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China says its step to evacuate citizens from India is not linked to border standoff, terms Indian media ‘irresponsible’

OpIndia Staff
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China says its step to evacuate citizens from India is not linked to border standoff, terms Indian media ‘irresponsible’

Recently, the Chinese embassy in India had published a notice, telling Chinese citizens currently staying in India that China will operate special flights to evacuate its citizens stranded in India and those facing the difficulties of returning to the mainland from June 2 onwards.

According to the official press release which was in Mandarin, the evacuation services offered by the Chinese government could be availed by international students, tourists and temporary business-visa holders among others who are facing difficulties in India. 

China has asked its citizens willing to return to China to register by the morning of May 27.

The notification had come amidst the raging coronavirus pandemic and the current military standoff at the LAC in Ladakh. Media reports had cited the border tension and the increasing troops deployment at the Galwan flashpoint and had mentioned that the suddem notification regarding China trying to evacuate its citizens from India may also be related to the increasing tensions at the LAC.

Global Times calls evacuation reports ‘far-fetched and misguided’

Global Times, the Chinese government mouthpiece had yesterday published a report stating, “The voluntary repatriation plan should be seen as a normal service provided by the embassy to its citizens. Yet, some Indian media outlets have intentionally linked the normal operation to the recent border tension between China and India in the Galwan Valley region, fueling a new round of irresponsible speculation that China may be preparing for an escalation of the border disputes.”

Calling linking of the evacuation plan and the border standoff ‘far-fetched and misguided’ the report further read, “It is entirely justifiable that the Chinese government would help its citizens return to their home country, given the difficulties in the aviation industry. India banned all incoming international flights in late March, and its ongoing coronavirus lockdown has stranded students, tourists and business people in the country for some time.”

“The Indian government should not misinterpret the move by China this time. After all, it was not long ago that the Indian government took similar actions to bring home its citizens stranded abroad”, it added.

The Global Times report further went on a rant against India’s trade policies and FDI rules, claiming that India, after potentially blocking Chinese companies from takeovers in India, is further considering clamping down on Chinese investors’ access to the Indian market.

It claimed that “hyping border tensions at this juncture will flare up nationalist sentiment and increase domestic hostility toward Chinese capital, putting unnecessary pressure on bilateral trade and dealing a further blow to the Indian economy already plagued by downturn woes.”

It is clear that the Global Times report is another veiled attempt by China to arm-twist India into believing what it wants it to believe. The extensive mention of the increasing coronavirus cases, the economic impact of the lockdown and the potential economic difficulties ahead, it is almost as if China wants attention turned away from the standoff at the LAC.

China’s and media

China does not believe is media freedom and freedom of expression. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and searching giant Google are banned in China. The extensive internet censorship has even earned a satirical term, The Great Firewall of China’. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, China was accused of going to great lengths to suppress the truth and keeping the world in dark about the threat of a pandemic.

Recently, China had also thrown another tantrum over Indian media organisations’ reportage over Taiwan and its inclusion in the World Health Assembly (WHA).

Replicating this obsession over the ‘One-China principle’, the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, Ji Rong, had on 11 May posted a series of tweets urging the Indian media organisations to take a “correct stance” on Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organisation’s activities.

China had also been particularly unhappy with some Indian media outlets, for their constant coverage on China’s failures and blunders.

Railways calls out misinformation again, 3 new cases of prior ailments misreported as deaths due to negligence

OpIndia Staff
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Railways calls out misinformation again, 3 new cases of prior ailments misreported as deaths due to negligence

Indian Railways has again called out the misinformation spread about deaths of migrants travelling through the Shramik Express trains. On Wednesday, May 27, 2020, Jagran published a news claiming that four people died on Shramik Express due to negligence. The report states that the migrant workers onboard Shramik Express have been deprived of food and water and cast aspersions that some of the migrants who died on these trains died due to lack of basic food and water.

Many on social media, including journalists, blamed the death on lack of food and water on Shramik Express.

As per the report, 45 year old Azamgarh Ram Awadh Chauhan travelling from Kalyan in Maharashtra to Jhansi in a bus. When he reached Jhansi railway station, his health deteriorated and after taking medicines given by railways doctor, he boarded Shramik Express train where he passed away near Kanpur station. OpIndia reached out to the Railway Ministry regarding the deaths on Shramik Express trains. Sources in the Railways have confirmed that the deceased had a preexisting blood pressure and blood sugar conditions and was attended by doctors.

