Home Blog Page 4512

Almost 100% of China’s public spaces under watch: Here is how China turned neighbours into agents of the Chinese Communist Party

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Almost 100% of China’s public spaces under watch: Here is how China turned neighbours into agents of the Chinese Communist Party

It is a fact that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ruling over China is carrying out extensive surveillance of its people. The country has already deployed sophisticated new technology to aid its various surveillance programs. It is racing rapidly towards becoming the first country in the world to implement a pervasive system of algorithmic and technology-aided supervision to keep a vigil on its entire population, especially in public spaces. A report published on Onezero now states that China is on the brink of achieving 100 per cent surveillance of its public spaces with the help of the ‘Sharp Eyes’ surveillance program.

The program got its start in 2013 from a backwater region of Pingyi County, seven hours north of Shanghai, where the local government began installing thousands of security cameras across rural and urban areas. By 2016, a total of 28,500 cameras were installed. Even the smallest of the villages had at least 6 cameras installed, a state media report said.

However, an intriguing facet of this unique surveillance program was that it turned neighbours into agents of the Chinese Communist Party, helping them in their snooping activities. The footage from the CCTV camera was not only monitored by the law enforcement officials and automated facial recognition algorithms, but they were also fed to the residents themselves with the help of special TV boxes installed in their homes. The residence could watch live security footage coming from the CCTV cameras and summon the police in case they found anything suspicious.

Two years later, in 2015, the Chinese government announced that it is going to extrapolate the program to the rest of the country. The program was dubbed as “Xueliang Project”, or Sharp Eyes, in reference to a quote made by former Chinese ruler Mao Zedong who once wrote that “the people have sharp eyes” when looking out for neighbours that do not uphold communist ideals.

‘Sharp Eyes’ is among a string of projects built by the Chinese government to strengthen its surveillance program. As China’s economy rose, the Chinese Communist Party commissioned projects to carry out an intrusive vigilance of its people. The surveillance programmes were developed to detect defiance and disobedience among the people, and therefore to thwart a potential uprising.

While many other projects are focused on urban and densely populated areas, Sharp Eyes focuses on rural areas, and is meant to offload work of the police that is chronically understaffed in distant and remote places. In Pingyi County, for instance, the total population is 1 million but there are only 300 police officers to enforce law and order.

What gets reported through Sharp Eyes is not just criminal activities taking place in the neighbourhood but administrative oversight in the form of existing potholes on the road, collapsed manhole covers, and similar other instances are also reported over Sharp Eyes. According to a resident, even dubious Multi Level Marketing scheme happening in a nearby building was reported.

Experts believe Sharp Eyes is a surveillance programme that provides an array of services that could be used differently depending on each town or city’s needs, but the underlying premise is the same: A city is divided into grids and each square of the grid acts as its own administrative unit. Cameras are installed in each grid which then gets fed to local authorities and the residents of the grid. Municipal data then can be aggregated based on reports from each square on the grid.

China’s surveillance programmes dates back to early 2000s

Sharp Eyes is one of the recent additions in the long list of surveillance projects commissioned by China in the last two decades. In the last 20 years or so, projects like the Golden Shield Project, Safe Cities, SkyNet, and Smart Cities were executed by the authoritarian rule of the CCP. Similarly, ‘Sharp Eyes’ is another project in the list that adds teeth to the Communist regime’s surveillance capabilities. The implementation of the above projects, including Sharp Eyes means that more than 200 million public and private cameras installed in public spaces to eyeball people across the wide expanse of China.

Back in 2016, China had set a five-year plan for Sharp Eyes to achieve 100 per cent coverage of China’s public spaces. Though the publicly available reports do not expressly indicate that China has hit that goal, but by all accounts, the country is very close to achieving its target.

China’s surveillance program started in earnest in the early 2000s. As Internet was expanding its footprint globally, China launched the Golden Shield Project, run by the Ministry of Public Security(MPS), with a view to have a strict internet censorship. The project was quite successful in China’s aim of regulating the supply of information to its people. While the project aimed at censoring internet, it also included physical surveillance. The MPS created a databases that included information about 96 per cent of China’s citizens. The nature of information included household information, travel history, criminal background and other such details.

A paper published in the American Journal of Political Science said these databases were used by the Chinese police machinery to identity the delinquents and mark them under the ‘blacklist’ category. They were barred from using public transportation and police would be dispatched if someone who had been blacklisted tried to book a bus, train or airline ticket.

On the heels of the Golden Shield Project, which was fairly successful and provided Chinese authorities with great control over its people, two other surveillance projects were launched. In 2003 itself, Safe Cities was launched which focused on disaster warnings, traffic management, and public security. The other one was SkyNet, which dealt with installing cameras connected to facial recognition algorithms.

With the experience of over 16 years in Artificial Intelligence, SkyNet powers commercial security infrastructure in China. It is used at swanky building apartments that use facial recognition to open security gates. However, the photos from the building complexes are then shared with local police to build a database of the local population.

