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Virologist who spent weeks documenting his ‘battle’ against Coronavirus from hospital on NBC News finds out he was not infected

OpIndia Staff
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Virologist who spent weeks documenting his ‘battle’ against Coronavirus from hospital on NBC News finds out he was not infected

Dr. Joseph Fair, who is a virologist by profession, appeared on the NBC News several times, to discuss his struggle with the deadly Coronavirus in May and June of this year. However, on Tuesday, he revealed that he was never diagnosed with the Chinese virus and had tested negative for it multiple times. His recent antibody test result also turned out to be negative. Reportedly, Fair was under the false impression that he was affected by the Coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “My undiagnosed/suspected COVID illness from nearly 2 months ago remains an undiagnosed mystery as a recent antibody test was negative. I had myriad COVID symptoms, was hospitalized in a COVID ward & treated for COVID-related co-morbidities, despite testing negative by the nasal swab.”

He added that he was extremely sick for 2 weeks, was in critical condition for about 4 days, and had developed pneumonia. According to Fair, he had also suffered weight loss and diffuse lung injury. He informed that the future course of action for him was to undertake a second A/B test and consult a pulmonologist or a tropical medicine specialist.

NBC News withholds information

In May, Fair had high fever and shortness of breath, both symptoms of COVID-19, and was admitted to Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. He was tested for the coronavirus multiple times in the hospital. While results of 4 tests were negative, one gave “weak positive,” which is not a reliable diagnosis.

According to Flair, his doctors told him that they believed he had Covid-19 despite negative results, and he was kept in a hospital ward with other Coronavirus patients.

In an interview with Today on May 14, Fair suggested that he might have contracted the virus through his eye during a flight. The interview was reportedly conducted in a New Orleans hospital. While NBC News initially told the audience about the negative test results of Fair, they stopped doing so as the story advanced.

In another interview on June 14 with Chuck Todd, none observed that Fair had tested negative for the Wuhan coronavirus five times. As such, the audience was left with two false impressions. First, despite taking all precautions, a virologist can contract Coronavirus through his eye. Second, a patient can test negative and still carry the deadly virus in their body. Reportedly, the NBC news did not update their story, despite the new development.

While earlier his Coronavirus tests reports were negative, now his antibody test has also given negative result, which implies that he never had the infection. His doctor has ordered another antibody test from a different manufacturer to confirm the negative result. Flair said it is really shocking that he didn’t the virus despite being with several positive patients in the same ward.

‘Drone boy’ Prathap NM makes a statement after OpIndia fact-check: Here is why his explanation makes little sense

OpIndia Staff
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‘Drone boy’ Prathap NM makes a statement after OpIndia fact-check: Here is why his explanation makes little sense

Days after OpIndia published a detailed fact-check on the claims of Prathap NM, who has been dubbed as the ‘drone boy’ and a drone scientist for making over 600 drones using broken mixer grinders and televisions, the 22-year-old Prathap on Saturday responded to the allegations to claim that he possessed all the certificates and documents to prove that he had indeed won various awards.

Earlier, there were reports and stories of how Prathap had won numerous gold medals in various drone expos around the world and later was invited to 87 countries. It was also reported that he was offered work by various governments apart from the Indian government, especially from PM Modi, who had asked DRDO to hire him. It was claimed that he had won three awards in Hanover in Germany in 2018, two at International Drone Expo and one at CeBIT Drone Expo. 

However, OpIndia had reported in detail regarding the discrepancies in his claims of receiving so many awards for manufacturing drones.

In response to the fact-check, the Kannada media network Suvarna News had carried out an interview with the Prathap, posing questions to the young ‘drone boy’ over his claims and subsequent fact-check carried out by OpIndia.

Speaking to the media, Prathap claimed that he had indeed attended the 2017 International Robotic Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, where he had used a concept drone to protect a human using thermal scanning technologies. He also claimed that he was awarded the Gold Medal for the International Robotic Award and said that he would present all the documents pertaining to the same in the next few days.  

With reference to the Albert Einstein Innovation Medal he received in drone expo in Hanover, Prathap claimed that the medal was not part of the Hannover expo but a different expo. The ‘drone scientist’ also claimed that as these competitions were unregistered events, they did not have websites to record his achievements.

