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Bihar Elections: Early trends show NDA crossing the majority mark, 23 seats have leading candidate ahead by less than 500 votes

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar Elections: Early trends show NDA crossing the majority mark, 23 seats have leading candidate ahead by less than 500 votes

After about three hours of counting, initial trends show that the NDA alliance has surged past the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance of Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and other affiliate parties, moving above the half-way mark in a closely-contested electoral battle.

With electoral trends firming up as counting advances, NDA alliance is so far leading on 127 seats of the 243-ASsembly seats in Bihar. On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan alliance is leading on 101 seats.

The majority mark in the 243-seat Bihar assembly is 122 and with the current trends NDA alliance seems poised to retain power in the state.

Election result trend(Source: Election Commission)

It is also pertinent to note that Lok Janshakti Party(LJP) is leading 5 seats and Other parties have secured a lead on 9 seats.

Though LJP has fought the elections separately, they are more likely to extend their support to the NDA alliance than the Mahagathbandhan since they are a former alliance partner and are already in an alliance with the NDA at the centre.

The emerging electoral results are in sharp contrast to the several exit polls which suggested a close fight between the Mahagathbandhan and NDA alliance, with the balance tilting in the favour of the Mahagathbandhan alliance. Some of the exit polls also suggested a landslide victory to the Mahagathbandhan alliance and a complete rout of the BJP-JDU’s NDA alliance, which is clearly not the case here.

Close margins in dozens of seats

Several seats are showing leads by a very close margin. As per reports, there are 23 seats where the leading margin is less than 500. Tejashwi Yadav himself is leading in Raghopur by a mere 400 votes against BJP’s Satish Kumar. 27 more seats have a leading margin of fewer than 1000 votes. As the counting enters the 9th phase, NDA workers have already started celebrations.

Witch-hunt continues: After Arnab being dragged and jailed, Mumbai Police arrests Republic TV’s Assistant VP

OpIndia Staff
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Witch-hunt continues: After Arnab being dragged and jailed, Mumbai Police arrests Republic TV’s Assistant VP

The relentless attack on Republic Network continues as the Mumbai Police has now arrested Assistant Vice President of Republic Media Network Ghanshyam Singh today at 7:40 AM in connection with the TRP Scam. As of now, editor-in-Chief of Republic Network Arnab Goswami is on the 7th day of judicial custody in a reopened 2018 case of abatement of the suicide of an architect that was closed by the court.

As per a statement released by Republic TV, Ghanshyam Singh heads Republic Media Network’s Western Region Distribution. He had been questioned over 45 times to date in the TRP scam case. As per the reports, Singh has fully cooperated with the Mumbai police in the investigation, submitted all documents demanded by the police, and answered all questions to his best knowledge and ability. The statement says that the police had interrogated him for more than 40 hours over the period.

Statement by Republic TV

In a brazen misuse of power, Republic Media Network’s Assistant Vice President Mr. Ghanshyam Singh was arrested this morning at 7:40 am by the Mumbai Police. Republic Media Network is shocked at the unchecked malicious campaign of the Mumbai Police that is determined to falsely target and desperately implicate Republic and its members. It is clear this is part of the same vendetta-driven, vengeful and motivated campaign of the Maharashtra state machinery that assaulted and arrested Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.

As Arnab Goswami spends his 7th day in judicial custody and Ghanshyam Singh is arrested on baseless grounds, there has never been a more terrifying state of affairs vis-a-vis the elected machinery exploiting its offices and violating due process to clamp down on an independent media organisation. History is witness to the state excesses being deployed in Maharashtra and shall not forgive or forget those who exercised it.

Mr Ghanshyam Singh who heads Republic Media Network’s Western Region Distribution has continuously cooperated with the Mumbai Police in the case. In fact, in the spirit of cooperation even in a fake and hollow case, he continually appeared before the Mumbai Police on numerous occasions. He has cooperated throughout and answered all questions of the police to the best of his knowledge and ability. Ghanshyam has personally been through over 40 hours of semi-custodial interrogation, and his current detention crafts a new low in the highhanded tactics of the law and order machinery in the state of Maharashtra which is functioning unchecked.

