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Want to celebrate someone’s death? Here is a toolkit and handbook from liberal library

K Bhattacharjee
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Want to celebrate someone’s death? Here is a toolkit and handbook from liberal library

Father Stan Lourduswamy, popularly known as Stan Swamy, died on Monday after a cardiac arrest early morning on Saturday. Stan Swamy was an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case and had multiple serious allegations against him.

An NIA Court had observed that he was a member of the banner CPI (Maoist) and was engaging in activities to further the objectives of the organisation “which is nothing but to overthrow the democracy of the nation.” The deceased Swamy was receiving treatment at the Holy Family Hospital, Bandra where he passed away.

Given his antecedents, there were some who expressed their happiness and satisfaction over the fact that the 84-year-old man had passed away. Liberals are deeply unhappy and angry over the matter, that some people are joyous at the death of someone they call ‘human rights activist’.

While it does appear crude to feel celebratory over the death of an individual, there are times, however, when it is hard to stop one’s innermost feelings brimming up to the surface. And Hinduism has numerous injunctions against celebrating someone’s death. For instance, Lord Rama paid respect to Ravana on his deathbed.

Even so, should anyone want to celebrate the death of an ideological opponent, then he ought to learn from the very best, that is, the liberals themselves. Thus, here is a ‘toolkit’ for the purpose, created after carefully studying the manner in which liberals have been celebrating deaths for long.

After all, they have celebrated the death of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Manohar Parrikar, Rohit Sardana among many others.

Dehumanize the deceased

People must take utmost care to ensure that they are dehumanizing the deceased while celebrating their death. The deceased can be branded a ‘fascist’, ‘genocide enabler’, ‘fascism enabler’, ‘hatemonger’ among other things.

If all else fails, then surely allegations of ‘misogyny’ can be thrown about. After all, the objective is to justify one’s happiness at a political opponent’s death and such allegations, that are intended to deny the humanity of the deceased, always come in handy.

Exaggerate flaws and invent victims

In order to further deny the humanity of the deceased, it is of paramount significance that their flaws are exaggerated beyond all measure and invent victims, fictional if necessary, to paint the deceased as a monster.

It does not really matter if the victims are real or not or if the deceased hurt them in any way whatsoever, but it is essential that the deceased is blamed for all the misery of the alleged victims. Consequently, the deceased’s flaws must be exaggerated beyond all measure, to the point where someone who is not familiar with the person would assume that he had horns growing out of his head and his canines reached outwards to his neck.

Sophistication is the key

Another important aspect to remember while celebrating a political opponent’s death is that the celebratory posts must carry with them a certain deal of sophistication. Posting Memri memes and other such antics will not do.

The posts must carry all the pretense of being the creation of the lead scientists at NASA. For example, there were those who celebrated the death of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with the song “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”.

Similarly, pick up a dictionary, or go through Shashi Tharoor’s Twitter account and use some of the most difficult words you can find in your celebratory post. It enhances your credibility automatically.

Present yourself or your dear friend as the deceased’s victim

Victimhood is a powerful tool. Once you have successfully presented yourself as the victim, you can get away with basically anything. And if there is a collective group of individuals claiming victimhood, then all the better.

For instance, self-proclaimed ‘victims’ of transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, racism, capitalism among others can get away with rioting, looting, burning books, attacking peaceful individuals and censoring others’ freedom of speech and expression.

Similarly, if one could claim that they have been personally wronged by the deceased or someone they love have suffered the same fate, then they can easily get away with celebrating the death. It does not have to be true but it serves the purpose.

‘They deserved it’

The overarching objective of the celebratory post has to be to prove that the deceased deserved to die. The first four points must be weaved in such a pattern that the reader automatically reaches the conclusion that the deceased is a morally reprehensible human being who has caused real harm to a great many individuals and hence, deserved to die.

It is even better if that message can be conveyed without expressly stating it for it then enhances the sophistication quotient of the post even more.

UK-based Pakistani commentator Faran Jeffery alias Natsecjeff abducted from his Karachi home: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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UK-based Pakistani commentator Faran Jeffery alias Natsecjeff abducted from his Karachi home: Reports

Social media has been abuzz with reports of UK-based Pakistani commentator and security analysit Faran Jeffery was abducted from his Karachi home on Sunday.

