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Sajid Mir, a key conspirator of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, on ventilator support after being poisoned by an unknown person in Pakistan jail: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Sajid Mir, a key conspirator of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, on ventilator support after being poisoned by an unknown person in Pakistan jail: Report

Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Sajid Mir, infamous for his role in planning and executing the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, is poisoned inside Central Jail at Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan, as per reports.

Mir has been reportedly airlifted by Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and is currently on ventilator support in CMH Bahawalpur.

According to reports, Pakistan Authorities are investigating a private cook, employed in the Central Jail Dera Ghazi Khan kitchen since October 2023, who has gone missing.

The alleged poisoning of Mir comes on the heels of several assassinations of terrorists hostile to India or those who have carried out terror attacks against India by unknown entities. The alleged poisoning of Mir comes on the heels of several assassinations of terrorists hostile to India or those who have carried out terror attacks against India by unknown entities. A large number of Kashmiri terrorists, Pakistan-based terrorists planning and plotting attacks against India, have been neutralised under mysterious circumstances by ‘unknown men’ in the last few months.

Who is terorrist Sajid Mir?

Terrorist Sajid Mir is the chief commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and is in charge of the group’s “India establishment.” He was a key figure in the Mumbai terror attack that took place on 26 November 2008, when 10 armed Pakistani terrorists created mayhem in the country’s financial capital, killing hundreds of civilians and leaving scores of others injured. 

Mir reportedly recruited Dawood Gilani, alias David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American and FBI/DEA informant, and planned the Mumbai attacks with the assistance of Pakistani military officers. He was the mastermind behind the largest-ever overseas Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist attack, which killed nationals from numerous nations, including India and Western countries. 175 people were murdered (18 police officers, 122 civilians, 26 foreigners, and 9 terrorists) and 291 were injured during the incident (25 police personnel, 243 people, 22 foreigners, and one terrorist Ajmal Kasab). Sajid Mir was the Lashkar-e-Taiba project manager for the November 2008 Mumbai terror strikes. He, via satellite phones, had commanded the terrorists involved in the operation to execute the hostages.

Two Interpol notices RCN A-6269/10-2010 and A-2032/2-2019 have been issued against him. India has marked him as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], 1967, as amended in 2019 in October 2020.

Pakistan detained Sajid Mir last year and sentenced him to 15 years in prison in May 2022 for providing terror financing to Lashkar founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed’s charitable organization and his role in other terror attacks. Sajid Mir was charged with conspiracy to destroy the property of a foreign government in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 21, 2011. Allegations include providing logistic aid to terrorists, killing a civilian outside of the United States, assisting and abetting terrorists, and bombing public places.

“Warner has paid his dues”: Usman Khawaja fires back at Mitchell Johnson’s criticism of David Warner

ANI
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“Warner has paid his dues”: Usman Khawaja fires back at Mitchell Johnson’s criticism of David Warner

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has responded to Mitchell Johnson’s criticism of Test teammate David Warner, calling the veteran opener a “hero” who has paid his dues in the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ incident.

Former Australia pacer Johnson launched a scathing attack against his former teammates David Warner and George Bailey, questioning why Warner is getting a Test farewell despite his struggles in red-ball cricket and accusing him of not owning up to his role in the ball-tampering scandal.

Writing for The West Australian, Johnson said that Warner’s current form and his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal, also known as the ‘Sandpaper Gate’, do not justify him getting a “hero’s send-off”.

Khawaja stated that he “strongly disagreed” with Johnson’s statement, saying that the opener and former skipper Steve Smith, who was also banned for a year, had paid the price for their blunders. In 20 Tests from 2022-23, Warner has scored 936 runs in 36 innings at an average of 26.74, with just one century and four half-centuries. This is in stark contrast with the opener’s white-ball form, which has been consistent in the 2020s as well.

“Davey Warner and Steve Smith are heroes in my mind. They missed a year of cricket through dark times in Australian cricket but they have paid their dues. No one is perfect. Mitchell Johnson isn’t perfect. I am not perfect. Steve Smith is not perfect. David Warner isn’t perfect. What they have done for the game and to grow the game far outweighs anything else they have done,” Khawaja was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Warner has been named in the 14-man squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting on December 14. The veteran opener this year expressed his desire to retire from the long format after the final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the home stadium of his first-class team, New South Wales.