Ghanshyam has been booked under frivolous sections in a fake TRP manipulation case, which itself doesn’t stand vis-a-vis the evidence. It is significant to reiterate that despite Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s October 8th news conference on the TRP matter, neither he nor the Mumbai Police has been able to present a single piece of hard evidence linking Republic Media Network to the TRP scam. Therefore, Ghanshyam’s arrest, like Arnab’s illegal arrest, is born out of prescripted vendetta instead of evidence and facts.

The entire TRP case against Republic has been concocted on the basis of an FIR that names another channel. It is well known that a document by complainant Hansa Research Group Pvt Ltd names the same channel which is in the FIR and not Republic. Additionally, it is now in the public domain and before a court of law that Hansa has filed a case that alleges the Mumbai Police Commissioner, Sachin Vaze and the state of Maharashtra were harassing the top brass of the company to implicate Republic Media Network in the TRP case.

While there is no link between Republic TV or any of its affiliates with the TRP manipulation case, there is a mountain of evidence— from testimonies to witness coercion tapes— that indicates the vicious plot to embroil Republic in a fake TRP manipulation case that it has no connection or relation to.

Republic Media Network and the people recognise that all such acts of malice are aimed to throttle the network, its news coverage ability and thereby attempt to mow down any semblance of a free press in the state of Maharashtra. Coercive methods, illegal arrests, baseless detentions and overtly false cases will not stop Republic from doing its journalistic duty, or from fighting against this anarchy in the courts of law and courts of public opinion.

We appeal to right-thinking citizens to raise their voice and continue their campaign for justice.

Like the truth, we stand firmly with Ghanshyam Singh and Arnab Goswami and will continue to fight for justice to prevail.

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.

Republic TV has been facing the ire of the Mhaarashtra governmnet after they started questioning the political powers in the state for their inaction in Palghar lynching case and Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case. In recent times, 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.

The arrest of Arnab Goswami

Arnab Goswami was arrested on 4th November from his residence in a reopened case of abatement of suicide of an architect named Anvay Naik. The case was closed by the court after the police filed a closure report, but in May 2020, the Home Minister of Maharashtra announced that the case would be reopened. Since his arrest, Arnab Goswami has been lodged in jail under judicial custody. He was shifted recently to Taloja jail, where hardcore criminals are spending their sentences. Goswami has alleged that Mumbai police officials, including the jailer, have assaulted him on several occasions, and was forced to drink some unknown liquid after which he choked.

Punjab, ruled by Congress, becomes the eighth state to withdraw general consent from CBI: Read the notification

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab, ruled by Congress, becomes the eighth state to withdraw general consent from CBI: Read the notification

After several non-BJP-ruled states, the Congress Government in Punjab led by Amarinder Singh has also withdrawn the blanket consent accorded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct investigations in the State. Which means now the agency would require the prior consent of the State government on a case-to-case basis for conducting CBI investigations in the State.

With this decision, Punjab becomes the 8th state to take up this step. States like West Bengal, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Kerala have, with an aim to demur against the Modi government at the centre, have already evoked the consent.

Congress Govt in Punjab joins the bandwagon, revokes general consent to CBI to conduct probe in the state

The notification for the withdrawal of consent was issued by Punjab on November 8 (Sunday), stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (Central Act No. 25 of 1946) the Government of Punjab hereby withdraws the general consent accorded to the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment, anytime herein before.”

Image source: Bar and Bench

It added: “In view of revocation of all previous general consents issued earlier, prior consent of the Government of Punjab shall be required, hereinafter, on a case-to-case basis for investigation of any offence or class of offences.”

Under Section 6 of the Act, all states except Delhi and the Union Territories have the discretion to give their consent to the CBI for a probe in the state,” it further read.

Other non-BJP States to withdraw consent to CBI

On November 5 (Thursday), Jharkhand joined the list of non-BJP ruled states to have withdrawn the blanket consent given to CBI, signifying the opposition parties rallying together against the central govt. In a similar move, Left Democratic Front (LDF) ruled Kerala had withdrawn the consent on Wednesday.

Earlier, other non-BJP ruled states West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra had issued similar orders under the Delhi Police Establishment Act to require CBI obtain their consent to start any probe in the respective states. Andhra Pradesh had also withdrawn the consent in November 2018 by Chandrababu Naidu govt, but it was restored by the Jagan Mohan Reddy govt in June 2019.