Leaked Chinese police data reveals the extent of China’s invasive surveillance of its people

A report published by The Intercept last month revealed the depth and extent of how the Chinese state keeps a tab on its Muslim minority population in the restive province of Xinjiang. The Intercept accessed the leaked Chinese Police data which threw light on the lengths China had gone in not only keeping a tab on the minority Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang but also their relatives and friends, along with those who are living abroad.

Artificial Intelligence, sophisticated surveillance systems, new-age technology and human intelligence are all employed by the Chinese Communist Party to track and monitor the Uyghur Muslims and those associated with them. For instance, the police automation system in Urumqi, the largest city in Xinjiang province, issued an “intelligence information judgment” to flag a female relative of a purported extremist who had been offered free travel to Yunnan, a province to the south.

Certain socio-cultural practices have been deemed as against the Chinese culture and could invite punitive action from the police. Practising Islam is considered a red flag. While China claims that the policing in Xinjiang is to curb the menace of extremism and terrorism, it is just a cover for carrying out invasive surveillance of the Muslim minority residents. Mosques have cameras inside and people are monitored for the way they pray. Showing curiosity about Islam, growing a beard, carrying a prayer rug, Uyghur Books, quitting drinking or smoking, is a potential sign of religious extremism and can trigger police action against the adherents.

China has race-detection technology deployed across the country

Besides, it is also being reported that China has deployed race-detection technology across the country to segregate Han Chinese from others. IPVM, a video surveillance research group published a report that said China has deployed AI software across police security camera networks that is capable of detecting the race of the person based on facial markers. The technology detects if someone’s face looks Uyghur, Han (Ethnic Majority of China) or ‘other’.

China’s security camera manufacturers, including the three largest ones Hikvision, Dahua and Uniview, offer ‘Uyghurs analytics’ in their systems. These analytics are also included in the official facial recognition guidelines issued by the PRC government.

‘Can’t wait to anchor Jabab Chay Bangla’: Republic Bangla to go on air from March 7, Arnab Goswami to anchor a debate show

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Can’t wait to anchor Jabab Chay Bangla’: Republic Bangla to go on air from March 7, Arnab Goswami to anchor a debate show

Republic Media Network, India’s most viewed news channel in both English and Hindi news genre is all set to enter the regional news channel in Bengal with Republic Bangla going on air from March 7, 2021 (Sunday) at 8 am in the morning. The channel has taken to its official Twitter handle to announce the official launch of its Bengali News channel.

With all eyes on the upcoming polls, the timing of the launch of the Bengali News Channel is being considered spot-on. The decision may prove to be a game-changer, ahead of the upcoming West Bengal elections of 2021.

Arnab set to anchor a debate show ‘Jabab Chay Bangla’ on Republic Bangla

Reports also have it that Arnab Goswami will be anchoring a debate show ‘Jabab Chay Bangla’ on his upcoming Bengali channel. The media network announced that Arnab would be breaking into the Bangla broadcast news genre with his debate show right from the day of the Republic Bangla launch. 

Once the official announcement of the same was made on the social media handles of the Network on Thursday, Arnab Goswami said: “I started my career in Bengal. In the 25th year of my career as a journalist, I feel so overwhelmed and grateful for getting a chance to speak to my audience in Bangla. Life is coming a full circle.” 

“I can’t wait to anchor Jabab Chay Bangla on Republic Bangla. I feel truly blessed at the support that I have received and the love that I continue to get from our dear viewers,” Arnab added. 

Republic media to launch regional channels in next one year, go global in 16 months: Arnab Goswami

It may be recalled that the news network’s Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami had in December last year, said that he has plans to launch Republic channels in every language in the next few months and also announced that he would be launching an international media project soon. 

Speaking to this Republic TV colleagues after his release from Taloja jail, Arnab Goswami had said, “In the next 11 to 12 months, we will launch the Republic Network in every state of India. Republic will also launch an international media project in the upcoming 16 to 17 months”.

Violence in Bengal, election rigging, misgiving of Congress, Abbas Siddiqui, COVID-19 and China: CPI (M) leader Rabin Deb talks to OpIndia

Nupur J Sharma
-
0
Violence in Bengal, election rigging, misgiving of Congress, Abbas Siddiqui, COVID-19 and China: CPI (M) leader Rabin Deb talks to OpIndia

On a bright Saturday morning, at 9:00 AM, I strolled the streets of Salt Lake looking for the home of Rabin Deb, one of the tallest CPI (M) leaders in Kolkata who saw the heydays of Communist raj in Bengal. ‘Ah! Rabin Babur baadi? Aiy to aage’, (Ah! Are you looking for the residence of Rabin babu? Just go a little ahead) said a man I asked for directions. As I entered the modest home of Rabin Deb, the small sitting area right off the balcony had a small bookshelf with books about Che Guevera, The Age of Capital, Documents on Party Organisation and in contrast, a book about the Constitution of India.

The walls in his home were littered with pictures that told the tales of a time when Communists had not been politically wiped out in the state. Right above the door, hung a picture where Deb was seen with former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

CPI (M) leader Rabin Deb is a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the working President of India China Friendship Association (West Bengal) and used to be the Chief Government Whip when the Communists were in power. Largely considered to be an ‘encyclopaedia’ of West Bengal politics, Deb spoke to OpIndia at length about the Bengal elections, the culture of violence in Bengal, TMC, BJP, the Naxal movement, China and more.

