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Pakistan: The extra-judicial killing of Hayat Baloch at the hands of Frontier Corps. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: The extra-judicial killing of Hayat Baloch at the hands of Frontier Corps. Read details

On Thursday, a 25-year-old resident of Turbat in Pakistan, Hayat Baloch, was reportedly shot dead by the paramilitary Frontier Corps in broad daylight. He was a final-year student of BSC (Physiology) at the Karachi University.

On the fateful morning of August 13, Baloch was harvesting dates on a farm with his father Ma’azar Mohammed. Reportedly, a convoy of Pakistani security forces was passing by the Aapsar area, just before noon, when it was attacked with an IED explosion. Since the farm was located adjacent to the road where the blast took place, troops of paramilitary Frontier Corps entered the farm. As per reports, they began harassing Hayat Baloch and accused him of engineering the IED explosion.

The Murder of Hayat Baloch

Frontier Corps tied him up and carried him to the other side of the farm, despite his father pleading to the security forces that Hayat had not left the farm since morning. Mohammed’s plea fell on deaf ears as the FC Corps personnel dumped him on the ground while one of the officers fired 8-10 shots at him. Reportedly, the security personnel then abandoned his dead body while the parents of Baloch wept by the side of his dead body. Hayat Baloch was dead even before they could manage to take him to a hospital.

Accused FC personnel handed over to Turbat police

The family of the victim then lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the Turbat police. The parents of Hayat Baloch have informed the cops that they can identify the murderer of their son. According to SSP (Turbat), an internal investigation by the Frontier Corps found that the accused personnel ‘reacted in haste’ and handed him over to the police for further probe into the extra-judicial killing of the 25-year-old student.

Eye witness accounts reveal details about the military excess

Dismissing claims that Hayat Baloch was killed in crossfire between militants and Pakistani security forces, an eye witness anonymously revealed, “I saw five or six FC men beating him. Whenever he raised his head, I think to explain something, they kicked him more. He must have been shot dead later when we left. He was not caught in the crossfire.” The spokesperson for the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) said, “The security forces took him to the road. He was not caught in the crossfire as being claimed.”

According to another witness, he had not heard anything that ‘sounded like gunfire.’ The witness informed that Hayat Baloch was made to bend on his knees while the security personnel kicked him. He left in his car believing that the FC Corps will let the victim go. Another witness stated that she believed that the security forces will either question the victim or atmost abduct him. “I did not know they would kill him. I feel so hurt now knowing they killed this young man,” she was quoted as saying.

Protests against the extra-judicial killing of Hayat Baloch

Following the extra-judicial killing of the 25-year-old resident of Turbat, campaign groups reportedly organised protests in Karachi and Quetta. Hundreds of people took part in the demonstrations, demanding justice for Hayat Baloch. The protestors were seen carrying posters, placards, and portraits of the victim.

As per reports, the agitation in Quetta was held at Quetta Press Club and was attended by Baloch and Pashtun students and families of victims of forced disappearances. The speakers urged the youth to be the voice of resistance against the hegemony of the Pakistani State and armed forces, besides reiterating that they have lost faith in the government.

Similarly, demonstrations in Karachi were held at Karachi Press Club and labelled the killing of Hayat Baloch as ‘the abject violation of human rights.’ The Baloch Republican Party also condemned the killing of the 25-year-old student and said that it was a part of the mission of the Pakistani security forces to eliminated educated youth in Balochistan.

1984 Sikh massacre: When former Indian cricketer and UP cabinet minister Chetan Chauhan rescued Sikh teammates from an irate mob

OpIndia Staff
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1984 Sikh massacre: When former Indian cricketer and UP cabinet minister Chetan Chauhan rescued Sikh teammates from an irate mob

Chetan Chauhan, a former Indian cricket opener and known for his umpteen memorable partnership with another cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, left for heavenly abode on August 16 due to COVID-19 related complications.

While he was known for his gutsy and gritty character on the ground, especially after he scored three consecutive centuries with a broken jaw, his off-the-ground personality had not been any different. In the wake of his tragic death, former North Zone cricketers recollected the fearless attitude the former opener embodied in the face of adversity.