“So for [Johnson] to imply that Dave Warner or anyone else involved in [the] Sandpaper [incident] is not a hero, I strongly disagree with that because I believe they have paid their dues,” he added.

Khawaja also stated that he disagreed with Johnson’s assertion that head of selectors George Bailey was too close to Warner and the other players.

He described Bailey as a “breath of fresh air” in the role. Under Bailey’s leadership, Australia won the Ashes in 2021-22 and retained them in 2023, as well as the 2021 T20 World Cup, this year’s World Test Championship, and the ODI World Cup.

“I’m not sure you can argue with that. [The criticism] is harsh,” Khawaja said.

Australia will face Pakistan in a three-match Test series, with the first game starting on December 14.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Heavy flood situation in Chennai due to cyclone Michaung, airport submerged, Army helping in rescue and evacuation

OpIndia Staff
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Heavy flood situation in Chennai due to cyclone Michaung, airport submerged, Army helping in rescue and evacuation

Chennai has been experiencing heavy rain and flood situations ahead of the landfall of cyclone Michaung. On 4th December, the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) informed that they have increased the amount of surplus water discharged from Chembarambakkam Lake in Chennai from 3000 cusecs to 6000 cusecs due to bad weather conditions and heavy rainfall in the region, ahead of Cyclone Michaung hitting the state’s coastline, ANI reported.

The deep depression over the South Bay of Bengal which has intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ is likely to continue to move north-northwestward, intensify further, and reach the West-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by today in the afternoon.

As per the latest update by the Indian meteorological department, cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ intensified to severe cyclonic storm at 8:30 am on December 4 about 90 km East northeast of Chennai.

An orange alert has been sounded for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts as cyclone Michaung approaches the south Andhra Pradesh coast, ANI reported.

The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall on 4th and 5th December in north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The Heavy downpour in Chennai led to severe waterlogging in parts of Chennai and neighboring areas. Several areas of Chennai were left inundated due to heavy rainfall. As heavy rains lashed the city, cars have been swept away and waterlogging has been reported from several areas. NDRF teams are working on rescue and evacuation efforts.

The rainwater accumulated to the extent that the vehicles were completely submerged in water. The Heavy spell of rain throughout the night has caused waterlogging in the state due to which traffic jams were witnessed in several parts of the city. There was a heavy traffic jam on Chennai’s Chrompet GST Road following heavy rainfall in the region.

The Chennai airfield has been closed for arrival and departure operations in Chennai till 11 pm on Monday due to the harsh weather conditions in the city. Chennai airport’s runway is under water. In the visuals of the airport, ground staff were seen struggling to safeguard equipment as planes lay halted.

Eleven express trains from Chennai Central were cancelled on Monday after the water level reached the danger mark at Bridge No. 14 between Vyasarpadi and Basin Bridge owing to heavy downpours. 

As several parts of Chennai battle flood situations, Indian Army’s 12 Madras unit is helping in rescue and evacuation efforts.

As per reports, 10 districts in Northern Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and Andhra have been issued an alert. A total of 144 trains have been canceled.

IMD has stated that the severe cyclonic storm is likely to move northwards and cross the coast between Nellore and Machhilipatnam near Bapatla on December 5 before noon.

(With inputs from ANI)

Congress ecosystem plays up ‘north-south’ divide after humiliating poll drubbing in Rajasthan, MP, and Chhattisgarh

Amit Kelkar
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Congress ecosystem plays up ‘north-south’ divide after humiliating poll drubbing in Rajasthan, MP, and Chhattisgarh

Following the humiliating losses in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh in the recently concluded assembly elections, the Congress ecosystem tried to rationalise the setbacks by amping up a dangerous narrative: stoking up the north-south divide and deepening fissures within the Indian society.

For decades, Congress and its ecosystem relied on pitting one caste and one religion against the other to further its political ambitions and maintain its grip on power, even if that means fomenting unrest and fuelling social disharmony.

Such divisive politics helped Congress remain in power for five decades, but ever since Modi came onto the national scene and upended the long-ossified methods of the Congress government, which included dismantling the caste divisions and providing a collective vision that bridged existing differences and brought people from different walks of life together, Congress and its ecosystem had been desperately seeking to find an issue that it could use to divide the society and cause a dent into BJP’s burgeoning vote share.

