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As Muslims issue fatwas against Coronavirus vaccine and wonder if it would be ‘halal’ or haram, Saudi prince gets first dose

OpIndia Staff
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As Muslims issue fatwas against Coronavirus vaccine and wonder if it would be ‘halal’ or haram, Saudi prince gets first dose

The process of vaccination has begun in Saudi Arabia with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, receiving the first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine. Interestingly, over 5,00,000 people have already registered to take the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia since its launch last Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said.

While Saudi Arabia has geared up to vaccinate its population, the battle with the Muslim world to ensure they get inoculated is going to be a long and arduous one. Several Muslim organisations have spoken openly about boycotting the vaccination and raising doubts about whether the vaccine would be made from ‘Halal’ ingredients.

We had earlier reported how the highest Muslim body in Indonesia is expected to issue a halal certificate for the experimental Coronavirus vaccine developed by China based Sinovac Biotech. The Indonesian Ulema Council Halal Product Guarantee Agency and Institute for the Assessment of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics had completed its study and a fatwa and halal certification is expected soon, Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy had told the media.

Recently, Sunni Muslim scholars from Raza Academy, Mumbai, and All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama issued a fatwa against the Chinese vaccine that contains pork gelatin. Saeed Noorie, Raza Academy’s Secretary-General, said in a statement that the Indian government should not order a Chinese vaccine that allegedly contains pork gelatin. He said, “For any vaccine which has been ordered or made in India, the government should show us the list of content so that we can make announcements regarding the use of the vaccine.”

Further, as India gears up for vaccination drive against Coronavirus, the debate over the alleged use of pork in the COVID-19 vaccines has intensified amongst various Muslim scholars and organisations. Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, West Bengal, issued sermon against the vaccination as well.

The Imam said that though the entire world is facing the scourge of coronavirus, the Muslim community is not afraid of the virus and will not take the vaccine. “I am saying in clear words that Muslims will not use the vaccine”, said the Imam in an interview.

Aversion towards vaccines by the Muslim community due to their being ‘haram’ or containing pork products is not a new phenomenon. In 2018, the Indonesian Ulema Council, the highest clerical body in the country that issues halal certificates, declared that measles and rubella vaccines were “haram” because of the pork-derived gelatin.

However, it is interesting to note that while countries like Indonesia and clerics from various other countries, including India, rabble rouse against the Coronavirus vaccination, Saudi Arabia has already started its vaccination drive. In fact, not just the crowned prince, but as per reports by Saudi health minister, over 5,00,000 people have registered to get the vaccine from the Arab country.

Allegations of interference in Rs 619 crore ‘Safe City’ project surface against IPS officer D Roopa, officer clarifies: What we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Allegations of interference in Rs 619 crore ‘Safe City’ project surface against IPS officer D Roopa, officer clarifies: What we know so far

On Friday, reports had emerged claiming that a woman IPS officer in Karnataka had impersonated the state Home Secretary to seek classified details regarding the Rs 619-crore Safe City project that is being funded by the centre’s Nirbhaya Fund. A report by Times of India had claimed that the Bengaluru police was not happy with the officer’s interference in the project even as the process of selecting the service provider for design, implementation and maintenance of the project was underway. Though the officer was not named, it later surfaced that the case pertained to IPS D Roopa.

Reportedly, an independent project management consultancy – Ernst & Young, who were hired by the city police, had prepared a request for proposal (RFP) for the project and had uploaded it on November 11. However, the Bengaluru city police came to know that a woman officer had contacted the project consultants on November 7, even before the tender was uploaded, to seek details about their previous cancelled RFP based on the allegations made by one of the bidders.

Later, a confusion erupted pertaining to the details of the case after city police learned that the Home Secretary had not sought any details but it was a woman IPS officer. A complaint was filed with the chief secretary stating that the officer unauthorisedly tried to “access classified information before the publication of tender for wrongful gains”.

However, it was later revealed that the woman IPS officer who was being alluded to was none other than current Home Secretary of state D Roopa. Allegations were made against D Roopa claiming that the officer was trying to influence the Rs 619 tender process.

Home Secretary clarifies, says acted as a ‘whistle-blower’ only

Speaking to TV9, senior IPS officer D Roopa clarified in detail stating that it was she who called the Ernst & Young officials to know the details pertaining to the tender documents, with the intention of ensuring that the tender process did not favour any single bidder.