North Zone team was return to Delhi from Punjab on the day Indira Gandhi was assassinated

In the aftermath of the assassination of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Sikhs across the country, particularly in Delhi, were targeted by the Congress party led mobs to exact the revenge of Ms Gandhi’s killing.

During the turmoil, the former North Zone cricketers remember, Chauhan staked his life to rescue embattled Navjot Singh Sidhu and Rajinder Ghai, who were on their way back on ‘Jhelum Express’ from Pune after playing their Duleep Trophy semi-final.

Reminiscing about the incident, former Haryana off-spinner Sarkar Talwar detailed the ordeal the team had to go through while their return to the national capital amidst the Sikh riots triggered by Ms Gandhi’s assassination.

In an interview with the Times of India, Talwar said, “Our match concluded on October 30 and the next morning we were supposed to fly Delhi. However, the news came that PM had been assassinated. So our team manager got us first-class tickets on Jhelum Express. The arduous journey took us 4 days to reach Delhi.”

Chetan Chauhan confronted the mob baying for Sikh blood

Talwar continued that at one of the stations, an angry mob baying for the blood of Sikhs entered the compartment. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rajinder Ghai and Yograj Singh were the three Sikh players in the team. Salwar claims that it was Chetan Chauhan and Yashpal Sharma, who entered into a heated quarrel with the hoodlums and once they were convinced that they were Indian players, the mob relented.

Salwar asserts that players were so terrified by the violent mob that they hid Navjot Singh Sidhu and Ghai beneath the lower berth. Former Indian all-rounder Yograj Singh even advised Sidhu to trim his hair.

Were it not for Chauhan, we would not have survived: North Zone cricketers

The fear that shot through him and other players amidst the cacophony is still fresh in the memories of Yograj Singh, former Indian player and father of Yuvraj Singh. “I remember one of the people from the mob shouted at Chetan paaji and said, ‘We are here to kill the sardars, nothing will happen to you.’ Chetan paaji replied back, ‘They are my brothers and you can’t touch them.’ The way Chetan Chauhan dealt with the situation was quite commendable,” he said.

Another player, Gurucharan Singh, who was in another coach, recollects that had it not been for Chetan Chauhan, they would not have made it unscathed through the rampaging mob. “I and Rajinder Hans were in a different bogey. When we came to know about the incident, it sent a chill down our spine. However, Chetan Chauhan came and reassured us that we would be safe and the mob won’t harm us,” Singh said.

Sanjay Raut insults medical professionals, says ‘compounders know better than doctors’, IMA seeks his resignation

OpIndia Staff
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Sanjay Raut insults medical professionals, says ‘compounders know better than doctors’, IMA seeks his resignation

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has been receiving criticism for insulting medical professionals. In an interview with ABP’s Marathi channel on 15th August, Raut said that doctors do not know anything. He added that compounders are better and he always takes medicines from the compounders (assistants), not the doctors. “WHO is a useless organization. Because of WHO, the Covid-19 pandemic happened,” he claimed.

IMA seeks Raut’s resignation

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Indian Medical Association condemned Raut’s statement and asked for his resignation. They said, “the healthcare workers are working at great risk not only to themselves personally but also risking their dependents… spouses, children and aged senior citizen patients.” IMA said that at this critical time, they expect government and politicians to stand with them. They condemned the statement made by Raut that doctors know nothing and compounders know more. “We condemn this behaviour and ask for his resignation,” they added.

IMA’s letter to CM Thackeray seeking Raut’s resignation

Doctors stage protest

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) wrote to CM Thackeray and demanded an apology from Raut. They said, “Raut’s statement is embarrassing to young doctors.” The association asked CM if he believes in what Raut said. If he does not Sanjay Raut should apologize. “Otherwise, the doctors will take to the streets assuming that the role they have played is their official role,” they added.

MARD’s letter to CM Thackeray seeking apology from Raut

Dr Avinash Bhondwe, IMA-M President, said in a statement that over 300,000 doctors are working in the state to fight the pandemic. He said that around 50 doctors have already lost their lives to Covid-19 in the state. “Such disparaging, disrespectful, and dishonoring comments by a respectable leader, a journalist, and a Rajya Sabha member has hurt the feelings of doctors in Maharashtra. These lighting and uncomplimentary remark have damaged the morale of the doctors who are fighting Covid-19 for more than four-and-a-half months now,” he added.