Natsecjeff

As per reports, Pakistan’s security services have taken him away.

Natsecjeff abduction

According to some, his computers and mobile phones have also been taken along.

Jeffery is the Deputy Director of ITCT, an international think tank that counters narrative of Islamic terrorism based in UK.

The ITCT has condemned his abduction and appealed to Pakistan government for his immediate release.

Faran is a self proclaimed Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) researcher and often tweets on military movements of India and Pakistan. Most of his reports are unconfirmed and based on ‘sources’ and many believe he does it to create hysteria.

More details awaited.

Twitter lies about appointment of Grievance Officer: What Delhi Court said while taking Twitter to task as they asked for ‘more time’

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter lies about appointment of Grievance Officer: What Delhi Court said while taking Twitter to task as they asked for ‘more time’

“It is not fair”, said the Delhi High Court while hearing the petition seeking directions to Twitter to appoint a Resident Grievance Officer as mandated under Rule 4 of the IT Rules, 2021, slams Twitter India for not informing the HC that the grievance officer they had appointed was only an interim grievance officer.

The single-judge bench comprising of Justice Rekha Palli took strong objection to the fact that Twitter never informed the High Court that the grievance officer they had appointed was only an interim grievance officer. Justice Rekha Palli pulled up Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for Twitter India, saying: “It is not fair, Mr Poovayya. When a Senior Counsel makes a statement, I take it seriously. There is no doubt that you gave a wrong impression to the Court in the last hearing”, said, Judge Rekha Palli.

When the senior advocate Poovayya informed the court that the social media giant has no full-time resident grievance officer in accordance with the new IT Rule as of date, the Delhi HC rebuked the microblogging platform for its inability to appoint a grievance officer from June 21, when the existing officer was removed, until July 6.

“After 21 June, till July 6, the least you could have done was appoint another person. How long does your process take? If Twitter thinks it can take as long it wants in our country, I will not allow that”, said Justice Palli.

‘Come up with a clear response, otherwise, you will be in trouble’: Delhi HC gives an ultimatum to Twitter India

When Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya tried to buy more time from the HC to reportedly obtain full instructions from its head office regarding the appointment of a full-time grievance officer, ASG Chetan Sharma, appearing for Centre, took strong objection, informing the court that a three-month window was already given to Twitter India to comply with Rules, which they wasted.

Hearing the arguments of both the parties, the HC ordered: “Perusal of reply shows that as of May 31, Twitter had only appointed interim Grievance Officer, which was not brought to the notice of this Court. Sr Adv Poovayya says Twitter is in the process of appointing a Grievance Officer. But when asked when this appointment would be made, learned counsel sought time to obtain full instructions as the time zone of the company is in San Francisco”.

Giving an ultimatum to Twitter India to comply with the new IT Rule, Justice Rekha Palli said: “Come up with a clear response, otherwise you will be in trouble”.

The court listed the matter for the next hearing on July 8.

Twitter is yet to fully comply with IT Rules 2021: GOI to Delhi HC

OpIndia reported on July 5, that the central government had filed an affidavit in the Delhi HC, informing that in spite of 3 months time granted to all SSMIs (significant social media intermediaries) to comply with the IT Rules 2021, having expired on May 26, Twitter Inc has failed to fully comply with the same.

The Centre’s affidavit was in response to Twitter India’s affidavit in which it had informed the HC that the social networking platform is in the final stages of hiring a full-time resident grievance officer in accordance with the new IT Rule. 

Though the microblogging site stated in court on Saturday that it is in the process of appointing a full-time resident grievance officer, that too in accordance with the new IT Rule, it was learnt that Twitter had appointed its California-based global legal policy director Jeremy Kessel as the new grievance officer for India. However, the new IT Rules call for an Indian resident for the role.

Moreover, now it has been also learnt that Twitter India not only appointed a non-Indian resident for the role but instead of appointing a full-time grievance officer it had appointed an interim officer for the role, which is not in accordance with the law either.

