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Over Rs 70,000 crore economic loss has been caused in the December quarter, thanks to the ‘farmer’ protest: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Over Rs 70,000 crore economic loss has been caused in the December quarter, thanks to the ‘farmer’ protest: Details

The ongoing farmer protest against the three farm laws enacted by the government last year have reportedly cost the economy over Rs 70,000 crores. According to the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the huge economic loss has been caused in the December quarter due to disruptions in the supply chains particularly in the states of Punjab and Haryana and the bordering areas of the national capital.

Sectors including food processing, cotton textiles, trading and tourism severely affected

Sanjay Aggarwal, President PHDCCI, said, “The 36 days farm agitation so far has led to more than Rs 70,000 crore economic loss in the Q3 FY 2020-2021 due to… disruption in supply chains and day-to-day economic activities particularly in the progressive states of Punjab and Haryana and border areas of National capital Delhi”.

There are reportedly around 25 lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Punjab and Haryana employing over 45 lakh workers. These MSMEs contribute to over Rs 4 lakh crore out of the total Rs 14 lakh crore Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of these two states.

According to Aggarwal, in the year 2019-2020, the GSDP of Punjab was estimated at Rs 5.75 lakh crore while that of Haryana was estimated at Rs 8.31 lakh crore. The sectors that bore the brunt of farmer agitation include food processing, cotton textiles, garments, automobile, farm machinery, information technology, trading, tourism, hospitality and transport. The supply of raw materials was severely impacted by the agitation. Aggarwal said that the PHDCCI looked forward to an early resolution of the issues between the protestors and the government.

The CJI had expressed concern over blockade by farmers

The farmer protests that have been going on for over a month now, have caused massive inconvenience to the public. The farmer representatives have been threatening the government with more road blockages if their demands are not met. The Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, while hearing a petition against the farmer agitation, had expressed concerned over the blockade caused by the protests. The CJI had observed that the people in the national capital would go hungry if farmers blocked the roads. He said that the purpose of the protest would be fulfilled through dialogue and not merely by sitting in protest.

After the sixth round of talks between the government and farmer representatives, the government has agreed to two out of four demands. As per one of the two accepted demands, farmers have now been excluded from the ambit of Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020 which was passed to deal with air pollution. Now, stubble burning farmers will not face action under the Ordinance. As per the second accepted demand, the electricity subsidy currently provided to farmers will continue.

The two demands where the government has so far refused to budge, and rightly so, is granting their demand for a guaranteed MSP law and the blanket withdrawal of the three farm laws that are meant to empower the farmers. It is pertinent to note that the agitating farmers are mainly ones from Punjab. Several farmers from other states have come out in support of the three farm laws.

Farmer protest: Misinformation against the farm laws and the government 

Several vested interests have been spreading misinformation regarding the farm laws. OpIndia reported about Katha Vachak Banta Singh Ji who used Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Ji to spread misinformation about the laws. From opposition leaders to Khalsa Aid’s founder Ravi Singh, and from organizations like PFI and SFJ are trying to take advantage of the situation and spread their anti-India propaganda. In fact, only a few days ago, it was revealed that the ‘farmer’ who was demanding that the laws be repealed was a Congress leader who had assets worth well over Rs 600 crores and also had several serious criminal charges against him.

What are the farm laws? 

One of the biggest factors plaguing the growth of agriculture sector in the country is the inability of the farmer to find a market and to get a fair price to his produce. To address the issue, the erstwhile governments of different states enacted the Agricultural Produce Market Regulation Acts (APMC Acts), which authorised them to set up and regulate marketing practices in wholesale markets. 

The objective of these markets was to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their produce. However, with each passing year, the APMCs turned out to be inefficient with increasing cartelisation of middlemen, ban on private players to enter the trade, increasing corruption etc. 

The Modi government recently introduced three bills to promote much easier trade for the farm produce and to provide a competitive market for the producers outside the existing APMC system. The three laws were: 

  1. The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020: This law aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition
  2. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020: This law relates a framework for contract farming through an agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce. 
  3. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020: This law aims to regulate the supply of certain food items only under extraordinary circumstances.

It is pertinent to mention that the farm laws are set of three laws that allow farmers to sell their products outside APMC act (most states make it compulsory for the farmers to sell at APMC mandis). It also allows farmers to directly have a contract with corporate houses.