Therefore, when the BJP delivered an embarrassing pasting to the grand old party in the assembly elections in three states, namely, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, a despondent ecosystem and its dispirited members, also identified as ‘darbaris’ and ‘coolies’ on X, formerly known as Twitter, quickly took to social media to brush aside the electoral setback by ridiculing and insulting the people of north India because the results of the three states did not went the way they wanted them to be.

A raft of social media users from the Congress ecosystem, including Congress leaders, resorted to inflaming the ‘north-south’ divide, a political construct long championed by the divisive parties in southern India to whip up regional chauvinism among the masses and ward off the threat of national parties making inroads in their home turfs. But for the Congress supporters and ecosystem, playing up the north-south divide was an easy way out to rationalise away their mortifying poll-drubbing after the rare political triumph in Karnataka, which had instilled an air of arrogance in Congress supporters. 

As trends of the assembly election results solidified at around noon on Sunday, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram tweeted, “The South.” This was after Congress was reduced to a shadow of its former self in Madhya Pradesh, lost Rajasthan, a surprising but emphatic loss in Chhattisgarh, but stormed its way to power in Telangana.

So Congress leaders and supporters alike proceeded to safeguard their supreme leader, Rahul Gandhi, and pin the blame for the losses on north Indians because they did not elect their party to power. Several Congress propagandists and IT cell members dissed North Indians, claiming that they travel to South India for more prosperous life and better jobs.

Paranjoy Thakurta Guha, infamous for the recent NewsClick-Chinese funding row, also pushed the leftwing propaganda theory that the election results have widened the North-South divide. 


Many others trashed the populace of the states in which Congress lost in elections as lowly literate, lower female literacy, Hindi speaking, and BJP-voting.

BJP registered a landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh, winning 163 seats out of the 230-seat state assembly. In Rajasthan, too, the BJP dislodged the incumbent Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government by racking up 115 seats. In Chhattisgarh, where political pundits had predicted Congress’ return to power, the BJP pulled off a magnificent victory by winning 54 seats, nine more than the number required to form a government in the state.

The stunning victory of the saffron party was a resounding rejection of the Congress party’s poll campaign, which promised to conduct a caste-based census—another exercise in dividing the society—should it come to power in the states. 

As it turned out, the borrowed idea of conducting a caste-based census didn’t inspire the voters to rally behind the Congress. Instead, the voters were more enamoured by the promises made by PM Modi and his integrity, which tilted the scales in BJP’s favour. 

Realising that their rhetorics around caste-based census failed, the Congress ecosystem swiftly activated to segregate the society with yet another divisive narrative: the North vs South divide. 

As a part of this political campaign, scores of Congress sympathisers and supporters insulted and ridiculed the voters who rejected Congress and opted for the BJP. They disparaged northern Indians using the pejorative ‘cow belt’ and claimed that South India has long been paying for the “uninformed” and “illiterate” choices made by their northern counterpart. 

Seemingly, according to the disparagers, north Indians vote for the BJP because they are illiterate, uneducated, poor, backwards, Hindi-speaking, and supporters of Hindutva. What such presumptions reflect is the condescension and intolerance that the Congress ecosystem harbours for those who don’t align with their ideological beliefs. 

Instead of humbly accepting the public mandate and gracefully accepting their party’s rout in the state elections, the Congress ecosystem resorted to inflaming regional rifts and insulting those who did not vote for their party. 

The aim for such an exercise is two-pronged: To fuel the regional divide with the hope of capitalising on it in the subsequent elections, most notably the 2024 general elections, and to protect the Congress leadership, dominated by the Gandhi family, from public scrutiny. But to fulfil these myopic objectives, the Congress ecosystem finds no qualms in denigrating the north Indians and casting them as uneducated, uninformed, illiterate, Hindi-speaking, and bigoted. Only time will tell if such a divisive political policy will pay any dividends to the Congress party in the months to come.

Mizoram: Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) crosses the majority mark, MNF trails far behind, CM Zoramthanga loses own seat

ANI
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Mizoram: Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) crosses the majority mark, MNF trails far behind, CM Zoramthanga loses own seat

The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has won 27 seats, surpassing the mandatory halfway mark in the 40-seat assembly required to constitute the upcoming government in Mizoram.

According to the Election Commission of India, the ZPM secured victory in 27 seats while the incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF) has marked victory only in 9 seats and is leading in 1.