IT Rules 2021

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 were issued in February this year to bring transparency into the working of social media companies and have already been given 3 months time to comply with the new regulations.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, which came into effect from May 25, mandates the social media intermediaries with more than 5 million users and providing messaging services to identify the first originator of problematic content that may harm the country’s interests. The companies should also appoint an Indian grievance officer to deal with the complaints.

The non-compliance with rules will result in these platforms losing the intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints.

Even though other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp have complied with the new laws, Twitter had last month asked the government for an additional three months for the same.

Kerala: CPM youth wing member arrested for rape and murder of 6-year-old girl, had been sexually abusing the child for 3 years

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: CPM youth wing member arrested for rape and murder of 6-year-old girl, had been sexually abusing the child for 3 years

The Kerala Police on Monday arrested yet another DYFI (youth wing of the ruling CPI(M)) worker, for reportedly murdering a six-year-old girl after raping her.

As per the police, Arjun (22) a resident of the Idukki district, repeatedly sexually abused the girl for three years before killing her. The minor girl’s body was found hanging in a room at her parents’ quarters. 

A police officer said, “The incident, which occurred on June 30, was reported as an accidental death. We were told that a shawl accidentally got tied around her neck while she was playing. The parents were away at work. However, the postmortem revealed that the girl had been subjected to sexual abuse over a long period, which made police look into the murder angle.”

Quoting the youth, the police officer said, “The girl fell unconscious during the assault and the assailant feared she may have died. Subsequently, he hanged her in the room using her shawl.” The incident took place on June 30 when the accused sneaked into the house of the minor. The 6-year-old girl was found hanging in her room by her brother.

As per reports, Arjun panicked after the incident and spread the rumour of the minor’s accidental death. However, the autopsy report revealed long-term sexual assault and a detailed investigation led to the arrest of four suspects. 

Reports suggest that Arjun has been doing social work in his region and was known particularly as a volunteer during the pandemic.

CPM leaders arrested for sexually assaulting a female co-worker

We reported last week that the Kerala Police booked two CPM leaders PP Baburaj and TP Lijeesh for sexually assaulting and blackmailing a female party worker. 

According to the complaint by the female party worker, Baburaj who is the CPM secretary of Muliyeri East branch barged into her house three months ago, threatened and raped her. Reportedly, Baburaj continued to sexually harass her by blackmailing her, threatening to reveal the incident to her husband.

As per the complainant, Lijeesh who is also a CPM member from the same branch too threatened and blackmailed her to not complain or expose the incident. 

The two have been booked under IPC Sections 376 (2), 354 (A), 109 and 376.

Gujarat: Project worth Rs 3,475 crores approved to provide additional Narmada water to Kutch

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Project worth Rs 3,475 crores approved to provide additional Narmada water to Kutch

On June 6, Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister, Gujarat, approved a project worth Rs 3,475 crores to provide an additional one million acre-feet of water from the Narmada river to Kutch district. As per reports, the project will benefit 96 villages under six talukas of Kutch district, including Anjar, Mandvi, Rapar, Bhuj and Nakhatrana. These villages have a population of about 3.8 lakh.

Under the said project, 38 water bodies, including Saran lake, would be filled with water from Narmada that will benefit farmers and cattle. The 357 kilometres long Kutch branch canal branches off from the central canal of the Narmada river. So far, work on 333 kilometres is completed, and the remaining stretch is in progress.

Narmada dam to provide irrigation water in summer for the first time

Earlier, it was reported that in 2021, it would be the first time the Narmada dam can provide irrigation water in summer since its inauguration in 2017. The dam is often termed as the “lifeline of Gujarat”. Notably, it does not have water for irrigation during summers, but this year, the dam had 122.72 meters with live storage of 1,711 million cubic meters in June.

According to Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), for the first time in history, all 35 dams and reservoirs, close to 1,200 check dams and 1000 village tanks have been filled with Narmada water. Reportedly, the dam had an inflow of around 15,000 cusecs and an outflow of around 43,000 cusecs in June. Out of these, 13,965 cusecs were released after power generation from the Canal Head Power House and 30,361 cusecs from Riverbed Powerhouse.

There are four party states that share the resources from this dam that are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, based on the ratio stipulated by a 1979 judgement of the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal. The Narmada River project is termed as a classic case of Integrated River Basin Planning, Development, and Management, along with water storage available in all major, medium, and minor dams on the main river and its tributaries.

