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Dear liberals, “EU disinfo report” proves you hate India, not just Modi

Abhishek Banerjee
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Dear liberals, “EU disinfo report” proves you hate India, not just Modi

Perhaps you are not a Modi supporter. Maybe you feel warm and fuzzy inside when the New York Times or Washington Post calls PM Modi a “fascist.” It is nice to have your hatred validated by flagship global outlets, is it not?

Perhaps you sneer when BJP supporters accuse your liberal icons of being anti-national. They’re not anti-national, you insist. They are just anti-BJP. Fair enough.

How far are you willing to go with this? At what point would you admit that liberals are trying to defame India, not just Modi?

Are you willing to believe, for instance, that Pakistan does not sponsor terrorism? Poor, innocent Pakistan. No, they never sponsored Lashkar or Hizbul. And had nothing to do with 26/11. They never gave a home to Osama bin Laden. They never sold nuclear technology to other rogue regimes like North Korea. Poor, innocent Pakistan is a victim of Indian propaganda.

Stunned? Bewildered? Well, that’s what Al Jazeera is reporting. You know, the same Al Jazeera that you look up to for exposing all the ‘fascism’ in India under Modi.

“The report released on Wednesday said the disinformation network run by the Srivastava Group, a New Delhi-based entity, was designed primarily to “discredit Pakistan internationally” and influence decision-making at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the European Parliament.

The report said in order to “undermine Pakistan internationally”, the network “resurrected dead NGOs” at the UN, impersonated the EU and laundered content produced by fake media to real media, and reached millions in South Asia and across the world.“

And look, the sacred BBC has covered it with an even more sinister headline.

BBC’s headline on EU Disinfo report

The same BBC, the sacred BBC that you so praised for standing up for truth and justice in Kashmir. The sacred BBC that is the lord and protector of constitutional morality in India. Isn’t that where all your liberal icons go to find some respite from the poisonous atmosphere of Modi’s India?

What are they talking about? Apparently, some “researchers” at an NGO called “EU Disinformation Lab” have uncovered this vast campaign by India to discredit Pakistan:

“The EU DisinfoLab in its report, Indian Chronicles: deep dive into a 15-year operation targeting the EU and United Nations to serve Indian interests, termed this as the “largest network” of disinformation they have exposed so far.“

Poor innocent Pakistan, defamed by the world’s largest disinformation network! And notice they say it’s a 15 year long operation. That covers nine out of the ten years of UPA. So if you are an Indian liberal, you can’t scratch your itch of blaming Modi.

Do you remember 26/11? Do you remember the 2006 Mumbai local train bombings? Can’t blame Pakistan, sorry. This must all be “disinformation” spread by India. Pakistan never hurt a fly.

You know in your bones that this is a lie. You know that Pakistan is a sponsor of terrorism. And you know that those “researchers” are either on drugs or on bribes. And you know that any “news” organization willing to take such research seriously is also either on drugs or on bribes.

But then why are BBC and Al Jazeera covering this in all seriousness? Especially in the last six years, you liberals have treated these organizations as lighthouses of truth. Why are your lighthouses of truth beaming an obvious lie?

In case you think this is a random report from some NGO which can be ignored, get this:

“Peter Stano, the lead spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the European Commission, told Al Jazeera that they are aware of the report. … Stano said the expose will be raised during the EU-India Strategic Partnership dialogue.“

You can see what comes next. Pakistan will brandish this report on all international forums.

I’m surprised. Why aren’t Indian liberals calling out their icons? I don’t like to call anyone “anti-national” but this time I want answers. So dear liberals, I am putting you in a spot:

Q1. Are you willing to accept that the “researchers” behind this report were paid operatives carrying out propaganda against India?

Q2. Does this report, which will now be taken up officially by the EU, prove that there is a vast international conspiracy against India?

Q3. If you accept this conspiracy exists (and is well funded and powerful), are you now willing to apologize to Modi supporters who figured this out years before you did?

Q4. Given that BBC and Al Jazeera are helping increase the credibility of this “report,” do you still trust these organizations to tell the truth about India? Do you accept that these organizations always intended to lie about India?

Q5. Your clown car of intellectuals, journalists and “fact checkers” in India is always so eager to call out certain domestic TV channels. How many of these fact checkers and intellectuals have denounced the BBC or Al Jazeera now? So will you now consider the possibility that your intellectuals took money to lie about India?

