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Congress troll accuses Kangana Ranaut of being a BJP stooge, Kangana says she declined BJP ticket twice

OpIndia Staff
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Congress troll accuses Kangana Ranaut of being a BJP stooge, Kangana says she declined BJP ticket twice

A day after Kangana Ranaut slammed Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut for ‘openly threatening’ her not to come to Mumbai, several Congress trolls have hit out at the actress. Ranaut had said that Mumbai seemed like ‘Pakistan occupied Kashmir’, implying the veiled threat by a leader from the ruling party in the state.

On Friday, a well known Congress troll, Sanjukta Basu, came to Raut’s rescue by labelling the actress as a ‘BJP stooge’. She tweeted, “People asking why right-wing is not outraging against Kangana Ranaut’s Mumbai like PoK comment but outraged against Aamir Khan. Isn’t it simple? Aamir’s comment was a criticism of Hindutva violence against minorities. Kangana is playing BJP stooge attacking Maharashtra govt.”

Slamming the Congress troll for her insidious remarks, Kangana Ranaut informed that she had rejected election ticket from the BJP on two occasions. The accomplished actress wrote, “BJP stooge ha ha , I have denied BJP ticket twice, I am Kangana Ranaut…My popularity and yearly income (are) far more than many successful Ministers and politicians…Why not sometimes use your intellect, Madam intellectual?”

Kangana Ranaut compares Mumbai to POK

Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, in an article in Sena mouthpiece Saamana, had asked actress Kangana Ranaut to not to travel back to Mumbai after she had expressed fear stating that that the city police force was more threatening to her than the ‘movie mafia’. Responding to his remarks, she had tweeted, “Sanjay Raut Shiv Sena leader has given me an open threat and asked me not to come back to Mumbai after Aazadi graffitis in Mumbai streets and now open threats, why Mumbai is feeling like Pakistan occupied Kashmir?”

Kangana Ranaut’s statements against Mumbai Police had come in the backdrop of a recent controversy after Commissioner of Mumbai Police Param Bir Singh had ‘liked’ a tweet which had asked for public shaming of the actress.

Chinese multinational company that owns PUBG loses billions, sees second-largest valuation dip this year after India bans app

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese multinational company that owns PUBG loses billions, sees second-largest valuation dip this year after India bans app

China’s gaming and social media giant Tencent’s shares crashed by more than 2 per cent on Thursday after India banned its popular gaming app PUBG along with 117 other mobile apps, claiming they were prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the country and posed a threat to the defence, security and public order of India. The market value of this drop is estimated to be around USD 14 Billion in just a day.

Tencent becomes one of the biggest losers alongside banned TikTok app owner ByteDance

With Wednesday’s ban, Tencent became one of the biggest losers alongside China’s ByteDance, whose flagship product TikTok met a similar fate earlier. The Internet powerhouse- Tencent has more than 25 apps, which it owns directly or through affiliates, banned in India. This includes the chat platform WeChat and apps like QQ Newsfeed.

Tencent also has investments in the news and entertainment platform Newsdog, camera app YouCam and e-commerce platform Shein. All of these apps are now banned in India.

PUBG was one of the most popular gaming apps. India alone contributed almost 175 million installs to date, which is almost 24 per cent of its total installs worldwide. PUBG had over 50 million active users in India.

It is notable here that though the popular game PUBG was created by a South Korean company, its mobile version is owned by China’s Tencent.

As per reports, it is Tencent’s second-biggest valuation dip this year. The latest report has suggested that the total losses in market value may be near 34 Billion USD, and shares may have tumbled by 3%.

America lauds India’s bold move to ban 118 Chinese apps, asks all “freedom-loving nations” to join in

The USA has supported India’s move to ban 118 Chinese apps. In a Tweet, the US State Department quoted Under Secretary Keith Krach had lauded India’s move and urged “all freedom-loving nations and companies to join the ‘Clean Network’ drive.

