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Left, Congress and Islamists ‘warn’ Arvind Kejriwal for allowing prosecution of Umar Khalid, forget that AAP leaders helped them fan Delhi anti-Hindu riots

OpIndia Staff
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Left, Congress and Islamists ‘warn’ Arvind Kejriwal for allowing prosecution of Umar Khalid, forget that AAP leaders helped them fan Delhi anti-Hindu riots

A day after Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government gave its sanction to Delhi Police for the prosecution of anti-India ‘activist’ Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to Anti-Hindu Delhi riots, the far-left ‘activists’, the Congress trolls and Islamists joined their hands together to attack the Delhi government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The decision of the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal to give its nod to sanction the radical Islamist Umar Khalid has angered the far-left ‘activists’ and Islamists. These radical members had high hopes on Delhi government that it would not sanction prosecution against communal riots accused Umar Khalid just as it had initially refused to give nod to prosecute former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and others in a sedition case.

It is pertinent to note that the Delhi government had initially refused to give sanctions for prosecuting Kanhaiya Kumar. However, later, out of extreme public pressure, the Delhi government had to give its assent to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar and others in a JNU sedition case.

Similarly, the Delhi government, in a major shock to far-left radical elements, had consented to prosecute Umar Khalid, who was booked under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for plotting the Anti-Hindu Delhi riots in Delhi in February that took lives of more than 50 people.

Far-left radicals and Islamists abuse Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi government

Soon after the Delhi government’s decision was announced, far-left students’ leader Aishe Ghosh, who herself is accused of instigating violence inside JNU campus in January this year, took to Twitter to threaten Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that each and every ‘betrayal’ will not be forgotten.

Aishe, through her tweets, craved for a revenge against Arvind Kejriwal for his decision to give nod to prosecute Arvind Kejriwal.

Tweet by Aishe Ghosh

Another ultra-left student leader Sai Balaji expressed his anger against Aam Aadmi Party calling it a ‘disaster’ and accused them of being part of BJP an RSS.

Balaji allleged that the AAP was pandering to BJP-RSS agenda and stood against the mandate given to them.

Tweet by Sai Balaji

A left-wing troll ranted against Aam Aadmi Party by referring to it as a ‘Sanghi-B team’ to claim that Umar Khalid was a ‘hero’ that they are scared of.

Tweet by one Subytweets

Joining hands with the far-left, the radical Islamists too foul-mouthed the Delhi government and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for their decision to bring Umar Khalid to justice for unleashing terror on the streets of Delhi by instigating Anti-Hindu riots.

Shehla Rashid, a freelance protestor-cum-Islamist, referring to the Delhi government’s judgement, not only claimed that she had friends in the US, but also said that these ‘friends’ of her can easily take solace in the US for the fact that they at least had a real opposition.

Essentially, Rashid said that Aam Aadmi Party was no more of an opposition against the ruling BJP.

Tweet by Shehla Rashid

Notorious Islamic troll-masquerading as ‘journalist’ Rana Ayyub, lamenting about the fact that radical Islamist Umar Khalid will finally brought to justice, protested against Arvind Kejriwal.

Tweet by Rana Ayyub

Ironically, these far-left activists and Islamists had all enthusiastically joined hands with Aam Aadmi Party leaders like Amanatullah Khan, Tahir Hussain to instigate Muslim mobs during the anti-CAA protests. Later, these very same people had also campaigned for the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal in the 2020 Delhi elections hoping that the AAP would let them to create anarchy on the streets of Delhi once elected to power.

Mutually, the Aam Aadmi Party had then overlooked the atrocities committed by these left and radical Islam mobs, in a hope that they could be used during the Delhi elections.

However, the Delhi government, by turning its back on these radical elements this time, has crushed their hopes of freeing the likes of Umar Khalid before being held accountable before the law.

Congress joins left, Islamists to attack AAP-led Delhi government

Not just radical left and Islamists, the perpetual backers of these radical groups – the Congress ecosystem is also upset against the AAP-led Delhi government for giving its sanction to prosecute Umar Khalid under UAPA in the Anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

Srivatsa, a Congress party worker known for spreading anti-Hindu hatred and fake news on social media, claimed that Kejriwal’s sanction to prosecute Umar Khalid proved that AAP was nothing but a B-team of BJP, both politically and ideologically.

He claimed that Kejriwal has time and again supported persecution of minorities and anti-BJP ‘activists’, while adding that only Congress and Rahul Gandhi stood as a bulwark against BJP and RSS.

Tweet by Congress troll

Sanghamitra, another Congress troll, said that Muslims in Delhi had overwhelmingly voted for Aam Aadmi Party in 2020 Delhi elections, however, Kejriwal was paying them with interest by giving sanction to prosecute radical Islamic terror sympathiser Umar Khalid.

Shockingly, the Congress generalised Muslims of Delhi by comparing them to radical Islamist like Umar Khalid.

Tweet by Congress troll

Another Congress troll Ajay said that Umar Khalid despite being a PhD from JNU did not have the foresight to see through Arvind Kejriwal’s Sangh Parivar roots.

Tweet by Congress troll

The opposition party Congress, unsurprisingly, has descended to such a low-level in the political landscape that it is now speaking in the same tone as radical left and Islamists.

