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Muslim patient denied treatment by Hindu doctor over Pahalgam terror attack? Read how the Quint and others spread fake news to malign a doctor

Social media is rife with fake stories of ‘Muslim victimhood’ ever since the Pahalgam terror attack, where Islamic terrorists massacred Hindus. The make-believe stories, republished by The Quint and others, are designed in such a way as to demonise Hindus and shift public debate from the religious profiling of victims during the Pahalgam terror attack.

One such fake story came to light on Sunday (26th April). A Kolkata-based gynaecologist named Dr Champakali Sarkar was falsely accused of not treating a patient named Kangkona Khatun due to her religion.

It was claimed that Dr Champakali Sarkar, who works at the Kasturi Das Memorial Super Speciality Hospital, refused treatment to Kangkona Khatun because she was a Muslim.

Screengrab of the report by The Quint

Leftist propaganda outlet The Quint attributed this statement to Dr Champakali Sarkar – “People from your religion are killing people from my religion, you people are murderers.”

 “Your husband should be killed by Hindus so you can feel the pain that Hindus went through. You should only go to Madrassas and Masjids for your treatment where Muslims are taught to become terrorists,” it further alleged.

There is no iota of evidence that these statements were made. The Quint gave disproportionate representation to the statements of Kangkona Khatun, her husband and sister-in-law Mehfuza (who is a lawyer by occupation).

In the report, an emphasis was also laid on an unverified call recording to paint Dr Sarkar as the villain. It must be mentioned that there has been no forensic investigation of the audio clip, and its authenticity is yet to be ascertained.

The statement of Dr Sarkar received very little representation in The Quint article, although it is centred around her.

The journalist who wrote the report was Aliza Noor, who had previously peddled another fake news to cement the narrative of ‘ Muslim victimhood.’

Screengrab of the report by The Times of India

The Times of India even went on to claim that the doctor somehow did not know the religion of the patient and got angry after seeing her surname ‘Khatun’

“According to the complaint, the doctor, who has been treating the woman for seven months, knew her by her first name-Konkona. On seeing her surname-Khatun, the doctor allegedly said she would not treat a Muslim patient, referred to attacks, and made allegations of religious bigotry,” it said in its report.

The fake news was further peddled by Deccan Chronicle and Islamic propaganda sites like Muslim Mirror, Maktoob Media, and Siasat.

The Truth behind the claims

In reality, the patient Kangkona Khatun had been going to Dr Sarkar for routine checkups for over 7 months. It is highly unlikely that the doctor did not figure out the religion of the victim in such a long time.

If she were discriminatory by nature, the doctor would have refused treatment to the patient quite early on. According to Kangkona Khatun, the doctor immediately had a problem after learning about her surname 7 months later.

And the revelation of the surname coincidentally happened 2 days after the Pahalgam terror attack. Kangkona Khatun claimed that the doctor refused treatment to her on Thursday (24th April).

Khatun had filed a police complaint on Friday (25th April). However, her claims soon fell flat as facts of the case emerged.

Popular Kolkata-based anesthesiologist Dr Pramod Ranjan Roy had shared the screenshot of the consultation fees paid by Kangkona Khatun to Dr Champakali Sarkar on Thursday (24th April) – the same day on which Khatun alleged to have not been treated and subjected to hate comments.

The question arises – Why did the patient pay the consultation fees for a checkup at the doctor’s home when no treatment was done?

The truth is further evident from the press release of the West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF) on Tuesday (29th April). It has upheld the statement of Dr Champakali Sarkar after reviewing the evidence provided by her.

Press release by WBDF

“After contacting the concerned doctor directly and verifying the facts, we have preliminarily found the facts stated to be contrary to the allegations being circulated. The patient in question was, in fact, attended to by the doctor at her residence upon the patient’s own request. As evidence, we have verified the online payment receipt of the consultation fees, dated and timed appropriately, which further substantiates that the consultation did indeed take place,” the statement of WBDF punctured the lies of Kangkona Khatun.

It pointed out that Khatun had overheard a private conversation between Dr Champakai Sarkar, which was unrelated to her.

“It appears that some discussions unrelated to the patient, involving members of the doctor’s household, may have inadvertently been overheard. If any such conversation was not to the patient’s liking, it is beyond the professional purview of the doctor to address private matters of household conversations,” the statement added.