West Bengal had also withdrawn the consent to CBI in 2018 immediately after Andhra Pradesh. Congress-led Chhattisgarh government had done the same in January 2019. Congress-ruled Rajasthan government had revoked the general consent in July 2020. More recently, the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP govt had followed suit in October this year, after the CBI had taken over the Sushant Singh Rajput case and UP govt had recommended transferring the TRP manipulation case to CBI.

CBI comes under the DSPE Act and it requires states to give the agency a consent to act against central government employees within a state as public order and police come under the state governments. To avoid issuing separate consents for each case, states generally issue a blanket consent to the CBI, which is routinely renewed. But after withdrawal of the general consent, the agency will have to seek permission for each cases it wants to probe in the states, and the states may refuse to grant such permission.

Mozambique: Islamist terrorists with links to ISIS burn village chanting Allahu Akbar, behead over 50 people

OpIndia Staff
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Mozambique: Islamist terrorists with links to ISIS burn village chanting Allahu Akbar, behead over 50 people

While the world has been condemning the dastardly terrorist attacks in France, Mozambique in East Africa has been bearing the brunt of radical Islamism. As per reports, Islamists had unleashed terror in several villages and beheaded more than 50 people in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique in the past few days.

On Friday night, terrorists affiliated with the ISIS yelled, ‘Allahu Akbar’ before going on a killing spree in the Nanjaba village. They burnt down houses and fired shots at innocent people in one of the worst attacks in the province. While several women were abducted, two people were beheaded by the terrorists. In a separate incident, more than 50 people were decapitated by another group of terrorists in the Muatide village.

In a press conference held on Monday, a police official informed, “They set the houses on fire and then hunted down people who had fled into the woods and began their macabre action. Eyewitnesses have testified that the terrorists had abducted several villagers, including women and children, to a football field and used it as an ‘execution ground’ to behead the victims. The government in Mozambique had meanwhile appealed for international help to train its security personnel and maintain peace in the conflict zone.

Radical Islamism is on the rise in Mozambique since 2017

The Muslim-dominated province of Cabo Delgado has witnessed the displacement of 4.3 lac people and the gruesome killings of more than 2000 people since 2017. Although the province is rich in ruby and gas industries, the locals have failed to benefit from it due to a drastic rise in the terror activities of ISIS. In a bid to establish a Caliphate (Islamic State), the terrorist group had been recruiting local youth reeling with poverty and unemployment. The situation in Cabo Delgado has aggravated due to the indifference of the Mozambique government towards the region. In April alone, the ISIS terrorists shot and beheaded more than 50 people for refusing to join them.

Four killed in France over the cartoon row

In the last month, four people have been killed in France over the Prophet Muhammad cartoon row. On 17th October, Samuel Paty, a teacher, was beheaded in France for showing a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad in his class. Later, on 29th October, three people, including a woman, were reportedly beheaded at a Church in Nice, France. Several were injured in several attacks that happened on the same day in different locations across the world. A priest was shot on 1st November while he was closing a church. While India has shown support to France against terrorism, Islamic nations like Turkey and Pakistan have categorically justified the terrorist attacks in France.

Husband of BJP leader shot dead just a day before Bihar Assembly Election result day: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Husband of BJP leader shot dead just a day before Bihar Assembly Election result day: Read details

On Monday evening, the husband of a prominent BJP leader was shot dead by criminals in the Sundernagar locality of Ara in Bhojpur district of Bihar, reported News 18. The incident took place just a day before the results of the Bihar Assembly elections were scheduled to be announced.

The victim has been identified as Pritam Narayan Singh aka Saheb Singh. According to his son, Singh was shot at by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in the Sundernagar locality when he was returning home from the civil court. He was then admitted to a private hospital in Ara. Although the victim was administered first aid, his condition began to deteriorate. Singh was referred to another hospital in the State capital but he died on the way on Monday, a day before Bihar elections result day.

On learning about the incident, Sadar SDPO Pankaj Kumar Rawat, Bhojpur SP Har Kishore Rai, Municipal Police Station Dharmendra Kumar, Nawada Police Station President Sanjeev Kumar Dalbal reached the crime spot.

