Government officials have reportedly started using Sandes, a desi alternative to popular messaging application Whatsapp, which is owned by Facebook. Back in 2020, the central government had hinted at developing a Whatsapp-like messaging platform. It appears like the application is ready is being tested by government officials of various ministries.
According to a report published in Business Standard, officials have started using the GIMS, an abbreviation for Government Instant Messaging System, which was later renamed to Sandes. The app, as of now, can be used by Government officials only. When the users try to sign in on this app through LDAP, sign-in with Sandes OTP, and Sandes web, they are told: “This authentication method is applicable for authorised government officials”.
The desi alternative to Whatsapp packs all the features that any instant messaging application currently provides. It offers voice and data and is available for both iOS and Android users. The backend of the Sandes Application is handled by the National Informatics Centre, a branch under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The report confirms the earlier claims that the move to make an indigenous alternative to Whatsapp was taken by the government to get its employees off the social media networks that might be compromised. It also means that the government of India in the next few years might completely switch more secure home-grown chat apps and get rid of WhatsApp like apps.
The new application had come at a time when Whatsapp is under the scanner for its updated privacy policy. The new policy introduced by Whatsapp had stirred a furore, with people fretting over privacy concerns and looking for alternative messaging apps. According to the new privacy policy by Whatsapp, the personal data of all users will be collected to provide services for the catalogue of products offered by Facebook, the parent company of Whatsapp. If the user fails to agree to the new policy, they won’t be able to use Whatsapp.
IT ministry accounts move to Koo as Govt mulls action against Twitter
Besides accompanying privacy issues, foreign-based social media organisations are also accused of exhibiting anti-India bias and working at the behest of India’s enemies. This concern has triggered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and many of its organisations to move to Koo, a Made-in-India alternative to microblogging platform Twitter. According to a report, Ministry of Electronics and IT, MyGov, Digital India, India Post, NIC, NIELIT, SAMEER, Common Services Center, UMANG app, Digi Locker, NIXI, STPI, CDAC, and CMET have verified handles on the platform.
Significantly, the decision to migrate on the Make-in-India Twitter alternative came at a time when the Government is mulling actions against the social media behemoth for failing to comply with its orders on removing Khalistani and anti-India accounts. Sources told News18, “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.”
We can also confirm that the government has taken note of the Twitter activity of CEO Jack Dorsey which hints at an anti-India bias. Sources within the Ministry said, “It is also pertinent to note that a few days ago global CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey had liked several tweets made by foreign-based celebrities in support of farmer protests. Given this, the defiance of Government orders by Twitter raises several questions.”
The politics over the farmer’s protest refuses to die down, and somehow the cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has been caught in the middle of all of this. The legendary batsman had been targeted by the Congress and the left parties after he had tweeted against global celebrities like popstar Rihanna, pornstar Mia Khalifa and others posted tweets supporting the farmer protests.
Then NCP supremo Sharad Pawar also attacked the Bharat Ratna awardee for his opinion on the issue. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra initiated a probe against celebrities including the cricket icon for their Tweets, calling out the anti-India propaganda by the aforementioned foreign celebrities.
As if all this wasn’t enough that the Aam Aadmi Party also decided to jump on the bandwagon. Now, the AAP leader Preeti S Menon has urged the cricket legend to post at least one tweet in support of the farmers protesting against the three farm laws passed by Parliament.
AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon, in an open letter to Sachin Tendulkar, implored the cricket icon to tweet in support of the farmers. Menon has also endorsed the appeal by a young man who reportedly camped outside the former India captains residence in Mumbai.
Preeti Sharma Menon, in her letter on Monday, said that the man, Ranjeet Bagal, came all the way from Pandharpur in Solapur district, around 400km from Mumbai, to request the cricket legend to put out at least one tweet in support of the ‘farmers’ who have laid siege on Delhi for more than 75 days now.
