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Gujarat: Ram Mandir fund collection rally attacked again, riots in 2 villages of Kutch

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Ram Mandir fund collection rally attacked again, riots in 2 villages of Kutch

On January 17, violence broke out after a rally for Ram Mandir donation was attacked by a ‘particular community’ in Kidana village in Gandhidham, Kutch (east) district. As per the reports, one house and an auto-rickshaw were burnt down during the clashes. Police had to baton-charge and use tear gas to control the situation.

Mayur Patil, Superintendent of Police, Kutch (east), said that there was stone pelting at the rally that had resulted in the clash. The situation was under control late at night.

JR Mothaliya, range inspector general of police (IGP), Kutch, said, “A huge mob had gathered during the rath yatra and there was stone-pelting. We also lobbed tear gas shells, and the situation is under control now.”

Another rally was attacked in Sadau Village, Kutch

A similar incident took place in Sadau Village of Mundra town of Kutch district (west), where a rally for raising funds for Ram Mandir was attacked. Saurabh Singh, Superintendent of Police, Kutch (west), said that there were no complaints filed by either side, but the police are filing FIRs against the mobs for unlawful assembly, breaching Covid-19 guidelines, among other charges.

Similar attacks are happening in other states

The attacks on the collection drive for Ram Mandir in Gujarat are not a first. Similar incidents have happened in other states as well. On January 16, Mumbai Police removed the posters of Ram Mandir Nidhi Sankalan posters alleging that they have orders from higher officials as the posters were ‘controversial in nature’ and hurt the sentiments of the locals. When VHP workers started recording the videos, the police arrested them.

Two incidents of attack on similar rallies were reported in Madhya Pradesh. On December 26, a Muslim mob attacked at the Ramnidhi Sangrahan rally in Ujjain, in which ten people were injured and several vehicles were damaged. Later on December 29, a Hindu rally was attacked in Indore that was collecting money for the construction of the Ram Mandir.

Waste of talent, resources and time: I watched Tandav on Amazon Prime so you don’t have to

Nirwa Mehta
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Waste of talent, resources and time: I watched Tandav on Amazon Prime so you don’t have to

Normally I’d have trashed Tandav on Amazon Prime in first ten minutes of episode 1. It was that bad. But thanks to all the boycott calls, I was just curious to see how bad can this web series really be. In a pool of mediocre dramas full of cliches, how was Tandav any different, I wanted to see.

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers.

By now everyone knows of the 2-3 scenes which have causes the furore. One scene is about how one upper caste man tells his estranged wife that her lover, a Dalit politician, is having an affair with her to take revenge for decades of atrocities they had to face. Another scene is how the ‘Prime Minister’ uses casteist slurs against same Dalit politician to ‘show him his place’. And third scene is about how one character ‘Shiv Shekhar’ is mocking Lord Ram and Ram Bhakts.

Tandav web series is what you get when you try to write fiction based on Twitter. There is a university ‘VNU’ (Vivekanand National University) in Delhi’s ‘Mahant Vihar’ and students there like to raise ‘azadi’ slogans. Now, which university in India really does that? Oh, and there is also student body election where the above character ‘Shiv Shekhar’, who hails from Bihar, is contesting. There is also a Kritika Kamra playing a Muslim girl who was in students’ body at VNU.

Kamra, who plays the role of student leader Sana Mir (yeah, as cliched as it sounds), also sleeps around with professor (who made the above casteist remark on his estranged wife) and does shady stuff. At worst, one person who should be p*ssed at this should be the Muslim student leader from India’s premier institute who is now reduced to a freelance protestor.

There is more cliche of a student in ‘VNU’ who ‘goes missing’ and is found dead on campus. Now, when have we heard that news before? So this student is involved in some shady stuff apparently and is murdered. There is absolutely no reason or motive given for this.

In fact, there is no logic or motive for most of the things that happen. Like why does Saif poison his own father who is set to be fourth time PM? There was no bad blood. And while he may have ambitions of becoming PM himself, killing his dad was a little too weird. Nowhere do they show that Saif expressed his desire to be PM and his father said no. It was all too bizarre.

Similarly, the cocaine sniffing dude who wants to be defence minister (?) at some point. Does he think a defence minister gets to play with the guns himself? I was wondering if the makers wanted to mock a certain political family from Bihar where the newer generation of politicians appear too dumb to be actual ministers who could decide fate of its people.