Water conservation helped in increasing the dam’s reserves

Notably, several steps have been taken to reduce water consumption that helped in increasing the dam’s reserves. The reservoir operations have been synchronised with the rain forecast in the catchment area. Several measures to ensure water is used during the dam overflow period reduces the pressure of the reserved quota. Also, in the non-monsoon period, several measures have been taken to use the water efficiently to reduce conventional and operational losses. Any type of water wastage is being reduced at all levels. Proper maintenance of canals, structures and linked projects have helped in reducing wastage. The government has also restricted water-intensive perennial crops in the region to improve water levels.

‘Expose’ by Mediapart and the French ‘investigation’ into Rafale deal: A ready reckoner on why it’s a sham

iyervval
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‘Expose’ by Mediapart and the French ‘investigation’ into Rafale deal: A ready reckoner on why it’s a sham

“You can’t make a soufflé rise twice”, former minister Jaswant Singh used to say. Yet it seems that’s exactly what the Indian National Congress is trying to do. Even as the Supreme Court of India delivered scathing remarks while dismissing the petitions for an inquiry into the Rafale, the Congress party has now decided to take the “expose” by Mediapart and the judicial inquiry initiated by France to revive the ghost of Rafale ghost.

As Congress blurs the line between fact and fiction, here’s your ready reckoner on the latest ‘revelations’ by Mediapart and the judicial inquiry initiated by France.

Despite the great length of writing and build-up, 99% of what has been passed off as new are the same old allegations. There are only 2 things that are actually “new” here. 

THE RAFALE INVESTIGATION

What’s new

  • A French judge, who has replaced the old judge who retired, has re-opened his predecessor’s investigation that said predecessor had ended.  
  • The charges are unclear – varying from influence peddling to actual corruption. Let us be clear here – while the Congress party and a large section of the media are drumming up this ‘investigation’, it was one which was closed by the earlier judge, who has now retired. There is no credible information as to what the charges really are for the new investigation.

What’s old

  • Regarding the influence-peddling charges, there has been no proof – just supposition of the ADAG giving money to former French president Julie Gayet’s movie, set in the Himalayas. There have been no documents provided to show any connection to Dassault or the Rafale as a result of this connection. This particular “expose” by Mediapart was debunked rather extensively while the controversy was raging.
  • The only proof so far has been the ledger of an arms middle man in Delhi by the name of Sushen Gupta. His accounts show payments received during 2013-2014 during the previous UPA government. These payments totalling around 11 million euros were made to a firm in Singapore. Around 2 million were transferred to India, the rest to a bank account in Mauritius – a well-known route for money laundering into India. As such the only proof relates to bribery during the Congress’ rule.

This has, in fact, been reported by Mediapart journalist as well.

THE DEAL WITH RELIANCE

What’s new

  • The allegation (mind you, it is just an allegation since no documents have been provided) is that Dassault provided close to 100 million Euros for a plant to be built in Mihan for the assembly of the Falcon business jet. Yet it got only 49% share in the new joint venture with Reliance. 
  • Reliance, which according to these allegations, provided close to 10 million euros got a 51% share. 

So why is this suspicious?

The big question is why is Mediapart not releasing the documents it claims to have seen regarding this deal?

  • Primarily because it is suspected that like a forged document N Ram of The Hindu had published claiming a “scoop” – that had manipulated and hidden several side notes and dates – this is an attempt by Mediapart to do the same – manipulate the narrative through selective concealment of Information.
  • The Dassault-Reliance deal as reported by Mediapart presumably only covers the initial start-up capital, not the other costs which have been borne entirely by Reliance. These would include (but not be limited to):
    • The acquisition of 65 acres of land for the Mihan plant
    • The funding of over 150 highly skilled engineers and families to relocate to France for training at the Dassault factory in preparation for the Technology transfer of the Falcon to Reliance
    • The relocation of 40 highly skilled French engineers and their families to Mihan near Nagpur. This has also been done at significantly higher pay as Nagpur not being a prime metro is deemed a “hardship posting” with higher salaries and benefits
    • Recurring costs such as – Running, Material and Testing costs, as opposed to Dassault’s one-time investment. 
  • Presumably, Mediapart, Like the N Ram is actively suppressing documents and reporting selectively, precisely to create a scandal where none actually exist. It’s quite alright for somebody with a low IQ like N Ram to unknowingly peddle drivel. But for a French company to not know that you can’t make a soufflé rise twice is almost a crime. 