Sharing a picture of the aforesaid Tendulkar fan who is holding a placard saying, “Sachin, when will you tweet for my farmer father?”, Preeti Sharma Menon wrote: “You are India’s pride. This nation of 1.3 billion people has prayed for you, wept for you and rejoiced in your success. In this country where Cricket is a religion, you are God for us. I am certain, as our Bharat Ratna and a Member Of Parliament your heart must want to bat for all multitudinous hued people of this country who have worshipped you.”
“So I, a humble citizen, request you to heed the appeal of Ranjeet Bagel, a farmers son, who travelled all the way from Solapur to your door. He came from Pandharpur, the “DevNagri” where all us Maharashtrians go for a pilgrimage, on a pilgrimage to Bandra, Mumbai where his God Sachin Tendulkar resides with a simple prayer – a tweet in support of our ‘Anndaatas”, the farmers who are protesting against the Farm Laws that will rob them off their livelihood,” the AAP leader added.
“In return for your tweet, once again countless Indians will shower you with love and blessings. I entreat you to please heed his prayer and just Tweet,” Preeti S Menon stated in the letter.
A day after global celebrities, including singer Rihanna and activist Greta Thunberg, extended their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar joined the Centre’s call to stand united against “propaganda” against India’s policies and said that India’s sovereignty can’t be compromised.
In a tweet, Sachin Tendulkar said, “India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.”
Sachin had responded to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which said celebrities should abstain from making comments on issues and try to get a “proper understanding of the issues”.
Remember when the professional protestors and propagandists had inadvertently shared a dubious website to prove that ‘Rafale’ was a scam? And Rs 35 lakh for Yoga video of PM Modi rumour-mongering by the celebrity trolls? Our old friend Flynn Remedios, the pro-Congress fake news peddler, who appears to be behind a series of websites which publish mostly soft-porn articles and semi-nude ‘leaked’ images of actresses, is back. This time when television actress Gehana Vasisth is arrested on allegation of shooting and uploading pornography.
Gehana Vasisth porn scandal and Flynn Remedios
Earlier this week, Gehana Vasisth was arrested by Mumbai Crime Branch for allegedly shooting and uploading porn. A day later, her ‘publicist and legal affairs head’ Flynn Remedios issued a ‘statement’. As per media reports, he claimed that Gehana has suffered 4 cardiac arrests in past 1 year and is also asthmatic. He claimed that she was not a criminal as she had only ‘shot erotica’ and it is not pornographic. “She is not at all involved in the alleged porn racket run by others,” he claimed.
Gehana and 2019 healthscare and ‘electric shocks’
Remedios had further claimed that she was on ventilator for a week in November 2019. The 2019 report on her hospitalisation was by news agency IANS, based on ‘sources’ and was eventually picked up by multiple media houses. As per the report, she was treated by one Dr Pranav Kabra of Raksha Multi-speciality hospital in Malad. One report claimed she had cardiac arrest possibly due to adverse reaction between prescription drugs and certain energy drinks consumed by her and other claimed she had serious case of diabetes related complications. As per her doctor, she had ‘diabetic keto-acidosis’ (DK). Both these reports for same ‘ventilator’ period cited same Dr Kabra from Raksha hospital. Dr Kabra even said he gave her ‘electric shock’ treatment to save her.
So Gehana was on ventilator for dual health crisis of cardiac arrest due to prescription drugs and energy drink cocktail *AND* diabetic keto-acidosis, both at the same time. She not only survived this, but as per her publicist, Flynn Remedios, she survived THREE MORE cardiac arrests in just one year. She then went on to shoot erotica and got involved in a porn racket.
Apparently, Raksha Hospital in Malad is a go-to place for those who suffer from 4 cardiac arrests in one year. A September 2018 report cited one ‘research’ conducted by Raksha Hospital in Malad where they allegedly ‘treated’ cardiac problems amongst youth in Malwani area. It gave an example of a 16-year-old juvenile one Amjad Khan who suffered ‘four minor heart attacks’ in one year due to substance abuse.
Raksha Hospital, Malad – go-to place for people who suffer 4 cardiac arrests in one year.
The report also cited Dr Pranav Kabra, who also treated Gehana also heads this ‘department’ within Raksha Hospital. Apparently, the hospital used to get 70-100 cardiac cases a month back in September 2018.