Umar Khalid – the mastermind behind the Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots

Umar Khalid is an accused in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots and has been arrested for provided logistical support for the riots and being one of the main masterminds of the Anti-Hindu Delhi riots.

The notorious Islamist Khalid was arrested by the police on September 14 for his involvement in the horrific Northeast Anti-Hindu Delhi riots. In a charge sheet filed by the Delhi police and admitted by the court, it is alleged that Khalid had hatched the conspiracy of the anti-Hindu Delhi riots along with his friends during the visit of the US President Trump to India.

Khalid, the former JNU student and son of an ex-SIMI member, had allegedly met the former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and another accused Khalid Saifi to assure logistical support during the riots through his contacts in the PFI.

The FIR copy stated that the anti-Hindu riots conspiracy was hatched by ex-JNU student Umar Khalid and his associates who are linked with two groups. As part of the conspiracy, Umar Khalid gave provocative speeches at two different locations and appealed to people to take to streets during the visit of US President Donald Trump so that the propaganda that minorities are oppressed in India can be internationalized.

The charge sheet filed in the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma and Tahir Hussain’s role in the riots, it is explicitly mentioned that Tahir Hussain hatched the plans for the riots in January when Hussain had met the JNU scholar and Khalid Saifi at Shaheen Bagh. 

Along with Umar, several other rabble-rousers such as Jamia media coordinator Safoora Zargar, RJD’s youth wing president Meeran Haider, Pinjra Tod activist Natasha Narwal and several others have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for instigating the violence that swept over large swathes of the northeast Delhi in February earlier this year.

Interestingly, several Congress leaders, AAP leaders and Islamist activists like Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid had come together to instigate and partake in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots. However, the Congress trolls and Islamists seem to be feeling rather betrayed now that Arvind Kejriwal has given sanction to prosecute Umar Khalid evenjhough his leaders had earlier instigated the riots along with these trolls. In fact, one even recalls how AAP leader Amanatullah Khan had stood with Sharjeel Imam while he was instigating riots, and the role of AAP leader Tahir Hussain is well known.

After being hands-in-glove with Congress, Islamists and Leftists in fanning riots, AAP seems to now be at the receiving end of their ire because as the process goes, Arvind Kejriwal has had to give his assent to prosecute Umar Khalid under stringent UAPA.

How the political ambitions of the Congress silenced the contributions of freedom fighters

Sharad Yadav
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How the political ambitions of the Congress silenced the contributions of freedom fighters

On the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi, the entire country celebrates the victory of Shree Ram over Ravana, the victory of good over evil. We know about this victory in detail through various versions of the Ramayana like Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitramanas, Kamba Ramayanam, Sri Ranganatha Ramayanamu, Saptakanda Ramayana,  Krittivasi Ramayan.

No version of Ramayana claims that Shree Ram won the battle against Ravana single handedly due to his divine power. In fact, each version of Ramayana states that Shree Rama achieved victory with the help and contribution of Laxman, Hanuman, Sugreev, Angad,  Vibhishan, Jamwant, Jatayu, Sampati, Nal, Neel,  Bheels, Vanars and Bhallus of Vanar Sena. Everybody, including the Vanars who fought the battle is accorded due credit in Ramayana. 

Whenever we watch a movie or a TV program, at the start and end of it we can see the credits running on the screen. These running credits display the names of the Director, Producers, Actors, Distributers, Print and electronic media partners for publicity, Chorographers, Technicians, Musicians and other artists who were involved in making of film and contributed to deliver a fully completed movie to the viewers. Even though everybody gets paid for their work, but it is customary and well established norm  to recognize everybody’s role, whether small or big, in presenting a completed film. 

Whenever a school or college students make a project report, it starts with a note of thanks for Teacher/professor, Lab In-charge and Lab assistants. It will be conspicuously surprising if anybody deviate from this norm. Now imagine how one will feel if somebody gives his/her whole life for a cause and his/her contribution is never mentioned proportionately anywhere. Yes, it has happened in the case of biggest and toughest project ever taken by our countrymen, that is, to get rid of the oppressive British rule in India.

When India was reeling under the exploitative and oppressive regime of the Britishers, millions of Indians were fighting in their own way for the country’s independence. Out of these millions, thousands of Indians from the various corners of India had dedicated their whole life for this cause and had given the supreme ‘Aahuti’ of their life in the ‘Yagna’ of India’s independence. But it is really disheartening that only a few of them are known to masses and rest of them still remains the unsung Heroes with stories of their valor buried deep in the annals of history. Hardly any detailed information is available in public domain about their life and the activities they carried out for freedom.

When India got independence and Indians formed the government, there was a hope that the contribution of all uncelebrated freedom fighters and martyrs would be brought to the public discourse for inspiring the next generation. But this hope was soon belied. The Congress party ruled the country after independence for decades. To advance the interest of one family, further it had put the dirt of sponsored history on the remarkable contribution of unsung Heroes.

The fight against the Britishers was fought in myriad forms and at multiple fronts. Some supported the way of cooperation and negotiation with Britishers for slow progress towards participation in government and self rule. Some were disillusioned with the policy of submitting memorandums, petitions, appealing and believed in “Tit for Tat”. They favored use of arms against brute force of Britishers. Some believed in working clandestinely to attack British Raj by organizing revolutionary associations inside and outside India.