In the OpIndia report, it was found that there was no mention of his name in the award-winners list of any of the drone expo he had claimed of winning medals and awards for developing drones.

Responding to this, the 22-year-old ‘drone boy’ from Karnataka claimed that he will provide all the certificates, details of awards he received within next week by holding a press conference to prove that he had indeed received awards.

When the interviewer asked him about the absence of any evidence of drones he has claimed to have made from e-waste, he gave evasive answers. First, he accused that there are vested interests behind the OpIndia report. Then he said that he will not make the drones public due to intellectual property right issues, and thus refused to display the drones he has claimed to make, or give any proof of the same.

It is rather convenient that Prathap NM has won multiple awards and medals for making drones using e-waste from ‘unregistered’ organisations and events which do not have any website. And more conveniently, he refuses to show his drones citing intellectual property rights. It is also intriguing how he won awards for drones he had made if they are so confidential that he can’t show them.

Prathap was seen with drones of various companies at expos in Japan and elsewhere in the photographs, therefore it is indeed correct that he attended those events. But there as no evidence that he presented any drone made by him in those expos.

Here is a short list of anti-Brahmin people and ideas Congress has nurtured and supported

K Bhattacharjee
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Here is a short list of anti-Brahmin people and ideas Congress has nurtured and supported

Ever since law enforcement authorities in Uttar Pradesh started going after Vikas Dubey and his associates, the Congress party has been trying to paint the Yogi Government as ‘anti-Brahmin’. The Congress party is attempting to use the caste of a dreaded gangster to shore up political support for itself at a time when it is facing political irrelevance.

At the heart of it is senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jitin Prasada. He said that the Congress party will reach out to the Brahmin community through the ‘Brahmin Chetna Samvad’. It was claimed that the Yogi Government has been neglecting the Brahmin community and the issues faced by them weren’t addressed.

It is pertinent to mention here that the ‘Brahman Chetna Samvad’ was floated around the same time when the Police was searching for Vikas Dubey. It has also been pointed out that the Congress party is using WhatsApp groups to run a concerted campaign to paint the Yogi Government as ‘anti-Brahmin’.

While it tries to paint the UP Government as being ‘anti-Brahmin’, it needs to be remembered here that the Congress party’s own relationship with the Brahmin Community has been one of ‘run with the hare and hunt with the hounds’. The party suddenly appears to have developed a soft spot for Brahmins but all this while, they have nurtured and supported elements who have made it a point of order to hurl obscenities at the community.

The Bhim Army

Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections in 2019, Priyanka Gandhi went out of her way to court Bhim Army Chief Ravan’s support for the polls. Ravan was, of course, not sympathetic to the party and he made it amply clear but that did not dissuade the daughter of Sonia Gandhi’s daughter from attempting to ally with him.

When he was injured and in a hospital, Priyanka Gandhi even went to meet him and it was after Ravan had said that he did not wish to meet her. The Bhim Army has created a space for itself through its incessant rants against ‘Brahminism’. He is also accused of involvement in caste violence but that hasn’t stopped the Congress party from soliciting his support.

Thus, while the Congress party now suddenly is catering to the Brahmin Community, they have a history of supporting leaders who foment hatred along caste lines.

Udit Raj

The All India Parisangh, a Dalit organisation run by Congress leader Udit Raj, compared the Brahmin community to pigs. It posted an image of a pig wearing the janeu, the sacred thread that Brahmins wear. It also claimed that the Judiciary is comprised of only Brahmins. It wasn’t the first time that the organisation has engaged in such rhetoric against Brahnmins.

After Arnab Goswami questioned Sonia Gandhi over her silence on the lynching of Sadhus on Palghar, the All India Parisangh said that ‘only a Brahmin can fall as low as Arnav Goswami has fallen’. A complaint was registered against the same by a social worker from Rajasthan’s Bikaer with the Cyber Crime Branch in New Delhi.

Jignesh Mevani

It is widely known that Jignesh Mevani was elected to the Gujarat Assembly with support from the Congress party even though he did not contest elections on a Congress ticket. In 2018, during the Bhima Koregaon violence, he was heard calling for people to take the battle to the streets against the modern ‘Peshwais’.

