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21 October 1943: Netaji Subhash had formed the Azad Hind Government, India’s ‘declaration of independence’

Shashank Bharadwaj
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21 October 1943: Netaji Subhash had formed the Azad Hind Government, India’s ‘declaration of independence’

Today, Oct the 77th anniversary of the formation of the first Indian government. In 1943, on October 21, one of India’s greatest sons – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose announced the formation of the ‘Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind’ or the provincial government of free India in Singapore and declared war on the British Empire.

Subash Chandra Bose had launched a struggle to free India from British rule by forming the provisional government-in-exile during the latter part of the Second World War. Bose was convinced that it was armed struggle that would help the countrymen to achieve independence. 

The leadership of Bose pulled Indians, who united with thousands of soldiers, along with former-prisoners and other expatriates who were living in Malayasia and Burma.

Under the provisional Government, Bose was the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War. Captain Lakshmi headed the women’s organisation while SA Ayer headed the publicity wing in the newly-formed government. Revolutionary leader Ras Behari Bose was designated as the supreme adviser by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The government was supported by the Axis powers of Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, the Italian Social Republic, and their allies.

How was it set up?

The struggle for independence was carried on by Subhash Chandra Bose from abroad. The outbreak of the Second World War provided a good opportunity to Bose to strike a blow against the British imperialists. Bose, who was put on house arrest in 1940 managed to escape to Berlin on March 28, 1941.

The Indian community in German helped Bose to set up the Indian Independence League in 1942. The league took a decision to form the Indian National Army (INA) for the liberation of India.

On June 13, 1943, Bose arrived in Singapore on the invitation of Ras Bihari Bose. Netaji Bose was appointed as the head of the Indian Independence League and was also designated as the leader of the INA or ‘Azad Hind Fauj’. Bose gave his famous battle cry ‘Chalo Dilli’ and promised independence to Indians saying, “Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe Azadi dunga’ (You give me blood, I will give you freedom).

Significance of the Azad Hind government

Soon after the formation of the government, the Azad Hind government proclaimed authority over Indian civilian and military personnel in Southeast Asian British colonial territory and prospective authority over Indian territory to fall to the Japanese forces and the Indian National Army during the Second World War.

The provisional government not only enabled Bose to negotiate with the Japanese on an equal footing but also allowed him to the mobilise Indians living in East Asia to join and support the Indian National Army (INA). The Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA) played an extremely important role during the national movement by providing a much-needed impetus to India’s struggle for Independence.

The Azad Hind government under Bose had in fact started its own bank, currency, civil code and stamps. Bose had even formed the first women regiment of the INA – Rani Jhansi Regiment, thus laying down the foundation for equal opportunity for women in armed forces.

Immediately after the formation of the government-in-exile, Azad Hind declared war against the Britishers and allied forces on the Indo-Burma Front. The Azad Hind Fauj also fought against the British Indian Army and the allied forces as part of the Imperial Japanese Army in the Imphal-Kohima sector.

The existence of the Azad Hind Government had given India’s independence struggle against the British a greater legitimacy. The brave actions of Subash Chandra Bose and his decision to set up the country’s first government had directly or indirectly triggered a chain of events that eventually forced the British government to leave India in August 1947.

The actions of INA, Azad Hind Govt had triggered events that resulted in India’s independence

The historical accounts especially noted down by the governors of the various provinces, the Intelligence Bureau, as mentioned in teb book Netaji: India’s Independence and British Archives, written by Kalyan Kumar De, points out that by the mid-1940s, the British had already gone into panic and were threatened because of the tremendous popularity of Subhas Chandra Bose and the nationwide appreciation.

As mentioned in the article by The New India Express, the sympathy for the INA that Subhash Chandra Bose had established to militarily oust the colonial power had created a havoc in the minds of the British, who understood that it was impossible for them to rule India anymore. The heroic actions of Bose and had triggered a naval mutiny in Bombay and several other stations, along with rebellions in some army camps, including Madras and Poona.

The subsequent actions of the British to court-martial officers and men of the INA led to nationwide anger over these trials. An IB report of November 1945 had warned the British government that there was enormous sympathy for the soldiers of the INA and mentioned that if the government did not take cognisance of this sentiment, the consequence would be a mass agitation and bloodshed.