In a big blow for the ruling Mizo National Front, a constituent of the BJP-helmed NDA, Chief Minister Zoramthanga lost Aizawl East-I seat to Lalthansanga of ZPM by 2,101 votes.

Mizoram’s political landscape has been dominated by the Congress and the Mizo National Front (MNF) since it attained full statehood in 1987.

The President of the MNF and Chief Minister, Zoramthanga has stood out as one of the most prominent figures in this election. He became Chief Minister after the 1998 Assembly polls, ending Congress’s 10-year rule. The MNF governed for a decade until Congress won in 2008 and 2013.

Deputy CM Tawnluia lost to ZPM candidate W Chhuanawma in the Tuichang seat by a margin of 909 votes. CM Zoramthanga was trailing in the Aizawl East-1 seat to ZPM’s Lalthansanga after two rounds of counting. Health Minister R. Lalthangliana was trailing in the South Tuipui seat, and ZPM candidate Jeje Lalpekhlua was leading.

Lalduhoma, ZPM’s Chief Ministerial candidate, has secured a clear victory in the Serchhip constituency.

Lalduhoma has registered a decisive win in the Serchhip constituency, defeating MNF candidate J Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng by 2982 votes.

Lalnghinglova Hmar of ZPM emerged victorious in the Aizawl West-II constituency, defeating state cabinet minister Lalruatkima. In Tuichang, ZPM’s W. Chhuanawma prevailed over the incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia.

The incumbent MNF registered a win in seven assembly constituencies: Mamit, Serlui, Tuirial, Tuivawl, East Tuipui, West Tuipui and Thorang. The party is still leading in two seats.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept Siaha district bordering Myanmar with K. Beichhua winning the Saiha seat by defeating H.C. Lalmalsawma Zasai of MNF by 616 votes after K. Hrahmo won the Palak seat. This is the BJP’s best-ever performance in Mizoram.

Speaking about the performance of the BJP, state party chief Vanlalhmuaka said that the result is “little unexpected” for the party.
“…Earlier I said that people expected a hung assembly but after seeing the results, it is a little unexpected but we accept it and we respect the people’s mandate….Under the leadership of PM Modi and JP Nadda, BJP is progressing a lot in Mizoram. In 2018, we were getting only 1 seat but now we are about to get 3 seats, we have already secured 2…” he said.

Four major contenders were in fray in the northeastern state, which voted to elect its 40-member legislative assembly on November 7. These include the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), the Congress and the BJP.

The elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly were held on November 7, with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) facing a stout challenge from the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), Congress, and the BJP. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Conduct one election on ballot paper: ‘Loudmouth’ Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut casts aspersions on EVMs after BJP trumps 3 States

OpIndia Staff
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Conduct one election on ballot paper: ‘Loudmouth’ Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut casts aspersions on EVMs after BJP trumps 3 States

A day after BJP won elections in 3 crucial States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Sanjay Raut courted controversy by casting aspersions on the integrity of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on Monday (4th December).

While speaking to ANI, the Shiv Sena UBT (Udhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader claimed, “The public mandate in Telangana is different from that of 3 other States…The BJP has won big this year. We welcome the mandate even though EVM delivered it.”

“We always say that and people too have their suspicions – How is this result even possible, especially in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh? We say that if people have doubts (about the results), then, you must resolve them. Conduct one election on the ballot paper. Just one and resolve the public’s doubts.,” Raut brazened out.

“We demand one election on the ballot paper, whether Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha. After that, there will be no scope for people to question EVM,” he claimed, knowing well India’s history of misuse of ballot papers during elections.

Sanjay Raut however did not explain how its ally, Congress, managed to win in Telangana using the same Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He then challenged the BJP to conduct elections for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and see the results.

The Shiv Sena UBT (Udhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader, who suggested that EVMS were unreliable, then dared the BJP to conduct elections through any means of their choice (including EVMs).

A year after adopting Shivaji Maharaj’s seal in Navy flag, PM Modi to attend Navy Day celebrations from Sindhudurg: Read how Chhatrapati’s legacy inspires Indian Navy

OpIndia Staff
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A year after adopting Shivaji Maharaj’s seal in Navy flag, PM Modi to attend Navy Day celebrations from Sindhudurg: Read how Chhatrapati’s legacy inspires Indian Navy

The Indian Navy observes ‘Navy Day’ on 4th December each year to honour the resilience, diligence and bravery of the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces.

