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SC raps West Bengal police for issuing summons to Delhi resident over her Facebook post ‘criticising’ Mamata Banerjee government

OpIndia Staff
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SC raps West Bengal police for issuing summons to Delhi resident over her Facebook post ‘criticising’ Mamata Banerjee government

In a major embarrassment to Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the West Bengal Police for summoning a Delhi resident for her Facebook post criticising West Bengal government.

According to the reports, the West Bengal police had issued summons to a 29-year-old Delhi resident Roshni Biswas to appear before the Investigating Officer in West Bengal in response to a notice issued under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Biswas had ‘criticised’ lack of proper implementation of coronavirus lockdown in Raja Bazaar where a huge crowd had reportedly gathered. For her Facebook post, West Bengal police issued her summons. However, Roshni Biswas had challenged the issuance of summons to her by West Bengal police and the Calcutta High Court asking her to appear before police for questioning.

Supreme Court stays summons, slams West Bengal police

In a big relief to Biswas on Wednesday, the Supreme Court stayed the summons issued to her and warned West Bengal police saying that they cannot have citizens hauled from one corner of the country to another for a social media post criticising the government. The apex court also stayed the Calcutta High Court order asking her to appear in Kolkata and cooperate with the investigation.

A Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice DY Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee said that if police were to issue summons to ordinary citizens in such a manner, it would force the courts to step in and protect the constitutionally guarded fundamental right of free speech under Article 19(1)(a).

“It is like saying how dare a citizen to write something against the government, we will haul her up by summoning her from any part of the country. Summoning her from Delhi to Kolkata is sheer harassment. Tomorrow, police from Kolkata, Mumbai, Manipur and Chennai will summon people from all parts of India to send a chilling message — you want the freedom of speech, we will teach you a lesson,” the bench said in a scathing attack against West Bengal police.

Do not cross line, we are here to protect free speech: Supreme Court

R Bansal, who appeared on behalf of the West Bengal government said Biswas would be questioned and not arrested. Responding to that Justice DY Chandrachud said that this is browbeating a citizen for exercising the right to free speech. One cannot be prosecuted for saying the pandemic is not dealt with properly, he observed.

“Do not cross the line. Let India remain a free country. We, as the Supreme Court, are here to protect free speech. The reason why the SC was created by the Constitution is to ensure that ordinary citizens are not harassed by the state,” the Supreme Court observed.

The West Bengal police had registered a case against Roshni Biswas for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) involving promoting enmity between religious groups (Section 153A), outraging religious feelings (Section 295A), defamation (Section 500), breach of the peace (Section 504), public mischief (Section 505) and other related provisions under the Information Technology Act and Disaster Management Act.

Supreme Court had rapped Mamata Banerjee govt in the past

In a similar case, Priyanka Sharma, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, was arrested in May last year for posting a meme of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.

The West Bengal Police had booked Sharma under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code and under provisions of the Information Technology Act. She was slapped with a non-bailable warrant and was later taken into 14-day custody by the West Bengal Police.

However, a bench of the Supreme Court had granted bail to Priyanka Sharma. The judges had initially told Priyanka Sharma that she would have to apologise if she wanted a bail. As her lawyer had strongly objected the directive, the judges later cleared that Priyanka Sharma’s apology wasn’t a condition for her release on bail.

Author Surender Mohan Pathak accuses Amazon Prime’s Mirzapur of tarnishing his image by depicting his crime series ‘Dhabba’ as porn

OpIndia Staff
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Author Surender Mohan Pathak accuses Amazon Prime’s Mirzapur of tarnishing his image by depicting his crime series ‘Dhabba’ as porn

Famous Hindi crime fiction author Surender Mohan Pathak has sent a notice to the makers of Mirzapur 2, stating his novel ‘Dhabba’ was “mischievously misrepresented” in the series.