You know who else was admitted to Raksha Hospital after suffering a ‘mild heart attack’? ‘Legless dancer’ Vinod Thakur of India’s Got Talent fame. On 28th April, 2018, he reportedly ‘collapsed’ while he was on his way to Mumbai’s Gateway of India and was immediately admitted to Raksha Hospital in Malad under care of Dr Pranav Kabra.
Flynn Remedios strikes again
So, Flynn Remedios was spokesperson for Vinod Thakur too and Thakur was treated at Raksha Hospital for ‘mild cardiac arrest’. Thakur was also put on ventilator. Flynn is also publicist of Gehana who also was put on ventilator after two different health crisis struck her, including a cardiac arrest, in November 2019 at same Raksha Hospital. Raksha Hospital also is a preferred destination for 16-year-old drug addicts with multiple heart attacks.
Dr Kabra is also a COVID-19 expert.
Dr Pranav Kabra
The above article was published in August 2020 in one website called ‘goatoday’ which heaped praises on Dr Kabra for curing every coronavirus patient and also being a COVID-19 expert. Goatoday also reported how Flynn Remedios had tested positive for coronavirus and was ‘being treated’ at an unnamed private hospital in Malad. Goa Today is one such website which regularly reports on Flynn Remedios.
OpIndia tried to get in touch with Raksha Hospital and Dr Kabra, who was ‘out of town’ as per the lady who answered the call. We shall be able to tell more on her multiple miraculous escapes from jaws of death once we hear back from the doctor.
Flynn Remedios and dubious websites reporting on Gehana Vasisth
One dubious website “indyatv” on February 2, 2021 claimed that she was cheated of Rs 90 lakh by one broker from Malwani who claimed to be gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s relatives. Apparently, one Wasim Moinuddin Shaikh of Malad was named as an accused as per the indyatv report.
“The broker Wasim Mainuddin Shaikh, his wife and mother and the illegal occupant Ansari Rukhsana Mohammad Zahid and her son threatened to rape Gehana Vasisth and kill her if she demanded possession of her flat. They claimed they were related to fugitive criminal and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and that the flat now belonged to them and that Gehana Vasisth should forget about her flat and never step foot in the building again or else she would be raped and killed and her body dumped at the bottom of the Malwani creek, where it would never be found,” the report claimed.
The report even cited Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh. Apparently Wasim and others had not only claimed that they were related to Dawood but also to Aslam Shaikh. Indyatv report had cited Congress leader who had claimed he does not ‘support or help such illegal and fraudulent people’.
Interestingly, the same article, appeared on Flynn Remedios’ website, “IndiaScoops“. The same website which was used as primary source of ‘Rafale scam’ by then Congress IT cell head Divya Spandana and Supreme Court lawyer like Prashant Bhushan amongst others. Another website which reported on same was one asiaonline.live, which had copied Indyatv report verbatim, crediting it for the news.
Indyatv and Asiaonline have zero details about who runs these portals. However, both these portals have quite similar stories on same set of people. While AsiaOnline was last updated in September 2020 before the post on Gehana’s alleged tryst with Dawood’s buddies, Indyatv regularly updates Arshi Khan updates along with stories on allegations of rapes by budding actresses and model.
Flynn Remedios, who also posed as Arshi Khan’s publicist, also used to regularly upload IndiaScoops with similar stories on rapes, leaked nudes, sex scandals, which may or may not have happened.
Oh, and Flynn also writes for AsiaOnline, where he identifies himself as ‘journalist’.
OpIndia has tried to reach out to Malwani Police station but were unable to get through. As of now, we are not sure if this report is authentic.
Considering the new information that has come to the fore, OpIndia even tried to reach out to Mumbai Police Crime Branch to confirm Gehana’s arrest but has not been able to confirm.
Flynn Remedios-esque modus operandi
When OpIndia exposed how the fake news website IndiaScoops, we had revealed how its Facebook page was originally an Arshi Khan (model/actress and reality show contestant and Congress leader) fan page.
