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Bihar: Minor girl goes missing in Madhubani a month ago, family alleges ‘love jihad’ by Shoaib and family

अनुपम कुमार सिंह
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Bihar: Minor girl goes missing in Madhubani a month ago, family alleges ‘love jihad’ by Shoaib and family

An incident of the kidnapping of a minor Hindu girl has come to light in Balarahi under Khirhar police station in Madhubani district in Bihar. The incident reportedly took place on January 28, 2021, when the minor girl, who is a student of 9th standard, did not return from her tuition. Her family started looking for her but she could not be traced.

An FIR was filed by the mother of the girl stating that she was informed by some people that her daughter was last seen on a bike with a person named Mohammad Shoaib, son of Mohammad Tahir. Shoaib is a resident of village Jhitki. The mother said that when she went to Shoaib’s house to inquire about Shoaib, his father Tahir said that he had gone out. She alleged that when she shared her apprehension of a possible kidnapping of her daughter, Tahir and his family got angry.

Shoaib’s family misbehaved with the girl’s family

The FIR stated that Tahir and his family misbehaved with the girl’s family and said that if Shoaib had eloped with the girl, he would marry her. It further stated that Shoaib’s family threatened to kill the girl’s family if they informed the police about it. His family offered to resolve the matter in the village panchayat. Tahir assured the panchayat that the girl would be back within 2-3 days. However, the girl is nowhere to be found. The girl’s mother said that this was the reason for the delay in approaching the police.

Shoaib’s father and mother not interrogated despite being named in the FIR

The girl’s family has alleged that Shoaib has run away with the girl with the intention of marrying her. Shoaib’s father, mother and sister are also allegedly involved in the matter. OpIndia contacted a local journalist to find out more on the incident. The local journalist informed that the FIR was lodged on February 8, 2021 and the police have not taken any action as yet. The journalist said that Shoaib’s father and mother are named in the FIR and still they have not been interrogated by the police. He apprehended that Shoaib’s family might be aware of the whole matter. He said, “This seems like a case of love jihad (grooming jihad). Minor girl had gone to tuition, he bluffed her and ran away with her. There was a delay in filing the case owing to the assurance given by Tahir in panchayat but no action has been taken so far. Her family is struggling for justice.

The girl’s father threatened to consume poison if his daughter not found

Head of Jhitki village Laltu Mandal has a different opinion on the matter. Initially he refrained from commenting but after much insistence he said that both the families used to take part in each other’s celebrations. Therefore, there was a possibility that they might have resolved the matter. A woman relative of the girl’s family said, “A Muslim man had taken the girl. He might get her converted. We are receiving threats to withdraw the case”. The girl’s aggrieved father has threatened to consume poison if the girl is not found. “Please find her else I will kill myself by consuming poison. Fulfil your duty as a Hindu. He might sell her”, the father of the girl said.

The girl’s family alleges police inaction

The girl’s family has alleged that Tahir and his family are showing them the power of money. They said that the police had not taken any action so far. They said that they would protest if the girl was not found. SHO Harlakhi Anjesh Kumar has denied the allegations of police inaction. He said that the police are making every effort to trace the girl. When asked whether Tahir has been interrogated in the matter, he said that he would be interrogated when required. He assured that the girl would be traced soon, however, the police have found no clue so far.

As I-T raids continue on Anurag Kashyap, Tapsee Pannu, and Kwan, politicians and ‘liberals’ call them brave, ‘pro-farmers’

OpIndia Staff
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As I-T raids continue on Anurag Kashyap, Tapsee Pannu, and Kwan, politicians and ‘liberals’ call them brave, ‘pro-farmers’

On March 4, The Income Tax raids on properties linked to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, actress Taapsee Pannu and others continued for the second day. The Income Tax department started carrying out raids on 22 locations on March 3 on the properties linked to Kashyap, Pannu, Vikas Bahl, filmmaker Madhu Mantena and others in Mumbai, Pune and other locations. The raids are in connection to the allegation of tax evasion by Kashyap’s Phantom Films that was dissolved in 2018.