That farm laws don’t do away with APMC, and if someone is not willing to trust markets outside the current system, they are free to stick to the ongoing system. It doesn’t do away with MSPs either. However, the prevalent narrative that seems to be motivated by political concerns falsely claims that APMCs and MSP are being done away with. 

They also allege that due to these laws, big corporations would have the upper hand in a deal with farmers, however, that again is a lie. In fact, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 ensures that a contract is agreed upon and gives the farmer the power to even cancel contracts.

BBMP proposes to name roads in Muslim areas in Bengaluru after Muslims, drops the proposal after BJP MPs oppose it

OpIndia Staff
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BBMP proposes to name roads in Muslim areas in Bengaluru after Muslims, drops the proposal after BJP MPs oppose it

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) dropped a proposal to naming roads in Muslim majority areas in Bengaluru after Muslims following opposition from BJP leaders and the general public. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya informed that BBMP has dropped the idea after the public uproar over the proposal. “A vigilant Hindu society can thwart such ill-intentioned attempts”, he added.

Earlier today, BJP MPs Ananth Kumar Hegde and Tejasvi Surya had written letters to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Manjanath Prasad objecting against the naming of roads in Muslim dominated area of Padarayanapura in Bengaluru after Muslims. Sharing the letter by him on Twitter, Tejasvi Surya wrote that giving Muslim names to roads in Muslim dominated areas amounted to supporting the two-nation theory and the the Muslim league’s demand for separate electorates.

“Christening of roads in a Muslim-dominated locality with only Muslim names reeks of the same communal mentality of the two-nation theory and Muslim League’s demand of separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims. This is dangerous and must be condemned”, wrote the Banaglore South MP in his letter. He requested the Commissioner to revise the list and finalise the names only after public discussion.

Roads should be named after martyrs: Hegde

Similarly, Hegde in his letter demanded that the roads should be named after martyrs. “Only the names of Muslim leaders have been recommended in this particular ward. It is not appropriate to undertake such a step in the name of social work, which is nothing but promotion of one particular community”, wrote the Uttara Kannada MP. The letters were written by the BJP leaders in response to notification dates December 16, 2020 passed by the BBMP Revenue Department. Another BJP PM from Bengaluru Central, PC Mohan also wrote objecting against the naming of the roads after Muslims.

The BBMP had written to the Ministry of Urban Development to change the names of 11 streets in the riot-hit Padarayanapura and give them Muslim names. However, following the backlash over the idea of naming the roads in the Muslim-dominated area after Muslims, the BBMP agreed to revise the list of the names.

Journalist’s iPhone gets stolen at farmers’ protests, read how heartless ‘trolls’ reacted

OpIndia Staff
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Journalist’s iPhone gets stolen at farmers’ protests, read how heartless ‘trolls’ reacted

The farmer protests outside Delhi against the new farm laws, which is filled with luxuries like free pizzas, massage parlours, Wi-Fi etc, now have been infiltrated by thieves. Controversial journalist Saba Naqvi informed that her iPhone 11 Pro was stollen at the protest site at Singhu border by professional thieves. However, she wrote the name of the phone as “I phone 11 pro”. She tweeted that the thieves pushed her, grabbed the phone and disappeared.

Although Naqvi had posted to tweet to inform that she won’t be available on phone tonight due to the incident, this invited the ‘trolls’, who used the unfortunate incident to make a point or two. Instead of sympathising with her, or advising her on what steps should be taken to recover the phone and protect any sensitive data in the phone, ‘trolls’ used the incident to mock her and her brand of ideology, showing how ‘popular’ she is with ‘trolls’.

Popular Twitter handle @BefittingFacts reminded her this is the ideology she herself supports, taking from the rich and giving to the poor.

Similar views were expressed by other people also, taking a jibe at Naqvi.

Many Twitter users accused Saba Naqvi of calling the farmers as thieves, as according to her ilk, only farmers are protesting at the site.

Some Twitter users linked the theft with a recent incident, where the ‘protestors’ had removed a generator from a Jio mobile tower and donated it to the local Gurdwara in Punjab. May be the iPhone 11 was also similarly donated to a Gurdwara, people wondered.

While some others were more blunt, alleging that the protestors are actually thieves only.

People asked Saba Naqvi not to crib about the theft, and advised her to consider as her contribution towards the cause of the farmers.