When policies of Britshers were rendering million of Indians poor and hungry, for some, working for the upliftment of poor brothers and sisters, was the way of fighting the Britishers. When the plight of the society was totally ignored by the Britishers, striving for social reforms for the betterment of fellow countrymen was the way of fighting the British Raj for some freedom fighters.

Amidst all the efforts against the foreign rule, Centre stage and spotlight was occupied by the congress, it claimed to be representative of whole India [1]. In congress also, particularly by a faction who believed that if the needs of Indians were properly conveyed and explained to Britishers, good sense would prevail to English masters and they would show mercy [2][3][4][5]. This faction within congress believed in submitting Memorandums, Addressing Letters, Appeals, Fariyads and Invitations (Let’s say this faction as Maafi lobby of congress) [6].

This Maafi lobby grew closer to the British Raj in India. The British Raj also treated Maafi lobby as the representative of whole India and considered the requests and pleas received from them only as legitimate form of raising grievances by Indians. This lobby did not want to enrage the Britishers, professed loyalty to the British Raj and preferred to go slow on small incremental basis towards representation of Indians in government [7].

This proved conducive to prolong the British rule in India and British Raj granted the members of this Maafi lobby with awards, titles and participation in government [8]. Whenever any member of this lobby was taken under symbolic arrest, he received special treatment as a political prisoner unlike other nationalist leaders.   

All other freedom fighters of different ideology, even the nationalist members of Congress were seen as ‘unrest creators’ and were treated differently by the Britishers [9]. They were met with harsh repression, sedition cases and severe punishment without court trials [10]. Even Morley, Secretary of state, confessed “I must confess that I am watching with the deepest concern and dismay the thundering sentences that are being passed for sedition, etc. We must keep order, but excess of Severity is not the path to order. On the contrary, it is the path to the bomb” [11].

In 1907, during the Surat split of Congress, the moderates expelled the ‘extremists’ including Bal Gangadhar Tilak. After his expulsion he was sent to Mandalay Jail for 6 years under sedition case. Britishers brutally repressed the nationalist leaders of congress and members of various revolutionary organizations [12].

Any nationalist leader who did not fall in the line of Maafi lobby suffered at the hand of Britishers [13]. In 1939, nationalist leader Subash Chandra Bose was ousted from congress even after winning the election of congress president. Subsequently he was put under house arrest by Britishers [14]. This lobby exercised huge clout as one side it was close to the British Raj and on the other side it used face of Mahatma Gandhi for Mass appeal [15].

Nehru was a prominent member of the Maafi lobby who was very close to the British Raj especially with the last Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. Nehru’s proximity with Lord Mountbatten and a special favor from Mahatama Gandhi where he preferred Nehru over Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel ignoring the mandate of 12 Pradesh Congress committees got him the PM post in interim government [16][17].

After independence, in order to usurp the legacy of freedom movement and to make the PM post feudatory forthe Nehru family, Congress eulogized only those freedom fighters who fell in the definition of ‘Moderates’ and suited the political convenience of Nehru. Congress led by Nehru deliberately adopted the systematic approach of ignoring and belittling the contribution and valor of freedom fighter belonging to different ideology. This helped in achieving larger than life image for Nehru and advancing the Congress’s electoral prospects. To ensure that his coming generations would keep on appropriating the inheritance of Freedom Fight, Nehru added ‘Gandhi’ surname to the name of her daughter Indira [18].

The Freedom fighters of national level whose contribution was brushed under carpet by congress government were Subash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Khudi Ram Bose, Veer Savarkar, Laxmi Sehgal, Shyam ji Krishan Verma, Batukeshwar Dutt and many more. There were no attempts by the government which was formed after independence to spread their ideas and vision.

Apart from these national level Heroes, there were other hundreds of freedom fighters who shown exemplary courage and fought the Britishers in their own region. Vasudev Balwant Phadke from Maharastra, Sushila Chain Trehan Madan Lal Dhingra, Swami Shradanand and Kartar Singh Sarabha from Punjab, Kumwar Basawon Singh from Bihar, Titumir and Matangini Hazra from Bengal, U. Muthuramalingam Thevar and Velu Nachiyar from Tamilnadu, Dhan Singh Gujar from U.P., Karnad Sadashiva Rao from Karnataka, Rani Gaidinliu from Nagaland. This list can go on and on endlessly. When we try to find more about these freedom fighters from credible sources, we cannot find even more than few lines. 

On the day of victory of Shree Ram, who patted even a tiny squirrel for its attempts to empty the ocean which stood between him and Lanka, I sincerely request Narendra Modi led BJP government to get these unsung heroes their due credit.

In my opinion, based on birthplace, twenty of such freedom fighters should be identified from each of the current state and union territory. After the partition, birthplace of many freedom fighters now lies in Pakistan and Bangladesh; there should be provision to include them also. Then evidence based and objective research oriented project should be assigned to post doctoral scholars of various universities of India. The source of research can be archives of British Raj, Provincial government, official records of princely states, Revenue records, police diaries and intelligence gathered by special branch of that era.  

There are many passionate Indian citizens and NRIs who want to know and find out more about the unsung Heroes of Indian freedom fight but cannot do so due to lack of resources and dedicated time required for it. In India, the number of research project undertaken in field of Arts is far less than that of in field of science. To promote research projects on various unsung freedom fighter, suitable grants should be allotted by UGC for universities and research Scholars researchers undertaking these projects. 

