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Aam Aadmi Party, ‘Farmers protest’, Greta toolkit and Khalistan: The dots that need to be connected

OpIndia Staff
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Aam Aadmi Party, ‘Farmers protest’, Greta toolkit and Khalistan: The dots that need to be connected

The farmers’ protest, spearheaded by Khalistanis seems to have brought out the worst shades of the Indian democracy. At the heels of the attempted insurrection and unbridled violence that took place on the 26th of January, the nation saw political parties, who are meant to protect. The fabric of the nation, shred it to tatters because petty political gains were far more important than the truth. While Congress fanned a protest with clear Khalistani roots, Aam Aadmi party too, it would seem, was inextricably involved with the global conspiracy against India.

After the rampant violence on Republic Day, Greta Thunberg, a young ‘activist’ whose organisation has resorted to violence and illegal means to supposedly fight for the climate, accidentally tweeted a ‘toolkit’ which contained the entire plan to destabilise India using social media, physical protests in front of embassies and either digital or physical presence in Delhi on the 26th of February.

In the ‘toolkit’, several names were mentioned as reliable sources – some were media outlets, other, journalists and propagandists. The names of Indian media houses and journalists included The Wire, The Scroll, The NewsLaundry, AltNews, Faye D Souza and several other propagandists who were extending support to the rioters of 26th January and also, spreading fake news regarding the farm laws passed by the Modi government.

As soon as the ‘toolkit’ was tweeted by Greta Thunberg, several individuals on Twitter started taking a back-up copy of it. Instinctively, people knew that perhaps this toolkit would be the key to unravelling the conspiracy against India. However, while netizens downloaded the toolkit, it was being edited in real-time by certain individuals. Two individuals who were seen editing the toolkit in real-time to remove all problematic references (including the names of media houses, references to Khalistan etc) was one Shantanu and one Nikita Jacob.

While the toolkit was being edited by Nikita Jacob

It was later reported that Nikita Jacob was an active part of the Aam Aadmi Party. Currently, Nikita Jacob has applied for anticipatory bail, after the Delhi Police issued a non-bailable warrant against her. She is reportedly absconding from the law.

Interestingly, an old interview of Disha Ravi that we reported on, Ravi had categorically declared her support for AAP.

The lady taking the interview questioned what Disha Ravi thinks about the “progressive party which got elected in Delhi and then faded out”. The activist helps the interviewer by giving her the name of Aam Aadmi Party. Ravi seconds the interviewer’s opinion. She agrees that the AAP is “definitely progressive”, but the issue is that it is only central to Delhi and not in any other city, so they are not being able to make a political shift in all the cities and states across the country. “There are a few issues with the Aam Aadmi Party, but they are definitely better than the others”, says the activist putting her weight behind AAP.

It was also reported that Nikita Jacob (absconding), Shantanu and Disha Ravi (a climate ‘activist’ directly linked to Greta Thunberg) had created and distributed the toolkit. It was Disha who had asked Greta to delete the toolkit after it was tweeted with the active participation of Nikita Jacob, who is alleged to be an AAP activist too. Further, Jacob and Disha were present at a Zoom meeting with Khalistani Mo Dhaliwal of Poetic Justice Foundation where they had hatched the entire plan to create unrest. Mo is also intricately involved in the formulation and distribution of the toolkit that detailed how to break India.

For the purpose of this article, however, it becomes essential to focus on the alleged AAP link of Nikita Jacob. It has been widely reported that she is connected with AAP, however, the involvement of AAP itself in this entire conspiracy has to be seen under the microscope. We had already reported earlier that Congress had tweeted content directly from the Toolkit, using the exact hashtag that the toolkit had asked people to. However, AAP was not left behind either.

The role of AAP in fuelling Khalistani unrest and the ‘toolkit’

As soon as Disha Ravi was arrested, an activist who works closely with Greta Thunberg, heads her Indian chapter and, created and distributed the toolkit which had the blueprint to break India, Arvind Kejriwal, AAP supremo, came out in support of her.

