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Asaduddin Owaisi flays the Congress party, says their leaders are ‘politically impotent’ to take on the BJP

OpIndia Staff
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Asaduddin Owaisi flays the Congress party, says their leaders are ‘politically impotent’ to take on the BJP

Hours after the electoral trends hinted that the Mahagathbandhan alliance between the Congress party, RJD and other affiliate parties may not be in a position to form a government on their own, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera blasted at the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for “partnering with majoritarian right-wing radicalisation”. Khera claimed that AIMIM indulged in minority radicalisation which had benefited the NDA alliance in the recently concluded Bihar elections.

Khera was responding to host Rajdeep Sardesai’s question if the Congress party would seek AIMIM’s support to form a government in Bihar. While Khera responded that he is not the right person to make the overtures to Owaisi and would leave it for the party leadership to decide on the future course, he did not shy away from attacking Asaduddin Owaisi for counter-radicalisation.

“There is no difference between the majority and minority radicalisation. Owaisi’s counter-radicalisation by contesting in some seats is not the answer to BJP’s communalisation,” Khera said to journalist Rajdeep Sardesai on an India Today show.

AIMIM chief Owaisi lashes out at the Congress party for blaming him for radicalisation

However, Owaisi was not one amongst those who would take the slight lying down. He tore into the Congress party, reminding them of their predicament in the Bihar Assembly elections and accused them of shifting the blame of their defeat on the AIMIM.

“I am being accused of being radicalising. It shows the intellectual dishonesty of the Congress spokesperson. I am contesting elections to ensure that it doesn’t get radicalised. The Congress, as a party, failed to give voice to that area. Your party contestants said that they will break arms and legs of AIMIM, is this not radicalising? You lose every seat, your MLAs run away to BJP at the waving of a finger, what kind of politics are you practising?” Owaisi said.

Owaisi also flayed Congress for its sanctimonious attitude towards others while struggling in its political battles across the country.

“Congress has this holier than thou attitude. They just assume everyone must prostrate in front of them. Sorry, I won’t do it. Your days have gone. You have contested on 70 seats. What’s your predicament there is for everyone to see. And you are accusing me of radicalisation simply because my party chose to contest the elections? We are fighting the elections to ensure that radicalisation does not happen,” Owaisi blisteringly responded.

Owaisi further added that Congress is in no position to level allegations of radicalisation on others when their own history is replete with instances when they have taken decisions that have radicalised the youth of the country.

“It is a joke to say radicalisation is happening because of me. Who opened the Babri structure locks? Who did the ground-breaking ceremony? Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister then. Who demolished the Babri structure? Who was the prime minister then? Didn’t that lead to radicalisation?” Owaisi asked Khera.

The Congress leadership is politically impotent to take on the Modi government: Owaisi

To this Pawan Khera responded that Owaisi is strengthening the communal forces in the country by helping the BJP and its alliances to gain power in the elections.

“Maybe PM Modi is smiling tonight. Hopefully, he won’t because we are struggling our way(to form a government in Bihar). That’s what you achieved in Maharashtra. So please don’t be ‘holier than thou’ and accuse us of radicalisation. You are strengthening the communal forces and therefore, I accuse you of counter-radicalisation,” Khera said.

Owaisi shot back asking the Congress spokesperson if Congress was so committed to the ideal of secularism, why did it ally with a party like Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Owaisi pointedly asked Pawan Khera if he thinks Shiv Sena is a secular party.

The AIMIM chief said that it was the Congress party which was primarily responsible for the BJP coming to power.

“Congress and its leadership are politically impotent to take on the Modi government. As far as my party is concerned, we will fight elections, whether win or lose, we will contest for those people who don’t have the voice, for the downtrodden. Our main job is to strengthen the democracy of India and we will tell the people who have been wrongly told that secularism can be kept alive only with Congress, it can be kept alive with other parties also,” Owaisi said.

AIMIM won 5 seats in the Bihar assembly elections

Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM was in the fray for 20 seats in the Bihar assembly elections, As a part of the Grand Democratic Secular Front, it fought alongside four other parties, including Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. It won 5 seats in the 243-seats Bihar Assembly.

BJP leader brings massive allegation, says Thackerays had land deals worth crores with late Anvay Naik’s wife

OpIndia Staff
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BJP leader brings massive allegation, says Thackerays had land deals worth crores with late Anvay Naik’s wife

In a shocking new revelation, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has claimed that the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s family had a land transaction with Late Anvay Naik’s family. Somaiya said he has verified the concerning documents that suggest a land deal between the Thackeray and Naik family.