Dear liberals, you have two choices now. Either accept there is a vast international conspiracy against India, denounce the BBC and Al Jazeera and all your liberal icons who take money to appear on their forums.

Or you have to admit that Pakistan is innocent and India has been defaming them. You have to admit that you are giving Pakistan a clean chit on 26/11, on Pulwama attack, everything. In that case, you are an “anti-national.” There is no doubt.

‘Investigative journalist’ Swati Chaturvedi’s midnight ‘goggling’ is more humiliating than her conversations with ‘sources’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Investigative journalist’ Swati Chaturvedi’s midnight ‘goggling’ is more humiliating than her conversations with ‘sources’

Abusive troll masquerading as an ‘investigative journalist’ Swati Chaturvedi was at it again. On Tuesday, Chaturvedi, who has been seen attributing figment of her imagination to sources in the BJP, tweeted an image of PM Modi standing with a woman, dressed up in all finery, grinning ear to ear.

Swati Chaturvedi’s tweet

Swati captioned this image by wondering whether this particular image looks like that of a ‘child marriage’. She insinuated that PM Modi was married as an adult (and not child marriage as it is known) and was ‘happy’ (unlike the fact that he left home upon reaching adulthood and gave up family life to serve the nation).

She, of course, was informed that the lady in the image is not PM Modi’s estranged with, Jashodaben. Soon after, she put up a disclaimer that she found the image off ‘goggle’ and that she cannot vouch for the veracity of the claims.

Bainjal found the pic on ‘goggle’

So, here is what happens. Late in the night, as per Swati Chaturvedi, she is fiercely searching for PM Modi’s marriage pics, for reasons best known to her, she finds one random image of him where he is standing next to a dressed up woman where everyone in the picture is happy, and she decides it is indeed PM Modi’s own marriage pics. What was she even doing searching for these keywords at 11 in the night. Curious minds want to know.

The possibility that it could be him attending someone else’s wedding or even some other social function where the lady has just dressed up for occasion, doesn’t cross her mind (?). If PM Modi, in his younger days, is standing next to a woman, it definitely has to be his estranged wife: Bainjal logic (!!).

And if so-called journalists are just ‘goggling’ things in middle of the night and passing off first search result as breaking news on social media, they kind of sort of lose the right to allege they have reputation of any sort which could be ‘ruined’ in the eyes of their peers.

Other possibility of source of this image is that she received it on WhatsApp through her ‘sources’ and before any of her conspiracy theorist colleagues could post it, Swati called dibs on it.

One random Twitter user came to her rescue and shared Google search result for ‘Modi marriage pics’ and Swati was just too happy to share it.

Swati Chaturvedi brazening it out

How is this even legit.

In fact, this fake image with same fake claims has been viral since before 2014 elections.

2014 fake news

The same image has gone viral with similar claims over the years.

While it is not clear who all are in the image, one can identify former BJP leader Kashiram Rana at far right corner in the image. Reports suggest this is his daughter’s wedding which Modi had attended as a guest.

But of course, let us just ‘goggle’ things and share unverified images and then identify oneself as ‘investigative journalist’.

Chhattisgarh: One tribal minor girl gang-raped and another pressured to convert, 14 ABVP workers arrested during protest demanding justice

जयन्ती मिश्रा
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Chhattisgarh: One tribal minor girl gang-raped and another pressured to convert, 14 ABVP workers arrested during protest demanding justice

Several members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) gheraoed the collectorate in Chhattisgarh on Saturday as police arrested fourteen and detained several others members of the RSS affiliated outfit. The arrest was made following a protest launched by the ABVP workers to seek justice for the two tribals minor girls, one of whom was brutally gang-raped and the other was forcefully sent to a church in Andhra Pradesh for religious conversion in Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh earlier this month.

Almost 500 ABVP workers surrounded the collectorate and raised slogans against the Congress-led state government and the police administration. Speaking to Opindia, ABVP state secretary Shubham Jaiswal said that they would continue to protest until justice is not delivered to the two tribal girls and their families and their fellow workers are not released by the Chhattisgarh police.

ABVP workers

While the ABVP accused Chhattisgarh police of inaction in the two cases, police, in turn, said that the arrests were made as the protesting ABVP workers breached police barricades to forcefully enter the collectorate.