“My comment was about WHO,” claims Raut

Sanjay Raut refused to apologize and denied the allegations that he had hurt the medical professionals in any way. He said that there is a difference between an “insult” and a “joke”. He said, “They [doctors] are seeking an apology, but they should first understand that I have not insulted them and had no intention to do so. Whatever I said was in reply to a question on WHO. There is a difference between an insult and a joke. I have always had respect for doctors and the medical community. The politics over the statement should stop.”

Raut draws flak

Former CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said that while he does not know in what context Raut made the statement, he feels that giving such statement is not proper amidst the COVID scenario. “Our doctors are working really hard. They are putting their lives into danger and working day and night for us. This statement has hurt their feelings,” he added.

Asian Age quoted Maharashtra BJP chief media coordinator Vishwas Pathak saying, “Visualisation goes with the capacity and competence of every human being. First Sanjay Raut said that Uddhav Thackeray is fit to be the WHO advisor.” He added that he ridiculed the WHO team to the level of a compounder to match his boss’s capabilities.

Supreme Court dismisses plea to transfer money collected under the PM CARES Fund set up for COVID-19 relief to the NDRF

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court dismisses plea to transfer money collected under the PM CARES Fund set up for COVID-19 relief to the NDRF

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking transfer of money collected under the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) set up for Coronavirus relief to the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF).

As reported by Bar and Bench, the three-judge bench of justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy, and MR Shah also held that contributions to the PM CARES Fund are voluntary and that there was no statutory prohibition on contributions made to the NDRF, hence the funds need not be transferred to NDRF.

While disposing of the petition, Supreme Court said, that there was no need for fresh national disaster relief plan.

Clarifying that the funds collected under the PM CARES Fund are entirely different from the NDRF, as these are funds belonging to a charitable trust the apex court held that plan prepared by the Centre is sufficient to cater to the pandemic. It rejected petitioner’s request to set up a National Plan for COVID-19.

The bench said that the minimum standard of relief issued by the government prior to COVID-19 to continue and that no fresh issuance is required

The writ petition filed by CPIL

The SC was hearing a writ petition filed by an NGO- Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) which had claimed that PM CARES Fund was set up in violation of the legal mandate under the Disaster Management Act. It claimed that under the DM Act any grant made by any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management should be compulsorily credited to NDRF.

Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, representing the NGO (the petitioner in this case) had also questioned the audit mechanism of the PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund. Dave argued that the NDRF has to be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) while PM CARES is audited by some private auditor.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who was appearing in a connected matter related to drawing up a National Disaster Management Plan, argued that since contributions to PM CARES are eligible for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) benefits, corporates and others would not have the incentive to donate to the NDRF.

Meanwhile, the Centre, in its affidavit filed in the matter, had defended the creation of the PM CARES Fund and opposed the transfer of these funds to the NDRF. 

However, the apex court today dismissed all arguments seeking the transfer of money collected under the PM CARES Fund to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

PM CARES Fund collected Rs 6500 crores within a few days of its launch

The PM CARES Fund was set up by the central government on March 28 as a public charitable trust with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation such as that posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Notably, with open-hearted donations from the public, corporates and celebrities, it collected over Rs 6500 crores within a few days of its launch.

Sonia Gandhi demanded contributions should be transfered to PMNRF

It is pertinent to note that the oppositions parties, including the left and the Congress Party had also lamented over the government’s decision to create PM CARES Fund. The Congress had written to PM Narendra Modi demanding that all money under the PM-CARES fund be transferred to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). According to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, this was to be done for ‘better transparency, accountability and efficiency’.

In this regard, it is pertinent to note that the PMNRF had a management committee that oversaw how the funds are employed. While the Prime Minister has discretion, the committee, when it was set up by Jawaharlal Nehru included the President of the Congress party.

The Modi government had however, ignored the demads made by the Congress President.

Delhi riots: Tahir Hussain grilled by ED over funding of anti-CAA protests, violence via shell companies

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi riots: Tahir Hussain grilled by ED over funding of anti-CAA protests, violence via shell companies

The former AAP leader Tahir Hussain, who is also a prime accused in the gruesome anti-Hindu riots that erupted in the national capital early this year, has been subjected to questioning by the Enforcement Directorate.