The questions asked are in bold followed by the answers provided by Mr Rabin Dev in the course of the 60 minute long interview.

What is your initial assessment and thoughts on the upcoming Bengal elections?

After Mamata Banerjee came to power in May 2011, in West Bengal, no free and fair elections have been held. This time, it is the 17th Assembly elections after independence. The question is whether the electorate will get the chance to cast their vote. The police, the anti-socials always create hindrances in elections and create panic. The question is whether free and fair elections will be held this time and whether the electorate will get the change to cast their votes as per their own choice.

How do you see the role of the central paramilitary forces in ensuring free and fair elections? The central govt has sent 150 units in Bengal

See, in every election, the Election Commission announces that central forces will be deployed to ensure free and fair elections. The problem is that they are unknown to the state. They are coming from other states and they have to take help from the local police. Now, if the local police are biased towards the local party, how will they function independently and without fear and favour? This time also, the party in power in the centre and the party in power in the state, both are in question. Both are utilising the administration in favour of their own party. This is the problem. If central forces come here, who is in charge? Amit Shah. Who is looking after the state election on behalf of All India BJP? It is him. So he is in charge of the election and he is also sending his force, so people have some doubt whether they will function properly.

So what is the ideal situation according to you? You are saying central forces will favour BJP and local police will favour TMC. So what do you think would be the ideal situation?

The ideal situation is the people rising. If the common people, the electorate, rise against such conspiracies and onslaught, then it will be fine.

But how will the people rise?

Well, if the people arise against the misgivings, then there will be… you see.. they are the few. You see, in our state, in our electorate, there are 7 crores 32 lakh people. Our polling percentage is nearly 80%. So over 5 crore people will cast their vote. You see, if people get united then everything will be fine. Every conspiracy will be defeated and people will be in a position to cast their vote properly.

Let’s go back a little. You have fought in the state against Mamata Banerjee for so many years and there was a culture of violence in the state as far as politics is concerned. Do you think that culture has continued to this day?

You see, yesterday, when Mamata Banerjee announced her party’s nominee (candidate list), in several constituencies and segments, their supporters were blocking roads, crying and mobilising their supporters against the Trinamool.

So you are saying those who did not get tickets were protesting against TMC?

Yes. Absolutely. And that is the culture you will see now. This is the main sorry figure of this state. Earlier it was in UP and Bihar and other places, but now, in the last 10 years, Mamata Banerjee and her colleagues and their uttering, are getting anti-socials and others to create hindrances. From the administration’s side, without taking any steps, they are doing this.

But one can say that the culture of violence started with the Communists.

The communists? No, no. Not at all.

We have seen incidents like Nandigram, Sainbari, where a mother was fed her sons’ blood..

Not at all. You see, it was propaganda. It was a campaign by the media. Initiated by the present ruling party and those who were in opposition. They have initiated this propaganda.

(Editors note: The Sainbari massacre happened in 1970. TMC was founded in 1998. BJP had no presence in the state in the 1970s. It was an electoral fight between the CPI (M) and the Congress party).

You see, what happened in 1972? The total election was rigged. The communists boycotted the assembly for 5 years.

This is the election where Congress won?

Yes! At that time. You see, where have TMC and BJP got this from? At that time, those who were Congress hoodlums joined TMC. Now, the TMC hoodlums have joined BJP.

But was it not the Communists who actually joined the TMC?

Well, yes. Some of them did. You see, they are giving money. Rs 5 crores.. Rs 10 crores.. that is the rate of an MLA in Bengal. Earlier it was not like this. You can go through 34 years of Left front. Nobody crossed the floor. But in the last 10 years, it is Mamata Banerjee who has started this. In 2016, Dipali Biswas from Malda was the first to switch sides and join TMC. Why? Under threat. They are told ‘you join me, or you will be put behind bars. There will be cases filed against you’. If you don’t support the ruling party, then the police and the goondas they will create problem to any peaceful person.

(Editors note: In 2016, Dipali Biswas joining TMC was considered a rather major event. Even Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was then the West Bengal Congress President, had alleged that Biswas had been given money to join TMC. At that time, Chowdhury had told the media, “I had a talk with Dipali Biswas’s husband who said they got Rs 3 crore to join Trinamool Congress. He said it was a huge amount for them and they could not withstand the temptation”.)

You spoke about the 1972 violence…

1972 and earlier also, I am not just talking about one election. Do you see what happened in 1957? Bidhan Roy was going to get defeat against Labour leader Mohammad Ismail. Trade Union leader. He lost! But he won after counting some postal ballots. He at that time created terror because he was the Chief Minister.

(Editors note: Since the incident is old and the relevance of the 1957 election may just escape the memory, it becomes important to recall what happened back then in short. This article by the Telegraph gives a little window into the era. It says that Bidhan Chandra Roy was an anti-communists and the CPI was his worst critic. Roy belonged to the Congress party. In 1957, Bidhan Roy had won by a narrow margin, defeating Mohammad Ismail. The Left had alleged that Roy had rigged the elections and had tortured him with expletives. According to the Telegraph report, “Within the chambers of the legislative assembly, the man who harassed Roy at every turn and hurled imprecations at him was none other than the redoubtable Jyoti Basu, today’s angry old man. The communists lampooned Roy in ugly graffiti across Calcutta’s walls and even came close to accusing him of rigging the elections when Roy won by a narrow margin against a communist candidate, Mohammad Ismail, in 1957. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Left’s response to Roy has been one of extreme hostility”.)