Similarly, Jagran mentions one migrant from Surat going to Vaishali. He died on the Sasaram-Patna train on 26 May 2020. Jagran report cites brother of Saroj, the deceased, who claims that Saroj and himself had not eaten since Monday. However, sources in the railways state that the allegation of negligence is unfounded and nothing can be said till the postmortem report is out.

Another migrant worker Jagran talks about is one 52-year-old Lal Babu Kamat. As Jagran report itself mentions, Kamat had suffered paralysis sometime back and when his health deteriorated, he was administered medicines too. Railways sources too confirmed that he was given medicines when his health deteriorated.

Indian Railways, too, took to Twitter to call out the misinformation being spread regards to death on the trains.

Indian Railways reiterated that medical assistance is provided to every passenger in case of emergencies. Moreover, food and water is provided on the Shramik Express trains for all passengers.

Deaths of migrants on Shramik Express trains

On Tuesday, Indian Railways had rebutted Dainik Bhaskar report which had claimed that lack of food and water on Shramik Express trains is leading to death of migrant workers. In its report, Bhaskar had claimed that the bus which left for Siwan from Surat on 16th May reached its destination on 25th May and amid all this, many people lost their lives due to the heat, lack of water and food. However, Indian Railways clarified that no such train was delayed by 9 days. Similarly, the cause of death of others onboard cannot be ascertained till the postmortem reports are out.

Similarly, Caravan India journalist Vidya Krishnan was also found spreading misinformation and lies regarding Shramik Express. On Tuesday, Caravan India journalist Vidya Krishnan took to Twitter to claim that 40 Shramik Express trains got lost and that the government ‘forgot’ to feed the passengers which led to death of at least 10 people. Krishnan provided no proof to back this claim of 10 people dying due to hunger because the government ‘forgot’ to feed them. Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking arm took to Twitter to call out her falsehood. The PIB stated that the cause of death cannot be determined without autopsy and proper legal procedure.

Maharashtra mess: Rahul Gandhi shares a video clip of press conference, edits the controversial part out and claims there is no controversy

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra mess: Rahul Gandhi shares a video clip of press conference, edits the controversial part out and claims there is no controversy

Rahul Gandhi had held an online ‘press conference’ yesterday where he had ended up creating a massive political controversy, albeit unintended. When asked about the Coronavirus pandemic and its spread in Maharashtra, the former Congress president had stated that his party is not the key decision-maker in Maharashtra.

Responding to the question, Rahul Gandhi said that since Maharashtra is most connected and owing to the nature of the state, the spread of the virus in the state was inevitable. However, shielding Congress from sharing any of the governance blame, Rahul Gandhi also said that Congress is not in a decision making role in Maharashtra.

Rahul Gandhi said that there is a difference between running the government and supporting the government in the state. He said that Congress can be considered to be in a decision making role in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and the UT of Pondicherry but not in Maharashtra.

Rahul’s response can be clearly seen in the live feed of the press conference that was shared by the official handle of the Congress party on 26 May. The Maharashtra part and the controversial comment regarding Congress comes after 33.00 minutes.

10 cabinet ministers, but no accountability?

The subtle messaging of the comment was clear. Rahul Gandhi was distancing himself and his party from the coronavirus crisis in Maharashtra. Though he did say that Maharashtra being a very ‘connected’ state it is facing the worst crisis of the pandemic and hence needs the full support of the central government. He did not explain what ‘support’ was lacking by the central government. Neither did he specify that since he admitted to being in decision making roles in Punjab and Rajasthan, are they taking the full support of the central government or fighting the pandemic on their own.

Since Congress is a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance government and has 10 cabinet ministers in the government, Rahul Gandhi slyly steering the party away from accountability was indeed shocking.

Congress swings to damage control mode

Soon after Rahul Gandhi’s comments made headlines for reasons not intended by the Congress, the party swung into damage control mode. Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat stated to the media that all was well in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance and they do not have a problem with the Uddhav government.

Not just the party, even mediapersons jumped to issue clarifications and ‘explain’ what ‘he actually meant’.

Rahul Gandhi shares video, edits out the controversial parts

Seeing the controversy and the media debates over the fragility of the MVA alliance in Maharashtra, Rahul had shared a short video clip with the text, “Watch this video to see how paid media distorts the truth to serve their masters and distract attention from REAL issues.”

However, Rahul’s video clip was from the part between 33.58 seconds mark from the original live stream, where he says that “Maharashtra is struggling because of the nature of its connectivity.”

