A day after former Samajwadi Party leader and ‘social worker’ Shahzeb Rizvi had announced a bounty of Rs 51 lakh on the head of a Karnataka Congress MLA’s nephew for blasphemy, the Uttar Pradesh police arrested him. Shalabh Mani Tripathi, media adviser to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, informed on Twitter that Rizvi has been arrested.
After the video of Shahzeb Rizvi announcing the bounty of Rs 51 Lakh for anyone who brings the head of P Naveen went viral on social media, Uttar Pradesh police had filed a case against him, and had started to search for him. The FIR was registered under IPC section 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and section 505(2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes).
After the video surfaced on social media, Meerut SSP Ajay Sahini had ordered a probe into the matter, and the case was registered.
Earlier in the day, Tripathi had informed that Shahzeb Rizvi was absconding from UP police after announcing the bounty, and was ‘collecting donations for his bail’, an apparent reference to Rizvi’s statement where he had sought contributions from his community members for the bounty amount.
Shalabh Mani Tripathi also posted a video showing Shahzeb Rizvi arrested by police, saying that another video has been made featuring Rizvi. He also informed that Rizvi refused to board the police vehicle, and insisted on going on foot.
इस बार भी वीडियो बना, पर इस बार इन्होंने नहीं बल्कि पुलिस ने इनका वीडियो बनाया, पुलिस इनसे गाड़ी में चलने को कह रही, पर ये ज़िद किए बैठे हैं कि पैदल ही जाएंगे, गाड़ी में क़तईनहीं जाएंगे। https://t.co/aIgMNSYZZtpic.twitter.com/PTmu0PDJJx
The Facebook post by Naveen, nephew of Karnataka Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, a Dalit leader, had triggered the riots by Muslim mob in Bengaluru on 11th August. It was alleged that Naveen had committed blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. Following this, Shahzeb Rizvi had posted a video announcing the bounty, asking Muslims to behead Naveen and bring his head in return for Rs 51 Lakh.
Shahzeb Rizvi is former politician from Samajwadi Party, although at present he is not associated with the party. He was the state secretary for the minority cell in the party in Uttar Pradesh. He is a resident of Rasulpur village under Phalauda police station in Meerut. After leaving the Samajwadi Party, at present he identifies himself as a ‘social worker’.
Rabia Khan, the mother of deceased actress Jiah Khan, has revealed that film director Mahesh Bhatt had tried to intimidate her during the funeral of her daughter, reportedIndia Today. Jiah Khan, the actress of Ghajini fame had died by suicide on June 3 in 2013.
Her death was re-confirmed as a suicide in 2016 following an extensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a hearing at the Bombay High Court. Khan’s mother continued to claim that Jiah Khan had been murdered by her boyfriend, actor Sooraj Pancholi, leading the prosecution to make a failed attempt to lay charges of murder and sexual assault in 2017. On 31 January 2018, nearly five years after her death, a court in Mumbai charged Pancholi with abetting Khan’s suicide. The case has not yet been settled.
Mahesh Bhatt is Bollywood mafia’s mouthpiece, claims Rabia Khan
Rabia Khan said that Mahesh Bhatt had tried to convince her that Jiah Khan was mentally depressed at her funeral. However, when she refuted his claims, the director said, “Tum chup hojao varna tumhe bhi injection deke sula dege (Shut up or else you will also be put to sleep forever using an injection).” Further accusing Mahesh Bhatt of being a ‘mouthpiece’ of Bollywood mafia, Rabia Khan emphasised, “He is so pathetic that I have no words to express. He was intimidating when my daughter worked for him at the age of 16.”
Rabia Khan hopes for justice, lambasts Sooraj Pancholi
Following the untimely death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Rabia Khan had drawn similarities between the death of the actor and her daughter on social media. Hitting out at Sooraj Pancholi, she said, “He used to beat my daughter. The Police were pressurised by the Bollywood mafia so much that a Bollywood icon (referring to Salman Khan) said that don’t interrogate him, leave him alone, we are launching him.”