In a letter, Pathak has accused the Amazon Prime series maker of trying to tarnish his image of a celebrated writer of crime fiction by wrongly depicting part of his ‘Sunil Series’ as pornography

‘Dhabba’ is not pornography

In episode 3 of the series, Satyandand Tripathi, played by actor Kulbhushan Kharbanda, is reading an excerpt from Surender Mohan Pathak’s novel ‘Dhabba’. Pathak said that what the character is reading in the scene through a voice-over is “sheer porno”. He further added that he could not even dream of writing such content in his novel. “The object appears to be an attempt to tarnish my image as a celebrated writer of Hindi crime fiction who is ruling the roost since last several decades. The sequence defames me as an author and puts me in a bad light as a well-known mystery writer, which I am since more than the last five decades,” he further added. Pathak said any character bearing the name “Baldev Raj” did not even appear in his novel in the said context.

The 80-year-old writer has asked the OTT platform to remove the sequence from the series, failing to which he will initiate legal proceedings against the series, writers, producers including Farhan Akhtar, and actors involved in the ‘malicious act’.

Critics ask Mirzapur creators to apologise

One of the first to notice the misrepresentation was Film Critic Bobby Sing. Sing said that it is a typical attitude of the writers to consider ‘Hindi Detective Novel’ to be cheap compared to an ‘English Crime Thriller Novel’. He further added, “The manner Dhabba was represented in Mirzapur 2 is brutal and unacceptable.

Ajay Brahmatmaj, film critic, said that the alleged ‘mistake’ shows how the writers and producers of the Hindi web series misrepresent the literature, culture and characters.

Brahmatmaj urged the OTT platform to remove the sequence and issue an apology.

#BoycottMirzapur2 trended ahead of its release

Web series Mirzapur is not new to controversies. The gross use of abusive language, sexual content, and controversial statements of its actors, including Ali Fazal during anti-CAA protests, have brought the series into the limelight. Before the release of the second season of the series, hashtag #BoycottMirzapur2 also trended on social media platforms.

Here are ‘liberals’ who hailed Imran Khan’s benevolence for releasing Abhinandan, while he was shaking in his boots, thinking of Modi going to war

OpIndia Staff
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Here are ‘liberals’ who hailed Imran Khan’s benevolence for releasing Abhinandan, while he was shaking in his boots, thinking of Modi going to war

In February 2019, hours after Pakistan government decided to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured by Pakistan after the Balakot air strikes, the so-called liberals in India had bent themselves backward praising Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for the ‘goodwill gesture’. Here are the usual suspects who had declared Imran Khan ‘won’ despite the fact that it was Indian Armed Forces that destroyed terror camps in Pakistan.

Rajdeep, who is fondly called Michelangelo for his expertise in art of hypocrisy, had declared that Khan was winning the day by taking the ‘moral high ground’.

Prashant Bhushan, who was recently convicted of contempt of court, too praised Imran Khan. In fact, he quote tweeted one ‘professor’ who regularly likes to tweet fake news, had even declared that PM Modi is the ‘bigger loser’ between the two.

Similar such tweets by made by others.

Upset at some news channels hailing Indian Armed Forces for destroying terror camps in Pakistan, some people tweeted how releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan was a ‘good move’ by Pakistan. Shockingly, everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that it was a Pakistan sponsored terrorist who killed 40 CRPF soldiers and in retaliation Indian Armed Forces destroyed terror camps. And that when Pakistan tried to hit back at us, Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured while trying to drive away the Pakistanis. The fact that had it not been for terror sponsored by our not-so-friendly neighbour in the valley, one would not even have to ‘hail’ this ‘peace gesture’ by Imran Khan was lost on the ‘liberals’. Congress leaders had also hailed Imran Khan.

Some ‘journalists’ also declared that Imran Khan had ‘won’ the ‘perception war’.

Abusive troll masquerading as a journalist Swati Chaturvedi also added her 2 cents by claiming that the fact that Wing Commander Varthaman was being released is India’s failure to not have a strong case against Pakistan’s terror.

And there were the reference to Imran Khan’s cricketing career.

However, amongst all these ‘liberals’ one person who might have got it right is perhaps Editor of pro-AAP blog Rifat Jawaid. In a bid to mock PM Modi, Jawaid had tweeted that how instead of hailing Imran Khan for his so-called peace gesture, some media channels will say how Khan was frightened of PM Modi and hence released Wing Commander Abhinandan.

