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Indian Railways invites private players to operate passenger trains, a journey from Modi’s ‘vision’ to India’s reality

Anurag
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Indian Railways invites private players to operate passenger trains, a journey from Modi’s ‘vision’ to India’s reality

Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced on 1st July that Indian Railways had invited private players to submit “Request for Qualifications” for operating 151 passenger trains on 109 pairs of routes. This project will entail a private sector investment of Rs.30,000 crore in Indian Railways. The main objective of this project is to introduce modern technology with reduced maintenance, reduced transit time, improved safety, better job opportunities, and world-class travel experience for the passengers.

In the press release issued announcing the same, the Ministry of Railway stated that the majority of the trains running under this project would be made-in-India. It will be the private sector’s responsibility to finance, procure, operate, and maintain the trains. Railways have made it compulsory for the private sector to ensure these trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph to reduce transit time substantially. The passenger must have a comparable or faster speed than the current running train on the same route.

While the concession period for the project will be 35 years, the private entity will be responsible for paying haulage charges, energy charges, and a share in Gross revenue to the Indian Railways. One of the major concerns, whenever there are talks about the privatization of trains, is the jobs of drivers and other employees who run and maintain the trains. Indian Railways has put up a clause that only drivers and guards hired by Indian Railways can operate these trains.

Existing Privatisation in Indian Railways

Private passenger trains are already running on Indian Railways network, but they are not truly private, as the trains are owned by IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Railways. The Tejas Express trains run by IRCTC were the first step by the Railways to let others run passenger trains on its network. While the locomotives, coaches, drivers and guards are provided by the Railways, the onboard services, ticketing, catering and housekeeping are the responsibility of IRCTC. The trains also have airline-style trained hostesses and stewards, a significant difference from trains operated by Indian Railways. The Tejas Express project has provided important experiences for the Railways on letting others run passenger trains, which will be vital when actual private players start operating trains.

While passenger train services are being opened for private players, the corporate sector is already allowed to run private freight trains on the network of Indian Railways. In 2017, the govt had allowed the private sector to run freight trains, and the first such train was flagged off by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in April 2017. The private goods trains are run under the Special Freight Train Operations Scheme of the Railways. The Railways is also allowing the development of private freight terminals on Railway land for private freight trains.

CM Modi had a vision for Indian Railways; PM Modi is making it a reality

Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was considered a candidate for the post in 2013, he shared his views about the privatization of Indian Railways. During India Today Conclave 2013, he had said that the government constructed railway tracks, roads, and airports. While roads and airports are open for the private sector, there is no provision of the private sector to take advantage of the elaborated web of railway tracks.

In less than two months after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi had discussed his vision of developing Railway stations on the line of Airports while flagging off the inaugural train from Katra in Jammu. At that time, he had already discussed his vision with the stakeholders and in the next few months, the change was practically visible.

Suresh Prabhu, the current Indian emissary to the G20, took charge of Indian Railways in November 2014 and took several steps to modernize the system. In 2017 after Piyush Goyal assumed charge of the ministry, he paced up the modernization and introduced several groundbreaking changes in the Railways, including modern and fast trains.

By the end of March 2019, Indian Railways already modernized more than 60 major railway stations. New Delhi Railway Station or NDLS was developed with modern amenities and facilities. The luxury hotel feel of the Mathura Railway Station became a hot topic of discussion after its inauguration. Naini Railway station Prayagraj has murals of artists, dance forms and more depicting the vibrant culture of India. Varanasi Railway Station’s new look was discussed largely on social media. Under the Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan, Indian Railways ensured clean railway stations across the country. Countless photos and videos have been shared by the delighted passengers praising the Railways’ efforts to keep the stations clean. Indian Railways is also working extensively to increase use of Solar Power for trains and stations to reduce its carbon footprint.

High-speed Wi-Fi, hygienic and fresh food, better trains, modern amenities, and above all, accident-free year are few things that kept the Indian Railways on the positive side of the news. The launch of Tejas Express and Vande Bharat Express in 2019 was termed as a major step towards privatization. From Madhubani paintings on the Madhubani station’s walls, beautiful artwork on Titwala Railway Station and mesmerizing artwork on a station in Agra, to breathtaking artwork and new look of the coaches, the face of Indian Railways has changed a lot in the last six years. Indian Railways is also working extensively to expand its reach to the extreme corners of the country.