China perturbed by another big jolt by India

Meanwhile, China, perturbed by India’s move, responded on Thursday by saying that India’s decision to ban 118 Chinese Apps is not beneficial to the Indian users nor to China’s businesses and claimed it violated (World Trade Organisation) WTO rules. The Chinese spokesperson Hua Chunying, raising concerns over the ban also noted that the US State Department on the same day cited New Delhi’s ban and called on other countries to join India to join the Clean Network programme. “I wonder if there’s connection or coordination between India and the US on this issue,” she claimed.

India bans 118 ‘malicious’ Chinese apps including Tencent owned PUBG

Invoking its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India decided to block 118 mobile apps, on September 2.

This bold move by the Indian government came amidst the heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control after the Chinese troops were found surreptitiously intruding into Indian territory in the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. The Indian Army had outfoxed the Chinese manoeuvres and repelled the Chinese incursion.

Prior to this, the Indian government had banned 59 apps, mostly Chinese, including popular mobile apps such as TikTok, UC Browser and WeChat, citing similar reasons.

Reporter saying ‘F**king M***rch*d’ goes viral, Republic TV clarifies: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Reporter saying ‘F**king M***rch*d’ goes viral, Republic TV clarifies: Details

A clip has gone viral on the internet earlier today in which a reporter was heard uttering derogatory words while reporting news on Republic TV.

Various social media users took to the internet to share the video accusing Republic TV reporters of using disparaging words on live tv. In the video that has gone viral now, it was seen that a reporter, allegedly working with Republic TV had uttered ‘F**k Ma**rch*d’ as one of their car chased officials from the Narcotics Bureau, who had carried out raids actress Rhea Chakraborty’s residence in Mumbai.

Netizens posted the live feed of Republic TV video to allege that it was one of Republic TV’s reporters who had used such words.

Republic TV clarifies

Following the social media outrage over such vulgar words being said on live tv, the Republic TV issued a clarification regarding the same and distanced itself from the controversy saying that the reporter who used such words did not belong to their organization. The Republic TV said that the one reporter, who did not belong to their organization, had taken a lift in one of the cars belonged to them.

In their statement, Republic TV asked social media users not to wrongly ascribe the incident to the Republic TV.

BJP worker dies while in police custody: Here is what BJP alleges, what the family wants and how the police defending itself

OpIndia Staff
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BJP worker dies while in police custody: Here is what BJP alleges, what the family wants and how the police defending itself

The State of West Bengal is witnessing a political furore after a 24-year-old BJP worker named Anupkumar Roy reportedly died in police custody in Raiganj. He was a driver by profession and a resident of Nandangram in Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal.

On August 28, miscreants robbed two businessmen of around a lac rupees on National Highway-34 at Ghughudanga in Raiganj in West Bengal. The police had initially arrested four people in connection to the incident. However, on Wednesday afternoon, Anup Kumar Roy was brought to the Raignaj police station for interrogation. According to the police officials, the BJP worker had fallen ill during his time at the police station. He was then rushed to the Raiganj Medical College and Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Sumit Kumar, the district Superintendent of Raiganj police said, “Anup fainted during interrogation at the police station. He was then taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead. We had conducted the post-mortem of the deceased’s body in accordance with the law. The preliminary report has suggested that he had died of a brain haemorrhage.”

BJP accuses the police of working in cahoots with the TMC, conducting illegal autopsy

BJP President (Uttar Dinajpur) Biswajit Lahiri said, “Trinamool Congress and the police are working in tandem to attack BJP leaders, workers, and supporters. Earlier, TMC miscreants had murdered BJP MLA Debendranath Roy in Hemtabad and the sister of the BJP booth President in Chopragaj. This time, Anup was forcibly taken to the police station over a false case and was murdered by the police.” Lahiri had demanded a CBI investigation into the case.

According to the BJP General Secretary Basudeb Sarkar, the police had conducted the autopsy in haste by illegally taking out the body from the morgue. He accused the police of coercing the family members of Anup to sign on the papers that stated their ‘consent’ before the post-mortem. “Until the autopsy is conducted again, we will not allow his body to be taken out from the morgue,” he cautioned.