It was alleged that due to Mevani’s remarks, tensions erupted in the state between two communities. It was claimed that violence broke out in the state due to his comment. Since then, Mevani has riled up people along caste lines on numerous occasions and ranted incessantly against ‘Brahminical forces’.

There have been other occasions when Mevani has made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi and spread misinformation regarding alleged atrocities on Dalits in his bid to foment tensions along caste lines.

Nitin Raut

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and the Chairman of the All India Congress Committee for SC department, Nitin Raut, attacked the Brahmin community over the CAA-NRC saga. Speaking about the CAA, NRC and NPR, Raut questioned if the Brahmin community ‘who have come from abroad’ will teach them about furnishing identity certificates.

“If you ask me to furnish my grandfather’s certificate, I can show you. Dr Ambedkar helped me to get an opportunity to receive education even while being a Dalit. So, I can bring my grandfather’s certificate. But what about those who were not privileged enough to receive an education? These Brahmins, who themselves came from abroad, teach us about common sense? I will never let this happen,” said Raut.

Anti-Brahmin ideas nurtured by the Congress party

Quite clearly, the Congress party has no love for the Brahmin community. After trying its best to court elements that are antithetical to communal harmony, the party has switched plank to gather support of the Brahmin community. After having been discarded by every community, the Congress party is now looking to garner the support of a community it has long further hate against.

It also needs to be remembered that the ecosystem the Congress party has established over the years has normalised hatred of Brahmins to a great degree. The Congress ecosystem can often be found making statements and raising placards such as ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’. It finds a way to blame Brahmins for everything under the Sun.

The Congress ecosystem also works towards demonising the Janeu and supported numerous individuals who harbour a virulent hatred towards the Brahmin community. For instance, Rahul Gandhi expressed his support towards Kancha Ilaiah after three of the latter’s books were removed by Delhi University.

Kancha Ilaiah is known to propagate hatred against Brahmins. He also claimed once that India did not progress due to Brahmins and has made a whole career out of demonising Brahmins. That, however, did not stop the former Congress president from extending his support to him. And after supporting such entities, the Congress party props him up as a ‘Janeudhari Hindu’ to avert a backlash from Brahmins.

Moreover, in their bid to absolve Islamic genocidal maniacs of all sins, Marxist historians patronised by the Congress party promulgated a twisted theory that Islam increased its power in India because oppressed castes converted out of Hinduism due to atrocities committed by Brahmins. The extent of the perversity of this argument needs to be understood here.

The Congress party has nurtured an ecosystem where it is genuinely believed that Brahmins are so evil that the only way for Dalits to escape oppression is by converting out of Hinduism. The Congress ecosystem actually believes this and promotes this. Needless to say, the consequence of such a toxic narrative has been that it is driving Hindu communities apart from each other and Brahmins are demonised beyond recognition.

Simultaneously, the Congress party and its ecosystem have only been overeager to lend their support to ‘Urban Naxals’. Even Naxals are brainwashed using the trope that Brahmins are out to take over their resources. All of this has led to a situation where Hindu communities are growing apart from each other.

Furthermore, the caste politics that the Congress party engages has the same effect. It also needs to be mentioned here that Sonia Gandhi did not come out to issue even a single statement against the brutal lynching of Sadgus at Palghar.

Under such circumstances, it is rather ironical that the Congress party is forced to solicit support from a community it has reviled for years. Threatened by political irrelevance, it is working towards building a vote-bank comprised of Brahmins. Even then, it is using the death of a gangster who himself allegedly murdered quite a few Brahmins to gather support for itself.

Stand-up comedian apologises for insulting memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Arabian sea after MNS workers vandalised studio

OpIndia Staff
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Stand-up comedian apologises for insulting memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Arabian sea after MNS workers vandalised studio

A massive controversy broke out after a snippet of a video of a stand-up ‘comedian’ Agrima Joshua insulting the memorial to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian sea went viral on social media platforms. A wave of outrage and anger erupted across the state against the comedian for insulting a historical personality who is widely hailed for his unparalleled contribution towards the Indian cultural renaissance.

While the video is from last year, it soon went viral after the ‘comedian’ Agrima Joshua shared a one-minute clip from the gig on April 5. The video received angry responses from several quarters for making offensive remarks against the Shiv Smarak, a memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was announced by Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra.

