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Pakistan appoints new chief for CPEC affairs, said to be a China-favourite

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan appoints new chief for CPEC affairs, said to be a China-favourite

Pakistan on August 03 ousted Asim Saleem Bajwa, a retired army general and replaced him with Khalid Mansoor as the new head of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Pakistan component of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The move is being seen as an attempt by Pakistan to appease China as Mansoor is reportedly a favourite of Beijing. 

Welcoming Mansoor in his new position, Pakistan’s Planning Minister Asad Umar Tweeted, “I welcome Khalid Mansoor to the team as SAPM for CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) affairs. His vast corporate experience, with extensive work with Chinese companies and his direct involvement in leading some of the biggest CPEC projects makes him an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC.”

As per a Nikkei Asia report, Mansoor in his 32-years of career has worked at top management positions in many energy-related companies including Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company and Hub Power Company Limited, the latter of which has been involved in CPEC projects. 

China was unhappy with delays

Reports suggest that the change of chief was because of Beijing’s displeasure at the slow progress of CPEC projects in the country. A number of projects under the CPEC, including those in the power sector, are currently facing delays leading to discontentment.

The multi-billion-dollar economic cooperation projection has not been able to complete the projects over the last three years including the five energy projects. Energy projects form the single largest component of CPEC.

Since Bajwa assumed office as CPEC authority chairman, the apex body (chaired by both Pakistan and China jointly to take decisions regarding the project) had held no meetings. 

China’s favorite man on the job

Reportedly, an official working with the Pakistan government revealed that even though Bajwa had developed a good working relationship with China, Beijing wanted someone in the job who was more familiar with Chinese companies and working culture.

“Khalid Mansoor, who has worked with many Chinese companies including directly leading CPEC projects, fits the bill as China’s favourite man for the job,” said the official.

China’s upper hand in CPEC

The move has been objected to by certain business communities in Pakistan who felt Bajwa was doing a splendid job and had a great grip on the matter. Meanwhile, some experts see this as giving an upper hand to China in the CPEC project and letting it dictate terms to Pakistan. 

This change in leadership also comes after nine Chinese engineers were killed in a bomb attack on a convoy transporting Chinese personnel to the Dasu Hydropower project in Pakistan’s Kohistan district last month.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the most ambitious projects of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. The project was announced with great fanfare in 2015 and was said to be a ‘gamechanger’ for Pakistan’s economy. 

‘The answer to almost every question about China is India’: Ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott heaves praises on PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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‘The answer to almost every question about China is India’: Ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott heaves praises on PM Modi

On Monday (August 9), former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott emphasised how India can become the democratic superpower that can substitute the ‘belligerent China.’

In an article in The Australian, he remarked, “With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible.” Abbott pointed out the significance of a ‘swift deal’ between India and Australia and how it can bring prosperity for both nations. He added that such a deal can be a signal to other democratic countries to ’tilt away from China’.

Tony Abbott conceded that his assumptions about China in 2014 turned out to be wrong and that it had been using trade as a ‘strategic weapon.’ He believed that inviting China into global trading networks would eventually lead to its political liberalisation. “…But the current capricious boycotts of Australian coal, barley, wine, and seafood show that, for the Beijing regime, trade is used as a strategic weapon,” he emphasised.

Screengrab of the article by Tony Abbott

The ex-Australian Prime Minister lamented how China took advantage of the ‘goodwill and wishful thinking’ of Western nations to steal their technology and undermine their industries. He conceded that the Communist nation has become more powerful than the erstwhile Soviet Union. He added, “The pandemic has put up in flashing neon lights the extent to which the world has become dependent on Chinese imports, including in critical supply chains, that can be turned on and off like a tap. But the answer to almost every question about China is India.”

“Although currently not as rich as China, as a democracy under the rule of law, and as the world’s second-largest producer of steel and pharmaceuticals, and with its own version of Silicon Valley, India is perfectly placed to substitute for China in global supply chains, Abbott concluded. He then went on to highlight the ‘natural partnership’ between the two nations. He pointed out, “Unlike others with India, we don’t have to live down a fraught history.”