The sentiments of Indians towards INA was such that several governors, out of the fear and anxiety had written letters to Viceroy Lord Wavell, warning him that the government would be playing with fire if it targeted the INA because they were seen as brave freedom fighters. They warned that this could result in a mutiny in the Indian Army.

The mutiny by Indian officers employed in the Royal Indian Navy in 1946 and the rebellion against the British in various cities convinced the British that they could no longer rely on the Indian armed forces to keep fighting their wars. The Indian soldiers working in the RIN were witness to the developments around the world and had supported the INA.

As they realised they could not continue to rule the sub-continent, the British government took a swift action to end their rule in India.

China fines dairy company for ‘incorrect’ map of its territory in an advertisement, the company issues apology

OpIndia Staff
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China fines dairy company for ‘incorrect’ map of its territory in an advertisement, the company issues apology

On Sunday, the market supervision bureau in Shanghai fined a dairy company named Bright Dairy and Food Co. Ltd for putting up an incorrect map of China. The company was established in 1996 and one of the top producers in the refrigerated fresh milk industry, with 12.146 billion yuan of revenues and 308 million yuan in profit.

As per reports, the dairy brand has been fined to the tune of 3,00,000 yuan (₹33,00,000) for a video advertisement titled, ‘Bright Dairy’s strategic plan from 2016 to 2020’, posted on the company’s website on September 27. The authorities penalised Bright Dairy and Food for not showing the ‘complete and correct territory’ of China, which is a violation of Chinese laws. The Shanghai market supervision, however, did not highlight any specific issue with the video ad.

Dairy firm withdraws the ‘contentious’ video ad

The company has now taken down the advertisement. In its response, the dairy brand had blamed a third-party company for negligence and oversight. At the same time, it has assured the authorities to ‘strengthen’ the screening of promotional material in future and reiterated that the ad did not reflect the company’s intent. Bright Dairy has initiated an internal investigation into the matter and claimed that the controversy has revealed ‘management-level problems in the company.’

Chinese government regulates the publishing of maps

The Communist regime in China has taken strict action against companies, in the past, for what it deems as ‘incorrect’ representation of Chinese territory. Reportedly, the Chinese government regulates publishing of maps within its territory and imposes fine for ‘incorrect’ maps.

In January 2018, China fined 8 companies for using maps that did not include disputed territories as China’s land. They were heavily reprimanded by the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation. Similarly, last year, a television drama titled, ‘Go Go Squid’ was fined 1,00,000 yuan (₹11,00,000) for excluding Taiwan and Hainan from the Chinese map

No, going to Dubai to buy the new iPhone 12 Pro is not cheaper than buying in India. Here is how

OpIndia Staff
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No, going to Dubai to buy the new iPhone 12 Pro is not cheaper than buying in India. Here is how

Pro-AAP vlogger Dhruv Rathee yesterday posted a tweet criticising the ‘Indian Tax system’ by alleging that it would be cheaper to fly to Dubai to get Apple’s new premium flagship mobile phone, iPhone 12 Pro, than buying it from India.

Rathee listed down the cost of iPhone 12 Pro in India and Dubai, along with the alleged return flight ticket fare to Dubai, to allege that it is economical to travel to Dubai for buying the recently launched iPhone instead of purchasing it from India.

Dhruv Rathee claims travelling to Dubai to buy iPhone 12 would be cheaper than the Indian pricing of the phone

Rathee claimed that the iPhone 12 Pro priced at Rs 1,20,000 in India comes at Rs 84,000 in Dubai and the return ticket to Dubai costs around Rs 20,000. “It is now cheaper to fly to Dubai, buy an iPhone and come back to India. How ridiculous that the tax system encourages such situations,” Rathee proclaimed following his ‘cost analysis’.

While gullible AAP and Congress supporters would be the only ones to blindly buy into the superficial ‘analysis’ of price variation of iPhone 12 Pro peddled by Rathee, the rules and regulations governing Customs highlight the gaping holes in Rathee’s assertion that travelling to Dubai and getting an iPhone 12 Pro from there is significantly cheaper than buying it from India.