Somaiya said land records of Murud Raigad on the Maharashtra Government Website of Land Records suggest Uddhav Thackeray’s wife had a land transaction with Late Anvay Naik’s family. He has sent the concerned documents to SP and Collector.

“I verified concerned documents & sent to Collector & SP. 7/12 land records (Murud Raigad) Maharashtra Government Website of Land Records, election affidavit, it’s confirmed CM Uddhav Thackeray (Family Wife) had a land transaction with Late Anvay Naik (Family) @BJP4India @Dev_Fadnavis,” Kirit Somaiya tweeted.

In a subsequent tweet, Kirit shared the details of the several pieces of land jointly purchased by Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray and one Manisha Ravindra Vaykar from Akshita Naik in March 2014 at about Rs 2.20 crore. Akshita Naik is the late Anvay Naik’s wife.

In the light of the recent revelations, it is imperative to revisit the context based on which Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami was arrested in the case.

Arnab Goswami arrested in the closed Anvay Naik suicide case

Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami was arrested by Mumbai Police early morning on last Wednesday. A few Mumbai Police officers barged into Goswami’s residence, physically manhandling him and his family members before arresting him. He was arrested in connection with a 2018 abetment to suicide case that was already closed.

The case pertains to the death of an interior designer Anvay Naik, who committed suicide in May 2018 and left behind a note alleging that Arnab Goswami had not cleared his dues to the tune of ₹83 lacs. Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud were found dead in their Alibaug farmhouse. The suicide note had also two named two other people, namely Feroz Shaikh and Nitesh Sarda for non-clearance of dues of ₹4 crores and 55 lacs respectively. It is pertinent to note that the case was closed in April 2019 and has now been unilaterally opened by the police seemingly, to hound Arnab Goswami.

As per an exclusive report by The Indian Express, the officers investigating the Anvay Naik suicide case had found no links between Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami, Nitesh Sarda and Feroz Shaikh. They found no evidence that could establish that the trio made life ‘unbearable’ for Naik or led to the abetment of suicide. As such, the Raigad police investigating the case had filed an ‘A summary’ in its closure report before the magistrate in April 2019. It is important to mention that an ‘A summary’ is filed in the absence of adequate evidence against the accused, thereby preventing the cops from submitting a charge sheet.

Thackeray govt’s witch-hunt against Arnab Goswami

Arnab Goswami has been at loggerheads with the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra government ever since he had raised protruding questions of the Maharashtra government and interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her silence on the horrifying lynching of the Hindu Sadhus in Palghar.

Arnab Goswami was put through a wringer by the Mumbai Police for his prime time show on the killings of Hindu Sadhus in Palghar. A case was also registered against Republic TV for its coverage of migrants crisis at the Bandra station on April 14-15. Republic TV journalist and cameraman were arrested by the Mumbai Police while covering a story in Navi Mumbai this September. Mumbai Police had also accused the Republic TV of manipulating the TRPs. The culmination of this witch-hunt against Republic TV resulted in the arrest of the Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami.

It is notable here that Republic TV had, in its statement, declared that Anvay Naik’s firm had been paid most of the dues and the remaining amount was to be paid after the completion of the work which was never done. Arnab’s family had also stated that he had never had any direct dealings with Naik or his firm.

Two Freudian slips during the hearing of Arnab Goswami’s plea in Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order denying him interim bail

OpIndia Staff
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Two Freudian slips during the hearing of Arnab Goswami’s plea in Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order denying him interim bail

The plea of Arnab Goswami, the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, challenging the Bombay High Court denying him interim bail is being heard by a bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee in the Supreme Court. During the hearing some scathing observations were made by Justice Chandrachud against the Bombay High Court for failing uphold personal liberty of an individual. However, apart from that two Freudian slips were made by senior advocates who are representing the Maharashtra government in the Supreme Court.

Maharashtra government has maintained that the police action against Arnab Goswami has nothing to do with his journalism and his way of reporting. Speaking on Goswami’s arrest, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had claimed that the state government did not act against vindictively and that police had arrested him on the basis of evidence. The state government has been arguing in the court that Goswami’s name was mentioned by Anvay Naik, the deceased interior designer, in his suicide note and that was why Goswami was arrested.