14-year-old Chhattisgarh tribal girl gang-raped

Speaking about one of the incidents, Shubham Jaiswal told us that a 14-year-old tribal girl was raped by four unidentified persons in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district on November 22, 2020. The incident took place on Sunday night under the City Kotwali police station area of Kawardha town, the district headquarters. The minor victim had reached the police station in an extremely terrible condition with her body soaked in blood, but instead of registering her complaint, Shubham said that the police concluded that the victim had gone to hang out with her boyfriend.

The ABVP state secretary furthered that after the victim was released from the hospital, she was shocked to see her perpetrators roaming around freely on the streets. She once again went to the police station to lodge a complaint. But by then, the SP of City Kotwali police station had reportedly proclaimed that it was a conspiracy weaved by the victim. Shubham asserted that along with the accused, strict action should also be taken against the investigating officer and the police officer who accused the 14-year-old victim of hatching a conspiracy.

13-year-old tribal girl in Chhattisgarh forcefully converted to Christianity

Divulging details of the second case, Shubham told Opindia that ABVP workers are also seeking justice for the 13-year-old tribal girl who was recently lured and taken to Andhra Pradesh where she was presurrised to adopt Christianity. He said that the minor and her family was lured on the pretext of providing her with free education in city’s famous Holy Cross School. She was then sent to a church in Andhra Pradesh where she was forced to take up Christianity.

ABVP seeks justice for women

The ABVP state secretary furthered that their intention was to only seek justice for the two tribal girls. However, owing to the police apathy and laxity in handling the cases, they were compelled to gherao the collector’s office. Shubham divulged that many local leaders along with Congress leader Mohammad Akbar reached the police station lately and exerted pressure on the police administration who in turn arrested the ABVP workers under non bailable sections of the IPC and threw them in jail. He informed that despite several attempts, his colleagues have not yet been released by the police.

ABVP activists protesting in front of the Collector’s office in Chhattisgarh

Though Opindia is not in possession of the FIR lodged in the above two cases, according to the information provided to us by Shubham Jaiswal, besides once accused named Rizwan Khan, all the others, accused of raping the 14-year-old minor girl, were also minors. Shubham alleged that Chhattisgarh police have not yet handed over the medical report of the victim and the copy of the FIR copy to the victim’s family.

Rajnandgaon BJP MP Santosh Pandey critised the Chhattisgarh police for their apathy and said that the way they have been after the ABVP workers had they pursued the rape case of the minor victim, the accused would have been arrested by now. According to the information received, IPC sections as grave as 186, 188, 353, 147, 427 and 3 other sections related to demage of public property, has been slapped on the arrested ABVP workers.

Chhattisgarh Police’s version

When Opindia approached the authorities to know the police’s take on the entire fiasco, they confirmed arresting 14 ABVP workers and sending them to jail. The police said that the protesting worker breached barricades and forcefully made their way into the collector’s office. They confirmed that 4 accused in the gang-rape case have been nabbed and they are trying to arrest the accused in the second case also.

Supreme Court to hear petition seeking removal of protesting farmers from Delhi border areas

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court to hear petition seeking removal of protesting farmers from Delhi border areas

Supreme Court will hear on December 16 (Wednesday) a plea seeking a direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting in the outskirts of Delhi against three new farm laws.

According to reports, a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justice A S Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian will be hearing the petition filed by law student Rishabh Sharma who contended that the protest, which entered day 20 today, has been causing hardships to commuters due to the road blockades. He also said that the gatherings might lead to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

The law student has urged that necessary directions are given to authorities to open the roads at Delhi border areas and shift the protesters to allotted places. He also requested that protestors are asked to maintain social distancing and use masks to check the spread of the pathogen.

‘Distressed’ farmers protesting at Delhi borders enjoy spas and pizzas

Recently, videos emerged which showed how these ‘distressed’ farmers protesting at the border areas of Delhi have converted the areas into picnic spots. They were seen enjoying their free time at these protest sites. After getting extremely comfortable with massage parlours and a gym at these protest sites, these ‘farmers’ have now turned these public roads into a picnic spot by baking and distributing Pizzas to the so-called protestors.

Videos of the ‘pizza party’ at the protest site along the Haryana-Delhi went viral, leaving many social media users appalled. Some took to Twitter to express their ire about the façade of these so-called farmers protests.

