Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who was earlier tested positive for coronavirus, has been put on oxygen support after his lung infection deteriorated on Friday.
According to the reports, the office of the Delhi Health Minister on Friday confirmed that Minister Satyendar Jain has been put on oxygen support after he contracted the Chinese epidemic this week.
Reportedly, the Delhi Health Minister will be shifted to another hospital in the national capital. He was earlier admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) on Tuesday after he complained of high fever and drop in oxygen level.
Earlier, the minister’s office had said that Jain was being given oxygen support only when required and had said that his health condition was improving. As per the latest reports, Jain is showing symptoms of acute pneumonia and will be treated with plasma therapy.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who has tested positive for COVID19, put on oxygen support after his lung infection increases: Office of Delhi Health Minister (file pic) pic.twitter.com/RLnOeky0W4
In the absence of Jain, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia has been affairs of the Health Ministry, which is responsible for the fight against the coronavirus in the national capital.
Jain had recently attended a high-level meeting organized by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and CM Arvind Kejriwal were also present during that meeting, among others. He had been admitted in Delhi’s Rajiv Gandhi super speciality hospital.
Along with Satyendar Jain, Kalkaji MLA Atishi Marlena was also tested positive for coronavirus infection on Wednesday evening. She became the fourth MLA of AAP to be tested positive. She is currently under home quarantine.
Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror squad nabbed one Mohammad Inamul Haq from Riyaz colony of Bareilly on the charge radicalising others. The ATS alleged that the 30-year old Muslim man was indulged in radicalizing youths to commit jihad. The ATS has found inflammatory literature saved on his mobile. Reportedly, he used to instigate youth by using several social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp, and Telegram.
As per reports of News 18, the UP ATS had received a tip-off about an individual named Mohammad Shoaib alias Abu Muhammad Al Hindi is highly radicalized and recruiting youth for terrorist organizations by preaching jihad to them. But after investigation, it was found that the real name of the perpetrator was Mohammad Inamul Haq who lives in Dr. Riyaz colony of Katghar, Bareilly.
Found suspicious during Social media scanning
Additional Director General of UP ATS DK Thakur stated that Inamul used to send messages to others through social media sites about planned terror activities. The intelligence agencies found his account suspicious during the random scanning of social media.
He said, “He used to send messages to others on Facebook of planning terror activities and jihad. His WhatsApp and telegram also have many objectionable messages.”
Inflammatory literature, Anti-India conversations found
ADG Thakur also informed that the police have also recovered literature on international terror organizations like Al-Qaeda. Anti-India conversations were also seized from his Whatsapp and Telegram feed.
As per the reports of TOI, he has saved a picture of Hindu leader Kamlesh Tiwari with a message in Arabic on it. Hindu Samaj Party founder Kamlesh Tiwari was murdered by jihadists in October last year.
Reportedly, he was produced before the court from where he was sent to 10-day police remand.
The engineers of the Indian Army have completed the construction of a 60-metre bridge over the Galwan river in eastern Ladakh that would strengthen India’s control of the region by enabling the Indian troops to move across the river and provide a shield to the 255 KM strategic road from Darbuk to Daulat Beg Oldie, the final post south of the Karakoram Pass, the Hindustan Times reported.
The construction of the bridge was completed in the wake of belligerence displayed by the People Liberation Army in a bid to discourage the Indian Army from completing the project. The building of the bridge over the Galwan river seen as a strategic move by India which triggered the expansionist moves by the Chinese army that resulted in the standoff between the armies of the two countries before the PLA made an inflated claim over the entire Galwan Valley region.
The strategic location of the bridge
As per the HT report, the newly constructed four-span bridge is situated three kilometres east of the Shyok river-Galwan confluence, while the latest flashpoint-PP14 is located further 2 km east of the Bailey bridge. The Patrolling Point 14, the site of the bloody clashes between the two armies on June 15 is located close to the Y-junction which is the confluence of Galwan and Shyok rivers. An Indian army camp is set up at the said location, right next to the DSDBO road.
