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Media shields Congress leader Brijesh Kalappa for demanding the withdrawal of Y-plus security cover of Kangana Ranaut

Dibakar Dutta
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Media shields Congress leader Brijesh Kalappa for demanding the withdrawal of Y-plus security cover of Kangana Ranaut

The war of words between the Congress-backed Maharashtra government and actress Kangana Ranaut is far from over. On Monday, the actress informed her fans that she has left Mumbai after being harassed by the State machinery. Citing the destruction of her house and office by the Brinhanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), she reiterated that her comparison of Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was right.

Kangana Ranaut tweeted, “With a heavy heart leaving Mumbai, the way I was terrorised all these days, constant attacks and abuses hurled at me, attempts to break my house after my workplace, alert security with lethal weapons around me, must say my analogy about POK was bang on.”

However, her tweet riled up Congress leader Brijesh Kalappa who practices as an advocate in the Supreme Court. Labelling the decision of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to provide Y-category security to Kangana Ranaut as waste of ‘taxpayers’ money, the Congress politician demanded withdrawal of her security cover. He claimed that she did not need security personnel to protect her since she was back to her ‘safe’ hometown in Himachal Pradesh and not Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Kalappa wrote, “Y category security for one person costs the Centre over 10,00,000/- each month. This money is borne by taxpayers. Now that Kangana is safe in HP (far away from POK), will Modi Sarkar kindly withdraw the security detail provided to her?!”

The actress was however in no mood to let the Congress leader off the hook. She informed, “Brijesh ji security is not given based on what you or I think, IB ( Intelligence Bureau) investigates the threat, based on the threat my security grade is decided.” The actress further added that she hopes, by the grace of god, if the threat perception to her is diminished in the IB report, the security cover might be withdrawn. If it goes up, it may be upgraded.

However, the media ecosystem was quick to present the argument as a manifestation of a non-political legal mind, concerned about the wastage of taxpayers’ money. Pinkvilla, for instance, chose to ignore the fact that Kalappa is a Congress leader and AICC national spokesperson. Throughout the article, the publication referred to the individual as a Supreme Court advocate.

Screengrab of the Pinkvilla report

Similar attempt at whitewashing the ‘Congress angle’ was made by Hindustan Times and DNA.

Screengrab of the Hindustan Times report
Screengrab of the DNA report

Brijesh Kalappa had been associated with Congress for years. He had been appointed Congress media convenor in 2018 and is also AICC national spokesperson. Kalappa was also the legal advisor of the Siddaramaiah government. He was also given the position of a minister in the earlier Karnataka government by Siddaramaiah. He was hopeful of the MLA ticket for Madikeri which was given instead to HS Chandramauli by his party.

NCB confirms it may soon summon Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh for questioning: Report

OpIndia Staff
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NCB confirms it may soon summon Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh for questioning: Report

According to a report on Times of India, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh and Simone Khambatta may soon get summoned in drug cases related to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. These three were allegedly named by the main accused in the case of Rhea Chakraborty during her interrogation. The agency is keeping an eye on 25 people associated with Bollywood in the drug case as per TOI sources. NCB may summon the three to record their statement on Thursday or Friday.

The report also stated that Sara, Rakul Preet and Simone may be summoned on Tuesday. They are expected to join the investigation by Thursday and may be required to be present for interrogation by the end of the week.

Recently, Free Press Journal had quoted NCB deputy director KPS Malhotra saying that NCB has prepared a list of peddlers and traffickers but not any Bollywood stars, as mentioned in the media reports. He said, “We have not prepared any Bollywood list. The list earlier prepared was of peddlers and traffickers. It’s getting confused with Bollywood.”

On 8th September, NCB took Rhea Chakraborty in custody and sent her to Byculla Jail. The agency had also arrested her brother Showik in connection to the drug-related case linked to Rajput’s death. He is also in judicial custody along with Rajput’s manager Samuel Miranda and domestic help Dipesh Sawant.

Rhea’s advocate said that they are no in a hurry to move to court for bail. According to the report, he said that they will study the order, its implications and developments in the Case at the NCB level and then decide. “There’s no room for speculation. Once it is filed, we will share a copy of the Bail Application,” he has informed.