He stated, “Our challenge is to overcome India’s traditional protectionism, and the tendency to see trade talks as a zero-sum game, in order to seal a deal that will make the world safer for democracy.” Abbott conceded that if the Australian businesses and officials made the same bilateral effort with India that they once made with China, then it could have helped establish a ‘family’ relationship.

Tony Abbott praises PM Modi for improving bilateral ties with Australia

The ex-Australian Prime Minister remarked, “India and Australia are like-minded democracies whose relationship had been under-developed, at least until Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister. Under Modi, India has revived the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, and the first in-person Quad summit is expected before the end of the year. Under Modi, India has invited Australia to join the annual Malabar naval exercises that will soon involve India, the US, Japan, Australia and also the UK’s visiting carrier strike group led by the Royal Navy’s new flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth.”

He added, “Australia could readily replace China as a key source of the rare earths and other strategic minerals that India will need, under PM Modi’s “Make in India” program, if it’s to replace China as a source of manufactured inputs at scale. With a spectacular infrastructure program now underway, as well as sweeping privatisation, India should be a place for Australian investment funds to secure long-term stable returns.”

Abbott was the Australian PM from 2013 to 2015.

Jharkhand police resorts to brute force and lathi charges class 12 girls for protesting, watch video

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand police resorts to brute force and lathi charges class 12 girls for protesting, watch video

A video of Jharkhand police lashing class 10 and 12 class women students has gone viral on social media. The incident is from August 06 when the students had gathered to protest before State Minister Banna Gupta over dissatisfaction with board results. The police as seen in the viral video had ordered a lathi charge to disperse the students.

Reportedly, the students were unhappy over the board examination results declared by the Jharkhand Academic Council and were demanding reconsideration over the results. The girls allegedly entered the hall where Gupta was chairing a meeting to register their protest. 

State Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto in an interview with the ANI said, “There’s a well-established procedure for reassessment. If any unsuccessful student wants to pass the exam, he/ she should approach the grievance cell.”

The video has attracted severe criticism on social media with many objecting to the brute force used by the police on the young girls. The BJP unit of Jharkhand too has demanded strong action from the state government. 

“The oppressive government of Jharkhand wants to suppress the voice of the people, yesterday’s lathi charge on girl students in Dhanbad is a shameful act. The public will answer them soon,” said BJP in a series of Tweets on the incident. 

Two girls fainted, four more injured

While two girls fainted after the lathi charge, as many as six of them sustained injuries. BJP state president from Ranchi Deepak Prakash condemned the lathi charge on the students. “The students are having tough times for two years now because of the pandemic. Instead of being compassionate, the government is letting its police take action against them. is shameful,” Prakash said.

Jeh? Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s second son shares his name with this Mughal emperor

OpIndia Staff
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Jeh? Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s second son shares his name with this Mughal emperor

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s second son’s name has finally been revealed, not by the parents directly, but in the book written by Kareena. The couple is yet to openly announce the name to the world, possibly to save themselves from the trolling they received last time for naming their firstborn child after a genocidal maniac and rapist who had invaded India to plunder and kill.

The name of the second kid is Jehangir, reports suggest.

Kareena’s father, veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, recently called the little one ‘Jeh’. The unforgiving social media went on speculating on what the name could be and ended up trolling the couple again. From Jehlaluddin to Aurangjeb and from Jehangir to made-up names, a lot of possible names were shared by social media users.

Kareena had her second baby back in February 2021. In April, she shared a picture of Saif and Taimur looking at the newborn but covered the face with a babyface emoji. The world is yet to see how the ‘new baby sensation’ in the B-Town looks like. The couple has so far avoided sharing his pictures or any details in public, unlike Taimur, who had all the limelight since the first day when he was born in 2016.

The name Jehangir, mainly spelt as Jahangir or Jangir, is of Persian origin. Jahan means the universe or the world. The name means “king of the world”. The Mughal emperor Jahangir was the son of Akbar and ruled the empire from 1605 AD to 1627 AD. He was responsible for the imprisonment and killing of the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

The name appeared in Kareena’s book

Kareena Kapoor Khan has become an author as her first book ‘Pregnancy Bible’ is out in the market. As per reports, in one of the photographs of the newborn shared in the book, she has used the name ‘Jehangir’ in the caption and not just Jeh. Though the couple has not announced it, the world knows the actual name of the second son of the star couple.