Rabia informed how Sooraj brainwashed Jiah Khan to return to India, allegedly under the pretext of his operation. “My daughter never lied or hid things from me but after meeting Sooraj, she started hiding things from me,” she added. Accusing the law enforcement of helping the accused, she lamented how talented people were killed in Bollywood. “I feel hopeless that police is supporting the mafia and wrong people…People use money and power to tamper the investigation.”
In the Naini village of the Chhapra block in Bihar, a 14-year-old boy named Rohit, the son of widow Urmila Devi was allegedly murdered on July 31, 2020. His mother has levelled serious allegations against the members of another community. She has alleged that the boys from a particular community, who had murdered the boy, had brought Rohit’s dead body the next day on the pretext of searching.
The local police have also been facing serious charges in the case. It is being alleged that the accused have not been arrested yet. A case has also been registered against some BJP leaders for demanding the arrest of the accused.
14-year-old Rohit
Opindia spoke to BJP’s Kisan Morcha Vice President Shailendra Sengar in this regard. A case has been registered against him for the breach of peace. Giving details about the case, Sengar said that despite almost a fortnight since the incident, justice eludes the victim’s family.
A media report on Rohit murder case
FIR filed against protesters demanding action against Rohit’s murderers
According to BJP leader, the victim’s mother Urmila Devi has filed an FIR against the accused in the case. However, the police are yet to take action against the accused. When they opposed police inaction in the case, an FIR was lodged against them instead. Shailendra also raised aspersions on the post-mortem report of Rohit. He claimed that though the post-mortem has been done, the details have not been revealed yet. Shailendra alleges that the truth is not being revealed to the public and accused the authorities of withholding crucial information.
After talking to Shailendra, OpIndia contacted the local police station to confirm the entire case. However, instead of answering to our questions, the police in-charge hung up on us, saying he would contact us later. The story would be updated if and when the police shares details with us.
FIR filed by Rohit’s mother mentions Sarajuddin, Istak and Shehanshah as accused
While the BJP leader has accused the police of not acting on the mother’s complaint, Rohit’s inconsolable mother has been demanding justice since her son’s death. She said, “On 31 July, Sarajuddin, Istak and Shehanshah took my son on the pretext of playing with him. However, when he did not return, we started searching for him. We kept searching for him till late in the night. We did not know what had happened to him. They threw him in the well and the next day the same people brought the dead body of my son at our home. Now, all I demand is justice.”
FIR filed by Rohit’s mother Urmila Devi
Urmila Devi has filed an FIR against the three accused in this regard and has also provided her written statement to the police. Urmila Devi claims that on August 1, the accused took Rohit’s cousin along with them to search for Rohit. She has alleged in her statement that Rohit’s cousin was shown the body lying in a well. The accused then lifted the body out of the well and brought it to his home. The body was later sent to post-mortem after the police was informed about the incident by the neighbours.
Statement by deceased Rohit’s mother Urmila Devi
Rohit’s maternal uncle has demanded capital punishment for the culprits responsible for death of his nephew. However, the administration has not taken any action in this matter so far. Akash, a local who hails from the same village, assertively claims that Rohit was brutally killed by the Muslim villagers. He said that Rohit’s body was dumped in the well that is present in the courtyard of the Durga Temple. The culprits are still on the loose and a case was filed against the villagers who had demanded action against the accused.
Akash, a local, told that Rohit was killed and thrown into a well in the courtyard of Durga temple.
Akash, a local resident speaks on Rohit’s murder
Eye-witness account of Rohit murder
There is a swelling resentment among members of the Hindu organisations and villagers for the inordinate delay in the matter. The villagers, led by the BJP Kisan Morcha vice-president, had blocked a road to demand the arrest of the accused. Following this incident, a case was registered under various sections for breaching peace on many people including Shailendra Sengar, BJP Mandal President Vishwas Gautam, Baleshwar Singh, Gyanranjan, Raju Kumar Singh, Santosh Mahato, Hanni Singh, Prakash Kumar Singh, Vikas Kumar Singh.