Such projects will provide more insight about the lives, ideas, sacrifices and contributions of these freedom fighters. After knowing more about forgotten freedom fighters, Government Schemes, offices, Public spaces, Roads, Airports and civic amenities should be named after them contrary to current scenario where members of a single family have a sort of copyright on them. 

Vested political interest of one family made congress to sideline the contribution of many freedom fighters. But reason for requesting the government now to undertake this project is to get justice for unsung Heroes of freedom movement by giving them due credit for their sacrifices. This reason is much bigger than the clamor of electoral politics. 

A nation, which does not remember and respect its heroes of previous generations who had given their blood for its foundation, can never inspire the coming generations to sweat for its safety and prosperity.    

References

[1] https://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/hess205.pdf , page 143, Text written under heading Source-1 
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Nationalists#cite_ref-TotalModerates2_8-0
[3] Kundra, D. N. (2012). History & Civics PART II. Goyal Brothers Prakashan. pp. 91, 93, 98–106, 111
[4] Sequeira, Dolly Ellen; Raj, S. Irudaya (2009). History & Civics. Morning Star Publishers. pp. 27, 35–41, 45. ISBN 978-8131-7033-11
[5]. Stein, Burton. A History of India. I. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 254–255. ISBN 978-0-19-565446- 2.Avoiding confrontations, the early Congress leaders were patient, moderate and conciliatory in their demands
[6]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surat_Split , Heading – History, Line – 2. 
[7]. Stein, Burton. A History of India. I. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 254–255. ISBN 978-0-19-565446- 2.Avoiding confrontations, the early Congress leaders were patient, moderate and conciliatory in their demands
[8] https://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/hess205.pdf , Page 144, Heading – Source 2
[9] http://vsktelangana.org/father-of-indian-unrest-bal-gangadhar-tilak
[10]  http://indiansaga.com/history/bengal_split1.html
[11] https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/94895/10/10_chapter%206.pdf Page 184
[12] https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/94895/10/10_chapter%206.pdf
[13] https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/94895/10/10_chapter%206.pdf
[14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subhas_Chandra_Bose#cite_note-FOOTNOTEChattopadhyay1989-91 [Chattopadhyay, Subhas Chandra (1989), Subhas Chandra Bose: man, mission, and means, Minerva Associates]
[15] https://www.gktoday.in/gk/subhash-chandra-bose-and-congress-tripuri-session-1939/
[16] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07075332.2014.900812?src=recsys&journalCode=rinh20
[17] https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/patel-not-nehru-prime-minister
[18] https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/congress-ignored-freedom-fighters-to-promote-nehru-gandhi-family-ram-madhav-118102200054_1.html

CBI arrests kingpin of Indo-Bangladesh border cattle smuggling racket, was out on bail in a 2018 case of bribing BSF officials

OpIndia Staff
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CBI arrests kingpin of Indo-Bangladesh border cattle smuggling racket, was out on bail in a 2018 case of bribing BSF officials

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yesterday nabbed the alleged kingpin of a cattle smuggling racket being run along the India-Bangladesh border. The culprit identified as Enamul Haque is from West Bengal and was arrested by the CBI in Delhi. A Border Security Force (BSF) officer was also reportedly arrested with Haque.

According to reports, the central investigative agency has raided the offices of two chartered accountants in Kolkata on Thursday in connection with the case. Satish Kumar, former commandant of the 36BSF battalion now posted in Raipur, Enamul Haque, Anarul SK and Mohammad Golam Mustafa have been booked by the CBI.

It is alleged that the cattle smugglers have been bribing the BSF official to ensure that the smuggling racket ran smoothly. Haque has been out of bail after the CBI arrested him in March 2018 for allegedly bribing another BSF Commandant Jibu T Mathew. Mathew was nabbed at Alappuzha railway station in January 2018 in possession of cash to the tune of Rs 47 lakh.

CBI raids in West Bengal

In the month of September, the CBI had conducted multiple raids at multiple locations in Kolkata and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal in a bid to unearth the nexus involved in the rampant illegal cattle trade happening along the India-Bangladesh border. Raids were also conducted at various locations at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Amritsar in Punjab and Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

The security agencies have tightened the noose around the cattle smuggling trade going on along the India-Bangladesh border. However, the smugglers keep innovating new techniques to smuggle the cattle without being caught by the security agencies.

In the month of June this year, the BSF had exposed a cruel method of smuggling adopted by cow smugglers along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal after they retrieved a live calf tied up and hidden inside a carcass floating in the river. The smugglers reportedly tie socket bombs to the necks of the cattle while smuggling them to cause physical harm to the forces when they are caught.

In April this year, the BSF had informed that the infiltration and smuggling of cattle, gold, marijuana, fake Indian currency notes (FICN) through the porous 2,216.7 km India-Bangladesh border had witnessed a sharp decline due to the outbreak of the Wuhan virus.

Some expected headlines if Ravish Kumar or Prannoy Roy were investigated, much less kicked with boots, choked, tortured by police like Arnab Goswami

K Bhattacharjee
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Some expected headlines if Ravish Kumar or Prannoy Roy were investigated, much less kicked with boots, choked, tortured by police like Arnab Goswami

More revelations have come to the fore regarding the manner in which Arnab Goswami was assaulted by the Mumbai Police and yet, the silence of the mainstream media is deafening. 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.