While speaking to reporters, state BJP President Dilip Ghosh said, “A BJP worker, who had joined the party 8 months ago after leaving CPIM, was pulled up from his house in Itahar by the police. He was then assaulted severely so much so that his kidney got destroyed. He was then taken to another place and was shot 5 times. His family members were not informed. The civic police picked up his body, conducted post-mortem at night, and then informed the family to take away the body. All of this is illegal. Why was he taken to the police station? Why was he assaulted by the cops? And most importantly, why were bullets fired at him?”

(Video Courtesy: News 18 Bangla)

Besides, the official handle of BJP Bengal wrote, “Cold-blooded murder of BJP worker Anup Kumar Roy in POLICE CUSTODY in Raiganj. Postmortem (is) done hurriedly at night within 3 hours of death. Why the rush? Re-post-mortem and investigation a must. State administration is targeting BJP workers to stop BJP.”

The culprits must die, vows Anup’s mother

On Thursday night, Anup’s mother Geeta filed a complaint with the Assistant Sub-Inspector against five policemen for beating Anup to death. Speaking to Anandabazar Patrika, Anup’s brother displayed his support on the accusations made by the BJP against the Raiganj police.

Speaking to ABP Ananda, the helpless mother of the BJP worker asked, “Why did police do this to my son? If he had done anything wrong, then, he should have been jailed? Why did they murder my son? Call the cops. I will ask them directly. They have left my heart empty. I curse them to reach the same fate as me.”

(Video Courtesy: News 18 Bangla)

Desperate for justice, an emotional Geeta vowed, “The culprits must die. If they killed my son, then, I will avenge it. I want to see them dead.” She had also demanded a free and fair investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation. While the BJP has launched a protest seeking for justice, the Trinamool Congress has accused the party of using his unnatural death to gain political mileage.

OpIndia Vs Facebook: Reducing page reach from 20 lakhs to 2 lakhs, taking months to respond to emails

OpIndia Staff
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OpIndia Vs Facebook: Reducing page reach from 20 lakhs to 2 lakhs, taking months to respond to emails

There has been a heated controversy regarding Facebook, of late. A lot has transpired in the last few days including the Facebook India chief appearing before a Parliamentary Committee and the Law Minister writing a letter with illustrations to the Facebook CEO. OpIndia also has its own experience to share on this issue, for we have been facing issues on the platform too.

Several questions have been raised regarding Facebook allegedly blocking the right-leaning pages and accounts. Obviously our own experiences of challenging the established Left ecosystem and treading off the beaten path have not been very good. Ever since we launched OpIndia Hindi, it has been catching people’s eye. We have constantly been at the target of the Communists ever since. But we faced the real persecution on the digital platform after Facebook launched latent attacks to stop us.

On many occasions, our Facebook reach was maliciously reduced down to 10 per cent from the usual. We were targeted for reporting the content that was already covered by various other media portals. This has now become routine. When we seek answers through mails, they take 40-50 days to respond. Various malicious tactics were employed to somehow reduce the reach of our Facebook page. The instant article service on our page was stopped. A direct impact of these tactics could be seen on the traffic on our page.

Let us clarify that the instant article service is the biggest demand of any digital media portal. This service allows readers to read an article on a website without wasting time and this also brings significant traffic to the website. To sum up, the instant article service benefits both the readers and the digital media. Many a time, OpIndia was prevented from reaching out to readers for frivolous reasons.

By July 13, 2020, the reach of OpIndia’s page stood at 20 lakh per day. However, we noticed that the traffic on our page began to fall again. From 20 lakh per day, the traffic fell to 1,71,000 per day. By this time, we were aware that Facebook has limited the reach of our posts. We tried to take this up with Facebook once again after which they said that they would check the quality of our page. On the contrary, it was clearly displayed on the page quality tab that this page was on the verge of being unpublished. A page is unpublished or taken down when there are at least three strikes on the quality page tab of Facebook, a ‘strike’ means facebook guidelines have been violated.