This is true since Pakistani leadership was scared out of its wits that India will attack Pakistan if Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is not released.

Contrary to the ‘goodwill’ perception ‘liberals’ tried to peddle, it was actually the fear of another Balakot type air strikes that had played a major role in release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

During a debate in Pakistan’s assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, member of Pakistan National Assembly and a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) revealed that Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that India would attack Pakistan if they don’t return Abhinandan.

Sadiq reveals that Imran Khan had refused to attend a meeting where Shah Mahmood Qureshi was present. Chief of Army Staff had also joined in the meeting. “His legs were shivering, sweat beads formed on his heads and Shah Mahmood told us that for gods sake, send him (Abhinandan) back because at 9 PM India is going to attack Pakistan. India was never going to attack but government got on its knees and returned Abhinandan,” he revealed.

Pulwama terror attack and Balakot terror strike

On February 14, 2019, Pakistan-sponsored terrorist, led a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. As many as 40 jawans were martyred in the attack. A week later on 26 February 2019, Indian Armed Forces destroyed terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan.

A day later, Pakistan retaliated. Abhinandan was part of an IAF sortie which was scrambled to intercept an intrusion by Pakistan fighter planes in Jammu and Kashmir a day after the Balakot strikes. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistani military on 27th February 2019, when the MiG-21 he was flying was shot down by a Pakistani missile, seconds after he had shot down a Pakistani Air Force’s F-16 aircraft.

On 28 February, 2019, Imran Khan had announced that his govt has decided to return Abhinandan as a “gesture of peace”, and the Wing Commander had crossed the India-Pakistan border at Wagah on 1 March 2019.

‘Modi, Modi’ slogans inside Pakistan National Assembly: Here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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‘Modi, Modi’ slogans inside Pakistan National Assembly: Here is what happened

The name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed on Monday as members of Pakistan political class shouted ‘Modi, Modi’ inside Pakistan National assembly. While initially, the chants of ‘voting, voting’ started while the debate surrounded Islamophobia and the cartoons published by Charlie Hebdo, the name of PM Modi was also used in the sloganeering.

On Monday, the Pakistan National Assembly passed a resolution condemning French President Emmanuel Macron for refusing to condemn a French publication for showing caricatures depicting Prophet Muhammad.

Amidst the constant ruckus inside the National Assembly, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that the government and opposition have agreed to present a unanimous resolution condemning the act of caricaturing Prophet Muhammad, its publication by French magazine Charlie Hebdo and the “resurgence of Islamophobic acts” in various countries.

As Qureshi began to speak on the resolution and then started talking about the Balochistan movement and how, slogans of Azadi were raised, the opposition members were disrupting his speech repeatedly. While during the discussion about Islamophobia, chants of ‘voting voting’ were heard, when Qureshi started talking about Azadi slogans by Balochistan politicians and blaming Modi for it, the Indian Prime Minister’s name was also used in the slogans.

Modi slogans continue inside Pakistan’s National Assembly: Here is what happened

While the discussion in the parliament revolved around Islamophobia and the Charlie Hebdo cartoons, opposition parties first asking for voting to be held. Thereafter, some Balochistan ministers started raising slogans about the independence of Balochistan. It was after that the situation spun out of control.

The opposition parties continued to slogans inside the National Assembly even as Imran Khan-led government accused them of being them ‘Modi’s friends’ and ‘traitors’ when he started talking about Balochistan.

Responding to a comment made by an opposition leader saying that the Imran Khan-led government had failed to get Pakistan removed from the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Qureshi accused the opposition of peddling “India’s narrative” and making national institutions “controversial”.

Pointing to PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, the Foreign Minister said it appeared to him that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “spirit has been transferred into him”. As Qureshi accused PML-N and former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of colluding with PM Modi, slogans of “Modi ka jo yaar hai gaddar hai, gaddar hai (the friend of Modi is a traitor)” were shouted inside the National Assembly.

Essentially, while PM Modi’s name was certainly heard inside the parliament, it appears as though it was to allege that it was India that was creating trouble for Pakistan in Balochistan rather than in his ‘support’, as is being alleged.

