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Bengal: BJP’s Malda candidate shot at during campaign trail by miscreants, sustains neck injuries

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal: BJP’s Malda candidate shot at during campaign trail by miscreants, sustains neck injuries

On Sunday (April 18), a 52-year-old BJP leader named Gopal Chandra Saha was shot at by unidentified miscreants during his campaign trail in Sahapur Gram Panchayat. Saha is the BJP candidate from the Muslim-dominated Malda Vidhan Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The attack comes ahead of the 6th phase of polling in the State.

As per reports, the victim had gone to attend a meeting of party workers in Sahapur. When he was about to enter his car, Gopal Chandra Saha was shot at by some unidentified miscreants. The victim sustained a bullet injury to his neck and was rushed to the Malda Medical Hospital. The doctors have informed that he underwent surgery and is in a stable condition.

The police have now initiated a probe in the case. They are investigating the CCTV footage in the area to ascertain the identity of the accused. Following the incident, an atmosphere of fear and tension has gripped the area.

While speaking about the matter to News 18 Bangla, BJP leader Govinda Chandra Mandal said, ” I was in the meeting when I learnt that miscreants had shot our candidate Gopal Chandra Saha. I then rushed to the hospital and found that Gopal Babu has been taken to the operation theatre. I am talking to eyewitnesses about the details of the incident. I can only say this as of now.” He confirmed that the victim had received bullet injuries in the neck region, just below his ear.

BJP worker found dead, party accuses TMC workers of murder

On Sunday (April 18), the body of a BJP worker was found from outside his residence in Mandal Para in Roaowari village in the Nadia district of West Bengal. The area falls under the Chakdaha Vidhan Sabha constituency, which went to polls during the 5th phase of Vidhan Sabha elections in the State.

As per reports, the victim has been identified as one Dilip Kirtaniya. He was an active BJP worker, who was seen managing booth-level party work on Saturday. Reportedly, Kirtaniya was threatened during the day by some unidentified miscreants. Later, at around 11 pm, he was summoned by an unidentified individual and he left his home. He did not return home the whole night.

The BJP worker’s body was recovered on Sunday morning from the bushes in his home’s backyard. Eyewitnesses recounted that Dilip Kirtaniya was bleeding from his nose, ears and mouth. On seeing his condition, he was immediately rushed to the Chakdaha State General Hospital. The BJP worker was declared dead on arrival.

As Centre steps in to rescue Delhi, AAP crawls out to take credit for Covid care facility

OpIndia Staff
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As Centre steps in to rescue Delhi, AAP crawls out to take credit for Covid care facility

On April 18, history repeated itself when Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party tried to take credit for Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre in Chattarpur and Covid centre by DRDO at Delhi Cantt. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain went for a photo-op at the Centres on the pretext of “reviewing the arrangements”.

Tweet by AAP taking credit of Covid centre by ITBP

In a tweet, Sisodia said, “This Centre will add over 5,000 beds for Corona patients. Our teams are working hard to ensure at least 500 beds to be operational by Tuesday.”

Tweet by Manish Sisodia taking credit of Covid centre

Jain also tweeted on similar lines and said, “Visited the make-shift hospital of DRDO with Hon’ble Dy CM @msisodia. This will be operational from Monday. 250 ICU beds will become operational from tomorrow, and 250 more will be added in the next few days.”

Tweet by Satyendra Jain taking credit of Covid centre by DRDO at Delhi Cantt

It has to be noted that AAP’s official handle, Sisodia or Jain, nowhere mentioned ITBP centre and DRDO centre have been built with union government’s support. CM Kejriwal retweeted their tweets and skipped to thank the Centre for support.

Netizens raised eyebrows at AAP’s cheap tactics

Several netizens replied to the tweets by AAP and its members. While calling them shameless, they mentioned that AAP is trying to steal credit and indulge in cheap politics.

History repeating itself for AAP

This is not the first time AAP took credit for the initiatives the union government took after the Delhi government failed to control the surge in Covid cases. Last year, after union Home Minister Amit Shah had a high-level meeting with Delhi government officials, Sardar Patel Covid Centre was established with the support of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Once the setup was done, AAP tried to take credit for the Centre. AAP’s Sanjay Singh claimed that while BJP built the Sardar Patel statue, the Delhi government built the Covid Centre. Netizens had mocked and criticized the Delhi government for cheap politics.