MNS workers vandalise the studio

An affront to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not sit well with the Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena(MNS) party whose workers reached the studio where the stand-up video was shot and created a ruckus for allowing their facility to be used by individuals who had mocked Shiv Smarak–a memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea.

MNS activist Yash Ranade shared a video on his Facebook account in which MNS workers can be seen vandalising the studio for permitting the concerned stand-up ‘comedian’ to jeer at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a towering symbol of ‘Marathi Pride’.

In the video, Yash is seen asking the authorities at the studio to seek a written apology from the ‘comedian’ even as the other MNS workers are seen kicking and damaging the tables and chairs at the venue. Subsequently, the organisers tendered a verbal and a written apology to the MNS workers for allowing the comedians to air disparaging views on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Shiv Sena MLA writes to Home Minister demanding action against the comedian

The contemptuous remarks against Maharashtra’s tallest icon–Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj provoked an angry response from Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik as well, who wrote a letter to the state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh demanding strict against the comedian.

“A comedian named Agrima Joshua has made scornful remarks against Shivaji Maharaj in her comedy stand-up gig. I saw the video and I feel she doesn’t have respect for Shivaji Maharaj or she doesn’t know about him. I have also written to the Home Minister demanding her arrest,” Sarnaik said in a video uploaded on his official Twitter account.

He also added that if the said comedian was using the name of Shivaji Maharaj for earning fame and money, the Maharashtra Yuvati Sena/Mahila Aghadi will not tolerate such perverse behaviour. “If you want, you can take information about Maharaj from his devotees. Such needless mocking of Maharaj will not be tolerated by adherents of Hindutva,” Sarnaik said.

The comedian apologises for her crass remarks against Shivaji Maharaj

After her video insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage over the crass comments she passed against the Maratha icon, many people on the social media asked the comedian to pull down the videos and provide an unconditional apology to those who have been grievously hurt by the insulting remarks against Shivaji Maharaj.

As the groundswell of outrage snowballed, involving political parties such as Shiv Sena and MNS, who raised their grievance with the comedian’s patently disrespectful remarks, Agrima Joshua grudgingly apologised for hurting the sentiments of the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and tweeted that her video has already been taken down from the Internet.

“I am sorry for having hurt the sentiments of the many followers of the great leader Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. My heartfelt apologies to followers of the great leader, who I sincerely respect. The video has already been taken down. Please amplify,” Joshua tweeted.

Agrima Joshua’s contemptuous remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

On April 5, 2020, Agrima Joshua had shared a snippet from her last year’s stand-up gig where she had made deprecatory statements against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

In a one minute video, Agrima Joshua said, “I wanted to know more about the statue of Shivaji being erected in the Arabian Sea, so I went to the most trusted site on the internet and that is Quora. I found a well-sized essay written by someone there. The Shivaji statue is a masterstroke by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the people of Maharashtra, he wrote. Another one, realising that the post lacked creativity, added that the statue would have a GPS tracker and a laser light in his eyes to kill the Pakistani terrorists coming from the Arabian Sea. Then I found a third person who commented that it is not Shivaji but Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I followed him.”

Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots: Two employees of Tahir Hussain turn witness, testimony included in chargesheet

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots: Two employees of Tahir Hussain turn witness, testimony included in chargesheet

The two key witnesses in the Anti-Hindu riots in Delhi, who were also employed by the suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain, who is the mastermind behind the riots, have revealed that the Aam Aadmi Party leader Tahir Hussain was talking to several persons in a “very secretive” manner before the start of the riots on February 24.

According to the chargesheet, the two employees (names withheld) of the accused Tahir Hussain said in their statements to the police that they were present in the office of Hussain in Khajuri Khas area on February 24.

The chargesheet said that the two employees stated that on February 24 afternoon, they saw several persons gathered at the ground floor of the house of Tahir Hussain, where he was talking with them in a very secretive manner. They added that the accused Shah Alam, Irshad, Abid, Arshad Pradhan, Rashid and Shadab were also present there along with other unknown persons.

The two employees cited as key witnesses by the Delhi police, left Tahir Hussain’s house after they heard the noise of the mob outside and sensing the tension at the office, the charge-sheet said.

