Home Blog Page 445

Bihar: Muslim man assaults Hindu boy over Holi celebrations, mob resorts to stone pelting, police claim ‘no communal angle’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bihar: Muslim man assaults Hindu boy over Holi celebrations, mob resorts to stone pelting, police claim ‘no communal angle’

On Saturday (15th March), tension erupted in the Buniyadganj area near Joda Masjid in Gaya, Bihar, after a Muslim man became irked over Holi colour.

The altercation between Hindus celebrating the festival and the Muslim community in the area escalated quickly and turned violent.

There were reports of stone pelting as well. The police were informed about the incident, after which senior officials reached the location with a heavy police force to restore order.

The clash reportedly started when a Muslim youth from the Khagdi locality stepped out and went onto the main road to purchase some essentials. At that time, some boys from Pandit Gali were celebrating Holi.

They accidentally threw colour on the Muslim man, leading to a heated argument between them. The Muslim man from Khagdi allegedly attempted to pull the Hindu boy who accidentally threw colour on him into his area.

His actions further intensified the scuffle, and the situation turned violent. Several individuals from both sides got involved.

Stone pelting and police intervention

According to eyewitnesses, within minutes of the altercation, groups gathered on both sides and resorted to stone pelting. Local residents immediately informed the police.

A heavy police force, led by senior officials, reached the location and controlled the situation. The mobsters managed to flee the scene as the police arrived.

After the incident, officials from several police stations, including Wazirganj, Buniyadganj, and Mufassil, reached the spot to pacify the situation. The police attempted to mediate, but tensions prevailed in the area. Eventually, an additional police force was called to ensure no further incidents occurred in the region.

Prior warnings ignored, police downplay the incident

According to media reports, a peace committee meeting was held a few days ago. There were concerns over possible tensions between residents of Khagdi and Pandit Gali. Residents had requested the police to deploy an additional force on the main road. However, the residents alleged that no concrete action was taken by the police.

Buniyadganj police station in-charge, Pawan Kumar, called it a minor scuffle and assured that the situation was under control. He said, “It was a minor scuffle that has been brought under control. Both sides have been counselled, and the situation is now completely normal.”

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anand Kumar directed intervention by senior officials. The Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Wazirganj, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sadar, and the Buniyadganj police station in-charge were asked to ensure law and order in the area.

Personal dispute, not communal, say officials

Sadar SDM Kisalaya Srivastava dismissed reports of communal tension. He said that the initial investigation into the matter revealed that it was a personal dispute between two individuals. He added that, although they were friends, the altercation happened when one of them smeared colour without taking permission.

Buniyadganj police station in-charge also dismissed reports of stone pelting and stated, “The situation is under control. No serious injuries have been reported, and the police are monitoring the area to prevent further disturbances.”

A heavy police presence was seen in the area, though the authorities assured that the situation had stabilised.

US court turns down petition by Hindu professors, grants legitimacy to university policy meant to weaponise ‘caste’ against Hindu Americans: Details

Dibakar Dutta
-
0
US court turns down petition by Hindu professors, grants legitimacy to university policy meant to weaponise ‘caste’ against Hindu Americans: Details

On Saturday (March 15th), the Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (popularly known as HinduPACT) took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the far-reaching consequences of a recent US court verdict on Hindu Americans.

“We strongly disagree with the judgement of the 9th Circuit Court against the Hindu faculty of CSU,” it said in a tweet.

HinduPACT pointed out, “The Hinduphobic caste narrative in the US based on fictitious surveys and allegations is a weapon to destroy the professional success of American Hindus.”

HinduPACT was referring to the verdict [pdf] of the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which was delivered on Wednesday (12th March).

The case pertains to a legal challenge by two Hindu Professors, Sunil Kumar and Praveen Sinha, against a dubious ‘anti-discrimination and harassment policy’ of the California State University (CSU) that came into force in January 2023.

In an unprecedented move, CSU had included the word ‘caste’ in the protected class of ‘Race or Ethnicity.’ Needless to say, the varsity did not define ‘caste’ in its policy, leaving ample scope for its misuse.

CSU had even defended its position saying “the same analysis campus investigators use to determine other forms of discrimination will be applied to allegations of caste discrimination.”

