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ABVP says TMC goons attacked their office in Kolkata for over 20 minutes in a pre-planned assault: Read what happened

OpIndia Staff
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ABVP says TMC goons attacked their office in Kolkata for over 20 minutes in a pre-planned assault: Read what happened

Today, the official Twitter account of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) accused the TMC of sending its goons in order to attack ABVP’s office in Kolkata. This alleged attack comes in the aftermath of the 2021 West Bengal elections which were swept by the TMC. Many incidents of violence by TMC workers have been recorded in the aftermath of the Bengal elections.

“Since ABVP calls out the politics of hate by Mamata Banerjee & her minions, TMC goons resorted to violence and vandalized @ABVPBanga Office. After coming back to power, this is how TMC goons plan to curb dissent,” wrote the official ABVP account on Twitter.

ABVP further alleges that more than 20 goons from TMC stormed into the ABVP Office, attacking ABVP workers including the National Joint Secretary of ABVP. The TMC workers are said to have vandalized several idols of deities and thought leaders alike.

ABVP also accuses the TMC of preplanning this attack, saying, “After TMC’s victory yesterday, more than 150 bikes of TMC goons were circling around ABVP office several times. This makes us believe today’s attack was preplanned and is only a glimpse of what next five years hold in store for people who oppose Mamata Banerjee and her politics.”

The news of this attack has also been reported by Organizer, an affiliated publication of ABVP’s parent body, the RSS.

ABVP Banga, the verified Twitter account of ABVP also confirmed the news of the attack, writing that TMC goons attacked ABVP’s South Bengal Officer. Around 12:45 PM today, 10-12 TMC goons charged in to attack the ABVP office.

An official press note from ABVP about the attack has been released. According to this press note, 15-20 TMC goons attacked the ABVP office around 1 PM for up to 20 minutes. During this time period, the TMC goons attacked many different ABVP workers, including top leaders present in the building. Moreover, the TMC goons also vandalized the idols of Maa Kaali and Lord Hanuman, thereby desecrating them. Additionally the TMC goons also repeatedly kicked the portraits of eminent Bengali personalities like Ravindranath Tagore, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Subhash Chandra Bose, etc.

Our prominent activists are safe after the violent attack on the ABVP office by Trinamool goons, but this kind of violent behavior shown by the Chief Minister and her goons ever since the result of the assembly elections is highly reprehensible," said Nidhi Tripathi, National General Secretary of ABVP.

In times to come, we have to keep the torch of nationalism alive by remaining united and keeping our security in mind. Mamta and her goons have given an example of how the situation is going to be in Bengal in the future, therefore we have to be ready for a long struggle.” Ms. Tripathi added.

West Bengal is currently going through a violent wave of celebration from TMC goons after the clear victory for TMC in the 2021 Bengal elections. This violent wave has forced Mamata Banerjee to comment, blaming the BJP and Central forces in her trademark style.

“I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and not indulge in any violence. We know BJP and Central Forces have tortured us a lot but we have to maintain peace. At present, we have fight COVID19”, said Mamata Banerjee, newly elected third-time Chief Minister of West Bengal.

West Bengal polls: How Congress lost security deposit in both constituencies where Rahul Gandhi campaigned

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal polls: How Congress lost security deposit in both constituencies where Rahul Gandhi campaigned

The Congress party has emerged as the ‘biggest loser’ after the results for the West Bengal State Legislative polls were announced on Sunday. While the party had joined hands with its once arch-rival the Communist party and the Islamist Indian Secular Front (ISF), Congress failed to secure even a single seat. Interestingly, the grand old party’s political misfortune further aggravated in the constituencies where Rahul Gandhi campaigned.

It must be mentioned that Rahul Gandhi had campaigned in the two constituencies of Goalpokhar and Matigira- Naxalbari on April 14, ahead of the 5th phase of the elections. While it became evident from the election results that the Congress party lost all of the 92 seats it contested, a closer analysis of the data suggests a bigger loss for Congress scion Rahul Gandhi. The Congress candidates, who contested from Goalpokar and Matigira-Naxalbari constituencies, not only lost to its rival parties but also the security deposit.