Additionally, it stated that doctors have been similarly targeted in the past over false accusations. OpIndia had reached out to Dr Koushik Chaki, a member of the West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF), who confirmed the veracity of the press release.

What did Dr Champakali Sarkar say

In a video shared by Dr Pramod Ranjan Roy, the victim Dr Champaki Sarkar has provided her statement –

“I am Dr CK Sarkar. I am a practitioner for the last 30 years in Behala, South 24 Parganas. I am a believer in medical ethics. All patients are the same for me. I give equal priority to all my patients. There is no value of caste, religion and race in my eyes. I try my best to properly and ethically treat the patients. Some people had a problem with me. You guys do not listen to the rumours. There have been attempts to sabotage my career. I have received information from social media and news reports. These kind of rumours are spread during a time of crisis. I am hopeful that you will not fall for this.”

Additionally, the doctor has vowed to take legal action against Khatun for trying to destroy her 3-decade-long career over personal reasons.

She has additionally told The Telegraph that majority of her patients are Muslims. “Eighty per cent of my patients are Muslims. Will I say something that hurts me the most? I have also filed a complaint at Parnasree police station that I am being defamed,” Dr Champakali Sarkar informed.

The doctor has also clarified that the unverified audio call recording is fake. “No, that’s all fake, that’s not my call recording,” she told The Quint. 

Not the first attempt to defame Hindus

A concerted effort is being made to demonise the Hindu community by accusing it of targeting Kashmiris and Muslims in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

This ‘Muslim victimhood’ card is employed to divert public debate from the religious hate-fueled nature of the terror attack.

OpIndia had exclusively debunked the fake news about the death of a Muslim corporate employee in Bengaluru at the hands of his Hindu colleagues for not chanting ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and not commenting on the Pahalgam terror attack.

The fake news was amplified by the leftist propaganda outlet, The Quint, which later deleted the story without citing any apology.

The story was covered by ‘journalist’ Aliza Noor based on a fake story by a LinkedIn user named Ishan Saxena and did not bother to verify the facts of the matter. It was gutted after it failed to fit the ‘Muslim victimhood’ story.

Noor (who had also written the Kolkata doctor story) has now deleted her X, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts after the exposé.

The vicious ecosystem had also amplified the story of the molestation of a Kashmiri student at Jamia Millia Islamia. It later went silent when the perpetrator turned out to be Mohammed Abid from Mewat.

‘Decide on targets, mode, timing’: PM Modi offers complete operational freedom to respond to Pahalgam terror attack

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting which was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and three service chiefs.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also present at the meeting. 

The meeting took place days after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 23, following the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.  

Government sources said the Prime Minister affirmed that it is India’s national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism.

The sources said PM Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian Armed Forces. 

They said that PM Modi stated that the Indian Armed Forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response.

The meeting, chaired by PM Modi on Tuesday, was attended by Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg PM on Monday. The meeting came a day after Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan briefed the Defence Minister on some decisions in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The government has said that the terrorists responsible for the attack and the conspirators behind it will face severe punishment.  

The government had convened an all-party meeting after the Pahalgam terror attack. Opposition parties have expressed their full support for any action taken by the government against the pepetrators of the terror attack.     

In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

The government has announced a series of measures,  including putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism.

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

“Ram Mandir construction will be completed by June 5”: Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra

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Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the Construction Committee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, said on Tuesday that the Ram Mandir construction will be completed by June 5 this year.

Speaking to ANI, Mishra emphasised that 99 per cent of the temple construction work has now been completed.

“Ram temple construction will be completed by June 5 this year. 99 per cent of the temple construction work has now been completed. The ‘Garbhagriha’, where Ram Lalla is enshrined, had already been completed earlier. However, the first and second floors and the shikhar (main spire) above were still under construction. Today, the Dhwajdand (temple flagpole) has been installed atop the shikhar, which is essentially a symbolic declaration that the work on the shikhar is now complete. The overall construction of the temple is now nearly finished,” Mishra said.