The inevitable challenges

Though Railways has come a long way, the challenges are still there. Covid-19 has caused significant loss in terms of passenger revenue for the Railways. However, Indian Railways did find a silver lining and completed 200 long-overdue projects in the last three months. From deep-rooted corruption that slowed the Railways progress to incapable contractors and efforts to sabotage tracks by Naxals or anti-social elements, Railways has to deal with a lot of challenges. The privatization of the passenger trains will open better options for the Railways to deal with such challenges and it will open doors for more jobs and better infrastructure.

The Wire uses a three-year-old child to ‘prove’ that ‘police killed the civilian’. Here is why it is problematic

Editorial Desk
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The Wire uses a three-year-old child to ‘prove’ that ‘police killed the civilian’. Here is why it is problematic

Leftist propaganda website The Wire on Wednesday published an article with an audio-video byte of the toddler who witnessed his grandfather being killed by terrorists in Sopore on Wednesday to claim that the security forces killed the old man. The Wire claimed that its reporter went to the victim’s house on Wednesday night, just hours after the toddler saw his grandfather being killed in front of his eyes, to talk to the child and ask him ‘who killed your grandfather?’

To put things in perspective, The Wire journalist asked a three-year-old who sat crying on his dead grandfather’s bullet-ridden body just hours prior, ‘who killed him’. The child then allegedly says the police did. The Wire uses this to build a narrative of how the security forces have been lying that the old man was killed by terrorists which also claimed the life of a CRPF jawan.

The Wire gives no reason as to why the CRPF/police may have killed the old man. It only attempts to demonise the security forces based on the testimony of a three-year-old who is expected to know a difference between policemen and terrorists. More importantly, three-year-old is supposed to know what a terrorist is. Or that terrorists also carry guns, as police do. A traumatised child, who was later rescued by the cops says the cops killed his grandpa.

This is not to question the child’s statement. The child does not know the difference between two men with guns. One is a policeman other is a terrorist. For a three-year-old, anyone with a gun is a cop, perhaps. So when he says police killed his grandfather, the propagandists don’t want to give benefit of doubt to security forces who have no motivation or trigger to kill him. They would rather give leeway to terrorists, who kill indiscriminately in the name of religion and jihad than cops who rescued the child from bullets of the same terrorists who killed his grandfather.

It is worthy to note that for anyone stuck in the cross-fire in a gunfight between the security forces and the terrorists, which this was, will have a hard time pinpointing where any specific bullet came from. Thus, the trust the version of a 3-year-old child who can easily be coached shows the desperation of The Wire to further a specific agenda who favours the terrorists and not the security forces.

Further, there are multiple accounts of security personnel, who witnessed the gruesome encounter with the terrorists yesterday where they describe how the terrorists’ indiscriminate firing led to the death of the civilian. However, it turns out, that The Wire rather report the possibly coached version of a three-year-old child, who would otherwise not know anything, than the version of India’s men in uniform.

A local cop who witnessed the scene unfold says how when they tried to move the CRPF soldier who was injured or perhaps fatally wounded, they also saw the civilian was also injured. He says how they also had the challenge of ensuring the little child is not killed in the firing. He says how firing came from a building and hence all were injured from same side. He says how the security forces put their cars in front of the child to shield him from the onslaught of bullets. “Our priority was to evacuate the child,” he says.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1278530967016280064

Zulfiqar Hasan, ADG CRPF also said that the civilian was killed by the firing from the terrorists. “It was an unfortunate incident.I think some ppl have tried to give it a spin by saying that CRPF took him out of the vehicle and shot him. It’s totally untrue,” he says.

The CRPF/security personnel have no reason to randomly kill a man, especially when they are in middle of an encounter with terrorists. The gun-wielding terrorists, however, have a reason to kill at will – jihad. However, for the spinmasters and terrorist sympathisers at The Wire, they would use a little child who went through such a traumatising event just hours prior to whitewash the terrorists.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra clears unpaid rent for her Lutyens’ bungalow after government sends her a notice to vacate the house

OpIndia Staff
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra clears unpaid rent for her Lutyens’ bungalow after government sends her a notice to vacate the house

A day after Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was asked to vacate her government accommodation in Lutyens Delhi, the Congress General Secretary Incharge of East UP Priyanka Gandhi has cleared her pending dues for the government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate in Delhi.