‘Insulting Hindutva is not religious insult’: Abhinav Chandrachud, son of SC Justice Chandrachud, argues before Karnataka HC

OpIndia Staff
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‘Insulting Hindutva is not religious insult’: Abhinav Chandrachud, son of SC Justice Chandrachud, argues before Karnataka HC

Advocate Dr. Abhinav Chandrachud today contended before the Karnataka High Court that insulting Hindutva did not amount to insulting Hinduism. While appearing before the High Court in a case seeking the quashing of FIR against an law student, Advocate Chandrachud said, “Hindutva is not religion and insult to it cannot be regarded as a religious insult”. As per LiveLaw, Abhinav Chandrachud here is the son of Supreme Court justice DY Chandrachud.

The matter had come for hearing before a single-judge bench of Justice Suraj Govidaraj. The petitioner law student was charged under sections 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings…) and 153-A (Promoting enmity between two different groups…) of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly holding an objectionable placard during an anti-CAA protest at Government Arts College, Bengaluru.

Hindutva a predominant ideology of a political party: Advocate Chandrachud

Arguing before the Court, Advocate Chandrachud said that Hindutva could be considered a philosophy, a way of life, or even a predominant ideology of a political party. Therefore according to him using insulting language against Hindutva was not insult to religion but an insult to a political philosophy. Therefore, section 295-A could not be invoked. He contended that section 153-A also was not attracted as it required two communities to be involved. “No offence under sections 153-A and 295-A is made out even if the contents of the FIR are accepted in it entirety”, he contended.

Petitioner was allegedly holding a “F*ck Hindutva” placard

The Principal of Government Arts College, Bengaluru had filed the complaint alleging that some students had assembled unlawfully in the college premises in December 2019 to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The complaint alleged that some individuals were displaying a placard with “F*ck Hindutva” written on it and it amounted to offences under sections 153-A and 295-A. The petitioner was granted anticipatory bail the Sessions Court on January 31, 2020. She approached the High Court seeking the quashing of FIR. The petitioner said that she was not named in the FIR.

The court posted the matter for hearing on December 21 after Advocate sought a short adjournment to place on record the citations referred to by him.

Delhi Police detains Umar Khalid’s mother and sister during protests to mark one year of Islamist violence at Jamia University

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police detains Umar Khalid’s mother and sister during protests to mark one year of Islamist violence at Jamia University

The mother and sister of Umar Khalid have been detained by Delhi Police along with other students of Jamia Milia Islamia University, users on social media claimed on Tuesday. Sources have confirmed the same to OpIndia. They were detained from Batla House.

Mother and sister of Umar Khalid have been detained by Delhi Police
Mother and sister of Umar Khalid have been detained by Delhi Police

Apart from Islamist Ladeeda Farzana, ‘journalist’ Saahil Murli Menghani reported the same. The protesters had reportedly gathered to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Delhi Police crackdown against Jamia Milia University after a spate of Islamist violence. One year ago, policemen were forced to enter the University to flush out violent islamist rioters who had taken refuge inside the campus. The NHRC said that the actions of the Delhi Police were justified and they were justified in entering the campus.

Sources told OpIndia that around 15 individuals were detained by the Police. They had gathered to protest but the Police had dispersed the protesters. There was very security at Jamia, therefore, the protesters decided to mark the anniversary at Batla House. However, they were dispersed from the location.

Umar Khalid is an accused in the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots case where he is alleged to have conspired to unleash riots in the national capital. Numerous lives were lost in the Islamist violence unleashed in Delhi. He is currently in prison and has been charge sheeted. His prosecution is expected to begin soon.

Fact Check: Did Wikileaks really ‘dump all their files online’ as being claimed on social media? Here are the facts

OpIndia Staff
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Fact Check: Did Wikileaks really ‘dump all their files online’ as being claimed on social media? Here are the facts

There is a claim on social media platform Twitter which says that Wikileaks has “leaked all their files” and dumped thousands of files on its website. The leaked files are claimed to contain explosive revelations about Steve Jobs, ‘PedoPodesta’ (likely refers to close Clinton aide John Podesta), Afghanistan, Syria and other fiery issues. However, the files contained in the leak are nothing new and there has been no such leak as of now.

Wikileaks has dumped all their files online, the tweet claims

There is no announcement on the official Twitter handle of Wikileaks confirming any of these claims. Usually, after any new data dump, the website makes an announcement on social media. There has been none so far. Its recent social media activity has concerned the health and well-being of its currently imprisoned founder, Julian Assange, who is being punished for embarrassing western governments.