The controversy around Kareena’s book

A complaint was filed against Kareena over the title of her book. A Christian group, Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh, took strong objection to the title ‘Pregnancy Bible’ for containing the name of the holy book and filed a complaint against the actor turned author at a police station in Beed in Maharashtra. The group alleged in the complaint that the title hurt the religious sentiments of the Christians. Ashish Shinde, the president of Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh, submitted the complaint at Shivaji Nagar Police Station in Beed and sought action against the author on blasphemy charges.

‘Liberals’ use Neeraj Chopra’s disgruntled former coach Uwe Hohn to discredit Modi govt’s support to athletes: Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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‘Liberals’ use Neeraj Chopra’s disgruntled former coach Uwe Hohn to discredit Modi govt’s support to athletes: Here is the truth

On Saturday, Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra created history by becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics after finishing first in the Javelin throw event. The spectacular performance by Neeraj Chopra that got him a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics created a festive atmosphere across the country as proud Indians celebrated his win at the Olympics.

However, Neeraj’s victory did not bring cheer to a section of Indian “liberals”, who were quite agitated for the fact that the Olympic Gold Medalist was not only an avid supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also had defended the Modi government in the past.

To add salt to their injury, the old tweets of Neeraj Chopra, where he had congratulated Prime Minister Modi for his success in the 2019 election, surfaced, leaving the liberals red-faced. As expected, the liberals began to discredit Neeraj Chopra over his support for the current regime, and the angry liberals unleashed incendiary attacks on Neeraj Chopra by claiming that he was just another “Sanghi”.

Well, this did not stop there. The “liberals” stooped to yet another low during moments of national glory by dragging Neeraj Chopra’s disgruntled coach to not only discredit his gold medal but also to take potshots at the Modi government over its alleged ‘indifference’ towards sports.

On June 16, 2021, Indian Express had published an article in which it had claimed that India’s javelin coach Uwe Hohn had said that the country’s top sports organisations – Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) “did not do enough” to prepare athletes for the mega event. This article was published a month before the start of the Tokyo Olympics.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the 58-year-old former German athlete Uwe Hohn, who is the former coach of Neeraj Chopra, had claimed that the training for the Olympics was “unplanned” and diet was not fit for elite athletes. He also alleged that he was “blackmailed” into signing a contract he was not happy with.

The “liberals”, who were quite incensed at Neeraj Chopra, had now something to get back at him. Citing Hohn’s statements, several liberals took to Twitter to claim that the Indian government did not have any role to play in Neeraj Chopra’s success but instead had created roadblocks for athletes inhibiting them from performing to their strengths.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Rahul Mehra, who was perhaps upset with Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal, directed his anger against “AndhBhakts”. Discrediting the efforts of the Modi government, Mehra claimed that he had revealed the ugly side of SAI, AFI and the Indian government and asked the “AndhBhakts” to read what Neeraj Chopra’s alleged coach had to say about appalling facilities and preparation.

Raju Parulekar, an abusive troll with a history of peddling fake news, shared the same Indian Express article to take a dig at PM Modi.

Vidya Venkat, a self-proclaimed researcher, said she was shocked to read about Neeraj Chopra’s German coach, who had claimed that the government did not even supply adequate nutritional supplements to athletes.

Gargi Rawat, news anchor at NDTV, too, cited the statements of the disgruntled coach to peddle a false narrative against the Modi government, SFI and AFI that they did not provide enough support to the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist.

It appears that the liberals have now latched on to an out-of-context statement put out by Uwe Hohn to declare that the Modi government had no role whatsoever in the success of Neeraj Chopra in the Tokyo Olympics. Ironically, the liberals continue to peddle the same lies even as Neeraj Chopra has himself clarified that he had got the required support he needed from the government.

Interestingly, a day after Indian Express had published a hit job against the Indian government, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Neeraj Chopra had himself clarified that the government had supported him throughout his entire training.

In fact, Neeraj Chopra had thanked the Modi government for taking care of all his requirements ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. In addition, he had thanked the Indian government for its support during his training, especially in Europe, despite having tough visa rules.

