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‘Biryanijeevi’, ‘Darr ka mahaul jeevi’: Netizens break into memefest as PM Modi takes on ‘andolanjeevis’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Biryanijeevi’, ‘Darr ka mahaul jeevi’: Netizens break into memefest as PM Modi takes on ‘andolanjeevis’

PM Modi while replying to the Motion of Thanks to President’s address in the Rajya Sabha spoke about the professional protestors who descend upon every protest to ‘lend their support’.

PM Modi said that there are several words that all of us are familiar with. Citing examples, he said some words like ‘Shramjeevi’ (one who earns living through labour work), ‘Buddhijeevi’ (intellectuals) etc are quite common. However, in the recent past, PM Modi said that a new ‘jamaat’ (community) has taken birth in India. PM Modi termed this new ‘community’ as ‘Andolanjeevi’ (one who earns living through participating in protests).

No sooner did PM Modi said, netizens unleashed a flood of memes mocking those who have earned their living or have been known for certain things persistently.

NDTV India’s Ravish Kumar has often been made butt of jokes for speaking about ‘atmosphere of fear’ every few months, especially during the first term of PM Modi. However, in second term, he seems to have moved on to newer topics to propagate.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was referred to as ‘Bhikh jeevi’, i.e. one who goes by with begging. For the uninitiated, Google Images throws up pictures of Imran Khan when you Google ‘Bhikhari’ (beggar).

Shaheen Bagh protestor Bilkis Bano was referred to as ‘Biryani jeevi’ by netizens to mock the ‘protestors’ during the anti-CAA protests in 2019-2020 who were accused of sitting for protests in return of money and biryani. One of the protestor had claimed the biryani had come from ‘Allah’.

Filmmaker-activist Mahesh Bhatt, who also appears in quite a few political debates, is often seen making hand gestures isn where it appears like he is scratching himself. He was referred to as ‘Khujli jeevi’ (one who likes to scratch himself).

Pro-AAP vlogger Dhruv Rathee, who has a complicated relationship with facts, was referred to as ‘propaganda jeevi’.

Meanwhile, someone has even purchased aandolanjeevi domain and put up an hilarious image of concert of all aandolan jeevis.

Aandolan jeevi concert

As PM Modi said, ‘yeh to poori toli hai‘ (this is an entire cabal).

You’ll never walk alone: While Yogendra Yadav is mocked for being an ‘Aandolanjeevi’, Prashant Bhushan comes out to prove he is one too

OpIndia Staff
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You’ll never walk alone: While Yogendra Yadav is mocked for being an ‘Aandolanjeevi’, Prashant Bhushan comes out to prove he is one too

PIL Activist Prashant Bhushan on Sunday revealed the true extent of his knowledge and awareness about India. Commenting on the Mahapanchayat at Charkhi Dadri, the ’eminent intellectual’ opined that while trying to win West Bengal, the BJP ‘seemed’ to have lost Uttar Pradesh.

Charkhi Dadri is actually a district in Haryana. There does not appear to be any obvious link between the West Bengal elections, Uttar Pradesh and the Mahapanchayat at Charkhi Dadri but when one stares at the abyss long enough, the abyss stares back at them.

Prashant Bhushan Charkhi Dadri tweet
Source: Twitter

Needless to say, there is no evidence as yet that it will have any discernible impact on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections next year. There is a lot of time between now and then but that has not stopped the ‘PIL activist’ from offering his bizarre sermons.

With his comment, Prashant Bhushan has cleared any doubt that some might have had about him being an ‘Aandolanjeevi’. At a time when Yogendra Yadav is being mocked after Prime Minister Modi made a comment on ‘Aandolanjeevis’ in the Parliament, the PIL activist appears to have given voice to the popular anthem, “You’ll never walk alone”.