This was despite having no working definition of caste and the broad possibilities of falsely labelling everything as ‘caste discrimination’, a concept alien to American society and politics.

The arguments made by the Hindu Professors

Professors Sunil Kumar and Praveen Sinha pointed out that the addition of ‘caste’ as a protected class in the ‘anti-discrimination and harassment policy’ of the California State University (CSU) falsely attributed the caste system to Hinduism.

They argued that the policy not only stigmatises Hinduism but also forces them to self-censor religious practices like celebrating holidays and discussing religious texts.

The Hindu Professors further pointed out that the ‘anti-discrimination and harassment policy’ was unconstitutionally vague and that even non-discriminatory religious practices could be misconstrued as discriminatory under the CSU policy.

Professors Sunil Kumar and Praveen Sinha also highlighted that the 2023 policy resulted in a spiritual injury, i.e. stigma from belonging to a religion (Hinduism) that has been disparaged.

They argued that Hinduism was being singled out in the policy after the addition of caste as a ‘protected class’, which was not the case with other provisions laid down by the California State University.

US Court turns down appeal

The United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rejected the appeal of the two Hindu Professors.

It claimed that ‘caste’ is not exclusively a religious concept and has previously been used to refer to ‘social class without reference to any particular religion’ by the country’s Supreme Court.

The court further stated that the ‘anti-discrimination and harassment policy’ of the California State University (CSU) and a Question & Answer document released by it did not make explicit reference to Hinduism.

“There are also documented incidents of caste discrimination in the United States and recent lawsuits in California, New Jersey, and New York have alleged caste discrimination,” Judge Richard C. Tallman claimed despite charges remaining unproven in all the mentioned cases.

He also claimed that Professors Sunil Kumar and Praveen Sinha failed to demonstrate ‘sufficient injury for a pre-enforcement challenge.’

The United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit also said that the CSU policy did not stigmatise Hinduism and thus did not amount to ‘spiritual injury.’ It claimed that the two Hindu Professors had ‘no standing’ in the case.

The court further down the appeal by stating that Professors Sunil Kumar and Praveen Sinha failed to show how their non-discriminatory religious practice could be misconstrued as discriminatory.

It must be mentioned that the petition of the CSU Professors was earlier turned down in part by the United States district Court for the Central District of California.

The larger context behind the case and its implications

‘Caste’ is an alien concept to the Hindu American way of life. There is no concrete proof of any instance of caste discrimination in the United States. There also has not been a single conviction in any case where ‘caste discrimination’ was alleged.

In recent years, several bogus cases of alleged ‘caste discrimination’ were propped up to target Hindu Americans in positions of power. We saw it in action in the infamous CISCO case where two Indian-origin engineers (Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella) were accused of discriminating against a ‘self-identifying Dalit.’

This was despite the fact that the alleged victim was recruited by Iyer at a generous package with millions in stock grants. The Indian-origin engineer had also hired at least one more ‘self-identifying Dalit’ who held a leadership position at Cisco Sytems Inc.

It also came to light that the ‘self-identifying Dalit’ was working in the American company for 8 long years at the time of filing the complaint.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) ignored the fact that Sundar Iyer publicly identified as ‘agnostic’ for over 20 years. CRD went on to falsely identify him as a ‘Hindu’ and relied upon malicious ‘reports’ published by Thenmozi Soundarajan-run-Equallity Labs.

CRD could not find any evidence against the two Cisco Systems engineers that constituted harassment and voluntarily dropped the case.

We also saw notorious lawsuits against the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple in New Jerey alleging forced ‘Dalit labour’ for the construction of the temple as well as human trafficking.

It later turned out that artisans were threatened to be part of the deep-rooted conspiracy to stall the construction of the grand Hindu Temple. Some were tempted with promises of American citizenship and huge amounts of money.

The anti-Hindu lobby in the US, which experienced initial success by weaponising ‘caste’ against Hindu Americans, is willing to go to any length to tarnish the reputation of one of the most successful communities in the US.

The ecosystem has been coercing educational institutions, corporate houses and tech giants to include ‘caste’ in protected classes, despite it being a non-issue in the North American country.

The California State University (CSU) policy of 2023 is a step in that direction. The recent ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is thus a setback for the Hindu community in the US.