“Right through the stand-off between the two countries, we continued building the bridge. Even as the skirmishes broke out between the Indian soldiers and the PLA on June 15, the completion of the bridge continued steadfastly,” an official was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
China’s nefarious aims to make sweeping claims of the entire Galwan Valley is an attempt to reduce India’s assertion to Shyok river and if it happens, the Chinese will have a birds-eye view of the DSDBO road and in the times of hostility, they can snap the road connectivity to Daulat Beg Oldie. This will provide them with another avenue to open road to Pakistan via Murgo, the last Indian village before DBO.
Built on concrete pillars, the Bailey bridge consolidates India’s hold in the region and provides its military with the advantage of rapid military mobilisation to protect Indian strategic interests. With Indian Army vehicles being able to cross the river through the newly-built bridge, the Indian military will be better poised to rein in the aggressive manoeuvres by the Chinese PLA.
Violent clashes between Indian and Chinese army at the Galwan Valley
At least 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, had attained martyrdom in the violent clashes with the Chinese troopers in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. The Army had initially claimed that 3 soldiers, including one Commanding Officer, were killed in the skirmishes but later in the evening it revised the figure to 20 saying 17 others had succumbed to their injuries due to the prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures.
The killing of the Indian soldiers marks the Indian Army’s worst losses since the Kargil War in 1999 and signifies the most intense military combat between India and China since 1967 when about 80 Indian soldiers and at least 300 Chinese PLA troops were killed in the course of the savage skirmishes that broke out near the Nathu La and Cho Lo passes, the strategic gateway to the crucial Chumbi valley.
On Friday, senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Husain Dalwai parroted same lies as his party’s former chief Rahul Gandhi as he claimed that Modi government had sent the Indian Army soldiers without arms, which resulted in the death of soldiers during the clash between PLA and Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Monday.
Speaking to the media, the former RS members Husain Dalwai also claimed that it was only the Indian troops that were killed during the Monday clash in the Galwan valley at Ladakh and went on to say that no Chinese troops were killed during the clash.
Echoing same lies as Rahul Gandhi, Dalwai went on to make false assertion by stating that the Modi government sent these troops without any arms. He added that the troops could have fought against the PLA but did not get any chance as they had only sticks.
#WATCH Congress’ Husain Dalwai says, “…No one from their side died, only our jawans died…How can you send our jawans without arms? They could’ve fought but didn’t get chance. They just had sticks. Is this RSS shakha? Why send soldiers? Send RSS people. They’ll guard border.” pic.twitter.com/5XVGyFLV6I
Further, using the matter of national security to politicise the issue, Dalwai dragged the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, by asking whether jawans were fighting inside an RSS Shakha and also asked the government to send the RSS workers instead of soldiers as they can fight the Chinese with the sticks.
“No one from their side died, only our jawans died…How can you send our jawans without arms? They could’ve fought but didn’t get chance. They just had sticks. Is this RSS shakha? Why send soldiers? Send RSS people. They’ll guard border,” said former Congress MP Husain Dalwai.
Dalwai repeats same misinformation as Rahul Gandhi
Husain Dalwai tirade against the Modi government regarding the Indian side confronting the Chinese military in hand-to-hand combat rather than facing the Chinese with the guns comes a day after Gandhi-scion Rahul Gandhi had tried to pull a similar narrative.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had also claimed that launched an attack on the Modi government questioning operational decisions made by the armed forces. The Congress party leaders and workers had asked why the Indian side went to confront the Chinese military without carrying guns.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi had also asked the same question on why Indian soldiers sent unarmed to a dangerous situation, and who was responsible for this decision. In a hurry to target the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi despite being an MP for so many years was not aware of the agreements signed by governments led and supported by his own party that prevented the soldiers from using firearms on the border with China.