Prime Minister Modi introduced the term ‘Aandolanjeevi’ to distinguish it from ‘Shramjeevi’ and ‘Buddhijeevi’. ‘Shramjeevi’ refers to people who make a living based on the fruits of hard work that involves physical exertion. ‘Buddhijeevi’, on the other hand, is usually used for intellectuals or people who rely on their intellectual faculties to earn a livelihood.

‘Aandolanjeevi’, meanwhile, is an individual like Yogendra Yadav whose livelihood depends on protesting for the sake of it. Prashant Bhushan is obviously not a ‘Shramjeevi’ as his work does not involve physical exertion and he cannot be a ‘Buddhijeevi’ as his intellectual capacities are limited as demonstrated by his comment on Charkhi Dadri.

Furthermore, since he loves complaining and relies on nonsensical activism to make a living, he is adequately categorised under ‘PIL-jeevi’, a sub-category of ‘Aandolanjeevi’.

‘Was he talking about Bengal when he said Freedom of Speech, Intimidation?’: PM Modi slams TMC’s Derek O’Brien

OpIndia Staff
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‘Was he talking about Bengal when he said Freedom of Speech, Intimidation?’: PM Modi slams TMC’s Derek O’Brien

PM Modi on Monday took a swipe at TMC MP Derek O’Brien while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on President Ram Nath Kovind’s address in Rajya Sabha.

“I was listening to Derek ji, he had chosen good words – Freedom of Speech, Intimidation. When I was listening to him, I was wondering if he is talking about Bengal or the country. He sees all this for 24 hours, so he might have said the same here too,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi was referring to the TMC Rajya Sabha MP’s remarks on the state of Indian democracy inside the house when he attacked the central government for the ongoing ‘farmers’ protests. Derek O’Brien on Thursday had pressed the government to repeal the three controversial farm laws and offered a ‘Repealing Bill 2021’ drafted by him for the purpose.

Politics in West Bengal has long been marred with violence and ever since BJP has gained significance in the state, the ruling Trinamool Congress led by CM Mamata Banerjee has waged a bloody campaign against the party. Scores of BJP workers and supporters were victims of political violence in West Bengal over the last few years. In December 2020 alone, 8 incidents of violence against the BJP workers were recorded.

India’s democracy is a human institution: PM Modi

Quoting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, PM Modi said, “India’s democracy is a human institution; it’s neither narrow nor self-centred, not aggressive. India is the biggest democracy in the world, we love to parrot this. But we have to teach our youth that India is the mother of democracy.”

“Challenges are galore but there is nothing without challenges in the world. But the point to be considered here is whether we want to be a part of the challenge or its solution,” PM Modi said.

“Challenges are there as there is nothing without challenges in the world. But the point is whether we want to be part of the challenge or its solution,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi also spoke on the discussions having around the farmers’ protest. He said talks were concentrated on the protests but not on selling solutions to them. “Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomarji raised some valid questions on ‘farmers’ protests on the House. But I think those questions will never find answers,” the Prime Minister said.

As the global left unites against Modi and George Soros connections emerge, PM Modi warns about war against nationalism

OpIndia Staff
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As the global left unites against Modi and George Soros connections emerge, PM Modi warns about war against nationalism 
PM Narendra Modi is addressing the Rajya Sabha today. In his reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address, PM Modi hailed India's deep rooted democratic values and culture that makes it not just the world's largest, but also the oldest democracy. He exlained that while most of us hear and adapt western phrases, we tend to ignore our own identity and forget our own roots. PM Modi stated that India had seen examples of democratised administration when the rest of the civilisations had not.

PM Modi stated, “Our democracy is not a western institution. It’s a human institution. India’s history is filled with examples of democratic institutions. We find mention of 81 democracies in ancient India. Today it’s essential to warn citizens about the attacks on India’s nationalism.”

PM Modi explained further, “India’s nationalism is neither narrow now selfish and not even aggressive. This is inspired by the values of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. This quotation was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.”

PM Modi’s words were a veiled message to organisations and individuals who are busy peddling their anti-India propaganda, trying to brand India as undemocratic and violent.