Amusingly, even as Neeraj Chopra himself admits that he has received enough support from the government, the liberals are not yet mentally ready to accept that the Modi government had a substantial role to play in Neeraj Chopra’s recent success.

Was Uwe Hohn really the coach of Neeraj Chopra?

In fact, Uwe Hohn, who has now become some sort of hero for the liberals, did not even coach Neeraj Chopra ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Uwe Hohn, who is now spreading conspiracy theories against the Indian government, no longer trains Neeraj Chopra, as the athlete had parted ways with his German coach over performance issues two years back.

After Neeraj Chopra missed the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Doha, where he had lost the opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, he decided to part ways with Uwe Hohn and started training under bio-mechanics expert Klaus Bartonietz.

Klaus Bartonietz is a biomechanics expert from Germany and has been working with the Olympic gold medallist since 2018. Bartonietz took sole charge of Neeraj Chopra in 2019 after the 23-year-old refused to work with Hohn. Chopra had trained under Bartonietz in Europe leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, with additional support from the JSW Sports.

With Neeraj Chopra parting away with Uwe Hohn, the German coach stayed back in the country to train other athletes like Shivpal Singh, Annu Rani, Rajender Singh, Rohit Yadav and also Sahil Silwal. During his tenure as India’s Javelin coach, Uwe Hohn has been embroiled in several controversies, including allegations of unnecessary dominations over athletes.

Ahead of the Olympics, athletes Shivpal Singh and Annu Rani, two of the country’s top javelin throwers, had accused Uwe Hohn of training foreign athletes when the Indian team travels abroad for exposure tours. Annu Rani had also said that the German coach had an overbearing nature.

“He (Hohn) also trains some other foreign athletes when we are overseas, ignoring us,” the duo had said in a joint statement. “It was in 2019 when we were training in Poland. He is more interested in training abroad due to certain reasons,” Shivpal and Annu had revealed.

Annu Rani, who was training under Uwe Hohn, had decided against joining Hohn’s training sessions because of his working style.

“I have not trained with him due to his working style. I decided not to train under him early this year as he has an overbearing nature,” Annu Rani had said in June this year after Uwe Hohn had claimed that the Indian government was not actively supporting these athletes.

If one carefully sees the outburst of Indian athletes against Uwe Hohn, one can clearly say that Neeraj Chopra made a wise decision to part away with Uwe Hohn ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which may have acted as a contributing factor in winning a historic gold medal in the event. However, while Neeraj Chopra went ahead with preparations with active support from the government, Shivpal and Annu, who were stuck with Uwe Hohn, could not perform as expected. Maybe, if Shivpal and Annu had parted ways with Uwe Hohn and sought training under a different coach, they too could have attained their glory at the Olympics.

Indirect Tax Dept deletes tweet about hosting actress Taapsee Pannu, an accused in tax evasion case, to talk about ‘drug abuse’ in webinar

OpIndia Staff
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Indirect Tax Dept deletes tweet about hosting actress Taapsee Pannu, an accused in tax evasion case, to talk about ‘drug abuse’ in webinar

The Central Goods and Service Tax Department’s Delhi Zone on Monday hosted a webinar on ‘drug abuse’ as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’ (celebration of Independence) festival ahead of India’s Independence Day. In the said webinar, they had invited Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu as a ‘special guest’.

CGST Delhi Tweet

It is imperative to note here that Pannu herself is an accused in income tax evasion case. In March this year, the Income Tax Department had carried out raids at premises of Pannu and her colleague filmmaker Anurag Kashyap over unaccounted cash.

On March 3, The Income Tax department (IT dept) conducted raid on properties linked to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, actress Taapsee Pannu and others. The Income Tax department started carrying out raids on 22 locations on the properties linked to Kashyap, Pannu, Vikas Bahl, filmmaker Madhu Mantena and others in Mumbai, Pune and other locations. The raids were in connection to the allegation of tax evasion by Kashyap’s Phantom Films that was dissolved in 2018.

The Income Tax Department has said, “During the search, evidence of huge suppression of income by the leading Film Production house compared to the actual box office collections has been unearthed. The company officials have not been able to explain the discrepancy of around Rs. 300 crore. Evidence related to manipulation and under-valuation of share transactions of the production house amongst the film directors and shareholders, having tax implication of about Rs. 350 crore has been found and is being further investigated”.