The reason for the same is a slew of agreements signed between India and China, in an effort to keep the tension at the border under check. Both the nations have signed border agreements in 1993, 1996 and 2005, which defines the activities which are allowed and not allowed along the Line of Actual Control between India and China.
Like Rahul Gandhi, Husain Dalwai despite being in politics for so-long and also being a two-term parliamentarian parroted the same false propaganda despite being aware that it was his party which was responsible for signing agreements with the Chinese side to limit Indian troops carrying arms along the LAC.
Amidst tense situation along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh following the deadly skirmishes in Galwan Valley between the armies of the two countries, the Ram Mandir trust has announced that the appropriate date for the start of the construction of the Ram Temple will be taken keeping in view the prevailing situation in the country.
The Trust, in its official communique, said that the situation at the border is serious and the overriding concern at present is to defend the country against the Chinese aggression.
जय श्री राम!
सभी श्रीराम भक्तों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण सूचना। कृपया अनाधिकृत जानकारियों और खबरों पर ध्यान न दें। pic.twitter.com/0NZiVDvhuB
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) June 19, 2020
The trust paid tributes to the fallen soldiers who attained martyrdom after Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley stealthily mounted an attack against the Indian troopers with the help of medieval weapons such as clubs wrapped in barbed wire, boulders and batons with protruding nails. The organisation which has been charged with the construction of the Ram Temple after a historic judgment by the Supreme Court last year said that a new date will soon be decided by the trust keeping in view the situation on the border.
“The decision to begin construction (of temple) will be taken according to the situation in the country and will be announced officially,” Anil Mishra, member of the trust, told PTI.
Many Hindu organisations have organised protests in Ayodhya recently opposing the unilateral expansionism exhibited by the Chinese. Earlier, PTI had reported that the Trust has suspended the plans to start construction of the temple in Ayodhya.
Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad says lakhs of Naga Sadhus would volunteer to help the Army if need arises
The apex body of the saints and seers in India, Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad has said that lakhs of Naga sanyasis(hermits) would volunteer to fight the Chinese if the need arises.
While condemning the dastardly attack by the Chinese forces against 16 Bihar Regiment soldiers in Galwan Valley, Mahant Narendra Giri, President of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), said that the Indian Army is capable of handling the Chinese manoeuvres on the border, but if the need arises, lakhs of Naga sadhus will also volunteer to protect the motherland.
“Naga sadhus are equally adept in shaashtra (religious texts) and shashtra (arms),” he said while adding, “Naga sadhus are trained in martial arts and can also carry tridents, swords, canes and spears”.
He further explained that Naga sanyasis once acted as a bulwark for the Hindus against the Mughal oppression and were involved in a large number of military defence campaigns. However, Giri added, following the country’s independence, there was no need for the Nagas to remain active in military activities and therefore they turned to religion.
Violent clashes between India and China in Galwan Valley
At least 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, had attained martyrdom in the violent clashes with the Chinese troopers in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. The Army had initially claimed that 3 soldiers, including one Commanding Officer, were killed in the skirmishes but later in the evening it revised the figure to 20 saying 17 others had succumbed to their injuries due to the prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures.
The killing of the Indian soldiers marks the Indian Army’s worst losses since the Kargil War in 1999 and signifies the most intense military combat between India and China since 1967 when about 80 Indian soldiers and at least 300 Chinese PLA troops were killed in the course of the savage skirmishes that broke out near the Nathu La and Cho Lo passes, the strategic gateway to the crucial Chumbi valley.
Australia is currently been targeted by a massive and “malicious” cyber-attack by a foreign government, Australian PM Scott Morrison said at the Parliament House, Friday.
In an urgent press conference called this morning in Canberra, the Australian PM said that the ongoing large scale cyber attack on government as well as private institutions are being executed by a “sophisticated state-based cyber actor.”
“This activity is targeting Australian organisations across a range of sectors, including all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers and operators of other critical infrastructure,” Morrison told reporters.
The Australian PM said that this activity is not new and the frequency has only been increasing over many months, furthered the Australian PM.