IndiaScoops Facebook page
Similarly, Indyatv’s Facebook page was previously one ‘Shrutika Gaokar fanpage.
Indyatv Facebook page
The page has many ‘likes’ by one “Franklyn Remedios”, who has been a ‘journalist’ and has quite few similar interests as Flynn Remedios.
This is all we know so far and only as much we could afford to spend time on someone like Remedios. We shall bring in more once we figure out this circus of absurd.
A horrific case of abuse has come to light after authorities in Nigeria rescued 115 women from a ‘human milk factory’ in Abuja. The women, aged between 16 and 22, were raped and impregnated before having their milk harvested for dairy products such as cheese, butter and fresh milk, say media reports.
Most of the women were reported to be missing for the past 3 years. It is suspected that the criminals captured their actions on video which was subsequently uploaded to the dark web. According to reports, the ghastly spectacle was funded by people on the dark web who made the payment through Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency.
As per reports, the girls were raped and impregnated live on the internet and after childbirth, they were milked like cows. The milk was processed using some of the latest technology in the dairy industry. The majority of the products were shipped out of the country, along with videos of the entire process.
Reports suggest that the customers could have personalised videos and breast milk products from specific girls and more. It is reported, “Some request that a girl be fed a specific meal the day before she is milked to his specification and for the poor girls to say things like “This milk is for you(insert name)”.”
The entire episode appears far too morbid to comprehend. Some on social media suggested that all of it was an elaborate story to ban cryptocurrency in Nigeria. There is a multitude of comments on the news reports saying that the story was “b*llsh*t govt propaganda.” Another person said that it sounds like some “huge joke”. We can neither confirm nor deny such claims.
Another user said, “I can’t believe they just push this crap to front page for people consumption. Something is seriously wrong somewhere.” “They want to discredit Bitcoin with fake news,” said another.
PM Modi on Tuesday got emotional during a farewell to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad as he wished the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister the best for his future endeavours.
PM Modi shared an anecdote from the time when he was Gujarat CM and Azad had called him to inform him of a terror attack on Gujarat pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir. He also remembered former President Pranab Mukherjee with whom he shared a close relationship.
“I will never forget Shri Azad’s efforts and Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack. Ghulam Nabi Ji was constantly following up, he sounded as concerned as if those stuck were his own family members,” PM Modi said.
#WATCH: PM Modi gets emotional while reminiscing an incident involving Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, during farewell to retiring members in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/vXqzqAVXFT
Lavishing praises on the senior Congress leader, PM Modi said he had known Azad even before he became the Gujarat chief minister, stating that he won’t let him retire from active politics and would continue to seek his advice on important matters.
“I have known Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad for years. We were Chief Ministers together. We had interacted even before I became CM when Azad Sahab was very much in active politics. He has a passion not many know about – gardening,” PM Modi said.
“I won’t let you [Ghulam Nabi Azad] retire, will continue taking your advice. My doors are always open for you,” an emotional PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha.
“Posts come, the high office comes, power comes and how to handle these, one must learn from Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji. I would consider him a true friend,” PM Modi further said.
Fighting hard to control his emotions, PM Modi said it would be difficult for the replacement of Ghulam Nabi Azad to fill in his shoes as the former J&K CM was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House. “I am sure that his kindness, calmness and drive to perform for the nation will always keep him going. He will always add value to whatever he does,” said the PM.
PM Modi’s praises for Ghulam Nabi Azad came a day after he lauded the veteran Congress leader for his words on Jammu and Kashmir and local polls conducted recently. For over two decades, Azad has been the face of the Congress party in Rajya Sabha. He is all set to retire on February 15, in less than a week’s time.
On Sunday, a report in NDTV had claimed that a Dalit marriage procession was disrupted by goons in Guradiya Mata village in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh.
As per the report, the incident took place on Saturday. NDTV claimed that the ‘goons’ not only disrupted the marriage procession but also hurled expletives and roughed up the Dalit groom named Deepak. The report added that a complaint was lodged at the Shamgarh police station against 8 people by the victim’s family. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the police under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 323, 294, 506, 147, 149 and others.