Roopa, who says that she is a whistleblower in the present case, found several irregularities in the bidding process and added that she only contacted the consultant firm to seek details on the manner in which tenders are being drafted to allegedly favour one firm.

Taking to Twitter, the Home Secretary said that serious irregularities in the RFP of the tender document when she studied the Nirbhaya Safe City project file in the Home Department. She said that Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) had already flagged irregularities to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stating that the tender was prepared in such a manner that it favoured a particular vendor.

“I blew the whistle, bringing this to the notice of the Chief Secretary. This led to the Chief Secretary calling me for the next Safe City project meeting. That the tender document was biased is proved by the fact that said tender has been cancelled,” she added.

Safe city project’s tender procedure has several irregularities: D Roopa

In her conversation with TV9, D Roopa further clarified that amidst several allegations of irregularities pertaining to the drafting of the tender by Ernst&Young (E&Y), she, in her capacity as Home Secretary, spoke to the consultant seeking technical details and more facts, to know why such a biased tender was drafted by them.

She said that the complaint against her appears to have been filed at the behest of those benefitting from the biased and unfair tender. The senior cop said that she has a responsibility to safeguard the public interest and public money in a bonafide discharge of my duties as a public servant. I myself being Home Secretary, the complaint alleging impersonation is false and motivated, she added.

The project, funded by the Centre under the Nirbhaya Fund and aimed at ensuring the safety of women and children, envisages installation of 7,500 different types of surveillance cameras across the city. Under the project, Bengaluru was one of the few cities in the country chosen to make urban spaces safer for women and children. The project is scheduled to be implemented over a three-year period and the centre will fund 60% of the total cost, while the state has to shell the remaining 40%. The project includes installing of CCTV cameras, surveillance systems, panic buttons and GIS mapping of crimes in the city.

D Roopa came to the public glare after she exposed the royal treatment given to late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha’s aide Sasikala in the Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru.

‘Will pile up corpses’: Congress MP close to Rahul Gandhi warns of violence if demands of ‘farmers’ not met, hints at ‘plan’ after Jan 1st: Details

OpIndia Staff
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‘Will pile up corpses’: Congress MP close to Rahul Gandhi warns of violence if demands of ‘farmers’ not met, hints at ‘plan’ after Jan 1st: Details

On Friday, Congress leader and MP Ravneet Bittu Singh issued open threats of violence in a bid to ‘transform’ the nature of the so-called ‘farmer’ protest. Ranveet Bittu Singh is a member of parliament from Ludhiana. He won the 2009, 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket.

While talking to News Nation, he emphasised, “They (The government) think that we will get tired after some time and give up on our sit-in protest. But no! We will pile up corpses. We will shed blood and can go to any extent to achieve our objectives.”

Hinting at the possibility of Congress-sponsored violence, Ravneet Bittu Singh added, “We are coming up with a new plan and you will see it in action after January 1.” It is important to remember that the BJP had earlier alleged Congress hand in misleading farmers and orchestrating the ongoing protests against the historic farm laws.

Ravneet Bittu Singh close proximity to Rahul Gandhi

Ravneet Bittu Singh, who is a Congress MP, has close ties with Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and even Rahul Gandhi. On May 15th 2019, just as the Lok Sabha election campaigning reached its final phase, Rahul Gandhi pulled a stunt trying to drive a tractor in Ludhiana. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu and Congress leader Asha Kumari were seen sitting by his side.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu and Congress leader Asha Kumari with Rahul Gandhi.

At the time, Captain Amarinder Singh had tweeted rather proudly about the coordinated stunt by Rahul Gandhi.

Ravneet Bittu Singh had himself tweeted about the stunt.

Violence and vandalism in the name of ‘farmer protests

The anti-farm law agitation, which began by blocking roads and causing public inconvenience, has begun to take a drastic turn with protestors now actively engaging in violence, vandalism and destruction of private property.

Hooligans across the state of Punjab have started disrupting the services of Jio mobile by disconnecting power from telecom towers of the company. After several reports of such disruption, now a video has now gone viral, where the protestors are seen resorting to vandalism and forcefully disconnecting power supply to Reliance Jio towers to express their opposition to three farm laws passed by the Modi government.

In a disturbing video said to be of ‘farmers’ protesting against farm laws in Uttarakhand surfaced today in which protestors were seen clashing with the police. According to ANI, the video was of protests being held against the farm laws in the Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand. The police could be seen trying to contain the protestors by putting up heavy barricades. However, apparently without caring for the fatal consequences, some protestors started the tractor and ran it over the police barricades. The police personnel holding the barricades almost got crushed under it.