He tweeted that the arrest of Disha Ravi was an attack on democracy itself.

It is important to reiterate that the toolkit was made by and distributed by Khalistani organisations like Poetic Justice Foundation and Disha Ravi worked very closely with PJF. Poetic Justice Foundation co-founder Mo Dhaliwal was heard in a video saying, “If the farm bills get repealed tomorrow, that is not a victory. This battle begins with the repeal of the farm laws. It does not end there. Anybody who tells you that this is going to end with the repeal of the farm bills is trying to drain energy from the movement.” 

He further requested the youth to not dismiss the idea of ‘Khalistan’ and instead learn about the movement and embrace it. While addressing the gathering, the Khalistani supporter that their ultimate objective is the same, irrespective of whether they are holding a ‘Khalistani flag’ or a ‘farm bill flag’ or a ‘Kesari flag’. “We are being fed language that is separating us from each other,” he alleged.

On the 29th of January, the official account of AAP further fanned the narrative that the toolkit wanted it to further.

It was on the 3rd of February, that Greta had tweeted the toolkit. Interestingly, it was also on the 3rd of February, much before the toolkit was tweeted accidentally by Greta and then, was asked to be deleted by Disha Ravi, AAP had held a press conference saying exactly what the Toolkit wanted it to say.

This, is not all. Several AAP accounts had used the phrase “Stand with Farmers”, something mentioned in the toolkit and also tweeted with the hashtag “Modi planning farmers genocide”. A phrase used by several accounts fanning the insurrection. In fact, the government of India had given a list of 250 accounts and tweets using this hashtag, to be withheld in India by Twitter. An order that was defied in the name of freedom of expression.

Tweet from AAP leader
Tweet by AAP activist
Tweet by AAP activist
Tweet by AAP activist

In line with the pro-Khalistani toolkit narrative, AAP social media accounts were pushing the hashtag ‘Stand with Farmers’. Not only that, AAP social media accounts tried to accuse the government of fomenting genocide. With an incendiary hashtag like ‘ModiPlanningFarmerGenoicde’, there can be no doubt that AAP accounts on social media attempted to create a narrative which could lead to severe violence at a sensitive time.

They were also using the hashtag ‘#FarmersProtest” which was specifically mentioned in the toolkit.

However, AAP’s support for Khalistani elements goes beyond the virtual world. Even as ‘protesting farmers’ were vandalizing and destroying cell towers in the 1000s, with lakhs worth of property damage on record, AAP still facilitated them. AAP gave the disruptive ‘farmers,’, who were causing damages worth lakhs and crores, free Wifi at their protesting site on Singhu border. This free Wifi could be the catalyst through which online accounts utilized the pro-Khalistani toolkit narrative on social media. Until a complete investigation reveals anything, we will not know.

AAP’s History of embracing Khalistanis

In 2014, a number of pro-Khalistani outfits declared their support for AAP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election. In that same year footage emerged showing, Jarnail Singh, a prominent AAP leader who has contested Lok Sabha elections for the party, addressed a crowd of cheering Khalistan supporters in London. This rally took place in June, 2011. Jarnail Singh is still a part of AAP and reportedly received no backlash within the party.

In 2015, AAP’s Member of Parliament from Patiala, Dharamveer Gandhi himself warned the party leadership against “playing a dangerous game” by supporting the protest for the release of radical Khalistani Sikh militants which was happening at the time. Gandhi cautioned his own party to not ‘play into the hands of certain hardliners’ talking about militancy, saying, “We do not want to go down that road again. We have suffered enough in the past.”

AAP Punjab State Convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur had visited Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa, who was on a hunger strike since January 2015, seeking the release of Khalistani prisoners. Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav, too, had endorsed Khalsa’s protest.