According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a candidate will not be refunded his security deposit by the Election Commission if the candidate fails to secure 1/6th (16.67%) of the total valid votes. As such, the candidate has to forfeit his deposit to the nodal Election body. It must be pointed out that a candidate has to pay ₹10,000 as a security deposit for fighting elections for State Legislative assembly.

Congress loses deposit in the Goalpokhar constituency, where Rahul Gandhi campaigned

As per the official results published on the website of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress candidate from Goalpokhar, Masood Md. Naseem Ahsen, lost out to his counterparts in the BJP and Congress. The party managed to secure a total of 19,391 votes (EVM and postal) out of 1,61,535 valid votes. Given that Ahsen secured only 12% of the total valid votes, he had to forfeit his security. It must be mentioned that Md. Ghulam Rabbani of the Trinamool Congress won the constituency with a whopping 65.4% of the votes.

Screengrab of the Election result of Goalpokhar Vidhan Sabha constituency

Rahul Gandhi sinks Congress’ security deposit in Matigara-Naxalbari constituency

Congress suffered a major blow in the Matigara-Naxalbari constituency as well where Rahul Gandhi had addressed a ‘large gathering.’ The BJP candidate, Anandamay Barman, won the seat with a whopping 58.1% (139785) votes. While the TMC candidate came second, Congress was yet again pushed to third place. The party’s performance in the said constituency was far more dismal than it was in the Goalpokhar constituency.

Congress candidate Sankar Malakar received only 23,060 votes (EVM+postal) out of 2,40,591 valid votes. In terms of percentage, Congress received only 9.58% votes, far lower than the 16.67% threshold. As such, Malakar too had to forfeit his security deposit.

Screengrab of the Election result of Matigara-Naxalbari Vidhan Sabha constituency

Rahul Gandhi and his ‘Coronavirus gimmick’ during election campaigning in West Bengal

On April 14, Rahul Gandhi was seen addressing large gatherings in Goalpokhar and Matigara-Naxalbari in West Bengal ahead of the 5th phase of Vidhan Sabha polls. In a tweet, the official handle of the party tweeted, “Shri Rahul Gandhi receives a tremendous reception as he arrives for his public meeting at Goalpokhar in West Bengal.” The visuals, shared by the party, clearly showed how social distancing guidelines went for a toss during his rally.

However, just 4 days later, Rahul Gandhi resorted to virtue signalling. On April 18, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy by attributing election rallies to the rising Coronavirus cases in the country. In a tweet, he said, “Bimaro aur mritako ki bhi itni bheed pehali baar dekhi hai (I have seen such a large crowd of infected and deceased people too for the first time).” The Congress dynast took potshots at the ruling BJP for its aggressive campaign ahead of the 6th phase of polls in West Bengal.

Rahul Gandhi was absent from the campaign trail in West Bengal during the four phases of the State Legislative polls. Although the likes of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Salman Khurshid, and Jaiveer Shergill had addressed gatherings ahead of the polls, Rahul Gandhi remained missing until the 4th phase. And as election results now suggest, his campaign further aggravated the party’s chances in the two constituencies.

Mamata Banerjee pretends to appeal for calm, inflames passions further as BJP workers continue to get attacked: Here is how

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata Banerjee pretends to appeal for calm, inflames passions further as BJP workers continue to get attacked: Here is how

Violence was reported from several places in West Bengal following TMC’s victory in the recently concluded state assembly polls. BJP workers and supporters were at the receiving end of the violence as alleged TMC goons attacking them and vandalising their offices. Now, Mamata Banerjee has issued an appeal to maintain calm. However, in doing so, she has further provoked the passions by accusing the BJP and Central forces of torturing them.

“I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and not indulge in any violence. We know BJP and Central Forces have tortured us a lot but we have to maintain peace. At present, we have fight COVID19,” Banerjee said.