The IT Department during the raids found cash receipts amounting to Rs 5 crores from the ‘leading actress’. Since we knew Taapsee Pannu was being raided, it stood to reason that the cash receipts were very likely recovered from Pannu.

Soon after the tweet was posted, many netizens took to Twitter to point out how Taaspee herself is an accused in a tax evasion case.

The CGST Delhi Zone Twitter account, however, has now deleted the tweet where it spoke about hosting Taapsee Pannu as a special guest. No explanation is given yet about deletion of tweet by the time of publishing this report.

Pakistan charges 8 year old Hindu child with blasphemy, could face death penalty, family goes into hiding fearing backlash

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan charges 8 year old Hindu child with blasphemy, could face death penalty, family goes into hiding fearing backlash

Pakistan has booked an eight year old Hindu boy under charges of blasphemy, a draconian law that can warrant the death penalty for the accused. He was charged for the crime after he was accused to have urinated on the carpet of a Madarsa.

The boy has been taken into ‘protective custody’ following the incident and he had spent a week in jail before receiving bail. His family have gone into hiding following retribution. A member of the family told The Guardian from an undisclosed location, “He [the boy] is not even aware of such blasphemy issues and he has been falsely indulged in these matters. He still doesn’t understand what his crime was and why he was kept in jail for a week.”

“We have left our shops and work, the entire community is scared and we fear backlash. We don’t want to return to this area. We don’t see any concrete and meaningful action will be taken against the culprits or to safeguard the minorities living here,” the family member added.

The head of the Pakistani Hindu Council, Ramesh Kumar, said, “The attack on the temple and blasphemy allegations against the eight-year-old minor boy has really shocked me. More than a hundred homes of the Hindu community have been emptied due to fear of attack.”

Another Hindu activist, Kapil Dev, said, “I demand charges against the boy are immediately dropped, and urge the government to provide security for the family and those forced to flee.” “Attacks on Hindu temples have increased in the last few years showing an escalating level of extremism and fanaticism. The recent attacks seem to be a new wave of persecution of Hindus,” he added.

Temple attacked by radical Islamists in Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab

On Wednesday (August 4), a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Gandesha was attacked by a frenzied mob of Pakistani Muslim men in Bhong city of Rahim Yar Khan district in the province of Punjab. Taking cognisance of the matter, ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarian Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani took to Twitter to post videos of the temple attack and urged the law enforcement agencies to stop the “burning and vandalizing” of the temple.

The mob claimed that the attack was in retaliation to the eight year old boy urinating near the Madarsa. The 8-year-old boy was even arrested and booked last week under Pakistan’s brutal blasphemy laws but was subsequently released on bail for being a minor.

Subsequently, an alliance of 22 religious and political parties in Pakistan refused to condemn the attack on the Hindu Temple.

‘Not our men, take strict action’: Ashwini Upadhyay writes to Delhi police after video with anti-Muslim slogan goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not our men, take strict action’: Ashwini Upadhyay writes to Delhi police after video with anti-Muslim slogan goes viral

On August 9 (Monday), the Delhi Police registered a case against unknown people in connection with a viral video ater claims that anti-Muslim slogans were raised at an event organised at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar area by Supreme Court lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay on Sunday. Following the allegations, the former BJP spokesperson has written to the Delhi police disassociating himself with the people who reportedly raised the communal slogans.

Urging the Delhi police to take strict action against the perpetrators, the BJP leader assured that the people who indulged in the unsavoury act were not his supporters. He said that his rally was attended by more than 5000 people. If a group of 5-6 people, stand in one corner of the expanse and raise communal slogans, then he or his men cannot be held accountable for it, wrote the BJP leader in his letter to the Delhi police.

Upadhyay also requested Delhi Police to check the time, place and authenticity of the video.

He further claimed that those who have been attributing the particular video, the authenticity of which has not been established yet, to him should also be booked for defamation.

In his written complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, he requested action against those who have tried to spread religious hysteria. Criticising the age-old provisions of the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Police Act of 1861 and the Evidence Act of 1872, Upadhyay opined that until these remain in force, the frenzy steered by religious fanatics in India cannot be brought under control.