After the Editors Guild of India issued a statement condemning the attack on media personnel in New Delhi and Bengaluru on 11th August, Suvarna News has issued a statement slamming the Editors Guild for spreading fake news.
Suvarna News has clarified that its journalists were not attacked by police as alleged by the Editors Guild, but they came under the attack of Muslim mob that had attacked two police stations in Bengaluru in reaction a Facebook post by Naveen, the nephew of Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasmurthy. The mob had alleged that Naveen had caused blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad, and attacked the police forces alleging inaction against Naveen by the police.
During the violence by the Muslim mob where they have attacked policemen and burnt down hundreds of vehicles, several media personnel covering the riot also came under their attack. But in the statement condemning the attack on journalists, the Editors Guild sought to defend the mob and instead blamed police for the attack on the reporters.
The statement had read, “on the same day in Bengaluru, as many as four journalists belonging to India Today, The News Minute and Suvarna News 24×7 were reportedly attacked by the city police. These journalists at that time were on duty, reporting on the vandalism and police shooting in the wake of a mob violence in the city.”
But Suvarna News 24×7 completely denied that allegation that their reporters were attacked by Bengaluru city police. The media house thanked the Editors Guild for their concern and condemnation of the attacked on their journalists, but added that the guild has got the identity of the attackers wrong.
“However, we would like to clarify that the attack on our journalists was by the mob and not the Bangalore City Police, as was indicated in the statement released by Editors Guild of India on 13th August,” the statement issued by Suvarna News said.
Suvarna News Statement
The channel informed that three of their reporters were beaten and one of them suffered injuries in the incident. Moreover, one camera and two news gathering vehicles of the media house were damaged by the mob during the riot, and the channel had subsequently filed FIR against the miscreants with the Bangalore City Police.
It is clear from the statement of Suvarna News that their reporters were attacked and their equipment were damaged by the Muslim mob in Bengaluru, but for some reason the Editors Guild chose to blame the Bangalore police for the same, who were actually the target of the mob.
The Mumbai police’ behaviour regarding the investigation into the alleged suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has created a cloud of suspicion and has been fuelling speculations over its credibility. After impeding Bihar police and the CBI investigation into the case, the Mumbai police has now reportedly refused to hand over the phone of the deceased actor to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
According to a report by Times Now, ED has written four letters to the Mumbai police seeking Sushant’s seized mobile phone and call details. However, the Mumbai police have not yet provided ED with the same.
#Breaking | Despite @Dir_ed writing 4 letters to Mumbai Police seeking Sushant Singh's phone, it has not yet been handed over.
The ED has been interrogating Sushant’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family members on a money laundering case. The ED has reportedly seized mobile phones belonging to the family, including 2 iPads and a laptop.
Even After 2 months, Mumbai Police is yet to file an FIR in the case
Meanwhile, Centre has also confirmed in SC that Mumbai police has not yet filed an FIR in Sushant Singh Rajput’s case. Centre Thursday told the Supreme Court that statements of witnesses said to have been recorded by Mumbai Police in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput death case have “no validity or legal sanctity”, as the state is yet to file an FIR in the matter.
“The Maharashtra Police in its affidavit has said that it has collected statements of 56 persons. In view of the admitted position that there is no FIR registered, and the police is merely discharging functions under Section 174 (of CrPC), such statements have no validity or legal sanctity and are nonexistent,” the Centre stated in its written submissions.
Mumbai police’ behaviour in Sushant’s death case
While the Bihar police said that the Mumbai police has been non-cooperative with them, the late actor’s family said that they “do not trust” the Mumbai police.
Mumbai Police Chief Param Bir Singh had said in a press conference on August 3 that no party was held at Sushant Singh Rajput’s place on June 13 and no politician was involved in the case. He also claimed that the late actor was suffering from a bipolar disorder and undergoing treatment and medicines for it.
The case was finally handed over to the CBI after the Bihar government advocated for it and the centre supported it. The Bihar Police team that had come to Mumbai had also stated that they are receiving no cooperation from the Mumbai Police regarding the issue. Senior IPS officer Vinay Tiwari was put under a forced quarantine by the BBMP.