Mamata Banerjee did appeal for peace, but her appeal was not unequivocal. In a subtle encouragement to the rioters and vandals, she passed the buck of the violence on the BJP and the central government, accusing them of “torture” and thereby indirectly justifying the violence by TMC supporters against their political rivals.

She further added, “I am just a street fighter. I can boost up people so that we can fight against BJP. One can’t do everything alone. I think all together we can fight the battle for 2024. Let’s fight COVID first.”

She accused the BJP of using photographs of old riots to allege violence in the state following the election results. “They (BJP) are posting photographs of old riots, it’s their habit. I don’t like any violence. Why BJP is doing that? Even after winning with a thumping majority, we didn’t do any kind of celebration,” she said.

She further inflamed passions of TMC workers by saying, “I received an SMS from someone wherein Returning Officer of Nandigram has written to someone if he allows recounting then his life would be under threat. For four hours server was down, Governor also congratulated me. Suddenly everything changed”.

Ever since the BJP made inroads in West Bengal politics following the 2019 General elections when it won 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats, the political violence in the state has increased dramatically. BJP workers and supporters have often found themselves at the receiving end of the TMC goon’s wrath. Many of them have been found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Violence, a hallmark of TMC rule in West Bengal, was also meted out on the BJP workers and supporters as the TMC goons went on a rampage, indulging in violence, arson, and vandalism following the party’s victory in the state assembly elections yesterday. BJP offices were vandalised and its workers attacked as the TMC supporters ran amok celebrating their party’s victory.

TMC victory in West Bengal triggers a horrifying spate of violence as TMC goons go on a rampage against their political opponents

Soon after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) surpassed the BJP in Vidhan Sabha elections, the goons of the ruling dispensation unleashed violence against their political opponents. While the TMC had secured 213 seats, the BJP managed to win 77 constituencies. There have been multiple incidents of violence inflicted by TMC goons from several places across the state.

On Sunday (May 2), a BJP worker named Avijit Sarkar took to Facebook to narrate the harrowing tale of violence that he was subjected to by the TMC goons. The video was uploaded just hours before he was lynched to death by the miscreants. “I don’t know how to come live (on Facebook). They hurled bombs right in front of my eyes and vandalised my house and the party office. My only mistake is that I am a BJP worker.,” he recounted.

Opindia has learnt that Avijit Sarkar was beaten to death after uploading the two testimonials on Facebook. Following the victory of the Trinamool Congress, several BJP workers and supporters had expressed fear that Mamata Banerjee’s return to power might jeopardise their livelihood and existence.

On Monday (May 3), News18 journalist Payal Mehta had shared the CCTV footage of another deadly attack unleashed by the TMC goons. In visuals caught on camera, the violent mob attacked the house of a BJP worker on Sunday evening in the Kasba locality of South Kolkata. At about 15 seconds into the video, a Trinamool Congress flag could be spotted. The goons initially tried to kick open the door of the house.

The TMC workers also gheraoed a BJP office in Arambagh and attacked it. The office was vandalised and subsequently burnt to the ground.

How this doctor abandoned every single oath that doctors take and might endanger lives in his unbridled hate for ‘Bhakts’

Editorial Desk
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How this doctor abandoned every single oath that doctors take and might endanger lives in his unbridled hate for ‘Bhakts’

As India faces a severe second wave of COVID-19, increased importance has been placed upon the medical professionals of this country. These medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, etc. are imperative in our nation’s collective struggle against COVID-19. However, not all of these professionals are working in good faith, with some going as far as to consider the political allegiance of their patients before giving out medical advice. This is in clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath, an oath of medical ethics taken by all physicians.

However, for some doctors, that oath means paltry little.

Meet Dr Vikas Rastogi, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology at Topiwala National Medical College, B.Y.L. Nair Charitable Hospital. In a Facebook post on May 1, Dr Rastogi gives us an insight into his mind, writing about a hypothetical situation with a Modi supporter patient. In his post, Rastogi writes, “Today a bhakt called me because his dad has got COVID and Oxygen was low. I told him to take him to Ram Mandir or Statue of Unity for treatment…kaafi jagah hai waha pe kahi bhi bed daal dena.”