“The installation of the Ram Darbar on the first floor–which includes the idols of Lord Ram, Sita ji, and Hanuman ji–will take place on May 23. All preparations for this have been completed. The idols will arrive in Ayodhya on May 23 and will be placed in their respective sanctums. Following this, there will be some associated religious ceremonies. On June 5, Lord Ram will be ceremoniously enshrined according to our faith and rituals,” Nripendra Mishra said.

The Chairman of the Construction Committee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra further mentioned that the Prime Minister had given special importance to seven temples to be built for the sages and devotees who were associated with Lord Ram.

“These seven temples are also now complete. The temples of Maharishi Valmiki, Shri Vashisht ji, Vishwamitra ji, Ahilya ji, Nishadraj Maharaj, Shabari Mata, and Agastya Muni located within the temple premises will also be opened to the public after June 5. The worship rituals for the Ram Darbar and the six temples built along the Parkota (outer boundary) will take place on June 5. Champat Rai ji will announce a detailed program for the June 5 ceremonies,” Mishra said.

“One or two days after June 5, once the temple is fully completed, devotees will be able to visit all the different temples within the premises for darshan,” he asserted.

Nripendra Mishra also emphasized that they are hopeful and inspired by this unwavering faith of the devotees after the temple witnessed daily footfall between 75,000 to 1 lakh.

He also listed challenges faced during the construction of the temple.

“We faced many geographical challenges during the construction. Sourcing materials from various places was also a major challenge. There were many discussions regarding engineering and design because our vision was that this temple should last for the next 1,000 years without damage. For me, these engineering challenges were the toughest part. The solution to all these challenges can be summed up in one word: teamwork,” Nripendra Mishra said.

Heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mishra also recalled his working under him.

“I worked under the Prime Minister for nearly six years. Back in those days, even before the Supreme Court’s verdict had come, he often used to say that he would only visit Ayodhya once the construction of the temple began. I remember him indicating that in the past 15-20 years, although he had travelled to surrounding districts for political events, he had not gone to Ayodhya. It was clear in his mind that a temple would be built in Ayodhya–no matter what,” he said.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta says cabinet has passed draft bill with clear guidelines for fee structure in all 1677 schools

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that the state cabinet has passed a draft bill that will set clear guidelines on school fees for all 1,677 schools in the city. The move comes after complaints from parents about alleged harassment and arbitrary fee hikes by some schools.

“I feel overjoyed to tell you that the Delhi Government has made a historic and brave decision, and the draft Bill has been passed by the Cabinet today. A complete guideline, procedure for fees will be decided for all 1,677 schools (aided, non-aided, private) in Delhi, whether that is aided, non-aided, private and all kinds of schools,” CM Gupta said.

“For the first time in history such a Bill is being drafted by the Delhi Government which is foolproof. The roles and authority of parents, school, management, directorate and the government is well defined in it,” she added.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that earlier governments had not made such provisions to regulate school fees.

“There was just Delhi Schools Act 1973 in which there was one section on fee in which there was no guideline so that the fee hike in private schools could be checked,” she said.

On April 15, the CM had warned of strict action against schools found violating regulations.

“Parents from various schools have been meeting me, sharing their grievances. No school has the authority to harass parents or children, threaten expulsion, or arbitrarily hike fees. There are strict rules and laws in place, and compliance is mandatory,” she had said, speaking to ANI.

“We have issued notices to all schools against which complaints have been received,” she added.

During a recent public dialogue programme, CM Gupta also responded to complaints against Queen Mary School in Model Town. Parents had alleged that the school collected extra fees and expelled children.

“Today, during the public dialogue programme, a case related to Queen Mary School, Model Town came up, in which parents of children lodged a complaint regarding wrong collection of fees and expulsion of children from the school. Taking immediate cognizance of this matter, the concerned officials have been instructed to conduct an immediate investigation and take strict and necessary action,” she wrote on X.

She added, “The Delhi Government is fully committed to transparency, equal opportunity and the protection of children’s rights in the field of education. A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted towards any kind of injustice, exploitation or irregularity, no laxity will be tolerated in this. Our resolve is clear, every child should have access to justice, respect and quality education.” 


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

Ambuja Cements, part of Adani Group, delivers highest annual Profit After Tax, up 9% YoY at Rs 5,158 cr, crosses 100 MTPA capacity

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Ambuja Cements, part of the diversified Adani Group, has posted its highest-ever annual profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 5,158 crore, a 9 per cent increase year-on-year, while annual revenue surged to Rs 35,045 crore, up 6 per cent from the previous year.