Screengrab of the NDTV report
NDTV also emphasised that Mandsaur is the Vidhan Sabha constituency of State Cabinet Minister and BJP MLA Hardeep Singh Dang. Citing the FIR in the case, the news portal pointed out that Deepak was en route his marriage procession when he was stopped by villagers. It further claimed that the accused thrashed the groom and his family members and prevented the procession from moving forward.
Media reports suggest a ‘Bhim army’ angle
However, a report by FalanaDhikana carried a detailed story and shed light on the facts of the case. As per their report, at around 8 pm on Sunday night, the marriage procession of Dalit groom Deepak Meghwal was passing through the road adjacent to the Devnarayan temple. A large group of devotees, predominantly Rajput, were attending a Katha (sermon) at the said temple.
As per the report, Deepak’s marriage procession was accompanied by loud music and DJ, which disrupted the prayer session at the temple premises. The devotees requested Deepak and his family members to lower the music. However, this enraged the drunk goons of ‘Bhim army’ who had deliberately infiltrated the marriage procession. Instead of lowering the music, they began hurling abuses at the devotees and even brandished their swords.
Reportedly, the Bhim army members stopped the procession right outside the temple and kept playing music at a very loud volume. They even played songs and raised loud ‘Jai Bheem’ slogans outside the temple while the Katha was going on. This led to a scuffle between the devotees at the temple and the Dalit ‘Bhim army’ goons. On informing the police, the cops reached the spot and the procession was resumed. However, the Dalit side alleged that the groom was stopped from mounting a horse and filed a complaint against 8 devotees under the Prevention of (Atrocities) Act or SC/ST Act.
No such incident took place earlier
The news outlet Falana Dikhana pointed out that Dalit marriage processions regularly pass in the are and no such incident had been reported in the past. Just 8 days prior to the event, another Dalit groom named Dwarkalal took out a public marriage procession peacefully, without any scuffle with locals or the temple devotees.
When Deepak’s sister got married in March last year, even members of the Rajput community attended the wedding and the ceremony was concluded peacefully. The news portal emphasised that it was the first time that Bhim army goons tried to infiltrate a marriage procession to disrupt the peace and harmony in the area.
Opindia speaks to Shamgarh Police
While speaking to OpIndia, Head Constable (Shamgarh police station) informed that the 8 accused who were named in the FIR have been sent to jail. He added that the police reached the spot after being informed about the scuffle between the Rajput community and the Dalits. The Head Constable told us that the police soon pacified the situation and the procession was resumed.
He informed that while the Dalit community has accused the Rajputs of disrupting the procession, the latter accused the former of playing loud music and deliberately making lewd gestures at women. Highlighting that no such case was reported recently, he pointed out that the wedding procession of another Dalit groom was allowed to pass through peacefully earlier recently. He could not confirm whether Bhim army members were a part of the procession.
NDTV peddles fake news about Dalit boy killed for riding a horse
This is not the first time that NDTV resorted to one-sided reporting. In March 2018, NDTV reported that a 21-year-old Dalit man, Pradeep Rathod, was killed by ‘upper-caste men’ for owning and riding a horse in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. It was alleged by the man’s father that some Rajput men had held a grudge against his son since he purchased a horse about two months back and threatened to kill him if he didn’t sell off the horse.
The story quickly went viral on Twitter. However, the investigation by police has revealed that no evidence was found which proved that he was killed for keeping a horse. In fact, police claimed that he used to harass girls and villagers were angry with his activities and police suspect he may have been killed over that. Police claim that villagers had complained that Rathod used to perform stunts on horse and motorcycle whenever he confronted girls.
On the 8th of February 2021, Prime Minister spoke to President Joe Biden for the first time since he got elected to office. Prime Minister Modi on Monday took to Twitter to tweet about the call between him and President Joe Biden.
President @JoeBiden and I are committed to a rules-based international order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. @POTUS
PM Modi said that he and President Biden are committed to ‘rule-based international order’ and look forward to consolidating the strategic partnership between India and America to further peace and security in the Indo-pacific region and beyond.