However, during the hearing in the Supreme Court today, Justice Chandrachud questioned Sibal whether there was direct incitement on part of Goswami that led Naik to commit suicide. Justice Chandrachud asked whether a case of unpaid dues made a fit case for abetment to suicide.

Justice Chandrachud said that if the court does not interfere today, it would be travesty of justice. Senior advocate Amit Desai representing Maharashtra government then inadvertently mentioned how the case against Arnab may not really be of direct incitement but ‘circumstances’ leading to suicide of Naik.

It is noteworthy that Goswami was not the only person who owed money to Naik, there were several others. Justice Chadrachud further questioned Sibal whether not paying up money amounted to abetment to suicide.

Defending Maharashtra government’s action against Goswami Advocate Sibal said that the freedom of expression granted under Article 19 of the Constitution was not an absolute right.

By mentioning Article 19 before the Apex Court Sibal tacitly admitted that the action of Maharashtra government against Goswami was not related to the suicide case but to his reportage. Right from the TRP case to the abetment to suicide case, the ruthless state action against Goswami following his reporting against the Thackeray government appear malicious on the face of it. Justice Chandrachud’s observations on the state action against Goswami provide a testimony to that.

Arnab Goswami has been critical of the Maharashtra government, especially during the Palghar sadhu lynching where the Mumbai Police became mere spectators as two Hindu sadhus and their driver were lynched by a mob earlier this year. Goswami had even questioned Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s silence over the matter. Congress is in alliance with the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra government.

Online news portals, entertainment content platforms brought under the control of I&B ministry, govt issues notification

OpIndia Staff
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Online news portals, entertainment content platforms brought under the control of I&B ministry, govt issues notification

The Central Government issued an order on Wednesday to bring digital and online media, audio-visual programs, films, current affairs, and news portals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

A notification was issued by the cabinet secretariat on 9th November, which was published in the Gazette of India dates 10th November 2020. The notification amends the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, and adds two sections in the second schedule of the rules, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The newly added sections that has been brought under the ministry say:

VA. DIGITAL/ONLINE MEDIA
22A. Films and Audio-Visual programmes made available by online content providers.
22B. News and current affairs content on online platforms.

Currently, online news and current affairs portals, OTT (over the top) platforms including Prime Video, Netflix, Hotstar, SonyLiv, AltBalaji, etc are not under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Several complaints against the content on such platforms were alleging they are spreading misinformation and fake news as there was no law or autonomous body to govern the digital content. There were also demands of censorship for shows aired by the OTT platforms, and there have been several complaints against such shows alleging hurting religious sentiments and other allegations.

Several complaints against OTT platforms

In the last few years, there have been several complaints against the OTT platforms for producing Hinduphobic, sexual, and misleading content. The demand for either forming a governing body or bringing online content under censorship was raised several times. Last month, Supreme Court had sought the Centre’s response on a petition filed that had asked for a regulatory or autonomous body to monitor content on OTT platforms. In a separate case, the ministry had previously told the apex court that there is a need for a regulatory body to censor digital media content. In a statement last year, Union Minister Prakash Javdekar said that the ministry would not curb freedom of speech and expression, but there is a need to regulate OTT platforms’ content. If needed, the government will regulate the content.

Formation of Indian Digital Media Association (IDMA)

A few weeks back, a self-regulatory body of digital media outlets was announced. OpIndia, along with eight other premier Indian digital media outlets, came together to announce a new self-regulatory board named IDMA. The main aim of the body is not just to strengthen but organize and advocate for the interest of Nationalist Digital Media that has the potential today to shape the country and what its citizens talk about.

Bengal: Calcutta HC bans processions and gatherings for Chhath Puja, only 2 per family allowed around water bodies

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal: Calcutta HC bans processions and gatherings for Chhath Puja, only 2 per family allowed around water bodies

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday placed restrictions on Chhath Puja processions across the state of West Bengal, setting curbs on the number of people per family who can enter a water body to offer the puja. The court ordered that only two members per family can gather for rituals on the banks of rivers and other water bodies.

Besides, devotees are prohibited from entering the largest two lakes with the city, Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar. The order came on the heels of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive that had banned Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarobar.

“As far as the Subhas Sarobar and Rabindra Sarobar are concerned, in view of the subsisting order of the NGT, these water bodies will be totally out of bounds for Chhath Puja celebrations,” the Calcutta high court said.