NCB arrested several people linked to Showik and Rhea

The NCB has raided the residence of Showik Chakraborty’s school friend Suradeep Mehrotra who is allegedly a drug peddler. His name appeared during the initial investigation. According to the Times of India report, he was to be brought to the NCB office on 14th September evening.

The NCB had arrested another six persons on Sunday. They are named Karamjeet Singh, Dwayne Fernandes, Sanket Patel, Ankush Arneja, Sandeep Gupta and Aftab Fateh Ansari, who are part of a drug syndicate. These people are directly or indirectly linked to Sushant, Rhea and Showik. NCB initiated several raids in different parts of Mumbai and Goa over the weekend that led to their arrest. They were produced before the metropolitan magistrate court on Monday for remand.

As per a report in India Today, the NCB in the remand application said that they have arrested the six in connection to the alleged procurement, facilitation and harboring of narcotics substances against Rhea, Showik, and others. The officials said that Ankush bough Hashish and MDMA from Anuj, who is a drug peddler in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

NCB claimed that they had recovered a large amount of contrabands from Keshwani’s property. Kehswani is directly linked to Kaizan Ibrahim, who is also a drug peddler and is currently out on bail is the case. Ibrahim delivered drugs to Dipesh Sawant, the domestic help of Rajput, on instructions of Showik Chakraborty.

Karamjeet, another drug peddler, was in direct contact with Showik, Samuel Miranda, Rhea, and Sushant Singh Rajput. The court sent Karamjeet, Arenja and Fernandes to remand till 16th September while Gupta, Patel and Ansari were sent to judicial custody.

‘Jis thaali mein khaya, usi mein chhed kiya’: SP’s Jaya Bachchan attacks BJP’s Ravi Kishan over Bollywood drug abuse issue

OpIndia Staff
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‘Jis thaali mein khaya, usi mein chhed kiya’: SP’s Jaya Bachchan attacks BJP’s Ravi Kishan over Bollywood drug abuse issue

Veteran Bollywood actress and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday attacked BJP MP Ravi Kishan for raising the drug abuse issue which is quite prevalent in Bollywood.

Speaking in the upper house of the Parliament, Jaya Bachchan without taking Ravi Kishan’s name said that she is ashamed that one of the MPs who is from the film industry himself spoke up against it. She claimed that just because some people do drugs, that does not mean entire industry should be tarnished.

Lashing out on Kishan, Jaya Bachchan said, ‘Jis thaali mein khaate hai, usi mein chhed karte hai (criticising or destroying something that provides you livelihood)’. She said that those who have earned name and fame by working in the industry should not defame it.

On Monday, the first day of monsoon session of the Parliament, Ravi Kishan had said that drugs abuse and trafficking is ruining lives of young people. He had said that actors are considered role models for some and if they are indulging in narcotics, it would be bad influence. He said that drugs are trafficked in India from China and Pakistan through Punjab and Nepal.

Under construction Mughal museum in Agra to be named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Yogi Adityanath

OpIndia Staff
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Under construction Mughal museum in Agra to be named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Yogi Adityanath

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave his nod to name the under-construction ‘Mughal museum’ in Agra after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The decision was taken after he reviewed the development works in Agra through video conferencing.

In a statement, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister emphasised, “How can our heroes be Mughals? The very name of Shivaji will invoke a feeling of nationalism and self-esteem”

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “The museum, which is being built in Agra, will be known by the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In Uttar Pradesh, there is no place for the ‘slave mentality’ and its symbolism to thrive. Our hero is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”

After the UP CM’s announcement, former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has welcomed the decision.

Nature of the project likely to change

Reportedly, the foundation of the ‘Mughal Museum’ was laid by former CM Akhilesh Yadav in January 2016. As per the initial proposal, the museum was to be built on 6 acre land near eastern gate of Taj Mahal. It was to be dedicated to the al history, culture, weaponry,and attire. However, citing sources, Indian Express reported that the nature of the project will change, post the name change. In 2016, Akhilesh Yadav had also approved plans for projects such as Agra Heritage Centre and Taj Orientation Centre.