We can imagine the kind of headlines that would have been splashed across the front pages of newspapers and on news channels if it was Ravish Kumar or Prannoy Roy at the receiving end of it. We have seen it over and over again. An investigation into NDTV for alleged fraud was transformed into a crackdown on press freedom. And here we have a journalist physically assaulted over frivolous charges, and the outrage is not visible at all.

If it were one of the leftist journalists who had to suffer even a minimal proportion of the brutality Arnab Goswami has had to endure, the coverage would have been starkly different. Nobody doubts it one bit. Let us see some of the headlines that would have been published in a scenario where Ravish Kumar or Prannoy Roy were under the radar for even a legitimate inquiry.

“Democracy dies in Darkness in India as Delhi Police under Home Minister Amit Shah cracks down on dissent”: Washington Post

“Democracy dies in darkness” is Washington Post’s tagline that was adopted in 2017 and over the past few years, they have had abundant cause to use it profusely. However, it is to be remembered that the Jeff Bezos owned newspaper believes Democracy to be under threat only when any effort is made to crackdown on leftist corruption. Everyone is legitimate game.

Like most other newspapers, Washington Post is convinced that any lawful inquiry against a leftist outlet or a journalist could only ever be a crackdown dissent as all leftists are paragons of virtue.

“And then they came for Ravish Kumar”: The Indian Express

It is a bit cliched at this point but it is the sort of headline that Indian Express had carried when Yakub Memon was executed for his involvement in the Mumbai Terror Attack of 1993. A newspaper that had the audacity to humanize a terrorist will of course go to any lengths to defend one of their own. A legal inquiry into a left-wing journalist is low-hanging fruit in comparison.

“Cry, beloved India! Saffron Rampage comes knocking for fierce journalist Ravish Kumar”: The Telegraph

The Telegraph is known for its ‘witty’ headlines that misrepresent facts and misguide its readers on a variety of issues in order to peddle propaganda against the BJP and the central government. Its ‘wit’ goes out of the window when it comes to speaking out against the brutality meted out against political opponents of Mamata Banerjee.

It can be safely said that regardless of the accusations against a left-wing journalist, The Telegraph will pretend that hell has descended upon India. If there isn’t any evidence of wrongdoing against law enforcement authorities, evidence will be invented in order to cast the government in poor light.

“Fascist BJP cracks down on dissent as Ravish Kumar is punished for his fearless journalism”: The Wire

Considering the fact that we are speaking of The Wire, we can’t put it past them to come up with an even more flamboyant and extravagant headline. During their extended coverage, we might also hear them rant about ‘Savarna Fascism’ or ‘Brahminical tyranny’. The coverage will hardly even mention the actual charges against Ravish Kumar and even if it is mentioned, it will be in passing. The overwhelming focus will be on fascism and tyranny and how the BJP seeks to punish those who criticize its policies.

“Amit Shah reveals his true colours, intolerance in India reaches its zenith after police pays relentless critic Ravish Kumar a visit”: NYT

The New York Times’ coverage of the developments in India has been extremely biased, if we are to put it mildly. Needless to say, the manner in which it would cover the news of arrest or an inquiry into Ravish Kumar or Prannoy Roy would follow a similar pattern. The NYT does not care about actual facts of the matter. It has a dedicated agenda and that agenda will be peddled regardless of the facts of the matter at hand.

Deafening silence over Arnab Goswami

Consider the silence over the brutality meted out to Arnab Goswami on the other hand. There is no outrage over the atrocities he has had to endure. The NYT went to the extent of labeling Shiv Sena a ‘progressive party’, a hilarious mistake it had to soon correct. It only reveals the utter lack of principles on the part of liberals.

It was never about principles, it was always about power. When liberals have succeeded in winning over power, they will not hesitate to unleash the most grievous of attacks on those they perceive to be their enemies. Consequently, every such attack will be justified because they genuinely appear to believe they are morally superior to everyone else and all their transgressions are justified by the supposed righteousness of their intentions.

Anvay Naik was in financial crisis since 2013, Arnab Goswami, others did not drive him to suicide: Here is what 2019 closure report said

OpIndia Staff
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Anvay Naik was in financial crisis since 2013, Arnab Goswami, others did not drive him to suicide: Here is what 2019 closure report said

While the Mumbai police have been relentless in its witch-hunt against Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on the behest of the Maharashtra government, the closure report filed in the Anvay Naik suicide case in 2019 puts the Mumbai police in the dock.

The Background of the Case

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. 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.

No links between Arnab Goswami and other accused

“The three accused who have been named work in different fields, locations and no link between the three has been established in the investigation…No evidence has been found so far in the investigation that the action on the part of the three accused named in the suicide note until now, individually or together, made it unbearable for the deceased to continue living or had no option but to commit suicide. Hence, in the absence of evidence in this case, ‘A final’ summary should be accepted,” the closure report emphasised.

Anvay Naik’s company was in a huge loss

It further noted, “Investigation has revealed that since the past six to seven years (prior to 2018), Concorde (Anvay Naik’s company) has been facing financial losses, due to which Anvay Naik and his mother were under mental stress. Since his mother was a partner in the company, he throttled her to death, wrote a suicide note and then hung himself.”