This year’s celebration marks the 52nd anniversary of ‘Operation Trident‘ which was undertaken by the Indian Navy on 4th December 1971. Without suffering any losses, the Indian Navy fleet entered the Pakistani waters and launched a major offensive amid the Indian-Pakistan war.

It sank minesweeper PNS Muhafiz, destroyer PNS Khaibar and a Pakistani cargo vessel that was carrying ammunition. A total of 255 Pakistani sailors were killed in the operation.

On Monday (4th December), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be a part of India’s Navy Day celebrations in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. In a tweet, he said, “On Navy Day, best wishes to all the personnel of the Indian Navy.”

“Their commitment to safeguarding our seas is a testament to their unwavering dedication to duty and love for our nation. In every circumstance, their spirit and resolve remain unshakable. We are forever grateful for their service and sacrifices,” he informed.

PM Modi added, “I look forward to joining the Navy Day programme at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra later today. This place has a close association with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose efforts to build a strong navy are well known.”

PM Modi to unveil statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Navy Day

According to a press release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), PM Modi will reach Sindhudurg at 4:15 pm and unveil a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort.

He will attend the ‘operational demonstration’ by India’s Navy aircraft, ships, submarines and special forces. Such programmes enable the general public to learn about the operations undertaken by the Indian Navy, highlight its contribution to national security and generate maritime consciousness.

The 2023 edition of the ‘Navy Day’ celebrations is being held at Sindhudurg (meaning: Fort in the Sea)to commemorate the maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Sidhudurg and its connection to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

The development comes a year after the Indian Navy discarded its earlier ensign with the St George’s cross and introduced a new design featuring the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It must be mentioned that 2023 marks the 350th year of the coronation of the Maratha emperor.

In this context, the island fort of Sindhudurg holds immense significance for the Indian Navy. Sindhudurg Fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj between 1664 and 1667 on a low island named Kurte to defend the Maratha Empire against the Siddis of Janjira.

Another fort named Padamgad served as a shipyard for the Maratha Navy. It was built on a smaller island opposite Sindhudurg. It must be mentioned that Sindhudurg allowed the Marathas to establish a stronghold on the Konkan coast against the English, Dutch and Portuguese navy.

The Sindhudurg fort is spread across an area of 48 acres. It stands as a testament to the military acumen and vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is believed that the Maratha ruler personally supervised the construction of this fort and ensured its robust design and formidable defences.

Reportedly, over 500 masons, 200 blacksmiths, 100 Portuguese, and a workforce of 3000 toiled tirelessly for 3 years to complete the fort. The distinctive feature of Sindhudurg fort lies in its foundation stones, meticulously laid in slots and fortified with molten lead.

Lime stone, sourced from the central part of the Deccan plateau, highlights the strategic planning behind the fort’s construction.

Adoption of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s seal as Indian Navy’s new ensign

On September 2 last year, the Indian Navy’s new ensign was inaugurated by PM Modi. The Navy dropped the earlier ensign with the St George’s cross and the newly introduced design features a distinct shape, the shape of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal.

The meaning and significance of the new ensign were explained in a short video. The video also honoured the heritage of the Maratha emperor and depicted how the design has changed over the years. Here is the video:

“From a small harbour police outfit at the beginning of the 17th century to one of the world’s finest naval forces in the 21st century, the Indian Navy has come a long way. It is the proud custodian of a rich maritime legacy. For years, the rank and file of the Indian Navy have dreamt of a change in its ensign that would honour its civilisational heritage. Over the years, the Indian navy’s ensign has undergone several changes and has transformed on many occasions. Shedding the last remnants of the colonial past, on September 2, the Indian Navy adopts its new ensign,” the video said.

“The octagonal shape represents the 8 directions symbolizing the Indian Navy’s multidirectional reach and multidimensional capabilities. The octagonal shape with twin golden borders draws inspiration from the seal of the great Indian emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose visionary maritime outlook established a credible naval fleet, with 60 fighting ships and approximately 5000 men. The rising Maratha naval power, during Shivaji Maharaj’s period, was the first to secure the coastline against external aggression,” it further added.