NCPCR investigation into six children home established by Badruddin Ajmal: Funds from Turkish org linked to Al-Qaeda, mistreatment of children and more

OpIndia Staff
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NCPCR investigation into six children home established by Badruddin Ajmal: Funds from Turkish org linked to Al-Qaeda, mistreatment of children and more

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has found financial irregularities in six childcare institutions in Assam and Manipur, running under the aegis of “Markazul Maarif”, established by AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. One of the six institutions received funds from an international Turkish NGO called İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri ve İnsani Yardım Vakfı (IHH) linked Islamic terror group to Al-Qaeda, said the apex child rights body.

The child rights body on Friday said that according to the information provided to them by the child institution, only 778 children were residing in these homes located in Dhubri, Goalpara and Nagaon in Assam and one in Thoubal in Manipur.

However, according to AIUDF chief and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, who established these homes, these homes house 1,010 children.

“The website of Markazul Maarif also states that it is housing 1,080 children. Therefore, there is a discrepancy in the number of children disclosed by these homes to the inspection team and that available on the website of the Markazul Maarif. It is important to investigate this discrepancy and find out the status of these 300 children,” the NCPCR said.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) under section 13(1) (j) of CPCR Act, 2005 had taken cognizance on a complaint received from Legal Rights Observatory wherein allegations of violations of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in children homes being run by Markaz Darul Yatama in Assam. The complainant had requested NCPCR to inspect these children homes/orphanages housing children as the condition of the children in these homes was alleged to be not good and there were further allegations of misuse of funds by these institutions.

Badruddin Ajmal under scanner, children home received funds from Turkey-based IHH, with alleged linked to Al-Qaeda

The inspection team was also informed that these institutions received funds from an international Turkey-based NGO IHH by one of the homes. The team also found a list of children who were the beneficiaries under this said project.

The children residing in these homes, according to NCPCR, was sponsored by an organization called IHH. As per available information, this Turkey-based NGO, IHH, had been interrogated by the Turkish Law Enforcement Agencies for their alleged links with Al-Qaeda, the report said.

The commission also expressed its fear over the details of children shared by these children home to this international NGO. The NCPCR further said that nearly 300 children of these homes were unaccounted for and it is important to investigate their status.

The Commission is also apprehensive about the development and teaching being given to the children in these homes who are being sponsored by such organizations involved in illegal activities. 

“The safety and security of children living in these Homes are severely compromised and the Commission is unclear about the legality and intentions of this AKIKA project. In light of these serious observations made by the inspection team and further the inquiry of NCPCR in this matter, it is strongly recommended that an investigation by the NIA must be initiated to inquire into all these issues…,” it said.

“IHH which is based in Turkey for the implementation of AKIKA project in 2016. The team had found a list of children who were the beneficiaries under this said project. A list of children was also found that was prepared in 2017, these children were also sponsored by this organization IHH. As per available information this Turkey-based international NGO, IHH had been interrogated by the Turkish Law Enforcement Agencies for their alleged links with Al-Qaeda. The Commission is apprehensive about the development and teaching being given to the children in these Homes who are being sponsored by such organizations involved in illegal activities. Moreover, the Commission also apprehensive about the details of children which have must have been provided under the guise of AKIKA project to this international NGO. It is pertinent that the number of children must be verified who’s details must have been sent to IHH and also, verify the status of those children who are being sponsored by IHH and who’s details have been sent to IHH so as to ensure their well-being and safety”, the report said.

It is pertinent to note that recently, Turkey based NGO, İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri ve İnsani Yardım Vakfı (IHH) was in the news after a Swedish research organisation, Nordic Monitor, had alleged an alliance between Turkic extremist group İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri ve İnsani Yardım Vakfı (IHH) and radical Islamist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI). According to the report, the meeting was held on the 20th of October, 2018, seven months ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections in 2019.

The two key PFI leaders who attended the meeting were E.M. Abdul Rahiman and Prof. P. Koya, members of the National Executive Council of the PFI, the report claims. It was attended by IHH Secretary-General Durmuş Aydın and IHH Vice President Hüseyin Oruç as well and partnership in various fields were discussed.