The suspicion then is not of corruption, but unethical journalism of the ‘N Ram kind’ by Mediapart. 

‘If criminals try to escape police custody by attacking policemen, shooting should be the pattern’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

OpIndia Staff
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‘If criminals try to escape police custody by attacking policemen, shooting should be the pattern’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

On June 5, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister, Assam, was asked about the recent cases where arrested or under trial criminals were fired at while trying to flee. Answering the question if that was a pattern, Sarma said, “this should be a pattern if someone were trying to flee.” He was addressing a conference ‘Redefining Policing Standards in Assam’. All officers in charge of police stations across the state attended the meeting.

The Assam CM further added that if someone snatches weapons from the Police and trying to escape, and on top of that, he is a rapist, Police cannot shoot him in the chest, but shooting at the leg is the law. Notably, Sarma holds the State Home Ministry too. He added that he wanted Police to get more strict with those indulged in cattle-smuggling.

He said, “Those who smuggle cows should be caught at all costs… I don’t even want it to go to the charge sheet stage because our cows need to be protected,” he said, adding, “A cow is like a god to us.” CM Sarma asked the officers-in-charge of districts bordering West Bengal and Bangladesh to note his instructions about cattle smugglers.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also holds the Home portfolio.

Recent incidents of under-custody criminals getting gunshot wounds

Sarma took charge of the state as CM in May. After assuming the office, Sarma announced a massive drive against cattle smuggling, drug trafficking and other organized crimes in the state. In recent weeks several incidents have come to light where criminals involved in rape, murder, cattle-smuggling and drug peddling allegedly tried to escape from the custody and received gunshot wounds. Reportedly, 12 suspected militants and criminals have died in the shooting incidents. Several others accused of rape and cattle smuggling have been injured.

The opposition in Assam has accused the state police f being ‘trigger happy’, but the state police have refuted those allegations saying that those were genuine cases where criminals were trying to flee and police officials were forced by the circumstances to resort to firing.

‘Shooting should be the pattern if criminals trying to flee after attacking policemen’

CM Sarma said, “Today, if two kidnappers are nabbed, and they retaliate, the policeman has no choice but to fire, otherwise the policeman himself will die.” He further added when someone asks him if shooing incidents are becoming a pattern in the state, he says that it should be a pattern if the criminal tries to escape police custody. “But before doing what law has permitted us to do, we must keep our conscience clear that our work is for the good of the people and not to serve any interest of our own,” Sarma said.

He further added that the state would take a zero-tolerance approach towards any criminal who tries to escape. Later, while talking to the reporters, he emphasized that Police do not have authority for encounters. In a democracy, crime is fought through law and not encounter. These happen only when there are no other means,” he added. He also added that the charge sheets against the accused involved in rape, murder, arms, drugs, extortion should be completed in six months. He said, “Criminal cases in Assam will come down by 50 per cent if the charge sheet is filed quickly.”

Sarma also urged the Police officials to complete the passport verification process in seven days unless there is some doubt. He further talked about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said it is not final. He said, “Just because your name is on the NRC does not mean you are Indian. If you feel someone’s background is doubtful, leave them out. But for khilonjiya (indigenous) people, do not take time to do the verification.”

Additional Funds for all police stations

Sarma announced a fund of Rs.2.5 lakh for each Police station annually to meet recurring expenses such as fortnightly medical check-ups of all staff.

Thou shall not crack this joke – how Vir Das deleting tweet shows what they say is not what matches in action

Nirwa Mehta
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Thou shall not crack this joke – how Vir Das deleting tweet shows what they say is not what matches in action

Comedians in India have been complaining since May 2014 that they cannot crack jokes freely anymore. That ‘bhakts’ take an offence to their ‘jokes’ which they quite often like to crack on Hindu gods and goddesses. Other religions are usually off limits because no one really likes to be Charlie Hebdo’ed.