According to an exclusive report published by Times Now, Hussain was put through the winger to determine the funding aspect of the Delhi riots. A probe is also initiated to ascertain any link between the Nizamuddin Markaz row with the Delhi riots.

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a case under Money Laundering Act against Tahir Hussain for his involvement in the Delhi riots. The report by Times Now cites ED sources to allege that Hussain had floated several shell companies to transfer Rs 1.02 crore to those who were carrying out anti-CAA protests from December 2019 to February 2020 and also to rioters.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had also raided locations and residences of Tahir Hussain before approaching the court to issue a production warrant against the former AAP councillor. Apart from Hussain, another Delhi riots accused, Faizal Farooq is also under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate. The agency suspects that he was fronting properties for several individuals and actively financed riots in Delhi in February 2020 in which 53 people were killed.

Tahir Hussain admits his involvement in the Delhi riots

From the 24th of February to the 25th of February, Delhi burnt with perhaps one of the worst anti-Hindu riots that the country has seen in recent times. As many as 53 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the riots that were planned, organised, masterminded and implemented with clinical precision by the Islamists. One of the main protagonists of the sinister story is Tahir Hussain, the AAP leader who spearheaded the Delhi riots in which IB staffer Ankit Sharma was murdered brutally by his mob and several Hindu properties were burnt to ashes. Chargesheet has been filed against Tahir Hussain and his role in the Delhi riots. 

Earlier, it was informed that Tahir Hussain had admitted during the interrogation that he is the mastermind of the Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots of February 2020. In his statement to Delhi Police he said that when he became Aam Aadmi Party’s councillor in 2017, he wanted to teach Hindus a lesson using his political position and money. According to the official confession, he got support from Khalid Saifi and Popular Front of India (PFI).

According to Delhi Police, Tahir Hussain has confessed that he had collected empty liquor and cold drink bottles from scrap dealers, and as construction was going on at his house, collecting bricks and stones without arousing doubt was not an issue. He also collected petrol and diesel by filling the tanks of vehicles full, which was transferred to containers at his house. Tahir also said that Umar had also asked him to collect acid, and accordingly, he had stocked large quantities of acid, bricks, stones, petrol, diesel etc on the roof of his house. Umar had planned to use them to attack people during US President Trump’s India visit. Tahir Hussain informed that he also collected his licensed pistol, which was deposited with police, to use during the riots.

OpIndia had also released a book on Kindle, chronicling the role of various dubious individuals who had been the part of an ominous conspiracy of stoking hatred in the national capital and events that finally culminated into grisly riots that claimed about 53 lives.

Shaukat Ali becomes ‘Sahil Kumar’: Gwalior woman alleges torture, exploitation after marriage under false identity

OpIndia Staff
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Shaukat Ali becomes ‘Sahil Kumar’: Gwalior woman alleges torture, exploitation after marriage under false identity

The Poonch police have reportedly arrested a native of Jammu and Kashmir named Shaukat Ali and four others after a woman accused him of trapping her under false Hindu identity, torturing and financial exploitation.

Victim accuses family of attempt to murder

In a video that has now gone viral on Facebook, the woman said that she met the accused while working in Jaipur for an event management company. She alleged that he claimed to be a Kashmiri Hindu (Sahil Kumar) to lure her into a relationship and marry her. The victim said that following her marriage 6 months ago, Shaukat Ali forced her to convert to Islam and physically assaulted her along with his family.

While showing her bruises and injury marks, Neha said, “His family not only beat me but also tried to kill. They tried to slit my throat with an axe… Now they are telling me to get out of their house.” In the viral video, she had named the prime accused Shaukat Ali, besides his father Mumtaz Ali, mother Jaan Begum, sister Zareena and brother-in-law Mota, niece Nosheen and another niece Zaida.

Gwalior police confirms that victim reached hometown

She has revealed that the local police did not help reach her hometown in Gwalior from Surankote in Poonch district. However, Gwalior police have now informed that she has reached her home. Several Hindu organisations in Jammu and Kashmir had reportedly reached out to the victim after the video went viral. A complaint was lodged with the Poonch police with the help of a local women’s organisation. The accused and four others were arrested, following her complaint.