The company reported its strongest-ever financial and operational performance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, marking a milestone as the company crossed 100 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in cement production capacity.

This achievement positions Ambuja as the ninth-largest cement producer in the world.

The company also reported record cement volumes of 65.2 million tonnes, reflecting a 10 per cent YoY growth.

Commenting on the results, Vinod Bahety, Whole Time Director and CEO, Ambuja Cements, said, “This year marks a historic milestone in the journey of Ambuja Cements as we cross the 100 MTPA capacity. Additionally, we have ongoing organic expansions at various stages across the country, which will help us achieve 118 MTPA capacity by the end of FY 2026, a significant step, bringing us closer to our goal of 140 MTPA by 2028.”

“The 100 MTPA milestone is not just a number, it’s a mark of our ambition, resilience, and purpose. As India builds the foundation for a USD 10 trillion economy, we are committed towards our role in building the nation’s infrastructure that empowers growth, connects communities, and supports a greener tomorrow. Driven by Purpose and Defined by Progress – ‘Hum Karke Dikhate Hain’,” he said.

For the fourth quarter of Financial Year 2025 (Q4 FY25) alone, the company delivered an EBITDA of Rs 1,868 crore, a 10 per cent increase YoY, and the highest EBITDA per tonne at Rs 1,001, with margins improving to 18.9 per cent. Standalone PAT rose sharply by 75 per cent YoY to Rs 929 crore.

Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter stood at Rs 3.88, and the company declared a dividend of Rs 2.0 per equity share.

Ambuja’s impressive performance was underpinned by its ongoing cost optimisation efforts, capacity expansion, and sustainability initiatives. The company successfully commissioned a 2.4 MTPA brownfield expansion at its Farakka Grinding Unit in West Bengal and completed the acquisition of Orient Cement, strengthening its pan-India footprint.

Highlighting its green commitment, Ambuja commissioned 299 MW of renewable energy capacity (200 MW solar and 99 MW wind) in FY25. This is part of its roadmap to achieve 1,000 MW of green energy by June 2026, targeting 60 per cent green power usage by FY28.

Operational efficiency was enhanced through reduced fuel costs, optimized logistics via modal shifts, including marine and rail transport, and improved clinker capacity utilisation at newly acquired assets like Penna, Sanghi, and Asian cement plants. Logistics costs dropped 2 per cent to Rs 1,238 per tonne, while fuel cost per 1,000 Kcal was cut by 14 per cent.

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

Kashmiri student molested at Jamia Millia Islamia, liberal gang went silent after attacker turned out to be Mohammed Abid, told journalist to delete story

There has been a surge of stories of ‘Kashmiris and Muslims being attacked’ in different parts of India, following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The carnage, which was carried out by 4 Islamic terrorists on 22nd April, claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians (primarily Hindus).

It had come to light through the families of the victims that they were subjected to religious profiling by the terrorists. Once it was determined that the victims were Hindus, they were selectively killed. Since then, a conscious effort is being made in the media to divert the public from the religious profiling of Hindus in Pahalgam to stories of ‘Muslim victimhood.’

Isolated incidents (including fake ones) are being highlighted to paint a grim picture of ‘innocent’ Kashmiris and Muslims being targeted by Hindus over the Pahalgam terror attack. One such incident occurred in Jamila Millia Islamia.

Screengrab of the tweet by journalist Swati Goel Sharma.

It had come to light that a female student from Jammu & Kashmir was assaulted at the minority educational institution in Delhi on Sunday (27th April). The incident occurred just outside Gate Number 8 of the campus.

The story was first covered by a journalist named Ubair ul Hameed. But, he was pressured into deleting the story by other Kashmiri students studying at Jamia Millia Islamia.

By that time, it was not publicly known that the molester was a Muslim man from Mewat named Mohammed Abid.

Journalist Swati Goel Sharma inquired, “Kashmiri journalist reveals he was asked to delete a report by Kashmiri group at Jamia Milia about harassment of a Kashmiri girl at campus, hours after it went viral.”