‘Haramkhor means lazy’, Congress leader Arshi Khan says on television debate, claims PoK is part of Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Haramkhor means lazy’, Congress leader Arshi Khan says on television debate, claims PoK is part of Pakistan

Congress leader and reality show contestant Arshi Khan, who joined Congress ahead of 2019 general elections, in a television debate made outrageous claims that PoK, the part of Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan, is part of Pakistan.

In the debate with BJP leader Sambit Patra, Arshi Khan kept referring to PoK as part of Pakistan. When confronted with whether she even knows what PoK means, Khan continued to evade the question. BJP leader Sambit Patra asserted that PoK is an integral part of India and under no circumstances can it be referred to as part of Pakistan.

In later part of the debate, Patra questioned Khan whether she agrees with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut referring to Kangana Ranaut as ‘haramkhor ladki’.

Khan then said that ‘haramkhor’ is not abusive. She claimed that ‘halal’ and ‘haram’ are Urdu words and ‘halal’ means the one who lives by hard work and ‘haram’ means one who lives ‘without hard work’ or ‘lazy’. Except, ‘halal’ and ‘haram’ are Arabic words where ‘halal’ means ‘permissible by Islamic law’ and ‘haram’ means ‘forbidden by Islamic law’. As per Islamic law, any act forbidden by Allah is ‘haram’.

So ‘haramkhor’ would be one who lives off ‘haram’ deeds, i.e. not permitted by Allah.

Who is Arshi Khan

Reality show Bigg Boss contestant Arshi Khan joined Congress ahead of 2019 general elections. Prior to that, she had appeared nude with Pakistan flags painted on her body. Reportedly, she was born in Afghanistan but moved to India when she was four. She has quite often taken to social media to pronounce her love for Pakistan and desire to take up Pakistani citizenship.

There have been reports that Arshi had also decided to participate in a Pakistani reality show ‘Arshi Ka Swayamvar’ for which she was to be paid Rs 2 crore. Amusingly, she had never named this Pakistani channel which offered her the show.

You could read more about her here.

‘Can search or arrest without warrant’: All you need to know about the new Uttar Pradesh special security force

OpIndia Staff
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‘Can search or arrest without warrant’: All you need to know about the new Uttar Pradesh special security force

Acting strictly on the policy of ‘zero tolerance’, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has expedited the task of constituting a Special Security Force (SSP), which will be granted the powers to search or arrest the accused without any warrant. Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Awasthi, said late Sunday: “The state government has given orders for the constitution of a special security force. A roadmap in this regard has been sought from the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP).”

The powers of the force will be governed by a set of rules made by the state government. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on 26 June announced the formation of the force which is claimed to be a dream project of the chief minister. The decision to constitute this force came on the heels of the Allahabad High Court order last December.

Five battalions with 9919 Special Security Force personnel will be constituted in the first phase

Awasthi informed that the members of this force would be authorised to arrest any accused without the orders of a magistrate or a warrant. Initially, in the first phase, five battalions will be constituted and it would be headed by an additional director general (ADG)-ranked officer.

A total of 9,919 SSF personnel would be deployed within three months in the first phase, following which 1,913 more posts will be created. Expenses incurred in the first phase will be around Rs 1,747 crore, informed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Awasthi adding that it was “a dream project of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister”. The basis of this force is an order of the High Court, which had expressed that there should be a specialised force for civil courts, said Awasthi.

Headquartered in Lucknow, this special force will provide security to the high court, district courts, administrative offices and buildings, Metro rail, airports, banks, financial institutions, educational institutions and industrial units. According to reports, even the court will not be able to take cognizance against the force without the government’s approval. 

What Rhea is to Sushant Singh’s death case, fiance Rohan Rai is to Disha Salian’s case: BJP Nitish Rane questions his disappearance, asks CBI to probe his role

OpIndia Staff
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What Rhea is to Sushant Singh’s death case, fiance Rohan Rai is to Disha Salian’s case: BJP Nitish Rane questions his disappearance, asks CBI to probe his role

BJP MLA Nitish Rane has thrown light on an unexplored angle in the mysterious death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian. “Just like Rhea is the closest link to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, the nearest to Disha Salian’s death is her fiance Rohan Rai”. Saying so, BJP MLA Nitish Rane has said that the CBI should investigate the role of Rohan Rai into celebrity manager Disha Salian’s suicide case as well.