The victim was a civil court advocate and the husband of the President of the ‘BJP Mahila Morcha.’ Reportedly, he too was an active member of the BJP and took part in several party events during the campaigning phase of the Bihar polls. A preliminary investigation has been initiated in the case.

Uttar Pradesh govt’s unique idea: Unnao district farmers exchange stubble for cow dung manure from Gaushalas

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh govt’s unique idea: Unnao district farmers exchange stubble for cow dung manure from Gaushalas

The district administration in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh has come up with an innovative idea to reduce the problem of stubble burning in the state. On 7th November, it has started procuring stubble from the farmers to be used in cow shelters as fodder. For two trolleys of stubble, the farmer will get one trolley of cow dung. So far, the district administration has procured 800 quintals of stubble. 

The initiative ‘Parali Do, Khaad Lo’ was inaugurated by the administration on 7th November by DD Agriculture Nand Kishore and Veterinary Officer PK Singh. Kishore called it a commendable initiative. It will save farmers from any legal action and help the administration impose the regulations set by National Green Tribunal.

Unnao DM Ravindra Kumar has stated to Aaj Tak that the district has 125 Gaushalas in total. Out of this, 28 are quite large and these Gaushalas produce ample amounts of cow dung manure. Farmers are offered to take 1 trolly of cow dung manure in exchange of 2 trollies of stubble. The stubble will be turned into fodder and the manure will help the farmers to enrich their soil. Kumar has stated that so far, over 100 farmers in the district have brought their stubble and taken manure in exchange.

Technical Institutions providing support to farmers

Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology is one of the institutions helping farmers in stubble management. They provide support to increase modern machinery use, including modern reversible moldboard plow, cutter less spread, arc less mulch, happy seeder, super seeder, etc. among farmers. The method university promotes does not require stubble to be removed from the farms, and sowing can be done without plowing for adding fertilizers. In this method, stubble gets decomposed in the farm itself and acts as a fertilizer.

Stubble burning causes severe damage to soil and the environment

As per the experts, stubble burning causes air pollution and reduces the fertility of the soil. It increases the ground’s temperature and kills friendly insects and microbes that are essential for good plant growth. As a result, the farmer has to use more chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, etc. that further affects soil quality.

240% increase of stubble burning incidents in Punjab

Congress’s Amrinder Singh-led Punjab government has miserably failed in controlling stubble burning. As a result, the incidents of stubble burning have increased by 240% this year compared to last year. On the other hand, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have seen a decline of more than 30% this year.

As Shiv Sena calls Tejashwi Yadav ‘Joe Biden’ of Bihar, here is what the party mouthpiece has said about Bihari migrants over the years

OpIndia Staff
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As Shiv Sena calls Tejashwi Yadav ‘Joe Biden’ of Bihar, here is what the party mouthpiece has said about Bihari migrants over the years

Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana has recently published an article in which it compared the presumptive President-Elect Joe Biden with RJD leader from Bihar Tejashwi Yadav. The editorial went overboard in praising the Mahagathbandhan leader Tejashwi Yadav while criticising NDA leaders Nitish Kumar and PM Modi.

In its article, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece claimed that Tejashwi Yadav will defeat the NDA alliance in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections just like Joe Biden’s “landslide victory” against Republican candidate and serving President Donald Trump. Except, Biden’s victory against Donald Trump is far from being casted as “landslide victory”. 

Nevertheless, the Saamana editorial continued lavishing praises on the Bihari leader, claiming that Tejashwi Yadav had been successful in capturing the imagination of the Bihari residents, something with PM Modi and Nitish Kumar could not emulate. Saamana’s assertions rode on several exit polls which suggested that the Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son has punched above his weight in the Bihar Assembly polls. 

The exit polls indicate that the fight for forming the government in the state would be a fiercely close contest, with either of the two alliances—NDA and the Mahagathbandhan—racking up an almost identical number of seats in the Vidhan Sabha elections. Though the exit polls suggested a hung Bihar Assembly, Shiv Sena mouthpiece was too enthusiastic with the likelihood of Mahagathbandhan giving a tough fight to the NDA alliance.

