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Netizens decide to boycott Mirzapur season 2 on Amazon Prime as lead actor Ali Fazal had celebrated anti-CAA violence

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Netizens decide to boycott Mirzapur season 2 on Amazon Prime as lead actor Ali Fazal had celebrated anti-CAA violence

As the trailer of season 2 of popular web series Mirzapur was released today, people on Twitter have started it boycotting it already even before the series is launched. The reason apparently is one of the lead actors in the web series, Ali Fazal. Fazal had supported the violent anti-CAA protests that had eventually culminated into the horrific anti-Hindu riots in northeast Delhi. He had posted a tweet on the anti-CAA riots saying that he was enjoying it all.

Screenshot of Ali Fazal’s tweet.

He had deleted the tweet later. Recalling Fazal’s stand on the violent anti-CAA protests one Twitter said that people should not pay for watching his web series Mirzapur season 2.

Another Twitter user said that that both Fazal and another lead actor in the series Vikrant Massey had spoken against India and therefore people should not watch Mirzapur.

One Twitter user posted the pictures of IB Officer Ankit Saxena, Dilbar Negi and Constable Rattan Lal who were killed during the Delhi riots and wrote “Never forget, never forgive”.

Another Twitter user said that Fazal’s tweet where he supported the violent anti-CAA protests was reason enough for boycotting Mirzapur season 2.

Several Bollywood celebrities had come out in support of the anti-CAA protests that went on for months in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi and led to the horrific Northeast Delhi riots that had shaken the national capital.

Pakistan: Muhammad Azmat with a group of armed men try to rape a Hindu girl in Sindh, brutally kill father for attempting to stop them

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Pakistan: Muhammad Azmat with a group of armed men try to rape a Hindu girl in Sindh, brutally kill father for attempting to stop them

Reports on forced abduction, rape, conversion and oppression of Hindu minorities have continued to pour in from the terror state of Pakistan. According to activist Rahat Austin, working in Pakistan, in yet another incident of brutality against minorities, a Hindu father was killed by a group of armed men in Pakistan’s Sindh province as he tried to save his daughter from the perpetrators.

The Pakistani activist said that the group of armed men led by one Muhammad Azmat forcefully entered Shiva Kohli’s house and tried to rape his daughter. When the girl’s father tried to resist the assault on his daughter, Muhammad Azmat and his accomplices brutally tortured and killed the old Hindu man.

The activist, further highlighting the plight of the minority Hindus in Pakistan, informed that the Pakistan police, instead of providing any sort of help to the victim or registering a case against the perpetrators, have arrested the family of deceased who were insistent on reporting the case in Tando Gulam Ali, Badin.

In a similar case reported from Pakistan’s Sindh on June 2, six armed men entered the 13-year-old Hindu girl Permi Bheel’s house, beat up her family and took her away. The Hindu girl was brutally raped the entire night on gunpoint by these 6 men while her family kept searching for her, crying for help.

In the same month, another 14-year-old Hindu girl was abducted in Hala Mitiari, of Sindh province Pakistan. In a video shared by Rahat Austin, the mother of the abducted girl was seen broken down with grief. She kept on saying that “It’s a curse to be born in an Islamic country.” As per the activist, the 14-year-old Nasiban was taken for sexual exploitation and forced conversion to Islam.

Who will hold banner and appear on TV? Mumbai Congress workers ‘protesting’ over Hathras fight among each other

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Who will hold banner and appear on TV? Mumbai Congress workers ‘protesting’ over Hathras fight among each other

A major altercation broke out between the members of the Congress party who had gathered in Mumbai’s Vasai to mark their protest against the Hathras incident. The video of the in-fighting between the Congress members is now going viral on the social media platforms.

The Congress leaders and workers in Mumbai’s Vasai had gathered on October 5 near the Vasai tehsil office in Mumbai to stage a demonstration against the Centre and Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the Hathras incident. However, the protest turned awry when the supporters of the Congress party fought amongst each other over holding a banner and appearing on TV News.

Viral video of the Congress workers fighting among themselves

Congress workers gathered in front of the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in front of the Vasai tehsil office on Monday protesting against the BJP government over the Hathras issue.

During the protest, two of the Congress workers—district general secretary Ramdas Waghmare and secretary Maqsood Maniyar—reportedly got embroiled in a scuffle over holding a banner while providing a byte to a media channel. At the time of the clashes, Congress Vasai-Virar working president Prakash Patil and district president O’Neill Almeida were present at the spot and tried to resolve the conflict.