Amidst chants of Allah Hu Akbar and Naara e Taqbeer, a Muslim mob, ‘offended’ by a Facebook post allegedly against the Prophet of Islam went on a rampage, indulged in stone-pelting, rioting and arson in Bengaluru. They burnt the house of the Congress MLA whose nephew, Naveen, had allegedly written the Facebook post and injured over 60 police personnel.
One would imagine the media to take a hard stand calling out the Islamist mob and also analysing why and how the Muslim community seems only overeager to get offended enough to run riots. Especially after the brutal murder of Kamlesh Tiwari for alleged “blasphemy”, the media was expected to certainly call the spade a spade.
However, the media has chosen instead to paint a target on Naveen. Deccan Herald has published an article that virtually offers justification for his murder. In a report published by Deccan Herald, the publication calls Naveen a ‘serial offender’ essentially saying that he is in the habit of insulting the Prophet of Islam and posting “derogatory” messages against the community that seems to get offended at the drop of a hat.
The Deccan Herald report said, “Sources revealed that Naveen, nephew of MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy and the second son of his sister, has a history of posting derogatory content triggering hatred. He posted abusive content on August 5 about the Padarayanapura incident”.
The Padarayanapura violence had erupted on April 19th after secondary contacts of a Coronavirus patient had refused to be escorted to quarantine and create a ruckus. 119 people were arrested for the violence and one Irfan was being probed after his name came up during the interrogation of 4 other suspects.
Interestingly, in both these incidents that Deccan Herald says that Naveen “hurt sentiments”, it was the Muslim mob that had indulged in actual violence on the streets, be it the Padarayanapura violence or even what happened in Bengaluru over Naveen’s Facebook post. However, instead of unequivocally condemning the violence, Deccan Herald has deemed fit to brand Naveen a ‘serial offender’ and paint a target on his back.
It is pertinent to note that thousands of people had gathered and indulged in rampant violence over one Facebook post by Naveen. And now, Deccan Herald is citing “sources” to brand him as a person who regularly insults Islam. In a scenario where one knows how radical elements within the Muslim community functions, and the great support they appear to enjoy within the community, one can only wonder what Deccan Herald’s intentions are over virtually directing Jihadis in his direction.
The mainstream media claims to speak truth to power but whenever such a moment arrives, the media invariably chooses to side with tyrants. Indeed, it is for very good reason that the media is often branded the enemy of the people. It is because they conduct themselves in a manner that betrays their actual loyalties.
It is of significance to note that the mainstream media has transformed into a propaganda machinery for the worst elements within Muslim society. Their reportage and conduct is tailor-made to suit the best interests of the radical sections of the Muslim community. In their defence of the Radical Islam, their submission is total and complete.
In this regard, one remembers that the tradition of the assassination of critics goes back to the time of Prophet Mohammed himself. One particular hadith is of particular import during the whole discussion. In the Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai’ Wal-Imarah), an interesting incident is mentioned during the time of the prophet of Islam.
Ka’ab bin Al Ashraf was a man who used to satire Prophet Mohammed and ‘hurt’ the prophet and his followers. When he refused to desist from insulting the prophet, Mohammed ordered his assassination. Muhammad bin Maslamah was sent to kill the satirist. Following the murder, the Jews and polytheists are said to have been frightened and came to meet the prophet. Then, an agreement was signed between the two factions and the non-Muslims agreed to not ‘hurt’ the prophet.
Source: Sunnah.com
Islamic scholars, too, brand Ka’ab bin Al Ashraf as a ‘serial offender’. They speak of how Allah ordered Mohammed to exercise patience and forgiveness when he initially insulted him. According to them, it was only after he refused to stop that Mohammed ordered him to be murdered. It is precisely the same justification that Deccan Herald appears to offer in its hitjob on Naveen.
Thus, it is a long tradition of violence for the insult to the prophet that Muslims of the 21st century is continuing. One would expect the mainstream media, whose journalists fancy themselves to be revolutionaries, to call out the culture of violence that has continued to fester within the community. Instead, they have prostrated to the ones who create violence.