While Saamana seemed bouncing off the walls at the prospect of Mahagathbandhan alliance between Congress, RJD and other affiliate parties forming government in Bihar, it is important to revisit the time when the same Shiv Sena mouthpiece had spewed vitriol against the North Indians, most notably against the migrant population from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in Mumbai, to further its regional politics. 

Though Shiv Sena has radically upended its narrative after forming an alliance with ideological rivals–Congress and NCP, one does not have to go too far in the past to determine the latent beliefs held by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. 

Saamana slams migrant workers from UP and Bihar after they return to work following the removal of lockdown

Most recently, Shiv Sena’s Saamana went all guns blazing against the migrant population in Mumbai after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari rightfully raised the concern of the growing population in the city of Mumbai and Pune. In its editorial, Saamana slammed the UP and Bihar government for the “re-migration” of workers from the respective states.

It even endorsed the suggestion made by Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, who had put forth a ‘permit’ rule for outsiders entering the state during the Vajpayee regime in the early 2000s. Later in 2012, current Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, too, had raked up the demand of having a ‘permit’ to check the influx of Bihari migrants in Mumbai.

Marathi people are first among equals in Mumbai: Saamana on Devendra Fadnavis lauding north Indian contribution to Mumbai

Shiv Sena, known for its strident ‘son-of-the-soil rhetoric’, had lambasted the then chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, for lauding the contribution of North Indians to Mumbai. Claiming that Marathi people are first among equals, an article published in Saamana said, “Marathi people have the first right and claim over Mumbai. The statement by Fadnavis is an insult to Maharashtra.”

MNS wreaked violence on UP and Bihari migrants while Shiv Sena blithely watched over the carnage

Horrifying attacks were unleashed on migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in February 2008 after clashes broke out between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Samajwadi Party (SP). MNS, led by Raj Thackeray, cousin of Uddhav Thackeray and nephew of Balasaheb Thackeray, made critical remarks centred around language and regionalism, that acted as a dog whistle for the MNS workers, sparking violence against migrant population from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Across the state, MNS workers wreaked havoc against the migrant population from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. From Mumbai to Nagpur, Pune to Aurangabad, MNS workers ran amok, attacking people whom they perceived to belong to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. As many as 25,000 migrants fled Pune, and another 15,000 fled Nashik in the wake of the attacks. 

Reluctantly, the state government ordered the arrest of Raj Thackeray and Abu Azmi on charges of instigation of violence and causing communal disturbance. However, Thackeray’s arrest added fuel to the fire, with MNS workers going on a rampage with a greater intensity against the outsiders. They chopped off both hands of a Bihari hawker sleeping on the streets. He was severely beaten until he fell unconscious. When he gained consciousness, he found himself in a hospital with both his hands amputated. 

Several such horrifying accounts have been reported from the time when MNS specifically targeted the people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Through all the ruckus, Shiv Sena remained uncharacteristically neutral, conscious that condemnation of MNS might undermine their “Marathi Manoos” rhetoric. 

“Biharis are an unwanted lot in all parts of the country”: Saamana editorial in March 2008

It is also important to note that Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana published an article titled “Ek Bihar Sau Bimar” on the attacks against North Indians a month later in March 2008. In the article, the editorial appeared to defend the abominable persecution of UP and Bihari migrants by the MNS workers, instead of condemning the violence. 

The article said Biharis antagonised local populations wherever they went and were an “unwelcome lot” throughout the country. The parliamentarians from Bihar and UP had raised the issue of violence meted out on the UP and Bihari migrants in Maharashtra in the parliament. In response to this, the Saamana editorial had issued a stern warning, claiming that North Indians in the city would again be at the receiving end if they persisted with such talk.

Bihar politicians should rein in themselves or risk facing the same attacks again: Saamana

The editorial said that the North Indian politicians who should be taught a lesson. Not only did Saamana rationalise the attacks carried out on the North Indian migrants in Mumbai and other parts of the state, it even issued a clarion call to the North Indian parliamentarians to rein in their criticism or risk facing the same kind of attacks again. 

Incidentally, the editorial published by Bal Thackeray dissing North Indians was highly critical of Lalu Prasad and senior JD-U leader Prabhunath Singh. Now, since its political affiliations have changed, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the possibility of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tejashwi Yadav becoming the chief minister of Bihar.