The closure report reiterated that Concorde Designs Private Limited had left the work incomplete of several clients, including that of the ones named by Anvay Naik in the suicide note. “The accused then carried out the work among themselves and paid the vendors, as per the documents submitted before the police,” the report clarified. The closure report, submitted by the Raigad Police was accepted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate L G Pachchhe on April 16, 2019.

Indian Express exclusively accessed the annual statutory returns filed by Concorde with the Registrar of Companies. As per the details, the company had a debt of ₹26.5 crores in the fiscal year 2016. Interestingly, the company soon became inactive and also stopped filing its annual returns since that year.

Accusation by Anvay Naik’s family

When the closure report was submitted before the Court, advocate Vaibhav Karnik representing the victim’s family had alleged that the veracity of documents submitted by the police was doubtful. He claimed, “The police closure report was based on several documents like debit notes submitted by the accused that were not even countersigned and hence, their veracity is doubtful.”

Anvay Naik’s daughter, Adnya Naik, had also claimed that the Arnab Goswami and the other accused knew each other. She alleged, “When my father would ask Feroz Shaikh to pay up, he would say even Goswami has not done so. How did he know who had made the payments? It means they were linked to each other.” She also claimed that Inspector Suresh H Varade, who investigated the case, wanted to ‘discredit’ the case and intimidated them into signing a statement, taking the complaint back.

After the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh illegally directed a re-investigation in the case in May, without the permission of the Magistrate, the victim’s wife Akshata Naik had also submitted 35 reasons on October 12 for reopening the case.

Action against the investigating officer

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police had initiated a departmental probe against Inspector Suresh H Varade, for allegedly omitting the facts of the case. He has been moved to the district traffic department from the post of the inspector. The family of the victim had alleged that Vadare continued to investigate the case, despite his transfer to the traffic department. Akshata Naik further alleged that Arnab Goswami had given his statement to a senior Mumbai police officer in his cabin and the investigation report makes no mention of the same.

Arnab Goswami sent to judicial custody

Earlier, the Alibaug court rejected the plea of Mumbai police plea seeking 14 days of police custody of Arnab Goswami, who was arrested on November 4. After a hearing that went into the midnight, the Alibaug Court granted 14 days of judicial custody for the Republic TV editor-in-chief, which meant that the Mumbai police would not interrogate him in its custody.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Sunaina Pingle had noted that the police failed to establish prima facie link between the deceased and Goswami. “Taking into consideration the reasons behind the arrest of the accused persons and the arguments put forth by the accused persons, the arrest appears to be prima facie illegal…There is no cogent evidence submitted that warrants this court to remand the arrested accused to police custody,” the CJM observed.

Centre directs Andhra Pradesh govt to act against Christian pastors who received benefits using Hindu SC/OBC certificates

OpIndia Staff
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Centre directs Andhra Pradesh govt to act against Christian pastors who received benefits using Hindu SC/OBC certificates

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment yesterday directed the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Department to take action against Christian pastors who received honorarium under Disaster Relief Fund by using Hindu SC/OBC caste certificates. The Union Ministry wrote to the Principal Secretary of the state Social Welfare Department to act as directed and submit the report of action taken to it.

The direction was issued by the Union Ministry after Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), an NGO working in the field of law, filed a complaint in the month of September this year highlighting the scam taking place under the state government scheme to provide honorariums to all religious service renders in the state. LRPF says that real SC/OBC beneficiaries were deprived because Christians grabbed the benefits using their SC/OBC certificates.

The NGO also wrote to the National Commission for Scheduled Classes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) requesting to conduct an inquiry and to constitute a fact-finding committee in the matter. It also wrote to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh seeking an inquiry and requesting the cancellation of Hindu community certificates of Christian pastors wherever dual religious identities existed.

The LRPF also pleaded for the recovery of the amount already paid to the Christian pastors and for immediate action for preventing further misuse of taxpayers’ money in view of the state government scheme of providing monthly honorarium to Christian pastors.

Under the scheme, a one-time honorarium of Rs 5000 was being provided to all religious service providers including Archakas, Imams, Mouzzams and Christian Pastors in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown. In an RTI filed by the LRPF, it was revealed that 31,017 Archakas, 7000 Imams and Mouzzams and 29,841 Christian Pastors received the honorarium of Rs 5000 which amounted to Rs 33.92 crores in totals. The NGO claimed that 70 percent of the 29,841 Christian Pastors who received the honorarium were holding Hindu SC/OBC caste certificates.

As per the report of the Commune, the 2011 Census shows the population of Andhra Pradesh as follows: Hindus- 90.86 per cent, Muslims- 7.33 per cent and Christians- 1.39 per cent. However, Christian Pastors formed 43.99 per cent of the total beneficiaries under the state government honorarium scheme. When the Jagan Mohan Reddy government announced a Rs 5000 monthly honorarium for Christian Pastors in September 2019, it did not mandate the submission of Christian community certificates and provided an opportunity to Christians holding Hindu community certificates to benefit from the scheme.