Customs rules on imports of ‘non-essential’ products worth more than Rs 50,000

As per Customs’ rules and regulations, imports of ‘non-essential’ products worth more than Rs 50,000 are not permitted to air travellers as baggage allowance. Instead, these luxury entertainment commodities attract a total levy of 36.05 per cent. Travellers have to make an oral declaration to the Customs authorities in the Disembarkation Card whether they are carrying dutiable goods or not.

The Green Channel or Walkthrough channel is meant for customers who have nothing to declare and are carrying dutiable goods within the prescribed free allowance. The passengers can simply walk through the Green Channel with their baggage on the basis of their Oral declaration/Declaration on their Disembarkation Card. On the other hand, the Red Channel is meant for passengers who have something to declare or are carrying goods in excess of the duty-free allowance.

Passengers who fail to declare products that are worth more than Rs 50,000 carried by them have to pay a duty of 36.05 percent, along with penalty of 20 per cent and fine of approximately 10 per cent over the cost of the product.

Several Twitter users highlighted how Dhruv Rathee was either unaware of the Customs rules and regulations or was encouraging tax theft by hiding information.

One of the Twitter users even pointed out how the cost of iPhone 12 Pro would significantly rise if a passenger who did not declare bringing in an iPhone 12 Pro from overseas and is caught with the mobile phone at the green channel.

The person found smuggling in an iPhone without declaring it to the customs officials will not only have to pay the Duty of 36.05 per cent over the cost of phone but he would also be liable to pay the penalty of approximately 20 per cent of the cost of the goods and fine of 10 per cent for not declaring it in the Disembarkation Card. This would take the price of iPhone 12 Pro to approximately Rs 1,40,000, a whopping Rs 20,000 higher than the price at which it is available in India.

Also, in his hurry to offer a solution to buy iPhones for cheap, Rathee seems to have operated on the premise that people can just hop on an aeroplane and fly to Dubai and come back, just for purchasing an iPhone. His ‘money-saving analysis’ does not add hotel, food, conveyance, and other expenses.

The serial fake-news peddler

There have been several incidents when the Pro-AAP blogger Dhruv Rathee has revealed himself to be a serial fake news peddler who, for some unknown reason, makes videos about everything under the sun. He had earlier shared videos hiding crucial details and facts about the Delhi riots. He had also done dubious ‘fact-checks’ which usually end up exposing himself further. Not just Rathee, but some dubious individuals hosted in his video blogs have been also found to be fake news peddlers.

In 2019, Rathee had claimed that PM Modi has ‘sold’ 1,70,000 acres of dense forest in Chhattisgarh to the Adani Group. After the Adani Group debunked his claim and stated that they would initiate legal proceedings if Rathee does not take down his “malicious and incorrect” claim, Rathee promptly deleted the Tweet.

Is somebody paying the “experts” to spread spurious narratives on Atmanirbhar Bharat?

Abhishek Banerjee
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Is somebody paying the “experts” to spread spurious narratives on Atmanirbhar Bharat?

On May 12 this year, PM Modi addressed the nation and unveiled his vision for “Atmanirbhar Bharat.” The pandemic had shut down global supply chains and there was China snarling at our borders. Naturally, this required India to re-examine our dependence on other countries, especially China. A more self-reliant India, with a bigger industrial base, with lesser trade deficits was the need of the hour. Who could object?

Then, the spurious narratives began. “Experts” came out of the woodwork, many of them household names, with warnings. India should not go back to the era of license-quota-permit Raj, they argued. “Atmanirbhar” should not mean a return to protectionism. That would wipe out all the gains since 1991, they told us.

On the ground, in actual Indian government policy, there was little evidence of any protectionist instincts. In fact, the Modi government just pulled off an ambitious free market reform in agriculture, a sector that had not been touched since independence. India’s FDI regime continues to be one of the most open in the world. With the exception of curbs on Chinese imports, part of a strategic necessity, there has been no effort to close the Indian economy to outsiders. Just an emphasis on identifying sectors where India can become more competitive.

Who would misunderstand something so simple? Not common people with common sense. But only “experts.”