Shiv Sena, a perpetually opportunistic political party?

In the current context, Shiv Sena, which has been pretty much unapologetic in its criticism of UP and Bihari population in Maharashtra, has been enthusiastically celebrating the possible coronation of Tejashwi Yadav as Bihar’s new chief minister. It is doing so because it has currently aligned with a political party which is an alliance partner with Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD in Bihar elections. 

Sena, perhaps, reckons that a victory in Bihar can add further ballast to the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra and reinvigorate the opposition against the Modi government. It had fanned the anti-Bihari sentiments when it saw political mileage in doing so. When it saw shunning Hindutva could get it the much-coveted chief ministerial position of Maharashtra, it fell over itself in breaking its long-term alliance with the BJP and joining hands with the Congress and the NCP. Now that it is in the alliance with the Congress party, it considers the election victory of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar pivotal to its political future.

Shiv Sena, which was once a fervid proponent of Hindutva and was deeply embedded in the NDA alliance, can be termed as an opportunist turncoat at best, relinquishing its support at a drop of a hat when it saw its political greed could be satisfied by switching over. However, on the flip side, it could also be described as a party with no firm political leanings, bartering its ideology for the sake of making short-term political gains.

‘Mama ji rocks’: No cracker ban in MP, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges people to celebrate Shri Ram’s return to Ayodhya with firecrackers

OpIndia Staff
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‘Mama ji rocks’: No cracker ban in MP, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges people to celebrate Shri Ram’s return to Ayodhya with firecrackers

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has bucked the nationwide trend and declared that there will be no ban on crackers in the state. Responding to a query by a user on social media, Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that people will be able to celebrate Diwali with great pomp and vigour. In addition, he urged people to celebrate the return of Shri Rama to Ayodhya this Diwali.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “Madhya Pradesh is a state of happiness. Here, we never ban happiness. There is no restriction on firecrackers in the state. But, yes, there is a ban on Chinese firecrackers. Celebrate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, burst firecrackers and celebrate Diwali with great pomp!”

Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said that firecracker brands that sell their products with pictures of Gods and Goddesses on their cover are banned as well. The decision is related to the religious sentiments of Hindus as the covers are then discarded and dumped as garbage with pictures of Gods and Goddesses on them.

There is jubilation among people on social media as netizens showered the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister with love and adulation. ‘Mama ji rocks’ and ‘We love you Mama ji’ appear to be the most popular sentiments on social media platforms. In recent days, there has been a concerted effort to ban firecrackers or impose severe restrictions on Diwali celebrations and his significant departure from it has been greeted wholeheartedly by people across the board.

The announcement by Shivraj Singh Chouhan comes on the same day as the NGT ordered a widespread ban and severe restrictions on firecrackers in cities and towns across the country. Earlier, Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami had appealed to states that had banned it reverse their decision as it will impact the livelihoods of lakhs of people in his state.

Alibaug Sessions Court shifts bail plea hearing of Arnab Goswami to Tuesday, CJM grants Mumbai police permission to question him for 3 hours daily

OpIndia Staff
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Alibaug Sessions Court shifts bail plea hearing of Arnab Goswami to Tuesday, CJM grants Mumbai police permission to question him for 3 hours daily

As the Mumbai police’s persecution against Arnab Goswami continues unabated, the senior journalist will have to stay another day in jail after Alibaug sessions court shifted his bail plea hearing for tomorrow. After the Bombay High Court refused to grant interim relief to Arnab Goswami, he had moved the Alibaug Sessions Court for regular bail in the Anvay Naik abetment to suicide case, the plea for which the Alibaug sessions court will now hear on November 10.

The Sessions Court has also kept the petition of Raigad police, seeking revision of Magistrate’s order of granting judicial custody to Arnab Goswami, for tomorrow.

However, the Alibaug CJM has granted permission to the Mumbai police to question Republic TV Editor-in-chief for 3 hours daily in Taloja prison in connection with Anvay Naik abetment to suicide case. Taloja jail, a prison which houses hardened criminals and underworld dons, is where the senior journalist is currently lodged after he was hurriedly shifted from the quarantine centre on Sunday by the Raigad police.