OpIndia speaks to HinduPACT

OpIndia spoke to Dr Ajay Shah, the convenor of HinduPACT, about the matter. The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective aims to bring Hindu ethos and dharmic values of unity in diversity, plurality, compassion and, mutual respect amongst religions to policy and advocacy for human rights, environmental protection, gender equality, education, and interfaith dialog.

Dr Ajay Shah told us, “We are against all forms of discrimination. However, it needs to be pointed out that caste discrimination is nonexistent here in the States. No one knows or cares for so-called “caste” of another person. So, no question arises about discriminating against community members based on that attribute.”

“At the same time, they have not defined what constitutes a caste in the CSU policy. It is a sure-shot way to target Hindus simply because anyone can make any claim without limitations. Practioners of other Faiths can get away by claiming caste is not part of their religion, and then conflate jaati and varna into caste, assign it exclusively to Hindus and leave Hindu Americans exclusively vulnerable to false accusations of perpetuating discrimination,” Dr Shah emphasised.

He informed that the anti-Hindu lobby has been trying to bring ‘caste’ to the American mainstream since 2008 and has quadrupled its efforts in recent years. “HinduPACT will continue to fight for the interests of the Hindu community,” Dr Shah concluded.

SC reaffirms mandatory CCI approval in insolvency cases: Former SC Judge Justice AK Sikri strongly concurs with the landmark HNG judgement

OpIndia Staff
-
0
SC reaffirms mandatory CCI approval in insolvency cases: Former SC Judge Justice AK Sikri strongly concurs with the landmark HNG judgement

In a landmark decision passed by the Supreme Court of India in the Hindustan National Glass (HNGIL) case on the 29th of January 2025, has reinforced the legislative intent behind Section 31(4) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), clarifying that prior approval of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is mandatory before a resolution plan involving a combination can be approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC).

This ruling, delivered by a Bench led by Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, overturns the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)’s interpretation, which had treated prior CCI approval as a mere procedural requirement rather than a binding precondition.

Clarification on the legislative intent of Section 31(4) proviso

The Supreme Court unequivocally upheld the mandatory nature of the proviso to Section 31(4), rejecting arguments favouring a purposive interpretation that would have allowed CCI approval to be obtained post-CoC approval. The judgment emphasized that the use of the word ‘prior’ in the statutory language reflects the legislature’s intent to prevent anti-competitive outcomes before they materialize. This interpretation aligns with the Insolvency Law Committee’s 2018 recommendations, which stressed the need for competitive market conditions even in insolvency resolutions.

Justice A.K. Sikri, in his legal opinion, concurred with this interpretation, noting that a literal reading of the proviso to Section 31(4) is necessary to prevent combinations that may lead to market distortions. He highlighted that the amendment introducing this proviso was deliberate, aiming to ensure that no anti-competitive structures emerge under the guise of insolvency resolutions.

Errors in NCLAT’s judgment

The Supreme Court identified significant flaws in the NCLAT’s reasoning, particularly its reliance on the ArcelorMittalcase, which was factually and legally distinct. The NCLAT had erroneously concluded that obtaining prior approval was merely a directory, overlooking the express statutory mandate and the potential for market distortions caused by conditional approvals. Additionally, the NCLAT failed to recognize that CCI’s evaluation of the Appreciable Adverse Effect on Competition (AAEC) must precede any binding decision on the resolution plan.

Justice Sikri also noted that the NCLAT overlooked the importance of ensuring that modifications proposed by resolution applicants are subjected to rigorous scrutiny. He observed that voluntary modifications, such as AGI Greenpac’s proposed divestment of one plant, should not be treated as an automatic remedy for anti-competitive concerns without a full-fledged investigation.

Conditional CCI approvals under scrutiny

The judgment also scrutinized the shortcomings of conditional CCI approvals. The Supreme Court observed that such approvals, which permit transactions to proceed while compliance with remedial measures is pending, create enforcement gaps and regulatory uncertainties. The absence of robust monitoring mechanisms increases the risk of non-compliance, undermining the effectiveness of competition law safeguards. The ruling emphasized that allowing transactions to proceed without first ensuring full regulatory compliance could jeopardize fair market competition and investor confidence.

Justice Sikri, in his legal opinion, had raised concerns over the lack of transparency in conditional approvals. He noted that in cases where AAEC has been identified, the CCI must not only impose modifications but also ensure independent oversight to prevent abuse of dominant positions post-transaction.