Here is the question to ask. Are those experts really so foolish that they don’t get it? Or are they pushing a spurious narrative on orders from someone else? A superpower, perhaps? A superpower that has something to lose from an Atmanirbhar India and wants to hurt India’s image in general.

What makes a spurious narrative? Here is the perfect example. On June 16 this year, a bloody clash took place between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. As many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in action. The Chinese side admitted to casualties, but refused to disclose the numbers. Coupled with China’s habitual aggression towards neighbors, known expansionist tendencies and secretive Communist state, this would look very bad for China. That too in a year when the world is reeling under the Wuhan Coronavirus. This latest act would confirm the world’s worst fears about China.

What would Americans think? How would the world think? Fortunately for China, the New York Times was around to help. In an article published the day after the clash, the New York Times reported that “analysts” had arrived at a stunning conclusion. The clash was not due to China’s expansionism nor aggression. They were merely reacting to a provocation from Indian Home Minister Amit Shah in August of the previous year.

Who are these “analysts” that connected the Galwan clash to Amit Shah’s speech? The New York Times did not name them. If Amit Shah’s speech was a provocation to China, can I see in public the work of any “analyst” who noticed this between August 5, 2019 and June 16, 2020?

Of course not. When Amit Shah spoke on Article 370, everyone knew he was talking on domestic matters of India. The reference to Aksai Chin as Indian territory is something on which India has been consistent for decades. How could it suddenly be a provocation to China?

That is a spurious narrative right there. The idea that India provoked China was created overnight on June 16. Over the next several weeks, this was repeated by experts, both Indian and foreign.

Again, observe that these experts didn’t even notice the alleged “provocation” for 10 months between Aug 2019 and June 2020. The day after the clash, they suddenly said it was the most obvious thing of all. You cannot help but ask: who paid for this sudden realization?

The attack on Atmanirbhar Bharat rouses similar suspicion. How could apparently intelligent experts misunderstand something so badly? Can you point to a single example of a newly protectionist policy created by India since the Prime Minister announced his intention in May? Then, who are you trying to warn?

Is it a spurious narrative.

Let’s explain spurious narratives like this, with apples and oranges. Suppose you decide to add more apples to your diet for health reasons. The next day, there are all these people warning you about the risks of not eating enough oranges. But you never said anything about oranges. Then, why are these experts suddenly giving all these warnings?

The answer is simple. Those experts don’t care about your health. Their warnings are not real warnings, but ads. Those experts work for the guy who sells oranges.

Terror-state Pakistan likely to remain in FATF ‘grey list’ as it fails to act against Islamic terrorist groups

OpIndia Staff
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Terror-state Pakistan likely to remain in FATF ‘grey list’ as it fails to act against Islamic terrorist groups

Pakistan is likely to continue in the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) ‘grey list’ as it has yet again failed to comply with the global watchdog’s action plan.

Reportedly, the terror-state has failed to comply 6 out of 27 points in FATF’s action plan. Pakistan is unlikely to come out of the list till June next year, according to experts. Pakistan’s failure to act against all UN-designated terrorists like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Azhar, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Seed and the outfit’s operational commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi will be the reason for its retention in the FATF’s ‘grey list’.

According to the reports, the global watchdog against money-laundering and terror financing – Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will begin a three-day virtual plenary meeting on Wednesday which will decide on the fate of Pakistan with regards to the country’s continuation on the ‘grey list’.

The FATF’s Asia Pacific Group (APG) plenary session which is scheduled to take place from October 21 will evaluate on steps taken by the terror-state of Pakistan to crack down on fund-raising by the Islamic terror groups. FATF will also review it’s ‘blacklist’ and ‘grey list’, the lists that classify countries based on the higher risk of enabling money laundering and terrorism financing.

The four nominating countries the United States, Britain, France and Germany are not satisfied with Pakistan’s commitment to taking strong action against the terror groups operating from its soil.

The multilateral watchdog had put Pakistan on its list of “jurisdictions under increased monitoring” or the ‘grey list’ in 2018 for not doing enough to curb financial activities of terror groups. 

Currently, Pakistan, along with 17 other countries are in the ‘grey list’, the countries that represent a much higher risk of money laundering and terrorism financing. North Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran are on the ‘blacklist’.