Some people also wondered how journalists can own phones that cost almost a lakh rupees despite ‘BJP ruining the economy’, referring to the constant allegations made by the left-liberal journalists.

iPhone 11 Pro was launched in India in September 2019, and its starting price was Rs 99,900. However, the price has fallen now, after Apple launched the next phone, the iPhone 12 series this year, but still remains among the costliest phones available in the market.

‘You are not even a Dalit, tried extorting money to settle divorce’: Former husband makes sensational claims about ‘Dalit activist’ Meena Kandasamy

OpIndia Staff
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‘You are not even a Dalit, tried extorting money to settle divorce’: Former husband makes sensational claims about ‘Dalit activist’ Meena Kandasamy

Days after making abusive rants against Hindus on Twitter to proclaim her to be the ‘best woman in the world’, troll masquerading as an ‘activist’ Meena Kandasamy is in dock after her estranged husband made some sensational claims against the far-left Twitter ‘activist’.

Several serious accusations have been made against the ‘Dalit activist’ Meena Kandasamy by her former husband Dr Gunasekharan Dharmaraja. According to a letter shared by independent journalist Deepika Bharadwaj, Dr Gunasekharan Dharmaraja, the former husband of Meena Kandasamy said that the activist had filed fake harassment against him after he had filed a case on her father for attacking him. Dharmaraja said he had proofs, emails written by her that disclose the real reason of separation between them.

Dr Dharmaraja also made sensational disclosure stating that Kandasamy had faked her ‘Dalit’ credentials to not only to the world but also to his own husband. He said, however, as per official records, the mother of Kandasamy belonged to the forward community while her father was an OBC.

“How do you then pretend yourself or misrepresent/allow to be misrepresented as a member of the Scheduled Castes? Are these to ensure that you could use their historical injustice as a shield to cover your arm-chair activities?” Dr Gunasekharan Dharmaraja asked his former wife as he exposed her blatant lies.

The estranged husband said that Dr Ilavenil Kandasamy, the father of the Meena Kandasamy, had filed a case against him, through which she has played the victim-game and sought to earn certain social mileage.

Meena Kandasamy, her family harassed me for money, says husband

He also accused the so-called activist of trying to extort money from him. Dharmaraja also said that her parents had asked him to ask money from the Eelam Tamils, ever since he was the Member of Parliament of the Transnational Government of the Tamil Eelam.

Continuing to expose Meena Kandasamy, her former husband said, “Firstly, it was me who had filed a complaint against your father at Kodungaiyur Police Station on the ground that he attacked me. However, your family requested mine to withdraw the police complaint, and because of the family pressure, I withdrew the same. It was just after I withdrew that you had even filed this complaint. Why hasn’t this fact ever been revealed by you? Doesn’t this amount to selective highlighting and twisting of facts, as you accuse everybody else off?”

Former husband exposes Kandasamy’s fake feminist credentials

Exposing her fake credentials of being a ‘feminist’, Dharmaraja continued to ask how could she call herself a ‘feminist’ and a ‘fighter for women rights’ when she had herself filed FIR against me accepting that she had paid Dowry to him.

“How do you claim yourself as an activist for women’s rights when you yourself gave dowry for your marriage?” quipped Dr Dharmaraja aka Charles Antony as he added that she evaded the accusations when she was exposed of her intellectual hysteria.

“I also proclaim before the public that I neither demand nor support dowry. The claims you have made in the FIR concerning dowry, amongst others, is false. Therefore, by claiming to have given a dowry, you are either against the feminist ideals that you claim to stand for, or you are committing perjury by providing false information to the police and to the court of law,” he added.

The estranged husband also said that he was willing to release to the public the email conversations they had on the day of their separation after constantly accusing him of harassment and later portraying in her book, articles and social media as an abuser.

Pressuring me for money to settle divorce case: Dr Dharmaraja makes huge allegations against Meena Kandasamy

He also alleged that the controversial far-left Hinduphobic troll Meena Kandasamy was employing delaying tactics in a case filed against her for alleged domestic violence, cruelty and wife-beating in 2012 under sections 498A & 506(ii) of IPC. However, because of your non-cooperation in the case, the charge-sheet was filed only two years later, he said.

Further, Dr Dharmaraja has also accused Meena Kandasamy of harassing and pressurising him to provide for Rs 15 lakhs to settle the divorce case.