Section 29 and due process violations

The ruling also addressed procedural lapses in the CCI’s handling of approvals under Section 29 of the Competition Act. The Supreme Court noted that CCI failed to issue mandatory show cause notices to all parties to the combination, particularly the target company, Hindustan National Glass & Industries Ltd. (HNGIL). The omission of key stakeholders from the approval process resulted in an incomplete assessment of the transaction’s impact, violating statutory due process. The Court reiterated that the procedures outlined in Section 29 must be followed in their entirety before an order under Section 31 can be issued.

Justice Sikri further emphasized that issuing a show cause notice to HNGIL was not just a procedural requirement but a substantive safeguard to ensure that market conditions are properly evaluated. He noted that unilateral submissions by acquiring entities should not be the sole basis for CCI’s decisions, especially when insolvency proceedings are involved.

Implications for future insolvency resolutions

This verdict sets a crucial precedent for corporate insolvency cases involving potential market combinations. It reinforces that regulatory approvals cannot be circumvented under the guise of procedural flexibility. By mandating strict adherence to competition law provisions, the judgment ensures that insolvency resolutions do not come at the cost of fair competition.

Legal experts, including Justice A.K. Sikri, have welcomed the decision, noting that it restores regulatory discipline and upholds the objectives of both the IBC and the Competition Act. Justice Sikri had previously highlighted the dangers of treating prior CCI approval as a formality, warning that doing so could lead to monopolistic market structures detrimental to consumers and industry stakeholders alike.

With this ruling, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a balance between speedy insolvency resolutions and competition law compliance. The decision is expected to bring greater transparency and accountability to the insolvency resolution process, ensuring that market forces remain competitive even amid financial distress.

“Tilak, Tarazu aur Talwar, inko maro jute chaar”: JNU’s BAPSA calls for violence against Hindus during protests, demonises Brahmins as terrorists

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“Tilak, Tarazu aur Talwar, inko maro jute chaar”: JNU’s BAPSA calls for violence against Hindus during protests, demonises Brahmins as terrorists

Hateful slogans targeting different sections of the Hindu society were raised during recent protests held by Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), a “student” organisation at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Videos of the protests have gone viral online, showing demonstrators, including JNUSU General Secretary Priyanshi Arya, chanting slogans against Brahmins, Baniyas, and Kshatriyas—prominent Hindu castes. The slogans not only called for violence against these communities but also dehumanized them, sparking widespread outrage.

One of the slogans chanted during the protest was, “Tilak, Tarazu aur Talwar, inko maro jute chaar. Brahmins are terrorists,” which carried a hateful message. Another video captured protesters shouting, “Brahmin, Baniya, Thakur Chor, baaki saare DS4 (Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti),” sparking debate on whether such slogans, which seemingly incite violence against a significant section of the population, fall under the protection of Freedom of Expression.

The protests were reportedly organized due to internal differences between BAPSA and the All India Students Association (AISA), a left-wing student organization at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Arya admitted in a post-protest interview that AISA and BAPSA had disagreements following which they had called for a meeting. Unable to resolve differences, Arya claimed one of the AISA members, who was a Thakur, passed unsavoury comments against her organisation, following which they launched a protest.

However, even when the differences were between two left-leaning organisations, BAPSA found a way to demonise Hindus instead of calling out the Maoist ideology underpinning AISA.

JNU—A bastion of Hinduphobia where slogans demonising Hindus are the order of the day

Notably, this is not the first time that JNU, a leftist bastion, is in the news for blatant Hinduphobia. For a long time now, aversion for Hindus has remained a potent glue to keep ideologically disparate elements in JNU together. Earlier in 2024, videos showing students shouting slogans like, “Mile Phule-Kanshi Ram, Hawa Mein Ud Gaye Jai Shri Ram” at the JNU had gone viral on the internet. Moreover, “Brahmanwad se azadi” (freedom from Brahminism) and “Free Palestine” slogans were also raised amidst the sounds of trumpets and Dhols.