SP (Gwalior) informed that action will be taken after a complaint is filed by the victim in the city. The Gwalior police have stated that the woman sub inspector was sent to contact the victim after she reached Gwalior.

Days after recovering from coronavirus, Home Minister Amit Shah admitted to AIIMS Delhi

OpIndia Staff
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Days after recovering from coronavirus, Home Minister Amit Shah admitted to AIIMS Delhi

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was admitted to AIIMS Delhi on Tuesday early morning at 2:30 AM after he complained of breathing distress. Some reports suggest that he was suffering from respiratory problems.

The team of doctors who are monitoring Amit Shah is led by Dr Randeep Guleria. The hospital, as of now, has not specified any specific reason as to why he has been admitted. He was currently under home isolation since he had been infected with the Chinese virus earlier in the month.

Twelve days after testing positive the Home Minister had on August 14, tested negative for the Wuhan Coronavirus. He had taken to Twitter to confirm that he had tested negative for the pathogen.

He said, “I thank God and I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. I will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors.”

The former BJP President was diagnosed with coronavirus on August 2 and was admitted to Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital following the advice of doctors.

AAP govt to summon Facebook officials over alleged role in Delhi riots while their own leader Tahir Hussain is in jail for it

OpIndia Staff
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AAP govt to summon Facebook officials over alleged role in Delhi riots while their own leader Tahir Hussain is in jail for it

The Peace and Harmony Committee of Delhi Assembly has decided to summon Ankhi Das, Director, Public Policy, Facebook India. The committee wants to discuss if Facebook officials played any role in the orchestration of the Delhi riots. Raghav Chadha, chairman of the committee, said in a tweet thread that the committee had received several complaints against the officials of Facebook for, “their alleged deliberate & intentional inaction to contain hateful content in India with respect to scathing revelations made by a report in The Wall Street Journal.”

He added that in a video featuring Mark Zuckerburg, the contents of a BJP leader’s post was quoted as offensive and hateful, but no actions were taken. Thus the committee has decided to take immediate cognizance of the matter and investigate if, “if there is any role or complicity of Facebook officials in Delhi riots.”

Raghav Chadha’s tweet

He said, “The committee will facilitate the state’s endeavour to maintain & promote an irenic atmosphere and a conducive milieu of peace & pacification among different communities in Delhi. It is our aim to take action against any potential adversity which might cause communal discord.”

The Peace and Harmony Committee has nine members named Raghav Chadha, Abdul Rehman, Ajay Kumar Mahawar, Atishi Marlena, BS Joon, Dilip Kumar Pandey, Jarnail Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, and Saurabh Bharadwaj.

Complaint filed by Ankhi Das

Ankhi Das, Facebook’s Director, Public Policy, India, South and Central Asia, has filed a complaint with Delhi Police stating that she has received multiple threats to her life and body, which made her extremely disturbed. Das named several Twitter and Facebook users in her complaint including Saket Gokhle and Arshad Khan who is connected to Congress Party.

The article that sparked the controversy

Wall Street Journal had published an article on 14th August in which it alleged that the Facebook India officials are turning a blind eye against hate speeches posted by users connected to BJP. The report quoted an unnamed employee who alleged the officials do not want to ruin the “business relations” with the ruling party. The opposition parties attacked Facebook for its supposed bias towards them. On the other hand, BJP rubbished the claims in the article and accused Facebook of censoring nationalist voices.

Following the article, fingers were pointed at Facebook’s Ankhi Das, over alleged links to the BJP.

AAP leader is one of the main accused in Delhi riots

While Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Government is planning to summon Facebook officials to find out if platform played any role in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots, the party’s ex-leader Tahir Hussain has already been named by the Delhi Police as one of the main conspirators of the riots along with several others including some NGOs and political groups like PInjara Tod and PFI.

Tahir Hussain, an AAP leader with close ties with the top leadership of the party, was found coordinating, orchestrating the attacks against Hindus. He is also accused of involvement in the murder of IB official Ankit Sharma.