OpIndia has not actually violated any Facebook policies even once let alone three times. The one strike our page got was because of a report that we did on the tweet of Times of India journalist. A ‘dubious’ fact-checker website termed it as ‘fake news’ which was a bit strange. Even if that is taken to be a strike, how come our page came on the verge of being unpublished? And how does that explain the reduction in the reach from 20 lakh to 2 lakh?

What was more shocking to us what that this happened despite the fact that we had not violated any community guidelines on Facebook? Now the matter is around a month and a half old, but all we get in the name of response to our mail are the assurances that we would be informed of the updates, if any, in the matter. Neither have we been provided with any appropriate information nor has the reach of our Facebook page improved.

The first mail, in this regard, was written to Facebook on July 29. But instead of a satisfactory answer, we received the cliché ‘we are looking into it’. Now imagine how adversely the traffic on our website would have been affected in the meantime. Earlier, on September 25, 2019, our page was restricted for allegedly violating the community guidelines. On November 28, 2019, we demanded information from Facebook in relation to some of our posts that had allegedly violated the community guidelines.

After sending 22 emails (yes, 22 Emails), most of which were to remind that our previous mails were not addressed, they sent us some of our posts from December 2019 and told us that our page did not follow the image policy.

Isn’t that shocking? They showed us posts from December 2019 to explain why the instant article service on our page was suspended from November 2019. Anyway, this is hasn’t happened for the first time. We have been receiving such stupid replies from Facebook all the time. We have been noticing that the same images, the same stories are being openly covered by other media portals but they are not being countered in the same way.

For instance, a minor Dalit girl was gang-raped in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh on September 22, 2019. We did a report on the incident using a blurred image of the victim and the name of the accused in the headline. This report was taken down by Facebook without providing any reason. When we asked for an explanation, they pointed at the image we had used. Besides, we were told that AI decides which content violated the Facebook guidelines. Interestingly, the same report with the same image remained available on another website. If it was about the algorithm, a similar action should have followed on the other website as well.

This instance makes it clear that OpIndia was being targeted by some Facebook employees and not by AI. On many occasions, we have been asked indirectly to refrain from using certain words, phrases and diluting the tone of the report. On the other hand, several instances have come up where people were blocked by Facebook for using words like ‘Jai Shri Ram’, Jai Aanjaneya’ or ‘pig’. OpIndia had done a report back then on these issues. The report contained the posts of people whom Facebook had hidden.

The biggest problem with Facebook is not just that they do not handle this platform in a neutral manner but that even if someone tries to correct their ‘mistake’ as per Facebook standards, they don’t respond for months. As a consequence, a page suffers huge losses in terms of traffic and reach. The Facebook facility of redressal through mails exists in the name only. No actual redressal takes place there. They exhaust your patience by not responding to your mails in time and as a result, your website incurs losses for eight weeks straight. Thereafter, things begin to improve without any response.

This implies that Facebook gives veiled threats to use headlines as per their choice or else they will not just keep you waiting by not responding to your mails but will also reduce the reach of your page. Small portals give in to their bullying and refrain from reporting on a particular community. They even issue guidelines for their employees regarding the words not to be used.

Even today, we face the same problems using Facebook. OpIndia did not do any wrong and Facebook believes that too. Still, since July 13, 2020, we have incurred losses worth lakhs every week. But we haven’t been told so far when our issues will be resolved.

Umar Khalid grilled for over four hours in connection with the Delhi riots case: Here is what he is accused of

OpIndia Staff
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Umar Khalid grilled for over four hours in connection with the Delhi riots case: Here is what he is accused of

The former JNU student Umar Khalid was on Wednesday interrogated for more than 4 hours by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots. According to the police, they had summoned Khalid for “verifying some important points”.