Pakistan not complying to FATF’s anti-terror financing rules

Earlier in February, the global watchdog FATF had retained Pakistan in the ‘grey list’. The FATF subgroup International Cooperation Review Group had recommended retaining Pakistan in the list citing that Pakistan failed to take appropriate action against terror financers. In the earlier plenary session, the ICRG noted that the Islamic country had addressed only 14 points out of 27 conditions to get out of the ‘grey list’, which is considered unsatisfactory.

Last month,the Asia Pacific Group (APG) had concluded that Pakistan had only fully complied with only two out of 40 recommendations to curb money laundering and terror financing. The APG had said that the abuse of non-profit organisations (NPOs) and registered charities by groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba as a “significant threat”.

In October 2019, the Asia Pacific Group (APG) of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had published its annual report (Mutual Evaluation report of Pakistan) which stated, “With the exception of some recent actions discussed in detail below, Pakistan has not taken sufficient measures to fully implement UNSCR 1267 obligations against all listed individuals and entities – especially those associated with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) as well as the groups’ leader Hafiz Saeed.”

Pakistan removes names of terrorists from watchlist to evade the scrutiny

Earlier in April, a New York-based Artificial Intelligence startup had revealed that Pakistan has silently removed the names of almost 4,000 terrorists from its terror watchlist. The removed named include LeT leader and Mumbai attack mastermind Zakir ur Rehman Lakhvi and many others.

The Artificial Intelligence startup Castellum has revealed quoting Financial Action task Force that in October 2018 the country’s terror watchlist had 7,600 names. As the work of AI is to add new data sources, it noted that between March 9 and 27 data showed that Pakistan removed 1,069 names from the Proscribed person List and all those names appeared on the country’s denotified list.

After 27 March, 800 names were also removed and eventually 3800 names have been placed in the denotified list till so far without any explanation or notification to the public. Several of the names removed are the aliases of designated terrorists listed by the US or the United Nations. 

Interestingly, ahead of this year’s plenary session, FATF has strongly noted that the sudden disappearance of the names of more than 4,000 terrorists from its original list of 7,600 under Schedule IV of its Anti-Terrorism Act.

Republic TV gets a big relief in the TRP scam case, plea to restrain the channel from airing the Hansa Research report rejected by Mumbai court

OpIndia Staff
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Republic TV gets a big relief in the TRP scam case, plea to restrain the channel from airing the Hansa Research report rejected by Mumbai court

On Wednesday, a City Civil Court (CCC) in Mumbai dismissed an interim plea filed Hansa Research Group Pvt. Ltd. wherein it sought for a restraining order against Republic TV network.

Hansa Research Group, which helps in the collection of raw data of TV viewership for BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council), had moved the Court against Republic TV after the channel exclusively broadcast excerpts from the complaint filed by the company with the Mumbai police in the TRP manipulation case. The complaint had formed the basis of the FIR in the alleged TRP scam.

Petition by Hansa Group, seeking 'restratining order' against Republic Tv, dismissed
Screengrab of the Republic Tv report

It may be noted that while the Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had alleged that Republic TV was named in the case, the Hansa report did not mention the name of Republic TV, but had named India Today.

The news channel and its Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami had aired excerpts from the 7-page complaint report of Hansa Group to expose the lies peddled by the Mumbai police, on the behest of the Maharashtra government. Earlier, the channel had shown the FIR also filed on the basis of this complaint report, which had named India Today several times. Following this, Hansa Group had moved the Court, seeking an injunction on any reference to the complaint on the Republic TV network. However, the Court has rejected the interim petition and ruled in favour of Republic TV. The Court has been adjourned till November 25.

Republic TV Journalist Anand Bhardwaj tweeted, “BIG RELIEF FOR #Republic…City Civil Court rejected #Hansa’s interim relief plea seeking injunction restraining Republic TV from referring to the Hansa Report in their broadcasts. Matter posted for 25 November”

BARC accuse Republic TV of violating ‘confidentiality’

Earlier, the TV viewership rating agency BARC has confirmed that there has been no case, complaint or proof against Republic TV in the ongoing ‘Fake TRP’ scam as alleged by Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh. This was revealed in an email sent by BARC to Republic network.