As per the reports, properties linked to Shibhashish Sarkar (CEO of Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment), Afsar Zaidi (CEO Exceed) and Vijay Subramaniam (CEO Kwan talent management agency) were also searched by the IT department.

Times Now has reported that the IT Department has interrogated Anurag Kashyap and Taapsee Pannu for long hours on March 3. It is unclear if they will be interrogated today again.

As per reports, when Phantom Films was operational, several shell companies were floated. The funds were then parked in these companies. The I-T Department also suspect that Kashyap and other directors of Phantom films used the money for investing in properties and other assets. Taapsee’s role in the alleged tax evasion case is yet to be revealed.

Kwan’s name has emerged in high profile cases

Notably, Kwan Talent Management Agency‘s name has appeared in high profile cases in recent times. After the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, several aspects of the case were investigated. During the investigation, evidence of excessive usage of narcotics in Bollywood led to an investigation by NCB. In September 2020, the CEO of Kwan was summoned by Narcotics Control Bureau in connection to cases related to drug usage in Bollywood.

Madhu Mantena, who has been under IT scanner in current raids, was also summoned by NCB. Once Kwan’s name emerged in the news, its alleged dark side started to make headlines. Suchitra Krishnamoorti and Sharlyn Chopra made a series of allegations against the company. Actress Deepika Padukone’s NGO reportedly had a connection to Kwan. Anirban Das Blah, ex-owner of KWAN Entertainment, was associated with Deepika’s NGO. When his name first appeared in the “Me Too” movement in 2018, both KWAN and TLLLF issued a statement that they have removed Anirban from his respective positions in the organization.

Maha government, AAP supporters and ‘liberals’ start hailing Kashyap and Pannu

Amidst the IT department’s crackdown on Anurag Kashyap, Taapsee Pannu and others, the opposition parties and liberals have come forward in their support. Maharashtra government has come out openly in their support. Maharashtra cabinet minister Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur said those who speak against BJP is considered a traitor.

Maharashtra minister Ashok Chavan the raids are because they are ‘outspoken celebrities’.

AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj called them ‘brave and rare’.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav called the raids a “condemnable act” and alleged that the central government is threatening artists for ‘calling spade a spade’.

Congress Prince Rahul Gandhi did not name Kashyap or Pannu. He shared what he probably thought was a sarcastic tweet mentioning some Hindi proverbs. He claimed the raids are the government’s attempt to harass ‘pro-farmers’.

Entertainer Swara Bhasker and movie maker Anubhav Sinha commented on the issue too. While Bhasker called Tapsee and Kashyap brave, Anubhav Sinha said he just loves them both.

Swara Bhasker on Twitter
Anubhav Sinha on Twitter

The raids are expected to continue on Friday, and more celebrities may get summoned by the IT department in the case.

Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh’s co-brother Jodhveer Dhaliwal seen leading attacks against Indian diaspora during ‘Tiranga-Maple’ rally

OpIndia Staff
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Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh’s co-brother Jodhveer Dhaliwal seen leading attacks against Indian diaspora during ‘Tiranga-Maple’ rally

On Monday, members of the Indian diaspora residing in Canada had organised a tiranga (tricolour) and Maple Car rally in Brampton to celebrate India-Canada ties. More than 100 cars had participated in the rally carrying flags of India and Canada on their vehicles.

Amidst all the positivity shown during the rally, the intrusion by pro-Khalistani elements became a significant problem as they not only abused the attendees and jammed traffic but also assaulted them for praising India. The car rally by the Indian diaspora did not go down well with pro-Khalistani supporters, who bullied people of Indian origin and abused them.