According to the reports, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has made online payment of balance amount due towards rent for the 35, Lodhi Estate bungalow which she had occupied for the last 23 years.

“Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has made online payment of balance amount due on her. Hence, now dues as on 30.06.2020 is nil against her,” a spokesperson from the ministry said.

According to the reports, Gandhi had dues of Rs 3,46,677 as on June 30, for which she was issued a notice to clear this due amount. Mrs Vadra had not paid rent for her govt house for almost a year.

Priyanka Gandhi asked to vacate Lutyens Bungalow

On Wednesday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was asked to vacate her government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate, which she was continuing to live in despite removal of SPG cover in November last year.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was served a notice to vacate her bungalow provided by the Government of India. She was allocated the bungalow because she was an SPG protectee. In a letter served to her, the Gandhi scion has been given a month time to vacate the bungalow which she has been occupying for the last 23 years as part of the entitlement which came to her along with her maiden name.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra continued to stay in govt accommodation despite removal of SPG cover

Last year in November, the SPG cover provided to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was withdrawn and replaced by CRPF security. And since then, almost 8 months have passed, but she has continued to stay in the government bungalow.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a private citizen, was allotted the Type VI bungalow in February 1997 on the recommendation of the SPG, home ministry and cabinet secretariat. The Gandhi-scion had continued to stay in the government bungalow even though she was neither a public servant nor a government official or a member of parliament or assembly. She was granted the house only on the basis of her SPG protected status.

The Gandhi scion convinced Vajpayee govt to reduce her monthly rent

In 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee led BJP government was at the helm of affairs, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had managed to retain her accommodation. It was reported how she had convinced the Vajpayee government to reduce the monthly rent for her 2,765.18 sqm house in Lutyens’ Delhi from Rs 53,421 to only Rs 8,888, a whopping 83% reduction.

When the house was originally granted to Priyanka Vadra in 1997, its rent was Rs 19,900 per month, as per the market rate at this time. The rate was gradually increased, but Vadra managed to slash the rate citing her inability to pay, and also by arguing that she was not using the whole bungalow, as parts of it were occupied by SPG.

Swara Bhasker starrer web series gets record low ratings, leftist elites claim it is because she opposes BJP, not because it is bad

OpIndia Staff
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Swara Bhasker starrer web series gets record low ratings, leftist elites claim it is because she opposes BJP, not because it is bad

The controversial adult web series ‘Rasbhari’ starring Bollywood entertainer Swara Bhasker seems to be on the verge of creating a new record with receiving low ratings on various movie rating platforms amidst scathing reviews by the viewers of the show.

The Bollywood Entertainer Swara Bhasker, infamous for her far-left propaganda, had starred in a controversial adult web-series named ‘Rasbhari’, which was released on Amazon Prime last week. Even before its release, the ‘soft-porn’ series had created a furore across social media for its vile and vulgar content.

Swara Bhasker adorns the role of a school teacher in the adult show, one whose husband travels frequently and she becomes the object of lust for several men, including her students. The character also has a sexually obsessed alter ego. The series has reportedly invited low ratings over the ‘cheap’ narrative and abject usage of ‘soft-porn’ content to make it sell.

Following the release, expectedly, the Swara Bhasker starrer ‘sexual fantasy’ has received bad reviews and low ratings on review platforms such as IMDB.

In IMDB, the rating of the show plummeted to record low as it received just 2.6 stars out of the 10. This is a record low for any tele or web series in recent history. Nearly, 72 per cent of the viewers, who watched this adult series had given 1 out of the 10 points.

Image Source: IMDB

Not just IMDB, the reviews in Amazon Prime, the OTT platform which released the ‘soft-porn’ series too recorded low ratings for the show.

Image Source: Amazon

CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi criticised makers of ‘Rasbhari’

Earlier, veteran lyricist and Central Borad of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi expressed disappointment with a scene in ‘Rasbhari’, which showed a young girl dancing provocatively in front of drunk men.