The scale of the cyberattack in Australia hints that it no random attack
The PM said the cyber experts have identified that it is a no random attack but a state hack because of the scale and nature of the targeting and the tradecraft used. Though the PM did not give “public attribution” to any country, he said that not many states can engage in this type of activity.
Asked if China was to blame, the Prime Minister said that the “threshold to formally identify a state-based actor was high but the list of possible suspects was not long”.
Australian government sources have said China is behind the attack
A report by news.com.au said that the Australian government sources have said China is behind the attack. It read that last year, Australia’s main political parties and parliament were hit by a “malicious intrusion” on their computer networks carried out by a “sophisticated state actor”. The Reuters news agency had then reported that the Australian intelligence agencies suspected China to be behind 2019 hack. Then too, Canberra had declined to comment.
Moreover, this attack comes at the time when Australia’s diplomatic relation with its biggest trade partner, China is extremely vulnerable over new tariffs on barley and warnings to tourists and overseas students to no longer travel to the island nation amid the coronavirus threat. Australia has been extremely critical of China over the handling of Coronavirus crisis during the beginning. Australia alleges China of hiding the pandemic during its earlier phases which could have helped in containing it.
A report by BBC also said that the cyber intelligence experts have long linked various hacks in Australia to China. They say China is one of the few states, along with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which have the capacity for such attacks.
“There’s always simmering tensions between Russia and China so really it comes down to those being the key actors they (Australia) would be referring to,” expert Joshua Kennedy-White told the BBC.
Meanwhile, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that no major personal data breaches had been made as he advised to “continue to be as ever-vigilant as we possibly can”.
The Supreme Court today refused to stay the prosecution on sedition cases filed against radical Islamist, Sharjeel Imam, in 5 States clarifying that the plea before it is only for consolidation of FIRs.
The apex court two-member bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and V Ramasubramanian was hearing a plea by JNU student Sharjeel Imam seeking to club all FIRs filed against him for his speech during the anti-CAA protests in Delhi.
Senior Counsel Siddharth Dave representing Sharjeel Imam argued before the Court that there was an urgency in the case given that prosecution against Imam would begin in the States and the Court is scheduled to go on vacation in the next week. He said that the court had in the previous hearing issued notices to the five states and given them two weeks time to consolidate all the FIRs, but Dave said that none of the states complied by the SC orders hence he urged that the SC puts a stay on the prosecution.
The apex court, however, said that the case the court was hearing today was only for consolidation of FIRs. Hence it said it cannot pass any other orders. “But the case is only for consolidation of FIRs. We cannot pass any other orders”, said, Justice Bhushan, heading the Bench.
Dave urged the Court to consider the urgency involved. However, the Court categorically rejected to pass an interim order: “That is not the prayer before us… We cannot pass such an interim order”, said the two-member bench.
Keeping in view the scope of the plea before the Court, the Bench refused to grant a stay on the prosecution of Imam and directed the States to file their replies in a period of three weeks.
Radical Islamist Sharjeel Imam approached SC seeking clubbing of all the FIRs against him
On May 26, Sharjeel Imam had moved the apex court seeking the amalgamation of all FIRs filed against him in different states of India.
The petition had come up before a 3-Judge Bench comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and MR Shah. Counsel appearing for the accused, Siddhartha Dave, reportedly cited the case of Arnab Goswami and the Aligarh Muslim University case to club all FIRs filed against Imam into one single case.
During the hearing, SC had directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi government, to file its response on Sharjeel Imam’s plea which sought the transfer of all criminal cases against him to the national capital and probe by a single agency.
It had then issued notice to the States of Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh where the other FIRs were lodged against Sharjeel Imam.
Threats by Sharjeel Imam to ‘cut off’ Assam
Earlier, a series of videos had gone viral on social media in which Sharjeel Imam, the chief co-ordinator of Shaheen Bagh protest and a The Wire columnist was seen instigating Muslims of the country to break India by cutting of North-east from the rest of the country. While speaking to Muslim mobs, he said, “Our aim is to cut Assam and North-east India from rest of India”.