It was the communists who fought and reinstated democratic rights. It was the Congress in 1972, it was the Congress in 1975 to 1977 through promulgating the emergency and then the restoration of democracy was the main slogan of the communists. In Bengal, for 34 years there was no election between ’72 and ’77.

Last question on the violence – The Marichjhapi massacre, the Sainbari massacre, what happened in Singur, Nandigram – was none of it done by the communists?

It was all propaganda! They could not prove anything. There was a national campaign but it was proved only 1 person was killed in the Marichjhapi massacre. During Sainbari, some people killed somebody. They attacked the procession of the Left. In the counter-attack, somebody died. The names of our leaders were put in FIR, but nothing happened. Till 1977, the Congress government was there but nobody was punished. So what about these issues? In Anandamarg, it was an internal rivalry and they failed to implicate Communists. This was all propaganda using the media.

But Communists do believe in ‘revolution through the barrel of the gun’. So there is a fear that is Communists come to power, the entire Naxal movement might be rekindled

Not at all! You see, in 1967, when we came to power with the help of the ruling class, it is then when the Naxal movement started. They took to guns because they could not get power through elections. It is a game-plan. Naxalites in Bengal were a creation of Congress because they failed to fight the CPI (M). Then they utilised the Naxals and the ultra-left. Atulya Ghosh, the veteran Congress leader, wrote a book where he spoke that twice in Bengal the government was changed with the help of the money given by the USA. This money was given to Indira Gandhi herself.

Ok. With everything you have said about Congress, why is the CPI (M) then in an alliance with the Congress today?

Now the situation has changed. A party in power and a party out of power makes a big difference.

But you are saying that the Naxal movement was started by the Congress

But at that time they were the ruling party. But if you go deep into the roots of the issue, you will find that the main reason for the Naxal movement is economic segregation. They failed to serve the country, provide jobs, give remunerative price to the farmers and that is why grievances were created. Then they go ultra-left and go in the wrong way.

Ok. So now if the CPI (M), Congress alliance comes to power, how will the Naxal movement, that found resonance at the time, be curbed again?

It will be curbed because we will give democratic rights to them. You propagate your policy, but don’t go the ‘ultra way’.

What do you mean by giving them democratic rights?

Democratic rights means they will propagate their ideology, their policy, their way of thinking.

But isn’t their ideology violence and ‘revolution through the barrel of the gun’?

Then they have to announce it. Every political party, when you try to get the registration, you have to declare that they need to abide by the constitution. The thing is, the BJP is not abiding by this but we are. This is why we are peaceful. You have to go to the people. If they accept, then you win. If they reject you, then you lose. When Buddhadev Bhattacharya lost, we accepted the mandate and worked with the opposition. But if you lose, saying its a truncated election, it was a rigged election does not work. That is not the way.

So if your alliance loses, you are saying you will not make allegations of elections being truncated?

You see, we have announced that we will give democratic and civil rights to everyone, all the institutions. We will not be like the central government. See what happened to Disha Ravi. We will not do this. We are going to announce our election manifesto that will include that we will let everyone to express their opinions, people will get the freedom of expression, which has been suppressed by Mamata Banerjee and PM Modi. We are trying to create jobs.

Since you spoke about jobs, I just wanted to clarify – the current Communist party is not against industrialisation?

Not at all! We are for industrialisation.

Also, the communist party believes that the Naxals should be given democratic rights, but if they pick up the weapon, then they should be answered with a weapon?

Yes. They should be dealt according to the law.

So gun for gun should be the answer?

NO! We don’t believe in gun for gun.

Then how will you deal with the Naxals who pick up the weapon?

There are so many cases. If you go to the people and convince them, they will think we are on the right path. They will believe they will get a job. Their children will get opportunities. They will get an education and books for free. Their basic needs have to be met. Why will they fight if they get everything? If they get everything, why will they pick up the weapon? In the last 10 years, there has been no industrialisation.

The Naxals are brainwashed after being fed tropes about Jal, Jungle, Zameen. How will you then balance industrialisation with that narrative?

We will try to maintain the forest. That is a rule in our country. But you see, buildings are coming up. Look at the global scenario of global warming. It is an important, global problem. Why do you think COVID-19 started? Consciousness needs to be created.

You see how in Vietnam, Korea, Cuba, Laos, China, they have been less affected. Nobody died in North Korea. None!

Out of COVID, you are saying?

Yes!

But, Covid-19 originated in China

But you see how only 6,800 people died in China. In India, over 1.57 lac people have died. But China’s population is more. It was a lie that COVID-19 started in China. Now, WHO has investigated and declared that COVID-19 did not start from China. Every country is suffering from an economic slowdown. Only China in the globe has got 4.5% increasing GDP. In India, it is declining by 23%.