The BARC’s mail written to Republic TV had categorically stated that there has been no manipulation by Republic media network. The mail states that if there was any complaint against Republic, BARC would have informed about the same to the media house. With this sensational disclosure by BARC, the entire campaign by Mumbai Police against Republic Media Network has turned out to be a lie.

Later, BARC came forward and issued a strong statement against Republic TV and condemned it for revealing what it called confidential communication. It said, “BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same.” While BARC didn’t deny the content of the email they had sent to Republic which was aired by the channel, they objected to broadcast of the contents of the mail saying it was ‘private and confidential’. 

Donald Trump’s aide claims laptop of Joe Biden’s son contains explicit images of underage girls, hands it over to Delaware police

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump’s aide claims laptop of Joe Biden’s son contains explicit images of underage girls, hands it over to Delaware police

With just two weeks away from the 2020 US Presidential elections, the son of Democratic party candidate Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, has been at the epicentre of controversy. Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of the New York City and member of the legal team of Republican nominee Donald Trump, has stated that he has seen the contents of the Hunter Biden laptop that contained explicit images and his ‘inappropriate messages’ with underage girls.

On Monday, Giuliani had handed over the laptop along with a hard drive to the New Castle County police station. The development was confirmed by the Mat Marshall, who serves as the spokesperson for the Delaware General Kathy Jennings. His office had submitted the incriminating material to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As per Marshall, the FBI has initiated a probe about the source of the laptop, and how Rudy Giuliani got access to the contents of the laptop.

Rudy Giuliani reveals chats of Hunter Biden

In an interview with Newsmax, the aide of Donald Trump showed a text message, allegedly sent by Hunter Biden to his father Joe Biden, As per Giuliani, the message reads about an alleged sexually inappropriate behaviour by Hunter. The content of the message seems to convey that Hunter Biden was telling his father that his sister-in-law, with whom he was in a relationship for some time, had expressed concerns over ‘naked’ video calls with a certain 14-year-old girl. It further read that the sister-in-law cum lover also thought that Hunter creates a very ‘unsafe environment’ for the kids as he keeps smoking ‘crack’ and walking around naked in the house, speaking to underage girls.

Rudy Giuliani emphasised that the explicit text messages and the disturbing context behind it are supported by numerous pictures of underage girls. “We turned it over to the Delaware police because these underage girls were not protected”, he reiterated.

Last week, a computer repairman named John Paul Mac Issac had claimed that a man by the name of Hunter Biden had visited his shop in Trolley Square in Wilmington in April 2019 with the ‘liquid-damaged MacBook Pro’, now produced by Rudy Giuliani as the evidence. Issac had later claimed that he was unable to personally identify Biden due to his poor eyesight. Guiliani then shared the contents of the laptop with the New York Post.

Hunter’s connection with the ‘human trafficking ring’

A US Senate committee report last month had suggested that Hunter may have sent thousands of dollars to women from Russia and Ukraine living in the United States. A footnote of the report claimed that “[There was a] potential association with prostitution. Some recipients of those funds are Ukrainian and Russian citizens. The records note that it is a documented fact that Hunter Biden has sent funds to non-resident alien women in the United States who are citizens of Russia and Ukraine and who have subsequently wired funds they have received from Hunter Biden to individuals located in Russia and Ukraine. The records also note that some of these transactions are linked to what “appears to be Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring.”

Rahul Gandhi to help PFI member and Kerala-based ‘journalist’ Siddique Kappan who is accused of attempting to instigate violence in UP

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi to help PFI member and Kerala-based ‘journalist’ Siddique Kappan who is accused of attempting to instigate violence in UP

Weeks after his failed attempts to politicise Hathras murder case, Gandhi-scion Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the Congress party observed the “illegal detention” of PFI member masquerading as journalist Siddique Kappan as a serious matter and promised his party delegation that he would look into the issue of Kappan’s arrest. 

According to the reports, the Congress leader met a delegation at Malappuram, Kerala on Monday and promised them to look into the issue of the arrest of ‘journalist’ Siddique Kappan.

It is pertinent to note that Siddique Kappan, who claims to be a journalist, is a native of Malappuram, Kerala. He is a member of Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police for attempting to instigate communal riots in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. 