Facebook post by the doctor

In essence, Dr Rastogi says that he will not give proper medical advice to “Bhakts” i.e. supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and tell them to go to Ram Mandir or Statue of Unity, instead of a hospital in order to seek medical treatment. This is a clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath and its foremost principle of “Doing no harm”. The post also violates the Indian Medical Association pledge stating, “I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient.“

Instead of apologizing for his post which was receiving deserved backlash, Dr Rastogi doubled down. Rastogi justified his violation of various medical ethics, stating that as an Indian citizen it was his right to criticize the government. However, the controversy arises from the mindset of Dr Rastogi, and his clear disdain towards any patient who supports the sitting Prime Minister of our country, which can potentially lead to a patient being denied care. The controversy is not that Dr Rastogi criticizes the Modi Government.

Facebook post by the doctor

Despite the backlash, Dr Rastogi has not yet deleted his post but instead changed the privacy settings so that the post is only visible to his Facebook friends. We know this because he confessed to doing it in a comment on another Facebook post, in which he talks about the backlash he is receiving for his post. Similarly, the privacy settings for this FB post have also been changed. However, OpIndia was able to secure a screenshot just in time.

Facebook post by the doctor

This post clearly shows that Dr Rastogi has no regrets for his post. He believes in what he posted, which amounts to a clear violation of several medical ethics. Doctors cannot treat patients differently or prescribe different treatments based on the political affiliation of any patient. However, in his “hypothetical thought”, Dr Rastogi has no problem in denying healthcare to Modi-supporting COVID-19 patients. There is malfeasance on the mind of Dr Rasotgi, which also violative of the Hippocratic Oath.

Dr. Rastogi references another post that was not in violation of any medical ethics but contained some general anti-Maratha sentiments, including calling PM Modi a “murderer”.

Facebook post by the doctor

The big concern regarding Dr Rastogi, or any such doctors with a similar mentality, is that they are at risk of potentially letting their politics guide their medical practice. Will someone like Dr Rastogi, who calls PM Modi a murderer, give proper medical advice and treatment to the so-called “Bhakts”? Not according to their posts on Facebook, which reveal a clear contempt towards any supporters of the sitting Prime Minister, even going as far as to blame the “Bhakts” for India’s COVID-19 miseries.

How exactly are the people supposed to trust their doctors, if some doctors view a certain section of the population differently because of their political beliefs? This is a real mess that has the potential to lower trusts in Doctors and other medical professions at a time when our country needs it the most.

Rajasthan: Coronavirus positive elderly couple commit suicide to not pass on the virus to their grandson

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Coronavirus positive elderly couple commit suicide to not pass on the virus to their grandson

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed a lot of families into utter doom and despair. In a distressing incident from Rajasthan, an elderly couple committed suicide after not being able to get themselves hospitalised on testing COVID-19 positive. The couple feared spreading the virus to their grandson if they isolated at home.

The elderly couple had lost their only son eight years ago and were not ready to lose their 19-year-old grandson to the Chinese virus.

Why did the couple commit suicide

The 75-year-old Hiralal and his wife Shantibai had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus on April 29. While they were made to quarantine at home, the couple feared spreading the virus to their grandson. They tried to get themselves hospitalized but as their symptoms were not serious, no hospital was ready to admit them. 

Unable to understand what to do, the couple jumped in front of a speeding train on the Delhi-Mumbai track. 

Upon receiving the information from the train driver, Deputy SP of Kota rushed to the spot to recover the bodies of the elderly couple. A case under section 174 of the CrPC (unnatural death) was registered and the bodies were sent for last rites as per COVID-19 protocol.