When Deccan Herald paints Naveen as a ‘serial offender’, it is fully aware of the potential consequences. After what happened to Kamlesh Tiwari, no one could pretend otherwise. And yet, they went ahead and did it anyway. Under such circumstances, no one could be blamed for reaching the conclusion that the media network genuinely believes that death is the punishment Naveen deserves for his transgressions against the prophet.
Thus far, the mainstream media had restricted itself to justifying the actions of Muslim mobs after a crime had been committed. Deccan Herald, however, has crossed a significant border. It has now offered a justification that subtly says violence against Naveen is permissible because he is a ‘serial offender’. It marks a dangerous turn of events and the mainstream media would inevitably come to regret the Rubicon they have just crossed.
Home Minister Amit Shah has tested negative for the Wuhan Coronavirus. In a statement on social media, the former BJP President confirmed the same. 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.”
आज मेरी कोरोना टेस्ट रिपोर्ट नेगेटिव आई है।
मैं ईश्वर का धन्यवाद करता हूँ और इस समय जिन लोगों ने मेरे स्वास्थ्यलाभ के लिए शुभकामनाएं देकर मेरा और मेरे परिजनों को ढाढस बंधाया उन सभी का ह्रदय से आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ। डॉक्टर्स की सलाह पर अभी कुछ और दिनों तक होम आइसोलेशन में रहूँगा।
Amit Shah had announced that he had tested positive for the Coronavirus on the 2nd of August. He was admitted for treatment at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, Haryana. Twelve days after he was diagnosed, he has tested negative for the virus.
On the 9th of August, the Ministry of Home Affairs had to issue a clarification after rumours spread that he had tested negative for the Coronavirus. MHA had said that tests had not yet been conducted on the Home Minister.
After Amit Shah was diagnosed with the Coronavirus, Islamists on social media had wished death upon the Home Minister and celebrated the fact that he had contracted the Coronavirus. The architect of BJP’s dominance in electoral politics was forced to miss the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan event on the 5th of August as he was undergoing treatment for the virus at the hospital.
This year, on August 15th, Prime Minister Modi will be speaking to all of us from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the seventh consecutive year. India would have completed 73 years of independence and the Prime Minister’s speech would be heard with anticipation and excitement. Over the last seven Independence Day addresses, the Prime Minister has leveraged his skilful oratory, transformational thinking, large scale vision and his own life experiences to announce large social benefit programs and deliver critical social messages. Right from the first speech in 2014, the Prime Minister has only strengthened his credentials as a visionary, statesman and as someone who strives ahead of the partisan and the momentary.
The Prime Minister’s speeches have followed an inspirational template: set the agenda for implementing a big idea that was earlier perceived as impossible, suggest crucial reforms and present a report card of the achievements over the past year to the people. From initiating monumental reforms in the socio-economic space to undertaking bold actions for the defence and security of the country, the PM clearly sends out a message from the ramparts of the Red Fort that he is a fearless and bold reformer.
The oft-asked question is how the Prime Minister is able to do this. To answer this, two successful implementations are worth discussing. When the BJP took over the reins of government in 2014, there were approximately 24.3 crore savings bank accounts in India. When the Prime Minister announced the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), to improve financial inclusion, he was mocked at by those who did not understand the importance of financial inclusion and access to banking instruments such as credit for the poor and underprivileged.
Today, in just a span of six years, more than 40 crore new beneficiary bank accounts have been opened with deposits in excess of INR 1.30 lakh crore. Similarly, when the government came to power in 2014, the sanitation coverage in India stood at a paltry 38%. But it was only in 2014 with the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, that it has proved to be an effective instrument in addressing the issue of open defecation. As of October 2019, all the states and UTs have been declared defecation free, with 100% sanitation coverage.
Both these initiatives on Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Swacch Bharat were first announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the Prime Minister’s 2014 Independence Day speech. The Prime Minister has been able to achieve financial inclusion and total sanitation while other governments in the past have struggled.