“Was it because molester turned out to be Mohd Abid from Mewat, puncturing their narrative of blaming it on Hindus as aftermath of Pahalgam?” she added.

In the viral video, the woman who was molested confronted the accused.

“What did you do while walking? You did nothing? He punched me on my chest. Look here now,” the 24-year-old victim was heard saying in a viral video.

According to reports, the police detained the accused, Mohammed Abid, on Sunday (27th April).

Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was not related to the Pahalgam terror attack, although such insinuations were made when the video first went viral and the name of the molester was unknown.

Journalist Ubair ul Hameed was aghast that Kashmiri students of Jamia Millia Islamia forced him to delete his story, but allowed other media channels.

He additionally claimed that the reason for the deletion of the molestation story was security concerns of Kashmiri students and not identity of the perpetrator or the fact that the perpetrator Abid is from Mewat.

Diversionary tactics at work

With the revelation of the actual identity of the molester, the sinister attempt to blame the heinous crime on the Hindus had failed.

As stated earlier, a concerted effort is being made to demonise the Hindu community by accusing it of targeting Kashmiris and Muslims in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack.

This ‘Muslim victimhood’ card is employed to divert public debate from the religious hate-fueled onature f the terror attack.

OpIndia had exclusively debunked the fake news about the death of a Muslim corporate employee in Bengaluru at the hands of his Hindu colleagues for not chanting ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and not commenting on the Pahalgam terror attack.

The fake news was amplified by the leftist propaganda outlet, The Quint, which later deleted the story without citing any apology.

The story was covered by ‘journalist’ Aliza Noor based on a fake story by a LinkedIn user named Ishan Saxena and did not bother to verify the facts of the matter. It was gutted after it failed to fit the ‘Muslim victimhood’ story.

Adani Green reports robust FY25 results, surpasses USD 1 Billion in EBITDA

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Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), India’s largest and fastest-growing pure-play renewable energy (RE) company, has announced financial results for the period ending 31 March 2025, showcasing significant growth and operational excellence, according to a release.

The company’s EBITDA grew by 22 per cent annually, reaching Rs 8,818 crores, it said.

The company also informed that its Energy Sales increase by 28% YoY to 27,969 million units, equivalent to half of Singapore’s annual power consumption. The Revenue Growth Increased by 23% YoY to Rs. 9,495 crores.

It has Achieved EBITDA margin of 91.7% and Cash Profit Surge by 22% YoY to Rs. 4,871 crores.

Strong revenue, EBITDA and Cash profit growth is primarily backed by robust greenfield capacity addition of 3.3 GW, deployment of advanced RE technologies and superior plant performance.

Sagar Adani, Executive Director, Adani Green Energy, said,”We are playing a pivotal role in India’s renewable energy growth, which is evident from our historic 3.3 GW greenfield capacity addition in FY25. We contributed 16% to the nation’s utility-scale solar and 14% to wind energy additions, setting new benchmarks for rapid, large-scale renewable energy deployment.”

He said, “We are progressing well to develop the world’s largest renewable energy plant of 30 GW by 2029 at Khavda, Gujarat having operationalized 4.1 GW of solar and wind capacity within two years of commencing construction. We delivered high solar capacity utilisation factor (CUF) of 32.4% in Q4 FY25. This underscores the site’s high resource potential harnessed by deploying advanced technologies such as bifacial n-type modules, horizontal single-axis trackers (HSAT), and waterless robotic cleaning systems. Aligned with our circular economy framework, we achieved water positivity across our entire operational portfolio ahead of our FY26 target, a testament of our commitment to achieve the ESG objectives.”

According to the release, AGEL has consistently expanded its greenfield capacities backed by advanced resource planning, engineering, and supply chain management, with project management, execution and assurance from our partners, Adani Infra India Ltd (AIIL).

“Operational Capacity expanded by an impressive 30% YoY to 14.2 GW and to increase to 15.2 GW with an additional 1 GW near completion, putting us on track to achieve 50 GW target. The greenfield additions in FY25 included 1,460 MW of solar capacity and 599 MW wind capacity in Khavda, 1,000 MW of solar capacity in Rajasthan and 250 MW of solar capacity in Andhra Pradesh,” it said.