The permission to interrogate Arnab was granted after Maharashtra police moved an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alibaug seeking permission for the same.

Bombay HC refuses interim relief to Arnab Goswami

Earlier in the day, Bombay High Court had refused to grant interim relief from arrest to Arnab Goswami. 

The senior journalist was on Sunday transferred to the Taloja jail by the Mumbai Police from the quarantine centre where he was held in judicial custody. The Republic Editor-in-Chief revealed that he was yet again assaulted by the police and said that his life was under threat. Previously, Arnab Goswami revealed that he was force-fed a liquid that made him choke, he was hit by a police officer’s boot, he suffered injuries to his spinal cord and veins and he was not even allowed access to drinking water.

Arnab Goswami’s arrest

Arnab was arrested on Wednesday for a now-reopened 2018 abatement of the suicide case of an architect, Anvay Naik. In his suicide note, the architect has blamed a few people, including Arnab Goswami, for not paying dues. Later, the court dismissed the case against Arnab, but it was reopened in May 2020 by the Maharashtra government.

This Diwali, India goes ‘Atmanirbhar’ as governments, brands go vocal for local with #Local4Diwali. Read how

OpIndia Staff
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This Diwali, India goes ‘Atmanirbhar’ as governments, brands go vocal for local with #Local4Diwali. Read how

Did you buy something local on Diwali? Not just diyas, but gifts, jewelry, sweets, chocolates, Diwali lights, electronics, gadgets, appliances, and the list goes on. Did you check or planning to see if the product you are eyeing was made in India or not? Did you try to buy something additional this Diwali just to promote someone local?

Did you post something that you purchased locally with the hashtag #Local4Diwali? If yes, then you are a part of a mass movement across the country to promote local products.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the people of India to buy locally as much as possible. The idea is to promote small manufacturers, retailers, shopkeepers, etc. to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ or self-sufficient. India needs a continuous movement to promote local goods and services if we want to become financially better than other countries and stand tall with the developed nations. With 1.3 billion people and growing, India has one of the highest purchasing power in the world, and it is essential for the progress of the country that we try to go local.

PM Modi’s call for “Local For Diwali”

In his recent addresses to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized on shifting the purchasing power to local products as much as possible. He said, “I request to promote #Local4Diwali with #Vocal4Local. This will not only strengthen the local identity, but also make Diwali celebrations of the people who make these goods worth. The people of my country are giving their sweat and blood, doing something new, it is our responsibility to hold their hands.”

Following his call for buying local products, several ministers, celebrities and brands have started promoting the movement and urging people to buy local products. Leaders including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Amit Shah, Textile Minister Smriti Irani, and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, among others, have shared tweets promoting local products.

Chief Minister of Tripura shared bamboo products’ images, including diyas and gift items made by local artisans.

Smriti Irani, who had shared contact details of several artisans on Handloom day in August, urged people to share photos of local purchases and promote the cause. She shared a beautiful video in which people were seen promoting local products. She said, “Help local craftsmen and businesses to prosper & support ‘Local for Vocal’ movement for an ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ as envisaged by PM Narendra Modi Ji.”

Celebrities and brands supporting the cause

Several brands have come forward to support the cause of promoting local purchases. One of the campaigns that stood out was by Cadbury’s. They launched an advertisement that uses the latest technology to find out where the viewer is from and promote local stores accordingly. As most of the local retailers were not available on online platforms, Cadbury made a database of them and added all the required info so that their system can pick the right retailer. Being an international brand, they found a way to connect to the people of India and found a silver lining in the pandemic.

Karan Johar shared a post on Twitter urging people to buy local this Diwali. He shared a heartwarming note and urged everyone to share photos of the purchases and use the #Local4Diwali hashtag. Ohter celebrities have also chipped in.

Several small and big brands join the cause and become a part of the movement on every platform. Let it be Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Youtube, you will find many brands showcasing their best products and services while promoting other brands too.

In the time of the pandemic, everyone needs help to get back on their feet. With Prime Minister Modi giving a much-need shoutout to the local vendors, manufacturers and retailers, everyone has understood the need to go local and echo for local brands. So, did you buy anything local this Diwali?

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