The Nordic Monitor says that IHH works with Turkish intelligence service MIT, led by Erdogan loyalist Hakan Fidan, an Islamist as well. It also said that the PFI was promoted by Turkic state-run media Anadolu as a civic and social group the members of which were abused by Indian police. The IHH was accused to have smuggled arms to Al-Qaeda affiliated Jihadists in Syria in January 2014.

The Nordic Monitor also said that the Erdogan regime in Turkey is helping the IHH in global operations using its diplomatic clout. The PFI in India has been accused of involvement in numerous instances of violence and their members have been accused of murder as well. The Enforcement Directorate had accused the PFI of funding anti-CAA riots across the country.

Children were beaten up with bamboo sticks, no security for girls, finds child body

The inspection team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) submitted reports to the Manipur and Assam governments, in which it stated that it had found violations of several norms under the Juvenile Justice Act. The finding said that they found clogged and unhygienic toilets, lack of security for girls, evidence of use of corporal punishment with bamboo sticks.

“Bamboo sticks were found which were used for corporal punishment to discipline children. During informal discussions with staff members, it came out that sometimes they had to employ corporal punishment to discipline particularly difficult children.

During the inspection, it was found that these homes had not developed a child protection policy and did not institute the following mechanisms for prevention and protection of children from abuse. Some homes did not even install CCTVs.

“As there was no written child protection policy found in these homes and corporal punishment was used to discipline the children, these homes are in violation of Section 75 and Section 82 of JJ Act, 2015,” the report said.

Staff roamed insider girls’ home and their dormitories

One of the children residing in the home informed the inspection team that he has been beaten by these sticks. The NCPCR has now recommended registration of FIR against those committing such a serious offence. In addition to these observations, in one of the homes, the male staff from boys’ home were found roaming inside the girls’ home and going inside their dormitories.

“This was observed to pose a great security issue for girls staying in the home which would make them vulnerable to abuse,” the report said.

Some of these children home were not even registered. The inspection was carried out after NCPCR received a complaint by Legal Rights Observatory.

“In the said letter, NCPCR requested the SCPCR’s to constitute an inspection team and conduct an immediate inspection of these homes. To assist the team of SCPCRs in the inspection of these homes, two consultants from NCPCR also visited these homes for conducting an inspection and verifying the true and correct state of affairs in these children homes,” the NCPCR said in its report.

FIR against foundation run by AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal for receiving funds terrorist-linked orgs

A case was also registered against  ‘Ajmal Foundation’, run by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal recently accusing him of receiving foreign funding and utilising it in suspicious activities.

The complaint, was lodged by Satya Ranjan Borah was based on the report of Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), a legal rights body.

“Ajmal Foundation, an organisation run by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, chief of AIUDF, being funded by some foreign agencies which are related to funding different terrorist groups and their terror activities as reported by an NGO Legal Rights Observatory. Considering the report, we want a proper investigation in this connection under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Ajmal Foundation has misused those foreign funds in several anti-national activities,” Borah had alleged in the FIR.

We had reported earlier that legal activist group Legal Rights Observatory had accused Ajmal Foundation of receiving foreign funding to a tune of Rs 69.55 crore from various dubious sources which have been primarily engaged in terror financing and money laundering activities.

Delhi High Court rebukes police for not filing FIR even after a man alleged that his daughter was taken away by Muslim man in ‘organised manner’

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi High Court rebukes police for not filing FIR even after a man alleged that his daughter was taken away by Muslim man in ‘organised manner’

In an order dated December 18, 2020, the Delhi High court slammed the Delhi Police for failing to register an FIR in a matter where the father of a Hindu girl had alleged that she was taken away by a Muslim man in an ‘organised manner’. The High Court ordered the State to trace the girl and produce her before the court.

A Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar also ordered the investigation of the case to be transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Crime Branch, Delhi immediately after the registration of the FIR.

According to Live Law, the father of the girl had filed a Habeas Corpus petition before the court for production of her daughter who had gone missing on November 7, 2020. Allegedly a person named Syed Mustafa took her away from her residence. The girl’s father has alleged that she was taken to Kolkata by train the same day she was taken away.

The girl was B.Tech. and the Muslim man was a labourer

In his petition, the father said that his daughter is B.Tech by education while Mustafa is a labourer. He said that the father of Mustafa also went missing since the girl disappeared. The State, on the other hand, has stated before the court in its report that the girl has married Mustafa and that she has informed her family that she was happy and safe and did not want to be disturbed.