Global left and their anti-India propaganda

The global left has always been against India’s growth and development in the name of pseudo-secularism and activism. In recent years, as a nationalist government of BJP came to power in India, the attacks of the global left against India’s image and development projects have only intensified. In his address in Assam’s Dhekiajuli yesterday, PM Modi had highlighted the recently exposed plan of the leftist ecosystem to tarnish India’s image worldwide.

The Khalistani hand behind farmer protests had been evident from the beginning, but recent exposures have also shown how a co-ordinated campaign at a global level involving a large amount of money is underway to spread unrest in India.

Greta Thunberg’s ‘toolkit’ that exposed the elaborate plan by pro-Khalistani and anti-India elements to spread unrest and chaos in India has only confirmed the earlier reports that certain forces are actively working to discredit, malign and damage India’s efforts to emerge as a global superpower.

The global left, that has kept silent through the colossal human rights violations and torture unleashed by powerful nations in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, keeps attacking India over false propaganda and leftist-fanned baseless allegations. As George Soros had asserted earlier, considerable efforts, money and PR campaign are underway to damage brand India.

Billionaire George Soros, who funds political NGOs to disrupt governments and economies, had openly declared his intentions to interfere in India’s internal affairs. Speaking at the world economic forum, Soros has said he will commit $1 billion to start a global university to ‘fight nationalists’, whom he referred to as ‘authoritarian governments’. He accused the Indian Prime Minister of ‘creating a Hindu nationalist state’. Soros’ Open Society Foundation has links with a vast network of organisations and ‘activists’. Organisations connected with Soros’ OSF have been pursuing media and legal battles against the Indian government from issues ranging from the Rafael deal to Article 370 and the CAA.

George Soros and his organisations have been behind massive fundings for the US Democratic Party, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Soros’ foundation had also received significantly large donations from the US government under Obama from the tax-payers’ money, as per reports.

A reference to icchadhari protestors? PM Modi in Rajya Sabha hits out at career protestors who are like ‘parasites’: Here is what he said

OpIndia Staff
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A reference to icchadhari protestors? PM Modi in Rajya Sabha hits out at career protestors who are like ‘parasites’: Here is what he said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today replied to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Rajya Sabha. In his Rajya Sabha speech, PM Modi spoke extensively about the so-called farmers protest, the attempts to mislead the real farmers and how the opposition seems to be playing with fire while keeping their petty politics above national interest.

PM Modi said that most discussions on the farm laws revolved around the protests and not the laws. No one is talking about the reason behind the protests. “It would have been better if the discussions were held on the points of contention instead of protests,” PM Modi said.

Speaking of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, who is often hailed as the champion of Indian peasants’, PM Modi said how he was always worried about the sad state of small farmers. Citing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said, that those who are currently making u-turns on the farm laws, will at least agree with him.

Prime Minister Modi also said that while protesting is the right of the people of India, however, he also indicated that these protests were a result of some career protestors misleading farmers.

PM Modi said that there are several words that all of us are familiar with. Citing examples, he said we are familiar with words like ‘Shramjeevi, Buddhijeevi etc. However, in the recent past, PM Modi said that a new ‘Jamaat’ has taken birth in India. PM Modi termed this new ‘community’ as ‘Andolanjeevi’.

He said that these ‘Andolanjeevis’ plant themselves in whatever protest is ongoing. If there is a protest by lawyers, they will be seen amidst the lawyers, if there is a protest by students, they will reach there, if there is a protest by labourers, they will appear there as well. They sometimes function in front of the public eye, and often times, function behind the scenes. “Ye poori toli hai ji”, said PM Modi (this is an entire cabal).

Further, PM Modi said, “They can’t live without protests and they keep looking for protests to live. We need to recognise such people who reach everywhere and take big ideological stands, mislead people. The country needs to save itself from such ‘andolanjeevi’ people”.