In 2016, AAP sought an apology from Capt. Amrinder Singh for rightfully referring to some Punjab-origin Canadian minsters as Khalistani sympathizers. Capt. Amrinder hit back at AAP saying, “When the Canadian MPs and ministers did not object to what I said, what makes you act as their spokespersons? Is it to keep the flow of money (from abroad)? Capt. Amrinder Singh further added, “I am surprised by the pain and hurt caused to you by my saying that some of the Canadian ministers are Khalistan supporters, which they are openly.”

In 2018, in their most overt support for Khalistan yet, AAP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sukhapl Singh Khaira released a statement in support of Referendum 2020. Referendum 2020, for those unfamiliar, is a Khalistani terrorist plot seeking a ‘referendum’ to determine the future of Punjab i.e. separation from India. The idea of Referendum 2020 is the hallmark sign of a Khalistani who us against the territorial integrity of India. Criticism of this statement was aplenty across political lines, with Capt. Amrinder Singh strongly condemned Khaira’s statement.

As we can observe, in its extremely brief and nebulous political journey, the one thing which has remained consistently a part of AAP, even when leaders like Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav left, is their support towards Khalistani elements. Ever since its inception in late 2012, Khalistani sentiments have been accepted and tolerated within the AAP. Therefore it is no surprise that AAP provided logistical support in the form of free wifi to the ‘farmers’ during their agitation. The sum total of this mainstream acceptance of Khalistani elements within a mainstream political party is now what we see before us in the form of hundreds of Khalistani sympathizers breaching the Red Fort and replacing the Tricolour with the Nishaan Sahib on Republic Day. That is not an isolated incident. Rather, it proves that the tolerance of a hateful ideology like Khalistan by mainstream political figures like Kejriwal will only push India down a path of instability and destruction.

‘Indian history was written by colonisers or their slaves, it is being undone now’: PM Modi inaugurates Maharaja Suheldev Memorial UP

OpIndia Staff
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‘Indian history was written by colonisers or their slaves, it is being undone now’: PM Modi inaugurates Maharaja Suheldev Memorial UP

On the birth anniversary of King Suheldev, PM Modi on Tuesday virtually laid the foundation stone of the Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and other development projects at Chittaura lake, along with inaugurating a medical College building named after Maharaja Suheldev in UP’s Bahraich.

Speaking through videoconferencing, PM Modi paid his tributes to Bahraich, the birthplace of King Suheldev, the unsung warrior of the Indian history. PM Modi also noted that there’s more to the history of the country than that written by those who enslaved it. 

“I salute this holy land of Bahraich, the birthplace of Rashtriya Nayaka Maharaja Suheldev and the sages who meditated with their might, paid homage to the motherland,” PM Modi said.

“History of India is not just what was written by those who enslaved this country and those with a slave mentality. India’s history is that too which the common people of India have kept alive in the folktales of India for generations,” said PM Modi. 

PM Modi further added, “Today when India is entering the 75th year of independence, there can be no bigger an occasion to remember & take inspiration from the contribution of such great men (Maharaja Suheldev), their sacrifice, struggle, valour & martyrdom.”

PM Modi also lamented on the gross perversion of the history, stating that it is misfortune that those who dedicated their lives to protect India were not given their due recognition. The Prime Minister, however, added that the injustice and manipulation done by the writers and creators of the history is being undone by today’s India. 

An icon of the Rajbhar community, King Suheldev is known for defeating and killing the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud in a battle on the banks of the Chittaura lake in Bahraich in 1033 and halting the relentless march of the marauding Muslim armies. 

Development and beautification projects unveiled by PM Modi

PM Modi also unveiled beautification projects of Shravasti, Chittaura Lake and Bahraich on the occasion.

“This modern and grand monument, the development of the historic Chittaura Lake, will enhance the blessings of Maharaja Suheldev on Bahraich and inspire generations to come,” the prime minister said.

PM Modi hails UP CM Yogi Adityanath for UP’s successful handling of the pandemic

Extolling Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for his handling of coronavirus pandemic outbreak in the state, PM Modi said, “The way the contagion was tamed in Uttar Pradesh is remarkable. Imagine how things would have been done at the national, international level if the situation in UP had worsened. But Yogi ji and his entire team managed to control the outbreak in the best possible manner,” PM Modi said.