Court rebuked the SHO for not registering FIR

SHO Naraina submitted before the court that the FIR was not registered because a Nikahnama was produced showing that the Girl had married with Syed Mustafa. However when the court asked the authenticity of the Nikahnama, police said that it could not be verified despite efforts.

Expressing shock over the SHO’s inaction the Court rebuked him and said, “We are shocked that even in this background, he (SHO) did not think it proper to register an FIR and proceeded on the bald statement produced before him, wherein it is claimed that the girl has married Syed Mustafa. This is complete dereliction of duty on the part of the SHO concerned”.

The court said that at this stage, the court refuses to believe that the statements attributed to the girl were made voluntarily by her, and hence asked the police to produce the girl.

Ordering the girl to be produced before it the court said, “In case the Girl is traced, she shall be brought to Delhi and kept at Nari Niketan at least for four days before the next date so that she is not under influence of either the petitioner, or the persons with whom she is stated to have eloped and gone”. The court directed the SHO concerned to look into the aspect of threat assessment to the petitioner and family members and provide adequate security to them.

Even as NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar continues to rant against new Farm Laws, he had argued for similar reforms in 2015: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Even as NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar continues to rant against new Farm Laws, he had argued for similar reforms in 2015: Read details

Ever since the Modi government belled the cat of reforming the agriculture sector, propaganda peddlers and opposition parties are having a hard time fathoming the fact that there’s finally a regime at the centre which is committed to addressing the problems besetting the farmers.

As a part of the centre’s initiative to reform the agriculture sector, three farm laws were passed by the Modi government in September 2020. These laws were aimed to open up new avenues for the farmers to increase their income. However, soon after the laws were passed, opposition politicians and ‘activists’ ginned farmers up against the new Bills, scaremongering them into believing that the laws were against their interests.

Before long, the doubts and apprehensions sowed by the opposition politicians and ‘activists’ manifested in protests, chiefly in Punjab, a state governed by the Congress party and has the highest average farming household income in the country. With the government refusing to roll back the reforms it initiated, the protesters decided to intensify the protests by marching to Delhi amidst the incipient second wave of the coronavirus.

Since then, hundreds of protesters have been camping against the new Farm Bills along the Delhi Border. While many rational news reporters have tried to allay the fears harboured by the farmers, there have been some prejudiced journalists, who have sought to amplify the misgivings surrounding the new agriculture laws.

Ravish Kumar rants against the new farm laws amidst ongoing farmers’ protests

NDTV journalist and Magsaysay Award winner Ravish Kumar lies in the second category. Ever since the protests made it to the national headlines, Kumar has been trying to portray the central government as a cruel oppressive regime that is insidiously working against the interests of the farmers. In his endeavour to paint the Modi government as anti-farmers, Ravish has not stopped himself from using lies and deceit.

Earlier this month, Ravish ran a prime time program on his channel, NDTV, insinuating that the Prime Minister did not consult with the farmers before initiating the reforms. Kumar possibly did not bother to ask the government the logic and rationale behind enacting the three farm laws. To his chagrin, the central government had conducted about 1.4 lakh training and webinar sessions, reaching out to 93 lakh farmers in the last six months over the agriculture reforms.

Ravish Kumar lies about Adani’s grain silos in Punjab

A few days later, on December 7, Kumar was caught peddling lies and misinformation on his show Prime Time on NDTV where he claimed that just before the new farm laws were passed by the Central government, Indian conglomerate Adani Group built grain silos in Punjab and Bihar.

Kumar was alluding that the farm laws were passed with the aim of advancing the Adani Group in Punjab. Casting aspersions on Adani Group, Ravish Kumar claimed that the farmers are questioning the setting up of grain silos in Punjab by the Ahmedabad-based corporate. For this, Ravish cites a 2016 article which claiming to be that of 2019. In his show, he conveniently fails to let his viewers inform that the article is from 2016.

He then further questions that if Adani is storing the gains in silos owned by FCI (Food Corporation of India), is procuring grains from farmers, won’t they suffer loss if they are not getting MSP (Minimum Selling Price). Here Ravish Kumar is already assuming that the Adani Group will exploit farmers by not giving them a fair price for their produce.

As it turned out, Kumar’s insinuations were grossly misleading. In 2005, Adani got into a BOO (Build, Own, Operate) agreement with FCI to set up grain silos in Moga and Kaithal. A 2008 report said that the silos were operational and 3 lakh tonnes of wheat production was procured for FCI in the previous season. Interestingly, the grain silos operated by Adani and owned by FCI in Punjab, actually procure food grains at MSP.