So are they the enemy?

Some people are trying to take us towards the conspiracy created by Donald Trump. In COVID affected, the first position is held by the USA. The second is Brazil (for those who died). For those who died, it’s India.

(Editors note: Officially, China has clocked 4,363 deaths arising out of COVID. But there is evidence that the numbers are highly suppressed. In the October to December quarter, while the world GDP contracted, India clocked a 0.4% growth)

But don’t you think China is suppressing the number of dead?

Yes. But less.

Ok. So what do you think makes China more capable of handling the pandemic?

The socialist system.

I have to go now.

Just 10 more minutes. Coming to the recent elections, Congress claims to be secular. Communists have traditionally been anti-religion. What explains the alliance with a religious fundamentalist like Abbas Siddique?

The constitution gives everyone the right to propagate their religion. Hindus and Muslims. What does secularism mean? It means religion cannot be mixed with politics.

Isn’t that what Abbas Siddiqui is doing?

If politics and religion are kept separate, then it is secular. Fundamentalism means that whatever I practise, the other person also has to practise the same.

Congress is now distancing themselves from Abbas Siddiqui, saying that their alliance is with the CPI (M) and Abbas Siddiqui seat sharing is with CPI (M), not the Congress

No question about that. The first rule of the alliance is that everyone should be secular. From birth, they don’t join politics. They change with experience. During the British, everyone was in Congress. Then, some people joined the Communist party after it was formed.

So you are saying he has changed?

Yes. People can change. The question is whether he is propagating fundamentalism after joining the alliance.

But Congress is now saying that Congress is not in an alliance with Abbas Siddique, the seat sharing is being discussed between Communists and Abbas

That is just their utterance. We are trying to unite. BJP is trying to dis-unite.

So was Congress on board with the alliance with Abbas Siddiqui?

Yes. They were on board. We are trying to unite. There are scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, they are all there with the Indian secular front.

You mean ISF?

Yes. ISF. It is not an organisation of the Muslims.

There are three factions now – TMC, your alliance with Abbas Siddiqui and AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi. There is a lot of chatter about how the Muslim vote is going to get split three-way in these elections. How will that change the elections

Earlier, the media was propagating a dual fight in Bengal between TMC and BJP. After the Nobanno march, the media realised that TMC and BJP are not the only two forces in Bengal. The United Alliance emerged. We are trying to unite all sections of the people and the BJP is trying to divide the people. Why are you only telling that Muslim votes will get divided? Why are you not saying that Hindus votes will get divided?

Hindu votes are always divided. Muslim votes are not

No. BJP has also taken some Muslim people. Why are Shia people joining them? We are trying our best to unite the people. No question of any religion or language. People who lose their jobs are not divided between Hindus and Muslims. Such issues affect everyone.

If the alliance then emerges as a King-maker, who is the lesser evil and would you rather give outside support to TMC or BJP

BJP is the biggest evil. Our policy is defeating BJP and TMC. In the state, TMC invited BJP. Don’t forget that Mamata was aligned with the Atal Bihar Vajpayee govt. It is the TMC that invited BJP. If we do emerge as the king-maker, we will discuss and make a decision. We don’t want multiple elections, it is not the solution. We will make a decision.

Congress caught trying to pass off old video of mock drill as police shooting CAA protesters to malign BJP govt in Assam

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress caught trying to pass off old video of mock drill as police shooting CAA protesters to malign BJP govt in Assam

As political parties gear up to contest the 15th quinquennial legislative assembly election scheduled to be held in Assam from March 27 to April 6, the political sphere is rampant with blatant attempts to peddle fake news and create a negative image of the incumbent BJP government in the state, and Congress has once again been caught doing the same.

In another such attempt, the Assam Congress took to Twitter on March 4 to share a video that shows two policemen firing at the protestors following which two of the protestors are seen collapsing after being hit by bullets. The Assam Congress captioned the video in Assamese which translates to “Dear voters, now this is election season in Assam. Have you decided whom to vote for in the 2021 elections? Before casting your vote watch the below video once and decide whom to vote for”.

The audio at that time stamp says 5 youths were martyred during the CAA agitation.

Through the Tweet, the Congress party tried to insinuate that the ruling BJP government in the state has been steadfast in stifling voices of dissent.

With the Assembly polls nearing, what Assam Congress essentially wanted to do is instigate the people of the state against the ruling government, and to do this, it brazenly passed off a 2017 old video as a 2019 video to show alleged excesses of Assam police against those who protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act, at a time when Assam and parts of northeast were facing intense protests over the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2019.

This lie was, however, called out by BJP leader and senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who took to Twitter to, side by side share the screenshot of the Assam Congress’s Tweet and a report by TimesNow, which had in 2019 fact-checked the video. Calling the Congress a “fake news factory”, the BJP minister wrote: “Check at 2 min, how they have misused a mock drill video from Jharkhand to call it shooting by @assampolice.”

The truth behind the video which Assam Congress tried to pass off as that of Assam police

In haste to malign the Modi government, the Assam Congress probably forgot to do its homework. Various media agencies including TimesNow and India TV had in 2019, already fact-checked this video, which then too circulated on social media with similar claims. This fake video was also fact-checked by Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check arm in December 2019.