The entire part of the Congress just ‘supporting’ the government and not being the key decision-maker was left out in the clip. So basically, Rahul had edited the controversial part out and claimed that there was no controversy. Some journalists even tried to point it out to him.

It is not clear what exactly is Rahul Gandhi trying to prove by claiming he never said what the media is ‘claiming’ he did. Is he denying his own press conference? Though Rahul Gandhi telling blatant lies is rather usual, Rahul Gandhi denying the statements made in his own press conference is rather amusing.

Paatal Lok changes the morphed image with BJP leader where he is shown next to corrupt character after he files a complaint against Anushka Sharma

OpIndia Staff
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Paatal Lok changes the morphed image with BJP leader where he is shown next to corrupt character after he files a complaint against Anushka Sharma

Days after BJP MLA Nandkishore Gurjar filed a complaint against Amazon Prime series Paatal Lok producer Anushka Sharma for using a morphed image of himself without his permission, the producers have changed the image.

Season 1, Episode 6, changed image.

The scene appears at about 33 minutes 20 seconds into the Season 1, Episode 6 of the series. Earlier, the image showed BJP leader Nandkishor Gurjar in the background.

BJP leader Nandkishor in the background of morphed image.

The image itself was morphed version of an actual image of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurating a highway project.

Original image which was morphed in Paatal Lok

The BJP MLA alleged that using this image was an act to portray the party in a bad light. Besides, the BJP MLA from Ghaziabad also mentioned in his complaint about the show allegedly offending all communities of the Sanatan Dharma and showing Indian investigating agencies negatively. Seeking a ban on the web series the MLA accuses the makers of anti-nationalism. He also argued that it shows Gurjars as dacoits and people associated with malpractices. He also accused the makers of promoting a communal stir among the communities like his own Gurjar caste, Jaat and others.

All Arunachal Pradesh Gorkha Youth Association complains against Paatal Lok

Prior to this, the series had managed to miff the Gorkha communities which had filed NHRC complaint against Anushka Sharma for ‘racial stereotyping’ in ‘Paatal Lok’. On May 18, the All Arunachal Pradesh Gorkha Youth Association took to Facebook to share a screengrab of their complaint along with a caption, detailing how the alleged sexist and racial slur malign their identity.

“We on behalf of the gorkha people and every Nepali speaking person had filed a complaint at NHRC regarding the discrimination and humiliation witness in an incident of insulting Nepali speaking women has come to light in the web series “Patal Lok” running on Amazone Prime. In one part of the series, a female police officer grabs an arrested woman by the thigh and says “Saali Nepali Ra..di. Foreigner log ko deti hai”. Gorkhali people are hurt with such direct insult to Nepali speaking people. The series seems to have hurt the community and there is a strong protest on social media by Nepali speaking people against this web series “Paatal Lok” for presenting such an insulting, demeaning and derogatory dialogue. It is learned that the producer of this web series “Paatal Lok” is Anushka Sharma, a famous actress of the Indian film industry”, read the caption.

Additionally, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh- Bharatiya Yuva Gorkha Parisangh, had also started an online campaign against the web series, alleging that in the second episode, a Nepali-speaking woman had been maligned by the maker and had demanded that the slur to be muted, subtitles blurred and that the video is uploaded with an apology.

Donald Trump hits out on Twitter, accuses it of interfering in presidential elections after it labels his tweet as ‘misleading’

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump hits out on Twitter, accuses it of interfering in presidential elections after it labels his tweet as ‘misleading’

Hours after Twitter flagged tweet of US President Donald Trump as ‘misleading’, he hit out on the platform and accused it of interfering in US Presidential elections slated for later this year.

Donald Trump’s tweet flagged as ‘misleading’ by Twitter

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump’s tweets on mail-in ballots were flagged as ‘misleading’ by Twitter. Trump had said that mail-in ballot box could lead to voter fraud and rigged elections. He had raised concerns that the mail boxes could be robbed and ballots may even be rigged.

Twitter highlighted the above two tweets and put out an alert below them which read “Get the facts about mail-in ballots”.

The landing page for ‘facts on mail-in ballots’

Clicking on the alert would take you to further links on the claims regarding mail-in ballots.

Donald Trump accuses Twitter of interfering in elections

US President Donald Trump hit out on the microblogging giant and accused it of stifling free speech and interfering in the upcoming presidential elections.

Trump accused that Twitter has taken CNN, which he has labelled as ‘Fake News’, and Washington Post articles to claim that Trump’s statement is incorrect. “Twitter is is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen!” he tweeted.