Arrested for Sedition
In January this year, Sharjeel Imam was arrested by the Police from Bihar’s Jehanabad. Sedition charges were filed against him in multiple states for his remarks urging Muslims to cut off North East India from the rest of the country by blocking the Chicken’s neck. The arrest was made by the Delhi Police Crime Branch after he was absconding for four days. A manhunt was launched after the video of his seditious speech went viral on social media.
Several states like Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh had filed FIRs against him under charges of sedition and other offences for his secessionist statements.
In an Instagram vlog uploaded on Thursday, accomplished singer Sonu Nigam exposed the dominance of big labels in the music industry and the ill-treatment meted out to professional singers. He began his video blog by highlighting the tragic and untimely death of a 34-year-old actor, Sushant Singh Rajput, and laid the foundation of his video blog.
The singer clarified at the very onset that he wanted to make a request to music production companies via his video. Addressing his fans, he stated “You have heard about the death of an actor. It’s quite possible that you may hear about the death of a singer, composer, or lyricist tomorrow. There is a bigger mafia in the music industry than the acting industry.” Calling himself fortunate to have been a part of the industry at an early age, Sonu Nigam expressed grief over the challenges faced by young and talented singers at the hands of production companies.
“The director, producer, composer, and even the music director wants to work with these singers but the music company would deny (them the opportunity). I understand that you (music companies) are big and you have control over the radio and film industry. But, please don’t do this,” the singer requested.
Sonu Nigam revealed that the music industry is controlled by two giant players who in turn decide the fate of a singer. Expressing his delight of being free from the vicious entrapments of these players, the singer sighed, “I have seen the frustration in the eyes, voice, and words of new singers, composers, and lyricists. Questions will be asked to you (referring to music companies) in case the newcomers choose to end their lives… Stay easy. Stop torturing them.”
A post shared by Sonu Nigam (@sonunigamofficial) on
Sonu Nigam shares his personal experience
Without naming the actor, he took a dig at Salman Khan for stopping him as well Arijit Singh from singing their own songs. “What is this? How can you use your power like that? It’s embarrassing to even say the number of songs, originally sung by me, which have already been dubbed. It’s humiliating! I did not call you for work. You call me to sing and I record the song but you dub it later. This is funny as hell”, Sonu Nigam remarked. He added that if such a treatment is meted out to him, who has been in the industry since 1989, then, one can imagine the plight of newcomers.
The Hegemony of the Big Labels
“You make 9 singers sing one song. What is happening?” he smirked. Sonu Nigam urged the music production companies to be humane and kind towards the newbies. “A singer is made to sing ten songs, but all of them are later dubbed. And then you dare to make him sing for the 11th song. Isn’t it wrong to treat singers, lyricists, and composers in this way?” he sighed. The singer explained how talented singers are deprived of opportunities if they chose to not work with any of these companies. He urged the big labels to step into the shoes of singers and artists to understand the struggles faced by them.
“I hope people don’t get irked after watching this video. I am stating the obvious. The singers, music directors, and lyricists who have been suffering will agree to what I have said. Even the directors and producers are not happy. They are not being allowed to make music of their choice. This is not right. Creativity should not be in the hands of two people,” he emphasised. Sonu Nigam concluded by saying that if music companies decide everything, then, the space for creativity would shrink.
Allegations after death of Sushant Singh Rajput
The issue of control of big production houses over the lives of artists in the Hindi film industry surfaced after the untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput, allegedly by suicide. There are many allegations that he was denied work by several established production houses and producers, which pushed him to depression. After the allegations surfaced, the Mumbai police have already started investigating allegations that professional rivalry and lobbying might have pushed actor Sushant Singh Rajput to suicide. The police will also be probing allegations that the actor was ousted from multiple films in the last six months after being “boycotted” by big banners.