One such prominent figure has been ‘comedian’ Vir Das.

Earlier in January, Das had expressed his disappointment at how the ‘system’ was not only telling ‘comedians’ on what they can or cannot joke about but also telling people of India what they can laugh at.

Vir Das on ‘system’

He was amused how ‘Sanghis’ were quoting it.

You see, ‘comedians’ in India have an issue when it comes to taking criticism. If you find their ‘joke’, even if it is not on Hindu gods and goddesses, in bad taste or unfunny, you are a ‘Sanghi’ and don’t have sense of humour. The concept of you, as an audience, finding them ‘unfunny’ is lost on them.

Except, last night, Das got cancelled by the wokes themselves. The same wokes who just love to hate on ‘Sanghis’ and accuse them of being devoid of humour.

Here is what happened.

Vir Das’s now deleted tweet

At around 6:30 PM on Monday, Das took a seeming dig on ‘wokes’ who have pronouns in their profiles. Transgender, nonbinary people, who usually like to stay away from all things ‘Sanghi’, sometimes put their pronouns in their bio to help people to identify their gender.

So, ‘he/him’ is used by those who identify themselves as male, ‘she/her’ for female and ‘they/their’ for those who consider themselves ‘gender neutral’.

Das cracked a joke that his pronouns are ‘heh/huh’.

Those who do like to identify themselves with various such genders were not too happy with the said joke and accused him of ‘punching down on minorities’ amongst other things.

Sanghi-hating wokes were upset.

The ‘woke’ system took it upon themselves to teach Das what kind of jokes he can crack. As a ‘woke’ comic, cracking jokes on those who put pronouns in profiles is a no-no.

So much that in less than an hour he deleted his tweet.

Vir Das deletes his tweet

Das then claimed people misunderstood his ‘joke’ and were upset and hence he deleted his joke. You see, the ‘woke system’ got him to delete his ‘offensive’ ‘joke’. But the wokes were still not happy.

Wokes unhappy

Das was being informed by the ‘woke system’ on what kind of jokes he could crack and also those who weren’t too offended by his ‘joke’ on what kind of jokes they could laugh on.

Despite ‘Sanghis’ being offended, none of these jokers have deleted the offensive tweets. In fact, some of them tweet offensive stuff just to trigger the ‘Sanghis’ so that they can play victim. Let’s not forget the jokers who had to apologise to the ruling party leaders in Maharashtra (Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP) for a joke on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but will still blame the ‘Sanghis’ for taking an offence. The ‘truth to the power’ tripe works only if the ‘power’ is Narendra Modi.

You see, the real ‘establishment’ is not the ‘Sanghi’ establishment. It is this ‘ecosystem’ that has been controlling your ideas on what should be offensive, what should not be offensive and what kind of offence deserves an apology. They will tell you what is attack on freedom of speech (‘Sanghis’ finding the jokes unfunny) and what is ‘respecting other people’s views’ (neon-haired, pronoun-loving, ‘Sanghi’-hating wokes).

The cancel culture has out-cancelled itself, it seems.

Triple Talaq cases in Gujarat: In-laws arrested in Surat, another man booked in Ahmedabad

OpIndia Staff
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Triple Talaq cases in Gujarat: In-laws arrested in Surat, another man booked in Ahmedabad

The Limbayat police have nabbed the in-laws of a victim, who was subjected to instant Triple Talaq in Surat, Gujarat.

As per reports, the woman lived near Shahpura Idgah area in Limbayat. She had filed a complaint with the police against her husband Mohammed Javed, mother-in-law Mutimun Nisha Ejaz Mirza, and father-in-law Mohammad Ejaz Mirza. In her complaint, the victim has accused her in-laws of torture, assaulting her for a dowry of ₹3 lacs, and removing her from the house with her two daughters. She has also accused her husband Javed of giving her instant Triple Talaq over a Whatsapp call. The police have now arrested the in-laws of the victim.

The central government has enacted the law against triple talaq in 2019 after the Supreme Court declared the regressive practice as unconstitutional in 2017. The law criminalises the practice of triple talaq and prescribes punishment for up to 3 years. The woman is entitled to maintenance for her dependent children under the law.