In another viral video, UP Congress workers were seen giggling and joking among each other as they held a protest to demand justice for the victim.

Brazen politicisation of Hathras incident

The Hathras incident attracted nationwide attention after the 19-year-old victim breathed her last on September 29 last week. Since then, scores of opposition political parties have been attempting to use the incident to mount an offence against the BJP government at the centre and Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh by exploiting caste angles.

Despite prohibitory orders in place, a raft of opposition politicians descended on Hathras, in a bid to politicise the incident and revive their ebbing political fortunes. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi had made a failed attempt to reach the village a few days back. In doing so, he even feigned a dramatic fall which would put even Brazilian soccer player Neymar Jr to shame while on his way to Hathras after police officials stopped him from advancing. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad staged a demonstration outside the village and obstructed the traffic on the road after he was denied entry into the village.

UP government alleges international conspiracy to instigate caste-based riots in the state

It is notable to mention that the UP government has filed an FIR in the case alleging an international conspiracy by elements inimical to the country for fomenting caste-based violence in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of Hathras incident. A website ‘Justice for Hathras’ had sprung up overnight which contained incendiary and misleading content to gin up violence in the state. The intelligence agencies had found links of PFI and SDPI in enabling and facilitating the website. The website had allegedly received donations from Amnesty International and organisations based out of Islamic countries, who are also under the scanner of financing anti-CAA protests in the country earlier this year.

Rahul Gandhi attends mass gathering for anti-farm bills protests after sharing stage with Coronavirus positive Punjab Minister a day earlier

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi attends mass gathering for anti-farm bills protests after sharing stage with Coronavirus positive Punjab Minister a day earlier

Former Congress president and MP Rahul Gandhi has shared a video on social media after his ‘Kheti Bachao’ tractor rally was stopped at the Haryana border. “I’m not moving and am happy to wait here. 1 hour, 5 hours, 24 hours, 100 hours, 1000 hours or 5000 hours”, boasted the Gandhi scion while sharing a 10 second clip in which thousands of people, completely violating the social distancing norms, are seen thronging the highway near Teokar village on Pehowa border, Haryana.

In the video, many Congress supporters, who can be seen pushing and pulling each other as they cheer for their leader, are not even seen using face masks or covers.

According to reports, before the Gandhi scion had arrived, the Haryana police had specified that they would not allow more than 100 people to gather at one place as per the guidelines in place due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, going by the video, it is evident that the Congress was in no mood to follow the protocols.

Rahul Gandhi’s anti-Farm bills rally might become the next coronavirus superspreader hotspot

The Gandhi scion who is taking pride to share the video of the support his rally has garnered should have realised that holding such a rally, at a time when India is battling the highly infectious coronavirus which has already claimed lives of over 1 lakh people in India and infected over 66 lakh people across the country, would not be a prudent idea.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi himself was seen sitting in a tractor accompanied by the Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, senior party leader Harish Rawat and other Congress leaders. He was reportedly sitting on the Punjab- Haryana border as he awaited permission to enter the state of Punjab.

After winding up his last rally at Sanaur in Patiala, Rahul Gandhi had driven the tractor to reach the Haryana border on the concluding day of his “Kheti Bachao Yatra”.

Amid this high-drama, it was reported a while ago that the Punjab state authorities have allowed former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and a few party leaders to enter the state as part of his rally against farm laws.

Rahul Gandhi had come in contact with Punjab Health Minister who has tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus

It is pertinent to note here, that Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu who has tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus on Tuesday had worryingly for the Congress party, shared stage with Rahul Gandhi, CM Amarinder Singh and other Ministers during the tractor rally at Sangrur on October 5.

Thus, when Rahul Gandhi is busy attending mass gatherings, he should have isolated himself in order to avoid transmitting the virus to others before a test confirmed whether he is infected or otherwise.

From COVID-deniers to flouting social distancing: How Rahul Gandhi’s anti-Farm Bills rallies could be next superspreader hotspots

OpIndia Staff
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From COVID-deniers to flouting social distancing: How Rahul Gandhi’s anti-Farm Bills rallies could be next superspreader hotspots

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus on Tuesday. Worryingly for the Congress party, he had shared stage with Rahul Gandhi, CM Amarinder Singh and other Ministers during the tractor rally at Sangrur on October 5. And more of a concern for the Punjab administration is the fact that Rahul Gandhi has been addressing gatherings on the 6th of February as well.

The only saving grace for the Congress party appears to be that not too many people appear to have actually attended the rally as farmers do not appear to be too interests in these protests.