He also went on to mock such individuals by saying that they have no power to actually create a protest on their own but they simply go join any on-going protest to make themselves visible. PM Modi further said that such andolanjeevi are ‘parjeevis’ (parasites). Chuckling, he also quipped that any party that runs a government in any state, would have perhaps come across such parasites and hence, they will enjoy what he is saying right now.

Talking about these Icchadhari protesters, PM Modi also warned the nation about a new kind of FDI which he termed as ‘Foreign Destructive Ideology”.

With these references by Prime Minister Modi in the Rajya Sabha, one has to wonder if Icchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav and his likes were the subject of the speech by Prime Minister Modi.

One has to recall that earlier, during the talks between the government and the so-called farmer leaders, the central government had summarily refused to entertain Yogendra Yadav. However, even after the central government’s curt refusal to allow any political personality to be involved in negotiations with the farmers’ unions, Ichchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav, a political activist and former psephologist, was stubbornly trying to affect his importance by forcing himself into the ongoing negotiations.

Yogendra Yadav, who OpIndia has fondly christened as Icchadhari protester, has been seen in every disruptive protest that the country has witnessed over the past few years. Yogendra Yadav was also instrumental in the Shaheen Bagh protests and the larger anti-CAA protests that eventually led to the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots where over 50 people were killed. While the riots took place on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of February, Yogendra Yadav was involved with those who planned the violence ever since the 7th of December.

On the 7th of December, at the protest organised by United Against Hate, the chargesheet says that Yogendra Yadav, Umar Khalid, Nadeem Khan, Sharjeel Imam, Ifat and Sai Balaji were also present. They delivered speeches against the CAA at this protest. Umar Khalid, who was his “senior and mentor” from JNU introduced Sharjeel Imam to Yogendra Yadav at this agitation. 

Witnesses have told the police that earlier, Umar Khalid had already told Sharjeel Imam to make a group of “like-minded individuals” from JNU, Jamia, DU etc and had explained the concept of Chakka Jam to him. As an extension of that theme, at the meeting with Yogendra Yadav, he was told to “mobilise students of Jamia, DU and AMU”. 

According to the chargesheet, two important things were decided in this meeting: 

  1. It was decided between Yogendra Yadav, Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid that social media would be used to indoctrinate Muslims and for the mobilisation of people for Chakka Jam. 
  2. Awareness campaigns should be launched in Muslim majority areas.
  3. Attempts should be made to form an alliance with like-minded Muslim organisations for Chakka Jam.
  4. Masjids should be the focal point for the starting of Chakka Jam and the help of Imams should be taken.

The entry of Yogendra Yadav in the conspiracy hatched, according to the chargesheet, dates back to the 7th of December 2019. This is only days before the Jamia violence erupted and several areas of Delhi saw violence. In fact, it is also days before Tahir Hussain admitted that he had started inciting people against CAA and pelted stones against the Hindus on the 17th. 

The chargesheet further reveals that on the 8th of December, another meeting took place where Yogendra Yadav was also present.

It was in this meeting, that according to the chargesheet, a plan was hatched on how to implement the Chakka Jam. It was decided that it would be Sharjeel Imam who would organise and lead students from various universities and colleges in and around Delhi. It was, interestingly, also decided that organisations like United Against Hate and Swarajya Abhiyaan would help each other in every way possible. This has, according to the Chargehsheet, been revealed by a witness. 

Yogendra Yadav and others like Prashant Bhushan, Swara Bhaskar, Harsh Mandar etc are elements that PM Modi could have been talking about when he spoke about those dangerous elements who inject themselves into every issue to mislead the people and create trouble to destabilise India.

From ‘angry phoophajis’ in Parliament to ‘andolan jivis’: Here is what PM Modi said in his reply to Motion of Thanks to President’s address

OpIndia Staff
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From ‘angry phoophajis’ in Parliament to ‘andolan jivis’: Here is what PM Modi said in his reply to Motion of Thanks to President’s address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today replied to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi, while addressing the Rajya Sabha said how the world is currently fighting a lot of adversities. “No one would have thought we will pass through such difficult times, with such challenges,” he said.