The chargesheet further said that the prosecution witness, one Mr Yaadav (full name withheld) who was supervising the food preparations for a marriage at a parking lot near Hussain’s house also had revealed in his statement that the Muslim mob had destroyed the food prepared for the wedding of his friend’s daughter and accused Riyakat Ali looted Rs 62,000 from him.

The accused Shah Alam, brother of Tahir Hussain, was also present with Ali along with several others and Hussain was among the mob indulged in riots.

Another prosecution witness stated that suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain was present at the rooftop of his house and throwing stones and directing others present alongside him who were also throwing stones and petrol bombs towards the parking, the charge-sheet read.

Tahir Hussain, the mastermind of the Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has filed various charge-sheet in the Delhi anti-Hindu riots which took place in February 2020. Since then, shocking details have emerged regarding the deep conspiracy involved. The role of former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain in the entire series of events has become increasingly clear.

The charge-sheet says that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the murder of Intelligence Bureau Constable Ankit Sharma. It alleges that he was specifically targeted by a mob led by former AAP leader Tahir Hussain. According to the charge-sheet, Ankit Sharma was murdered on the 25th of February at Khajuri Khas outside the home of the former AAP Councillor.

The charge-sheet also says that Tahir Hussain transferred Rs. 1.1 crore to shell companies in the second week of January which was later withdrawn in cash and used to prepare for the riots. 

The charge-sheet says that as many as fifteen people, including Tahir Hussain, played a pivotal role in the riots that took place outside Hussain’s house in Khajuri Khas, Delhi. His younger brother, Shah Alam was arrested earlier as well. Hussain’s licensed pistol, which he used during the riots, was impounded by the police during the investigation.

Hussain, along with others, has been booked under sections 109, 114, 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 395, 427, 435, 436, 452, 454, 153A, 505, 120B, of the Indian Penal Code and 3/4 PDPP Act and Arms Act. 

“If this was Uttar Pradesh, I would have set your houses on fire”: Vikas Dubey had said to Ujjain police officials after his arrest

OpIndia Staff
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“If this was Uttar Pradesh, I would have set your houses on fire”: Vikas Dubey had said to Ujjain police officials after his arrest

On the day of the arrest of dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey from the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, a video had emerged which had gone viral on the Internet in no time in which a police constable was seen slapping the criminal for his imperious demeanour.

The constable, Vijay Rathore, who was among the police officials who had arrested Dubey from the Mahakal temple in Ujjain, revealed how the arrested thug was still dishing out threats to the police when he was taken into from the city’s renowned Mahakal temple.

Vikas Dubey threatens Ujjain police officials for arresting him

Describing the events that led the police constable to land a resounding slap on Dubey’s cheeks, Vijay said, “When we brought him to the police station, he was very angry. He said that if I were in Uttar Pradesh, I would have set your houses on fire. He threatened us that he would have gotten our hands and feet amputated. I was the one who handcuffed him, so he was particularly annoyed with me. When he was being taken to the car, he started abusing. I got angry, so I slapped him.”

According to the police officials who arrested Dubey, the gangster was constantly hurling abuses and issuing threats to the police personnel for committing the audacity of arresting him. While in the police station, Dubey proudly claimed that he was never handcuffed until that day. The fear among the MP police officials is so palpable that even after the encounter of Vikas Dubey, many of them are shying away from revealing details of his arrest.

Vikas Dubey was not alone in Ujjain: Constable Vijay

Meanwhile, constable Vijay is worried about his safety, claiming that he was the one who handcuffed the gangster and his photos and interviews have been widely published in the news media. Though Dubey is dead, constable Vijay fears that one of his associates or loyal underling may plan an attack against him or his family. He also revealed that Dubey was constantly referring to a man named Bittu, possibly his associate, who was with him while he was in Ujjain. Constable Vijay has asked senior officials to allow him to keep a weapon as a measure of safety against any untoward attack by Dubey loyalists.

Vikas Dubey arrested from Ujjain and slapped by a police official

The notorious gangster Vikas Dubey, who was responsible for the death of 8 policemen in Kanpur was arrested from Ujjain’s Mahakal temple on Thursday.