It is pertinent to recall that in the 1990s (1993), when the SP-BSP allied against the BJP, supporters of both parties used to chant ‘Mile Mulayam-Kanshi Ram, Hawa Mein Ud Gaye Jai Shri Ram‘. As can be heard in the viral video, ‘Azadi‘ slogans were again chanted loudly in JNU. In addition, derogatory slogans were raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Notably, this is the same JNU where slogans like ‘Afzal, hum sharminda hain, tere qatil zinda hain‘ were chanted in support of the terrorists who attacked Parliament. Besides this, slogans such as ‘Bharat there tukde honge Inshallah Inshallah‘ were raised in the University.

USA expels South African ambassador calling him ‘race-baiting politician’ after Ebrahim Rasool said Trump is leading white supremacist movement

OpIndia Staff
-
0
USA expels South African ambassador calling him ‘race-baiting politician’ after Ebrahim Rasool said Trump is leading white supremacist movement

The Donald Trump administration in the USA is expelling South Africa’s Ambassador to the country, and have given him 72 hours to leave the country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on X, calling ambassador Ebrahim Rasool a “race-baiting politician”.

Rubio stated that South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in the USA. He posted on X, “South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS . We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”

In his post, the secretary of state linked a report by Breitbart on Ebrahim Rasool’s comments at an event against President Donald Trump. At the event, Rasool said Trump is leading a white supremacist movement in America and around the world. He alleged that white supremacism was motivating Trump’s “disrespect” for the “current hegemonic order” of the world.

Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool further said that the Make America Great Again movement is a white supremacist response to growing demographic diversity in the United States.

Later, South Africa confirmed that ambassador Ebrahim Rasool has been expelled by the USA, adding that he has been given 72 hours to leave the country. Ebrahim Rasool “was informed by the State Department yesterday that he had 72 hours to leave,” the South African foreign ministry told AFP.

The official X account of South African president posted that it has noted the “regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool.” The Statement added, “The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.”

The Presidency’s tweet stated that “South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America.”

The development comes a week after President Trump stopped all funding to South Africa over a controversial land appropriation law. He also offered asylum with rapid citizenship to farmers seeking to leave South Africa, with immediate effect. Trump called the South Africa’s controversial land expropriation law a rights violation against the white minority in the African country.

The law allows the South African government to expropriate land from private parties if it’s in the public interest and allows for expropriation without compensation. The Act aims to address historical land ownership disparities resulting from apartheid-era policies. Donald Trump alleges that this law targets lands owned by farmers from the white minority Afrikaner group, who are descended from Dutch and other European colonial settlers.

Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh arrested over objectionable comments on BJP MLA, kept cops waiting for hours and resisted arrest

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh arrested over objectionable comments on BJP MLA, kept cops waiting for hours and resisted arrest

Assam Congress spokesperson and habitual fake news spreader Reetam Singh was arrested on Saturday over his objectionable comments against BJP MLA Manab Deka. He was arrested after hours long drama, as Singh refused to open the door for the police, demanding a court order for his arrest. He was arrested after Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi visited his house, forcing him to open the door.

A case was filed against Reetam Singh by Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka’s wife over Singh’s social media comments against Deka and his family. Among other comments Reetam had called the MLA a ‘rapist’ in a post on X on 13th March. Singh made a post with a news report about three individuals being convicted by a court for a rape case in the Dhemaji district in 2021.

He commented in tweet, “These culprits got the punishment they deserved. But what @BJP4Assam r@pe accused Ministers and MLAs like Manab Deka, Ex Party President Bhabesh Kalita, ex Minister Rajen Gohain? Is the law equal for all?”

In her complaint, Manab Deka’s wife called him a habitual offender, citing previous cases registered against him on similar charges.

Based on the complaint, a team of Lakhimpur Police along with a Guwahati Police team arrived at Reetam Singh’s house on Saturday, but he refused to open the door. He posted several tweets during the day, alleging that the police were trying enter his house violating a High Court order.

He posted, “A team of @lakhimpurpolice of @assampolice is here to apprehend me without warrant and notice. I showed them the recent Gauhati High Court Judgement making it compulsory for police to give Notice. @HardiSpeaks @DGPAssamPolice any arrest of mine without Warrant and Notice will be contempt of Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita Judgement dated 07/03/2025 in Sakib Chowdhury Vs State of Assam in Bail Appln./629/2025.”