Twitter defends itself

The microblogging giant, in its defence, said that the move was aimed at providing ‘context’ around Trump’s claims. As reported by news agency ANI, while responding to CNN, Twitter said that flagging Trump’s tweets was in line with the approach they shared earlier this month. “These tweets contain potentially misleading information about voting process and have been labelled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots,” Twitter spokesperson Katie Rosborough told CNN.

Activist writes to the health ministry and AIIMS Delhi asking to probe blood donation by Bhim Army chief who suffers from a serious blood disease

OpIndia Staff
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Activist writes to the health ministry and AIIMS Delhi asking to probe blood donation by Bhim Army chief who suffers from a serious blood disease

An activist, Prerna Thiruvaipati, is member of an organisation called ‘All India Dalit Youth Association’ has written a letter to the health ministry and the management of AIIMS-Delhi in which she has urged the two to probe the recent blood donation by the Bhim Army chief, Chandrashekhar Azad. The activist wrote that Azad is suffering from polycythemia vera, a medical condition in which it is not advisable to donate blood to others. Prerna took to Twitter today to apprise the same.

In her subsequent tweets, the activist shares a tweet recently posted by a doctor named Prashant Sharma, who first raised the issue on social media. The e-mail she wrote to the Health Ministry and AIIMS Delhi, was based on the tweet shared by Dr Prashant Sharma.

Screengrab of the e-mail written to the concerned depts by Prerna Thiruvaipati

Dr Prashant Sharma flagged that Azad had donated blood recently at AIIMS Delhi

Dr Prashant Sharma had taken to Twitter on May 16 to apprise that Chandrashekhar Azad had donated blood with his doctor Harjit Singh Bhatti recently at AIIMS Delhi. He wrote that Azad is suffering from polycythemia vera, a blood disorder. He said that under this medical condition, a person cannot donate blood to another person and by doing so Azad has risked the life of a person. Calling it a publicity stunt Sharma asked whether Dr Bhatti will be held accountable as he is Azad’s consulting doctors. Sharma had substantiated his claims with relevant screenshots.

On May 16, Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti had tweeted that he and Azad had donated blood at the JPNA AIIMS trauma center. He had posted several photographs of the same. But when people on social media started to point out that Azad is not eligible to donate blood, he removed all his posts about the donation.

“Today Chandra Shekhar Azad donated blood with Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti ..he is suffering from polycythemia Vera a blood disorder. Can this blood be transfused to a patient. Is this a mere publicity stunt and risking life of a person.. Will Dr bhatti be held legally responsible,” Sharma’s post on May 16 read.

It may be noted that Bhatti himself had informed that his patient Azad suffers from polycythemia. He and the lawyers of Azad had even cited this health condition to demand bail for Azad.

Polycythemia is a disease state in which the percentage of red blood cells in the blood and/or haemoglobin concentration increases. These excess cells thicken the blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots. According to the Mayo clinic, polycythemia vera is a type of blood cancer.

Activist shares links of older reports confirming the medical condition of Chandrashekhar Azad

Based on these assertions, the activist wrote to the Health Ministry. Her letter read: “Two weeks ago, we saw pictures of Chandrashekhar Azad (who heads an outfit called Bhim Army and a political party called Azad Samaj Party), donating blood at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center at AIIMS. His doctor, Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, shared the pictures on Facebook…”

“This is shocking. Media has reported time and again that Azad is suffering from a disease called Polycythemia, which is a blood disorder, and blood of such a person can not be transfused to a patient.”

The letter also gives links to several news reports on the health condition of Azad.

One of those reports, published by India Today in January 2020, said, “Chandrashekhar Azad is suffering from polycythemia, a condition in which the body makes too many red blood cells.”

Report by India Today

It mentioned a report published by Scroll dated January 9, 2020, titled: “Treat Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad in AIIMS, Delhi court tells Tihar Jail authorities” which also categorically mentioned that the Bhim Army chief was suffering from polycythemia.

Report published by Scroll on January 9, 2020

In the letter, the activist has urged the authorities to probe whether Azad and his doctor hid his medical condition from AIIMS before donating blood, whether AIIMS did not follow due protocol before accepting blood from him, and what happened to the donated blood.

The letter says, “there appears to be a major lapse on the part of AIIMS-Delhi” that “can jeopardize the health and safety of many patients”.

According to a report by Swarajya, the media house had sent several messages to the spokesperson of AIIMS to comment on the issue but did not receive any reply. It also said that Azad’s doctor, Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti had removed all the said blood donation posts from his timeline. Neither Bhatti or Azad have responded to Prashant Sharma’s post that first flagged the issue in public.