According to the reports, Vikas Dubey was present in the Lord Mahakal temple at Ujjain on Thursday. The visuals showed that Madhya Pradesh police nabbed the gangster inside the premises of Lord Mahakal temple.

Vikas Dubey, dressed in a white shirt with a mask, was then brought to the Mahakal police station. The police had reportedly found credible identity proof with him after the arrest proving that the man arrested is Vikas Dubey. 

A video of the gangster being slapped had gone viral on the social media platforms. The video showed the gangster shouting “Main Vikas Dubey hoon Kanpur wala” (I am Vikas Dubey from Kanpur). A police officer is then seen giving a strong slap to the gangster, asking him to keep silent and sit in the car.

Dubey was, however, killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh police after he tried to snatch the weapon of a police officer and attempted to flee while he was being transported from Ujjain to Kanpur.

With Apple’s plans to exit China, its Taiwanese supplier Foxconn to invest $1 billion in India in iPhone manufacturing unit

OpIndia Staff
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With Apple’s plans to exit China, its Taiwanese supplier Foxconn to invest $1 billion in India in iPhone manufacturing unit

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn is set to invest up to $1 billion at the Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu state, reported Reuters. The plan comes at the backdrop of a quiet strategy, adopted by Apple, to shift its iPhone production from China to other countries in light of the coronavirus outbreak and the US-China trade war.

The Sriperumbudur plant, located 50 km away from Chennai, manufactures Apple’s iPhone XR model. The investment by Foxconn is expected to take place over a period of 3 years. Other iPhone models, which are currently manufactured in China, will also be manufacture at the plant. Reportedly, the new inflow of investment in the country will add 6000 jobs to the plant. Besides, Foxconn also has a factory in Andhra Pradesh wherein it manufactures Xiaomi phones.

Boost to ‘Makes in India’ initiative

According to a Hong-Kong based tech researcher, India’s cheap labour, coupled with the expansion of a supplier base would help Apple use the country for exports. Reportedly, building phones in India will help Apple save money on the import tax. Besides, the expansion of Apple in India will boost initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, the government’s flagship programme for indigenous production. Samsung, the rival of Apple, also has a factory in North India.

Foxconn vows increased investment

Without getting into details, Chairman Liu Young-way stated in June that the company will increase its investment in the country. “We are fully pushing ahead with the next steps there, and maybe in a few months’ time, we can reveal on our website the next steps and report back to everyone. We’ll have a further investment there,” he was quoted as saying.

Last month, the government of India launched a ₹50,000 crore ($6.5 billion) ‘Electronics manufacturing’ scheme and offered lucrative offers to global smartphone workers to set up their factories in India. “We launched this programme to show our intent that India is ready for business,” IT minister Ravishankar Prasad was quoted as saying.

Rajasthan Special Operations Group issues notices to CM Ashok Gehlot and DyCM Sachin Pilot over allegations of attempts to topple their govt

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan Special Operations Group issues notices to CM Ashok Gehlot and DyCM Sachin Pilot over allegations of attempts to topple their govt

The Rajasthan police have issued notices to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot to appear before them in connection with the alleged attempts to topple their Congress government.

According to the reports, the Rajasthan police’s special operations group (SOG) issued notice to Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot to record their statements in a case connected with the attempts made to topple the Ashok Gehlot led Congress government by breaking away Congress party in Rajasthan.

The special operations group (SOG) has also sent a notice to Government Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi. The notices came after the SOG had arrested two people for their alleged involvement in horse-trading of Congress MLAs for toppling the Ashok Gehlot government.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had claimed that attempts were being made to destabilise his government ahead of Rajya Sabha elections for two seats last month. An inquiry was launched after the government chief whip had filed complaints with the SOG and ACB.

Rajasthan SOG registers FIR against two in connection with the case

On Friday, the SOG had registered the FIR on the basis of conversation between two individuals who indicated that efforts were being made to poach ruling party MLAs. The case has been registered under sections 124A (sedition) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

The FIR stated that SOG had taken two numbers on surveillance to check smuggling of illegal weapons and explosive substances.