A series of videos had surfaced on social media platforms exposing the Khalistani members, who bullied and pushed down members of the pro-Indian rally. The pro-Khalistan elements infiltrated in the car rally hurled abuses at them and asked them to “go drink urine” while insulting the Indian National Flag.

In one of the videos, a pro-Khalistani supporter can be heard abusing, “Go and drink urine. Are you happy now (after he got hit)? Go and drink urine? Drinking urine will not make you strong you b*st*rd.”

In another video, Khalistani goons were seen confronting the peaceful rally of the Indian diaspora and hurling derogatory words against Indians and PM Narendra Modi. The videos shared by a group called REACH also showed how a member of the Hindu community living in Canadian MP and pro-Khalistani sympathiser Jagmeet Singh’s constituency shared her ordeal of the abuses, threats they face by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

Following the attacks by pro-Khalistan elements in Canada, the members of the Indian-diaspora, who had participated in the rally, have alleged that the attacks were carried out by people closely related to Khalistan sympathiser and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. One of the masterminds of the attacks on the Indian diaspora has been identified as Jodhveer Dhaliwal.

Jodhveer Dhaliwal is the co-brother (wife’s sister’s husband) of Jagmeet Singh and considered to be a close-confidante of the NDP leader.

Jodhveer Dhaliwal(circled) and his wife Manjot Dhaliwal with Khalistani sympathiser Jagmeet Singh/ Image Source: REACH

According to REACH, Jodhveer Dhaliwal himself is a rabid Khalistani sympathiser who glorifies Khalistani terrorists such as Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. In one of the images shared by REACH on social media, one can see Dhaliwal’s fascination for terrorists, who carries a tattoo of Bhindranwale on his arm.

Jodhveer Dhaliwal carrying a tattoo of terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale/ Image Source: REACH

According to REACH, Dhaliwal and other supporters of Jagmeet Singh were forefront at the anti-India attacks in Brampton last week.

In the videos shared by the participants of the rally, Jodhveer Dhaliwal can be seen spitting on the Indian flag carried by one of the NRIs during the Brampton car rally. In the video, Dhaliwal and his wife Manjot were seen abusing Indians and Prime Minister Modi, as members of the Indian diaspora took out a car rally to support the ties between the two countries.

According to REACH, the number plate of the car also confirms that the attacker was Jodhveer Dhaliwal himself.

Later, Jodhveer Dhaliwal and the other Khalistani sympathisers who had infiltrated the rally were also seen attacking the members of the Indians diaspora who participated in the car rally. In the video, Jodhveer Dhaliwal can be seen pushing one of the pro-India car rally participants.

The black-jacket clad goon pushing an Indian-origin person participating in the rally/ Image Source: REACH

The damning evidence has now proved that the Khalistani elements, led by Jagmeet Singh, had attempted to disrupt the pro-Indian rally in Brampton. The supporters of Jagmeet Singh descended on the streets to attack and abuse not just Canadian-Indians but also desecrate the Indian flag as retaliation for standing up for the cause of India-Canada ties.

Did Jagmeet Singh incite attacks against Indian diaspora for protesting against him?

Perhaps, the angry reaction by Khalistani sympathiser Jagmeet Singh against Indian-origin Canadian, particularly Indians, comes amidst the ongoing campaign against him in Canada by several persons of Indian origin, who have accused him of inciting Khalistani elements to target the Indians living in Canada.

Last week, several persons of Indian origin had staged a protest outside Khalistani-terror sympathiser Jagmeet Singh’s office in Burnaby, Canada, alleging that Khalistan supporters are targeting them due to ongoing farmers’ protest in India. Protestors had thronged at Jagmeet Singh’s office carrying Canadian flags and protested against fuelling hatred against communities during the ongoing farmer protests in India.

The protests outside Jagmeet Singh’s office come at the backdrop of his repeated attempts to incite Sikhs and other protesters in India to create chaos on the streets of India. Jagmeet Singh, who is notoriously known for supporting Khalistan separatism, has been trying to meddle into India’s affairs and has been at the forefront of carrying global propaganda against the elected Indian government.