Only two members of the family will be allowed to participate in the Chhath Puja rituals while other family members will have to observe the Chhath Puja from home or in and around their home. The court order also mandates wearing masks at all stages. Devotees who would partake in the upcoming celebrations are asked to travel in open vehicles. The state government has been directed by the court to enforce Section 144 of the CrPC to restrict the number of people in any area amidst the festivities.

“The court has banned Chhath Puja processions. Only two persons from a family can enter any water body to perform the puja. Devotees coming in vehicles will have to maintain social distance and not all will be allowed to get down,” a high court advocate as quoted by Hindustan Times said.

Enforce a strict ban on fireworks: Calcutta High Court to State Government

The court had also affirmed the earlier order of a strictly enforced ban on firecrackers in the forthcoming festivities. Earlier this month, Calcutta High Court had banned the bursting of crackers during all pujas, including Kali Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja.

The division bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising of justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee, cited the health hazards posed by the bursting of crackers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and instructed the state government to rigorously implement the firecrackers ban.

Also, the police have been asked to ensure that no crackers are sold or used in Kolkata as they have already been till November 30 by the High Court and the National Green Tribunal.

The court has also called upon the state government to take a call on the curbs that need to be put in place on local trains during the festive days so as to avert crowd surge.

Is participating in procession an integral part of Chhath Puja rituals?

The procession associated with Chhath Puja is not an intrinsic part of the rituals related to the festival. Devotees who celebrate Chhath Puja do so even on the roof of their house or in their courtyard. Though gathering in a group has community significance but given the sheer level of pollution in water bodies, many devotees choose to dig a small pool around their preferred area and perform the puja there. Some of them even use plastic inflated pools to perform the ceremony. A part of the rituals involve offering the Sandhya puja to the setting sun from water, so in many places, devotees with family members gather around the women observing fast and accompany them to the water bodies.

The HC order only bans gatherings and large congregations around water bodies. As such, there is no blanket ban on the festivities and rituals associated.

Rohingya immigrants living in ‘temporary shelters of tarpaulin’ in Bangladesh write congratulatory letter to Joe Biden, say Allah answered their wishes

OpIndia Staff
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Rohingya immigrants living in ‘temporary shelters of tarpaulin’ in Bangladesh write congratulatory letter to Joe Biden, say Allah answered their wishes

Amidst the allegations of massive elections fraud by the Democrats in the US Presidential elections, the Arakan Rohingya National Unity (AU), an organisation that claims to represent the Rohingya immigrants in Bangladesh, has written a letter congratulations Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris for their alleged victory in the US Presidential elections.  

In its letter, Arakan Rohingya National Unity (ARNU), a group representing the Rohingya immigrants currently living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh said that they would like to convey the warmest congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Image Source: Vidya

The Rohingya organisation said that the alleged ‘decisive victory’ of Joe Biden was a personal triumph and a historic achievement in this symbolic election.

“We, the Rohingya Refugees under the temporary shelters of tarpaulin, prayed profoundly for the landslide victory of such a broad mined candidate, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. We are very happy that our wish is answered by the Almighty Allah ultimately,”

The Rohingya group also cited the recent elections that took place in Myanmar government on November 8 and referred to it as ‘undemocratic’ as it deprived the Rohingya community of the freedom of expression and participation in the election.

The letter further claimed that the USA, being the most powerful nation in the world, it will remain on inspiration and hope for one of the most ‘persecuted’ communities – Rohingya people.

“We wish you every success and prosperity in the years to come,” the Arakan Rohingya National Unity said in its letter.

Nearly one million Rohingya Muslims currently stay in camps on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border due to the alleged persecution in their home region in Rakhine, Myanmar. The Rohingya Muslims are attempting to flee the camps for other more affluent Asian nations.

From UP to Bihar, Congress has become a burden on its allies

OpIndia Staff
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From UP to Bihar, Congress has become a burden on its allies

Ahead of 2017 Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, the Congress went into an alliance with Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, calling it the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ to defeat the BJP. This was forged on the lines of successful ‘Mahagathbandhan’ ahead of 2015 Bihar polls where JDU’s Nitish Kumar had joined hands with RJD’s Lalu Yadav. The 2015 Bihar elections were won the ‘Bihari vs Bahari’ (Bihari vs outsider) rhetoric as PM Modi as well as then BJP President Amit Shah were from Gujarat.