“From the conversation on these numbers, it appears that attempts are being made to topple the government, and preparations were completed before the Rajya Sabha elections. In the conversation, it is said that Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are having a fight; in such a situation, the ruling party MLAs and independent MLAs can be broken away to topple the government and a new CM will be put in place,” read the FIR.

The FIR also highlighted how the plans were made to destabilize the government keeping Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot in the centre. The FIR read, “But BJP says that CM will be our person and Deputy CM will be made a minister in the Central government while the Deputy CM says that he will be the CM – this has also appeared on the conversations.”

Citing Sachin Pilot’s Delhi visit ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, one of the accused states in the conversation that “big political decisions are being taken in Delhi and things will move quickly after June 30…that’s when his stars will shine and he will take an oath 5-10 days later.”

Congress MLAs were offered Rs 25 crore to switch sides: FIR

The men in the audio allegedly also discussed that by toppling the government, they can earn Rs 1,000 – Rs 2,000 crore, however, it only happened when the CM is as per their wish.

Further, the FIR also alleged that it has also come to know that a BJP leader was trying to lure Independent MLA from Kushalgarh in Banswara, Ramila Khadiya, with money. The telephonic conversations allegedly are also revealed that Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya, who is a Congress MLA from Bagidora in Banswara was also a target.

The two men allegedly conversed that Malviya was earlier with Deputy CM but has changed paala (sides) to join Ashok Gehlot. The SOG has also claimed that through its sources it has come to know that Rs 20-25 crore were also being offered to Congress and independent MLAs.

The Rajasthan police also added that as the CM took MLAs to a resort ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, the two accused stated that their Rs 25 crore plan has failed. However, money was still being offered to MLAs, especially independent MLAs as recently as two days ago.

The FIR said that the conversations “make it clear that efforts are being made to purchase Congress and independent MLAs” through a feeling of hatred towards a “democratically elected government”.

The Congress-led government in Rajasthan enjoys the support of 107 MLAs out of the 200 members. The Ashok Gehlot-led government has the support of independent MLAs and legislators of other parties like Rashtriya Lok Dal, CPI (M) and Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP).

Andhra Pradesh: Locals write to NHRC after state authorities fail to act against illegal church construction in Kadapa

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: Locals write to NHRC after state authorities fail to act against illegal church construction in Kadapa

The increase in the evangelical activities of Christian organisations in Andhra Pradesh has now caused a greater worry in the hinterlands of the southern state as there has been a rise in illegal construction of churches and the authorities have failed to check the expansion and illegal activities of the church.

The recent expansion of the Church in Andhra Pradesh, especially the Church pastors forcefully evicting Scheduled Caste families from their homes in Dorasanipalli Village in Kadapa to illegally construct a Church is one of the many incidents, which has now evoked severe protests from Hindus in the area.

According to a report by Organiser, the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) has written a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and District Collector of Kadapa seeking action against the Church authorities for the crimes committed against the families of Scheduled Caste communities.

Reportedly, an illegal church was being constructed by the Church authorities in the Moolasthanam Agraharam Village in the East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, in a residential area where only Hindu families live.

Villagers protest against the construction of the church

As soon as the construction began, the villagers opposed to the construction of the Church as it was illegal. The locals also said that the church in the village cause disturbance to the peace and public order in the village. The pleas of the villagers to the Evangelists to stop the construction, however, was ignored by the Church authorities.

The villagers then decided to approach the Panchayat and the police. The villagers of the Moolathanam Agraharam filed an RTI with the local authorities. The RTI reply stated that there was no permission accorded for construction of the Church. The order issued by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department of Andhra Pradesh mandated that construction of any religious place of worship can be permitted only if none of the neighbour’s object and after obtaining the due permission from the District Collector.

Reportedly, the Church had failed to obtain any such permission and the residents of the village had objected to its construction. Despite this, the construction of the temple was not stopped. The villagers not only approached the Village Revenue Officer, but also the higher officials including Mandal Revenue Officer and District Collector asking to stop the construction. Shockingly, none of them intervened in the matter and instead, the local police began to harass the Hindus for complaining.

As authorities ignored their plea, the villagers sat on a hunger strike to stop the construction of the illegal church. However, the local police officials increased harassing the villagers, who were often called to the police station and threatened with the filing of criminal cases if they did not stop their protests.