During his speech at the Varnala Chowk in Sangrur at Rahul Gandhi’s rally on Monday, Balbir Singh Sidhu declared that the farm laws passed by the Indian Parliament recently are more dangerous than the Coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, in an apparent bid to justify the lack of masks and social distancing at the rally, he claimed that masks don’t matter in front of “Modl’s pandemic”.

Balbir Singh Sidhu said, “Looking at the present situation, it seems that we can control Covid cases in another 20-22 days, but Modi’s pandemic in the form of farm laws is more dangerous due to which people had to come on the roads.” Later, he added, “Modi di mahamari de samne sanu mask da koi farak nahi painda…(before Modi’s pandemic farm laws, masks hardly matter to us)”.

People on stage were wearing masks and observing social distancing but those in the audience did not take any precautions as they stood in close proximity and raised slogans against Narendra Modi. The gathering included little children. Surendra Singh, a gol gappa seller from Preet Nagar who was not wearing any mask, told Indian Express, “If farmer will be affected, the price of my gol gappe will also be affected. So I have come here.”

Another attendee, also not wearing masks, said, “Corona is just a way to threaten us to sit back home. We are hardworking people, what can corona do to us? If we will sit back, who will fight for us?” The positive test for the Punjab health Minister demonstrates remarkable callousness on his part that could cost the people in the state dearly.

As per reports, the Punjab Health Minister developed mild symptoms on Tuesday morning following which he underwent the rapid antigen test that confirmed he was infected with the Coronavirus positive. It appears that he attended the gathering at Sangrur while he was infected with the Coronavirus. Furthermore, the people at the gathering were not wearing masks and observing social distancing. Thus, these rallies could very well turn into new hotspots for Coronavirus transmission.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu who shared stage with Rahul Gandhi on Monday tests positive for coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu who shared stage with Rahul Gandhi on Monday tests positive for coronavirus

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

According to the reports, Sidhu was feeling uncomfortable since Tuesday morning after which he got tested for the virus. Sidhu said that he had mild symptoms, including fever, following which he took a rapid antigen test that confirmed that he had coronavirus infection.

Sidhu has isolated himself at his official residence in Chandigarh.

Sidhu had attended Rahul Gandhi’s Kheti Bachao Yatra on Monday

It is pertinent to note that Sidhu was stage secretary of the tractor rally organised by the Congress party in Sangrur on Monday and had shared the stage with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and several other state ministers.

The rally was a part of the Kheti Bachao Yatra of the Congress party to protest against the recent Agricultural Bills passed by the government in the Monsoon session of the parliament.

Significantly, the Punjab health minister while speaking to the people who had gathered for the rally on Monday, said that the masks meant to keep coronavirus pandemic at the bay hardly mattered to him. He raised his objections to the new agricultural laws passed by the Modi government.

Masks hardly matter to us: Punjab health minister Sidhu in a rally on Monday

Speaking against the recently passed farm laws, Sidhu said, “Looking at the present situation, it seems that we can control Covid cases in another 20-22 days but in front of Modi’s pandemic in form of farm laws, masks hardly matter to us.”

While all the politicians seated on the stage for Sangrur rally wore masks, a large number of people who had come to attend the rally did not wear masks or observe social distancing norms. The blatant violation of COVID-19 guidelines by the crowd, majority of which were without masks, have sounded alarm bell for the public health officials, who believe that Rahul Gandhi’s rally may prove out to be the new hotspot for the coronavirus outbreak in the state.

Kerala: Calicut medical college students protest against controversial order over Raksha Bandhan in govt medical colleges

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Kerala: Calicut medical college students protest against controversial order over Raksha Bandhan in govt medical colleges

The students of Calicut medical college recently held protests against a controversial circular issued by the Kerala Director of Medical Education (DME) allegedly banning the celebration of Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan celebrations in medical colleges, reports Times Now.

According to the reports, the students of Calicut medical college has raised their anger against the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government for allegedly imposing a ban against celebrating the festival in all government-run medical colleges in the state because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Referring to the DME’s order as ‘stupid’, one student said that they will be protesting against the ban and asserted that they will not allow the Kerala government to issue such orders again in the future.

“We think, they are doing such things to hide the mistakes of state government during the COVID times. We will not sit mute to these attempts aiming at defaming Raksha Bandhan. The students of Calicut medical college came up with the protest two days and all other medical, dental and nursing colleges across the state will react soon,” said another medical student protesting against the alleged ban on Raksha Bandhan by Kerala government in medical colleges.