Exclusive: NCPCR initiates action against pro-AAP YouTuber Dhruv Rathee for illegally obtaining IP location of a minor

OpIndia Staff
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Exclusive: NCPCR initiates action against pro-AAP YouTuber Dhruv Rathee for illegally obtaining IP location of a minor

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has initiated an inquiry against pro-AAP vlogger Dhruv Rathee for illegally obtaining the IP location of a 15-year-old boy and threatening him on the social media platform. As per the sources, in a letter addressed to Twitter Inc. NCPCR said that the commission received a complaint that a 15-year-old boy is being harassed and threatened on Instagram by Dhruv Rathee.

The commission further said that the boy had highlighted that Rathee messaged the kid on Instagram and threatened to harm him. The boy posted the details on Twitter. The kid further alleged that Rathee threatened him of legal consequences and claimed he had obtained his location by IP address. Rathee claimed he would drag the kid’s name in a fake case if the kid continues to support other individuals.

The commission took cognizance of the matter under Section 13 (1) (d) (j) and (k) of CPCR Act, 2005 and initiated inquiry against Dhruv Rathee. It was further stated that obtaining the IP address of the minor and threatening him on social media platform is grave and serious in nature.

Twitter has to initiate action against Rathee in 7 days

The commission has directed Twitter Inc. to take appropriate action against Dhruv Rathee within seven days of the issue of the letter. NCPCR further asked Twitter to provide related information about the complaint without any delay. Failing to comply with the orders of the commission, NRCPC will take appropriate action against Twitter Inc. as per the law.

Dhruv Rathee threatened 15-year-old

Some screenshots were posted by a Twitter user claiming that Dhruv Rathee had threatened him in Instagram DMs for supporting YouTube channel The Strings. The boy agreed that he was at fault too, but the intimidation and threats Rathee passed in DMs were serious in nature.

Screenshot of tweet from the minor boy’s now-deleted Twitter account (Source: Twitter)

The screenshots shared by the minor showed how Rathee threatened him and said that if the boy continues to support Strings, he would drag his name in the case and ruin his life.

Screenshots of messages sent by Dhruv Rathee to the minor boy. (Source: Twitter)

When the boy told him he was 15 years old, Rathee allegedly said that his age does not matter to him. The boy has since deleted/deactivated his Twitter account.

‘Law is the same for all’, says Delhi Police after ‘liberals’ outrage on arrested ‘activist’ Disha Ravi’s age

OpIndia Staff
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‘Law is the same for all’, says Delhi Police after ‘liberals’ outrage on arrested ‘activist’ Disha Ravi’s age

On Tuesday, the Delhi Police issued a statement, following outrage on social media after the arrest of 21-year-old ‘climate activist’ Disha Ravi. The activist was apprehended on Sunday from Bengaluru and remanded to 5 days in custody.

While speaking to news agency ANI, the Delhi Police Commissioner stated, “As far as Disha’s arrest is concerned, it was done as per the procedures. Law doesn’t differentiate between a 22-yr-old & a 50-yr-old.”

He further added, “She was produced before a court which sent her to 5-day Police custody. It’s false when people say that there were lapses in the arrest.”

The comments of the Delhi Police Commissioner came after liberals took to social media to stir sympathy for Disha Ravi by citing her ‘young age.’ They also cried foul about the ‘shrinking space for dissent’ in India. Many had claimed that Disha being 21 is too young and tried to create sympathy wave even before the law can take its course.

The Disha Ravi case: What we know so far

Disha, a graduate from Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru, was picked from her house in Soladevanahalli in North Bengaluru. She was arrested for editing and distributing the contentious toolkit accidentally leaked by Swedish Andolanjeevi Greta Thunberg. During the investigation, the police found that the Disha had expressed fears of being charged under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in her conversation with Greta Thunberg.