Prasoon Joshi tweeted about the sexualisation of children portrayed in ‘Rasbhari’, stating that he was saddened after seeing the irresponsible content portrayed in the web series by making a little girl child dancing provocatively in front of drunk men. The lyricist had added that creators and audience needed to seriously rethink between freedom of expression and freedom of exploitation. “Let’s spare children in the desperate need for entertainment”, the CBFC chairman added.

Leftists claim that low ratings are because ‘Swara is against BJP’, not because the series is bad

However, leftist sites and movie makers have expressed sadness over the low ratings. Web portals have stated that the series has low ratings because the ‘Hindutva brigade’ has sabotaged the ratings of IMDb. Filmmaker and leftist Anubhav Sinha has even gone a step ahead and tweeted to IMDb that they should do something to stop ‘right-wing trolls’ from giving negative ratings for specific shows and movies.

Scroll article on low ratings for Bhaskar’s web series.
Scroll article claims Rasbhari has bad ratings because Swara opposes BJP

Scroll, in its article has stated that the series has got bad ratings because Hindutva trolls have spammed the IMDb ratings. The article even goes ahead to insinuate that the bad ratings are because Swara is a vocal critic of the BJP and has opposed CAA and NRC. The article does not even consider the possibility that maybe the ratings are bad because the people actually hated the content and quality of the web series.

Anubhav Sinha’s tweet

A same narrative is seen in Anubhav Sinha’s tweet. He totally dismisses the idea of public scrutiny and tries to assert that any one who gives a bad rating to content made by him or the people he supports can only be a ‘right wing troll.’ Both the scroll article and Sinha seem to entertain the idea that there is no possibility that a web series starring Swara can actually be bad and disliked by the general public.

It is interesting to note that these people are not ready to accept the fact that a series or a movie receives ‘ratings’ by the public based on how it actually is, not on what kind of politics the director or actor supports. Maybe they want to peddle a narrative that public ratings cannot be trusted, just like they do not agree with the electoral mandate, and want the power of ‘ratings’ and ruling, both in the hands of a select few, the ones they support and benefit from.

Week after two youths commit suicide, Pakistan bans PUBG as it ‘is wastage of time’

OpIndia Staff
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Week after two youths commit suicide, Pakistan bans PUBG as it ‘is wastage of time’

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to impose a temporary ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) in Pakistan after they received numerous complaints against the online game claiming that it was ‘waste of time’ and ‘addictive’.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in a tweet said it got series of complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the “game is addictive, wastage of time and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of children”.

In a statement, PTA said that the Lahore High court had directed them to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complainants. In this regard, a hearing will be conducted on 9th of July 2020, PTA said in its statement after it banned the game temporarily.

Reportedly, the PTA has also said that they would make a decision on permanently banning the game after holding discussions with all stakeholders.

It is indeed ironical that in Pakistan, where unemployment is a norm rather than an aberration, there has been a call to ban the game on the pretext that it leads to wastage of time of the youths of the country.

Decision to temporarily ban came after youths committed suicide

The decision to temporarily ban the online game comes from the fact that at least two people in Pakistan had committed suicide recently, whose deaths have been linked to this online game.

Reportedly, a 20-year-old committed suicide in Saddar Bazaar, Lahore after his parents had stopped him from playing the online game. Three days later, another young boy ended his life suicide in Hanjarwal. The police said that they found the young man’s cell phone in the room and the PUBG app was running on it.

On Tuesday, the police had found the body of a 30-year-old man at his flat in Lahore’s Factory Area on Tuesday night. A 22-year-old youth from Quetta had also committed suicide by hanging himself after missing a task in the online game PUBG.

PUBG, developed by a South Korean company, is an online game in which players are made to battle it out against others. The multiplayer game allows players from all over the world to compete against each other or in teams. The players attack and kill each other in the game leading to scoring more points and higher rank.

US Senator Rick Scott urges Americans not to buy ‘Communist China’s’ products

OpIndia Staff
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US Senator Rick Scott urges Americans not to buy ‘Communist China’s’ products

China is facing simmering global anger over the coronavirus pandemic. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pointed out that China should be held responsible for the health crisis the world is facing right now.