250 ventilators sent by central govt lied unutilized in the state of Punjab amid the second wave of coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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250 ventilators sent by central govt lied unutilized in the state of Punjab amid the second wave of coronavirus

The second wave of coronavirus in India has put an intense burden on the health infrastructure of many states. States affected the most by this wave are facing an acute shortage of oxygen, ventilators, and critical drugs due to a sharp surge in new coronavirus cases. However, as per a Tribune report, over 250 ventilators were gathering dust in the fag end of March in the Punjab state government’s warehouse amidst the second wave. 

As per the report in Tribune, dated March 20, the central government had sent 290 ventilators to the state worth around Rs 30 crore last year, but the state’s health department was yet to unpack them after a year. The ventilators were ideally to be sent to medical colleges or other covid centers offering L-3 care (patients who require two or more organ support) for covid patients. 

No trained manpower

The reason cited for no demand from medical colleges or covid centers was the lack of competent manpower to efficiently manage patients on ventilators. The same was revealed by Punjab Health Systems Corporation Managing Director Tanu Kashyap in a meeting. It was also informed that witnessing the rise in cases they were in the process of allocating the ventilators to state government medical colleges.

The Tribune report also says that this was not the first time when the state hospitals failed to use the ventilators. Five years ago, 10 ventilators were sent to Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, but they remained unused for five years till it turned into a controversy when the pandemic hit. It was then proposed to hand the ventilators over to a local private hospital.

Current situation in Punjab

The bed occupancy for Covid-19 patients in Punjab hospitals has doubled in the past two weeks. The State nodal officer for Covid-19 Dr Rajesh Bhaskar informed, “Hospitalisation is gradually increasing in the state amid a fresh spike in infections. The state has enough beds available for level-2 patients in all the districts. High occupancy of level-3 beds is a major concern as it may lead to a high fatality rate. Also, occupancy of level-3 beds is more because people come to the hospital only when they develop severe symptoms and complications. We have enough ventilators, oxygen supply and other equipment to handle the second wave.”

Currently around 2,520 (30%) level-2 beds and 735 (35%) level-3 beds have been occupied as per a data released Saturday evening.

The state recorded 8 deaths and 4,957 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. The city of Ludhiana has re-emerged as a Covid hotspot reporting high transmission of the disease. 

Centre comes to aid

Owing to the daily surge in new coronavirus cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan assured the most impacted states with a fresh supply of ventilators. He informed that 1,121 ventilators will be sent to Maharashtra, 1,700 to Uttar Pradesh, 1,500 to Jharkhand, 1,600 to Gujarat, 152 to Madhya Pradesh, and 230 to Chhattisgarh.

The minister, in a high-level meeting with health ministers of 11 states and union territories to review measures taken to prevent, contain, and manage the fresh surge in covid-19 cases urged the states to plan in advance. He also advised the states to increase covid hospitals, oxygenated beds, and other relevant infrastructure to deal with any further surge in cases.

When ‘comedians’ double up as doctors and believe ‘Bhakts’ deserve the misery as Chinese coronavirus rages

Nirwa Mehta
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When ‘comedians’ double up as doctors and believe ‘Bhakts’ deserve the misery as Chinese coronavirus rages

Indian ‘comedians’ like to think too highly of themselves. That because they call themselves ‘comedians’ and hate Modi at the same time, they are somehow speaking the proverbial ‘truth to the power’. This ‘truth to power’ only holds true if the power is Narendra Modi-led Central government because everyone is just praises for Uddhav Thackeray government, where most of these people reside. This, despite a year of absolute mismanagement and all the extortion and bomb planting allegations.

Maybe they’re afraid to speak ‘truth’ to that power because no one wants to wake up with an explosives-laden SUV parked outside by cops themselves. You think that’s being mean? I’m sure the ‘comedians’ can take a joke or two on themselves. Especially since they could also joke about the ‘Bhakts’ who lost their loved ones to COVID.

Rohan Joshi’s Instagram

Having left Twitter, which is more politically aware, Rohan Joshi now spends his time only on Instagram and Facebook to hate on everyone.

