use nuclear bombs continuously until Japan declares unconditional surrender for the second time’. By ‘second time’, the CCP referred to the surrender of Japan to the allied forces after the nuclear bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

The video was spotted by Chinese-born human rights activist and author Jennifer Zeng, who posted it on Twitter and her blog. After she shared the details of the video, it was removed from Xigua. Jennifer Zeng shared the video along with English subtitles, based on which this report has been written.

The video added that they want to target Japan’s ability to endure a war. ‘As long as Japan realises it cannot afford to pay the price of war, it will not dare to send troops to the Taiwan Strait’, the CCP concluded in the video.

They said that after the first successful nuclear test by China in 1964, they had promised that they will not nuclear bomb against non-nuclear countries, and they will not use it first. However, in the current situation, a need to change this policy has arisen. Therefore, they have decided to make a ‘minor adjustment’ in this policy, which is the ‘Japan Exception’ theory.

CCP said that several times in the past Japan had tried to harm the interests of China, therefore if a war breaks out between China and Japan, China will take revenges for both current and past ‘crimes’ of Japan. It said that Japan is the only country to be hit by atomic bomb, and has a deep memory of the affects of atomic bomb attacks. ‘And it takes the United States, which nuked it, lying down. It is exactly because Japan has such a unique feeling that nuclear deterrence against Japan will get twice the result with half the effort,’ the video said.

Saying that by singling out Japan as an “exception”, by ignoring the policy of no first use of nukes, CCP said that it is warning Japan and informing the world that if Japan interferes militarily in China’s domestic affairs, including the unification of Taiwan by the mainland, nuclear weapons will surely be used against Japan, and will be used continuously until its unconditional surrender. There will be no peace talks in the meantime, the CCP emphasized.

They also added that they will take back the Diaoyu Islands and the Ryukyu Islands. ‘We will either manage them or let them be independent,’ the video said.

‘Don’t throw me into the streets’: Sister Lucy Kalapurra argues her own case in Kerala HC challenging her eviction from convent

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t throw me into the streets’: Sister Lucy Kalapurra argues her own case in Kerala HC challenging her eviction from convent

With no advocate ready to represent her, sister Lucy Kalapurra became the first nun to argue her own case before the court. Kalapurra attended the virtual hearing at the Kerala High Court and argued her expulsion from the Franciscan Clarist Convent (FCC) in Karakkamala.

Challenging the congregation’s expulsion order, Kalapurra resolutely said: “I have served the congregation for more than 39 years and I have not done anything wrong. I have not led a life against the values of the Church. They cannot just throw me out. I have faith in the judicial system, so I decided to argue my case as party-in-person.”

Sister Lucy had been expelled from the convent after she levelled allegations of immorality against the Vicar and the Mother Superior of the Church. Despite her repeated requests that she be allowed to continue residing at the convent, the Court declined the same, saying that police protection can only be granted if she vacates the convent.

Sister Lucy also submitted before the Court that she had no place to go if she was forced to vacate the convent.

“I am a woman, a nun fighting for justice. It is important for my nunship that I continue to stay at this convent. I have been a nun for the past 39 years, do not throw me into the streets. I have nowhere else to go,” she argued.

When the court insisted that police protection may not be granted if she continued to stay at the convent, sister Kalapurra responded that the court may withdraw the protection if it deems fit, but may not ask her to vacate the convent. The petitioner said she had filed a case before a Munsiff court against the eviction notice issued against her and sought permission to stay till the disposal of her suit by the civil court.

Sister Lucy Kalapurra argues her own case before the Kerala HC

“This is my first time appearing before the Court. I had applied for police protection one year ago. The hearing for the same took place recently, and I was granted protection by the Court. There are currently proceedings going on to evict me from the convent. I am challenging this because it is unfair. In that regard, I have filed a complaint before the civil court in 2019 and I have an injunction order in my favour,” a report by Live Law quoted Kalappura as saying.

Sister Lucy Kalapurra came under the spotlight for openly protesting against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun. Earlier last month, the supreme appellate authority of the Catholic Church at the Vatican had rejected her appeal against expulsion from her congregation.

Kalapurra said her decision to represent herself came after her lawyer relinquished his role in a petition where she had sought police protection. She reached out to many advocates after the relinquishment, but none of them showed interest in representing her in the court.

Sister Lucy was dismissed from Church by the Vatican for writing poems, driving a car

Days after the dismissal of Sister Lucy Kalapura from the Franciscan Christ Congregation (FCC), an exclusive report by The Times of India revealed that she was removed by the Vatican over frivolous charges. Sister Lucy had supported the nun, who accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal in a rape case. And this drew the ire of the Apostolica Signatura, the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church.

The former nun had joined the FCC at the tender age of 17. According to the Church, she has committed a long list of ‘crimes.’ It includes buying a car and publishing poems without permission. Despite being served a summons for supposedly breaking her ‘vows’, Sister Lucy remained undeterred. In an act of defiance, she shed her nun’s habit for a salwar kurta. Pointing out the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church, she said priests were allowed to wear normal attire, unlike the nuns.

The Vatican was also miffed after the former nun wrote a memoir, hinting at sexual abuse with the Church clergy. Sister Lucy had sought permission to buy a car but it was turned down. She however went ahead to purchase a white Alto and learnt driving from a woman, who ran a driving school. “Sisters travel day and night in hired cars with male drivers. Wouldn’t it be safer for nuns to drive?” Sister Lucy had argued.

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