On 1st July, US Senator Rick Scott urged the people of America to stop buying products manufactured by the ‘Communist’ China. The Hill posted a video of Republican Senator, Rick Scott saying, “No one in the United States of America should buy products made by Communist China, especially the US government.”

He is known for being a critic of Beijing. He also accused China of trying to block the development of a Covid-19 vaccine in the West. On 7th June, BBC quoted him saying, “We have got to get this vaccine done. Unfortunately, we have evidence that communist China is trying to sabotage us or slow it down.” Scott’s reaction came after learning about the ban of 59 Chinese apps by the Indian government. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also hailed the decision to ban these apps and said it would ‘boost India’s integrity, national security.’

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump tweeted that the pandemic has done tremendous damage to the USA, and he is becoming angrier at China. The virus that originated from China has caused the loss of lives and severely shook the world’s economy. Many leaders have directly or indirectly pointed out that China should be held accountable for the loss this virus has caused.

On Tuesday, the USA’s telecom regulator had designated Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE as national security threats.

India against Chinese products and services

In the backdrop of the violent clash between the Indian Army and PLA in Galwan Valley where 20 Army soldiers were martyred on 15th July, there has been uproar against China in India. The majority of the Indians are in favor of boycotting China-made products. Along with banning 59 apps, including TikTok, the Indian government has taken several steps against China to halt its penetration in the Indian economy. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, on 1st June, announced that Chinese companies would not be allowed to take part in highway projects. They cannot take part in joint ventures as well.

The Maharashtra government put a hold on three agreements with Chinese companies worth Rs.5,000 crore. The Haryana government decided to cancel the contract with China’s companies for power projects. BSNL has officially announced the cancellation of the agreement with a Chinese company for setting up 4G services in India. The Indian Railways recently terminated a contract worth Rs.471 crore with a Chinese company.

India ups the diplomatic ante against China, expresses concern over the Hong Kong issue in UNHRC for the first time

OpIndia Staff
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India ups the diplomatic ante against China, expresses concern over the Hong Kong issue in UNHRC for the first time

Amidst the ongoing tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Ladakh, India has launched a diplomatic offensive against China by expressing concerns over China’s new security law for Hong Kong.

According to the reports, on Wednesday, the Indian Ambassador to the United Nation raised the issue of China’s new National Security Law in Hong Kong that curtails freedom of expression of the people and also called for the proper management into the rising situation.

At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Rajiv Kumar Chander, the country’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said that given the large Indian community that lives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, India has been keeping “a close watch on recent developments”.

According to the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong, there are nearly 38,000 Indians living in the region, with a smaller community in nearby Macau.

“Given the large Indian community that makes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China it’s home, India has been keeping a close watch on the recent developments. We have heard several statements expressing concerns on these developments. We hope the relevant parties will take into account these views and address them properly, seriously and objectively,” Ravi Chander said at a press briefing.

The statement issued by Indian in the United Nations was significant as it was the first time India raised the issue of Hong Kong and the ongoing large scale protests against China internationally. Interestingly, India’s diplomatic offensive comes at a time when China has gone rogue along the LAC unleashing violence resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.

Earlier, the United States, Britain, the EU and UN rights agencies had all voiced fears against the Chinese law, which was intended to stifle protests in Hong Kong against Beijing.

This development also comes just two days after the Modi government had banned 59 Chinese-origin mobile phone apps, including the hugely popular TikTok, a move that will cause huge losses to China.

China introduces new National Security Law in Hong Kong

The Communist Party of China has introduced a new national security law for Hong Kong, which introduces new crimes with severe penalties – up to life in prison – and allows Chinese security forces to legally operate in Hong Kong.

The legislation gives extensive powers to China, which is intended to quell the ongoing protests in the Hong Kong demanding liberation from the occupation of Chinese. The legislation enables China to bring Hong Kong protestors to the mainland, prosecute and sentence them there. It also significantly restricts the city’s autonomy. Last week, the USA senate had passed a bill that seeks to sanction Chinese individuals and banks that help in restricting Hong Kong’s autonomy.

With the new law coming to effect, China has reportedly arrested the peaceful protests under the new sweeping national security laws imposed on the autonomous region of Hong Kong on Wednesday. At least 70 people were arrested on Wednesday.