Singh is not only accused of funding the farmer protests in the country but also believed to be the man behind song-writer Rihanna’s anti-Indian propaganda. Rihanna had stoked a massive controversy by not only interfering in India’s domestic politics but also by endorsing violence in the name of supporting ‘farmer’ protests.

In the light of these allegations, the NRIs had gathered outside Jagmeet Singh’s office to protest against fuelling tensions between communities in the name of farmer protests. Perhaps, angered by the growing protests against him, Jagmeet Singh orchestrated violence on the Indians during Brampton’s carry rally.

Jagmeet Singh – the notorious Khalistani-terror sympathiser

Jagmeet Singh, also known as Jimmy Dhaliwal, was born in 1979 to immigrant Indian parents in Canada. A lawyer-turned-politician, Singh is currently serving as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2017 and as a Member of Parliament since 2019.

However, Jagdeep Singh is known for his support for Khalistani terrorists and has openly voiced his support for the anti-Indian Khalistanis in Canada, earning him the tag of being ‘Pro-Khalistan’.

In 2014, the Indian government had denied Singh a visa to visit India for criticising human rights record of India. Denying him a visa, the Indian government had accused him of misusing the human rights cause to pursue his “insidious agenda of disturbing the social fabric of India and undermining the peace, harmony and territorial integrity of India”. He also became the first western legislator ever to be denied entry into the country.

In June of 2015, Singh, who was then just an NDP member of the Ontario legislature, appeared on stage at a Khalistan rally in San Francisco which had featured a large poster of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Khalistani terrorist, who led an armed movement against India and had occupied the Golden Temple.

In 2016, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had participated in a pro-Khalistani seminar and had even endorsed the use of political violence as a “legitimate form of resistance” to achieve an independent Sikh homeland in India.

Tamil Nadu: Advantage AIADMK after Sasikala steps aside from politics, asks followers to unite against DMK

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Advantage AIADMK after Sasikala steps aside from politics, asks followers to unite against DMK

In a sensational twist, J Jayalalithaa’s close aide and former interim general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – VK Sasikala on Wednesday announced that she has decided to “step aside” from politics.

Just a month before the much anticipated Tamil Nadu elections, VK Sasikala, who was released from a Bengaluru prison on January 27, announced a surprising decision to step aside from politics and support the AIADMK to retain power in the April 6 election.

In a two-page statement, Sasikala did not state any reason for her decision. However, she urged all the “true followers” of Jayalalithaa to “remain united, act wisely and work hard” during the upcoming Assembly election so that the ‘common opponent and evil force, as identified by Amma [Jayalalithaa] – the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) did not return to power and the golden rule of Amma (Jayalalithaa) is established in Tamil Nadu’.

“I will stay away from politics and keep praying my sister Puratchi Thalaivi (Jayalalithaa), whom I consider as God, and the Lord Almighty for the establishment of the golden rule of Amma,” Sasikala said in a statement.

Big boost for BJP-AIADMK alliance

The decision comes as a surprise as Sasikala had earlier wrestled with the AIADMK leadership and aggressively took up the legal battle to regain her control over the party. She had termed the move to expel her from AIADMK as illegal. However, in a u-turn, Sasikala has now extended the support to the ruling AIADMK in their fight against the DMK in the upcoming state elections.

Reportedly, the decision to step aside comes even as the BJP, which is allied with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, has been mounting pressure on the AIADMK to work with Sasikala and the AMMK. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK) is a political party founded by former AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran. AMMK is considered to be a breakaway faction of the AIADMK after Jayalalithaa’s demise.

Sasikala’s call for party members to unite against the DMK may act as a catalyst in the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. The ruling EPS-OPS led AIADMK has now got a big boost ahead of the elections, as it is now regaining some momentum in the state and may also end up victorious in the elections.