Vastu compliant secretariat building, national ambitions and more: How KCR lost touch with Telangana

Pragya Bakshi Sharma
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Vastu compliant secretariat building, national ambitions and more: How KCR lost touch with Telangana

The former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has no one but himself to blame for Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti’s (BRS) abysmal loss in the assembly elections. For a CM and a so-called “national” party chief to be focused on building a vastu-complaint Secretariat for eight years of his tenure when government files concerning important issues are eating the dust, gives an umbrella understanding of why KCR lost the CM chair.

Even half of the pain, which KCR took to explain and convince the people that there was logic behind getting a new secretariat built for a staggering Rs 600 crore, would have helped understand why he is communalising infrastructure space by offering IT Parks to minorities.

The new Telangana secretariat was inaugurated by KCR in April 2023. For eight years, until the new building was built, KCR did not report to duty even once from the old secretariat. He conducted meetings from his house, which is reportedly farther away from where the secretariat has been.

This is one of the reasons why the former Telangana CM earned the moniker “farmhouse CM” from both the BJP and Congress. KCR has announced several key projects during one of his visits to his farmhouse in Erravelli village in Medak district. BJP and Congress took jibes at KCR over the same saying that his frequent visits to the farmhouse were his way of telling voters that he is “inaccessible”.

The secretariat overhaul

In a press conference in the year 2015, KCR announced that the existing secretariat building has very “bad vaastu”, and that’s why no CM ever had a good time there. He was referring to the history of incomplete CM terms in the state.

He was alluding to this history while commenting that the existing secretariat building is basically not safe for him to work in (though he actually claimed that this was not good for Telangana)! In 2015, the BRS Chief claimed that the construction cost for the new secretariat will be about Rs 150 crore and he will demolish the Chest Hospital building in the city.

There was widespread outrage by people at this decision to demolish the heritage chest hospital building. This outrage forced KCR to back off from the proposed new building here.

After some time, KCR put the onus on the central government to give the Bison Polo grounds – grounds that belong to the Ministry of Defence. The Prime Minister had given in-principle approval for the same in the year 2017.

However, there was again outrage from the citizens; and also, the nitty-gritty between the state and the central government on the actual terms of transfer of this land was taking too long (even though the High Court approved the construction on Bison Polo Grounds). At this point in time (2018), KCR claimed that the construction cost for the new Secretariat will be 250 crores.

In the year 2019, the AP government headed by Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to hand over their share of 58% of the existing Secretariat building to the Telangana government. With 100% ownership of the existing building and the land on which it is there, KCR decided to demolish the existing secretariat building and build a new one in this space itself.

Once the site was finalised, he allotted a whopping 610 crores for this building in the year 2021. A minister, at the inauguration of the building in April 2023 told that the final cost may be around 800 crores for this building.

KCR claimed that fire safety is not good in the old building. Citizens couldn’t but help to allude to this anecdote when a major fire broke out in the new secretariat in the final stages of its construction!

KCR’s lucky number is 6. So, the new Secretariat consists of 6 operational floors (LG, UG and 6 floors); Chief Minister’s office is in the 6th floor. KCR signed 6 files in 6 minutes on Day 1 in the new secretariat. The entire English media was silent on this and some even wrote glowing reports.

Self-centred priorities

An official building of the government was built keeping in mind the lucky number and vaastu beliefs of the incumbent Chief Minister, at the exact same location where the older building existed.

With a vision that appeared lacking for the people, K Chandrasekhar Rao still dared to dream. On what grounds he was eyeing Delhi is really a wonder for several reasons. It takes a visionary to become a Prime Minister. The two parimary works that KCR put into that was rename the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) to convey that he was entering national politics. Now, he is out of even regional politics.

The second area of focus for KCR was becoming PM by insulting the PM chair itself. He refused to attend a PM event he was invited to and he refused to receive the PM at the airport as is the protocol. PM Modi himself while recently taking a dig at KCR said that the reason for the CM’s attacks at Modi and BJP were because they had refused KCR’s wish to join NDA and befriend BJP.

Meanwhile, not only has BRS lost to Congress but the BJP has gained foothold in Telangana with 8 seats, up from 1 in 2018. Moreover, BJP’s Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy has emerged a hero having defeated KCR and state Congress chief A Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy.