In another shocking allegation, Dr Gunasekaran Dharmaraja also revealed that Kandasamy had also accused Respected Prof. MSS Pandian of molestation, who is a respected Dalit leader and a sitting Member of Parliament. The former husband, in his letter, has challenged the self-proclaimed feminist and Dalit rights champion Meena Kandasamy to withdraw the false case and engage in an open debate with him before the public and media.

“My family, my friends and I have been ardent supporters of progressive rights and have always stood against the dowry system and have been supporting women’s emancipation. I am ready to engage in this debate in order to highlight my innocence and expose the hypocrisy of all the accusations levelled against me,” he said concluding the letter.

He continued, “In case you feel defamed by any of the above statements, instead of resorting to social media like Twitter and using your usual tactics of evading them, you are requested to approach the Court of law. However, you are expected to at least attend those proceedings and have respect for the rule of law.”

Pakistani media spreads fake news that Syed Ali Shah Geelani is dead, his family says the reports are false and baseless

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani media spreads fake news that Syed Ali Shah Geelani is dead, his family says the reports are false and baseless

Naseed Geelani, son of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has denied reports of the death of his father, which had appeared yesterday in one Pakistan based media house. “Geelani is ok & alive, Rumor about his death is false and baseless”, Naseem told KNS Kashmir, responding to the media reports.

Yesterday, Pakistani media house Daily Times had reported that Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani had passed away due to a serious illness. The report had said that Geelani died on Wednesday, and the funeral prayers were to be held today. The report had quoted a written statement issued by Hurriyat, saying that the separatist leader was suffering from chest infection and he was not responding to the ongoing treatment.

Several social media users had shared the Daily Times report on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, saying that Geelani has died. But now his son had denied the news report, and has confirmed that his father is ok and alive.

Born in 1929, Syed Ali Shah Geelani is 91 years old, and he is suffering from health issued for several months. In fact, the rumours of his death had emerged earlier this year too, which the family was forced to deny. Internet connections were snapped in February this year to prevent the spread of rumours of his death, which could have led to law and order problems. In 2014 also, rumours of Geelani’s death had spread.

In June this year, Geelani had resigned from the Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of separatist groups in the Valley. He had written a detailed two-page letter highlighting the reasons behind his resignation from the Hurriyat Conference. As per the letter, Geelani was sidelined by the Pakistani chapter of Hurriyat in the key-decision making process for the past 2 years. Besides, he had revealed that his colleagues had also began to maintain distance from him.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani is considered as the senior-most Hurriyat leader, which itself is sponsored by Pakistan. Geelani was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded his own party by the name of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He has served as the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, a conglomerate of separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir. He became an MLA from Sopore constituency first in 1972 and went on to become MLA for two more terms.

Did railway officials deboard two passengers because they were ‘low class’? Here is the CCTV footage that exposes the lie

OpIndia Staff
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Did railway officials deboard two passengers because they were ‘low class’? Here is the CCTV footage that exposes the lie

After several media reports claimed that two labourers were deboarded from the Rajdhani Express in Jharkhand despite having confirmed tickets, the Railways have strongly denied the claims. The Railway officials have also released CCTV footage from the railway platform to prove that the passengers arrived at the station after the train had left the station, and they had lodged a false complaint.

Today several Hindi media houses had reported that on Wednesday, two labourers Ramchandra Yadav and Ajay Yadav was deboarded from the New Delhi – Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express at the Koderma Junction in Jharkhand by the TTE. The reports claimed that the TTE had deboarded them from the train, saying that the train is for VIPs and they are not privileged enough to board the train.

After the incident, Ramchandra and Ajay had lodged a complaint with the station master against the TTE, which was later forwarded to higher Railway authorities. The reports quoted DRM of the Dhanbad Railway division Ashish Bansal saying that if the incident is true, it is wrong, and action will be taken after the matter is probed.

The Official Twitter handle of the All India Mahila Congress tweeted the a report on the alleged incident by Jansatta, and claimed that the Rail Minister is responsible for the incident.

However, now Ashish Bansal has clarified that no such incident had happened, and the two persons had actually missed the train. Responding to a tweet by Amar Ujala posting the report, the Dhanbad DRM said that the report is not based on facts. He informed that the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express had left the station at 05:22, while the two passengers were still running on the foot-overbridge in the station at 05:23. The DRM posted CCTV footage which showed the two persons on the overbridge at 5:23, after the train had already left.