Similar strategy was sealed for 2017 UP elections. Rahul Gandhi, who is born in Delhi then represented Amethi, which has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. In fact, Rahul Gandhi’s parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents and other extended family have UP connections either by birth or by electoral victories. Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and extended family have been associated with UP politics over the years. Hence, “UP ke ladke” strategy was decided for Rahul and Akhilesh to woo the voters.

Except, the “UP ke ladke”, failed to create magic on ground. In fact, so bad was the outcome that Samajwadi Party not only lost, it faced a humiliating defeat, thanks to its alliance with Congress. It was so bad that Samajwadi Party alliance went from 252 seats it had won in 2012 to as low as 54 seats in 2017. The BJP alliance which had won 47 in 2012 surged to 312 seats forming a very decisive government.

Analysts believed that the fact that Samajwadi Party offered over 100 seats to Congress, of which it won just 7 might have been one of the major reasons that Mahagathbandhan failed miserably. Of 298 seats Samajwadi Party contested from, it won only 47.

Evidently, Samajwadi Party learnt its lessons and in 2019 general elections decided to go solo.

Similarly in recently concluded Bihar elections, analysts believe the fact that RJD allied with Congress may have been the reason the Mahagathbandhan failed. Congress contested on 70 seats of which it won just 19 seats, thereby bringing down the Mahagathbandhan tally in an election that was so closely fought.

As per reports, Bihar Congress leaders feel that the top leadership failed to understand the pulse on ground. Several top candidates who might have won were dropped. The local leaders are especially upset with the fact that leaders from outside the state, with zero connect to ground reality, were calling the shots.

This, followed by the dismal performance of the grand old party in Gujarat, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh bypolls where the BJP had a clean sweep has now made Congress allies apprehensive. With fast-dwindling relevance, reports are now coming in that in Tamil Nadu state elections, the DMK might be reconsidering forging the pre-poll alliance with Congress as well.

The disastrous results in assembly elections and bypolls is not the only concern with Congress which is also struggling to have an inspiring leadership. The entitlement of the Gandhis who cannot seem to let go of the power and adds to their woes. With the Congress fighting for its relevance, one can only wait and watch which way things go for the grand old party.

For Dushyant Dave, Arnab getting an urgent hearing in SC is ‘abuse of power’, but all is well when he himself or friends get it

OpIndia Staff
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For Dushyant Dave, Arnab getting an urgent hearing in SC is ‘abuse of power’, but all is well when he himself or friends get it

A day after Supreme Court advocate Dushyant Dave wrote to the Secretary-General of the Supreme Court protesting against the ‘preferential’ hearing granted to Arnab Goswami by the apex Court, questions are being raised on the integrity of the senior Supreme Court lawyer after it was revealed that Dave himself is one of the biggest beneficiaries of such ‘urgent hearings’.

On Tuesday, Dave, who is the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association had written a letter to the Secretary-General of the Supreme Court, strongly protesting against the urgent hearing granted to Arnab Goswami, the editor-in-chief of Republic TV under the special leave application that was filed by him.

Calling it ‘extraordinary urgent listing’, Dushyant Dave had condemned the listing of the case, even as Arnab Goswami is spending his seventh day in jail in Mumbai in a case that was unilaterally re-opened by the Mumbai Police without the consent of the court.

In his letter, Dave has written against “selective listing” of matters by the SC Registry and had gone to the extent of calling it as a ‘gross abuse of administrative power’.

Ironically, the letter to the Supreme Court written by Dave lamenting about the urgent listing of Arnab Goswami’s case has displayed his own hypocrisy as there are various instances to show that not only Dave has been granted similar urgent hearings by the Supreme Court in the past but also exposes how the senior advocate had no problem when such urgent hearings were granted by the Supreme Court to his ideological compatriots.

Urgent hearing granted to Dushyant Dave by the Supreme Court

Interestingly, there are two cases in which Dushyant Dave was a direct beneficiary of such urgent hearings in the Supreme Court.

First, in August 2018, a petition was filed by self-proclaimed historian Romila Thapar seeking an interim measure to some of the arrested Urban Naxals in the Bhima Koregaon case. The petition was filed and listed on the same day. Incidentally, Dave was one of the lawyers who had represented Thapar in the top court.

A group of ’eminent’ persons, including historian Romila Thapar, had moved the Supreme Court with public interest litigation on August 28, questioning the arrests of the alleged Urban Naxals and seeking an independent investigation into the case. The Supreme Court of India bench comprising of the then Chief Justice Dipak Mishar had heard the case on the same day it was listed.