Most recent tweet by Wikileaks

Furthermore, a quick search on Twitter revealed that the same claims with the exact same language has surfaced again and again on social media during the course of this year in various months.

The same text in April
The same text in June
The same text in November

Thus, we have tweets with the same text being circulated in April, June, November and now December. Additionally, there has been no confirmation from Wikileaks recently that they have dumped any files online.

Furthermore, the link has been available all this time as well and users could browse through the files earlier as well. Thus, it appears to be a false alarm. Nonetheless, there are thousands of files available for browsing and there are sure to be some pretty interesting information available in them.

As Republic TV CEO is sent to 14-day custody, Mumbai Police embarks to hunt Arnab Goswami down, again: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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As Republic TV CEO is sent to 14-day custody, Mumbai Police embarks to hunt Arnab Goswami down, again: Read details

The witch hunt against Republic Media Network and the Editor-in-chief of Republic TV continues unabated as the members of the crime branch of Mumbai Police reportedly travelled to Delhi to arrest Arnab Goswami in the alleged TRP scam case.

The revelation was made by the Republic TV’s advocate Abad Ponda during the hearing in the Bombay High Court regarding the plea filed by ARG Outlier challenging the FIR filed in the TRP scam case that implicates the channel.

“I am making a solemn statement that the Maharashtra Police has reached Delhi to arrest Arnab Goswami. I have received a message at 2:30 PM. It is there on my phone,” Ponda said.

The revelation was made by lawyer Abad Ponda during the arguments in the plea filed by ARG Outlier parent company of Republic TV challenging the FIR filed in the TRP scam case implicating the channel.

When the Bench took up the matter, Sr. Adv Aabad Ponda appearing for ARG argued that he seeks to make submissions for urgent reliefs. Saying that the Mumbai Police was in Delhi to arrest Arnab Goswami yet again, Mr Ponda asked for relief till tomorrow. However, the Chief Public Prosecutor had stated that no coercive steps will be taken against persons referred to in the chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police in the TRP case till tomorrow.

Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani arrested in fake TRP case sent to 14-days custody

Even as Delhi Police reportedly reached the national capital to arrest Arnab Goswami, a magistrate court in Mumbai on Tuesday sent Republic TV Chief Executive Officer Vikas Khanchandani to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with the probe into the alleged TRP manipulation scam, reported Bar and Bench.

Earlier on Sunday, Republic CEO Vikas Khanchandani was arrested by the Mumbai Police after the police officials barged into his residence in an early morning raid, just a day ahead of the anticipatory bail hearing. The police defended his arrest, alleging that Khanchandani’s alleged role in the scam came to light during the interrogation of the channel’s distribution head, Ghanshyam Singh. Singh was arrested by the Mumbai Police last month.

The arrest of Khanchandani came just a month after the Mumbai Police had arrested and assaulted Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami in another 2018 suicide case. He was produced before Alibaug court on the same day and sent to judicial custody. The Republic TV Editor-in-chief was in jail for 8 days and was released from the Taloja Jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail on November 11.

Slamming the Maharashtra Police, the Supreme Court stated that they had failed to establish charges against Republic TV chief in the suicide case. The apex court said that there was prima facie no nexus between the FIR filed failed against Arnab Goswami and Section 306 (Abetment to Suicide) under IPC.

The so-called TRP scam allegations against Republic TV

On 8th October, Param Bir Singh, Mumbai Police Commissioner, said in a press conference that several channels have indulged in malicious practices to increase their TRP ratings. He alleged that Republic TV is one of the main accused. The complaint was filed by the Hansa group that regulated the devices to record TRP for BARC.

However, the initial FIR did not name Republic TV but named India Today network as one of the main suspects. During the investigation, several evidence and witnesses came forward that alleged Mumbai Police have been intimidating them to speak against Republic TV, including Hansa officials. Hansa has also complained that they are being harassed by the Mumbai Police to give statements against Republic TV. Despite glaring inconsistencies and contradictions, the Mumbai Police have doggedly pursued Republic TV in connection with the fake TRP case.

Republic TV has been facing the ire of the Maharashtra government after they started questioning the political powers in the state for their inaction in Palghar lynching case and Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case. The Maharashtra Assembly even tried to bring a privilege motion against the channel and Goswami. Supreme Court had to intervene to put a stop to it.