Ravish Kumar had made a case for agriculture reforms in 2015

However, facts of the matter have never stopped Ravish from indulging in peddling propaganda. His bias against the Modi government has often forced him to take leave of his good senses. It is noteworthy to mention that a few years back, Ravish Kumar was an active proponent of the reforms in the agriculture sector.

In an article titled as “Farmers are trapped between the agents and the bank, made slaves in the Mandis”, Ravish Kumar made a case for bringing in urgent reforms to address the agrarian distress prevalent in the country. He poignantly described the travails faced by the farmers in selling their produce in state-authorised Mandis and the scourge of the middlemen that they are “trapped” with. Kumar had then raised questions of the leaders, across the political spectrum, for the sad state of affairs at the Mandis.

“It is better to switch off the TV and visit Mandis. There you will realise, farmers, are left to fend for themselves. There is no watchman to guard the stock at nights. There are no policemen for security. The farmer is awake all night to keep an eye on his grain. This is the situation when the TV channels make us believe that our leaders are working for the farmers,” Kumar passionately laments about the upsetting circumstances he witnessed at the government-run mandis.

Source: relevant section from Ravish Kumar’s article on NDTV

Kumar also bemoaned that the farmers in the country are suffering because of the prevalence of middlemen in the state-run Mandis. He was baffled that farmers had to pay commission to the middlemen at the Mandis.

“From weighing the agriculture produce brought by the farmers to filling them in sacks and loading them on to trucks of the farmer to filling it into sacks and loading it in trucks, it is the job of middlemen to transport the rations to government-owned godowns. For this, the farmer has to pay Rs 6 for every fifty kilos of wheat sack. In return, the buying agency pays a commission of 2.5 percent to the agent. If the purchase price of wheat is Rs 1450 per quintal, then the agent gets Rs 35-36,” Kumar wrote.

Further, into the article, Kumar said that the farmers were too dependent on the integrity of the agents to get them an optimum price for their produce. The agent, Kumar noted, held disproportionate power as he is tasked with the responsibility of getting the requisite price of the grains to the farmers from the agencies. The agencies, on the other hand, pay the agents based on the quality of the produce. They pay agents if the quality of the agriculture produce is below their standards. The decision, Kumar observed, was a fait accompli, leaving farmers with no option but to rely on the integrity of the agents to get them a fair price.

Kumar also added that removing middlemen appeared a compelling solution to the problems bedevilling the farmers. “There is a Mandi where the farmer brings his agriculture produce and sells the same to the government agency. So why are these agents required anyway?” Kumar asked.

However, Kumar also contended that the farmers continue to stoically endure the “exploitation” at the hands of the middlemen because at trying times, they act as saviours and come to their rescue.

Relevant portions from the article authored by Ravish Kumar on NDTV website in 2015

“Banks ask farmers to keep their land as collateral to secure loans. A lot of time is also wasted in the paperwork for securing loans. But the middlemen grants lend money based on faith. When the farmer has additional money, he invests his money with the agent, only because the agent pays more interest than the bank. The farmer may be angry with the agent but he will not revolt against him because he is trapped in a cycle,” Kumar said.

With these laments, Kumar is essentially demanding for reforms in the agriculture sector that would empower the farmers and end the menace of the middlemen. The three farm laws brought in by the Modi government are singularly focused in this direction. The central government has iterated it many times before that the new Farm Bills would empower farmers by opening more choices, bypassing influential middlemen and connecting them directly to the potential buyers.

By and large, the reforms passed by the Modi government were the ones recommended by many political parties, with AAP and Congress even promising to bring in similar reforms in their election manifestos. Many prominent individuals, including Kumar, have also endorsed these reforms in the past. But, as the Modi government grasped the nettle and enacted the reforms, all those who were passionately demanding for reforms turned into implacable rebels.

In September 2020, a Punjab Govt report had suggested opening up farm markets beyond APMCs, inviting companies for contract farming

OpIndia Staff
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In September 2020, a Punjab Govt report had suggested opening up farm markets beyond APMCs, inviting companies for contract farming

While Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh has been standing in support of the farmers stating that the three new farm laws are against their benefits, his own government had advocated opening the farm markets beyond APMCs, and promoting contract farming just three months ago.

The Covid response report of the Punjab Government for the month of September 2020, had stated that the Congress government in Punjab had batted for opening up APMCs, so that the farmers can sell produce to a wider market.