The name of the Prime Minister was being taken repeatedly to condemn the opposition members who were questioning the Imran Khan government over Pakistan being included in the FATF grey list and also, the situation in Balochistan.

This comes as no surprise that PM Modi has taken a tough stand against Pakistan and the terrorism that it regularly sponsors. It was revealed in the Pakistan parliament itself that after the Balakot airstrikes, wing commander Abhinandan was returned to India because the Pakistan establishment feared that PM Modi was willing to go to war with the terror state.

Pakistan passes resolution to recall its non-existent envoy to France

In its resolution, Pakistan’s National Assembly also asked the Imran Khan government to recall its ambassador to France in protest against the publication of images of Prophet Mohammed in France.

The resolution also asked the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to boycott French products and designate March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It also urged the non-OIC countries to offer legal assistance to Muslims residing in their countries for their grievance redressal while also calling upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to start a global dialogue to counter Islamophobia.

However, the parody country of Pakistan just does not fail to embarrass itself as currently Pakistan does not have an envoy in France. Pakistan’s ambassador to France Moin-ul-Haq was transferred to as ambassador to China three months ago. Pakistan did not appoint his replacement in the Pakistani embassy in Paris since then.

Pro-India accounts disrupt Pakistan’s anti-India online meeting on Zoom

Just yesterday, a group of Indic social media users caused a massive embarrassment to Pakistani authorities and diplomats after they raided their online event that was organised to peddle anti-India rhetoric. The pro-Hindu accounts also disrupted the event by playing pro-Hindu and nationalistic songs on the video conference organised on Zoom.

A few Pakistani diplomats, along with some self-proclaimed human rights ‘activists’ and pro-Pakistan trolls had organised an event on online meeting platform ‘Zoom’ to discuss the so-called ’72 Years of Indian Occupation of Kashmir’.

During the anti-India event, pro-Indian accounts attempted to stop Pakistani diplomats from speaking lies on Kashmir issue by playing some Hindu nationalistic songs to stop Pakistanis from peddling their usual anti-India narrative.

Enforcement Directorate arrests former Chief Secretary of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, M Sivasankar, in Gold smuggling case: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Enforcement Directorate arrests former Chief Secretary of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, M Sivasankar, in Gold smuggling case: Details

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s former Chief Secretary M Sivasankar on 28th October in connection with the Gold Smuggling case that emerged in July this year. During the investigation, his role was revealed in the smuggling of gold via diplomatic cargo to the UAE consulate in India. The arrest of IAS officer M Sivasankar is being seen as a massive setback to the CPI(M)-led Kerala government.

Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan, appreciated the work done by ED in the case. He tweeted, “Exposed the deliberate attempt by @vijayanpinarayi & his coterie to shelter and aid the smugglers & anti-national elements.” He also alleged that the arrest proves CM Pinarayi’s involvement in the case. “It’s just a tip of the iceberg & he will not be the last person,” he further added.

Earlier, High Court had rejected Sivasankar’s anticipatory bail plea. He had applied for two bail pleas as he was to be arrested by ED and the customs department. Both departments are investigating the gold smuggling case in their own capacity. 57-year-old Sivasankar was one of the most powerful bureaucrats in the CPI(M)-led Kerala government in the last four years. He was earlier questioned by the ED for almost seven hours.

Sivasankar helped Swapna Suresh – says ED

ED has said that M Sivasankar helped Swapna Suresh, who is one of the key accused in the gold smuggling case. Swapna Suresh was an executive secretary at the UAE consulate and believed to have close relations with CM’s office. It was also mentioned that he had prompted CA Venugopal Iyer to open a joint bank locker with Suresh.

Possible that Sivasankar knew about Swapna’s involvement in gold smuggling – says High Court

On 28th October, Kerala High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Sivasankar. While passing the order, the court said, “There is a clear indication that the applicant was very close to Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in this crime.” The court further added that probably he was not directly involved in the case, but ED has enough evidence to interrogate him. As a senior government official, he is bound to cooperate.