He wrote in the letter: “A video is going viral on social media in which a few men are seen raising communal slogans. Some people are sharing this video on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp by taking my name. This is a clear attempt to defame me, as I neither know the people seen in the video nor have I met any of them before nor did I call, nor invite them for the event on Sunday. The laws in India are so weak that people, who make or share such offensive videos for instant fame at large, dare to do it because they know that they would easily get away with the law.”

The rally was from 10 to 12 pm whereas the sloganeering happened around 5 pm, said BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay.

Ashwini Upadhyay also informed the Delhi Police that some anti-social elements had entered the rally, who have tried to defame the event. He confirmed that he had left the venue at around 12:15 pm, way before the sloganeering happened.

Speaking to Bar & Bench, the SC lawyer had claimed that the slogans were given after his event wrapped up. “The rally was from 10 to 12 pm. Whereas the sloganeering happened around 5 pm. Our rally was outside park hotel but the slogans were given near Parliament house police station. I do not know who they were,” Upadhyay was quoted as saying.

“I have no idea who they are. I have never seen them, never met them and neither called them there. Till the time I was there, they were not seen there. If the video is fake, then propaganda is being circulated to defame Bharat Jodo Andolan,” Upadhyay said.

Video claiming anti-Muslim slogans raised at event organised by Ashwini Upadhyay in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar goes viral

A video showing a group of people shouting inflammatory slogans and threatening Muslims has been doing the rounds on social media with claims that it is from the event which was organised by the BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay in Jantar Mantar against ‘Colonial-era laws’ on Sunday.

The event had sought the repealing of colonial-era laws and to make laws uniform for all citizens across India.

After the video went viral, the Delhi police registered a case against unknown people in connection with the matter on Monday. The Delhi Police also said that the organizers did not take permission from the police to take out the rally, that is why in the FIR under IPC Section-188 (deliberately disobeying order issued by the administration) and disaster for violation of Corona guidelines Section-51 of the Management Act, 2005 (DDMA Act) has also been imposed.

Meanwhile, Shipra Srivastava, the media in charge of Bharat Jodo Aandolan, which organised the rally on Sunday, also denied any links to those who allegedly raised the anti-Muslim slogans.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Deepak Yadav said, “We have received a video and we are examining it. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the law and an investigation is in progress.” 

Time’s Up co-founder Roberta Kaplan, who helped Governor Cuomo draft a letter to discredit his accuser, resigns from her post

OpIndia Staff
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Time’s Up co-founder Roberta Kaplan, who helped Governor Cuomo draft a letter to discredit his accuser, resigns from her post

Roberta Kaplan, the chairwoman of women advocacy group Time’s Up and co-founder of its legal defence fund, resigned from her post amidst mounting criticism for her role in helping Governor Andrew Cuomo draft a letter that undermined allegations of sexual harassment levelled of one of his accusers.

Ms Kaplan’s resignation, which was first reported by The New York Times, stated that her work as a lawyer meant that she was unable to openly answer questions about her involvement with the embattled governor or his onetime top aide Melissa DeRosa, who she represented in the attorney general inquiry.

“I, therefore, have reluctantly come to the conclusion that an active law practice is no longer compatible with serving on the Board at Time’s Up at this time and I hereby resign,” Ms Kaplan said in her resignation.

Acknowledging the gravity of the findings of the attorney general’s report, Ms Kaplan said in her resignation: “Unfortunately, recent events have made it clear that even our apparent allies in the fight to advance women can turn out to be abusers.”

Time’s Up co-founders draw sharp critcism after NY AG report said they helped Governor Cuomo

The co-founders of the Time’s Up group, Roberta Kaplan and Tina Tchen, came under the firing line of the critics after the New York Attorney General Letitia James’s report, which was released last week, said that the duo had allegedly helped New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office draft a letter seeking to disprove the allegations from one of his sexual harassment accusers.

Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund founder Roberta Kaplan and Time’s Up CEO Tina Tchen reportedly helped Cuomo’s staff in drafting a letter denying allegations made against the governor by her former aide Lyndsey Boylan. It is also worth noting that Tina Tchen, the head of the Time’s Up group, worked as a former aide to ex-US president Barack Obama.