It may be noted that Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti is the same person who had posed as an AIIMS doctor to given statements on the JNU violence in January this year after injured students were admitted at the hospital. Several media houses had carried his comments as ‘official’ AIIMS statement, despite the fact that he is not employed at the premier medical institute. He is the former president of the Resident Doctors’ Association at AIIMS, but no longer employed there. Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti is the national convenor of the All India Medical Cell of the Congress party, and also a doctor and supporter of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad.

The UK: Man and son have a lucky escape after a turtle they found on the ground turn out to be live grenade from World War 1

OpIndia Staff
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The UK: Man and son have a lucky escape after a turtle they found on the ground turn out to be live grenade from World War 1

Assuming it is a turtle, the five-year-old son of Louie Lomas was about to pick it up. But it turned out to be a 100-year-old hand grenade that was embedded in the ground, which looked very much like a turtle inside its shell. This mistake was about to turn dangerous for a father and son when they were walking near their place in Taunton, Somerset in the United Kingdom. The turtle turned out as a rejected hand grenade of the World War I time.

As per reports, Louie Lomas was taking his 5-year-old son for a walk when he spotted an object very much looking like a turtle. The son attempted to pick up the object but Lomas immediately realized that it is something else other than a turtle. Louie picked his son before he could touch the object. “He was really excited because he thought it was a turtle and was about to pick it up,” said Louie.

“He was a bit scared and taken aback when I grabbed him and pulled him away. But he was quite excited when I explained what a grenade was,” he added. He said that the grenade was sitting on the floor right by their feet as they were walking along the river where they usually go for walk.

Louie Lomas, who is an ex-circus performer said that grenade was on the ground and they noticed it while walking along the river. Initially, he thought what a turtle was doing at that place, but he quickly realised that it was not a harmless turtle but an extremely dangerous explosive. “It was pretty obvious what it was so I wasn’t going to mess around,” he said. After that, he informed the police.

Police arrived at the spot quickly, but more drama happened as the officers accidentally parked their vehicle on the bridge right on top of the grenade.

Lomas said, “When the police arrived, they actually came and parked on top of it by accident. When they asked where it was and I told them they’d just parked right on top of it, they freaked out, jumped us into the back of the car and sped to the end of the road, which was a dead-end.”

The father-son duo was present at the spot until the bomb squad arrived. According to them, it was still live. The grenade was detonated by the team at a safe distance. Louie said that Lockley was a bit upset he didn’t get to see it explode, as they were asked to leave the spot during detonation for safety.

Rajasthan: Salon operator resumes work after giving samples for Coronavirus test, attended 18 customers before confirmed positive

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Salon operator resumes work after giving samples for Coronavirus test, attended 18 customers before confirmed positive

A salon operator in Bhadwasiya near Jodhpur was tested positive of the Wuhan coronavirus on Monday night that created a stir in the locality. The salon operator had given samples for coronavirus on Monday morning but did not wait for the reports to come. Without a delay, he opened his shop and attended more than 18 customers in a day.

After the report came late at night, he rushed to the hospital. Now the authorities are tracking his customers who had a haircut at his shop on Monday.

As per reports, the salon operator went to his village in Jodhpur on Sunday. The next morning his samples were taken for a COVID-19 test. Without waiting for the report, he opened his shop and started work. As soon as the salon was opened, people living nearby reached in large numbers to have a haircut. Reportedly, he attended more than 18 customers without taking any precautions.

The hairdresser was found infected by the coronavirus when his report came late at night. The carelessness of the salon operator has now created a rage among the people who went to his shop on Monday. Some of them even came to get tested as soon as they got the news. Other customers are being traced by the health department.

Jodhpur has reported 1200 cases of Wuhan Coronavirus so far.

Maharashtra government goes all out against Republic TV, orders CID probe against Arnab Goswami and his channel in a two-year-old suicide case

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra government goes all out against Republic TV, orders CID probe against Arnab Goswami and his channel in a two-year-old suicide case

Continuing its vendetta against the Editor-in-Chief of the Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, the Maharashtra government has dredged up an old case from 2018 and ordered a CID investigation into it. The case is related to alleged non-payment of dues by the Republic TV which allegedly forced two people to commit suicide in May 2018.