The court said that their acquaintance went beyond the official capacity. It said, “The fact that the applicant was in constant contact with one of the prime witness, namely Swapna Suresh, and that he had even volunteered to help her by contacting his Chartered Accountant and asking him to assist her in managing her finances indicates that there is a fair possibility that applicant knew about the involvement of Swapna Suresh in the alleged smuggling activity. Whether the applicant was himself actively involved in the commission of the offence is something which is to be investigated and found out.”

Sivasankar was constantly monitoring the bank locker

According to ED, Sivasankar was constantly monitoring the money in the bank locker. The agency further stated that he helped Swapna in laundering black money close to Rs. 30 lakh. The CA allegedly kept him in the loop about every transaction in the account. The agency also alleged that he helped Swapna to convert black money to foreign currency and smuggle it to the UAE. CA Venugopal has been listed as a witness in the case.

The gold smuggling case

On 5th July 2020, the gold scam was exposed after the Customs Department seized 30 kg of gold from a diplomatic consignment addressed to the UAE consulate. The department arrested P Sarith Kumar, who had served as public relations officer of the consulate. He was at the airport to receive the luggage. Later, the department arrested Swapna Suresh, and another accused, Sandip Nair, were arrested in their hideout in Bengaluru. Several top officials of the CM’s officer are under scanner in the scam.

‘His legs were shivering, head was sweating fearing attack by India’: Pakistani opposition leader reveals why Imran Khan govt had released Abhinandan Varthaman

OpIndia Staff
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‘His legs were shivering, head was sweating fearing attack by India’: Pakistani opposition leader reveals why Imran Khan govt had released Abhinandan Varthaman

While Pakistan keeps claiming that India’s Balakot strike was a failure as it did nothing more than uprooting few trees, actually the civilian and military leadership was so scared by it that they feared India will attack if they don’t release captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. Contrary to the widely held belief that mounting international pressure was the sole reason that led to Pakistan releasing Abhinandan within two days of his capture by Pakistani military, now it has been revealed that the fear of another Balakot like strike played a major role in the decision.

This was revealed by Ayaz Sadiq, member of Pakistan National Assembly and a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N). During a debate in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the opposition leaders slammed the Imran Khan government accusing them of fearful towards India. Talking about the decision of hand over Abhinandan to India, Ayaz Sadiq revealed that Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that India would attack Pakistan if they don’t return Abhinandan.

He said, ‘I was present in the meeting, I remember Shah Mahmood Qureshi was present in the meeting which the prime minister had refused to attend. Chief of Army Staff was present. His legs were shivering, head was sweating, and the foreign minister Shah Mahmood Sahab told us, for the sake of God, let him go now, else India will attack Pakistan by 9 o’ clock.

Ayaz Sadiq said that the foreign minister lied that India was about to attack Pakistan, and Pakistani govt just wanted to kneel down before India and return Abhinandan.

Replying to the allegations of bowing before India in returning the captured IAF pilot, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that leaders of all the parties had agreed to the decision. He said that he was also present in the meeting, which was attended by leaders of Muslim League (Nawaj), Pakistan People’s Party’s Asif Ali Zardari, and other opposition  parties. The minister didn’t deny the claims made by Ayaz Sadiq that Pakistan had feared attack by India. But he asserted that none of the opposition leaders had opposed the decision to return Abhinandan. He said that all the leaders consented to the wisdom of the government.

 Appreciating the cooperation of the opposition on that day, the minister slammed the opposition leaders for double speak. He said they are saying opposite things in private and public, as while they had agreed to returning Abhinandan, now they are attacking the govt over it.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistani military on 27th February 2019, when the MiG-21 he was flying was shot down by a Pakistani missile, seconds after he had shot down a Pakistani Air Force’s F-16 aircraft. Abhinandan was part of an IAF sortie which was scrambled to intercept an intrusion by Pakistan fighter planes in Jammu and Kashmir a day after the Balakot strikes. On 28th February, Imran Khan had announced that his govt has decided to return Abhinandan as a “gesture of peace”, and the Wing Commander had crossed the India-Pakistan border at Wagah on 1 March 2019.