Christian groups in Kerala call for boycott of Halal meat ahead of Christmas, IUML claims Muslims being targeted

OpIndia Staff
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Christian groups in Kerala call for boycott of Halal meat ahead of Christmas, IUML claims Muslims being targeted

Christians in Kerala have reportedly decided to boycott Halal meat ahead of Christmas. According to Times Now, Kochi based Christian group Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) has urged Christians not to buy Halal food anymore. Hindu groups also extended their support for the call to boycott stating that they are forced to sell Halal meat in the state.

The Indian Union Muslim League has termed the campaign against Halal meat as a controversy to target the Muslims. The CASA has announced that Christians will be holding protests few days before Christmas. For the protest, they are planning to pool in money for buying and cutting the animals in non-halal manner to opposed halal meat.

The Christians are reportedly saying that they cannot consume meat that is prepared in a manner that goes against their religious sentiments. Christians groups in the state said that they are being forced to sell as well as buy halal meat in the state and therefore they have decided to raise voice against it.

According to Times Now, a Muslim League leader based in Malappuram said that the anti-halal campaign was an attempt to create division among people. The leader said that everyone had a right to choose what kind of meat they want to buy and from where they want to buy it.

What is Halal meat?

Halal can only be performed by a Muslim man. Thus, non-Muslims are automatically denied employment at a Halal firm. There are certain other conditions that must be fulfilled that makes it quite clear that it is intrinsically an Islamic practice.

Guidelines are available at the official website of a certification authority of Halal in India which makes it clear that non-Muslim employees cannot be employed in any part of the slaughtering process. The guidelines of the certification authority of Halal in India expressly mention that people employed to carry out the process of Halal must be Muslims. The guidelines clearly mention that animals slaughtered by a non-Muslim will not be Halal.

 

Kerala Electricity Board suspends its employee and Islamist organisation PFI chief Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala Electricity Board suspends its employee and Islamist organisation PFI chief Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has suspended its employee and Popular Front of India (PFI) chairman Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal citing ‘grave misconduct’, a report published by Times Now said. Ovungal served as a Senior Assistant in Manjeri Electrical Circle of the KSEB.

The KSEB, in a letter notifying suspension of Ovungal, also known as OMA Salam, stated that the during the inquiry, it came to light that Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal was also holding the office of the chairman of a banned outfit under the scanner of various investigative agencies for its alleged activities and suspicious fund transactions.

The letter also said, “It has also been substantiated that the accused has made several foreign trips without the prior sanction.”

Enforcement Directorate raids locations belonging to PFI in a money-laundering case

Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided as many as 26 locations across the country belonging to the Popular Front of India(PFI) in connection with a money laundering case. Salam’s residence was one of the locations where ED sleuths had conducted the raid.

Following the raid at his residence, Salam had alleged that the central government was using the ED to divert people’s attention away from the ongoing farmers’ protests.

“ED carries out raids at PFI leaders’ house. Heinous attempt to divert the Farmers Issue and hide the failure of the BJP Govt. Another example of using constitutional institutions as an instrument to pressurise the opponents. Such actions can’t stop us from raising voice for justice or weaken democratic fights for rights,” Salam wrote on Twitter.

The other places where ED carried out raids included the residence of Popular Front of India (PFI) National Executive Council member Karamana Ashraf Moulavi at Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram. The ED had registered a case against PFI leaders under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2018

The PFI and its associate organisation SDPI have been constantly under probe for allegations of terrorist recruitment, crime, forced conversions and anti-India activities. Reports stated that ED is conducting raids at 26 locations in the country in 9 states.

ED probing PFI’s links to the anti-CAA protests in the country

Besides money laundering case, the central investigation agency is also looking into the PFI’s links on alleged charges of funding and supporting anti-CAA protests in the country and other instances. In January, ED had submitted a note to the Union Home Ministry and stated a direct link between the dates of deposits/withdrawals of money from the bank accounts of PFI and those of demonstrations against the CAA.

The note further said, “It has been noticed that Rs1.04 crores were deposited in 15 bank accounts of PFI (10) and Rehab India Foundation (5) during the period starting from 04.12.2019 till 06.01.2020. The deposits were in form of cash and IMPS using mobile and deposit amounts vary from Rs 5,000 to Rs 49,000. The amounts have been kept below Rs 50,000 in order to [not] disclose the identity of the depositor.”

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