But you know why he left Twitter? Well, his old tweet where he wanted entire Sharad Pawar family dead went viral and well, we all know what is happening Maharashtra.

Rohan Joshi’s tweets on Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar is currently head of NCP which is in alliance with Shiv Sena and Congress as Maharashtra state government. Of course, Joshi got scared after his death wish on Pawar clan went viral (who wouldn’t?).

Health is a state subject. While Centre forms policies, the states could make their own policies keeping in mind best for their people. If after a year of COVID if Maharashtra government (and other states government including BJP run states) failed to ramp up facilities, why blame the Hindus who as private citizens donated for temples. Many of them have donated for hospitals and schools as well in their neighbourhoods.

But no, shame the Hindus only for a temple when in just first four years of coming in power, Modi government build 13 new AIIMS. Mandir and hospitals can be build side by side and one need not be sacrificed for the other – how hard is this simple thing to understand? But why let logic and facts come in way of propaganda.

Speaking of logic and facts, here is another ‘comedian’ who has now decided to become a doctor herself.

Aditi Mittal on Instagram (image courtesy @sharanyashetttyy)

Aditi Mittal another ‘comedian’ asked her thousands of followers to share above image which speaks about self-medication of COVID at home which includes steroids. Let it be known that no one here is a doctor and no one should take medicines, especially ones which require prescription, on their own without consulting a physician. And one really shouldn’t be sharing blanket prescriptions like this, especially in a time when the pandemic is out of control.

Let me reiterate, DO NOT SELF MEDICATE. Social media is not a replacement for a doctor with legit degrees.

But why be responsible when you can be an agent of chaos?

And you know what she did when she was called out for being irresponsible? She played victim.

Aditi Mittal brazening it out

Dear Aditi, how did you verify? How did you know this prescription is one size fits all? I am COVID positive and my doctor did not prescribe most of these medicines. Are you still not realising how dangerous this is? Just stop believing you are doing humanity a favour by being a moron.

During the #MeToo movement in India, Mittal was accused by another woman comedian of forcefully kissing her and Joshi was accused of not doing anything when he was made aware of sexual harassment allegations on fellow ‘comedian’. Scratch a ‘feminist comedian’, find a sexual predator.

But this really does not come as a surprise. So-called comedy in India is nothing but propaganda. Joke about Hindus, temple and gau mutra are aplenty but for obvious reasons one can’t joke about things that can get your sar tan se juda. You will also not see them condemning those who are calling out for beheading because the one whose head they demand is a a Hindu. And obviously, Hindus deserve to die for voting for BJP. To ‘teach a lesson’ to ‘fascism enablers’ one must support a mob demanding their beheading.

And one must continue to demonise Hindus even if it is the temples which have actually opened up doors and converted parts of their temple premises into medical facilities for COVID patients.

Temples opening doors for COVID patients

Swaminarayan temples in Gujarat have started COVID facilities with hundreds of beds to help fight the pandemic. But you know who were happy seeing Gujaratis fall dead as ‘revenge’ for 2002 riots? Yes, ‘liberals’ who just hate Modi, just like our ‘comedians’.

You will never see them questioning how many mosques have opened up their gates as medical facilities. Because, everyone likes to keep their heads.

‘Duty before everything else’ – Two doctors return to work hours after cremating mothers in Gujarat

OpIndia Staff
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‘Duty before everything else’ – Two doctors return to work hours after cremating mothers in Gujarat

Dr Shilpa Patel and Dr Rahul Parmar, two doctors from Gujarat, joined back at work hours after cremating their mothers. On April 15, at around 3:30 AM, Dr Shipla’s mother lost her week-long battle to Covid-19 and took her last breath in ICU. 77-year-old Kanta Ambalal Patel, Shilpa’s mother, always told her that ‘duty before everything else!’. Dr Shilpa stayed true to her words and joined back at work six hours after her death. Dr Patel is an associate professor with the anatomy department at state-run SSG Hospital.

Since the pandemic started to spread in the country, Dr Shipla has been on Covid-19 duties on rotation every month. “We had shifted my mother from Mehsana to Vadodara after the private practitioner there told us that we would have to arrange for remdesivir ourselves. Since she was admitted at the SSG only, I could at least keep visiting her,” she added.