As per the data obtained through RTI filed by the NGO, it was revealed that 58.14 per cent Christian Pastors have Hindu SC community certificates and 13.37 per cent Christian pastors have Hindu OBC community certificates. In the complaint written to the NCSC, the NGO sought directions to the Andhra Pradesh government to submit to the Commission a list of the Christian pastors who had received that one-time honorarium of Rs 5000 with the details of religion/community of all the 29,841 Christian pastors. The NGO mentioned in its complaint that the Christian pastors were holding the dual religious identities to gain benefits provided by the government to Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Communities. It said that the Christian Pastors used their Hindu identities when seeking benefits under government scheme meant for SCs or OBCs and utilised their Christian identity to gain benefits of government schemes intended for Christian pastors.

The NGO claimed serious abuse and defrauding of public exchequer and alleged that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government was directly encouraging the Hindu SC community to convert to Christianity through the scheme.

Bombay HC grants interim relief to Hansa Research from harassment by Mumbai police, issues notice to police on the petition filed by the company

OpIndia Staff
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Bombay HC grants interim relief to Hansa Research from harassment by Mumbai police, issues notice to police on the petition filed by the company

Along with the petition filed by Arnab Goswami two others in the Anvay Naik suicide case, a bench of Mumbai High Court also heard a petition filed by Hansa Research making some serious charges against Mumbai Police. The court issued a notice to Mumbai police to reply to the allegations made in the petition, and issued orders not to harass the company. The court asked the Mumbai police advocate Devdutt Kamat to take instructions from the court in this regard and come back later.

The Division bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice MS Karnik also granted interim relief to the company, saying that police will call their officials two days every week for questioning. while not commenting on the most other pleas and allegations made by the company, which will be dealt with when the court takes the petition for hearing.

The court assured Hansa Research that as they are the complainants in the TRP manipulation case and not an accused, nothing will happen to them. The court told Mumbai police that Hansa Research is the complainant in the case, and they can’t call them daily for questioning. The court also said that the police can’t keep the officials in police station from morning to evening, and asked them to keep some fixed time till the date court takes up the petition in the next hearing.

Although Hansa Research is the complainant in the case, the police claimed that they have evidence against the company. Advocate Devdutt Kamat, who was appearing for Mumbai police, claimed that the case papers which are with the court proves that there is evidence against them.

The High Court will hear the petition filed by Hansa Research on November 25, and asked the police not to harass the company till then.

In a sensational development in the TRP manipulation case, Hansa Research, the company that runs the Bar-O-meters of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council), had moved the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of the probe into the case from Mumbai Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying that it was being harassed by Mumbai police to give false statement against Republic TV.

The company had said that a team of Mumbai police crime branch led by Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was threatening and intimidating the Hansa Officials, forcing them to say that the Hansa Research report shown by Republic TV, which names India Today and not Republic TV, is fake. The company has said that the they can’t say whether the document is genuine on not based on what is shown in TV, and they need the physical document. They have also said that the Republic has shown only some portions from their report, based on which the FIR was filed in the case naming India Today. But despite that the police is harassing them to declare that the document is fake, threatening and harassing petitioners with their arrest and indefinite detention and seizure of their mobile phones if they give the false statement.

It may be noted that Hansa Research had filed the case against one of its employee Vishal Bhandari, who had confessed to have received money to pay to BARC panel houses to watch India Today channel for 2 hours a day. However, in a controversial press conference by Param Bir Singh, he had said that Republic TV was named in the case, and didn’t mention the name of India Today. However, soon the original complaint of Hansa Research, and the FIR registered by Police in the case, had shown that India Today was named multiple times in the case, and Republic TV was not named.

Since then, Mumbai Police led by Param Bir Singh and Sachin Vaze have launched a series of attacks against Republic TV, trying to implicate in the case. Officials and journalists of the channel are daily summoned to the police station and questioned for hours, to know only one thing, the source of Hansa Research Repost which had exposed the lies of Param Bir Singh.

Niira Radia, who used to fix government ministries during Congress regime, booked for loan embezzlement to the tune of Rs 300 crores: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Niira Radia, who used to fix government ministries during Congress regime, booked for loan embezzlement to the tune of Rs 300 crores: Read details

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police has registered Niira Radia, her sister Karuna Menon and accomplices SK Narula and Yateesh Wahal in a loan embezzlement case, India Today has reported. They have been accused of siphoning, embezzlement and forgery involving a bank loan in the excess of Rs. 300 crore. The loan was taken for two hospital projects, Primamed Hospital in Gurugram and Vimhans Hospital in Delhi.

A complaint was filed in the matter by Delhi-based orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajeev K Sharma. He had played a key role in the establishment of the 417-bed Primamed Hospital in Gurugram and the 90-bed Vimhans Hospital in south Delhi. Sharma alleged that Niira Radia and others embezzled Rs. 312.50 through fictitious bank accounts in the name of well-known contractors.

Sharma further alleged that loan and equity money to the tune of Rs. 400 crores have been siphoned off while the condition of the Primamed Hospital has deteriorated. He called it an act of “brazen cheating” and claimed there is enough evidence to hold Niira Radia guilty. She is currently running two other hospitals, one in Mathura and another in Agra, both of which have been in the news for nonpayment of salaries and dues of Rs. 100 crores to vendors in addition to statutory dues.

The Radia Tapes scandal

Corporate-lobbyist Niira Radia shot to infamy over the Radia Tapes scandal which revealed a nexus between lobbyists and politicians. The scandal acquainted the country with how the narrative is set, Cabinet berths negotiated, the disgraceful nexus between journalists and politicians and the political impunity to brush aside the scam. Some of those who have had central roles in these tapes have suddenly disappeared from the face of Earth. Others who were in the thick of the controversy have rubbished the tapes as doctored and extenuated themselves from any wrongdoing.