After Bansal posted the tweet with the video, Amar Ujala deleted the tweet. Their report is still present on their website, which they have updated with the clarification from the DRM. They have also changed the headline to reflect the Railway version.

The Railways have issued a statement denying the allegations. The statement says that news reported in the newspaper is factually incorrect, as the passengers had missed the train as they arrived late on the platform. The Railways asserts that there was no altercation between the passengers and any Railway Staff on duty at Koderma.

Read- Fact Check: Has the government sold the Indian Railways to Adani Group as alleged in a viral video? Read the truth here

It further says that passengers work in a private company in Odisha, and they recorded an incorrect statement in the complaint register kept with the station master, and sent a copy of it to his employer. Later, this incorrect complaint reached to some press reporter who published it.

As soon as the reports of the complaint came to the knowledge of the Dhanbad railway officials, the CCTV footage was examined, and the truth was revealed. Dhanbad Railway Division is issuing a rejoinder on the matter in newspapers.

Meerut: Javed slit his married girlfriend’s throat while her five children watched

OpIndia Staff
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Meerut: Javed slit his married girlfriend’s throat while her five children watched

In a gruesome crime in Meerut on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh a man allegedly butchered his married girlfriend over suspicion of infidelity. The incident happened in Harinagar colony near Brahmpuri police station on December 30. The accused named Javed brutally slit the throat of the victim named Nargis (some reports mention her name as Nazreen).

According to reports, the accused Javed, who was in a romantic relationship with the victim, suspected her of a having a love affair with another man.

The victim was the mother of 5 children

Nargis was the mother of five children and was married one Imran who sells clothes in Delhi. Nargis ran a beauty parlour and also used to sell medicines. Javed’ family, wife and two children live in Shastrinagar sector 14. Javed used to take care of Nargis’ children as her husband used to be Delhi most of the time. He suspected that Nargis was having an affair with a man named Sonu, a resident of Maliana. He alleged that she was planning to marry this other person.

Javed was angry over the victim’s alleged affair with another man

Yesterday, Javed went to Nargis’ house in the morning. He attacked Nargis with a butcher’s knife and slit her throat. On hearing Nargis scream, neighbours rushed to her house where they found Javed with a blood stained weapon and Nargis lying dead on the floor. Two of her children were lying on the ground unconscious while three were sitting in a corner crying. The neighbours informed the police immediately. Whne police reached at the spot, Javed did not try to flee and started shouting that he wanted police to kill him in an encounter as he did not want to live. He surrendered before the police and was taken to police station. The body of the victim was sent for postmortem. All the five children of the victim have been sent for medical check up and were later handed over to relatives.

SSP Ajay Sahni informed that Javed had known the victim for many years. A case has been filed on a complaint by the victim’s brother.

From the Dara Hua Hindus of Maujpur to Manav’s tragic death and Shaheen Bagh ground report: Top 10 exclusive OpIndia news breaks of 2020

OpIndia Staff
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From the Dara Hua Hindus of Maujpur to Manav’s tragic death and Shaheen Bagh ground report: Top 10 exclusive OpIndia news breaks of 2020

The year 2020 has been difficult for everyone but with the support from our readers, OpIndia continued to publish news that are not covered by mainstream media. From stories on Grooming Jihad to unmasking ‘civil society organizations’, OpIndia published a lot of exclusive news stories.

On the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots and the investigation that followed, we have published numerous exclusive reports and also a book on the events and the conspiracy that led to the enormous bloodshed at the national capital.

Now that we are at the end of the year, we revisit some of the important news stories that we have reported this year.

1. A tale of Maujpur’s Dara Hua Hindus

OpIndia reported on the plight of Hindus at Maujpur, a Hindu dominated locality that witnessed widespread violence, in the aftermath of the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots. The Hindus in Maujpur were living in constant fear of being attacked by Islamist mobs. Vinod Kumar was shot dead in this area.

We discovered that men prepared to die and women of the house prepared to fight or die themselves if the “Mohammaden mob” comes for them is a story not uncommon with Hindu families living in fear since the Delhi anti-Hindu riots broke out. The media, on the other hand, was busy painting these riots as a pogrom against Muslims, incited by “rabid Hindus”.