The 234-seat Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to polls on April 6, with results to be declared on May 2.

Afghanistan: ISIS kills three female media workers who used to translate Indian dramas into local languages

OpIndia Staff
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Afghanistan: ISIS kills three female media workers who used to translate Indian dramas into local languages

On March 2, the ISIS gunned down three female Afghanistan journalists who used to translate Indian and Turkish dramas to local languages. Three of them died while the fourth one was severely injured and currently lodged in hospital for treatment.

While talking to AFP, Zalmai Latifi, director at the TV station, said four female media workers were attacked in two separate incidents after they left the office. He said, “They are all dead. They were going home from the office on foot when they were shot.”

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, an American NGO which tracks the online activity of extremists and jihadist organizations alleged that the attack was targeted towards the employees at the Privately-owned Enikas TV station in the eastern city of Jalalabad. All victims were aged between 18 and 20. In the last six months, 15 media professionals have been killed in Afghanistan, including these three journalists. 

They used to translate Indian and Turkish dramas

Shokrullah Pasoon, the news editor at the TV station, told Al Jazeera that the three women used to dub Indian and Turkish dramas in Dari and Pashto that are local languages of Afghanistan. Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, has condemned the killing. He said, “Attacks on innocent compatriots, especially women, are contrary to the teachings of Islam, Afghan culture and the spirit of peace.”

According to journalist Lotfullah Najafizada, the three women killed were named Mursal Waheedi, Sadia Sadat and Shehnaz Raufi.

Series of attack in the war-torn country

As per reports, peace talks began between the Taliban and the Afghan government last year with the intervention of the United States. NATO troop numbers are also decreasing in the country, and only 9,000 of them are left. Former President of the United States had ordered last year to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by May 2021.

However, since the talks began, Afghanistan has seen a series of targeted attacks that have led to increasing fear among women working in the urban regions.

In a similar attack in December 2020, ISIS terrorists had gunned down Malalai Maiwand in Jalalabad. She was Enikas Radio and TV presenter in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Her driver was also killed in the attack. In an attack in January 2021, 28-year-old Bismellah Adel Aimaq, the editor-in-chief of Sada-e-Ghor (Voice of Ghor) radio station, was killed near Firoz Koh city in the province of Ghor. Two female judges working for Afghan Supreme Court were also killed in Kabul in January 2021.

Shaharzad Akbar, head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, condemned the attack and said, “Afghan women have been targeted and killed too often. his must stop. Stop killing civilians and destroying (Afghanistan’s) future.”

The US embassy in Kabul issued a statement in which they said, “These attacks are meant to intimidate, they are intended to make reporters cower. The culprits hope to stifle freedom of speech in a nation where the media has flourished during the past 20 years. This cannot be tolerated.”

“Are you so creatively bankrupt”? Director of ‘Yeh Ballet’ slams Deepika Padukone starrer new Levi’s ad for plagiarising design ideas

OpIndia Staff
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“Are you so creatively bankrupt”? Director of ‘Yeh Ballet’ slams Deepika Padukone starrer new Levi’s ad for plagiarising design ideas

Netflix film Yeh Ballet director Sooni Taraporevala has accused the makers of new Deepika Padukone starrer Levi’s Jeans ad of plagiarism.

Taking to Instagram, Taraporevala said that she was shocked to see the film Yeh Ballet studio used in the Levi’s ad starring Deepika Padukone. She said that the studio for Yeh Ballet was created by Shailaja Sharma from scratch as there was no such studio anywhere in Mumbai. “Basically @nadiaeye (the director of this ad) saw Yeh Ballet and decided to plagiarize our set down to the very last detail,” she wrote in her post.

“Would Levi’s and the director ever think of doing that in the west without permission / acknowledgment, and passing it off as their own creative work? This is not homage this is intellectual theft! It’s SO unfair to our wonderful production designer @shalzoid to have her work ripped off like that,” she said in her post.