And then there is one mysterious anonymous caller who gives away details of poison which killed the prime minister. Using this info, Dimple, who was the Prime Minister’s ‘lover’ (and also mother of cocaine sniffer) becomes prime minister herself. Because that’s how thing work, no?

And ‘IT cells’ work day and night to trend hashtags. Even Aam Aadmi Party’s IT strategy has evolved but the writer of Tandav is stuck in 2015.

All through the series I tried to understand what exactly was happening. It was not because the writers wrote a complicated plot which could blow your mind but it was so shabby that it was a ready reckoner on how to not tell a story.

Talents like Sunil Grover and Kumud Mishra are wasted. Big Bollywood names like Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia appear too uncomfortable. Others are easily forgettable.

All in all, Tandav on Amazon Prime would’ve died its own slow, painful death and vanished without a whimper has it not got the attention it got in past few days. A waste of talent, resources and time.

Pakistan: Demand for an independent ‘Sindhudesh’ intensifies, placards of PM Modi raised

Dibakar Dutta
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Pakistan: Demand for an independent ‘Sindhudesh’ intensifies, placards of PM Modi raised

On Sunday, a pro-freedom rally was organised in Sann in Jamshoro district in the Sindh province of Pakistan to seek global intervention for the creation of Sindhudesh, where protestors were seen with placards of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per reports, the protestors organised the rally to commemorate the 117th birth anniversary of one of the chief architects of modern Sindhi nationalism, GM Syed. The demonstrators, demanding for a separate homeland for the Sindhis, held placards of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with that of other world leaders, to seek support for their cause.

The pro-freedom rally supporters stated that Sindh was the cradle of Indus Valley civilisation and Vedic religion before it was occupied by the British and taken away by the Islamists in 1947. Chairman of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, Shafi Muhammad Burfat, stated that despite attempts to erase its culture and history, Sindh has been able to preserve its ‘pluralist, tolerant, harmonious identity.’

He further added, “This historical synthesis of religions, philosophies and civilisation from the east and west has given our motherland Sindh a distinct place in the history of humanity”. Burfat emphasised that even though the inhabitants of the Sindh province made tremendous progress across various fields, they are forced to live under the Islamist, Punjabi imperialist state of Pakistan.

Why Sindh wants a separate homeland?

It must be pointed out that the demand for a free Sindh nation, Sindhudesh, has been a long-standing demand of the people of the province. As a result, several pro-freedom activists have been killed, tortured and forcibly disappeared by the military establishment of Pakistan. Burfat pointed out that the people of Sindh are enslaved by the Punjabis in the name of Islam.

“The Sindhi people do not want to remain in the oppressive slavery of the terrorist state of Pakistan, and therefore, we appeal to the entire international community to step forward and support us in our struggle for national independence from the fascist theocratic Islamist terrorist state of Pakistan,” he added.

We want freedom, India should help us like it helped Bangladesh

As Prime Minister Modi landed in the Houston ahead of his state visit to the US in September 2019, several representatives of Sindhis, Baloch and Pashto groups had gathered in Houston to sought the help of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to gain freedom from Pakistan.

Baloch, Sindhi, Pashto, who are the minority groups in the terrorist state of Pakistan had been suffering decades of persecution at the hands of Pakistani military establishment for seeking greater autonomy, sought help from PM Modi and President Donald Trump.

After mouthing platitudes over farmer protest in India, Justin Trudeau’s police cracks down on protestors in Toronto

OpIndia Staff
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After mouthing platitudes over farmer protest in India, Justin Trudeau’s police cracks down on protestors in Toronto

On Saturday, the police in Canada cracked down on a large number of protestors, who had gathered at the Yonge-Dundas Square and Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto against the rising unemployment and business closures caused due to Coronavirus lockdown imposed by the government.

As per reports, there was a heavy police deployment at the Yonge-Dundas Square, where anti-lockdown protestors were arrested under criminal charges. The anti-lockdown protestors took objection to the vague distinction made between essential workers and non-essential workers, who are not permitted to run businesses during the lockdown. Hailing their march as ‘Essential Exercise March’ following a Stay at Home order in Ontario, the demonstrators sang, “We are all essential” and hit back at the administration.

The protestors emphasised on their right to dissent but the cops responded by detaining them. In viral video footage that has now surfaced on social media, the police were seen disrupting the agitation, obstructing the path of the protestors and making arbitrary arrests. “This is assault, what these cops are doing, this is assault,” a protestor yelled. The scuffle between the police and protestors flared up the tension in the area, resulting in three arrests, including that of two organisers, for ‘common nuisance’.