2. The full story of what happened when Nazmul kidnapped Dinesh’s daughter at gunpoint

A minor girl was abducted on gunpoint while she was returning from the market with her father. The incident took place on July 26 (Sunday) in Begusarai’s Bhikan Chak village that falls under Bachhwara police station. Dinesh, the father of the minor girl said that around 5 pm, seven people, including a female, approached them in a Bolero car while they were crossing the Panchayat Bhavan in Behrampur in Mansurchak Block in Begusarai district and took away his daughter on gunpoint.

We brought the full story of the matter to public light.

3. Shaheen Bagh ground report

OpIndia also reported on the Shaheen Bagh protests from the ground. We reported that contrary to the media narrative that this was a ‘spontaneous’ protest, a lot of money was being spent on organizing it. The protests were extremely organized, for a protest that was touted to be ‘spontaneous’.

There was a security check as well where protesters would demand your identity proof and check your bags and even then, would continue keeping an eye on you. Media personnel are screened before they could talk with the protesters. A lot of the details was happily ignored by the mainstream media.

4. Interviewing Manav’s father

On the 4th of May, 2020, the life of one family in upscale Gurugram came to a screeching halt. A 17-year-old boy, Manav, jumped from the 11th floor of his apartment building, landing on the road below and ultimately, losing his life. The ‘Bois Locker Room’ controversy had claimed a victim. We interviewed his father to bring his side of the story and reveal how such a promising young life was cut short by the demented nature of social media.

5. A South African anti-racism campaign and the inexplicable presence of Congress leader Anand Sharma

South-Africa launched an ‘anti-racism campaign’ led by President Ramaphosa. The campaign had significant opposition within South Africa as well. The launch of this campaign was to start with a virtual talk. The opening statements were to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa and then, a panel discussion was to ensue with several other panelists making their comments.

7 out of 8 of those panelists belonged to South Africa. However, there was one name that did not add up – Anand Sharma, Congress leader. We reported the manner in which Congress could have potentially undermined Indian national interests in the process.

6. Conversation that shows how Mumbai Police is trying to coerce witness into naming Republic TV in TRP scam

OpIndia accessed a conversation which is between Person A (Person in whose home a bar-o-meter is installed) and his neighbour, makes it evident that Person A was scared for his security and his family’s safety after being allegedly coerced by the Mumbai Police.

The conversation accessed by OpIndia raised significant questions regarding the conduct of the Mumbai Police and the manner in which witnesses were being coerced in order to target Arnab Goswami and Republic TV.

7. The full story behind why Prasar Bharati decided to terminate its association with PTI

The Prasar Bharati finally terminated its arrangement with the Press Trust of India (PTI) in October this year. Earlier, it was announced that the government of India institution will be reviewing its arrangement with the PTI following its interview with the Chinese Ambassador wherein the news agency was accused of providing a platform for the Chinese to run their propaganda.

OpIndia reported the precise reason why Prasar Bharti took that decision.

8. WhatsApp chats that showed how some anti-CAA protestors were aware that violence was planned

OpIndia has accessed screenshots of Whatsapp chats between those who controlled the Delhi riots which further explain how the communal riots were not the handiwork of locals but it was a result of deeper conspiracy and planning.

The WhatsApp chats make it extremely clear that the riots were a deep seated conspiracy and not impromptu at all.

9. How Harsh Mander is connected to Italian Govt and Italian Secret Service

We, at OpIndia, have spent a lot of time discussing and reporting on the undue influence that foreign-funded NGOs exert over the institutions of our country and the narratives that drive politics in the media. We have reported extensively on the manner in which foreign-funded NGOs are using the Judiciary in order to meddle the internal affairs of India via elements like Harsh Mander.

This year, we reported how Harsh Mander is a member of an organization connected to the Italian Government and the Italian Secret Service.

10. Ankit Sharma’s brother talks to OpIndia

While the Delhi anti-Hindu riots rage on, the country woke up to disturbing news on 26th January. An Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, Ankit Sharma, had been brutally murdered and his tortured remains were recovered from a nearby drain. Some said that the IB officer was mercilessly thrown after the murder during the Delhi anti-Hindu riots, others alleged that the body was hidden so it would not be recovered.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media claimed that Ankit Sharma was murdered by a mob chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and went further to say that it was his brother who had made the claim. It was under these circumstances that OpIndia talked to the deceased IB constable’s brother.