What was the controversy?

Earlier, there were reports that Kerala State Medical Education Director Dr Ramla Beevi had issued a diktat stating that Raksha Bandhan festival will not be celebrated in government medical colleges.

The order issued by the DME had allegedly stated that RSS ‘Rakshabandhan events’ were conducted in previous years without the prior permission of authorities. Hence, taking a serious view, the Kerala government had reportedly recommended authorities to prevent recurrence of any such religious events.

However, another report by Edexlive had suggested the notice was issued by the Directorate of Medical Education on September 11. The notice reportedly talked about a particular event Raksha Bandhan in medical college without prior permission.

“In this scenario, it has been decided that these celebrations can only be conducted in government medical colleges with prior permission from the institution head and the government authorities,” the notice reportedly read.

No ban was ordered, DME clarifies

Following the order, there were several social media posts and reports claiming that the DME has ‘banned’ Raksha Bandhan celebrations. However, the authorities later clarified that nothing was banned and the order only asked prior permission to be sought before such events.

Commenting on the recent controversy,  Dr Beevi had also said that no groups were ever banned from conducting any celebrations.

“Last year, there was a clash between two groups in a medical college during the Raksha Bandhan celebrations. Keeping that in mind, we have now asked the students to only seek prior permission. No one is banned from celebrating any festival,” she said to Edexlive.

‘It is like Draupadi’s Cheerharan’: Four get life imprisonment for gang-raping Dalit woman in Alwar, Rajasthan while husband held hostage

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‘It is like Draupadi’s Cheerharan’: Four get life imprisonment for gang-raping Dalit woman in Alwar, Rajasthan while husband held hostage

More than a year and a half after the Rajasthan Congress government led by CM Ashok Gehlot was slammed for the delay in police action in horrific the Alwar gang rape case, a special court in the state on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to four accused in the case. The fifth accused was convicted under the IT Act and was sentenced to imprisonment for up to five years. Another accused, who is a minor, is being tried separately.

The incident took place on 26th April 2019, in which a Dalit woman was gang-raped by five men in front of her husband. The Rajasthan police came under scanner for delayed FIR. The court described it as Draupadi Cheerharan while announcing judgment.

Widespread criticism of Gehlot government

In the horrific incident which had transpired on April 26, 2019, a couple, shopping for a wedding in the family, was reportedly forcefully stopped by five youths and the woman was brutally gang-raped, beaten, videotaped and later blackmailed, near Thanagazi in Alwar under broad daylight.

The perpetrators assaulted the husband. Then they assaulted the wife and tried to rape her. When she protested, they started beating the husband again. In the end, she gave up to save her husband. They raped the victim alternatively for three hours and made 11 video clips.

The video clip of the Dalit victim was circulated by her attackers, triggering massive outrage and protests across the state. The police, which was informed of the rape on April 30 delayed filing the FIR until May 7, 2019.

The incident attracted nationwide outrage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BSP Chief Mayawati had condemned the Ashok Gehlot government of Rajasthan. Gehlot became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the third time in December 2018. The incident brought his newly elected government under a lot of criticism. 

Accused made videos of the victim

The accused had shot videos of the gang rape that went viral. The public outrage further increased after videos were made public over the internet. The accused beat the husband for three hours while making the videos. On 2nd May 2019, an FIR was registered in Thanagaji. 32 witnesses were produced in court in the case. The trial of the minor is underway in the District and Session court.

Action against the police officers

After a public uproar, the Ashok Gehlot government suspended the SP of Alwar and the SHO of Thanagaji. On 7th June 2019, FIR against SHO was registered for failing to do his duty under 166A(C). There were enough evidence and information in the case, but he did not register FIR on time. The SP did not visit the site even 24 hours after the incident.

The family members of the Alwar gang rape survivor have alleged that the police tried to suppress the case and hush up the matter due to the elections, which took place on April 29 and May 6. The victims’ kin had alleged that though they reported the crime to the Alwar police station on May 2, the cops hushed up the matter due to the polls in Rajasthan. The police had, however, cited the lack of staff due to poll duty, as the reason for delaying the investigation.

Notice from the National Human Rights Commission

The National Human Rights Commission also issued a notice to the Rajasthan government in the case. The Commission had sought a report from the Chief Secretary and the DGP on the police’s inaction. The commission also ordered the state government to submit a report on the entire episode within six weeks.