The police informed that a 22-year-old protester has been arrested for assaulting police personnel while 18 charges were laid against protestors under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Toronto Mayor justifies police crackdown

Amidst the imposition of lockdown in Toronto for several weeks, the economic conditions of the residents have worsened. Labelling the protests as ‘not right and safe’, Toronto Mayor John Tory said, “The police do what they have to do and I’m glad, even though I don’t give the direction to the police, that they wrote some tickets yesterday. I find it very distressing that someone assaulted a police officer. I mean free speech is one thing and assaulting a police officer is entirely different.”

He further added, “I understand the right to protest, but in my case they not only demonstrate contrary to the regulations that are out there, and they do the same outside of Premier Ford’s house… they also stop people from people from coming in and out of their homes in our building.”

Doublespeak of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau

While Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has been vocal about the ongoing anti-farm law protests in India in an attempt to appease the ‘Khalistani vote bank’ in his home country, it is important to note how the administration has been cracking down against those protesting against government directive on Coronavirus.

While talking about the protests in India, Trudeau had said earlier, “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protests by farmers. The situation is concerning. And we all are very worried about family and friends; I know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you. Canada will always be ready to defend the right to peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we reached out to multiple means directly to Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.”

‘Web Series Tandav can hurt religious harmony’: UP Police files FIR against makers, police team to be sent to Mumbai

OpIndia Staff
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‘Web Series Tandav can hurt religious harmony’: UP Police files FIR against makers, police team to be sent to Mumbai

On January 17, late at night, the Hazratganj Police in Lucknow has filed an FIR against Ali Abbas Jafar and Gaurav Solanki, the makers of the web series Tandav, for allegedly using derogatory language against Hindu Gods that can lead to religious disharmony. The FIR was lodged by senior sub-inspector Amarnath Yadav. Amazon Prime’s India head of original content, Aparna Purohit, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra and others have been named in the FIR. Notably, the Information and Broadcasting ministry has summoned the makers over the alleged Hinduphobic content.

Somen Barma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, central zone, said that a police team would leave for Mumbai on Monday morning to investigate and interrogate those who have been named in the FIR. Those who have been named in the FIR are booked under:

  • Section 153-A (vilification or attacks upon the religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc. of any particular group or class or upon the founders and prophets of a religion)
  • Section 295 (destruction, damage, or defilement of a place of worship or an object held sacred, with intent to insult the religion of a class of persons, punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both),
  • Section 505(1)(b) (intent to cause or likely to cause fear or alarm among the public, or any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquillity),
  • Section 505(2) (offence in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies), and 469 (Forgery for the purpose of harming reputation) of Indian Penal Code)
  • Section 66, 66F and 67 of the IT Act.

The FIR says that during surveillance of social media platform Twitter, it was found that there were angry outbursts against the content of the web series Tandav that was released on January 16. People were found sharing clippings of the web series. The senior officials instructed them to check the web series. It was found that at the 17th minute of the first episode, characters playing Hindu Gods and Goddesses were seen using abusive, derogatory language that is hurtful to the sentiments of a community.

Excerpts from FIR (Source: Twitter)

The FIR further said, “Similarly, in the 22nd minute of the same episode, efforts have been made to ignite caste clashes. The person holding a dignified post like that of prime minister has been shown in a very derogatory manner throughout the web series.”

Yadav further added that there are scenes that depict differences based on caste and derogatory language against the women. The web series attempts to harm the religious, social and administrative fabric of the country and spread obscenity.

Case registered under serious sections

Shalabh Mani Tripathi, Information Consultant CMO UP, said in a tweet that serious cases had been registered against the entire team of Tandav, and they will be arrested soon.

BJP leader Ram Kadam has also filed a complaint against the series.

Uttar Pradesh surpasses its paddy purchase target two months in advance, makes record payment to farmers

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh surpasses its paddy purchase target two months in advance, makes record payment to farmers

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday announced that it has crossed its target of paddy purchase about two months in advance. UP is the first state in the country to do so. As per information given by the state government, in past four years, the state government has paid over Rs 32,000 crore to paddy farmers. Payment to wheat farmers has also crossed Rs 30,000 crore.