After losing govt bungalow in Lutyens Delhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may likely shift to Lucknow, Congress believes it will be her ‘Indira’ moment

OpIndia Staff
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After losing govt bungalow in Lutyens Delhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may likely shift to Lucknow, Congress believes it will be her ‘Indira’ moment

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was asked to vacate her government accommodation in Lutyens Delhi after losing her SPG protection last year, is now believed to be shifting her base to Lucknow. As per reports, she is doing so to ‘strengthen the base’ of Congress in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2022 state elections.

In 2019 General Elections, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was in-charge of the election campaign in state, the then Congress President and her brother Rahul Gandhi actually lost the ‘safe family seat’ of Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani. In fact, Rahul Gandhi had to contest from Kerala’s Wayanad as well to secure his position in the Parliament. Moreover, Congress’ total tally in UP came down from 2 out of 80 seats to only one that too was won by her mother Sonia Gandhi from another ‘safe’ Congress seat, Rae Bareli.

Now, Congress believes Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who reminded everyone she is Indira Gandhi’s granddaughter just few days back, will have her 1977 Indira moment where former Prime Minister, after the Emergency, snuffed life back into a dying Congress. Priyanka’s strategy to ‘revive’ Congress in Uttar Pradesh seems to be spreading misinformation and fake news which stem from her lack of comprehension skills. Amid coronavirus breakout, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also locked horns with UP CM Yogi Adityanath over migrant issue. After promising ‘buses’ for migrants who want to reach home in UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ended up arranging for ‘buses’, some of which had expired registration and some were even auto rickshaws and two-wheelers. After much embarrassment and inability to provide required documents on time, those ‘buses’ were recalled.

Priyanka had lived in the government accommodation at 35, Lodhi Estate since 1997 when she got married as she was an Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee. However, after the threat perception was downgraded and subsequent removal of SPG protection, Priyanka, despite being a private citizen continued to stay in government accommodation even though she does not hold any official government position. As per reports, certain Congress leaders had suggested that she could enter the Rajya Sabha and become an MP so that she could manage to hold on to her government accommodation.

However, it is now believed she will now move to Uttar Pradesh and will stay in Kaul House, the house owned by Priyanka’s grandmother Indira Gandhi’s maternal aunt, Sheila Kaul. Keeping up the tradition of ‘it is all about family’, Kaul was also a Congress member. However, it is not yet clear whether her husband, Robert Vadra and children will shift with her.

‘Activist’ Rehana Fathima, who was sacked by BSNL, asked to vacate residential quarter after police file POCSO case against her

OpIndia Staff
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‘Activist’ Rehana Fathima, who was sacked by BSNL, asked to vacate residential quarter after police file POCSO case against her

Rehana Fathima, the controversial former ‘model’ and ‘kiss for love’ campaigner, who recently raked up a major controversy after she posted a video of her children painting on her semi-nude body, has been asked by her former employer, BSNL, to vacate the residential quarters that was provided by the company. The Indian state-owned telecommunications company served a notice to its sacked employee, Rehana Fathima, following the recent police raid on her house and the registration of a POCSO case over her controversial video.

“The above event tarnished the image of BSNL. Hence you are instructed to vacate the quarters within 30 days from the date of receipt of this notice, failing which further proceedings will be initiated for eviction”, said the June 27 notice.

The notice also mentioned that she was given compulsory retirement with effect from May 11, 2020 as a part of disciplinary proceedings. It stated that as she is no longer an employee of BSNL, she is ineligible to occupy the company provided accommodation with effect from May 11.

Rehana booked for posting video of her kids painting on her topless body

The Thiruvalla police of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala had raided the former ‘model’ and ‘activists’ house on June 25, a day after she was booked under the Juvenile Justice Act and the section 67 of the Information Technology Act (Electronically transmitting sexually explicit content) for non-bailable offences.

Rehana, who was earlier arrested after her Sabarimala misadventure for hurting religious sentiments through a Facebook post, had on June 19 taken to her youtube channel to post a 2:00 minute video where she is seen lying on bed wearing only a pair of red shorts, while her children attempt to paint on her torso. She also uploaded the same on her Facebook page with hashtag #BodyArtPolitics.