Amidst the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Rajasthan recorded more than 18,000 new cases and 159 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Rajasthan: Kota Nagar Nigam van blares audio message saying ‘Babri Masjid verdict’ responsible for pandemic, other tragedies in India

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Kota Nagar Nigam van blares audio message saying ‘Babri Masjid verdict’ responsible for pandemic, other tragedies in India

Swarajya Magazine journalist Swati Goel Sharma today shared a video from Rajasthan’s Kota where a Nagar Nigam van was seen blaring audio through its loudspeaker, which said that people are dying in the country because of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute.

“Friends, listen and understand this thing carefully. A crisis has wreaked havoc in India following the demolition of Babri Masjid. Why have there been so many deaths in India? Since the Supreme Court’s decision on Babri dispute, things have not been good in the country,” the audio said.

The van was plying the streets of Kota when some aware citizens took cognisance of the audio being blared out of its loudspeaker. They accosted the driver and asked him about the hateful and misleading message being broadcasted through its loudspeaker.

“Babri verdict where court decided to break the Babri mosque and build a temple is the reason the pandemic has spread to this level in India. Since this verdict, something or the other has happened in India…” the audio recording plays before being paused.

The driver of the van could be seen admitting in the video that he was asked to broadcast the message through its loudspeaker by a contractor named Rohit.

In November 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered a historic judgement ending a dispute that spanned for centuries. The top court handed over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid land to the Hindu parties, making way for Hindu devotees to have a grand Ram Mandir at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The Apex court also ordered the union government to provide 5 acres of land at an alternate site at a prominent location in Ayodhya to the Sunni Waqf Board to rebuild the Babri Masjid which was demolished in 1992.

OpIndia tried to contact Kota Nagar Nigam to get their response on the controversial audio message being transmitted through its vehicles. However, we could not get in touch with them as their mobile phone seems to have been turned off. We will update the story if and when we get inputs from the Nagar Nigam on the matter.

Well supported by govt of India, NZ Embassy should have used normal channels to get oxygen: PM Jacinda Ardern speaks up on controversy

OpIndia Staff
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Well supported by govt of India, NZ Embassy should have used normal channels to get oxygen: PM Jacinda Ardern speaks up on controversy

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded to the raging controversy that was triggered after the country’s Embassy asked the Indian Youth Congress—the youth wing of the country’s main opposition party—for help in providing an oxygen cylinder. Ardern said the New Zealand High Commission in India should have used “normal channels and protocols” to secure oxygen for a person they say is critically ill with Covid-19.

Ardern said there were other ways the High Commission could and should have used to seek medical assistance.

She further said, “The High Commission themselves have removed that tweet and acknowledged that wasn’t the process that should have been used. They’ve done that, they’ve corrected that.”

Source: YouTube

She contended that one person working in the commission’s compound, an Indian national, was “very unwell” and recognised why the commission might have done what it did. However, Ardern added, “there are other means and channels because the commission was very well supported by the Indian government through the pandemic.”

The Kiwi Prime Minister said that the NZ government is doing all it can to keep both Kiwis and locals working at the commission safe, including introducing bubble arrangements and enforcing strict protocols.

New Zealand embassy tweet to the youth wing of Congress for oxygen sparks controversy

The controversy erupted after the New Zealand embassy in India on Sunday (May 2) bypassed the Ministry of External Affairs and sought oxygen supply from the youth wing of the Opposition Congress party. “Srinivas BV, could you please help with the oxygen cylinder urgently at the New Zealand High Commission? Thank you,” the tweet read.

Srinivas B V then reached the New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders along with other Congress workers. “We have reached New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders. Please open the gates and save a soul on time. #SOSIYC,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, he informed, “Update- New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders. Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as the patient inside the embassy was critically ill.”

The tweet drew sharp criticism from netizens, who slammed the New Zealand embassy for not proper protocols in demanding the supply of oxygen.

Following the controversy, the New Zealand embassy in India deleted its initial tweet. “We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry,” it apologised in a tweet.

Fact-check: Has govt of India not placed any new orders for coronavirus vaccines since March 2021? Here are the facts

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-check: Has govt of India not placed any new orders for coronavirus vaccines since March 2021? Here are the facts

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today dismissed media reports alleging the Centre placed no new orders for Covid-19 vaccines since March as bogus and incorrect.