After the Swedish activist leaked the anti-India toolkit on social media, Disha said, “Can we just not say anything at all for a while. I am going to talk to lawyers.” As per reports, Disha Ravi and Nikita Jacob had taken part in an online meeting with Poetic Justice Foundation’s Mo Dhaliwal, who had earlier declared that he is a ‘proud Khalistani’, to discuss and plan a ‘Twitter storm’ ahead of India’s Republic Day, which saw a massive insurrection attempt and widespread violence by so-called farmers in Delhi.

In the Zoom meeting, the group had formulated a plan to post messages, graphics and videos ahead of Republic Day to spread their propaganda against India in the background of farmer protests. During the meeting in which Mo Dhaliwal was one of the attendees, it was planned how they could agitate the farmers and spread violence on the Republic Day. Mo Dhaliwal had said that they have to make the issue visible on the international platform. 

After Nikita Jacob admits attending Zoom call with pro-Khalistan Mo Dhaliwal of PJF, Delhi Police writes to Zoom seeking details

OpIndia Staff
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After Nikita Jacob admits attending Zoom call with pro-Khalistan Mo Dhaliwal of PJF, Delhi Police writes to Zoom seeking details

Delhi Police has intensified the probe into the Republic Day violence. After ‘climate activist’ and lawyer Nikita Jacob admitted having attended Zoom call with pro-Khalistan Mo Dhaliwal of Poetic Justice Foundation, Delhi Police has written to the video call website seeking details of other participants.

Nikita Jacob, who had yesterday, filed for an anticipatory bail plea before the Bombay High Court fearing arrest, has admitted that there was a Zoom meeting before Republic Day, which was attended by Poetic Justice Foundation founder Mo Dhaliwal and other creators of the toolkit including ‘climate activist’ Disha Ravi.

In a document submitted by Jacob’s lawyer to the police, she claimed that the toolkit was being prepared by Extinction Rebellion (XR) India volunteers for their international audience, giving them a simple breakdown of the holistic propaganda campaign being planned against India.

Interestingly, despite admitting of participating in the Zoom meeting along with the founder of Poetic Justice Foundation which has close links with Khalistani movement and has been termed as a pro-Khalistani organisation and other creators of the toolkit, Nikita Jacob has denied sharing any information with activist Greta Thunberg. She has furthered that the ‘toolkit’ was an ‘informational’ pack and did not intend to incite violence.

She also claimed that she has “no religious, political and financial motive or agenda for researching, discussing, editing and circulating toolkits for raising awareness”.

After the toolkit which Greta inadvertently posted on Twitter revealed a deep-knitted nexus between international celebrities, NGOs, media houses, and terrorist organisations directly linked to Khalistani movement, the Special Cell of Delhi Police first detained 21-year-old ‘climate activist’ and founding member of Greta Thunberg’s Fridays For Future’s India chapter, Disha Ravi. Thereafter, it acquired non-bailable warrants against two accused named Nikita Jacob and Shantanu in the Greta Thunberg ‘Toolkit’ case. 

Delhi police further established that the two activists Disha Ravi and Nikita Jacob had taken part in an online Zoom meeting with Poetic Justice Foundation’s Mo Dhaliwal. Now, deepening its investigation further in the case, the Delhi police have written to makers of the Zoom video calling app, seeking more details of the purported Zoom meeting. Delhi Police has sought to know who all participated in that meeting.

According to reports, the accused had in the Zoom meeting discussed and plan a Twitter storm ahead of India’s Republic Day, which saw a massive insurrection attempt and widespread violence by so-called farmers in Delhi. They had, in fact, formulated a plan to post messages, graphics and videos ahead of Republic Day to spread their propaganda against India in the backdrop of farmer protests.

Delhi Police will also probe the role of farmer leaders in the toolkit case along with the funding of those involved in preparing the Google Doc toolkit related to the farmer protests in Delhi. According to reports, Delhi police have also sought answers from Google on the toolkit in question.