Raising questions on Disha Salian’s fiance Rohan Rai disappearance since her death on June 8, the BJP MLA in an interview with Republic Bharat claimed that Disha’s fiance knows the ‘truth about June 8’ and is allegedly in hiding.

Strong link between Disha and Sushant’s death, claims BJP MLA Nitish Rane

The BJP MLA also indicated that there is a strong link between Disha and Sushant’s death and alleged that only Rohan has all the information but is currently in hiding.

The minister said that Rohan, who hails from Mangalore is currently at his native place in ‘hiding’. “He is not even in Bombay and not in touch with anyone,” he added. Rane also added that if Rohan does not come out and share information with the CBI, he is ready to share everything he knows with the investigating agency. Rane confirmed that he is privy to certain hidden information about June 8 and is ready to share with CBI.

Something must have happened at the party of June 8 and someone must have been present there because of which the Mumbai Police is on the back foot: BJP MLA

“You have to understand that there are very straight-forward evidence or a straight-forward link. And, there is a very suspicious way things have started unveiling after June 8th which led to the 13th. If you see, Disha Salian did not stay with her parents, but, in a live-in relationship with a guy called Rohan Rai. Surprisingly, they both were in a live-in relationship, madly in love. They were planning to settle down by the end of this year or next year. That is what we have heard. Surprisingly, since Disha’s death, nobody has heard about this guy called Rohan Rai till today, and what is his stand on the entire Disha Salian episode? Why isn’t he coming out and saying that this isn’t a suicide and this is what has happened?,” Rane said.

“Something must have happened at the party of June 8 and someone must have been present there because of which the Mumbai Police is on the backfoot. The whole system is trying to save someone who must have been present on both June 8 and 12. The CBI should check mobile tower locations to track these people. There definitely were certain people who were present on both dates”, furthered the BJP MLA, reiterating that he was 100 per cent sure that Rohan Rai has some dirty secrets up his sleeves which has forced him to go into hiding.

How Mumbai police impeded inquiry into the death case of Disha Salian

Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager Disha Salian’s death has been claimed as suicide by Mumbai police, but it has been alleged that she was murdered and her case has links with the similar mysterious death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Disha, who had worked as Sushant Singh Rajput’s manager for a brief period of time, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on June 8, six days before Sushant allegedly died of suicide. 

It was reported last month how Salian’s phone had remained active even after her death on June 8. Sources privy to the details claimed that Disha’s phone remained active for 9 days after her death. They also stated that Internet calls were made between June 9 and June 17 from Disha’s phone. However, though the Mumbai Police had reached the spot within minutes of Disha’s death, no phone was seized by the officials. 

Similarly, Disha’s post mortem reports had revealed that her body was found nude. The report accessed last month by Republic TV showed that Disha Salian didn’t have clothes on her body when she was found dead after falling from the 14th floor of a building. Yet another shocking revelation which was also not revealed by the Mumbai police.

Earlier, the Mumbai Police had claimed that the files of the investigation into Sushant’s ex-manager Disha Salian’s alleged suicide case have been deleted “accidentally”.

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia tests positive for COVID-19, isolates himself

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia tests positive for COVID-19, isolates himself

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, has tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus. Taking to Twitter, the AAP leader announced that he has gone into isolation after contracting COVID-19.

Manish Sisodia felt slightly slightly feverish Sunday night following which he took a COVID-19 test today. After testing positive for coronavirus, Sisodia assured his followers that he is not facing any complications and would soon return to work.

“After having a mild fever, I got tested for the coronavirus, whose report has come positive. I have kept myself in isolation. There is no fever as of now, and I am completely fine. By your good wishes and blessings, I will soon return to work,” Manish Sisodia tweeted.

Earlier today, 17 members of Parliament, including Meenakshi Lekhi, Anant Kumar Hegde, had tested positive for the virus. The compulsory tests were conducted before the start of the monsoon session this morning. Members belonging to the lower house of the parliament were tested on September 13 and September 14 for the novel coronavirus.