He further added, “I am an Advocate and I will comply with any investigation. But I wont go with Police if they are here without arrest or warrant simply on instructions of @himantabiswa Everything has been recorded on CCTV Cameras. You cannot barge into my home without a search warrant.”

Reetam Singh later posted several tweets, with photos of police team waiting outside his house. As a result, the Congress party sprung into action, and party MP Gaurav Gogoi arrived at Singh’s house. However, when Singh opened the door for Gogoi, the waiting police team barged in and arrested him.

Videos show that Reetam Singh resisted being arrested by police, and the cops had to drag him to the police vehicle. He was then transferred to Lakhimpur, where the case is registered against him.

In April last year, Reetam Singh was arrested for posting a doctored video of Amit Shah, claiming that Shah said that BJP will end reservations for SC, ST and OBCs in India if it wins the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

‘Arrested from aircraft, physically assaulted, and sleep-deprived’: Actor Ranya Rao alleges custodial torture by DRI

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Arrested from aircraft, physically assaulted, and sleep-deprived’: Actor Ranya Rao alleges custodial torture by DRI

Actor Ranya Rao has written a letter to the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) alleging that she was subjected to custodial torture and falsely implicated in a high-profile gold smuggling case.

Rao has claimed that she was arrested directly from the aircraft, contradicting the official statement that she was detained at the airport terminal.

Rao further alleges that she was physically assaulted, deprived of food and sleep, and coerced into signing blank documents under duress. Her accusations surfaced a day after a special court in Bengaluru denied her bail request.

Notably, the case took a political turn, with the Karnataka government ordering an inquiry into the alleged involvement of her stepfather, Karnataka Director General of Police K Ramachandra Rao, and examining possible lapses by law enforcement.

Ms Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 for allegedly smuggling over 14 kg of gold from Dubai. However, in her letter from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, she insists she was taken into custody inside the aircraft before disembarking, contradicting official reports.

The letter, submitted as part of a jail memo, details claims of mistreatment, including being slapped, threatened with exposure of her father’s identity, and forced to sign blank papers. She alleges that she is being framed to protect more influential figures in the smuggling network.

However, these claims raise questions. Ms Rao wrote the letter on March 6, but when presented in court on March 9, she denied experiencing custodial torture when asked three times by the judge. Her lawyers also did not bring up any allegations of mistreatment.

On Friday, the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru rejected Ms Rao’s bail plea. Special Judge Vishwanath C. Gowdar noted that Ms Rao, holding a UAE Resident Identity Card, had travelled to Dubai 27 times since January 2025, a factor that weighed against granting bail. The court emphasized the seriousness of the alleged offence, given the large quantity of smuggled gold and its economic implications.

Preliminary findings indicate that Ms Rao allegedly hid gold bars by taping them to her body, concealing them in her jeans pockets, and even placing them inside her shoes. The DRI estimates the evasion of customs duties and penalties at ₹4.83 crore, far exceeding the ₹50 lakh threshold under the Customs Act.

Punjab government in Pakistan directs all educational institutions to ban students and teachers from dancing to Bollywood songs

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Punjab government in Pakistan directs all educational institutions to ban students and teachers from dancing to Bollywood songs

In a ridiculous move, the Punjab government in Pakistan has directed all educational institutions in the province to ban students and teachers from dancing to Indian Bollywood songs. The Punjab government issued the direction through a circular dated March 12, 2025.

According to the circular, dances to Indian songs and such performances are prohibited during sports galas and fun fairs in colleges, and obscene clothing or language will also be banned. The circular adds that any educational institute or college found violating the direction will face strict disciplinary action.

The Higher Education Commission said in the circular that it is the responsibility of college administrations to ensure the education and moral upbringing of both male and female students.

“The competent authority /Secretary Higher Education Department has shown great concern on funfair/sports gala and other activities taking place in Public and Private Colleges in which the students and teachers have been observed dancing on Indian songs on stage or in classes. The Educational Institutions are sacred places to impart quality education to aspirant students. Such activities in the Educational Institutions must not take place,” read the circular.

”In case of negligence, the concerned Principal, Deputy Director and Director of Education (Colleges) shall be held responsible and strict disciplinary shall be proposed against them, “ the circular added.