While the state government has surpassed the procurement target, Yogi Adityanath has instructed that the procurement of produce will continue in the state. The state government has already procured 60 lakh metric tonnes of grains as against the target of 55 lakh metric tonnes of grain. This is 1.5 times the quantity procured as compared to this period in previous year.

As per the state government figures, about 8 lakh farmers in the state have been paid Rs 7,800 crore. Till February 28, UP government to continue to procure grains, groundnut and other Kharif crops.

Record-breaking payment to farmers

UP government has made record-breaking payment to wheat farmers. In past four years, to over 33 lakh wheat farmers, the government has paid Rs 29,017.45 crore. Further, as of December 14, 2020, wheat and grain farmers were paid Rs 60,922.23 crore, which has been the highest payout ever to the farmers. The state government further stated that it has made record payment to sugarcane farmers in the state.

Strawberry farming in Bundelkhand

Strawberry Festival was inaugurated by UP CM Yogi Adityanath which was held in Jhansi, Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Stating that strawberry farming in Bundelkhand is no less than miracle, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that it has given a new identity to the region.

72.46 farmers across India benefitted from Kharif Marketing Season procurement operations

The Ministry of Agriculture in a recent statement said that paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Karnataka and West Bengal.

As per the government, this has benefited nearly 72.46 lakh farmers. The Ministry further said that out of the total purchase of over 541 lakh metric tonnes, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 lakh metric tonnes which is 37.47 per cent of total procurement.

Pakistan claims India staged Pulwama attack after Mumbai Police leaks chat to embarrass Arnab, Republic hits back: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan claims India staged Pulwama attack after Mumbai Police leaks chat to embarrass Arnab, Republic hits back: Details

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan has now issued a statement on the nonsensical controversy surrounding the private WhatsApp chats of Arnab Goswami which were leaked by the Mumbai Police. Referring to portions involving the Balakot airstrikes, Pakistan claims that its stand has been vindicated and exposed “India’s sinister designs”. Pakistan, known for exporting terrorism, claims the Pulwama terror attack was a “false flag”.

The claims made in the statement are nearly indistinguishable from those made by opposition parties. It said, “The latest revelations further confirm what Pakistan has consistently pointed out: The BJP government stages “false flag” operations; maligns Pakistan with terrorism-related allegations; stokes hyper-nationalism in the country; claims to have launched so-called “surgical strike”; and then deviously manipulates national sentiment in its bid to win elections. The pattern is unmistakable, and has been repeated to suit the RSS-BJP regime’s electoral calculations.”

Pakistan went so far as to add, “The transcripts also illustrate the unholy nexus between the ‘Hindutva’ regime and its cronies in the Indian media. On the one hand, they show how far and deeply the extremist agenda of the RSS-BJP combine has permeated India’s institutions and pillars of the State. On the other hand, they show how the rights and freedoms of Indian citizens and democratic values in Indian society are being seriously jeopardized through cynical manipulation.”

Republic TV has responded to the statement by Pakistan. It has said in its own statement, “The desperation with which the Government of Pakistan has attacked the Republic Media Network in an open forum today, also lays bare the involvement of anti-lndia forces in the conspiracy behind the Republic Media Network. As the days pass, we will expose this conspiracy and the involvement of people who are working against national interest.”

Republic TV has responded to the Pakistan statement over Arnab Goswami leaked private WhatsApp chats
Republic TV has responded to the Pakistan statement over Arnab Goswami’s leaked private WhatsApp chats

Republic also also urged the Congress party to “stop working in tandem with the Government of Pakistan, consciously or unconsciously, to spread lies against India’s interests.” We had reported earlier that Arnab Goswami in the leaked chats did not say anything that was not already in public domain. Former Maharashtra CM from the Congress party Prithviraj Chavan had admitted that the chats were leaked by the Mumbai Police. Congress is part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.

The leaked chat shows Arnab saying, “Bigger than a normal airstrike. And on the same time something major on Kashmir. On Pakistan the government is confident of striking in a way that people will be elated. Exact words used.”

However, the comments made by Arnab Goswami were consistent with the message Prime Minister Modi had coveyed to Indians in the previous days. Narendra Modi had said on the 15th of February, 2019, a day after the terror attack that the blood of the people was boiling and that the terrorists had committed a “grave mistake” and would pay a heavy price for it.

The Prime Minister went to the extent of saying that “our neighbouring country forgets that this (India) is a country with new intent and new policy.” In the backdrop of this, it was abundantly clear that something big was indeed coming.