KCR’s wishful thinking has been devoid of ground realities and a vision. His priorities have been misplaced considering the time and amount spent on one secretariat building, national tours to further his aspirations, frequent offensive attacks on the PM and BJP and attacking Hindu faith in the name of attacking PM and BJP, when real issues like temple land grabbing have ailed the state.

As T Raja Singh wins again, here is a glimpse into the hate campaign unleashed against him by Islamists

OpIndia Staff
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As T Raja Singh wins again, here is a glimpse into the hate campaign unleashed against him by Islamists

On 3rd December, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced assembly election results for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. The declared results also involved a remarkable victory for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh from Goshamahal, Hyderabad. Raja Singh’s triumph is particularly striking as it follows the recent revocation of his suspension by the BJP. He was suspended from the party following an alleged statement against Prophet Muhammad.

Following his victory, T Raja Singh thanked the voters and BJP leadership for showing support to him. The election results underscore a substantial political shift towards firebrand Hindu leaders who have faced challenges in the past few years. Not only was he booked by the police multiple times for the so-called hate speech, and arrested for the same, but the left-liberals and Islamists also ran campaigns against Singh before the elections.

Alt News’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair, who is known for running hate campaigns against Hindu leaders, published a thread on X (formerly Twitter), targeting Tiger Raja Singh. In the video clips Zubair shared, Singh talked about two important points. First was the rampant issue of Love Jihad, and the second was supporting Hindu businesses.

T Raja Singh urged the people in his political rally to support the businesses from the Hindu community. There have been previous reports that Islamists have urged the Muslim community to boycott Hindu businesses. For example, a video from 2019 where a Muslim leader urged his followers to make purchases only from Muslim businesses has gone viral on several occasions. What Singh said should be seen as a retaliation and not provocation.

Furthermore, no matter how much the likes of Zubair deny it, the issue of Love Jihad is real and well-documented. Several cases have emerged in the past decade where Muslims posed as Hindus to lure Hindu girls into relationships. When their true identity comes out, they force the Hindu girls to convert. OpIndia’s detailed coverage on Love Jihad or Grooming Jihad can be checked here and here.

Zubair has tried multiple times to provoke his followers and Islamists against T Raja Singh. In March 2023, he wrote a long thread on Singh where Zubair shared multiple reports and videos targeting Singh’s speeches. He wrote, “Suspended BJP MLA T Raja Singh attended several rallies in Maharashtra in the past month, where he delivered vitriolic speeches and made open calls for violence and boycott against Muslims. The many FIRs against him failed to deter him.”

Another anti-Hindu X handle, Hindutva Watch, provoked its followers multiple times against Singh. In April 2023, the handle shared a video of T Raja Singh, claiming he spoke against minorities. However, in the video, Singh talked against land jihad, love jihad and forced conversions.

In May 2023, a case was registered against Singh in Rajasthan. Fake news peddler Md Asif Khan demanded his arrest.

On Ram Navami this year, when T Raja Singh led a Hindu procession celebrating the birth of Bhagwan Ram, several left-liberals and Islamists targeted Singh as the procession passed through a road where a mosque was located. News anchor Rajdeep Sardesai wrote, “Is this Ram Navmi, a pious celebration of Maryada Purshottam Ram, or an unadulterated hate speech? Netas like suspended Hyderabad BJP MLA Raja Singh bring a terrible name to a great religion like Hinduism. Where is the ‘impotent’ state?”, When Singh led a Hindu procession, several left-liberals and Islamists targeted him for taking out the procession from a road where a mosque was located.”

Shirin Khan wrote, “T Raja Singh, a suspended BJP MLA, paused in front of a mosque in Hyderabad before delivering an extremely offensive hate speech about Muslims and threatening violence. Why did Telangana’s officials allow this hateful person to enter?”

Propagandist and financial fraud accused Rana Ayyub also shared a report on Singh by Alt News in March 2023. She wrote the heading of the report in the post that read, “Unaffected by FIRs, T Raja Singh, a leader of the ruling party in India, continues calls for killing of Muslims in rally after rally in Maharashtra.”

T Raja Singh’s victory is a sign that there is a need for political will to act against the street veto of the Islamists and threats of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ issued against Hindus for using their right of speech and expression.