At a time when the entire country is united against Chinese aggression against the country, the Congress party’s ally in Tamil Nadu – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has indulged in a blatant act of defending the Chinese aggression along the LAC and has instead blamed the Modi government for provoking the Chinese establishment. A video of a show telecast on DMK’s official TV channel – Kalaignar TV has gone viral on social media, in which the host named as Varavanai Senthil can be seen defending the recent Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control, especially the barbaric attacks on the Indian soldiers at the Galwan valley.
In the video, Senthil can be heard supporting China by claiming that the attack by the PLA troops against Indians was a response to certain policies taken by the Modi government, especially the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
DMK’s support for China. “Modi has an informal agreement with Israel to make Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh as Jewish settlements, to stop this China has taken action” “China had to act only because Modi cancelled special status to J&K and made Ladakh an UT” pic.twitter.com/aceTFU6FOo
According to Senthil show’s in DMK-owned channel Kalaignar TV, the Modi government has an informal understanding with Israel, which decided to make Union Territory of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh a ‘Jewish settlement’. To enable this, the Modi government decided to scrap the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking his anti-BJP rant to the next level, Senthil claimed that the Modi government’s decision to house Jews from Israel in the Northern border states as a deterrent against China was pre-empted by the Communist nation, who then attacked the India troops along the Line of Actual Control. Senthil’s assertion is that it was the decision to make Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh a Jewish colony prompted China to take action against India.
The show telecast by Kalaignar TV shamelessly absolves crimes of Chinese troops, who have unleashed monstrous attacks on India soldiers, and attempted to hold Modi government responsible for provoking China. Shockingly, the DMK-owned channel has been pushing absurd claims of Modi government setting up of a Jewish colony at Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh to deter Chinese forces.
There is neither reports of India agreeing, formally or informally, with the Israeli government to set up Jewish colonies in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh nor there is any evidence to prove that China attacked Indian troops as a response to India’s actions as claimed by the DMK-owned media network.
In their attempt to vilify the Modi government, the DMK ecosystem has crossed all the limits of decency as they belittle the sacrifices made by the Indian troops by stating that the attacks were no fault of the Chinese despite the fact that the PLA troops had unleashed savages attacks on the Indian troops to the point of mutilation.
Indian troops killed after Chinese launches aggressive attacks
The Indian Army on Tuesday released a statement saying that at least 20 Indian soldiers had martyred, including the Commanding Officer of a battalion at Galwan valley in a violent faceoff on Monday night. The Indian soldiers were killed in an unprecedented violent clash with PLA troopers in the Galwan Valley on Monday night.
The official statement said that it took place during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan valley. It reported that no bullets were fired but the Chinese troops pelted stones and clubs.
During the clashes, the Chinese troops have also suffered severe casualties as at least 43 Chinese troops are either injured or dead during the attacks that took place on Monday night.
Ever since the anti-Hindu Delhi riots erupted, the ecosystem has worked overtime to prove that the riots were actually a pogrom against Muslims by Hindus. The media has completely exonerated the Muslim community and almost developed selective amnesia. The ecosystem that acts as the backbone of the Islamists hardly recalls the violence that broke out and the Islamist mobs that ran rampage even before the Delhi riots way back in December. They forget about the Ankit Sharmas and Dilbar Negis in the riots and the conveniently dismiss all evidence against the Islamist mobs than indiscriminately targeted Hindus.
While the entire ecosystem works in tandem, this time, The Quint has stepped up to mount a shameless defence of a man named as the instigator of riots that led to the brutal murder of Ratan Lal by Islamist mobs.
Recently, in an Exclusive story, OpIndia had reported how in the charge sheet filed in connection with the murder of constable Ratan Lal, advocate DS Bindra was named as one of the instigators.
In the charge sheet, it was mentioned categorically that DS Bindra was one of the instigators of the riots that led to the murder of Ratan Lal. The charge sheet also categorically states that the conspirators “were fully aware that violence may ensue and had accordingly directed the protestors to arm themselves”.
