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Arrested Delhi riots shooter Mohammad Shahrukh associated with a notorious gang, parents are drug peddlers

OpIndia Staff
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Arrested Delhi riots shooter Mohammad Shahrukh associated with a notorious gang, parents are drug peddlers

Reports have emerged that the Delhi anti-Hindu riot shooter Mohammad Shahrukh who had been arrested on March 3 for firing 8 bullets at a policeman during the Delhi violence is suspected to be linked to a notorious Chhenu gang which is active in Northeast Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

The Delhi police have established that the Islamist shooter was in constant touch with the members of the Chenu gang, however, they are not yet sure whether he was an active member of the gang or not.

The semi-automatic 7.65-bore pistol used by Shahrukh was made in Bihar and was procured by him about two years ago.

The Delhi police officials investigating the case are now probing whether Shahrukh was responsible for arranging weapons for other rioters as well and whether he was involved in instigating the Islamist mobs which ran amok, engaging in arson, stone-pelting, vandalism recently in the national capital.

Read: Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint whitewashes Delhi shooter Shahrukh as ‘TikTok buff, PUBG addict’ who carried pistol ‘to protect his sister’

Sources informed the news agency IANS that Shahrukh was given shelter in Bareilly by one of the friends of his father who is also allegedly a drug supplier.

Investigations into the case have reportedly revealed that Shahrukh’s father, Shawar Pathan, who came to Delhi in 1985, is also a criminal and has several cases registered against him on charges of drug peddling and smuggling fake currency notes. He had, in fact, been released on bail just three days ahead of Shahrukh’s shooting incident during the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi’s Maujpur area in broad daylight on 24 February.

The father was reportedly born as a Sikh who had later converted to Islam for marrying a Muslim woman. According to reports, Shahrukh’s mother also is said to be a notorious drug peddler.

On the day of US President Donald Trump’s visit to India, the national capital had witnessed unprecedented violence. A Delhi police constable has lost his life in the riots that have ensued in the national capital in wake of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Another DCP has been injured during clashes in Delhi’s Gokulpuri. An IB official, Ankit Sharma, was brutally murdered and his dead body was thrown in a drain. Amidst the riots, a video of a man opening fire at the police, and one policeman bravely standing in his way emerged. The shooter, identified as Shahrukh, has now been arrested.

After filing petition in Supreme Court, ‘activist’ Harsh Mander packs up and flies off to US as his ‘justice on the streets’ speech goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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After filing petition in Supreme Court, ‘activist’ Harsh Mander packs up and flies off to US as his ‘justice on the streets’ speech goes viral

The controversial foreign-funded ‘activist’ Harsh Mander, whose hate speech video has now surfaced on the social media platforms, has reportedly flown off to the United States at a time his counsel has been fighting hard seeking FIR against others for allegedly delivering hate speech.


On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard a petition concerning the anti-Hindu riots that engulfed the streets of Delhi. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cited the video clip of Harsh Mander making hate speech and “calling on the people of India” to hit the streets and also expressing distrust in the courts, saying “real justice will be done on the streets”.

Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had objected to the petition filed by Mander’s counsel. “Harsh Mander’s speech says we have no faith in the Supreme Court and still we have to go. This is the speech at CAA protests,” SG Mehta said.

Read: UP Police rubbishes ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s report where he claimed policemen chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans in AMU

Following the submission of Harsh Mander’s hate speech videos, the Supreme Court had taken the hate speech into cognizance and had refused to hear controversial foreign-funded ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s plea till he clarifies on his hate speech and his comments against the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court slammed the controversial ‘activist’ after his controversial hate speech inciting people to hit the streets was submitted to the apex court.

Incidentally, Harsh Mander, who had filed a petition seeking registration of FIR against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Abhay Verma for their alleged hate speeches, was not even present in the court today. Instead, his counsel represented by Karuna Nundy argued on behalf of Congress-era ‘activist’ Mander.

The most interesting part is that Mander, whose videos are viral now, has packed off his bag and flew to the United States. The counsel representing Mander, on Wednesday, requested the Supreme Court to postpone the hearing to another day citing that controversial ‘activist’ was already on a flight to the United States.

Responding to the absence of Harsh Mander at a time his hate speech video has gone viral, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta took a dig at the counsel saying that Mander was enjoying his time in the US after delivering a hate speech.

Read: ‘Fact-finding’ report by Harsh Mander on the AMU violence during anti-CAA riots on 15th Dec falls flat: Here is how

On Tuesday night, an undated video had now gone viral where Mander can be heard saying how there is no scope of secularism in Supreme Court, especially after the Ayodhya verdict. Speaking to a gathering in Delhi, the foreign-funded activist was seen inciting the mob, calling them to descend on streets to decide for themselves based on the show of the strength. Mander claimed that time has now come for people to hit the streets as both the Supreme Court and parliament have failed them.

The George Soros funded former member of Sonia Gandhi’s NAC, Harsh Mander had attempted pushing the Muslims to rebel against the institutions of the country, by asking them to show their strength on the streets. In a way, Mander who claims to be a saviour of Constitution had asked the crowd to dismantle Parliament and Courts and create anarchy on the streets of the country. Harsh Mander was perhaps hinting at a mob-controlled governance structure where justice is delivered on the streets. 

Harsh Mander is also the Chairman of George Soros’s Open Society Foundation’s Human Rights Initiative Advisory Board.