In fact, Congress backed ‘fact-checking’ website AltNews had also fact-checked this video.

What is surprising is that though this video was fact-checked in 2019, Congress not only shared it again but brazenly made the same fake claim that did the rounds then too.

The fact is that the video which Congress passed off as that of Assam police shooting at people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam, is actually an old video of a mock drill conducted by Jharkhand Police in November 2017.

The same video has also been used in Kashmir in the past.

However, this is a habit of the Congress party that no longer surprises anyone. Despite being caught every time, the Congress party keeps using the same tactics, in its futile attempt, to malign the BJP govt. Last year, when the central government was doing its best to cope with the COVID pandemic, Congress had tweeted an old video clip to claim they help the poor more than the BJP does. However, it panned out that the video was indeed August 2019 one.

Similarly, in May 12 last year taking to Twitter, Congress’ SC department shared an old image of a Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh to attack the central government for its alleged inefficiency in the handling of the migrant worker’s issue. Twitter user Ankur Singh, however, was quick to spot the lie. Sharing a screenshot of a news report from 2017, the Twitter user pointed out that this image is of some Rohingya refugees in Cox Bazaar, Bangladesh, taken in 2017.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan wins vote of confidence in National Assembly after finance minister lost the Senate election

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pakistan PM Imran Khan wins vote of confidence in National Assembly after finance minister lost the Senate election

In a major development on Saturday, incumbent Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan won the trust vote in the National Assembly, thereby securing his government from a collapse. The development comes days after Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh lost his seat in the Upper House (Senate) of the Parliament.

As per reports, Imran Khan’s government received 178 votes in an assembly of 342 members. The Pakistani Prime Minister needed a total of 172 votes to save his government. During the special session convened on the orders of President Arif Alvi, the Opposition boycotted the voting and demanded the resignation of the incumbent Prime Minister for his earlier Senate debacle.

(Video Credits: Youtube/ Geo News)

The motion for a vote of confidence was presented in the National Assembly by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi under Article 91 (Clause 7). Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and its allies had a strength of 180 members while the Opposition had a total strength of 160 members. PTI had the support of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), AML and JWP.

It must be mentioned that a total of 11 Opposition parties have come under the umbrella of ‘Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) against the ruling dispensation. Recently, Pakistani Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh lost to the Opposition-backed candidate, ex-Pm Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Javed Akhtar confirms he will make a movie based on the life of Rakhi Sawant: Report

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Javed Akhtar confirms he will make a movie based on the life of Rakhi Sawant: Report

Javed Akhtar has confirmed that he wants to make a movie based on the life of controversial entertainer Rakhi Sawant, Bollywood Hungama has reported. The news came to light after Rakhi Sawant made the claim initially.

The media outlet reported that the journalist initially believed that it was “another tall claim by the delusional Rakhi Sawant”. Therefore, he contacted the lyricist himself to learn the truth of the matter, expecting that he will rubbish the claims.

However, Javed Akhtar told the journalist, “No, she is right. I think some four or five years back we were on the same flight and she told me about her childhood and I did tell her that someday I would like to write a script based on her life.”

The journalist, seemingly perplexed by the turn of events, observed, “Well it seems for once this lady from cuckoo land was not day-dreaming. Rakhi has been in the news for her antics on Bigg Boss. If Javed Saab indeed writes a script on her life, we must have Farhan Akhtar directing the film. Of course Rakhi will play herself. No other actress deserves that honour.”

Javed Akhtar has been one of the eminent critics of the Narendra Modi government at the center and has been embroiled over a myriad of controversies in recent times. Most recently, he was accused of filtering artists to ensure ‘Islam friendly’ people in Bollywood by actress Kangana Ranaut.

As Myanmar police officers flee to India to avoid shooting at civilians, Myanmar authorities request India to return them

OpIndia Staff
-
0
As Myanmar police officers flee to India to avoid shooting at civilians, Myanmar authorities request India to return them

After Myanmar citizens, including several police officers, crossed over to India fearing violence, the Myanmar Authorities have requested India to send them back. The police officers had sought refuge in India to avoid taking orders from Myanmar’s military junta that has now seized power in a coup.

According to the reports, nearly 30 Myanmar police and their family members have fled from their country and crossed over to the Indian border, seeking refuge after the protests against the military turned increasingly violent, killing more than a dozen in the last week.

The Deputy Commissioner of Champhai, a border district in Mizoram, said that she had received a letter from her counterpart in Myanmar’s Falam district requesting the return of eight police “in order to uphold friendly relations”. Speaking to Reuters, Deputy Commissioner Maria CT Zuali said that she was “waiting for the direction” from the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.

In the letter, the Myanmar authorities said they had information that at least eight police personnel had crossed into India. The letter listed details for four police officers, aged between 22 and 25, including a female officer.

“In order to uphold friendly relations between the two neighbour countries, you are kindly requested to detain 8 Myanmar police personnel who had arrived to Indian territories and hand-over to Myanmar,” the letter said.

As per the locals, the Myanmar police officials said they fled from their country after disobeying their superior officers’ orders to shoot at the civilians in the Chin state.