According to Rehana, the video was made to reiterate that women need to be open about sex and their bodies in a society where sex and nudity are taboo. In her Facebook post, Rehana writes that “no child who has seen his own mother’s nakedness and body can abuse the female body. Therefore, vaccines against false perceptions about women’s body and sexuality should be initiated from home”.

The Facebook post had shared a video uploaded on her YouTube channel, where Fathima’s children are seen painting flowers and leaves on her naked torso while she lies on the bed. Viewer discretion is advised for the video as it has nudity content.

Rehana’s obnoxious effort to ‘sex-educate’ her children was not received well by Netizens, with many users pointing out that the act amounts to and child abuse and sexual exploitation.

Rehana Fathima and her other controversial activities

Last month, Fathima was sacked from her job after BSNL authorities after a probe found that her Facebook messages had incited communal tension and she had violated service rules.

For the past 18 months, she was under suspension after BSNL had received complaints from the public about her abusive pictures and videos, which had hurt religious sentiments.

The controversial activist, Rehana Fathima had sparked a huge controversy after she had tried to enter the holy Sabarimala shrine and desecrate it following the controversial Supreme court judgement granting permission to women of all ages to enter the temple ignoring the shrine’s age-old tradition barring women of menstruating age to enter the holy place.

In 2018, the Pathanamthitta police had registered a case against activist Rehana Fathima against a complaint filed by Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samithi for putting up social media posts that were “communally divisive” in nature.

The self-proclaimed activist was also ‘expelled‘ from the Muslim community by the Kerala Muslim Jama’ath Council for her activities.

A model of sorts in the past, Fathima has been a part of the ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign in Kochi in 2014 against the purported moral policing. Rehana Fathima was also convicted in a cheque-fraud case and awarded a fine of Rs. 2.1 lakh and one day of imprisonment in the year 2014.

Following India’s ban on Chinese apps, VPN services offering access to banned apps start promotion on social media

OpIndia Staff
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Following India’s ban on Chinese apps, VPN services offering access to banned apps start promotion on social media

Days after the Indian government enforced a ban on 59 Chinese apps, including Tik Tok, CamScanner and others, dubious VPNs offering to provide access to these banned apps have surfaced on the Internet, especially on Twitter. Backdoors promising to grant access to the proscribed apps is being promoted on the microblogging website.

The same was highlighted by Twitter users, asking the government to pay heed to the advertisements that flooded the platform, promoting VPN services that promised to skirt around the ban imposed by the central government and allow users to continue using the banned websites and apps.

VPN, or virtual private network, lets users on the internet to circumvent geo-restrictions and censorship, and allows connecting to the internet through proxy servers, which allow the user to hide their identity and location on the Internet. Using such VPN networks and proxy servers, content banned or censored in a particular country can be accessed by the users in that country.

Twitter users pointed out how a VPN service named–”Panda VPN Free” was advertising on Twitter for the users to subscribe to its services and get access to Chinese apps such as WeChat, Tik Tok, Cam Scanner and other banned applications.

One of the promotional tweets by the Panda VPN Free said, “Without Chinese App and Web? Tik Tok, WeChat, QQ, Baidu…. are far away PandaVPN Free. Bypass any Geo-restrictions…Keep away from hackers and government.”

It is also important to note that there are several other VPN services like “Panda VPN Free” that are offering services of providing unfettered access to banned apps and websites and thus undermining the security and integrity of the nation. The government needs to step up its measures to block such VPN services from operating in India, social media users noted.

One Twitter user posted a tweet to BJP leader Sambit Patra and brought to attention another VPN service–Turbo VPN, which claimed to provide access to Tik Tok videos despite the Indian Government’s ban on the popular Chinese media app.

Apart from the promotional campaigns by VPN providers, tutorials also have emerged on various Internet platforms such as Youtube explaining how to access TikTok and other banned apps.

India bans access to 59 Chinese apps, including Tik Tok

Earlier this week, the Indian government had red-flagged 59 China-linked apps, including TikTok as being a threat to national security. The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of Information Technology Act, with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 has ordered a block on the use of 59 apps saying that these apps are “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.

The ministry in its press release said that it has recently been receiving complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have a location outside India. The compilation of these data poses which threat to national security and sovereignty and is a matter of deep concern said the statement.

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