Nikita Jacob is one of the editors of Greta Thunberg Toolkit

Nikita Jacob, a High Court Lawyer and activist from Mumbai, was one of the editors of Greta Thunberg Toolkit. Some media reports suggest that she was Aam Aadmi Party member as well. While checking the Google document, it came to light that Nikita Jacob had been allegedly editing the same much before it got viral on social media platforms, thanks to Thunberg. After her name appeared in the reports, Jacob had deleted her social media accounts and has since been on the run.

Mo Dhaliwal admitted organising Zoom meeting to wield the farmer protests

Interestingly, Nikita Jacob’s statement comes a day after Mo Dhaliwal’s Poetic Justice Foundation had issued a statement in which Dhaliwal admitted that he had meetings with ‘like-minded’ people and brainstormed ‘ideas’ to come up with the plan to use farmer protests for his own benefit.

Police had visited Nikita Jacob’s house

Four days ago, Delhi Police had visited Nikita Jacob’s house and examined her electronic gadgets. Since then, Jacob has been absconding, and police could not locate her whereabouts. A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Nikita Jacob on February 15, 2021. Another alleged activist Shantanu was also named in the case, and a non-bailable warrant has been issued against him as well.

Only yesterday, Nikita Jacob, who was thus far absconding, had filed for an anticipatory bail in the High Court fearing arrest in connection with the Delhi Police’s case against the toolkit creators. Reportedly, Nikita Jacob has stated in her plea that she had no intentions of inciting violence, as alleged by the Delhi Police.

Indo-Canadian groups receive rape and death threats for supporting farm laws, write to Justin Trudeau’s govt seeking help

OpIndia Staff
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Indo-Canadian groups receive rape and death threats for supporting farm laws, write to Justin Trudeau’s govt seeking help

On Saturday, over two dozen Indo-Canadian organisations under National Alliance of Indo-Canadians sent a letter to Canadian minister of public safety, Bill Blair. They sought action against co-ordinated attacks on the community for showing their support to the new Agriculture laws passed in India. Representatives of 28 community bodies have signed the letter.

In the letter, the group said, “separatist elements seeking to create ‘Khalistan’ are deeply embedded and engaged in the anti-legislation agitations in Canada and the attacks on Indo-Canadians has taken a sectarian turn.” The letter further added that it is deeply troubling that the groups responsible for the worst incident of terrorism in Canada, bombing of Air India Flight 182, the Kanishka, are indulging in Hinduphobia under the guise of protesting the newly enacted laws in India. Kanishka bombing orchestrated by Khalistani terrorists in 1985 had claimed 329 lives.

Early and effective action sought

In the letter, the signatories had sought early and effective action from the departments of Public Safety, Canada to “reassure Hindu-Canadians, who are fearful of their future due to this recent phenomenon. We do not want a repeat of the Kanishka tragedy.”

Rape and death threats

As per reports, those who are in favour of the Agriculture laws are facing rape and death threats in several parts of Canada, including Calgary, Metro Vancouver, Greater Toronto Area and Edmonton. Victims of such attacks have filed multiple police complaints.

Participants of ‘Tiranga rally’ targeted

On February 10, members of the Indo-Canadian community organised a ‘Tiranga Rally’ in Metro Vancouver to mark their support for the Agriculture laws and protest against the role of Khalistani elements in January 26 riots. Around 350 cars participated in the rally from Surrey to Vancouver. The participants waved Indian national flags in front of the Indian Consulate building.

As per reports, within hours after the rally, the participants started to get threatening calls and the protesters against the farm laws have been turning up outside their offices. While talking to Hindustan Times, one of the volunteers of Tiranga Rally said that she and her husband’s business was targeted in Surrey. The threats are abusive in the nation and even communal invective at some times.

The group had urged PM Trudeau to condemn January 26 violence

Reports suggest that the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians had urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to condemn the riots of January 26 just like he condemned Capitol Hall incident. Azad Kaushik, president of the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians, said in his letter, “This would help avoid perception in the Indo-Canadian community and Canada at large of tacit support to extremist elements in the guise of farmers.”