Uttar Pradesh: Muslim woman lures Hindu teenage girl into offering Namaz and keeping Roza, threatens suicide in victim’s house after getting caught

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: Muslim woman lures Hindu teenage girl into offering Namaz and keeping Roza, threatens suicide in victim’s house after getting caught

In a shocking incident of religious conversion in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu teenage girl was reportedly brainwashed by her Muslim neighbour into offering namaaz and observing Roza. The Hindu girl was a neighbour and friend of the Muslim woman. As per reports, a Muslim woman named Shahnaz alias Sana influenced a 16-year-old Hindu girl by promising her that if she offered namaaz and observed Roza, her family would become rich.

When the teenager’s family saw her fasting after the start of Ramazan month, they talked to her. On this, the teenager took Shahnaz’s name and said that she had asked her to do so. By doing this, she will soon become rich. The family was shocked to hear their daughter’s words. The girl’s father went to Shahnaz’s house and protested against this. 

On being confronted, Shahnaz threatened the victim’s family with a false case

The matter came to light after the victim’s father filed a complaint against Shahnaz, alleging that she brainwashed his teenage daughter into observing Islamic rituals to become rich. Influenced by the woman’s words, the teenage girl followed her advice for 3-4 days. When the father came to know about this, he went to Shahnaz’s house and protested. He informed about the incident to his other neighbours.

After this, Shahnaaz allegedly tried to implicate the Hindu girl’s family in a false case. On Thursday, Shahnaz entered the girl’s house and locked herself in her uncle’s room. She then attempted to hang herself inside the room. The victim’s uncle immediately dialled 112 and informed the police. Shahnaz fled the spot before the police arrived and threatened to file a false case against the victim’s family.

Case filed by the police

The father in his complaint said that Shahnaz alias Sana lives in their neighborhood. She lured their 16-year-old daughter, saying that keeping roza fasts and offering namaz will bring prosperity to the house. The daughter fell into her trap and kept roza for 3 to 4 days. She also prayed namaz.

After getting to know about the incident, members of some Hindu organisations reached the spot and protested against it. CO City Sneha Tiwari said that a case has been registered against Shahnaz based on the complaint of the father under the charges of forcing the victim to convert. The police are investigating the case.

Karnataka Congress government approves 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts, BJP calls it attack on Constitution

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Karnataka Congress government approves 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts, BJP calls it attack on Constitution

On 14th March, the Congress-led Karnataka government approved a proposal to grant 4% reservation to Muslims in government contracts. The state cabinet cleared the bill, and it will soon be introduced in the state assembly. The move will ensure that a portion of government tenders is reserved for Muslims. The decision has sparked a strong reaction in the political landscape, not only in the state but at the national level.

Reservation in government contracts

With the new provision, the overall reservation in government contracts in the state will rise to 47%. Karnataka already grants reservations in contracts to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The policy of giving reservations in tenders was initially introduced by Siddaramaiah. During his 2013-18 tenure, he first granted reservations to SCs and STs. It was later extended to OBCs last year.

This is not the first time the Siddaramaiah-led government has attempted to introduce reservations for Muslims. However, last time the proposal faced strong opposition and was shelved. This time, Congress has managed to bring the bill to the assembly.

BJP calls it an attack on the Constitution

The decision has triggered controversy in the political landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticised the move. BJP Yuva Morcha president and MP Tejasvi Surya condemned the decision, calling it an attack on the Constitution.

Surya said, “The Congress government’s approval of a 4% quota for Muslims in government contracts is a direct assault on the Constitution and a step towards encouraging religious conversions.” He added, “Reservation has always been based on social and economic backwardness, not religion. This move is a blatant political tactic to secure electoral gains, undermining the true purpose of reservations. The government is misusing power and public resources for vote-bank politics, turning the economy into a political battleground.”

‘Jinnah’s mindset’ – BJP national spokesperson hits out

The national spokesperson of the BJP, Shehzad Poonawalla, also lashed out at the Congress government. He likened the decision to the ideology of the Muslim League and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

“Will roads and bridges now be built based on religion instead of quality?” Poonawalla questioned, warning that the biggest losers from this move would be SCs, STs, and OBCs.

The decision is expected to become a key political flashpoint in the coming days in Karnataka, as the opposition is expected to actively pursue the matter.

1...444445446...7,602Page 445 of 7,602