While appealing Muslim counties to counter Islamophobia, Imran Khan says ‘criticism or questioning of Holocaust’ is criminalised in many counties

OpIndia Staff
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While appealing Muslim counties to counter Islamophobia, Imran Khan says ‘criticism or questioning of Holocaust’ is criminalised in many counties

The parody nation of Pakistan once again made a spectacular fool of itself when the country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan released a statement, making a clarion call to the Muslim leaders in the world to take note of the “growing Islamophobia” in the non-Muslim states, especially Western countries. While asking the Muslim countries to join hands in countering “Islamophobia”, Khan cited the precedence of the European countries in “criminalising the criticism of holocaust”.

Khan made this inference while asserting in his letter that value systems differ for different social, religious and ethnic groups in the world. “For Europeans and Jews, the holocaust, which was the culmination of the Nazi pogrom, has led to many Western, especially European countries, to criminalising any act of criticism or questioning of the holocaust. We understand and respect that,” Khan said.

It is not the criticism of the holocaust that is criminalised by some European countries, rather it is the holocaust denial that is considered as an offence by several countries. Holocaust denial is a crime in many European countries, and other countries like Israel, USA, Australia etc. On the other hand, criticism of Holocaust is most welcomed, as it was one of the worst incidents in the last century, and there is no question of criminalising Holocaust criticism.

However, when the agenda is to fashion oneself as the leader of the Muslim world and defender of the faith, nuances like these hardly matter to Pakistan PM Imran Khan. Eager to paint other nations as Islamophobic, the PM forgot the difference between Holocaust denial and Holocaust criticism, two completely opposite things.

Imran Khan asks Muslim world to united against “growing Islamophobia”

“Today, we are confronting a growing concern and restlessness amongst our Ummah as they see the rising tide of Islamophobia and attacks, through ridicule and mockery on our beloved Prophet PBUH in the Western world, especially Europe. The recent statements at the leadership level and incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran are the reflections of this increasing Islamophobia that is spreading in European countries where sizeable Muslim population reside,” Khan said.

Khan rationalises the “reactions” from Muslims in European countries

Speaking on the crackdown initiated in the European countries following the horrifying decapitation of Samuel Paty, Khan said that mosques in Europes are being closed, Muslim women are being restricted from exercising their right to wear clothing of their choice even as nuns and Christian pastors continue to display their religious clothing. In a bid to whip up anti-European sentiments among the Muslim world, Khan also alleged that Muslims are widely discriminated in the European countries.

In a clear and unabashed attempt to rationalise the violence inflicted by resentful Islamists, Khan pinned the blame on European countries and citizens for provoking Muslims by hurting their religious sentiments. “As a result, a dangerous cycle of actions and reactions are set in motion. Hurtful actions result in reactions from Muslim as they see their faith and their beloved Prophet targeted which results in further discriminatory actions by governments against Muslim populations in their states, resulting in the marginalization of Muslims and the creating of space for radical, far-right groups to exploit the situation,” Khan said.

Pakistani PM Imran Khan justifies the beheading of the Paris teacher

This is not the first time that Pakistani PM Imran Khan had attempted to defend the beheading of the Paris teacher. In a video statement at UNGA, he tried to justify what had happened in France and said, “The Prophet lives in our hearts. When he is ridiculed, when he is insulted, it hurts… We human beings understand one thing: The pain of the heart is far, far, far more hurtful than physical pain. And that’s why the Muslims react to this.” He further added that people from the west do not understand the sentiments attached to the Prophet. He also compared the pain suffered by the Jewish during the holocaust to the pain induced in Muslims by insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

In a tweet, he said, “Hallmark of a leader is he unites human beings, as Mandela did, rather than dividing them. This is a time when Pres Macron could have put healing touch & denied space to extremists rather than creating further polarisation & marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalisation.”

French President Macron promises strict action against the menace of Islamic extremism

Khan’s statement has been released in the wake of the sharp remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron following the death of a Paris teacher, who was beheaded by an Islamist for showcasing the caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in his class. In a moving tribute to Samuel Paty, the deceased teacher, French President hailed him as “quiet hero” and called upon the need to build an Islam of Enlightenment” in the country, an expression that raised the hackles of many leaders in the Muslim world.