In the read-out released by the White House, certain key points of the conversation are highlighted.
Read-out by White House
The read-out by the White House mentions how President Biden and PM Modi spoke about the two nations being committed to working closely to win the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, renew their partnership on climate change, rebuild the global economy in a way that benefits both countries and stand together against the scourge of global terrorism. Further, the call discussed ‘support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad’.
The leaders further spoke about upholding democratic values and also, that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma.
Only three days before PM Modi-Biden call, sharp words were exchanged between Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and People’s Republic of China (PRC) Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi
Only three days ago, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken got on the first call with People’s Republic of China (PRC) Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi.
In a telephone call between new Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the top Chinese foreign policy official Yang Jiechi, who is a member of the Communist Party of China’s Politburo and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, the Biden administration was rather affirmative in its intention to uphold human rights, including in the province of Xinjiang from where several reports have emerged about the torture being heaped upon Uyghur Muslims.
The read-out released by the US Department of State read:
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with People’s Republic of China (PRC) Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi and extended his best wishes for the Lunar New Year. Secretary Blinken stressed the United States will continue to stand up for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and pressed China to join the international community in condemning the military coup in Burma. The Secretary reaffirmed that the United States will work together with its allies and partners in defense of our shared values and interests to hold the PRC accountable for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait, and its undermining of the rules-based international system“.
It is pertinent to note that in the call between Blinken and Jiechi, a strong stand was taken by the Biden administration regarding the human rights violations heaped upon by China even in Tibet and Honk Kong. Another important aspect of the call was the Biden administration asking China to condemn the military coup in Burma. Earlier, the military took power in Burma after arresting political leader Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of other lawmakers. The coup leaders have since formed a supreme council which will sit above the cabinet.
Only recently, it was reported that China had blocked UN’s condemnation of the military coup in Burma and thus, the Biden administration taking strong exception to China’s refusal to condemn the coup outlines the stand that the Biden administration could take against China.
An article in South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently wrote that while former President Donald Trump’s administration was proactive in expanding the scope of US-India partnership through economic initiatives, US President Joe Biden’s administration needs to build on this to solidify India’s role as the primary regional balancer in the Indo-Pacific region against China. The article said that India can be the economic balancer in the region by partly absorbing the supply chains moving out of China, which will enhance its economic ability to take on China and serve as an alternative market for Quad nations, that is the US, Japan and Australia. Interestingly, the call between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi specifically spoke about ‘support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad’.
Essentially, India is one of the only countries that has stood up against China’s hegemony and it would be an important partner of the Quad in countering the supremacy of China in the Indo-pacific region.
New York Post and Fox News expose on Joe Biden
In an investigative report, the New York Post had asserted that they had accessed material from a damaged Macbook Pro, which revealed that Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s son, had introduced a businessman from Ukraine to his father while the latter was Vice President of the United States. It is pertinent to note here that Hunter Biden at the time was appointed to the Burisma Board and received a salary of $50,000 per month.
The report had published several documents and mentioned a video that proved that Joe Biden met Vadym Pozharskyi, an adviser to the board of Burisma, where the extent of the Biden family’s involvement, and the sacking of a prosecutor, allegedly after pressure from the then VP Biden, is now under scrutiny.
A few days back, reports had suggested that there are chances that Biden had helped his son Hunter using his influence as the VP of the United States in his business in Ukraine. The Biden Camp has categorically denied all the allegations.
Further, Fox News had at the time spoken to a source who was part of the email thread that appeared to portray a payout to Joe Biden himself as part of a deal with CEFC China Energy Co. It reported, “One email, dated May 13, 2017, and obtained by Fox News, includes a discussion of “remuneration packages” for six people in a business deal with a Chinese energy firm. The email appeared to identify Hunter Biden as “Chair / Vice Chair depending on the agreement with CEFC,” in an apparent reference to now-bankrupt CEFC China Energy Co.”