Former Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia Ujjal Dosanjh wrote to CJI SA Bobde to take suo moto cognisance of the January 26 violence. He said, “It is quite evident from the publicly available information that the disturbance at the Red Fort was caused by rogue elements illegitimately claiming to represent the peaceful and disciplined farmers.”

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meets ex-TMC Rajya Sabha MP and Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty ahead of Bengal elections

OpIndia Staff
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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meets ex-TMC Rajya Sabha MP and Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty ahead of Bengal elections

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visited West Bengal veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty at his Mumbai residence in Madh area on Tuesday morning. With the meeting coming close to the heels of the much awaited West Bengal Assembly elections, speculations are rife that the Bengali superstar might join BJP.

Upon meeting the RSS chief, Chakraborty said that this was not political but a spiritual meeting. He said that he had earlier also invited him home and since Mohan Bhagwat went to his house, Chakraborty believes that he considers him as his family member.

This is, however, not the first time such news has been doing the rounds. Earlier too, when Mithun Chakraborty had met Mohan Bhagwat at the RSS headquarter in Nagpur in October 2019, the West Bengal political circles were abuzz with speculations that the veteran actor was joining BJP.

Mithun Chakraborty is a Bengali superstar and has a massive fan base in West Bengal. If at all, speculations of him joining BJP holds water, it would definitely prove advantageous for the BJP which has been eyeing to win the upcoming polls in Bengal.

Actor Mithun Chakraborty was long associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress in Bengal. He is the former TMC Rajya Sabha member. He had resigned from the party in 2016 over health issues.

Legislative Assembly elections for 294 seats of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held in April 2021.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee who is eyeing at her third term is currently going through a rough time as several top party leaders including Suvendu Adhikari, Rajib Banerjee and others have quit TMC and joined BJP ahead of the 2021 West Bengal election. The exodus of several veterans from the TMC since 2019 Lok Sabha election, where TMC won 22 Lok Sabha seats while BJP won 18, may impact overall vote-share for Mamata Banerjee’s party in the upcoming polls.

Republic Day violence: Police custody remand of accused Deep Sidhu extended for another 7 days

OpIndia Staff
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Republic Day violence: Police custody remand of accused Deep Sidhu extended for another 7 days

Actor-turned-‘activist’, Deep Sidhu, arrested in connection with the violence that ensued in the wake of Tractor Rally carried out in Delhi on the Republic Day this year has been remanded to seven days additional police custody by a Delhi Court.

The special cell of Delhi Police had arrested the actor and Khalistani supporter Deep Sidhu for his role in instigating violence and the vandalisation at Red Fort on Republic Day during the farmers’ tractor rally. Sidhu was tracked down and arrested in an operation led by Delhi Police’s DCP Sanjeev Yadav. Sidhu was seen in the video footage of the Red Fort violence and was absconding since then.

On Saturday last week, Sidhu and another accused Iqbal Singh were taken to the Red Fort by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch to recreate the scene of events that unfolded at the historic monument on Republic Day during the farmers’ tractor parade.

On February 3, Delhi Police announced a cash reward of Rs 1 Lakh each for information leading to the arrest of Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh. A cash reward of Rs 50,000 each for the arrest of Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh was also announced.

Deep Sidhu accused of inciting violence at Red Fort on Republic Day

Sidhu has been hiding since the day of the Red Fort violence and has been releasing social media videos to blame other ‘farmer leaders’ who have spoken against him. The Khalistani supporters, who stormed the grounds of the historic Red Fort and desecrated the symbol of India’s sovereignty, had brutally attacked the security personnel and police officials stationed at the location, disrespected India’s national flag by hoisting two other flags. In a video, Khalistani rioters were seen pushing Delhi Police personnel from the top of a high wall, severely injuring hundreds of them.