Since the killing of the Paris teacher, stringent measures have been adopted by many European countries, particularly France, to curb the menace of Islamism. Several mosques, believed to be the centres of breeding radicalism and extremism were temporarily closed down by the country. Such measures have been deemed by the leaders of the Muslim world as promoting “Islamophobia” and they have sternly criticised Macron for the same.

Republic TV issues statement condemning Mumbai Police summons to their investors in relation to the TRP scam

OpIndia Staff
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Republic TV issues statement condemning Mumbai Police summons to their investors in relation to the TRP scam

Media network Republic TV has issued a statement condemning the summons issued by Mumbai police to their investors to join the investigation in the TRP scam. The crime branch of Mumbai police had issued summons to the owners of RPG Power Trading Ltd, Anant Udyog LLP, Purvanchal Leasing Ltd, Pan Capital Investment, Dynamic Storage and Retrieval Systems Private Ltd to join the investigation on October 23.

The police also reportedly alleged a one-time payment of Rs 32 lakh made to Republic TV by Hansa Group, saying it could be linked to the TRP case. Republic TV had clarified yesterday that the payment was made by the media buying arm of the Hansa Group for the purpose of on-air advertising on the channel. The channel denied having done any business with Hansa Research, the company that managers Bar-o-meters of BARC.

Republic TV Statement

A statement has been released by Republic TV regarding the summons issued by the Mumbai police to the investors of the media network. In its statement, the media channel called it “highhandedness” of the Mumbai police “in the guise of investigative process”. The channels said that the crime branch has asked every investor of the channel to produce all financial transactions relating to last five years. Calling the Mumbai police’s action a display of “intimidatory tactics”, the statement said that Encounter Specialist and API Sachin Vaze had given instructions for making even the smaller investors of the channel appear before the crime branch for interrogation. In the statement, the media channel said that Mumbai police was going after the channel in a “witch-hunt” by issuing 91 notices to them so far and now calling the investors.

Recently, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) which is an international body based in New York, had issued a statement regarding the ongoing investigation by Mumbai police against Republic TV. The body which defends the rights of journalists had asked Mumbai police to stop their investigation against Republic TV.

Action against journalists

Recently, an FIR was filed by Mumbai police against the entire editorial team of Republic TV allegedly inciting disaffection among Mumbai police and for defaming them. The police had also served notice to the media network seeking details of every single employee and journalist working for the Republic TV and details of every transaction made by the channel since its inception. Republic TV executive editor Niranjan Narayanaswamy was questioned by Mumbai Police for almost 9 hours on 21st October. He was allegedly threatened with imprisonment repeatedly for not revealing the source of the Hansa report.

Param Bir Singh tortured me with belt, Saffron Terror allegation was Congress conspiracy to paint India as a terrorist state: Pragya Singh Thakur

OpIndia Staff
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Param Bir Singh tortured me with belt, Saffron Terror allegation was Congress conspiracy to paint India as a terrorist state: Pragya Singh Thakur

BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has levelled shocking allegations against Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, saying that he had personally tortured her when she was in jail in the Malegaon blast case. Talking to Arnab Goswami on Republic Bharat, Pragya Singh Thakur talked in brief about the atrocities at the hand of ATS of Maharashtra police.

She said that ATS and the top officials of ATS misused the power of their uniform and didn’t follow the law. She lamented some of those officials are still running their reign of terror. Pragya Thakur said that now she can’t walk as her spine was broken during the custodial torture on her.

Talking about how Param Bir Singh assaulted her, she said one day the police official came and said that other police officials interrogating her that they don’t have enough strength to break her. Asking whether the police officials don’t eat enough, he snatched the belt from one of the officials and started beating her mercilessly with his full force. He hit her so much that she had lost her consciousness, she does not remember anything after that, apart from the fact that she was beaten by Param Bir Singh.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur said that she was pushed forcefully during her custodial torture, when her head would hit the wall and her lower body would hit the floor with great impact. Such torture happened several times in a day, for days and weeks. This non-stop torture meant that she had to spent a long period in the hospital, and even now she can’t walk. She informed that the torture usually began at 10 PM, and said that she can’t forget the torture of Param Bir Singh for her entire life.