The equity split proposed references “20” for “H” and 10 of which were held by “H” for “the big guy”. Fox News has confirmed from sources that the “big guy” referred here is none other than former Vice President Joe Biden. In another text from Hunter Biden to his daughter that has ben leaked, he can be seen telling her, “I hope you all can do what I did, and pay for everything for this entire family for 30 years and it has been tough. It’s really hard but don’t worry, unlike Pop, I won’t make you give me half your salary.”
Joe Biden bans linking COVID-19 to China
Interestingly, while the initial phone calls between Joe Biden and PM Modi indicate that the US is taking a hardline against China and is looking at India as a regional stabiliser, after assuming office, one of the first things that Joe Biden did was ensuring that the COVID-19 pandemic is not lined to China.
In a memorandum released by the White House, it was written:
Advancing inclusion and belonging for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities is critical to guaranteeing the safety and security of the American people. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric has put Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons, families, communities, and businesses at risk.
The Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin. Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI persons. These actions defied the best practices and guidelines of public health officials and have caused significant harm to AAPI families and communities that must be addressed.
The memo also instructed executive departments and agencies to ensure that official actions, documents and statements “do not exhibit or contribute to racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders”. Earlier this month, the World Health Organisation sent a team of scientists to Wuhan to probe into the origins of the virus which has now spiraled out to infect 100,839,430 and kill 2,167,167 people across the globe.
PM Modi – President Biden call: Conclusion
While the difference in tone taken with India and China is evident from the first calls respectively, it might be too soon to judge what policy the Biden administration would adopt towards China and India. There are several antecedents to show that the Biden administration is considerate towards China, the say the least, and players close to the Biden administration have been recently stoking fire in India.
It is to be recalled that USA VP Kama Harris’ niece has been going on a tirade against India and attempting to interfere in India’s internal matters by allying with Khalistani forces with regards to the farm laws.
While the initial call does hark better relations between India and the USA, it would bode well to be circumspect till actions follow the words by the Biden administration in these two calls.
After voicing her ‘concern’ for the protesting ‘farmers’ in India, former porn star Mia Khalifa has attacked actress Priyanka Chopra for her ‘silence’ over the farmer protests. Khalifa took to Twitter to slam the Bollywood actress married to American singer-songwriter Nick Jonas.
Is Mrs. Jonas going to chime in at any point? I’m just curious. This is very much giving me shakira during the Beirut devastation vibes. Silence.
“Is Mrs. Jonas going to chime in at any point? I’m just curious. This is very much giving me Shakira during the Beirut devastation vibes. Silence”, Khalifa wrote on Twitter. She had earlier posted a video of herself having dinner in which she thanked ‘poet’ Rupi Kaur and Khalistani sympathiser and Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh for paying for her dinner and dessert respectively.
Thank you @rupikaur_ for this beautifully harvested feast, and thank you @theJagmeetSingh for the Gulab!!! I’m always worried I’ll get too full for dessert, so I eat it during a meal. You know what they say, one Gulab a day keeps the fascism away! #FarmersProtestspic.twitter.com/22DUz2IPFQ
Priyanka Chopra had called for resolution of farmers issue back in December
Mia Khalifa has arrived late to the party. ‘Mrs Jonas’ had voiced concerns over the so-called farmers’ protests months back. In December last year, Priyanka Chopra had tweeted calling for a resolution of the ongoing farmers’ protests that had been going on for several weeks.
Our farmers are India’s Food Soldiers. Their fears need to be allayed. Their hopes need to be met. As a thriving democracy, we must ensure that this crises is resolved sooner than later. https://t.co/PDOD0AIeFv
She had tweeted, “Our farmers are India’s Food Soldiers. Their fears need to be allayed. Their hopes need to be met. As a thriving democracy, we must ensure that this crisis is resolved sooner than later”.
The ongoing ‘farmer’ protests gained international attention after International songwriter Rihanna along with few other international personalities peddled false propaganda by expressing solidarity with the ‘farmer protestors’. However, the vicious conspiracy behind the propaganda was soon exposed after child-activist Greta Thunberg posted the ‘toolkit‘ of the whole conspiracy on Twitter. This was followed by a stern warning by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asking these foreign individuals and entities to ascertain facts and undertake a proper understanding of the farmers’ protests before commenting.