OpIndia’s detailed report on the chronology of the event that led up to the riots is now available on Kindle. It has a comprehensive account of the loss of life and property in riots and how Hindus were targeted.

Jammu & Kashmir: Protestors block Kashmir highway, Chenab Valley shut down over ‘blasphemous’ remark on Prophet Muhammad

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu & Kashmir: Protestors block Kashmir highway, Chenab Valley shut down over ‘blasphemous’ remark on Prophet Muhammad

Protestors in Jammu and Kashmir blocked the Kashmir highway and shut down Chenab Valley for protesting against allegedly blasphemous video shared on social media against Prophet Muhammad. Protests erupted in many parts of the union territory demanding strict action against the accused. Doda and Kishtwar districts were also completely shut down on Monday.

Police and paramilitary were reportedly deployed at key locations to control the situation. As per reports, three people have been arrested in the case. On Satpal Sharma, his associate Deepak and Rohit Sharma are arrested for a video which was shared on Sunday that was allegedly blasphemous about Prophet Muhammad.

However, as per reports the Bharat Raksha Manch leader was speaking against three separate incidents involving leaders of the Muslim community. One of the incident he talked about involved a Naib Tehsildar who allegedly committed an unnatural act with a bovine animal in Reasi district. Another incident he talked about was about a Muslim man allegedly inflicting an injury using sharp-edged weapon on a bovine animal.

The Bharat Raksha Manch leader has said that the videos that have gone viral are doctored such that it appears like he was speaking against the religious head of Islam (Prophet Muhammad) while in reality he was speaking on some revenue official arrested by police.

On 16th August, a case of bestiality was registered against a Naib Tehsildar in Arnas Police Station. According to police, another accused Nasir Ahmad was arrested and booked under Section 295A IPC (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders have protested against the ‘blasphemous’ remark against Prophet Muhammad and raised slogans demanding death penalty to the accused.

Bengaluru riots over ‘blasphemous’ remark on Prophet Muhammad

Last week, rioting Muslim mob took to streets in Bengaluru and torched house of a Dalit MLA belonging to Congress party over allegedly blasphemous post by his nephew on social media. The mob also attacked police station and set police vehicles on fire.

Plea seeks contempt action against Swara Bhaskar over her remarks against SC judgment on Ram Janmabhoomi

OpIndia Staff
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Plea seeks contempt action against Swara Bhaskar over her remarks against SC judgment on Ram Janmabhoomi

Days after senior advocate Prashant Bhushan was found guilty of contempt, a petition has now been filed with the Attorney General for initiating contempt of court proceedings against actress-cum-activist Swara Bhaskar.

The petition was filed by advocate Anuj Saxena, Prakash Sharma & Mahek Maheshwari on behalf of one Usha Shetty. Reportedly, the petitioners argued that Swara Bhaskar tried to scandalise the court through her comments made during a conference titled, ‘artists against communalism’ that has was held in Mumbai in February this year.

The objectionable comments of Swara Bhaskar

Swara Bhaskar has been a vocal critic of the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict that was delivered by the apex court in November last year. During the conference ‘artists against communalism’, the actress said, “We are living in a country where the Supreme Court of our country states in a judgment that the demolition of the Babri Majid was unlawful and in the same judgment rewards the same people who brought down the mosque.”

“We are now in a situation where our courts are not sure whether they believe in the constitution or not,” Bhaskar further alleged. The petitioners have argued that the actress resorted to a ‘cheap stunt of publicity’ in a bid to make the people revolt against the apex court. The petition reiterated that the objective of her comments was to stir a feeling of ‘no-confidence’ among the masses against the Supreme Court and its judges.

The contempt case against Prashant Bhushan

On August 14, the Supreme Court found Prashant Bhushan guilty for two tweets where he had raised aspersions on the apex court, and specifically against the Chief Justice of India. The apex court observed that the insinuation by Bhushan is not an attack against an individual but on the institution itself. In the first tweet, Bhushan had lied that the CJI has been keeping the Supreme Court under a lockdown, while in reality, the SC had heard thousands of cases.

In the second tweet, Bhushan had claimed that the Supreme Court of the country has played a role in destroying the democracy in the last 6 years, and last 4 CJIs had a crucial role in it.

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