More than 50 people have fled Myanmar, seeks refugee in Mizoram

Since the last few days, many Myanmar citizens, including police officers, have crossed over to India and have taken refuge at Lungkawlh village of Serchhip district in Mizoram. The locals claim the number is much more, as the villagers of the border areas of Champhai and Serchhip districts told the media that at least 50 people comprising unarmed police personnel and civilians from Myanmar have crossed over to the mountainous state since March 3.

According to a report by Eastmojo, an unnamed official said that at least 11 of the intruders are police officers. The refugees have been housed in community halls for the time being, with further instructions awaited from the central government.

The refugees have come into at least three border districts of Mizoram — Champai, Serchhip and Siaha. Champai shares a porous border with the Chin State of Myanmar, with the Mizo and Chin communities sharing ethnic roots.

Meanwhile, the security and the civilian administration in the North-Eastern states had anticipated the possibility of an influx of refugees into Mizoram soon after the Myanmar army carried out a coup against the elected government in the country. The senior bureaucrats in the state capital Aizawl are awaiting directions from the centre. They have now prepared an SOP on how to get the refugees registered. 

As Myanmar citizens are entering Indian territory following the crackdown, the local organisations have demanded proper facilities for the refugees who are expected to arrive at the border in the coming days. 

Antilia bomb scare: Mansukh Hiren had written to Maharashtra CM and others alleging harassment by police and journalists. Read details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Antilia bomb scare: Mansukh Hiren had written to Maharashtra CM and others alleging harassment by police and journalists. Read details

A day after the suspicious death of Mansukh Hiren, the owner of the SUV that was found parked near Mukesh Ambani’s residence with gelatin sticks in it, a letter by him and addressed to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Mumbai and Thane Police Commissioner has surfaced. In the letter, Hiren has alleged mental harassment at the hands of policemen and journalists, and also sought intervention and protection for himself and his family.

Hiren was one of the key links related to the explosives-laden car found outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia. The car found outside the Ambani house was reportedly registered in Mansukh Hiren’s name. He was missing since Thursday night and his body was recovered a day later from the creek.

In the letter, which bears the date 2 March 2021, two days before Mansukh Hiren had gone missing, he had alleged that he was being treated like an accused despite being a victim in the case. Hiren mentioned that he is a peaceful person having no criminal antecedents of any nature in the past and has maintained a neat and clean record.

Hiren then goes on to explain the happenings of February 17, saying that his car suffered a technical defect after which he parked it on the Eastern Express Highway, near the Nahur flyover. He then contended that when he went to fetch the car the next day, it was nowhere to be seen. He subsequently visited the Vikhroli police station to file a complaint of a missing car.

Letter written by Mansukh Hiren about being subjected to mental harassment

Detailing about the harassment that started in the wake of the Antilia bomb scare incident when his car was found at the spot, Hiren stated that on February 25, at 11 pm, 2-3 ATS policemen came to his house. They informed him that his Scorpio car was found near Mukesh Ambani’s house filled with explosives. The ATS police briefly interrogated him before leaving. Afterwards, 4-5 policemen of Ghatkopar police station came to his home around 11 pm and left after interrogation. Then on February 26, at 2 am, the police of Vikhroli police station came and took him away. They detained him until 6 in the morning.

“I was being repeatedly questioned regarding the case. NIA, Joint Commissioner of Police Bhamre also questioned me regarding the case. My mental health deteriorated due to enquiries by various investigative agencies. There were frequent phone calls from journalists from many media outlets. A journalist called and said that I was a suspect in this case”, read the letter.

Letter written by Mansukh Hiren about suffering mental harassment

“I am being harassed, without having any knowledge about the culprits, who not only committed theft of my said vehicle but also misused and abandoned the same as mentioned hereinabove. I have already given my explanation and statements that how my said vehicle was stolen and I am victimised, but still unnecessarily suffering harassments at the instance of policemen and news reporters as mentioned herein-above,” Hiren pleaded in his letter.

Hiren further stated that the police and journalists have no right to harass him and sought intervention from Maharashtra CM, Home Minister and Police Commissioners of Mumbai and Thane to bring an end to the harassment meted out on him by journalists and policemen.

Mansukh Hiren’s family rules out death by suicide

Mansukh’s family members have ruled out the possibility of him committing suicide. His relatives have also pointed towards the aforementioned letter penned by Hiren, stating that he was mentally harassed by police and scribes.

Besides, the family members of Hiren have rejected the notion that Hiren might have committed suicide. According to them, he had no financial stress looming over his head and was an excellent swimmer. The family members have alleged a conspiracy behind his death.

Mystery surrounding Antilia bomb scare deepens as former Maha CM Devendra Fadnavis makes a series of revelations in Vidhan Sabha

Hours before reports of Hiren’s alleged suicide came in, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had made sensational disclosures related to the Antilia bomb scare while speaking in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha.

Speaking in the assembly, Fadnavis alleged that the owner of the Scorpio car, which was used to plant gelatin sticks and a threat letter outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai, was in touch with a mobile phone number that is registered under the name of Mumbai Police officer and ‘encounter specialist’ Sachin Vaze.