Several media houses such as the Business Standard and the Forbes published reports claiming that the Centre has not placed any fresh order for COVID-19 vaccines either with Serum Institute of India or with Bharat Biotech. The reports claimed that the last order placed with the two vaccine makers (100 million doses with SII and 20 million doses with Bharat Biotech) was in March 2021.

Business Standard’s report on ‘no new orders for Covid-19 vaccines placed by the Centre’

Calling these reports devoid of facts, the Ministry issued a press release which provides an in-detail account of the new orders of Covid-19 vaccine doses placed and received from the vaccine manufacturers- Serum Institute of India and Bharat BioTech respectively.

Government data on order for vaccine doses placed

The Ministry informed that 100% advance of Rs. 1732.50 cr was released to Serum Institute of India on April 28 for 11 crore doses of Covishield vaccine during May, June and July. As on date, against the last order of 10 crore doses for supplies of Covishield vaccine, 8.744 crore doses have been delivered till May 03.

Additionally, 100% advance of Rs. 787.50 cr was released on the same date to Bharat Biotech India Ltd for 05 crore Covaxin doses during May, June and July. As on date against the last order of 02 crore doses for supplies of Covaxin vaccine, around 83 lakh doses have been delivered by the manufacturer.

This diffuses the claims of no fresh order of vaccine doses placed by the Government of India.

Government data on vaccine doses made available to states/ UTs

Elaborating on the vaccine doses made available to states and UTs, the response revealed that as of May 02, the Government of India has provided more than 16.54 crore vaccine doses to States/UTs for free of cost. Around 78 lakh doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered while more than 56 Lakh doses, in addition, will be received by the States/UTs in the next 3 days, said the press release.

The reports were allegedly based on the inferences drawn from SII CEO Adar Poonawalla’s interview to The Financial Times. Poonawalla, on being asked why the manufacturing capacity was not expanded, said that he received no additional orders from the government and that his company did not think it needed to make more than 1 billion doses a year.

SII’s response

Shortly after the government issued a response, the Serum Institute of India released a Tweet endorsing the government’s response. The tweet read, “We endorse this statement, & the authenticity of the information. We have been working closely with the Government of India for the past year & thank it for its support. We remain committed to ramping up our vaccine production to save every life we can.”

Further, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla also took to Twitter to refute the claims.

In a statement, Poonawalla said that his comments were misinterpreted. He said that vaccine manufacturing is a specialised process and hence it cannot be ramped up overnight. India’s population is huge and hence will require a great number of doses to inoculate so many citizens. He added that the company has been working closely with Government of India since April 2020 and has been given every kind of support to speed up the process.

He added that as of today, SII has received order of 26 crore doses of which over 15 crore doses have been supplied. He also said that SII is working hard to ensure the vaccines are made available in quickest time possible.

India is currently running the largest vaccination drive with over 156 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered already.

BJP worker brutally assaulted, bleeds profusely from the head after being attacked by TMC goon

OpIndia Staff
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BJP worker brutally assaulted, bleeds profusely from the head after being attacked by TMC goon

Violence against BJP workers by Trinamool Congress (TMC) hoodlums is going unabated in the State of West Bengal. In one such incident that has now come to light, a BJP worker was assaulted mercilessly at his own residence allegedly by the workers of the ruling TMC.

The incident took place in Kismatdapat village of Trimohini in the South Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The area falls under the Balurghat Vidhan Sabha constituency. Reportedly, TMC goons ambushed the victim’s house and attacked him. The BJP worker sustained head injuries and bled profusely. The miscreants also entered his house and vandalised the property.