“Copycat culture in India needs to be called out and cancelled. You would think a foreign production company and director would know better. Are you so creatively bankrupt? What were you thinking? @levis_in @nadiaeye @offroadfilms rupinsuchak @newland.tv,” Taraporevala said.

Deepika Padukone starrer Levi’s ad was released on February 26, 2021.

Yeh Ballet was released on Netflix last year. Here is the trailers.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law Mohammed Riyaz, CPM MLA TV Rajesh sent to judicial custody in violence case

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law Mohammed Riyaz, CPM MLA TV Rajesh sent to judicial custody in violence case

In a major embarrassment to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a local court in Kerala sent his son-in-law and Democratic Youth Federation of India President Muhammed Riyaz and CPM MLA TV Rajesh to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with a case in 2009.

According to the reports, on Tuesday, the Judicial First Class Magistrate P Vinod sent Riyaz and Rajesh on judicial remand for orchestrating a violent march near the Air India office in Kozhikode to protest against the air tariff hike and reduction in the flight services by the national carrier. A case was registered against four people, including Rajesh, for breaking the law after the DYFI protests had turned violent.

The accused, including Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law Mohammed Riyaz were out on bail and wanted to get it extended. The accused had taken bail in the 2009 case and then failed to appear before the court even after many notices and warrants were served.

Accused granted bail

Later, they had approached the JFCM court as per a direction by the High Court to get the bail extended by the trial court. However, the JFCM sent them to judicial remand.

DYFI leader KK Dinesan was also detained in the case till March 16. Another accused in the case did not attend the proceedings on Tuesday.

However, all the accused who were remanded earlier, including Vijayan’s son-in-law Riyaz were granted bail on Wednesday.

Mohammed Riyaz, the DYFI national president, married Pinarayi’s daughter Veena last year in a private ceremony. Riyas is infamous for leading ‘beef cooking’ protests after the centre sought to regulate cattle purchase and sale. He had also unsuccessfully contested for the Kozhikode Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

Activist sends legal notice to make amends in NCERT books after RTI reveals no evidence of Mughals giving grant for temple repairs

OpIndia Staff
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Activist sends legal notice to make amends in NCERT books after RTI reveals no evidence of Mughals giving grant for temple repairs

An RTI activist has sent a legal notice to the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) and sought to make amendments in the book after the NCERT said that they had no references to the claims in 12th standard books that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb gave grant for repairs of temples.

As per the reports, RTI activist from Bharatpur Dapinder Singh has sought to make amendments in the books taught to school children as the information mentioned in the book is not based on facts. Singh feels that without any evidence Mughal rulers like Aurangzeb and Shah Jahan are portrayed as great in school history books. History books should be based on facts and if information is put about things there is no evidence for, it distorts history.

In January, an RTI application was made to seek evidence on the claims made on Mughal ruler giving grants for repair work of temples. On page 234 of the history textbook, it says, “All Mughal emperors gave grants to support the building and maintenance of places of worship. Even when temples were destroyed during war, grants were later issued for their repair – as we know from the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.”

NCERT on Aurangzeb

The petitioner had sought two details regarding the claim. First, the source from which NCERT concluded that Mughals had issued grants for rebuilding temples destroyed in war during the regime of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, and second, the number of temples repaired by Aurangzeb and Shah Jahan. The reply to both the queries were “The information is not available on the files of the Department”. The reply was furnished by professor Gouri Srivastava, head of the Department of Education in Social Sciences and also the Public Information Officer.

NBT report says that another RTI activist Sanjiv Vakil said that students are taught history based on imagination. “NCERT books are considered benchmark for educational books. They are also used for preparation of civil service and other competitive examinations. The future generation is being pushed into wrong direction and it could lead to disastrous results,” he was quoted saying.