While remembering her parents’ teachings about how her work should be a priority, she said, “Based on rotation, my Covid duty was supposed to begin at 9 AM on Thursday, but mom departed before that.” She and her brother carried their mother wrapped as per Covid-19 protocol in an ambulance. She was cremated at Akota crematorium.

Dr Parmar lost his mother to age-related complications

Dr Rahul Parmar also lost his 67-year-old mother, Kanta Parmar, to age-related complications in Gandhinagar on April 15. Parmar is performing his duties as nodal officer for Covid management. He is also part of the dead body disposal team at SSG Hospital. He is working with the Preventive and Social Medicine Department at the hospital. After finishing the cremation rituals, he rushed back to the hospital and joined duty. He said, “It was a natural death. I finished the cremation rituals with my family and returned to Vadodara.”

Notably, Dr Parmar also contracted coronavirus last year in December. He had to get admitted to the hospital for five days. “I was administered remdesivir, and after 14 days’ quarantine period, I had rejoined duty,” he added. Dr Parmar has been managing the task to coordinate and handing over bodies of Covid-19 patients to their immediate families for more than a year.

Dr Vinod Rao, Officer on Special Duty for Covid-19 in Vadodara, said that the Covid warriors had displayed great personal commitment towards their duty even during the time of their mourning.

The covid-19 situation in Gujarat

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India reported 2,60,895 cases on April 17. 18,01,951 cases are still active in the country. A total of 1,47,92,362 cases have been reported in India so far. 1,28,06,991 have recovered from the infection, and 1,77,193 have lost their lives due to Covid-19 related complications.

In the case of Gujarat, the state has reported 9,541 new cases on April 17. 55,398 cases are active in the state. 97 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours. The state has administered 1,03,37,448 Covid-19 vaccine doses so far. 89,21,816 have received their first dose, while 14,15,632 have received both doses.

Fact-check: Is Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee asking devotees to enter Harmandir Sahib without a mask?

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-check: Is Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee asking devotees to enter Harmandir Sahib without a mask?

On April 18, India reported over 2,60,000 Covid-19 cases. The country’s healthcare system is overwhelmed, and it is essential for everyone to take precautions. However, some social media posts and WhatsApp forwards have suggested that Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara in Amritsar is not following the required protocol.

OpIndia’s investigation

We scanned through social media, mainstream media reports and live sessions of Harmandir Sahib from the last one week to see what the truth is. It has to be noted that the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) that takes care of the Akal Takht at the Golden Temple had refused to abide by the norms last year. There were several reports by news agencies like Dainik Bhaskar, The Print and others where it was mentioned that no one was wearing a mask at Harmandir Sahib.

In June last year, when religious places were reopened for the public, SGPC refused to follow the norms that made it mandatory for everyone to wear masks. They agreed to sanitisation but refused to ask people to wear masks inside the premises.

In September 2020, The Print visited Golden Temple and found out that no one was wearing masks and social distancing protocols were not being followed. Even the Police Officers at the premises were not wearing masks. When they asked a sewadar why he was not wearing a mask, he replied, “We have our God’s blessings, God won’t let anything happen to us.”

Punjab is facing a crisis amidst an increasing number of cases every day. In the last one month, the state has consistently reported over 2,000 cases. Since April 8, the number of new cases crossed 3,000 marks, and on April 15, the state reported over 4,000 cases. As the numbers are increasing, the state has imposed a night curfew in several districts.

On March 24, The Tribune reported that when their reporters visited Harmandir Sahib, the administration of the Gurudwara had left it to the ‘discretion’ of the devotees to follow Covid-19 protocols. It was not mandatory to wear a mask or maintain social distancing norms. This was the time when Punjab was reporting over 2,000 cases every day.

On April 2, the Amritsar administration under the Congress-led Punjab government met the representatives of SGPC. SGPC president Jagir Kaur, Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira, Commissioner of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill, SDM Vikas Hira, municipal corporation officials and some SGPC members were present at the meeting. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the plan to curb Covid-19 and following Covid-19 protocols in Harmandir Sahib.