Local authorities succumb to church’s influence

As the church began to influence the local authorities, the villagers then approached the District Superintendent of Police to complain about the negligence of the local police and requested justice in the entire issue. However, the villagers did not find any solution to the issue. With all options exhausted, the villagers have now approached the National Human Rights Commission in the hope of getting justice.

The villagers of Moolasthanam Agraharam have written a letter to the Chairperson of the NHRC explaining the entire issue. The letter reads, “local administration to district officials are treating us as second-grade citizens of India, not even responding to our issues, moreover threatening us for raising our concerns and behaving as if we are refugees of other nations settled here”.

The letter also stated that their fundamental right to live peacefully without any fear has been violated. “Not even considering our complaints and targeting us for raising our issues is nothing but suppressing our fundamental ‘Right to Equality’ which is guaranteed by Constitution of India”, the letter to NHRC read.

In their appeal, the villagers have also sought the intervention of the NHRC to the Director-General of Police, Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, District Collector of East Godavari, District Superintendent of Police and urged them to initiate an enquiry in this matter and to take strict remedial action to halt construction of the illegal church which is detrimental to public peace and order.

Police encounters and ‘secular privilege’ in Indian politics

Abhishek Banerjee
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Police encounters and ‘secular privilege’ in Indian politics

Between 2002 and 2007, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) found 440 cases of suspected “fake” encounters by the police across India. Out of these, only five cases happened to be in Gujarat, which could well be the lowest among big states. But names such as Sohrabuddin Sheikh came to be etched in public memory. They became household names, celebrity causes and in some cases, heroes.

So much so that, in the liberal imagination, this is what India’s history of police encounters looks like today.

Tweet by Pratik Sinha

This is not from a parody account. This is from a person often described by allegedly respectable people as a “fact checker.” Let that sink in.

As with all things in Indian politics, the “secular privilege” extends to police encounters. Because Narendra Modi was Gujarat CM, 5 encounters in Gujarat become more important than 435 in the rest of India. And now, we have media obsessing over everything that Yogi Adityanath’s government does in Uttar Pradesh.

This “secular privilege” is so extreme that I sometimes wonder if BJP ruled states and non-BJP ruled states exist in different universes.

Here is an example: anyone who has ever watched Bollywood movies has heard about the legendary Mumbai underworld. As the Hindustan Times notes in an article titled “Rise of the ’83 encounter batch“

Hindustan Times article

The Mumbai Police Commissioner at the time was Julio Ribeiro. Popular culture often celebrated him as ‘super cop.’ As the Hindustan Times notes, many of the officers who served under him came to be known as “encounter specialists.”

Were any of these encounters fake? I have no idea. I wasn’t there. But surely our media, our intelligentsia and five-star activists could ask if they were fake?

But did they? Did any of them dare to ask such questions? Oh, and did any of them ask if Mumbai Police was trying to save powerful politicians who might have links to gangsters?

Of course they didn’t ask. The secular privilege applies. The burqa of secularism ensures that nobody asks questions.

In fact, ‘super cop’ Julio Ribeiro wrote his autobiography which he called “Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer.” Excellent choice of title I would say. Maybe the book should be required reading for everyone who believes in due process and concepts such as guilty until proven innocent in a court of law.

In fact, Julio Ribeiro received even more praise from liberal quarters when he spoke out against “intolerance” in 2015. Most tellingly, he said that he feels like he is on a “hit list” because he is a Christian. Well, we have to trust his police instincts in such matters. He was a super cop after all.

Whether “fact-checkers” and historians like it or not, facts remain facts and history remains history. In fact, the reality is one of the structural problems that modern liberalism is facing today.

Therefore, the liberal strategy is to de-legitimize human memory. They have a label for it: whataboutism. Slap a label on something you don’t like and dismiss it. That’s Modern Liberalism 101.

So if you have heard of police encounters in India before Modi became Gujarat CM, you are guilty of whataboutism.

In fact, if you have heard of the 435 encounters outside Gujarat in 2002-07 instead of the 5 encounters in Gujarat they want you to know about, you are guilty of whataboutism.

Put your blinkers on and your memory on hold. Walk the narrow straight path on which ‘fact-checkers’ are leading you. It’s the only way to be (self) righteous.

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