A CID investigation has been ordered by the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a case which was already closed by a court after investigation. Republic TV was served notice to appear for interrogation at a time when Maharashtra is struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, Deshmukh said that a CID probe has been ordered against Republic TV network based on a complaint filed by one Adnya Naik who claimed that Alibaug police had not probed the non-payment of dues from Republic TV which allegedly drove her father and grandmother to commit suicide in May 2018.

In addition, the Maharashtra government has also begun a new criminal investigation against Arnab Goswami and his news channel. Sources close to Republic TV reveal that fresh interrogation papers have been served to Republic TV which has been particularly critical of the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak in the state.

The interrogation papers sent to the Republic TV is in connection with its coverage of the chaos in Bandra where a legion of migrant workers had congregated in gross violation of the lockdown restrictions and social distancing norms, presumably for returning to their native places. The Republic TV CFO was also asked to visit Pyndhonie Police Station for interrogation. It is pertinent to note that the police station is located in a containment zone. Last time, a police officer who interrogated Arnab Goswami for calling Sonia Gandhi as “Antonio Maino” on his show had tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, the police seem bent on questioning the Republic TV network as requests regarding medical advice against inquisition during the times of COVID-19 crisis was turned down by them, claiming that will continue to interrogate Republic TV executives in containment areas. This is the third interrogation after Arnab Goswami’s 12-hour marathon interrogation conducted by the Mumbai Police. Far from committing their resources in tackling the ominous spread of coronavirus in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government seems particularly fixated on Republic TV and Arnab Goswami and are in a relentless pursuit of entangling the journalist and his news channel in a labyrinth of legal matters.

The suicide case of Interior Designer and the abetment to suicide case against Arnab Goswami

In May 2018, an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami in an alleged abetment to suicide case. An Interior Designer had committed suicide in his bungalow in Alibaug.

Based on the suicide note left behind by Naik, police had registered an abetment to suicide case against Goswami, Feroz Shaikh of IcastX/Skimedia and Niteish Sarda of Smartworks.

Naik’s wife had alleged that he committed suicide as Republic TV did not pay his dues. A statement issued by Republic TV said that certain vested interest groups are running a false and malicious campaign and making false statements and innuendos against Republic TV by exploiting a tragic event involving Naik’s unfortunate demise.

Arnab Goswami being hounded by Maharashtra Police

Arnab Goswami has been hounded by the Congress party for weeks now after he referred to their interim President-Sonia Gandhi with her maiden name “Antonio Maino” on his show on Republic TV and questioned her silence on the brutal lynching of the Hindu sadhus in Palghar.

Congress party filed multiple FIRs in multiple places in their attempt to hound Arnab Goswami and the Maharashtra police, which is now under the alliance government of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP questioned Arnab for over 12 hours. If that was not enough. the police then questioned the group CFO of Republic TV as well. And before the state machinery descended on Arnab, two Congress goons had attacked him and his wife while they were on their way home from the Republic TV studio. The police, in turn, refused to even add Congress’ name in the complaint lodged by Arnab Goswami.

“We don’t have electricity and water for 6 days” Locals in Kolkata suffer, amidst no administrative help from West Bengal Government

OpIndia Staff
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“We don’t have electricity and water for 6 days” Locals in Kolkata suffer, amidst no administrative help from West Bengal Government

In the aftermath of the havoc wrought by the Cyclone Amphan in the State of West Bengal, coupled with indifference of the local administration towards the humanitarian crisis, residents of Baghajatin area in Kolkata have decided to block the roads.

Many have been suffering endlessly in the absence of both electricity and water supply for 6 days. And to add to their woes, the local administration has been indifferent to their problems. With no option left to voice their opinion, the residents of Baghajatin area have decided to block the roads as a mark of protest.

Speaking to ANI, a local resident informed, “It has been misreported in the media that the supply of electricity and water has been resumed in our area. But, for the last 6 days, we have neither electricity nor water.” Directing towards a lamp post lying unattended on the road, he conceded, “None has come to fix it.”

“A person who is suffering can only understand what we are going through. I have nothing to say. There has absolutely been no help from the administration,” the man sighed.

Relief work languishes in West Bengal

Days after cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc in the state of West Bengal, the simmering tensions among the disenchanted population against the Mamata Banerjee-led government’s inept handling of the relief activities crystallised on the streets as protest mounted against the state administration for its bungled response to the catastrophe.

Several areas in the State saw angry protesters swarming the roads since Saturday against the establishment. Protests were held in prominent areas, including Behala, New Alipore, Regent Park, and Jadavpur. People put up road blockades demanding restoration of power.

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