After the meeting, Kaur issued a statement in which she urged the devotees to wear masks, use sanitisers and follow social distancing norms. SGPC chief secretary Harjinder Singh Dhami said that they have been motivating devotees to follow the protocols. However, he mentioned that no one would force the devotees to wear mask sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple. He said, “We have installed banners at various places around Golden Temple to inform the public about Covid-19 guidelines. We have asked our Sevadars on duty inside Golden Temple premises to motivate people to wear mask. We will not force mask-wearing inside sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple.”

No one was wearing masks on Baisakhi at Golden Temple

On Baisakhi, thousands of devotees visited Harmandir Sahib. News agency ANI shared some photos and videos of the Gurudwara in which it was clearly visible that no one was following the Covid-19 regulations.

Baisakhi was only ten days after the meeting between the Amritsar administration and SGPC.

It has been five days since Baisakhi, and the state is reporting over 4,000 cases. We scrolled through live videos of Harmandir Sahib on PTC’s Youtube channel to assert the situation and found that despite SGPC’s claims that they would motivate people to wear masks, only a handful of the people were wearing masks. Social distancing norms were not being followed.

Screenshots from Harmandir Sahib Live April 17, 2021

Source PTC Punjabi’s Youtube Channel

Screenshots from Harmandir Sahib Live April 18, 2021

Source PTC Punjabi’s Youtube Channel

Verdict

Though SGPC has announced that they would motivate devotees to wear masks and follow Covid-19 protocols, no one seems interested in following the regulations at the Sikh Holy site. SGPC no longer asks to remove masks in the Gurudwara premises like they had done earlier, but they have not made it mandatory to wear masks and follow protocols either.

Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, SAIL announce the supply of liquid oxygen from their plants for COVID-19 patients

OpIndia Staff
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Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, SAIL announce the supply of liquid oxygen from their plants for COVID-19 patients

After Reliance industries led by Mukesh Ambani provided oxygen for free to Maharashtra, now several Indian business houses have come forward to divert oxygen for their plants for medical use. On Sunday, Tata Steel announced that they are providing oxygen for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Before Tata Steel other steel companies like Jindal Steel, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel and SAIL had also announced that they are supplying oxygen for medical use.

Tata Steels to supply 200-300 tons of Liquid Medical Oxygen daily

Tata Steels took to Twitter on Sunday to announce that responding to the National urgency, the company is supplying 200-300 tons of Liquid Medical Oxygen daily to various State governments & hospitals. 

Commenting on the aid provided by Tata Steel, a company spokesperson assured, “Tata Steel’s response has been proactive to the increased demand for liquid medical oxygen and the company has been supplying as per the requirement given by various state governments.”

Jindal Steel’s commitment

In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel, from its Dolvi plant in Maharashtra is supplying 185 tonne of oxygen daily to the state government. 

The company, through a tweet informed, “Covid-19 has started spreading again and we need oxygen for saving lives. Oxygen is the raw material in steel plants and at this crucial time, we have committed to the government to prioritize saving lives over steel making.”

In another tweet, Jindal Steel & Power informed about its efforts to supply 50-100 MT of oxygen to hospitals in Chattisgarh and Orrisa.

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel supplying 200 MT liquid oxygen daily

On 17th April, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India announced that the company is supplying 200 MT of liquid oxygen to medical facilities in Gujarat. In a statement issued by CEO Dilip Oomen and tweeted by the company, they informed that the company is supplying oxygen from their oxygen plant in Hazira, which is being operated in partnership with INOX Air Products.

“It is in line with our social commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the authorities and safeguard communities during these trying times. Given the unprecedented challenges triggered by the COVID-19 surge, ensuring the health & wellbeing of our fellow citizens comes first for us and there is nothing more important than saving lives”, the statement issued by the CEO said.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, steel plants have supplied over 130,000 tonnes of medical oxygen, informed the steel ministry.

SAIL has supplied over 33,300 Tonnes of oxygen

On Saturday, public sector unit Steel Authority of India Limited announced that they have already supplied more than 33,300 Tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The organisation informed that oxygen of 99.7% purity is being supplied from its plants at Bokaro in Jharkhand, Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, Rourkela in Odisha, Durgapur and Burnpur in West Bengal.

Reliance sends aid to Maharashtra

Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd., which operates the world’s biggest refining complex in Gujarat, had informed that the refinery has started supplying oxygen from Jamnagar to Maharashtra at no cost due to acute shortage faced by the state.