Sidhu rose to prominence after his video of expressing support to the ‘farmers’ protest had gone viral on the internet. However, his Khalistani proclivities were laid bare when in an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, the actor hailed Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale as a hero. After Sidhu’s role of instigating ‘farmers’ to take up arms against the Delhi Police on the day of tractor rally came to fore, the ‘farmers’ leader, who had until now backed Sidhu for his support to the protests, pinned the blame of the violence on him and alleged him of hatching a conspiracy to derail the ‘farmers’ protests.

Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, prime accused in the Godhra train massacre, arrested 19 years after the incident

OpIndia Staff
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Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, prime accused in the Godhra train massacre, arrested 19 years after the incident

Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, who is the prime accused in the Sabarmati Express burning case, has finally been arrested after almost 19 years of the ghastly incident in which 59 karsevaks were charred to death. Rafiq was arrested from Godhra town as informed by police on Monday.

Bhatuk was part of the core group of the accused who hatched the conspiracy

According to Panchmahal Superintendent of Police Leena Patil, 51-year old Bhatuk, who used to work as a labourer at Godhra railway station, was part of the ‘core group’ of the culprits who were involved in the entire conspiracy. He was absconding for 19 years. He was reportedly arrested after a team of Godhra police raided a house in Signal Falia area located near the railway station on Sunday after receiving insider information. “Bhatuk was part of the core group of the accused who had hatched the entire conspiracy, incited the mob and even arranged petrol to torch the train compartment. He fled to Delhi immediately after his name cropped up during the investigation. He was facing murder and rioting charges among others”, SP Patil said was quoted as saying.

He fled to Delhi after the incident and worked there as a labourer

59 karsevaks, including women and children, were burnt alive in the horrifying incident that happened on February 27 in 2002. The incident had triggered communal riots in Gujarat. SP Patil said that Bhatuk was involved in pelting stones on the compartment and pouring petrol inside it before setting it ablaze. “After fleeing Godhra following the incident, Bhatuk spent most of his time in Delhi where he worked on railway stations and also at construction sites as a labourer. He also sold household items on a handcart”, the SP said. He had recently shifted his family from Sulta Falia where he used to live earlier to Signal Falia to evade arrest.

He shifted his family to a new location to evade arrest

The police had received information that Bhatuk has changed his house and that he visited his family in the past but he could not be caught as he did not stay at his home for long. “We recently learnt that he had changed his house and visited his family in the past too. However, we couldn’t catch him as he used to leave after a day or two. This time, our teams managed to catch him. We will hand him over to Godhra railway station police for further investigation”, the SP added. Three other accused named Salim Ibrahim Badam aka Salim Panwala, Shaukat Charkha and Abdulmajid Yousuf Mitha are still absconding. It is believed that they fled to Pakistan.

Popstar Rihanna poses topless with Ganesha figurine necklace for her lingerie brand, netizens fume

OpIndia Staff
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Popstar Rihanna poses topless with Ganesha figurine necklace for her lingerie brand, netizens fume

Singer-actress turned ‘farmer activist’ Rihanna on Tuesday posted a semi-nude topless picture for her lingerie brand Savage X Fenty while sporting a necklace with Ganesha pendant.

Rihanna can be seen wearing a purple satin bottoms with a purple necklace with Ganesha figurine on it.

Netizens, however, were not too happy with this and accused her of hurting their religious sentiments.

Twitterati called her out for using Hinduism as aesthetic.

Only few days back, one of the models for her lingerie brand Fenty was found posing for promotional photoshoot at a Hindu temple.

Interestingly, last year, she had apologised to Muslim community after she played songs with Hadiths in virtual runway show for her lingerie brand Fenty.

People also called out the cultural appropriation by Rihanna.

Rihanna recently won hearts of Indian ‘liberals’ for tweeting on the ‘farmer protest’ in India earlier this month. Eventually it was revealed that the tweet by Rihanna was pre-planned when baby-protestor Greta Thunberg tweeted a ‘toolkit’ that detailed the nefarious plan to foment trouble in India.

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