The energy sales increased by 28% YoY propelled by the robust capacity additions and strong operational performance, it said.

According to the release, AGEL’s operations and maintenance (O&M) leverage sophisticated data analytics, enhanced by machine learning and artificial intelligence, in collaboration with our O&M partners, Adani Infra Management Services Pvt Ltd (AIMSL).

“AGEL has consistently generated electricity exceeding the overall annual commitment under the power purchase agreements (PPA). In FY25, AGEL’s PPA based electricity generation was 107% of the annual commitment,” said the release.

“AGEL’s O&M is driven by advanced technology with Energy Network Operation Center enabling real time monitoring of the renewable plants across the country. This has not only enabled consistent higher plant availability in turn resulting in higher electricity generation but also led to reduction in O&M cost resulting in industry-leading EBITDA margin of 92%,” the company said.

AGEL is developing a massive 30 GW renewable energy plant at Khavda in Gujarat. This is spread over an area of 538 sq km, almost 5 times the city of Paris. This project will set a global benchmark for the development of ultra large-scale renewable energy plants.

It noted that, in a mere 2 years from breaking ground, AGEL has operationalized 4.1 GW solar and wind capacity. With robust manpower deployment, localized supply chain and advanced technologies like robotic solar module installation, AGEL is on a firm track to achieve 30 GW RE capacity in Khavda by 2029 setting a global benchmark for the speed of execution at such a large scale.

AGEL refinanced USD 1.06 Billion (Bn) maiden construction facility with long-term financing. AGEL refinanced its maiden construction facility, instrumental in developing the world’s largest solar-wind hybrid renewable cluster in Rajasthan. This long-term financing represents door-to-door tenure of 19 years with fully amortized debt structure and is well aligned with the cash flow life cycle of the underlying asset portfolio. On the back of the strong operational performance track record, the facility has been rated AA+ by three domestic rating agencies.

This breakthrough completes the capital management program for the underlying asset portfolio. This strategic program has proven to be the main catalyst for AGEL’s sustained growth and is vital to achieving its long-term growth objectives.

AGEL is committed to its ESG goals and has continued to retain its top ESG rankings. It was ranked 3rd in FTSE Russell ESG assessment in the Alternative Electricity Subsector, secured the 1st rank in Asia and is amongst the top 5 globally in the renewable energy (RE) sector in ISS ESG’s latest assessment, and is also amongst the top 10 in the RE sector globally in Sustainalytics’s ESG assessment. Additionally, AGEL achieved the 1st rank in the power sector for the third consecutive year as per the recent ESG score published by CRISIL.

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

Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan refuses to boycott Muslims vendors amid protests against Pahalgam terror attack, says ‘Not Practical’

The prominent Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan has rejected calls from Hindu organizations opposing the Pahalgam terror incident for a boycott of Muslims who provide services at the revered place, reported the Times of India. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Uttar Pradesh and even across India.

The demand followed calls by demonstrators in Vrindavan and Mathura for Hindu visitors and retailers “not to trade with the minority community”. Additionally, Muslim store owners were asked to “write proprietors’ names on business establishments.

Stores owned by Muslims have been identified according to Nagendra Maharaj, a member of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, an organization that has called for the de-linking of Muslims from the temple’s affairs. He said, “We’ve asked them to write their names on shops and Hindu shopkeepers to avoid working with them and not to employ people from that community.”

“It is not practical. Muslims, particularly artisans and weavers, have deep-rooted contributions here. They’ve played a major role in weaving the dresses of Banke Bihari for decades. Many of them have a strong belief in Banke Bihari and visit the temple too,” Gyanendra Kishore Goswami, priest of the temple responded to the demand, on 28th April.

Goswami also serves on the management committee for the temple. He added, “Also, in Vrindavan, some of the crowns and bangles for the deity are made by them (Muslims).” The majority of the locals allegedly agreed with his assertions.

He further conveyed, “Yes, those terrorists (in Pahalgam) should be punished severely and we’re totally with govt. But in Vrindavan, Hindus and Muslims live together in peace and harmony.”