An official who asked not to be identified due to the company’s internal policy said that Reliance is diverting some oxygen streams meant for its petroleum coke gasification units after making it suitable for medical use.

Applauding the efforts of the industry, the Ministry of Steel informed via its Twitter handle, “About 28 oxygen plants located in the steel plants of both public and private sectors are supplying about 1,500 tonnes of medical oxygen daily. A stock of 30,000 tonnes including the safety stock, is being made available for medical use.”

Medical oxygen is vital for saving the lives of patients suffering from various critical ailments who are put on ventilators and other life-saving medical equipment, and it has become one of the most important requirements for saving the lives of critical COVID-19 patients who are hospitalised. Therefore, as the demand for oxygen surges due to the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, ensuring an adequate supply of oxygen has become a top priority today.

With the dedicated producers of medial oxygen already working at their highest capacity, these contributions from other industries, who are diverting oxygen for their industrial use to medical use, will no doubt play a vital role in bridging some of the demand-supply gap.

ABC journalist complains about kids’ cartoon not having queer, disabled or gender diverse dogs of colour, PinkNews calls it ‘important debate’

OpIndia Staff
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ABC journalist complains about kids’ cartoon not having queer, disabled or gender diverse dogs of colour, PinkNews calls it ‘important debate’

On Wednesday (April 14), ABC network journalist Beverly Wang sparked controversy with a ‘woke’ article advocating the representation of ‘diverse groups’ in an Australian animated television series for preschool children named ‘Bluey’.

In the article titled, ‘I’ve learnt a lot from Bluey, but can the show be more representative?’, Wang talked about the lack of ‘diverse representation’ in kids’ pop culture. She conceded, “I understand that for the most part Bluey’s creators don’t view their show through a political lens. I’m aware this may come across as asking too much of a show that’s already so tender, nuanced and joyful.”

However, she was quick to ask, “My question is this: Can Bluey be more representative?” The ABC journalist emphasised, “As a parent of colour, I am always conscious of the presence — or absence — of diverse representation in kids’ pop culture, what it means for children and the conversations we have around that. I sincerely believe you don’t have to be ‘Other’ to think about this too.”

Screengrab of the article by Beverley Wang on ABC

From conceding that the show is tender and was not created with the perspective of political correctness, Beverly Wang revealed her obsession with race and colour that will not spare even a show meant for pre-school children.

As a typical race-baiting ‘woke’ journalist, she claimed, “We live in a world where the majority of main characters on children’s television are white; where there are more animals than people of colour protagonists populating the pages of children’s books.” Furthermore, she inquired, “Where are the disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families in Bluey’s Brisbane? If they’re in the background, let them come forward.”

Netizens slam ABC journalist for invading cartoon show with ‘woke culture’

After the article was published and shared on social media, concerned netizens slammed the ABC journalist for brainwashing infants with woke culture. Twitter user Darren Knewwell wrote, ” An insight into the unstable minds of the woke cult: ‘Where are the disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families in Bluey’s Brisbane?'”. He added, “These people are obsessed with pushing their unhinged ideology onto two-year children who literally have no idea about sexism, racism etc.”

Screengrab of the tweet

Another user named Arlina tweeted, “This is such an unnecessary reach if I ever seen one. Kids love this show. Don’t ruin this for them. There also are single parents on the show.”

Another user named Jessica Coors was too dismayed about the propaganda peddled by the ABC journalist through her article.

She wrote, “This idiot wants to corrupt children from the get go. Newsflash to everyone: being “queer” isn’t the norm. We don’t need that shit in kids shows. Period. Let them grow up how they are WITHOUT the media propaganda.”

PinkNews calls it ‘important debate’

Beverly Wang, nevertheless, did receive support from popular LGBTQ+ digital media outlet PinkNews. PinkNews (PN) published a report in support of the ABC journalist with the headline, “Kids’ cartoon Bluey criticised for not having ‘disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse or dogs of colour’”. On social media, PN said that Wang had prompted an “important debate”.

PinkNews headline

PinkNews came under the scanner as well for calling it an ‘important debate’ with some netizens refusing to believe that it is an actual headline of a serious news report and not a piece of satire.