Israel to vaccinate migrant Palestinian workers living in the country and West Bank

OpIndia Staff
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Israel to vaccinate migrant Palestinian workers living in the country and West Bank

In a major development, the Israeli government has announced on Sunday that it will provide Coronavirus vaccines to Palestinians with work permits, who have been residing within Israel and the West Bank. The development comes days after the Palestinian government informed that it has entered an agreement with the Jewish state to vaccinate 1 lakh migrant workers.

In a statement by the Israeli military for civil affairs in ‘Palestinian territories’, it said, “(Israel will) conduct a vaccination campaign for Palestinian workers with employment licenses in Israel and in the communities across Judea and Samaria (Biblical names for West Bank). The military said that the move has been approved by the incumbent political dispensation.

It must be mentioned that Israel has vaccinated half of its population in just a span of two months. Amidst global calls for vaccinating the Palestinian population in West Bank and Gaza, Israel has decided to go ahead with the plan. Interestingly, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is reportedly planning to supply vaccines to Hamas terrorists, who are in control of the Gaza region and determined to destroy Israel. PA will receive 2 million doses, besides the ones from the United Nations’ Covax programme.

Israel is using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to vaccinate its citizens under the country’s universal national health system. More then 4.6 million people out of total population of 9 million have received the vaccine so far. It is interesting to note that Pfizer has guaranteed a steady supply of vaccine doses for Israel in exchange for access to anonymized data from the digitized medical file that is maintained for almost every Israeli citizen. This data has allowed scientists from universities, the health ministry and Pfizer to track the vaccine’s impact with unprecedented speed, providing even better insight then the clinical trials. This data reveals that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is even more effective than originally estimated in preventing serious disease and death, it is safe for nearly all adults, and the vaccine is almost completely free of serious side effects.

Israeli health officials urge govt to vaccinate all Palestinians

On Monday, Israeli health officials have urged the government to vaccinate the entire Palestinian population against the Coronavirus. Itamar Grotto, the former Deputy Director-General of Israel’s Health Ministry, said, “This is really important, to vaccinate the entire Palestinian Authority population, and I believe it will go this way. This is the recommendation of all the experts, and I believe that politicians will follow our recommendations…We are starting to give them more and more vaccines. It is an important objective, from a public health point of view, and of course also from a humanitarian point of view.”

NDTV Executive Editor Sanket Upadhyay called out by Netizens for mocking Bihari pronunciations

OpIndia Staff
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NDTV Executive Editor Sanket Upadhyay called out by Netizens for mocking Bihari pronunciations

Sanket Upadhyay, the Executive Editor of NDTV, was under immense fire today online for a tweet of his which was widely criticized for ‘mocking’ Biharis. The tweet in question seems to poke fun at people from Bihar for their typically stereotyped accents and phonetics, which has been mainstream by Bollywood. A huge backlash resulted in the wake of the tweet, with many criticizing Mr. Upadhyay for disparaging the language, speech, people and culture of Bihar.

Sanket Upadhyay tweeted that while the rest of the country pronounce the word vaccine correctly, in Bihar it is pronounced as ‘bhaccine’, mocking the way the letter v is pronounced in Bihar, and also some other states in Eastern India.

Twitter User Anupam Srivastava calls out Mr. Upadhyay for his ‘misplaced sense of superiority’ in making fun of other languages and people.

Another twitter user named Neil kept his criticism short and simple, making Mr. Upadhyay know that poking fun at other languages would not make him ‘cool’.

Some Twitter users also attacked Mr. Upadhyay for his Brahmin caste and claimed that an upper-class person was mocking a less privileged state.

The tweet invited several such angry reactions from social media users.

Mr. Sanket Upadhyay is a longtime member of Indian journalism, starting off his career as a writer for Hindustan Times, with stints at NDTV, News X, the India Today group, the Times group and then finally a return to NDTV. He is currently is Executive Editor at NDTV, a position he has held since October 2020.

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