Kappan, along with three others were arrested, for their connection with Popular Front of India (PFI) and attempting to cause caste-based unrest in the state. They were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The police had alleged that they were conspiring to spoil the government’s image and disturb the atmosphere in the area. As per media reports, Rahul Gandhi has promised all help to secure Kappan’s release.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretary KP Naushad Ali and Mahila Congress leader Fathima Roshna had brought the detention issue to the notice of Rahul Gandhi, who reportedly assured them that Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and party leader Priyanka Gandhi will intervene in the matter.

Speaking to the media, KPCC secretary KP Noushad Ali said, “Rahul said he is aware of the fact that he is a journalist and a member of the journalist union. He assured that Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and AICC general secretary in charge of the state Priyanka Gandhi will intervene in the issue.”

Congress leader Kapil Sibal files Habeas corpus, seeks release of Siddique Kappan

Shockingly, Rahul Gandhi’s support to the far-left ‘journalist’ comes a week after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of Siddique Kappan.

However, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde had adjourned the plea for 4 weeks and had pulled up Sibal for not approaching the Allahabad court with regards to the plea.

The top court had said, “You approach the High Court, we are here only in case something wrong happens.”

Mathura court extends detention of Kappan

On Friday, a Mathura court in Uttar Pradesh extended the judicial custody of Siddique Kappan till November 2. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Mathura Anju Rajput dismissed an application filed by the KUWJ, which had sought his immediate release from “illegal detention”.

The four accused were arrested on October 5 under CrPC section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code on the suspicion that they would intent to commit some cognisable offence. Later, the four were remanded to 14-day judicial custody till October 21. The court has now extended their detention till November 2. 

All the four accused were later booked under sections 124 A (sedition), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground religion etc) and 295A (committing deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.

During their interrogation, it was revealed that the arrested had links with radical Islamic organisation Popular Front of India (PFI), which is one of the notorious groups accused of inciting violence in several parts of the country. The UP police had said that the accused were trying to create a violent, riots like situation in the area and were even in touch PFI members who are accused in Anti-Hindu Delhi riots.

The Uttar Pradesh police had recovered the mobile, laptop, and suspected literature from the suspects. The FIR launched against the four has serious charges, including threatening the unity and integrity of the country (treason).


 

Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to policemen on Police Commemoration Day

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to policemen on Police Commemoration Day

On the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to brave policemen, whose contribution helped in neutralising notorious criminals in the State.

The Uttar Pradesh CM attended a parade rally on Wednesday to honour the police officials for their service to the nation. While speaking at the event, he emphasised, “Our government has a policy of zero tolerance towards criminals and their crimes. As a result, a total of 125 such dreaded criminals have been neutralised in police encounter between March 20 and October 5, 2020.” He also informed that a total of 2,607 such criminals were injured during such encounters.

In a tweet, Yogi Adityanath wrote, “Police Commemoration Day is an (event) to remember the contribution of those policemen who made the supreme sacrifice for maintaining the security and peace in the motherland.” He also expressed gratitude to all police personnel who were martyred in the line of duty.

All you need to know about Police Commemoration Day

Every year, Police Commemoration Day is celebrated on October 21 to pay homage to policemen, who sacrificed their lives for the nation. The history behind the remembrance event can be traced to October 21, 1959. On that day, 20 Indian soldiers were martyred at the hands of the aggressive Chinese PLA in Laddakh. At the same time, 10 policemen were also killed in action while 7 were put behind bars.

The bodies of the fallen police officers were handed by the Chinese regime, after a month’s time on November 28, 1959. Reportedly, a total of 34,844 policemen have made the supreme sacrifice since 1947. Two years ago in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of National Police Memorial in New Delhi. The memorial consists of a museum, wall of valour and a central black granite sculpture. It is located in Chanakyapuri in New Delhi and is spread across 6.12 acres.

Paris beheading case: Video that encouraged radical Islamist to kill a teacher for displaying cartoon of Prophet Mohammed in his class surfaces

OpIndia Staff
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Paris beheading case: Video that encouraged radical Islamist to kill a teacher for displaying cartoon of Prophet Mohammed in his class surfaces

Days after a 47-year-old history teacher named Samuel Paty was beheaded by a radical Islamist in Paris, the video that motivated the terrorist to execute the gruesome attack has now come to light.