US drops extradition request against Dawood Ibrahim’s financer in the UK after Pakistan allegedly manipulated key FBI witness

OpIndia Staff
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US drops extradition request against Dawood Ibrahim’s financer in the UK after Pakistan allegedly manipulated key FBI witness

The US has reportedly dropped an extradition request against Jabir Motiwala, the alleged financier of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim after years of persuasion. As per a report, Pakistan’s top sleuths, in a bid to cover up the nexus between the D-Company and ISI, allegedly ‘manipulated’ a key FBI witness. 

The said witness turned hostile which paved the way for Dawood Ibrahim’s financier Jabir Motiwala, to go scot-free in a high-profile extradition case heard in London. He will be freed from a London prison soon. 

The US extradition request in the British court had revealed that Jabir Motiwala reported directly to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, a designated global terrorist. The US agencies had also provided documentary evidence including tapes against Motiwala in the court for dealing in drugs and handling the finance of D-Company.

However, as per a report, Kamran Faridi, the key witness, took a u-turn to everyone’s surprise and revealed that he was pressured by his bosses in the FBI to trap D-company’s finance head Jabir Motiwala in a fake drug case. To the FBI’s embarrassment, charges against Dawood’s aide Jabir had to be dropped. 

The move by the US to drop the extradition request against the D-Company-aide has come as a surprise for Indian intelligence agencies.

An IPS officer holding a senior rank in the Indian security agencies disclosed, “D-company and ISI worked in tandem to influence Kamran Faridi. For them Faridi was the only hope as Jabir Motiwala had almost lost the case. The ISI sleuths finally managed Faridi to contradict his own revelations about Jabir. We have come to know that initially Kamran’s relatives in Karachi were approached. A few officials in Pakistani High Commission and a journalist of a prominent Pakistan TV channel based in London, too played a crucial part in highlighting Kamran Faridi’s manipulated statement.”

“How a former FBI agent, and a key witness who remained mum for so many years, turned hostile at such a late stage. Obviously ISI managed this agent, as Motiwala’s extradition would have opened a can of worms in the US court, exposing the underworld, terror nexus between Dawood Ibrahim and his handlers in Pakistan,” another senior officer of Indian agency alleged.

It was earlier reported that the Pakistan High Commission officials in London had been supporting Jabir Motiwala’s case and were trying to thwart the extradition process. Had the extradition taken place, it had the potential to expose D-Company’s nexus with Pakistani agencies in the US court.

Earlier, a section of Pakistani media had alleged that Motiwala hails from a well-to-do family in Karachi and was being framed by the US law enforcing agencies in drug operation connection.

Jabir however, was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and handling of international financial deals of Dawood Ibrahim. At the request of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jabir Motiwala who flew from Cyprus to London in 2018, was arrested by Scotland Yard.

While Rahul Gandhi ‘cancels’ public rallies, Congress leaders continue gathering large crowds in West Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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While Rahul Gandhi ‘cancels’ public rallies, Congress leaders continue gathering large crowds in West Bengal

Rahul Gandhi on Sunday emphatically announced that he was calling off his election rallies in West Bengal due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was only days after the senior Congress leader attended massive rallies in poll bound states.

The announcement by Rahul Gandhi ostensibly came after his planned participation in rallies was over. Election rallies in recent times have come under intense scrutiny due to surging Covid-19 cases in the country. Opposition parties have attempted to use the sentiments to target the BJP while maintaining a strategic silence over their own rallies which have witnessed massive crowds and are continuing to attract large crowds.

Rahul Gandhi clearly made an attempt to capitalise on the sentiment. However, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, senior leader of the Congress party, is continuing to attend crowded rallies in direct contradiction of the message Gandhi. It appears to be part of a well-crafted strategy.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury shared pictures from his rally at the Naoda Vidhan Sabha Constituency in support of the alliance backed candidate. The Congress party is in an alliance with the Left Front and Abbas Siddiqui’s ISF in the state.

He shared pictures from a rally in Malda as well in support of another candidate.

Thus, quite clearly, Gandhi’s announcement of ‘canceling’ his rallies in West Bengal appears to be a tactic only to earn plaudits on social media. The reality on the ground is quite different. The Trinamool Congress as well has adopted a similar strategy where they refrain from uploading photographs of their rallies on Twitter but continue organising them nevertheless.

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