For any government program to succeed – there are two critical factors that are required 1) Enthusiasm from the bureaucracy to implement the program and 2) Enthusiasm from beneficiaries to avail of the government program or scheme. So how is it that when these are the same, i.e. bureaucracy and beneficiaries, that the Prime Minister was able to succeed where others struggled.
In my view, this boils down to the credibility of the leader. The Prime Minister’s credibility has made it possible for the bureaucracy to work unhindered towards a common goal while the common citizen’s trust in the Prime Minister has ensured that there is a significant pull from them to avail of these benefits.
One way to clearly appreciate the Prime Minister’s achievements is to contrast PM Modi’s speeches with his predecessor. In a 2005 Independence Day speech, there was a commitment to start a national campaign for cleanliness – so that our cities, towns, villages, roads, streets and homes are neat and clean. The speech went on to quote Gandhiji and recognized the need to stop the pollution of our rivers and atmosphere. Exactly, a year later, in 2006, the Independence Day speech promised sanitation and drinking water.
The total sanitation campaign of the predecessor government was termed Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA). If the intentions were the same then why is it that Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM) as envisioned by PM Modi succeed, while the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) failed? A big clue is provided in the CAG reports where government programs are audited. ACAG report that covered the progress of the NBA from 2009 to 2014, noted critical issues relating to the planning of Nirmal Bharat.
An analysis of the Rs 10,000 crore allocated for the scheme revealed large-scale diversion, wastages, irregularities and violation of the scheme guidelines by engaging contractors and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). The report also noted that more than 30% of individual household latrines were non-functional for reasons like poor quality of construction, incomplete structure, non-maintenance etc.
Such widespread misuse and diversion of funds demoralise both the bureaucracy and the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries who are entitled for such a program lose interest as they no longer feel the system is fair to them. Once they feel that genuine beneficiaries are no longer able to avail benefits their enthusiasm towards the program wanes.
Word of mouth and informal conversations further deepen distrust amongst the cohorts. Similarly, the bureaucracy will dither in implementing programs with adverse comments from the CAG as they will not want to be punished for the rent-seeking actions and corrupt practices of others.
The successful delivery of a program starts at the top and the Prime Minister is able to provide dynamic leadership and credibility at the apex. He is further able to channelise enthusiasm in the bureaucracy while winning the trust of the common citizen for whom the programs are designed.
The Prime Minister has been able to stitch this wonderful coalition and the successes and clear outcomes of his Independence Day speeches bear testimony to that. As a result, the Narendra Modi government is undeniably pro-poor in contrast with the previous regime that only wanted to be seen as pro-poor.
(Shri G Kishan Reddy is the Minister of State for Home Affairs, and is a Member of Parliament from Secunderabad constituency)
Meeran Haider, the PhD student from Jamia Millia Islamia University who was arrested in April in connection with rioting and criminal conspiracy pertaining to anti-Hindu riots in north-east Delhi, has made some shocking revelations regarding the anti-Hindu riots that Islamists carried out in the month of February.
According to a report by Zee News, Haider who is also the president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal youth wing’s Delhi unit and a member of Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) revealed that the anti-Hindu riots were planned after the Jamia violence and that he was tasked to gather a crowd for the protests and demonstrations in Delhi and oversee other arrangements.
Popular Front of India funded the Delhi anti-Hindu riots
He disclosed that the riot was sponsored by Popular Front of India (PFI). Meeran told the police officer that he himself had received Rs 5 lakhs to engineer the riots. The Muslim dominated areas of Delhi, Zafarabad and Seelampur were chosen and Meeran and others were given the task to collect knives, petrol and stones etc.
Meeran Haider said he had prepared a register before the riots to maintain the record of all fund being collected for the purpose. He said that the money received as ‘Zakat’ was used by them to purchase gadgets, weapons and other things which they required to carry out the task.
Speaking on the sequence of events that inspired him to carry out the riots, Haider told the police that Centre’s scrapping of the Article 370, Babri Masjid verdict by SC followed by the implementation of CAA by the government had filled his mind with anger and hatred which pushed him to unite the Muslims against the government.