Umar, along with several other rabble-rousers such as Jamia media coordinator Safoora Zargar, RJD’s youth wing president Meeran Haider, Pinjra Tod activist Natasha Narwal and several others have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly instigating the violence that swept over large swathes of the northeast Delhi in February earlier this year.

Khalid was questioned on Wednesday morning at the Sunlight colony office. Last month, he was quizzed by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in the Delhi Riots case.

Khalid’s letter to Delhi Police Commissioner alleging conspiracy to falsely implicate him in Delhi riots

Meanwhile, Khalid had written a letter to the Commissioner of Delhi Police, S N Shrivastava on Tuesday, alleging acts of “fabrication and attempts at false implication” by the Special Cell’s officers. Khalid claimed in the letter that he had met an acquaintance who revealed that he was given a pre-drafted statement against him by the investigating officers of the Special Cell.

In the pre-drafted statement, Umar Khalid was portrayed as one of the co-conspirators of the riots that flared up in northeast Delhi under the pretext of peaceful protests against the CAA.

As per Umar Khalid, his acquaintance protested against signing the letter but the officers intimidated him to change his statement. The man in question later claimed that it was not his statement.

Khalid claims that the authorities threatened the man with an arrest memo with UAPA written over it, showing it to him and telling him that he had no choice but go ahead with it or he could sign the other form. The man felt compelled to sign the statement, Khalid mentioned.

Umar has also rubbished the confession made by another Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain, who had said that he met Khalid Saifi and him at PFI office in Shaheen Bagh on January 8. Khalid claimed that he had never met Hussain or been to the PFI office.

Umar Khalid’s name in the FIR and Tahir Hussain’s confession of hatching conspiracy with Umar Khalid

While Umar Khalid pleads innocence, the Delhi Police Crime Branch in its FIR dated 6th March 2020 stated that the anti-Hindu riots that took place in North East Delhi between 24-26 February during the visit of US President Donald Trump were preplanned. The FIR copy stated that the anti-Hindu riots conspiracy was hatched by ex-JNU student Umar Khalid and his associates who are linked with two groups. As part of the conspiracy, Umar Khalid gave provocative speeches at two different locations and appealed to people to take to streets during the visit of US President Donald Trump so that the propaganda that minorities are oppressed in India can be internationalized.

Delhi Riots accused Tahir Hussain was also in touch with Umar Khalid and his close aide Khalid Saifi, a charge sheet filed in the murder of IB constable Ankit Sharma stated. The charge sheet filed in the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma and Tahir Hussain’s role in the riots, it is explicitly mentioned that Tahir Hussain hatched the plans for the riots in January when Hussain had met the JNU scholar and Khalid Saifi at Shaheen Bagh. Khalid Saifi had also met with Zakir Naik to raise funds for the riots, a status report filed by the Delhi Police in July said.

‘Shed your political bias or quit BBC’: New chief Tim Davie promises radical changes after constant complaints of Left bias

Shashank Bharadwaj
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‘Shed your political bias or quit BBC’: New chief Tim Davie promises radical changes after constant complaints of Left bias

Tim Davie, the new director-general of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is all set to tackle the “left-wing bias” of the network and has asked its ‘opinionated-staff’ to change their bias or quit the job.

According to the reports, the new chief Tim Davie has promised ‘radical’ changes at BBC and also categorically asked staff members who subscribe to a certain political opinion to shed their bias or quit BBC.

“If you want to be an opinionated columnist or a partisan campaigner on social media then that is a valid choice, but you should not be working at the BBC,” he said in a speech to staff at the BBC’s office in Cardiff.

Crackdown on BBC employees posting their views on social media

Tim Davie has also announced a crackdown on BBC staff posting their political views on social media. It is being said that the new move is to restore the ‘impartial view’ of the BBC. Davie said staff will now have to adhere to new social media rules that will be “rigorously enforced”.

The new director-general also added that the priority at BBC is to focus on impartiality and to address accusations of bias from politicians on both sides of the political divide. Davie said that the BBC is no place for ‘opinionated columnists’.