Speaking on the challenges faced during Chinese coronavirus, PM Modi said that the world was and is looking at India. When people were not sure which medicine would work for the virus, people were looking for Indian pharmaceuticals for the medicines. Similarly, now India has undertaken the biggest vaccination programme. And now the world is looking at us for the vaccines, he said.

PM Modi takes on Opposition

PM Modi took on the opposition leaders, PM Modi said that he was listening to TMC MP Derek O’Brien and that he has chosen ‘good words’. Repeating the words he had, PM Modi said, “He had chosen good words – Freedom of Speech, Intimidation. When I was listening to him, I was wondering if he is talking about Bengal or the country. He sees all this for 24 hours, so he might have said the same here too.”

TMC MPs staged a walkout before the PM started his reply to the Motion of Thanks to President’s address.

He further took on Congress and said, “Bajwa sahab from Congress was also speaking. He was speaking in such detail that I thought he will reach Emergency (period) shortly and speak on it. (Since) he was just one step away from it. But he didn’t go there. Congress disappoints this country a lot, you did that too.”

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in India is considered the darkest period in history of Independent India.

PM Modi on global conspiracy to defame India

PM Modi also spoke about the global conspiracy to defame India and said that Indian democracy is not a western institution but a human one. “Today it’s essential to warn citizens about the attacks on India’s nationalism,” he said.

Citing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, he said, “India’s nationalism is neither narrow now selfish and not even aggressive. This is inspired by the values of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’.” He further said how sometimes, some people in India start cursing ourselves instead of feeling proud. “I sometimes get surprised, world gives us a term & we start following it – ‘Largest democracy of the world’. It feels good to hear this but we didn’t teach our youth that India is the mother of democracy,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi on farm laws and ‘naraaj phoophaji’ of Parliament

PM Modi said that most discussions on the farm laws revolved around the protests and not the laws. No one is talking about the reason behind the protests. “It would have been better if the discussions were held on the points of contention instead of protests,” PM Modi said.

Speaking of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, who is often hailed as the champion of Indian peasants’, PM Modi said how he was always worried about the sad state of small farmers. Citing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said, that those who are currently making u-turns on the farm laws, will at least agree with him.

“There are other rigidities because of the whole marketing regime setup in the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get the highest rate of returns. It is our intention to remove all those handicaps which come in the way of India realizing its vast potential as one large common market,” PM Modi quoted Dr Singh. PM Modi said that even the Congress leader and former Prime Minister talked about free market for farmers, which the current laws are providing.

“Sharad Pawar ji, and those from Congress, everyone… all governments have stood for agricultural reforms. Whether they were able to do it or not, but everyone has advocated that it should be done. If you are crying that we were not consulted individually, then well, this is like a family and in every family there is an angry phoophaji (uncle) who is upset why was I not consulted,” he said.

PM Modi reiterated that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will stay, as against the propaganda spread by the so-called farmer leaders.

PM Modi on Sikhs

Tearing into the propaganda to wedge a divide between the Hindus and Sikhs by certain elements, PM Modi said how the country is proud of every Sikh in India. “What have they not done for this country? Whatever respect we give them will always be less. I’ve been fortunate to spend crucial years of my life in Punjab. Language used by some for them and attempt to mislead them will never benefit nation,” PM Modi said.

There has been concerted effort by certain section, especially those funded and backed by Khalistani separatists to pit the current Punjab farmer protests as ‘Sikhs vs Hindus’. Even during the tractor rally riots, certain elements hoisted multiple flags with the holy Sikh symbol on the Red Fort where the Tricolour flies in a bid to portray the Sikh supremacy. This was celebrated by certain section of political parties and ‘liberals’ in Indian media and abroad as well.