Accused tried under several sections

A Special SC-ST Court heard the case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was registered against five accused Chhote Lal (22), Hans Lal Gurjar (20), Ashok Kumar Gurjar (20), Indraj Singh Gurjar (22) and a minor under Section-147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful mobilization) of IPC, 323 (intentionally injuring), 327 (extortion and harm), 341 (felony obstruction), 354B (disobeying a woman’s honor), 365 (secretly kidnapping), 376D (gangrape), 384 (extortion), 395 (robbery) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Sections of the SC-ST Act and IT Act were also imposed in the case.

“The court has sentenced four of the accused- Hansraj Gurjar, Chotelal Gurjar, Ashok Gurjar and Indraj Gurjar to life imprisonment till the end of their natural life while another accused, Mukesh, who played a part in circulating the video of the incident have been sentenced to five years of imprisonment after being convicted under the IT Act,” said Special Public Prosecutor Kuldip Jain on Tuesday.

NCW issues notice to Digvijay Singh, Swara Bhaskar and Amit Malviya seeking explanation for revealing identity of the Hathras victim

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NCW issues notice to Digvijay Singh, Swara Bhaskar and Amit Malviya seeking explanation for revealing identity of the Hathras victim

The National Commission for Women (NCW) today served three separate notices to senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, actress Swara Bhaskar and BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya for revealing the identity of the Hathras victim on social media. The notices seek an explanation from all three and direct them to remove the relevant posts on social media which are in violation of the Supreme Court’s direction.

Swara Bhaskar had shared a tweet yesterday sharing the image of protest being organised at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in which a banner having the photo of the Hathras victim was visible. However, she was quick to delete the tweet.

Screenshot of Swara Bhaskar’s tweet that she deleted later.

Similarly, senior Congress Digvijaya Singh had also posted a tweet having the images of the Hathras victim to target the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh. However, he also deleted his tweet later. Interestingly, the veteran Congress leader had shared a photo that was spreading misinformation in the case, claiming that the tongue of the victim was cut, a claim that was already debunked by the police.

Screenshot of Digvijaya Singh’s tweet that he deleted later.

BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya had also shared a video of the Hathras victim few days ago on Twitter in which she was could be seen lying on the ground after she was allegedly attacked. In the video, the victim was giving details of the incident. Her face was not blurred in the video. The NCW has taken cognisance of all the three cases and has sought an explanation from all three of them.

Assam: Ex-Assam Police DIG PK Dutta arrested from Nepal in SI recruitment scam

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Ex-Assam Police DIG PK Dutta arrested from Nepal in SI recruitment scam

Continuing its crackdown into the police job recruitment scam in Assam, a special team of Assam Police along with a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team arrested former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) PK Dutta, one of the prime accused in the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam. He has been arrested in Nepal. According to reports, the special police team is bringing back the former DIG to Assam. They are expected to reach Guwahati by tonight.

The former DIG, who is said to be the alleged mastermind in the exams question paper leak scandal, had been on the run after the incident came to the fore on September 20. The Assam government cancelled a written exam to recruit 597 sub-inspectors to the police force after the question paper was leaked.

The Assam police, which was is constant pursue to nab the accused in the scam, had informed two days ago that Dutta might be hiding in Nepal.

Retired DIG PK Dutta and his son Ishan were suspected to have fled to Nepal by road after the scam came to light. The former police officer’s daughter is married to a Nepali citizen based in Kathmandu.

On October 3, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam police had arrested two more suspects from Dibrugarh district. Both are linked to DIG (retd) PK Dutta, the prime accused in the case.

BJP leader Diban Deka was expelled from the party

Prior to these arrests, another accused in the case- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Diban Deka, was also arrested after he surrendered before the Assam Police on September 30. Deka along with the retired DIG PK Dutta had allegedly hatched the conspiracy to fleece many candidates for posts of sub-inspectors by assuring them jobs in lieu of cash.

The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) had expelled Deka from the party after his arrest.

Police had issued a look out notice for both Dutta and Deka and alerted income tax department, enforcement directorate and department of revenue intelligence after unearthing many properties belonging to the police officer.

On September 30, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, in a strong-worded statement had said that nobody will be spared if found responsible for the Assam Police sub-inspectors (SI) recruitment scam. The Chief Minister had confirmed that the state government has instituted an inquiry into the scam and the investing agency has been asked to conduct the inquiry impartially without any compromise.

The job scam came to light when the SI exams to fill 597 posts had to be canceled within minutes of starting the exam as the question paper was leaked. The exam was held on September 20 and around 66,000 candidates sat for the exam. The exams are now rescheduled to be held on November 22.

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