“To be clear, this is not about abandoning democratic values such as championing fair debate or an abhorrence of racism. But it is about being free from political bias, guided by the pursuit of truth, not a particular agenda”, Davie reportedly said.

“We urgently need to champion and recommit to impartiality,” Davie added, noting, “In the age of fake news, social media campaigns, echo chambers of opinion, and noisy partisan media outlets, this, surely, is our time.”

BBC need to deliver views of entire nation, not just select elite: Tim Davie

Speaking to the employees a day after taking over as the head of the media network, Tim Davie said that staff should work hard to deliver on the views of the entire nation, not a select elite.

Tim Davie’s new explicit diktat to the employees of ‘Beeb’, asking them to be impartial comes after the old-age British media network has faced severe accusations not just in the United Kingdom but across different parts of the world over their left-wing bias.

The channel has often been accused of only representing the views of the London elite, rather than the people of the country. “I do not want a subscription BBC that serves the few,” Davie said to the BBC staff.

Davie also warned reporters and editors that surrounding the office with “people like us” who were only interested in “political shenanigans, internal dramas, and the latest press flare-up” will damage the corporation.

The director-general also promised that Beeb will “renew our commitment to impartiality” in a bid to win back the trust of the nation. “I want a radical shift in our focus from the internal to the external, to focus on those we serve the public,” added Tim Davie in his address to BBC staff.

Fact-finding report in Palghar lynching: NCP leader present as mob lynched Hindu Sadhus, role of Christian Missionaries questioned

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-finding report in Palghar lynching: NCP leader present as mob lynched Hindu Sadhus, role of Christian Missionaries questioned

The fact-finding panel in the Palghar Hindu Sadhu lynching case has made a shocking disclosure alleging that an NCP leader was seen with the murderous mob that brutally lynched two Hindu Sadhus and his driver in Palghar, Maharashtra.

According to the member of the fact-find panel Santosh Jnathe, NCP leader Kashinath Chaudhary was seen at the spot as an onlooker while the violent mob brutally lynched the Hindu sadhus.

Even Times Now has accessed a video taken at the time of lynching of the two sadhus in Palghar, in which NCP worker Kashinath Chaudhary was also seen along with the violent mob that killed the two Hindu Sadhus.

Kashinath Chaudhary is the district member of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, one of the coalition partners in the Maharashtra government. It is being alleged that apart from Kashinath Chaudhary, CPM leaders Vishnu Patra, Subhash Bhavar, and Dharma Bhavar were also present at the spot at the time of lynching.

With NCP links emerging the Palghar Hindu Sadhus lynching case, questions are being raised regarding the credibility of the investigation being carried out by the Maharashtra police. It is also alleged that NCP leader Chaudhary is very close to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, raising further suspicions over the investigations into the case.

Fact-Finding committee says Christian missionary groups and left-wing organisations behind Palghar incident

The fact-finding committee has also revealed that the left-wing organizations working in the area have created hatred in the minds of the tribals against Hindus, its religious gurus, and sadhus. Vivek Vichar Manch formed the fact-finding team that comprised of retired judges, lawyers, and police officers.

The 149-page report has made some explosive revelations, including how some groups are spreading hate and inciting the tribal population against the union government. The team has demanded that the central investigation agencies like NIA or CBI should handle the Palghar mob lynching case. They said that the whole truth could come out if such agencies manage the investigation. 

The fact-finding team’s investigation has also concluded that the growing violence in the area came to the fore after Chrisitan organizations such as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Tenancy Organizations, Bhoomi Sena, Adivasi Ekta Parishad, CPM began exerting their influence in the region.

Palghar Sadhu lynching

On 16th April 2020, two Sadhus of Juna Akhara, Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), and Sushilgiri Maharaj (35) were lynched along with their 30-year old driver by a mob. The incident took place at Gadchinchale village in Palghar district, Maharashtra. They were on their way to Surat, Gujarat. The police were present at the scene, but the allegedly did not try to stop the mob or did anything to save the sadhus.