Meeran Haider confesses that he was in Aam Aadmi Party before joining RJD
The accused told the police that he himself went to all the states to mobilise support and incite people against CAA-NRC and mentally prepare them for the riots. He, in fact, personally supervised the anti-government demonstrations on at least 20 sites in Delhi, revealed Haider, who claimed that he already knew Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi, the two main facilitators of the Delhi anti-Hindu riots.
Khalid had met Saifi during the 2016 Aam Aadmi Party election campaign in Punjab. Meeran Haider told the police that he too was in the Aam Aadmi Party from 2014 to 2017 but after failing to get the ticket for contesting municipal elections, he quit the party in 2017 and joined the RJD.
Speaking on how the horrific attack on Hindus in Delhi was a pre-planned one, Meeran said that after the Jamia violence and the ‘success’ of Shaheen Bagh protest, they thought that the protests should be held in more Muslim areas of Delhi, where there was resentment against the Centre about CAA-NRC.
Meeran Haider reveals the strategy devised to conduct the Delhi anti-Hindu riots
Speaking on the strategy devised to conduct one of the worst communal riots in decades, Meeran said that it was divided into 3 phases – protests, roadblocks and riots.
He divulged that while the members of DU’s Pinjatod group like one Natasha and Devangana were secretly associated with this movement, given the task to give inflammatory speeches, he was given the responsibility to mobilize the crowd at the protest sites at Shaheen Bagh, Khureji, Seelampur, Jaffarabad, Turkman Gate, Kardampuri, Mustafabad, Indralok. Meeran reportedly also ran Whatsapp groups to incite riots in Delhi.
He revealed how he roamed around all these places and collected information, which he, in turn, passed on to the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) so that further strategy could be devised.
Meeran confessed of knowing many members of the PFI (Popular Front of India), who gave money to incite the communal riots in Delhi, like PFI activists Sajid Mujid and Mohammad Sihad of Kerala who sent Rs 20 thousand to him for the riots.
On Friday, the Chikmagalur police arrested one person for draping a religious banner on top of the statue of Adi Shankaracharya in the holy city of Sringeri on Thursday,.
Addressing the press conference, Chikmagaluru SP Hakay Akshay Machindra said that they have arrested one accused identified as Milind, son of Manohar for mistakenly draping the flag over the Shankaracharya statue in Sringeri.
The Superintendent of Police Hakay Akshay Machindra also said that the person had mistakenly draped the flag and it was neither a pre-planned incident nor was carried out with any motive. He asserted that the arrested accused was under the influence of alcohol.
“On Wednesday night, Milind got drunk at a bar and then headed towards a mosque in the town and tried to sleep there. Realising that it was a mosque, he did not sleep near the premises and instead picked up a banner to cover himself to protect from the rains. From there, he came near Veerappa Gowda circle and dropped it near the statue of Shankaracharya and slept at the lorry yard” the SP said to the media adding that Milind had visited local government hospital on Thursday morning complaining of a headache.
The police said that he was identified after checking the CCTV footages of the mosque and the bar. The senior police officer also said that the accused confessed to the crime and added that he had done it under the influence of alcohol. No involvement of any organisation or party was found in the incident and the accused is not a member of any party or organisation, the SP said.
Earlier, the police had constituted a special team to investigate the incident of an Islamic flag being placed on the statue of Sankaracharya at Sringeri. The 10-member team has been formed under Chikmagalur and Koppa DySP. The team was formed after many complaints by the Matha’s devotees and former legislators.
Islamic flag draped on the statue of Adi Shankarcharya
We had reported earlier regarding how some miscreants had put up an Islamic flag with text written in Arabic on the statue of Adi Shankaracharya in the holy city of Sringeri.
Following the incident, local residents and leaders had expressed concern, opining that it may be another ploy to stoke communal tensions after the Bengaluru riots. The flag was immediately removed while the devotees of Sharada Peetha gathered at the spot and protested against the attempt to stoke discord in the holy city.