Dave’s petition on behalf of Prashant Bhushan was heard the next day by the Supreme Court

Again, in April 2020, Prashant Bhushan had approached the Supreme Court in connection with a case filed by Gujarat police against him for hurting religious sentiments of the Hindus.

The petition filed by Prashant Bhushan was listed on April 30, 2020, and was given an urgent hearing on the next day on May 1. Interestingly, Dushyant Dave, who is now lamenting about the court granting an urgent hearing to Arnab Goswami, had pleaded before the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the FIR lodged against the activist lawyer.

Dushyant Dave, who had managed to get an ‘urgent hearing’ from the Supreme Court just a few months back, is now accusing the same judiciary of carrying out gross abuse of administrative power.

Further, it is not the first time that an urgent hearing has been listed by the Supreme Court to which Dave seems to be taking an exception.

The Supreme Court had opened its doors on Sunday in June 2020 to hear a petition filed by controversial journalist Vinod Dua seeking quashing of a sedition case filed against him by the Himachal Pradesh Police over a YouTube show. In a special hearing, a Supreme Court bench of justices UU Lalit, MM Shantanagoudar and Vineet Saran held special proceedings at 11 AM on Sunday. Vinod Dua had approached the apex court just a day before on Saturday asking for protection from coercive action. 

However, the likes of Dushyant Dave had no problem whatsoever then. Perhaps it would be pertinent to ask Dave why he did not write a similar letter when a Supreme Court bench assembled on a Sunday to hear the petition moved by Vinod Dua for anticipatory relief – this, when Dua was not even in jail.

Arnab Goswami moves to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will be hearing the interim bail plea of Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami on Wednesday. Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami had moved Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court dismissed his petition for interim bail in 2018 abetment to suicide case on Monday.

The petition has been filed by Arnab’s lawyer on Tuesday. The case will come for hearing before a two-judge bench comprising of Justice DY Chandrachud and Indira Bannerjee.

Pakistani politician wants Joe Biden to help Kashmiri people, only he thinks Biden is former President George Bush

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani politician wants Joe Biden to help Kashmiri people, only he thinks Biden is former President George Bush

Former Pakistan Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik, fondly known as ‘Senator Malik’ on Wednesday took to Twitter to congratulate the US Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden for his alleged victory in the US Presidential elections that is yet to conclude.

However, in doing so, Senator Malik caused himself a massive embarrassment and become a subject of ridicule after he tweeted an image of Former US President George Walker Bush thinking him as Joe Biden.

⁦”Joe Biden⁩ has worked with three democrats presidents and hope they will support him to get USA out of the self created crises. Afghan issue, Syrian crises and Row with China must come to end. I hope the Democrats will support the oppressed Kashmiris to get out of curfew,” wrote Senator Malik by attaching an image of Bush.

Senator Rehman Malik, who seems to have no idea who Joe Biden really is, sharing an image of himself with Former US President George W Bush, went on to claim that Joe Biden⁩ has worked with three Democrats presidents and hoped that they will support him to get the USA out of the self-created crises such as Afghan issue, the Syrian crisis.

Malik, displaying his low IQ, also urged him to end the current tensions with China.

“I hope the Democrats will support the oppressed Kashmiris to get out of curfew,” said ‘Senator Malik’, displaying the Pakistani habit of getting the begging bowls out even before some alleged President-elect assumes power. Also, there is no curfew in the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir.

There is another aspect of irony to Pakistanis celebrating a Biden victory. The Obama administration, where Biden was Vice President, had the habit of drone-bombing Pakistan quite frequently.

Rehman Malik keeps falling for Indian parody accounts

Last year in August, Senator Rehman Malik had also displayed how aware and informed he is, by constantly falling for a parody Twitter user, who had tricked him into believing that he is on Pakistan’s side.

It all began after popular Twitter user @being_humor, and co-founder of satire website, The Fauxy, had posted a few screenshots on Twitter saying Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI and ED for ‘raising his voice against PM Modi’ and against abrogation of Article 370. @being_humor had sent Rehman Malik an image saying that Malik’s earlier statement about Chidambaram was correct. He even added that Chidambaram was being badly beaten up by the CBI in custody.

The image was a screenshot from the Bollywood movie ‘Singham’.