“Trust the brave soldiers of the country and trust the Modi government…This time, everyone will be taken to justice and complete justice will be served,” Prime Minister Modi said on the 23rd of February, 3 days prior to the attack, “Your pradhan sevak is busy finishing terror…If I am destined to put locks to the factory of terror, so be it.”

Pakistani PM Imran Khan himself was expecting retaliation from India and was pleading the UN to defuse the tension. Thus, it is abundantly clear that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan is attempting to use a gross violation of privacy by the Mumbai Police to target India.

Fake letter on Delhi BJP’s letterhead circulated containing derogatory comments and inciting violence against protesting farmers

OpIndia Staff
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Fake letter on Delhi BJP’s letterhead circulated containing derogatory comments and inciting violence against protesting farmers

Even as the deadlock over the farmer protests continues despite several rounds of meeting with the union govt, now an attempt has been made to allege that BJP leaders are insulting the farmers. A fake letter purportedly written by Delhi BJP leader Rajesh Bhatia is being circulated on WhatsApp, which contains derogatory remarks for the protesting farmers and incites the BJP workers for violence against protesting farmers to end the protests.

The letter, bearing the name and signature of ‘General Secretary’ and ‘Chief of the state headquarters’ Rajesh Bhatia, says that the due to the arrogant nature of the farmers, no conclusion has resulted after the meetings. As a result, ‘we have to make ourself strong for the interest of the nation,’ says the letter. Calling the protestors as ‘deshdrohis’, the letter says that efforts must be made to make the planned tractor rally on 26th January a failure.

The letter then goes on to assure that there will be legal action against violence done against the anti-farm law protestors if required, and asks the party workers to be ready for the same and keep in touch with the party office.

But, the entire letter is fake, made on the official letterhead of Delhi BJP, the BJP leaders have confirmed. While Rajesh Bhatia is a BJP leader, at present he does not hold any post in Delhi BJP. Someone used a Delhi BJP letterhead, forged Bhatia’s signature, and circulate the fake letter to instigate farmers against the BJP, in an attempt to derail any move towards resolving the protests.

After the letter emerged, Rajesh Bhatia lodged a complaint against it with the Delhi police. He said that he has come to know through some journalists and WhatsApp groups that a fake letter on Delhi BJP’s letterhead with his signature containing objectionable language for the farmers is being circulated. He has said that he has not written such a letter and he does not have such dirty thoughts.

He asked the Rajendra Nagar police to take legal action against the persons who have issued, circulated and forwarded the fake letter.

Shiv Sena to contest West Bengal Assembly elections

OpIndia Staff
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Shiv Sena to contest West Bengal Assembly elections

Shiv Sena is going to contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut today took to Twitter to make this announcement. Raut referred to the same as ‘much awaited update’ and said that the party has decided to contest the upcoming elections. “We are reaching Kolkata soon. Jai Hind, Jai Bangla,” he tweeted.

However, it is not yet clear whether the party will contest along with its coalition partner Congress in West Bengal.

The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to be held later this year.

Shiv Sena had earlier contested Assembly elections in 2016 and general elections in 2019. Recently, Shiv Sena contested Bihar Assembly elections where it failed to win a single seat.

Bihar: Transgenders to be recruited into police either through direct appointment or competitive exam, reservations to be provided

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Transgenders to be recruited into police either through direct appointment or competitive exam, reservations to be provided

The Bihar Police will now recruit people from the transgender community into its ranks after the state home department notified the matter following high-level discussions. According to reports, reservations will also be provided to the transgender community for the posts of constable and inspector with one seat out of 500 being reserved for them.

The Bihar Government has decided that people from the transgender community can now be recruited directly or by routine competitive process. A Superintendent of Police will have the authority to appoint them directly as a constable and a DIG will have the authority to appoint them a Sub-Inspector (SI). The basic educational qualification required for the same would be in accordance with the rules and regulations of Bihar Police Manual, 1978.

If the reserved seats are not filled by people from the transgender community, then the remaining will be filled by candidates from the general category. The parameters for physical fitness will be equivalent to those of female candidates while in terms of age, the minimum limit would be as per that mentioned in recruitment advertisements and the maximum would be equivalent to that of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Times of India reported.

“Government has taken steps for their recruitment in state police with which they would be integrated in the organization. We will do our best for them on the basis of their count in which they would get recruited after examination,” DGP Sanjeev Kumar Singhal said on Saturday.

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