AAP creates new record: Loses deposit in 201 out of 204 seats, scores less than NOTA in all 3 states

Anurag
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AAP creates new record: Loses deposit in 201 out of 204 seats, scores less than NOTA in all 3 states

On 3rd December, the Election Commission of India announced the states’ assembly election results for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. Out of these four, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contested in three states. A total of 204 AAP candidates tried their luck in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

AAP’s chief and Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, and CM of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, made tall promises during their election campaigns. They talked about the work done by the AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi. However, the voters did not heed their poll promises, and all the candidates lost their seats. Interestingly, AAP maintained its record of forfeiting deposits and losing to NOTA on many seats.

Since its inception, AAP has embarked on a remarkable journey of consistently losing deposits in almost every state election. In a way, they have turned this undesirable feat into an art form. The political pundits and general public scratched their heads after every state election where AAP contested and thought about what makes AAP contest elections in states where they know it would be impossible to win.

AAP is known for over-ambitious promises and penchant for self-proclaimed righteousness. The self-loathing is so deeply rooted in the party that the leaders forget that they need to differentiate between realistic contracts and bizarre policy proposals. Anyway, coming to the results, let’s discuss how AAP performed in Madhya Pradesh.

AAP lost deposit on 63 seats in Madhya Pradesh

The voting in Madhya Pradesh took place on 17th November 2023 for all 230 seats. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in the elections with 163 seats, crushing Congress which won only 66 seats. Bharatiya Adivasi Party, a new name in the political arena, won one seat in MP.

Source: ECI

Coming to AAP, the party fielded 65 candidates in the state assembly elections. All candidates received 2,33,458 votes across the state, making 0.54% of the total vote share. Interestingly, 0.98% of voters chose NOTA or None Of The Above. NOTA got 4,27,710 votes across the state.

Source: ECI

Only two AAP candidates, Mamta Meena from Chachoura and Sudhir Yadav from Banda, managed to save their deposits in Madhya Pradesh. The remaining 63 candidates lost their deposits.

Source: ECI

Furthermore, 18 of the 65 candidates received fewer votes compared to NOTA.

AAP lost deposit on all seats in Chhattisgarh

The voting in Chhattisgarh took place in two phases on 7th November and 17th November 2023 for all 90 seats. BJP emerged victorious in the elections with 54 seats. Incumbent ruling party Congress managed to win only 35 seats. BJP’s victory was not surprising as the Congress government in the state was clouded by a series of scams. Gondvana Gantantra Party (GGP) won one seat in the state.

Source: ECI

AAP fielded 54 candidates in the state. All candidates combined received 1,44,710 votes across the state, which makes 0.93% of the total vote share. Interestingly, 1.26% of voters chose NOTA or None Of The Above. NOTA got 1,97,678 votes across the state.

Source: ECI

Not even a single candidate managed to save their deposit in Chhattisgarh, making AAP’s worse performance in the current Assembly elections. 

Source: ECI

Furthermore, 22 of the 54 candidates received fewer votes compared to NOTA.

AAP lost deposit on 84 seats in Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, the voting took place on 25th November for all 199 seats. BJP emerged victorious in the elections with 115 seats. Incumbent Congress Party won only 69 seats. Interestingly, the Bharat Adivasi Party managed to win three seats in Rajasthan by a huge margin. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won two seats, Rashtriya Lok Sal (RLD) and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won one seat each and independent candidates won eight seats in the state.

Source: ECI

Speaking of AAP, the party fielded 85 candidates in the state assembly elections. All candidates combined received 1,48,709 votes across the state, which makes 0.38% of the total vote share. Interestingly, 0.96% of voters chose NOTA or None Of The Above. NOTA got 3,82,066 votes across the state.

Source: ECI

Only one candidate, Kailash from Thanagazi, managed to save his deposit. The remaining 84 candidates lost their deposits.

Source: ECI

Furthermore, 51 of the 85 candidates received fewer votes compared to NOTA.

OpIndia’s reports on how AAP lost deposits in the Gujarat Elections in 2022 can be seen here.

AAP should consider making the ‘losing deposits’ feature a part of their manifestos. Imagine AAP candidates knocking on doors armed with banners that read “Vote for AAP – The only party that celebrates defeat like no other!” and party workers donning t-shirts that read “We Lose Deposits”. The party’s commitment to losing deposits has reached such impressive heights that political analysts should not debate if it is a deliberate strategy of AAP leaders to save themselves from actual work.

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