LAC standoff: China seeks meeting between defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Ladakh situation, India yet to respond

OpIndia Staff
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LAC standoff: China seeks meeting between defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Ladakh situation, India yet to respond

Amidst the ongoing tension between Indian and Chinese troops near the Pangong Tso region in Ladakh, the Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe has sought a meeting Friday with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of Defence Ministers in Moscow.

According to the reports, India has received a request from China for a meet with the Defence Minister in Moscow. Rajnath Singh is currently in the Russian capital to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting.

Reportedly, this is the third time that the Chinese side has asked for a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the standoff erupted in early May. Interestingly, the Indian side is yet to respond to the Chinese request.

The request from China to seek a meeting with India comes at the backdrop of the ongoing border tension between India and China in eastern Ladakh that escalated recently after India attained control of crucial strategic heights both in the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso Lake.

Solution to border standoff lies in diplomacy alone: EAM Jaishankar

Amidst threats from China to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the solution to the border standoff lies in diplomacy alone.

Speaking at the virtual launch of his book, ‘The India Way’, S Jaishankar said he said it was vital for both India and China to reach an “accommodation” not just for themselves, but the world has a lot riding on it.

The Foreign Minister also asserted that he was not underplaying the seriousness of the current situation or the challenges of the boundary question but said that he was convinced that the solution to border problem can only be found through diplomacy.

“It is imperative for both countries to reach an accommodation. There is a lot riding on it. Our position has been clear that we have agreements and understandings that should be scrupulously observed. Neither side should change the status quo. What happens on the border will impact the relationship,” the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

He further added, “I made this point a few days earlier in another context, I would say that I am totally convinced that the solution to the situation has to be found in the domain of diplomacy. And I say that with responsibility”.

Jaishankar said India and China were two civilizational states which are going to enter the fourth industrial revolution when most other big civilizations could not make it.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had issued a strong statement against China’s most recent belligerence along the LAC.

Srivastava said, “It is clear that the situation we witnessed over the past four months is a direct result of the actions taken by the Chinese side that sought to effect a unilateral change of status quo. These actions resulted in the violation of the bilateral agreements and protocol which ensured peace and tranquillity in the border areas for close to three decades.”

India takes control of strategic heights along LAC at Eastern Ladakh

The Indian armed forces have successfully taken control of crucial strategic heights in both the northern bank and southern banks of the Pangong Tso Lake around the Chushul sector in Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian troops had marked their presence in those heights in order to thwart a stealthy midnight move by the Chinese to take control of Indian territories, as per reports.

On August 30, the Indian Army, aided by a Special Frontier Force unit, had captured the heights lying between the southern bank of the Pangong Lake and the smaller Spanggur Lake further south.

Indian troops had taken control of the dominating heights, connecting through a ridgeline along the LAC from the southern bank of Pangong Tso to Spanggur Tso till Chushul-Rezang La. Their positions extend up to Requin La, which overlooks the crucial PLA camp in Moldo, as per reports.

These locations are strategically important for India, as it gives a complete view of the Spanggur Gap, China’s Moldo Garrison, and also of Spanggur lake, which has now diluted the dominance of the of Chinese troops in the area.

The Indian troops have been deployed with the support from mechanized and infantry divisions, including a regiment of T-90 tanks near the Spanggur pass at Chushul to thwart any possible Chinese movement.

On Thursday, it was also reported that Indian armed forces have attained control of crucial strategic heights in the northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake. The northern banks of Pangong Tso have been one of the key areas in the ongoing border confrontation in the high-altitude snow deserts of Ladakh.

Delhi riot accused Asif Iqbal Tanha, who wanted turn India into an ‘Islamic country’, denied bail in Delhi Riots case: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi riot accused Asif Iqbal Tanha, who wanted turn India into an ‘Islamic country’, denied bail in Delhi Riots case: Read details

Days after reportedly confessing to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police that he wanted to turn India into an ‘Islamic’ country, Delhi riots accused Asif Iqbal Tanha has been denied bail by a Delhi court on Wednesday.