The brother denied making any such claim ever and said that it was Tahir Hussain and the Islamist mob the former AAP Councilor was leading that was responsible for Ankit Sharma’s murder.

Ujjain: The colony where Ram Mandir fund collection rally was attacked by Muslim mob to be demolished

OpIndia Staff
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Ujjain: The colony where Ram Mandir fund collection rally was attacked by Muslim mob to be demolished

In the aftermath of the recent stone-pelting by a Muslim mob on a rally taken out by Hindus in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, the police are on a lookout for the culprits. According to Nai Dunia, the bail application of one of the accused was rejected by the court yesterday. So far, 18 people have reportedly been arrested by the police and 5 people have been booked under the National Security Act (NSA). Around 36 people have so far been made accused in the case. Teams of police have been deployed in the areas to prevent any untoward situation.

A rally taken out for collecting funds for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya on December 25 was attacked with stones as it passed through the Muslim dominated area of Begumbagh. The mob vandalised the vehicles left behind by people in rally after they ran for cover on being attacked. The house which was used by stone pelters to attack the rally was later demolished by the police as it was found to be an illegal construction.

Illegal colony where stone-pelting happened to be demolished

According to reports, the local administration is planning to demolish the illegal colony in Begumbagh area where stones were pelted at the rally. The families that will be affected by the demolition will be provided with flats that will be constructed in Dhatravada village. The construction of new flats will entail an expenditure of Rs 15 crore. The municipal corporation had invited tenders from construction companies for the construction of the flats. The administration is likely to finalise the tenders soon.

The new flats will reportedly be provided to affected families at cheaper rates. The construction will be carried under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana within two years. The land where the colony is located will be used for developing parking area and other facilities. The decision to pull down the colony and provide alternate accommodation to affected families was taken about a month ago in a meeting of Ujjain Smart City Board.

From Grooming Jihad, Hathras case to exposing ‘drone boy’: Here are the top 10 articles of 2020 by OpIndia

OpIndia Staff
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From Grooming Jihad, Hathras case to exposing ‘drone boy’: Here are the top 10 articles of 2020 by OpIndia

2020 has been an extremely fruitful year for us at OpIndia. It has been a year of growth and prospects. It has been a year where we bettered our own performance and continued to get undying support from the ones who matter: our readers.

These are the top 10 articles that you helped go viral and made them the most read this year. You can click on the preview images or the link below the images to read the respective articles:

1. The curious case of ‘Drone Boy’ who has made 600 drones using broken mixer grinders and televisions. A fact-check

In 2020, social media was abuzz with tales of Prathap NM, a young man who was dubbed as the drone boy, and a drone scientist. Stories of how Prathap had won numerous gold medals in various drone expos around the world, has been invited to 87 countries, and has been offered work by various govts apart from Indian govt, apart from PM Modi asking DRDP to hire him, were plenty. Not just the social media, but mainstream media too jumped on the bandwagon.

OpIndia did a fact-check and conclusively proved that his stories were just that – stories.

There was no evidence of drone scientist Prathap NM making any drone, winning any award and medal. All the stories about him on various websites were based on other websites carrying the same stories. It was a cycle of fake news that continued till we broke it. There were several loopholes in claims in regard to his achievements, and most importantly, his claim is remarkably similar to the story of another drone boy.

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Drone Boy Prathap NM

2. China launches ‘crusade’ against Christianity, begins to remove crosses from churches across the country

In May 2020, the Chinese government decided to forcefully remove more than two thousand crosses from churches across China as part of a government campaign to regulate “excessive religious sites”. The Communist Party of China (CPC) decided to pull down crosses atop of churches across the country as part of its post-coronavirus crusade against Christianity. The campaign was aimed at eradicating Christian landscape and its symbols from China.

On Easter Sunday 2020, the Chinese authorities ripped down the cross that used to surmount the tympanum of a church in the diocese of Xinxiang in Henan province.

Our report on China’s Crusade became our second most read article of the year.

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Crosses removed from Chinese churches

3. Here is why Aaditya Thackeray is called Baby Penguin by some

Dharmendra Mishra, legal head of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena had filed a complaint against a Netizen for referring to Aditya Thackeray as ‘Baby Penguin’. In this article, we explained why Aditya Thackeray was called so by some people.