Paty was killed on October 16 by 18-year-old radical Islamist named Abdoullakh Abouyezidovitch A in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine for showcasing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed to his students at College du Bois d’Aulne. The terrorist had also uploaded the gory pictures of the murder on Twitter, before being shot dead by the French police.

In the video shared on Facebook, Brahim Chnina, an Islamic preacher and father of a girl in Paty’s class, can be seen standing outside the College du Bois d’Aulne and giving a call to fellow Muslims to mobilise against the teacher. Referring to Samuel Paty as a ‘thug’, the man claimed that the actions of the teacher (to show ‘blasphemous’ cartoons to students) was in response to a ‘direct’ call by French French Emmanuel Macron to hate, combat and stigmatise Muslims.

Details of the contentious video

He complained that the school authorities did not let him in and that the principal was in a meeting for 45 minutes, leaving him stranded in cold. Brahim then talked to his 13-year-old daughter who claimed that Samuel Paty asked all Muslim students to raise their hands during the history class on Islam. “We raised our hands, and he said: I am going to show you a picture that might shock you. So, if you want, you can leave the room,” she claimed.

The girl nevertheless insisted to remain in the room, She alleged, “It was a picture of Prophet Mohammed without his clothes on. We were all shocked, even those who weren’t Muslims were also shocked… Since I expressed (my displeasure), he excluded me from classes for 2 days. He doesn’t like us (Muslims)… He wants to humiliate us in front of the others.” The girl further claimed that she did not want to go to class if ‘such’ things are shown in school.

Online campaign wanted to stop the ‘thug’ teacher

Brahim Chnina inquired, “What was the message that he wanted to give to those children? Why a teacher is behaving like this in front of 13 year old children?” Calling upon fellow Muslims to mobilise against the teacher, he warned, “In my opinion, he (Samuel Paty) had been doing this for several years… The thug cannot stay in the national education system, he cannot continue educating children.” The man then shared his number and asked all those who ‘disagree’ with the teacher’s actions to message him.

Video Credits: RAIR Foundation

Brahim Chnina was also joined, in his online campaign to get Paty fired, by a Muslim cleric, Imam Abdelhakim Sefrioui. The cleric informed that they had met the administration on behalf of the Council of French Imams. He claimed that the school administration was not shocked about Samuel Paty’s actions, except for the female school principal. The cleric alleged that such things have been happening in France for the past 5-6 years where minor children are exposed to such blasphemous content. He said that the school found ‘no problem’ with the way Samuel Paty taught in class.

The cleric along with Brahim demanded the resignation of the ‘thug’ for undermining the ‘psychological integrity’ of children. He recounted, “At the end of conversation, we understood that nothing us going to happen with this institution… Indeed we left from there with a strong resolve to mobilise for an action before this institution and the Academic Inspector…. If we ever accept this, tomorrow we might get to what happened in Srebrenica, what happened in Yugoslavia.” Sefrioui also asked all parents to remain vigilant, in anticipation of future such instances.

France clampdowns on mosque which incited Muslims against Samuel Paty

It was earlier reported that a local mosque (La Grande Mosquée de Pantin) was a part of a vicious online campaign to get Samuel Paty fired from his job. Although the mosque did not give away personal details of the deceased teacher, it was allegedly a part of the mobilisation campaign that eventually lead to the gruesome crime.

The mosque had urged its 1500 worshippers to share the video of the father of one 13-year-old Muslim girl, wherein he had called for action against Samuel Paty. Following the barbarian act, the mosque pulled down the video and express ‘regret’ for sharing it. However, the French government is in no mood to let them off the hook.

On Tuesday, the government announced that the mosque will be shut down for 6 months, starting from Wednesday night. Earlier, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had directed the closure of the mosque and warned, “not a minute’s respite for enemies of the Republic…”

Victim to be awarded highest order of merit

On Tuesday morning, French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer announced during an interview with BFM TV that the deceased teacher would be bestowed with the honour. At the same time, a national ceremony will be held on Wednesday in Samuel Paty’s honour at Sorbonne University in Paris.

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