Further, the charge sheet says, “On 23.02.2020 the above said accused persons along with other organizers, conspirators and rioters convened a meeting at Chand Bagh and asked the residents to equip themselves with iron rods, Dandas, Petrol Bombs etc for the next day. On 24.02.2020 at around 1 pm as per plan, the riots erupted and the protestors attacked the police personnel. Numbers of police personnel were injured and HC Ratan Lal was killed”.
After OpIndia reported, The Quint rushed to not only cast aspersions on the Delhi Crime Branch’s charge sheet, but also exclusively gave a platform to DS Bindra to peddle his victimhood without presenting the full facts.
The Quint article was headlined, “Is Langar A Crime?: DS Bindra on his name being linked to riots”. At the very outset, by the headline, the insinuation was clear – that in the charge sheet, Bindra has been named only because he set up a langar to feed the protestors and hence, he is being called an instigator.
The Quint article
In the entire article, The Quint is careful to quote only testimonies and statements by rioters that recorded the role of DS Bindra in setting up langar and organising the protest. It quotes the following statement by Najam Ul Hasan as mentioned in the charge sheet:
“DH Bindra requested locals to carry out a demonstration against CAA and he said that ‘I will put up a langar and medical camp. The entire Sikh community is with you. If you don’t come forward then your fate will be similar to that of Sikhs in 1984”.
In the entire article, The Quint is careful to quote only statements that point towards the role of Bindra in setting up the tent for protests, langar for meals etc. However, certain other aspects that are conspicuously missed by The Quint point towards the fact that the publication is trying its best to shield Bindra.
The charge sheet, for example, says that the organisers and instigators were fully aware that the protests may turn violent and hence, they had instructed the protestors to carry weapons. As mentioned above, in a meeting on the 23rd, it was specifically told to protestors to carry iron rods, acid pouches etc. Since Bindra is named as an instigator and every statement proves, even the ones quoted by The Quint, that Bindra was intricately linked with organising the protests and the meetings, Bindra cannot be exonerated.
Interestingly, The Quint has left out these details from its report. Though The Quint has quoted OpIndia, it is clear that The Quint itself has also acquired a copy of the charge sheet. How do we know this? Well, The Quint, just as OpIndia, quotes the testimony of two beat officers whose statements were recorded in the charge sheet specifically naming DS Bindra. However, while OpIndia had intentionally left out the names of the beat cops, The Quint has added their names in their report. This clearly means that The Quint too has a copy of the charge sheet and hence, them omitting the operative parts of the charge sheet which says that the organisers and instigators asked protestors to be armed a day before the riots broke out reeks of a sinister agenda.
It is also interesting to note that in their report, The Quint while citing OpIndia report blames OpIndia for focussing “only” on the parts that named DS Bindra.
The Quint report
One cannot really accuse The Quint of indulging in practices such as journalism, but lengthy charge sheets are generally broken into bits for the purpose of reportage. Mostly, a lengthy charge sheet that has several elements to it, will not be reported at once, in one article itself. It is broken into bits that are easy to consume.
Further, Quint carries DS Bindra’s comment blaming OpIndia for not reaching out to him for “his right to respond to allegations”. Firstly, the report only pertained to the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Crime Branch. If at all Bindra wishes to defend himself, it should be to the police and in the court of law. While reporting a charge sheet, there is no incumbent requirement to reach out to the accused to take their version.
While this drivel from The Quint is not surprising, what is pertinent to note here is that it would seem that the entire Left media ecosystem could have deliberately not reported that DS Bindra is indeed named in the charge sheet. Seeing how he was glorified by the media during the protests and that they have the copy of the charge sheet with them, it is reasonable to conclude that even though they were in the possession of the charge sheet, the entire ecosystem chose to not report material facts mentioned in the charge sheet.
With the concerted attempt to shield the rioters, instigators and conspirators, this omertà that the media seems to be observing don’t surprise anyone.