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A baby penguin

4. Indian Army to take over Narela quarantine facility after Tablighi Jamaat attendees defecate in the corridor

The gross misbehaviour of the Tablighi Jamaat members in quarantine facilities continues unabated as they excreted in the corridor of the Narela quarantine centre in April 2020.

A request was then made to the Indian Army to take over the medical screening setup. The Indian Army then confirmed that it was in the gradual process of assuming the responsibility of screening duties in the Narela camp.

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Tablighi Jamaatis

5. Hathras gang rape: Victim cremated, accused arrested. All you need to know about the case

19-year-old girl was was allegedly raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on 14th September 2020. She succumbed to her injuries on 29th September, 2020 in Delhi. Amidst the cacophony of the media and the vulturism of politicians, the truth was getting lost.

We brought to our readers an unbiased chronology of facts, right from the time the girl was allegedly brutalised to the time the accused were arrested in the case.

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Hathras police release official sound byte on the Hathras gang rape case

6. As India fights Wuhan Coronavirus, here is a list of prominent Hindu Temples and religious leaders helping India through donations and welfare

In times of national crisis, we often hear from liberals and those under the influence of Secularism that it would be better to construct hospitals than Temples. An attempt is made to portray the resources invested in Hindu Temples as a wastage when these resources could have been spent on other avenues. Under ordinary circumstances, apart from hospitals, much hue and cry being raised that the resources could have been allocated to the construction of schools instead.

Despite the fact that the construction of Temples and building schools and hospitals are not mutually exclusive, a dedicated attempt is made in order to guilt-trip Hindus. However, as it turns out, apart from the exhaustive social work that Temples are involved in, during times of crisis, they are at the forefront of making donations to institutions in order to combat the crisis. The Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic has been no different.

In the wake of the crisis, numerous temples across the country came forward to contribute generously, both in terms of food and welfare, to help the country.

We compiled a list back then that can be read here.

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Somnath Temple

7. PMNRF vs PM CARES: PMNRF always had Congress President on its managing committee while PM CARES is far more democratic

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM CARES Fund to fight the Wuhan Coronavirus, a lot has been discussed about the similarities and differences between PM CARES Fund and PMNRF.

In this article, we spoke about how the PM CARES Fund was car more democratic then PMNRF, and how, the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund used to have the President of Congress party in its managing committee.

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PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi

8. Wife of late Wajid Khan writes on her sufferings in an inter-faith marriage, says anti-conversion law should be nationalised

Months after music composer Wajid Khan of the Sajid-Wajid fame passed away due to coronavirus related complications, his wife Kamalrukh Khan shared her first-hand account of life in an inter-faith marriage. In a lengthy post on Instagram captioned “Live and let live should be the only religion we all practice”, Kamalrukh revealed how her resistance to convert to Islam drastically widened the divide between her and her late husband.

She also demanded that the law against Grooming Jihad be nationalised.

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Late music composer Wajid Khan with his wife Kamalrukh Khan and children (Source: famouspeople.wiki)

9. Rajdeep Sardesai issued an unconditional apology to an IPS officer in November 2019 for spreading fake news in 2007

Rajdeep Sardesai had to apologise to Rajiv Trivedi for a program titled “30 minutes – Sohrabuddin, the inside story”, which was aired on CNN-IBN (now CNN-News18) channel on 13 May 2007. In the program, it was accused that Hyderabad Special Investigation Unit SP Rajiv Trivedi had helped the Gujarat police in nabbing Sohrabuddin. Rajdeep Sardesai had reported that Rajiv Trivedi had provided cars with fake number plates which were used to transport Sohrabuddin to Ahmedabad.

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Rajdeep Sardesai

10. Nikita murder case: Tauseef decided to kill her after watching Mirzapur

Tauseef, the accused who brutally shot dead Hindu girl Nikita Tomar in Mewat, revealed that he was inspired by online web series ‘Mirzapur’ where the lead actor is shown murdering a girl for rejecting his proposal.

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Nikita Tomar, the character Munna in Mirzapur

And with that, Team Opindia wishes you all a happy, prosperous, opinionated and media-lies-free (sorry for the joke) 2020! We promise to bring to you news that matters, that the mainstream media ignores, in 2021 as well!

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