Authorities at the Banke Bihari temple had also turned down a proposal a month back that called for a ban on garments made for Lord Krishna by Muslim weavers. There were “no changes to the selection process for the deity’s attire,” according to the temple authorities at the time. The sanctity and purity of the “poshaks” (clothes) offered to the lord were their top priorities, per the priest. He had stated that the temple had nothing against taking them from the Muslim community if they believed in the deity.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

26 innocent Hindu tourists were shot dead and numerous others injured by terrorists in the Baisarann valley of Pahalgam. They were told to provide their names, identity cards, and religious affiliations, and were even instructed to recite verses from the Quran to verify their faith. Additionally, their trousers were taken off and pulled down to further confirm their identity. People confirmed to be non-Muslims were executed without mercy.

Fifteen local Kashmiri overground workers (OGWs) and terror associates have been identified through electronic surveillance as primary suspects who may have assisted the Pakistani attackers responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. Citing opposition to the Indian government’s policies that encourage non-Kashmiris to reside in the valley, The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, first hurried to claim credit for the massacre. However, they quickly withdrew their statement, alleging a purported breakdown in communication.

IPL: 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi gets honoured by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after his mind-boggling century, gets reward of Rs 10 lakhs

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a prize money of Rs 10 lakh for the 14-year-old rising sensation Vaibhav Suyravanshi following his record-breaking ton against Gujarat Titans on Monday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Suryavanshi left an everlasting impression in the history of the T20 format with his grand spectacle at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The 14-year-old, who has recently taken baby steps in his career, toyed with GT’s bowling unit, boasting 694 international caps.

At 14 years and 32 days, the boy wonder, who hails from Bihar, became the youngest player to score a century in T20 cricket and the second-fastest to hit a ton in the cash-rich league’s history after Chris Gayle’s 30-ball heroic effort against Pune Warriors in 2013. It took a searing yorker from Prasidh Krishna to put an end to Suryavanshi’s relentless onslaught.

Nitish congratulated Suryavanshi for his impeccable performance during Rajasthan’s resounding 8-wicket triumph, and on Tuesday announced a prize of Rs 10 lakh from the state government.

“Congratulations and best wishes to Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Bihar, who became the youngest player (14 years) to score a century in the history of IPL. He has become a new hope for Indian cricket as a result of his hard work and talent. Everyone is proud of him. I met Mr Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his father in 2024, and at that time, I wished him a bright future. After his brilliant performance in IPL, I also congratulated him over the phone. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young cricketer from Bihar, will also be given a prize money of Rs 10 lakh by the state government. I wish that Vaibhav creates new records for the Indian team in the future and brings glory to the country,” Nitish wrote on X.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan also hailed the 14-year-old for his memorable performance and told reporters, “On behalf of the party, I wish him all the best. He is a young talent and has made such a beautiful start at such a young age. His future is very bright.”

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

‘Nothing wrong in using Pegasus for national security purposes’: Supreme Court refuses to make expert committee’s report public

In a significant observation during a hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India remarked that the use of spyware by the country for national security purposes is not inherently problematic. However, the Bench emphasized that allegations of such technology being misused against private individuals will be carefully examined.

The Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was hearing a batch of petitions related to the alleged use of Pegasus spyware by the Indian government to surveil journalists, activists, politicians, and others. “To have a spyware, nothing wrong… we cannot compromise and sacrifice the security of the nation,” the Court stated. At the same time, it clarified that individuals’ right to privacy under the Constitution must be protected.

In response to arguments from Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and others, the Court maintained that while those who suspect they were targeted by Pegasus can seek clarity, the full expert committee report on the matter would not be made public due to national security concerns. “Yes, individual apprehension must be addressed, but it cannot be made a document for discussion on the streets,” the Bench said.

The expert committee, appointed by the Supreme Court and led by former Justice RV Raveendran, submitted its findings in 2022. It examined 29 mobile devices and found no conclusive evidence of Pegasus in any, though traces of other malware were detected in five. Importantly, the committee noted that the Government of India did not assist in its investigation.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Sibal pointed to new evidence, including WhatsApp’s admission in a U.S. court of being targeted by Pegasus. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan argued that if the State had used spyware on its own citizens, it would be “worse” than previously imagined. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta dismissed the claims as being driven by other motives.

The Court reiterated that any report affecting the “security and sovereignty of the country” would remain confidential, but individuals could still request to know if they were affected.

The matter will next be heard on July 30.