PM Modi takes on professional protestors

Mocking the professional protestors, who have taken up protesting as a profession, PM Modi said that these ‘andolan jivis’ can be spotted wherever there is a protest, be it agitation by lawyers, students, or labourers, explicitly or implicitly. “They cannot live without ‘andolan’, we have to identify them and protect nation from them,” PM Modi said.

Indian govt raps up Twitter, orders to block 1178 pro-Khalistan accounts

OpIndia Staff
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Indian govt raps up Twitter, orders to block 1178 pro-Khalistan accounts

Amidst the ongoing anti-farm law agitation, the centre has issued a new notice to social media giant Twitter directing it to block 1,178 accounts found to be from Pakistan peddling Khalistani secessionism.

The misuse of the social media platform for spreading anti-India propaganda, provocative content and misinformation has irked the Union government. ANI reported that Twitter is yet to comply with the notice issued by the central government under Section 69A of the IT Act. The government believes that the said Twitter accounts have the potential to cause a threat to public order.

Quoting a source, News 18 reported, “The accounts ordered blocked are of Khalistani sympathisers, or those backed by Pakistan and operating from foreign territories. Many of the accounts are also automated bots that were used for sharing and amplifying misinformation and provocative contents on farmers protest.” The centre has also warned the microblogging site to comply with its orders or face penalty and jail time up to 7 years for non-compliance.

Indian government blocks 250 Twitter accounts for ‘farmer genocide’ propaganda

The development comes days after the Indian government blocked 257 accounts which were using #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide hashtag and making fake, intimidatory and provocative tweets on January 30. Sources told OpIndia that this was been done on the request of Ministry of Home Affairs and law enforcement agencies to prevent any escalation of law and order in view of the on-going farmer agitation.

Incitement to genocide is a grave threat to public order and therefore the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEITY) ordered for blocking of these Twitter accounts and Tweets under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. This included accounts of actor Sushant Singh and columnist with Congress mouthpiece National Herald Sanjukta Basu.

Kerala: Madarsa teacher Shahida slits her 6-year-old son’s throat to please ‘Allah’

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Madarsa teacher Shahida slits her 6-year-old son’s throat to please ‘Allah’

On Sunday, the Palakkad South station police booked a 30-year-old woman named Shahida for murdering her 6-year-son as a ‘sacrifice to Allah’ in Kerala.

As per reports, the victim has been identified as a child named Aamil. Shahida, who worked as a teacher at a local Madarsa, dialled up the Palakkad emergency control room between 3-4 am in the morning and informed that she had slit her son’s throat. On receiving the information, the cops rushed to the crime scene and discovered the body of Aamil in the bathroom.

The cops informed that the accused had tied up her son’s legs with ropes and then butchered him in the bathroom. Shahida has confessed to the police that she killed her son in a bid to please Allah. Her husband Sulaiman, who worked as an auto driver in Palakkad, was asleep at the time of the incident, along with the couple’s two other children. The Palakkad South police booked the accused on charges of murder under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302.

While speaking about the case, SP Viswanadh R said, “What is mentioned in the FIR is what the mother told the police control room. Only after a thorough investigation can we conclude whether that was indeed the reason or whether there are other reasons.” Shahida, who is pregnant with her 4th child, had also sustained an injury to her hand during the gruesome murder.

The police said that the murder was pre-planned and that a decision on a psychological evaluation of the accused will be taken only after the completion of the arrest procedures. The cops added that further charges will be pressed against Shahida during the course of the investigation. The accused, who reportedly had no history of mental health issues, took the phone number of the Janamaithri Police from her neighbour the previous day. As per her neighbours, the family were not superstitious and had ‘no issues’.

Parents brutally murder two daughters as ‘sacrifice’ in Andhra Pradesh

Earlier in a gut-wrenching incident, a couple in Andhra Pradesh had crushed their two daughters to death with a blunt weapon in their house in Shiv Nagar on the outskirts of Madanpalle in Chittoor district on January 24, 2021. According to reports, victims named Alekhya (27) and Sai Divya (22) were college students. According to reports, the parents of the victims had claimed that they received a ‘divine message’ to sacrifice their daughters.