Alleging a massive conspiracy in the case, Fadnavis had said that there were not one but two cars—one Scorpio and one Innova and added that both cars came from Thane and had followed the same route and reached the location. He said that while the Scorpio with the explosives was parked near Mukesh Ambani’s residence, the Innova had moved away.

“Sachin Vaze was the first police officer to reach the spot, and then he was appointed as the Investigation Officer (IO). Three days ago, he was removed as the IO, and I fail to understand why he was removed,” the former CM had said while asking how Vaze reached the spot before the local police.

India smash England by an innings in 4th test, win series 3-1 to qualify for the World Test Championship final

OpIndia Staff
-
0
India smash England by an innings in 4th test, win series 3-1 to qualify for the World Test Championship final

India have won the 4th Test Match versus England at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. Owing to a stellar batting display from youngsters Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar, India hammered England by an innings and 25 runs. England were bowled out for 135 runs in their second innings.

India were in a tight spot at one point at 146 for the loss of 6 wickets, trailing England’s first innings total of 205 runs. It was then that the Pant-Sundar show commenced with a brilliant century from the wicket-keeper under tough batting circumstances.

Washington Sundar was left stranded at 96 not out following the fall of three Indian wickets in quick succession. India registered a first innings lead of 160 runs. When England came to bat for the second time, it was time for the Ashwin-Patel show.

The Indian spinners ripped through the England batting order without any semblance of a resistance from the batsmen. Dan Lawrence played well for his half century but at no point did England look poised for a fightback. Axar Patel and Ashwin both took 5-fers in the second innings.

The match was over in the third session of third day. The previous test match at the same venue had gotten over within 2 days. There was much talk about the pitch heading into the match but Pant and Sundar demonstrated ably that runs could be scored.

Axar Patel and Rohit Sharma made meaningful contributions with the bat as well, scoring 43 and 49 respectively, both missing out on their half centuries.

With the victory, India have won the series 3-1 and have qualified for the finals of the World Test Championship. India lost the first test but went on to register three consecutive victories in comfortable fashion.

Delhi: Landowners move High Court after AAP Govt refuses to accept land they want to donate to build a school

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: Landowners move High Court after AAP Govt refuses to accept land they want to donate to build a school

In a unique case, three siblings have approached the Delhi High Court alleging that the Delhi government is not accepting a plot of land they want to donate to build a school. They are willing to transfer a piece of their private land measuring 5,000 square yards in Karawal Nagar, worth crores, to Delhi’s AAP govt led by party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, for building a senior secondary-level government school. Since 2012, the landowners have been asking the authorities to transfer the land ownership to the government for the purpose of building a government school on it, however, the authorities have been delaying. The siblings, who are the legal heir of the original landowner Mansa Ram, who died in 2009, approached the High Court to resolve the matter.

Now, based on a plea filed by the two sons and daughter of Mansa Ram, Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi government to expeditiously take a decision on the family’s request for transfer of land to build a government school.

Justice Prathiba M Singh, while hearing the plea, described the petition as an unusual case and said that the petitioners have approached the court with a “unique prayer” where they wish to vest their private land with the government “for a social purpose”. He directed the Delhi government to take an “expeditious decision” in the matter. Justice Prathiba M Singh said since the petitioners have come up with a unique prayer where they wish to give their right in a private land to the government, the authorities shall consider the plea expeditiously.

Advocate Ashok Agarwal, representing the petitioners, informed the court that his clients had sent a request letter to the AAP government in Delhi in June 2019 to transfer ownership of the land from them to the State but unfortunately the authorities have done nothing, instead have been merely sitting over the matter for the last one and a half years.

Agarwal also informed the court that the land has ever since been lying vacant, because of which anti-social elements of the area have been misusing it. He said that the petitioners want to transfer ownership of the land unconditionally to the government requesting it to build a multi-storey senior secondary school there.

Request to the AAP government in this regard was last made in June 2019

In 1976, Mansa Ram had built Alok Punj Secondary School on 2,000 square yards of the land at Karawal Nagar. Since 1995, it had been running on 100% government grant. However, due to the bad condition of the building, the High Court in 2018 ordered moving students to some other building.

As per the petition filed by Mansa Ram’s children, since September 2018 there has been no activity on the land where the school is originally located, due to which it has been infested by anti-social elements.

In the petition the three siblings, Anup Singh, Satish Kumar and Anoopi said that the inaction of the government on their request for transfer of the land is affecting the education of thousands of students enrolled in the school and those who want to get admission in a government school.

A request to the government authorities in this regard was last made in June 2019.

Stating that there is an urgent need for a government school in the area as it is densely populated and a number of students want to urgently shift from private schools to government schools especially because their parents, owing to the pandemic, are unable to pay children school fees, the plea filed by the siblings requested prompt action in the matter.

Giving two weeks to the Kejriwal government to file an affidavit in the matter, the high court listed the matter for further hearing on April 30. The court also asked the Delhi Govt to reply regarding the request for renaming the school in the name of the original landowner, Mansa Ram.

1...4,5114,5124,513...7,650Page 4,512 of 7,650