Accused booked for Triple Talaq in Ahmedabad

Recently, the Gujarat police booked a 40-year-old man named Mushtaq Shaikh in Ahmedabad for giving instant Triple Talaq to his wife. On July 1, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against him at the Gaekwad Haveli station, based on the complaint of his wife Shabana Banu Shaikh. Mushtaq has been booked under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, Dowry Prohibition Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 498a (cruelty against wife), 294b (obscenity) and 506(criminal intimidation).

While speaking about the matter, Shabana said, “I have been married to Mushtaq for 22 years and we have a son and daughter aged 16 and 15 respectively. Right after my marriage, my husband, who is unemployed, had started demanding money from me. To save my marriage, I kept giving him money by asking my father… He harassed me mentally and physically over years.”

She further added, “On May 30 this year, I went to my uncle’s place in Juhapura for a day and when I returned, my husband started abusing me. On June 1, he again picked up a fight and said talaq three times in a bid to give me divorce. I have been staying at my parent’s place for a month.”

‘So far 76 nations have shown interest to use India’s CoWIN portal’: Dr RS Sharma

OpIndia Staff
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‘So far 76 nations have shown interest to use India’s CoWIN portal’: Dr RS Sharma

On July 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the CoWIN Global Conclave where he announced that the CoWIN platform would soon be made open-source, and they will be available for any and all interested countries for usage. He offered the CoWIN platform as a digital public good to the world to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to the announcement, Dr RS Sharma, chairperson of the Empowered Committee for the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine in an exclusive interview to The Print shared, “The Centre has received interest from 76 countries thus far.”

Clarifying the availability of the platform, Dr Sharma said that while the Government of India is more than happy to share this successful platform an open-source one, the only condition would be that the software should not be allowed to be used for commercial use or repackaged to be sold.

The Global Conclave on CoWin witnessed participation from 196 officials from foreign countries and 116 private individuals from 41 countries.

CoWin achieved 20 crore registrations in the first four months of its launch on 16 January and as of 1 July, 35.4 crore people have registered on the platform, informed Dr Sharma. 

As per a PTI report, the countries that have shown interest in adopting the digital platform include Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, and Uganda, among others.

Link passport with vaccine certificates

Dr Sharma also informed during the interview that there are plans to update the CoWIN application by adding a feature to link passports with vaccine certificates for international travel. 

The other changes on the platform will include the introduction of an editing tab enabling corrections in personal details in the vaccination certificates.  

“The government has observed that in many cases, people submit incorrect personal details while registering, such as their name, date of birth or gender while registering themselves. We will now allow people to correct these details to enable corrections in their vaccination certificates,” he said. 

Adding further, “We have created a mechanism to allow citizens to combine their certificates when they have, by mistake, used two different user accounts for the two different doses of vaccination,” said Dr Sharma. 

“We are constantly taking feedback from all the stakeholders, learning from our own experiences, and evolving the platform to make it as accessible and inclusive for all,” he added.

CoWin integrated with consumers apps like Paytm, Reliance & others

Dr Sharma, who is also CEO of the National Health Authority, said that the software is creating new benchmarks and records every day. With an aim to have a wider outreach, consumer-facing apps such as PayTM, Reliance Group, Jubilant Foodworks, Ibibo, 1MG, Max hospitals, EkaCare, Apollo Hospitals have reportedly come onboard for integration. 

“We have received over 204 applications from private and public entities to integrate with CoWIN, of which 148 have been accepted and are in the process of completing integrations,” Dr Sharma said.

He also informed that these companies will be able to allow the users to “look for available slots for vaccination or vaccines.”

Fastest tech platform

Addressing the CoWIN Global Conclave, Dr Sharma on Monday said he is proud that CoWIN has become the fastest tech platform in the world.

“It fills me with pride to share with you that CoWIN has become the fastest tech platform in the world to amass over 200 million registrations in a record four months, and then 300 million registrations in a mere five months, yet another record. What adds more credibility to this achievement is the sheer stability of the system, which is entertaining over a billion HTTP requests on an average daily,” he said.

Talking about the success of the vaccination drive, Sharma noted that India has achieved an administration of over 350 million vaccine doses, with at least 284 million Indians receiving at least one dose. 

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