On the evening of January 24, neighbours heard some strange and loud voices coming from the house of the victims. They informed the police. The police reached the house of the victims and found the two girls dead. One of the girls were found dead in the puja room and the other was found lying in another room covered with a red cloth ad some puja material kept around her body. 

Uttarakhand tragedy: UP CM Yogi Adityanath extends help, puts relief and rescue team on alert

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand tragedy: UP CM Yogi Adityanath extends help, puts relief and rescue team on alert

As the glacier burst tragedy hit Uttarakhand on Sunday, the neighbouring state Uttar Pradesh has offered all help required. The UP government has also sounded a high alert and is monitoring the water level in the Ganga.

There was an avalanche in Dhauliganga river after a part of the Nandadevi glacier in Uttarakhand exploded. The Yogi administration has directed all officials to extend all help possible to the Uttarakhand government. As per reports, all the districts on the banks of river Ganga are put on high alert and water level is being monitored. If need be, people on lower levels will be evacuated to safe places.

Urging people to keep away from rumours, CM Yogi Adityanath has asked people to avoid going near the river. In case of any distressful situation, people should cooperate with the authorities, he said.

Further, the Uttar Pradesh administration has kept 17 flood companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and nine units of State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) on alert to be sent to Uttarakhand if needed. They will be dispatched to the neighbouring state as and when required. Further, the UP govt has directed the officials from administration and irrigation departments to be deployed to ensure that people living in areas near the river are alerted and evacuated on time if crisis arises.

Further, in Bareilly and Muradabad 40 teams of NDRF are readied with rubber boats of 10 and 20 people capacity for flood relief and rescue operations. Prayagraj and Varanasi teams are also kept in the loop for disaster management.

Helpline numbers:

NDRF Commandant: 8004931401

Deputy Commandant: 8004931404

NDRF Control Room: 7839869303

For flood control helpline numbers: 9451940217 and 7839123486

French President Macron slams Twitter and Facebook for censoring Trump, wants decisions to be based on laws passed by govt

OpIndia Staff
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French President Macron slams Twitter and Facebook for censoring Trump, wants decisions to be based on laws passed by govt

French President Emmanuel Macron has, in a recent statement, slammed Twitter and Facebook following arbitrary decisions taken by social media platforms to restrict freedom of speech. Emmanuel Macron highlighted the manner in which former US President Donald Trump was purged from the internet at a time when the censorship debate has become heated in India as well.

Macron said, “We are very upset here in Paris [about the Capitol attack]. But at the same time, we were very upset, as well, by the fact that a few hours later, all the platforms … which helped President Trump to be so efficient, sometimes, to promote the same demonstrations, a few hours before, at the very second when they were sure that he was over, [out] of the power, suddenly cut the mic.”

“I don’t want to live in a democracy where the key decisions and the decision to, at a point of time, to cut your mic … is decided by a private player, a private social network,” he continued. “I want it to be decided by a law voted [on] by your representative, or by a regulation — a governance democratically discussed and approved by democratic leaders.” The statements were made on the 4th of February.

The comments at a time when the Indian government is deeply unhappy with Twitter as well. The social media platform refused to remove tweets and accounts that falsely claimed that Prime Minister Modi was planning a ‘farmer genocide’ in order to incite communal disharmony right after the Republic Day riots in India.

The Indian Government requested the tweets and accounts to be blocked since it could lead to grave law and order situation in the country. However, Twitter claimed that it was ‘freedom of speech’. The duplicity of the social media platform and the threat it poses becomes evident given the fact that they indulge in censorship based on their political ideology which is not necessarily aligned to Indian interests.

Other leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel and Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador have also condemned the arbitrary censorship enforced by the social media platforms.

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