CBI investigation into Hathras incident: After refusing Narco test, family of the victim now refuse to undergo polygraph test too

OpIndia Staff
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CBI investigation into Hathras incident: After refusing Narco test, family of the victim now refuse to undergo polygraph test too

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team investigating the death of the woman in the Bulgadhi village in Hathras has asked for a polygraph test to be done on the victim’s family members to arrive at the truth. The victim’s brother and mother were summoned by the premier agency in this regard but they have refused to undergo a test, suggest reports.

The victim’s brother has been questioned several times by the CBI after it was revealed that the main accused Sandeep was in constant touch via mobile phone used by the victim’s brother. The CBI had called for him for questioning, but he has reportedly denied taking a polygraph test. Nevertheless, the voice sample of the victim’s brother was taken, and it will be examined by the agency now.

The Hathras victim’s brother told media that the CBI had asked him to undergo a polygraph test which he refused, citing ignorance about the test. The victim’s brother said that the people lodged in the jail are at comfort while those outside the jail are being harassed by the authorities. He suggested the investigative agencies to interrogate the accused as to how they killed his sister.

The elder brother of the victim has alleged that the CBI wants to portray the entire case as a matter of love affair that had gone sideways. He has also claimed that the premier investigative agency confided in him that the case is on the verge of being solved.

Meanwhile, the sister-in-law of the victim has demanded a test of the DM of Hathras. She has asked why DM’s test is not being conducted.

CBI recreates crime scene

The CBI has been investigating the Hathras incident since October 12. It has intensified its probe after sharp remarks from the High Court. A team of 15 members, led by DSP Seema Pahuja reached the scene along with the forensic team at around 12 noon on Friday afternoon and recreated the crime scene.

The victim’s mother and brother were brought to the spot under the protection of CRPF. The team held the victim’s brother on the backyard of the field about 100 meters from the spot of the incident, while the other CBI team reached the farm with the victim’s mother. Following this, the victim’s mother was questioned.

For about 20 minutes, the mother was interrogated by the team of CBI after which the victim’s brother was brought for questioning. By individual interrogation, the agency was trying to arrive at the truth and reconcile with the distances that the allegedly contradictory statements from the witnesses in the case.

Hathras victim’s family’s numerous about-faces

One of the significant aspects of the Hathras case has been the continuously changing position of the family of the girl. Initially, the family of the victim had levelled only assault charge, and the rape allegation was added a week later. This had created much confusion about the case, as medical and forensic evidence available till now does not support the rape charge. Similarly, the stand of the family on the probe in the case also seems to be changing, especially the position taken by the victim’s brother. 

After it was reported that the case has been handed over to CBI by the state govt, the deceased’s brother said that the family didn’t seek it. As per the reports, the victim’s brother said that they did not demand CBI inquiry as SIT investigation is already underway. Now the family is demanding judicial investigation under the Supreme Court.

Kin of the Hathras victim deny undergoing narco test

The kin of the victim in Hathras have not just denied undergoing polygraph test. Earlier, they had also resolutely refused to take a narco test.

The SIT probe’s preliminary report has recommended the narco test of the victim’s family. However, the victim’s mother has rejected the recommendation, saying her family wouldn’t undergo the narco test. 

Even when the Aaj Tak reporter pressed the grieving mother that the narco test would unearth facts of the matter hitherto hidden, the mother responded, “We have no idea what narco test and therefore we don’t want to get it done.”

Hathras incident

On 14th September, a 19-year-old woman was strangulated, and later she succumbed to injuries on 29th September. Initially, charges of murder were pressed against the accused. However, later rape charged were also included.

The Hathras case had then become a ground for political drama and media propaganda. Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad, TMC leader Derek O’Brien, and several others have visited Hathras to meet the family in order to mount an attack against the Yogi Adityanath government in the state.

Software glitch that caused Republican votes to be counted for Democrats used in 47 Michigan counties, claims state GOP Chair, seeks examination of results

OpIndia Staff
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Software glitch that caused Republican votes to be counted for Democrats used in 47 Michigan counties, claims state GOP Chair, seeks examination of results

Michigan Republican Chair Laura Cox has claimed that glitch in the tabulating software caused votes poured in favour of Republicans to be counted for Democrats during the US Elections 2020. She said that the people of Michigan deserve a transparent election process. Joe Biden won the state with a comfortable margin.

Laura Cox said, “In Anterim County, ballots were counted for Democrats that were meant for Republicans causing a 6000 vote swing against our candidates. The counting clerk came forward and said that tabulating software glitched and caused a miscalculation of the votes. Since then, we have now discovered that 47 Counties used this same software in the same capacity.”

“Anterim County had to hand count all of the ballots and these counties that used this software need to closely examine their results for similar discrepancies. The people of Michigan deserve a transparent and open process,” Laura Cox added. Software glitches are not unheard of in the tabulation of results.

Technological issues had caused massive delays in reporting the results of the Iowa Caucus during the Democratic primaries. The Democratic Iowa Caucus had to suffer a massive loss of face after the app used for tabulation of results reported faulty data to the central headquarters, requiring an audit of the system from the ground-up to ensure the legitimacy of the results.

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