The Punjab Govt’s Covid response report has been doing the rounds on Twitter.

Page 334 of the report says: “Opening up of agricultural marketing beyond APMCs to increase the scope of selling farmer produce.” On the same page, the report had proposed “Inviting big seed companies by allowing them to have contract farming with farmers and farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and also allowing them to have long lease of land.”

Further, the report had talked about the participation of private sector in farm R&D and innovations through innovative forms of PPP linking government research bodies with business.

The report suggested several other things that the farmers are opposing. It had suggested to liberalise laws relating to conversion of agricultural lands for non-agricultural uses. The report had said that in order to unlock the capital value of land, large areas can be earmarked where anyone is permitted to convert agriculture lands for non-agriculture use.

This Punjab Govt’s report has once again exposed the Congress-led state government’s hypocrisy and deceptions. Interestingly, the reforms the ruling Congress party in Punjab has mentioned in its September report, is exactly what the BJP government’s new farm law is offering.

On one side, the Punjab Govt speaks in favour of opening up APMC and letting farmers sell outside of it saying that it would help them, and on the other side, it has been instigating the ignorant farmers and fanning protests against Modi Govt’s new farm laws which offer the same reform.

If we could remind Capt Amarinder Singh that one thing the 2020 Farm Bills of the Modi government does is to give farmers the option to trade freely outside of APMCs, anywhere within India. The exact same thing which his Govt’s proposes in its September’s covid response report.

And as Capt Amarinder Singh continues to project himself as the Messiah of the protesting farmers, there is more. In 2016, the CM of Punjab had pleaded with the farmers of his state, presumably with folded hands, to do themselves a favour. Explaining how the farmers could have tripled their incomes if only they had a chance to deal with Reliance, which he alleged Akalis ruined. Here too he had batted for opening up APMCs so that farmers could sell produce to a wider market, in this case, Reliance Group of Companies.

Capt Amarinder Singh’s 2016 tweet

And we already know that the Congress party had promised these same farm reforms in their 2019 election manifesto.

So all in all, the extensive documentary trail the Congress party has left behind is enough to expose their farce over the agricultural reforms brought in by the Modi government.

Here is why Captain Amarinder Singh is suddenly appealing to farmers to not axe Jio towers

Dibakar Dutta
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Here is why Captain Amarinder Singh is suddenly appealing to farmers to not axe Jio towers

The anti-farm law agitation has taken a drastic turn, with the protestors now disrupting telecommunication services in the Congress-ruled state of Punjab. Apart from opposing the new farm laws, the protestors are also protesting against Reliance Industries, alleging them of benefiting from the farm reforms. The protestors have forced several retail outlets owned by Reliance group, and given a call to boycott Jio Mobile.

As a part of enforcing the said boycott, hooligans across the state of Punjab have started disrupting the services of Jio mobile by disconnecting power from telecom towers of the company. After several reports of such disruption, now a video has now gone viral, where the protestors are seen resorting to vandalism and forcefully disconnecting power supply to Reliance Jio towers to express their opposition to three farm laws passed by the Modi government.

While the Congress party has been a vocal supporter of the anti-farm law agitation and has remained a mute spectator to the inconvenience caused to the public, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had a sudden ‘change of heart‘ on Friday. The Punjab government, realising the dangerous situation, appealed to the protestors to not disrupt connections or manhandle employees and technicians of telecom companies.

Amarinder Singh fears Centre’s intervention

The desperate intervention of Captain Amarinder Singh seems to be rooted in the fact that telecommunication belongs to the Union List, a subject that falls under the jurisdiction of the Central government. While the subject of law and order belongs to the State list and is controlled by the State government, the Centre may be forced to intervene if damage to telecommunication services continue in Punjab.

Despite its vocal support to the anti-farm agitation, the grand old party in Punjab cannot afford to allow the protestors to damage communication networks as a mark of ‘solidarity’ with the farmers. Doing otherwise may lead to a major embarrassment for the Punjab government as telecommunication infrastructure is a strategic asset, the protection of which is the responsibility of the Centre. This holds particularly true in case of Punjab as the State has one of the highest telecom density in the country. As such, the Central government may send central security forces to protect the telecom infrastructure and also to crack down on protestors destroying the telecom infrastructure in Punjab.