Soon enough, Malik fell for it. He asked for more pictures where it is more clearly visible that Chidambaram is being beaten up in custody. He even asked if he could get WhatsApp number of any of his family members.

The user, however, added that he did not have contact details of Chidambaram’s family but urged him to tweet the picture and if anyone knows the contact details, they would send him. He even added that Malik posting the above image may control the ‘atrocity by police’ against Chidambaram. Rehman Malik then added that he will share the image with the United Nations.

Pakistan minister Rehman Malik accused of raping a American filmmaker

Earlier in June this year, in a shocking revelation, American filmmaker Cynthia Dawn Ritchie had accused former Pakistan Interior minister Senator Rehman Malik of raping her in 2011 at his residence.

Cynthia D Ritchie has also accused former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin of physically manhandling her inside President’s House in Islamabad. Asif Ali Zardari was then President of Pakistan. Cynthia Ritchie had detailed how the PPP senator, Rehman Malik sexually assaulted her and also revealed about two other senior PPP leaders of manhandling and harassing her.

After winning five seats and being accused of being a ‘vote-cutter’ for Congress, Owaisi’s next target is WB

OpIndia Staff
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After winning five seats and being accused of being a ‘vote-cutter’ for Congress, Owaisi’s next target is WB

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has won five seats in Bihar elections. Party president Asaduddin Owaisi has said while talking to Aaj Tak that his party will contests elections in West Bengal in the upcoming Assembly Elections in 2021. Using the phrase ‘Fas gai raziya gundon mein’, Owaisi tried to describe his situation. After winning five seats, he feels like he has stuck among goons as BJP calls him anti-national, and Mahagathbandhan is blaming his party for ‘cutting votes’.

‘Mahagathbandhan leaders ignored my offer to form an alliance,’ says Owaisi

Owaisi said AIMIM’s state President Akhtarul Iman met every party leader of the Mahagathbandhan alliance and requested them to join hands. He further added that he tried to join Mahagathbandhan and met the coalition leaders three times in the central hall of the Parliament, but they did not give heed to his request. He denied the allegations of cutting votes and said it is not his fault that his request was ignored.

The fight for Seemanchal will continue

He said his party’s fight for the rights of the people of Seemanchal will continue. The region comprises four districts Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj, and Purnia. It accounts for 24 assembly seats. The region is considered to be one of the most backward regions in Bihar and has a sizable Muslim population.

Though RJD-Congress has a stronghold on the region, AIMIM managed to hurt the alliance by cutting their Muslim votes that benefitted NDA. AIMIM’s Akhtarul Iman in Amour, Muhammed Izhar Asfi in Kochadhamam, Shahnawaz Alam in Jokihat, Azhar Nayeemi in Bahadurgunj, and Syed Ruknuddin in Baisi have won the seats.

Political Analyst Ashutosh mocked by Owaisi

Political Analyst Ashutosh asked Owaisi if he is willing to join hands with NDA in Bihar. Owaisi said AIMIM had opposed CAA, UAPA amendment, and abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir. His party has opposed several decisions made by NDA in the centre. How can someone who calls himself a political analyst think that he will join hands with NDA or support NDA in any capacity, he asked Ashutosh.

AIMIM will contest elections in West Bengal

AIMIM chief said his party would contest elections in West Bengal. He said, “AIMIM’s victory in Bihar is an answer to those who think AIMIM should not contest elections in other states. “This election result is a message for everyone who thinks that AIMIM should not contest in elections. Are we NGOs that we will only hold seminars and present papers? We are a political party and we will contest in all elections,” Owaisi added.

AIMIM had challenged Mamata earlier

It is notable here that last year too, AIMIM had hinted that they are going to contest in West Bengal elections. “It is true that we are fewer in number, but do not dare touch us. We are atom bombs. Didi, we welcome your friendship and enmity as well. You have to decide whether you consider us friends or foes,” AIMIM national spokesperson and Bengal observer, Asim Waqar has stated last year.

The AIMIM had also organized a meeting at Dharmatala in Kolkata where the former MLA from Maharashtra Waris Pathan was also present. Consequently, in November, Mamata Banerjee had warned the citizenry about the radicalism of the Owaisis. She did not name them but it was quite obvious who her comments were directed at. “I am watching that there are some extremists among minorities,” she told her party workers in Coochbehar, “They have their base in Hyderabad. Don’t listen to them.”

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