In a video that has now surfaced online, a visibly drunken man could be seen abusing the victim and his wife with the choicest of expletives. Referring to the BJP worker as a ‘son of a pig’, he proceeded to hit him with a bamboo shaft. “BJP dekhachis (Showing me the might of BJP).How much power do you? Do you think you came to power?” the miscreant threatened.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/Opindia)

When the victim’s wife pleaded that the BJP worker should taken to a hospital, the goon warned, “I will turn this house into a hospital now.” In a bid to prevent further escalation, a man intervened and escorted the goon outside the house. “O jeetu da chole jao, bhul hoyecha amari maar koro ma (Please Jeetu da, go away. The mistake is mine. End the fight),” a voice could be heard in the background.

Atrocities against BJP workers and leaders by TMC

Within hours of winning elections, TMC gheraoed the party office of BJP in Hastings, burnt down party office in Arambagh and attacked BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who defeated Mamata Banerjee. On Monday (May 3), News18 journalist Payal Mehta had shared the CCTV footage of one such deadly attack. In visuals caught on camera, the violent mob attacked the house of a BJP worker on Sunday evening in the Kasba locality of South Kolkata.

At about 15 seconds into the video, a Trinamool Congress flag could be spotted. The goons initially tried to kick open the door of the house. However, when this failed, they threw punches and attacked with bricks and sticks. On Sunday (May 2), a BJP worker named Avijit Sarkar took to Facebook to narrate the harrowing tale of violence that he was subjected to by the TMC goons. The video was uploaded just hours before he was lynched to death by the miscreants.

“I don’t know how to come live (on Facebook). They hurled bombs right in front of my eyes and vandalised my house and the party office. My only mistake is that I am a BJP worker.,” he recounted. The BJP worker broke down into tears. He said that the attack took place in Ward no. 30 in the Beleghata neighbourhood in Kolkata under the supervision of TMC leaders Paresh Paul and Swapan Samandar.

India Today’s Rahul Kanwal backtracks after receiving a letter from Shiv Sena, had claimed party goons heckled SII CEO Adar Poonawalla

OpIndia Staff
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India Today’s Rahul Kanwal backtracks after receiving a letter from Shiv Sena, had claimed party goons heckled SII CEO Adar Poonawalla

India Today’s News Director Rahul Kanwal on Monday took to Twitter to apologise for saying that Shiv Sena leaders had threatened Serum Institute of India’s Adar Poonawalla over Chinese coronavirus vaccines.

Rahul Kanwal issues an apology

Kanwal said that the leader who allegedly threatened Adar Poonawalla was Raju Shetty of Swabhimani Shektari Sanghatana (SSS) and not Shiv Sena. Kanwal, on Sunday had said that he received clips directly from the CEO of the Serum Institute of India Adar Poonawalla of Shiv Sena hooligans hurling choicest of abuses at him outside his factory in Pune demanding early vaccines.

After Kanwal’s comment went viral, Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena issued a letter to the India Today Group, refuting the allegations levelled against them. Calling it “absolutely untrue” and “defamatory”, Sena demanded that the India Today group takes action against Rahul Kanwal.

“We also expect an express apology from him on the same platforms that he has voiced this fake news on,” the letter said.

As a result, Kanwal has now retracted his statement and regretted causing confusion and inconvenience. The anchor now claims that the hoodlums seen in the video sent to him belonged to a different political party and not the Shiv Sena.

However, the Shiv Sena supporters are not happy with Kanwal issuing an apology just on social media. A demand is being made to get him to apologize in a live show on his channel as the allegation made by him against the political party was also during a televised show.

Let us inform you, Adar Poonawalla has temporarily moved out of the country after facing threats from the most powerful men in India after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition members have constantly fear-mongered and demonised him. Poonawalla later informed that he will return to India soon and has had an ‘excellent meeting’ with partners and stakeholders in the UK.

Rahul Kanwal’s statement

While conversing with his colleague Rajdeep Sardesai while covering election results, the anchor got into a monologue describing the COVID-19 situation and temporary migration of Adar Poonawalla. It is then that Rahul Kanwal revealed, “…And I actually saw this. He (Adar Poonawalla) sent me some videos of some Shiv Sena locals showing up outside his factory, giving him the choicest of gaalis (abuses) and saying ‘humko pehle do’ (give us the vaccines first) and this is bizarre.”

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