As per Delhi Government’s health bulletin, the national capital recorded 3,229 new cases of COVID-19, taking the cumulative tally of the city to over 2.21 lakh. The death toll has risen to 4,770 with about 24 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The city has conducted around 45,000 tests in the past 24 hours, out of which 9,859 were RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and remaining 35,025 were rapid antigen tests.

Leftists including Teesta Setalvad agree that PFI and SDPI are radicalising Muslim youth: Here are the details

OpIndia Staff
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Leftists including Teesta Setalvad agree that PFI and SDPI are radicalising Muslim youth: Here are the details

Leftists such as Teesta Setalvad and those associated with Swaraj Abhiyan acknowledge that organisations such as PFI and SDPI radicalise the Muslim youth of the country, Times Now has reported. In a tape accessed by the news channel, Zia Nomani, an activist associated with Swaraj Abhiyan, is heard pleading with Setalvad to raise the threat posed by the radical Islamic organisations.

In the tape accessed by Times Now, Zia Nomani tells Teesta Setalvad, “I am very sure you all must be very concerned about what is happening in Bengaluru and the narrative that is being set nationally because of the unfortunate incidents.” He continues, “When we talk about fighting the RSS and if we don’t fight right wing coming from the community of Muslims, we don’t have the moral authority to fight them. And neither will the border liners and the seculars who are not Muslims or Dalits will come in our fight.”

“Because it is hypocrisy if we don’t fight organisations like SDPI and PFI. Now we might have differences and we might debate on whether such organisations should be banned or not but they should definitely be prosecuted for the radicalisation of youth. Zia Nomani also says that SDPI and PFI are willing to use violence to achieve their ideological objectives and emphasises the need to counter them.

Teesta Setalvad responded saying, “Wherever there is such a tendency developing in the Muslim community, strong statements are not made against it and that is wrong… I will only say this much for now that SDPI and PFI remain problematic for people like us and our organisations like Communalism Combat, Sabrang India. We have taken a public stand on not to share a public platform with them.” Both of them appear to agree in private that SDPI and PFI are legitimate threats.

Meanwhile, Swaraj Abhiyan has challenged the claims by Times Now and said that the discussion was not any secret but was part of a public discussion that was broadcast live on Facebook on the 16th of August.

The PFI has a history of committing violence to further the cause of Radical Islam. Their members have come under the scanner on several cases of violence. During the investigation into the Delhi Riots and the violence across the country in the wake of the Citizenship Amendment Act, the role of PFI has been suspected and numerous members of the PFI have been arrested for their involvement in the riots. However, Leftist organisations have been far too hesitant in opposing them in public although they appear to concede in private that these are dangerous organisations.

Donald Trump agrees to debate Joe Biden in a podcast with Joe Rogan

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump agrees to debate Joe Biden in a podcast with Joe Rogan

Donald Trump, President of the United States has agreed to debate Joe Biden in a podcast with Joe Rogan. While replying to a quoted-tweet of MMA fighter Tim Kennedy, President Trump wrote “I Do!” confirming his approval for a 4-hour long debate between the incumbent president and the challenger for the upcoming 2020 elections.

Donald Trump confirms he is willing to debate Joe Biden with Joe Rogan as moderator

In his tweet, Kennedy talked about a podcast with Joe Rogan in which Rogan offered to moderate a debate between Biden and Trump. “It would be for four hours with no live audience. Just the two candidates, cameras, and their vision of how to move this country forward. Who wants this?” he added.

Joe Rogan has more than 9.5 million subscribers on his podcast channel on YouTube. Known for his unapologetic and straightforward podcasts, he has interviewed several high profile politicians on his podcast, including 2020 presidential aspirants Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang.

In his podcast, Rogan said that he would prefer to vote for Trump over Biden but later clarified that he is not a supporter of Donald Trump. He has also questioned Biden’s mental health. He said, “The news media on the left has completely ignored all of these Biden speeches that clearly show some kind of cognitive decline.”

Earlier, Joe Rogan had endorsed Bernie Sanders for the presidency, which was proudly advertised by the Sanders campaign. But sections of the Sanders supporter-base had slammed the campaign for accepting the endorsement of someone they considered transphobic.

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