She said that Param Bir Singh had beaten her with sticks and belts, abused her, and it will be less to call him a demon. Apart from him, other officials like inspector Inspector Avad, Swarna Shinde etc were involved in her torture. She said that 7-8 people used to encircle her and beat her, and she was used to beat on the feet with a belt. Thakur was in the custody of ATS for 22 days, and she faced the worst torture during this period, particularly from Param Bir Singh and Hemant Karkare, she said.

The BJP leader described Param Bir Singh as a tyrannical and low-level person. ‘He has done terrible torture on me by putting me in jail for which he has no right’, she said. She also alleged that he is involved in illegal activities. She also alleged that Param Bir Singh didn’t allow her to sign the wakaltnama.

She said that the entire case against me was fake, and it was a case of misuse of police uniform. She added that it was a conspiracy by traitors of the country to make her the mastermind behind the Malegaon case.

The Sadhvi said that such officers operate political grounds, and Congress controls people like Param Bir Singh. She said that accusing her and others of running saffron terror was a part of Congress conspiracy to label India as a terrorist state. Congress created a script of saffron terror and Hindu terror so that international organisations list India as a terror state, she added. ‘Had I confessed that I was behind the blasts due to the torture, Congress would have succeeded in proving its allegations of saffron terror as true as I wear Saffron,” she said.

Sadhvi Pragya said that she will file cases on Param Bir Singh and everyone else who had tortured her on a false case. She also talked about how Mumbai police under Param Bir Singh mishandled the Sushant Singh Rajput death case and tortured Kangana Ranaut.

Delhi government begins crackdown on Diwali, 11 anti-firecracker squads to be formed to prevent use of crackers other than ‘Green Crackers’

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi government begins crackdown on Diwali, 11 anti-firecracker squads to be formed to prevent use of crackers other than ‘Green Crackers’

As the grand Hindu festival of Diwali is approaching, the usual censorship of the festival has begun like every year. The ‘concerned citizens’ of the country have already started with the campaigns calling for boycott of crackers on Diwali blaming all sorts of pollutions on the bursting of crackers on Diwali. The Aam Admi Party government in Delhi has also finally decided to do something about the worsening air quality in the national capital by making arrangements to ensure that of all things, Diwali crackers should not at all contribute to the air pollution. The Delhi government announced that it would be forming eleven anti-firecracker squads which would ensure that only green crackers are used by people in the state on Diwali.

The government said that the manufacturers or sellers who would be found stocking crackers other than green crackers would face action. A Supreme Court order in 2018 allows the use of gree firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali, the state govt has taken steps to implement the court order.

The Delhi govt has also announced that an anti-firecracker campaign will be launched on November 3. Announcing the campaign, Environment Minister Gopal Rairequested people not to burn crackers during the festival of Diwali. “The government will launch an anti-cracker campaign from November 3. Under it, 11 special squads of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and city police will inspect firecracker manufacturing units to ensure that there is no old stock left,” he said.

“In fact, I appeal to the people of Delhi to launch a ‘no-crackers’ campaign. They should try and avoid burning firecrackers completely considering the seriousness of the situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rai further added.

Green Crackers launched after Supreme Court judgment

Last year, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan had launched eco-friendly green firecrackers, manufactured in India. This came after the Supreme Court put restrictions on the use of conventional firecrackers on Diwali in an order passed in 2018. In the order, the Apex Court had allowed the bursting of only low polluting green crackers falling within the permitted decibel and emission limits during a fixed time slot. The Court had also banned the online sale of firecrackers and put a stay on the e-commerce portals from selling firecrackers.

People arrested in Delhi for bursting crackers

Last year, a Delhi court had convicted a man for bursting firecrackers on the night of Diwali violating the prescribed time limit declared by the Supreme Court. Cracking down on people for possessing or bursting the banned firecrackers, Delhi police had arrested 261 people for allegedly possessing banned firecrackers. The police registered a total of 433 cases in different parts of Delhi.

In 2018, a man in Delhi’s Ghazipur area was arrested by the police after his children were found bursting firecrackers ahead of Diwali. His neighbours had objected to the bursting of crackers and complained to the police.

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