On Monday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party MP Mahua Moitra raked up controversy yet again in the Parliament by raking up the sexual harassment allegations against former Chief Justice of India (CJI) and current Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi.
During her speech in the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, she hit out at the Judiciary for supposedly ‘failing’ India’s democratic pillars. “India’s tragedy today is not that her government has failed her, but that her other democratic pillars, the media and the judiciary have failed her. The sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred,” she claimed.
“It stopped being sacred the day a sitting chief justice of this country was accused of sexual harassment, presided over his own trial, cleared himself and then proceeded to accept a nomination to the Upper House in three months of retirement complete with Z-plus security cover…The judiciary stopped being sacred when it squandered the opportunity to guard the founding principles of the Constitution.,” Mahua Moitra alleged.
(Video Courtesy: Youtube/ Yoyo News)
After Moitra made the contentious remarks, the BJP opposed her speech reiterating that a person holding a high authority cannot be discussed with the prior approval of the Speaker. The Chair, held by RSP member NK Premachandran, noted that the TMC MP’s comments would be expunged if they are found to be objectionable. He allowed her to continue the speech but asked her to not make further references to ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi.
BJP lashes out at Mahua Moitra, pulls breach of privilege motion
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi informed, “Raising the issue of Ram Mandir judgment & bringing the then CJI and other things, it’s a serious matter and we’re thinking of taking appropriate measure.”
Raising the issue of Ram Mandir judgment & bringing the then CJI & other things, it’s a serious matter & we’re thinking of taking appropriate measure: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s remarks in Lok Sabha yesterday pic.twitter.com/qxSfQWgs9q
It must be mentioned that Article 121 of the Indian Constitution states that no High Court or Supreme Court judge, who discharged their duties, cannot be discussed in the Parliament. Besides, Rules and Procedures 352(5) of the Parliament also state that the House cannot discuss the conduct of those sitting in constitutional positions. The government sources have informed that they are likely to move a breach of privilege motion against Mahua Moitra.
Sexual harassment allegations against ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi and SC clean chit
In May 2019, the in-house committee of the Supreme Court had found no substance in the allegations levelled against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. A former female employee of the Supreme Court had levelled allegations of sexual molestation against the CJI, after which the in-house committee was formed to look into the allegations.
The committee, comprising of Justices S A Bobde, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee, submitted its report on 5th May, which said that they found no substance in the allegations contained in the complained dated 19.4.2019 of a former employee of the Supreme Court of India, according to a press release issued by the apex court. The statement also noted that in accordance with a former case of Indira Jaishing vs Supreme Court of India, the report of the committee is not liable to be made public.
A petition seeking the imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh under Article 356 of the Constitution was dismissed by a Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on Monday. The petition was filed by Advocate CR Jaya Sukin who was reprimanded by the Supreme Court for filing the petition without any basis.
“How many states have you studied crime records of? Show us what basis. There is no research about what you are saying. How is your fundamental right getting affected?”, CJI Bobde asked Adv Jaya Sukin.
UP is not being governed as per constitution: Petitioner
Adv Jayasukin contended in his petition that a situation has arisen in Uttar Pradesh wherein the government of Uttar Pradesh cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The petition cited lawlessness in the state as the ground for imposition of President’s rule alleging extra-judicial and arbitrary killings. He referred to a number of incidents to make out his case including the Hathras case, alleged illegal detention of Dr. Kafeel Khan, alleged human rights violations during AMU violence and publishing pictures of anti-CAA protestor on banners. The petitioner also alleged that there were several shortcomings in the administration in the state.
We will impose heavy costs if you argue further: CJI
“Lot of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary killings taking place in UP. But till date, the Union government has given no advice”, Jayasukin contended. To this CJI Bobde replied, “Have you studied the crime records of other states?”. “Of the total number of crimes in India, more than 30% are in UP”, the petitioner replied. “How is your fundamental right affected”, asked the CJI. The petitioner replied, “I am an Indian citizen”. “We will impose heavy costs if you argue further. Dismissed”, the CJI cautioned the petitioner dismissing the petition.