In her 165-page report that was released on Tuesday last week, James said a group of advisors for Cuomo last December, sought to draft a letter to deny the legitimacy of Ms Boylan’s allegations, call into question her credibility, and accuse her claims of being politically motivated.

“The letter denied the legitimacy of Ms Boylan’s allegations, impugned her credibility, and attacked her claims as politically motivated (including with theories about connections with supporters of President Trump and a politician with an alleged interest in running for Governor),” the report said.

The letter was initially intended to be sent to former colleagues of Boylan and Cuomo for them to sign and later published as an op-ed. But Melissa DeRosa, one of the top aides of Andrew Cuomo, had apprehensions about the letter, worrying that it would ‘backfire’. So Cuomo reportedly asked her to reach out to Roberta Kaplan.

As per Ms DeRosa’s testimony, Ms Kaplan read the letter to the head of the feminist group Times Up, Tina Tchen, and both of them thought the letter was fine with some minor changes.

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo harassed multiple women: State AG Letitia James

Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, state attorney general Letitia James said on Tuesday. The comments were made on the basis of an investigation that was conducted after allegations surfaced against the Governor last year.

The investigation concluded that his administration was a “hostile work environment”, “rife with fear and intimidation.” Two outside lawyers were roped in for the investigation. Andrew Cuomo is the brother of CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, often called ‘Fredo’ by his critics.

Letitia James said at a press conference that Andrew Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women, and in doing so violated federal and state law.” According to James, the report presents “a deeply disturbing, yet clear, picture” in a “toxic workplace.”

In addition to state government employees, Cuomo also harassed women outside of it. On at least one occasion, he and his associates attempted to retaliate against one woman who accused him of misconduct.

Antifa members assault children and families with flash bombs and pepper sprays to disrupt Christian prayer event in Portland

OpIndia Staff
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Antifa members assault children and families with flash bombs and pepper sprays to disrupt Christian prayer event in Portland

Violence and chaos swept the streets of Portland, Oregon, as a rampaging mob of Antifa members assaulted a group of Christians, including children, gathered for a prayer and worship event at the waterfront. The videos of the assault are now doing the rounds on the internet.

According to a report published by The Post Millennial, the Antifa hoodlums attacked a congregation announced by Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski.

Journalist Andy Ngo shared videos of the assault as Antifa members carrying shields and weapons attacked the Christians and yelled profanities at them. The black-clad Antifa members also damaged the sound equipment and attacked attendees with paper sprays and projectiles.

In the videos shared by Ngo, dozens of armed Antifa members dressed in black riot gear could be seen moving in to accost the attendees of the event. In other videos shared by him, members of the Antifa group could be seen hurling flash bombs on the streets and attacking attendees with an unidentified, gas-like substance that is suspected to be pepper spray.

Some of the Antifa members even attacked people by flinging chunks of concrete at the people who were providing security to people dispersing the Evangelical Christian worship event.

In many of the videos that have gone viral on social media, Antifa members could be heard mocking the congregants, asking “Where is your God now?”.

One of the attendees described the hooligans of Antifa as “ruthless”. “Antifa just rolled in like an angry mob, started throwing flash bombs at everybody, macing everybody … rotten eggs,” she said. “They threw a flash bomb into a group of kids that were out there from four months old to like 10.”  

Another attendee, who helped pastor Pawlowski, who was sprayed in the face with mace, said, “Walked up to ask them to stop throwing things at the children…There are kids down there, I mean they’re toddlers and they sprayed me too.”

The event was organised by Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski last month. The Calgary preacher had been infamous for his critique of lockdown measures that targeted places of worship. After he announced an event in Portland, the Portland Antifa groups and activists on Twitter schemed to take action against the event.

In a veiled threat against the pastor, a Portland Antifa member Melissa Lewis tweeted: “Welcome to Portland, you won’t like it here, pastor.”

Source: Twitter

 

A sound system was also destroyed by the far left rioters, who later hurled the damaged equipment into the nearby Willamette River.

As per reports, the Portland Police Department remained a mute spectator to the chaos sweeping the streets of the city, choosing neither to intervene during the incident nor interact with either of the groups after the situation took a turn for the worse.

Antifa has been involved in violent attacks since last year with very little effort by the Police to bring the situation under control.

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