It is notable that at present, telecom operators do not own the towers where their antennas are placed. The towers are owned and operated by separate tower companies, and telecom companies place their antennas on the towers by paying rent for the same. Due to this arrangement, a single tower may contain antennas of several mobile phone companies. Therefore, although the protestors are targeting Jio, they may accidentally damage telecom operations of other companies also as they share resources on the towers.

Punjab Chief Minister worried about harming future investments, economy

Being fully aware of the economic repercussions of allowing such vandalism, the Punjab CM pointed out that telecom service disruption can have ‘detrimental effects’ on the farming community and can harm prospects of future investment in the telecom sector, crucial to expanding the connecting in the State.

Amarinder Singh stated, “Forceful disruption of telecom services due to snapping of power supply to mobile towers by farmers in several parts of the state was not only adversely affecting the studies and future prospects of students, who are dependent entirely on online education, but also hampering the daily life of people working from home due to the pandemic.” He had also expressed fears how it can disturb the economy and the lives of people, amidst the pandemic.

As such, keeping in mind the impending embarrassment of Centre’s intervention, coupled with aggravation of present and future economic prospects, Captain Amarinder Singh decided to give in to the request by the Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA), which sought for the State’s intervention to persuade the farmers to not indulge in ‘unlawful activities.’

However, it remains to be seen whether the Punjab government will take any action on the hooligans destroying telecom infrastructure in the state.

Producer Manish Mundra promises to donate Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Mandir

OpIndia Staff
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Producer Manish Mundra promises to donate Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Mandir

Film producer Manish Mundra has volunteered to pay an amount of Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. According to Bhaskar, Mundra is one of the three people who have promised to donate Rs 1 crore for the temple.

Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas Treasurer Govind Giri Maharaj said that a trust has also promised to donate Rs 1 crore and three other persons have promised to collect Rs 1 crore each and donate it for the temple construction. He said that a campaign will be launched on January 13 next year which will continue till February 27. The campaign will aim at collecting donations from people across the country for the construction of the temple.

Mundra gave Rs 3 crore for ventilators during the pandemic

In March this year when Covid-19 cases were surging in the country, Manish Mundra, who has produced movies like Masaan and Newton, donated a whopping Rs 3 crore for arranging about 70 ventilators. He said that he would identify the hospitals that needed aid. He identified six cities of Bangalore, Jaipur, Cochin, Deoghar and Mumbai where the ventilators could be set up.

Donated money to Delhi-riots victims’ help initiative

In the same month, Manish Mundra donated an amount of Rs 10 lakh for the rehabilitation of the victims of the anti-Hindu riots that broke out following the anti-CAA protests earlier this year. The donation went to an initiative launched by BJP leader Kapil Mishra to provide financial assistance to the victims.

Donated 1000 disposable beds to Mumbai hospitals

When the cases of Covid-19 were on the rise leading to shortage of infrastructure and equipment in hospitals, Mundra donated a thousand disposable beds to a Mumbai hospital.

Mundra displayed exemplary generosity and humility during the times of the Wuhan virus pandemic. Apart from the abovementioned gestures, he has been involved in lot of humanitarian work during the pandemic including mass distribution of PPE kits and serving food packages to the needy. Speaking to OpIdia, Mundra had said that his motive behind all the work he has been doing was to help the country particularly the medical staff who have been fighting the pandemic at the frontline.

Farmer protestors in Uttarakhand run tractor over police barricades almost crushing police personnel

OpIndia Staff
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Farmer protestors in Uttarakhand run tractor over police barricades almost crushing police personnel

A disturbing video said to be of ‘farmers’ protesting against farm laws in Uttarakhand surfaced today in which protestors were seen clashing with the police. According to ANI, the video was of protests being held against the farm laws in the Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand.

In the video, the police can be seen trying to contain the protestors by putting up heavy barricades. Some police personnel are holding the barricades in order to prevent them from falling from the push of the tractor that some of the protestors are driving. However, apparently without caring for the fatal consequences, some protestors started the tractor and ran it over the police barricades.

Shockingly, as the tractor hit the barricades and ran over it, the police personnel holding the barricades almost got crushed under it. But the person driving the tractor did not stop it and continued to drive it towards the police personnel even after the barricade was completely crushed.

The farmer protest that have been going on several days now have received support from all Khalistani elements. The protests have had the participation of several anti-India forces including naxal sympathisers, Pakistan sympathisers and Khalistan sympathisers. The protests also have facilities for agitating farmers that are not very typical of farmer protests organised before in the country.

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