Asif, a Jamia Millia Islamia student and member of the Student Islamist Organization (SIO) since 2014, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in May for purportedly being a part of a larger conspiracy behind the February riots in northeast Delhi.

While hearing Asif’s case, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat noted that the witness testimonies reflected his role in engineering the conspiracy and orchestrating a ‘chakka-jam’ that culminated into the riots. As per reports, protected witnesses have stated that Asif was one of the primary coordinators of the conspiracy.

Accusations against Asif Iqbal Tanha prima-facie true, observes Delhi court

While observing that witnesses testimonies were not detailed in nature, the learned Judge observed, “Their merits or credibility can’t be gone into at the present stage. Considering the statement of such witnesses regarding the role of the accused Asif Iqbal Tanha and other accused persons whose conduct is also highlighted by various statements, I have no hesitation to hold that there is reasonable ground for believing that accusation against the accused are prima facie true…”

Freedom of speech has reasonable restrictions, Court tells Asif Iqbal Tanha

Judge Amitabh Rawat stated that while freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under the Indian Constitution, it is subjected to ‘reasonable restrictions.’ In its order on Wednesday, the Court observed, “Thus, what has to be seen is the context, manner of expressing the dissent and various acts associated with it. It has to be some acts in pursuance of a conspiracy by various means.”

Delhi Court upholds UAPA charges against the Delhi riot accused

The Court stated that actions which threaten the unity of India, cause death, injuries, loss of properties, and strike terror in the hearts of people fall under Section 15 (acts of terror) and Section 18 (recruitment for terror activities) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. “Thus, the provision of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has been rightly invoked in the present case,” the Court ruled.

The Court further observed that since the role of Asif Iqbal Tanha was related to conspiracy, therefore, the evidence had to be examined in entirety. “The statements and evidence will have to be read in entirety since it is a case of conspiracy. Moreover, the assertion that the accused himself physically and directly did not resort to violence as understood in common parlance would not be germane in the context of various acts committed by different individuals including accused in the conspiracy of riots.”

The Conspirator behind Jamia riots

As per the report, Asif Iqbal admitted to orchestrating riots and a march of 2500-3000 people from the Gate no.7 of Jamia Millia Islamia on December 12. He revealed that Sharjeel Imam gave a provocative speech to encourage ‘protestors’ to execute a ‘chakka jam’ on December 13.

Asif confessed to organising a ‘Gandhi peace march’ on December 15 from the Jamia metro station to the Parliament via Zakir Nagar and Batla House. He stated that the purpose of naming it after Mahatma Gandhi was to lure more people into joining the march. Reportedly, the Delhi police had set up barricades near the Surya Hotel to prevent the ‘protestors’ from surging forward. Asif Iqbal confessed to provoking people to break through the police barricades under the impression that the cops lacked the ‘guts’ to stop them.

However, his plans did not succeed as the police soon resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the unruly mob. The Jamia students then resorted to stone pelting, setting buses on fire, and creating mayhem on the streets of Delhi. As such, both the policemen and the ‘protestors’ were injured during the course of the march.

Asif Iqbal provoked common Muslims to weaponise violence

Asif Iqbal further admitted that he delivered provocative speeches at several places in the country including Kolkata, Kota, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ujjain, Indore, Jaipur, Patna, Sabzibagh, Araria, Samastipur, Ahmedabad. Reportedly, he urged common Muslims to protest against the Indian and not to shy away from engaging in violence, if such a need arose.

Asif added that JNU activist Umar Khalid had suggested the idea of blocking roads and disrupting traffic during the visit of US President Donald Trump to India. The plan of action was then executed by the likes of Meeran Haider and Safoora Zargar which later culminated into violent riots. Besides his desire to turn India into an Islamic country, he considered the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as anti-Muslim and therefore joined the students of Jamia Milia Islamia in opposing it.

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