Harsh Mander’s hate speech comes at a time when the Delhi High Court has already issued a notice to the centre in connection to a plea seeking an FIR against him and others including rabble-rousers like RJ Sayema, Swara Bhaskar, Amanatullah Khan (AAP Party) for instigating people to indulge in violence during the anti-Hindu riots.

Afghanistan: Days after the much hyped ‘peace deal’, Taliban kills 20 in attack, US launches airstrikes

OpIndia Staff
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Afghanistan: Days after the much hyped ‘peace deal’, Taliban kills 20 in attack, US launches airstrikes

The terrorists of Taliban killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a series of overnight attacks, hours after Donald Trump had a telephonic conversation with the leader of Taliban, Afghan Government officials said to AFP news agency on Wednesday, barely days after the so-called peace-deal.


A member of provincial council Safiullah Amiri said, “Taliban fighters attacked at least three army outposts in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz last night, killing at least 10 soldiers and four police.”

The governor’s spokesman Zergai Ebadi told AFP that, ” The insurgents also attacked police in Central Uruzgan province on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, six police were killed and seven wounded”.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday informed that he had a good telephonic conversation with Taliban days after the US-Taliban signed a historic agreement aimed at ending the prolonged war in Afghanistan.

“I did, I spoke to the leader of the Taliban today, we had a good conversation,” Trump had told reporters. “Taliban leaders agreed that there is no violence, we don’t want violence.”

As per the latest reports, in reply of the Taliban attack, the US has now launched airstrikes against the Taliban, spawning speculations about whether the peace deal has already ended.

Read: US signs peace deal with Taliban to end the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan, to withdraw troops in 14 months

U.S. military spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett stated that the strike was the first U.S. attack against the militants in 11 days, adding that it was ‘defensive’. He said the airstrikes were carried out in Nahr-e Saraj in the southern Helmand province.

The United States and Taliban signed a Peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, potentially ending the war in Afghanistan that is going on for 18 years.

The deal extends to a full withdrawal of American and NATO Troops from Afghanistan within 14 months with a guarantee that the Taliban won’t launch any attacks on the USA and its allies, beginning of intra-Afghan negotiations between Taliban and Afghan government, and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

Mamata Banerjee says government is trying to ‘divert attention’ from the Delhi riots by ‘creating’ coronavirus panic

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata Banerjee says government is trying to ‘divert attention’ from the Delhi riots by ‘creating’ coronavirus panic

In a bizarre turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused central government of ‘creating coronavirus panic’ to ‘divert attention’ from Delhi anti-Hindu riots. She even alleged that BJP killed those who died in the communal violence in the national capital. The TMC chief alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is trying to cover up the riots with coronavirus.

While addressing a rally in Buniadpur, South Dinajpur district Banerjee said “that some channels are hyping coronavirus to cover up the Delhi riots. It’s the disease people should not panic, it’s a concern worldwide… those dead in Delhi violence did not die in coronavirus, they were killed by BJP.”


Accusing centre of spreading panic about coronavirus to ‘divert attention’ from the recent Delhi riots is one of the most bizarre allegations against the BJP in recent times.

Read: ‘Politics will be done on surgical strikes to divert attention from real issues’: Congress leader on Indian Army’s action against terror camps in PoK

However, this is not the first time, the West Bengal chief minister, in her compulsion to criticize the central government, has come up with such a bizarre statement. In September last year, Mamata in all seriousness had said that ISRO launched Chandrayaan 2 to ‘divert attention’ from the economic condition. Mocking the moon mission, where India was all set to create history by attempting to be the fourth country on the moon, the TMC chief said that the Chandrayaan 2 mission is an attempt to ‘divert attention from economic disaster’.

With this bizarre rant, Banerjee had trumped Raj Thackeray’s allegations in 2018 when he had said that Sridevi’s death was used as a ruse to divert attention from Nirav Modi scam.

“Coughing in public these days is like shouting Allahu Akbar”: Syria origin American author’s tweet wins Internet

OpIndia Staff
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“Coughing in public these days is like shouting Allahu Akbar”: Syria origin American author’s tweet wins Internet

US-based Syria-origin author and journalist Hassan Hassan today took to Twitter to comparing coughing in public spaces to shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as both the things seem to be triggering similar panic amongst people.


With the rapid spread of coronavirus, people are avoiding public places and anyone spotted coughing or sneezing is sending a wave of panic. In a lighter vein, Hassan compared coronavirus to Islamic terrorism where radicalised terrorists shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is great) before a terror attack. His tweet soon went viral where many appreciated the dry humour.


Others too chimed in, not holding back to take a joke or two upon themselves.


People appreciated the humour in such tragic times when the world is in grip of the virus. In India, as many as 28 people tested positive for COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. WHO guideline says that when someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus. So in a social gathering, one can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing is suffering from the disease.

Unnao Case: Former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar convicted for death of rape victim’s father

OpIndia Staff
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Unnao Case: Former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar convicted for death of rape victim’s father

Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court has held expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar guilty of culpable homicide for the custodial death of Unnao rape victim’s father. Out of the 11 accused in the case, the court convicted 7 including Sengar, who is also convicted in Unnao rape case, and acquitted 4 others.


The court observed that though Sengar had no intention of killing the rape victim’s father but he was so badly beaten that he died of the injuries sustained by him.

The Unnao rape survivor’s father died in police custody on April 2018. According to charge-sheet filed in July 2018, the victim’s father, along with his co-worker were returning to their village, Makhi, when they had an altercation with one Shashi Pratap Singh. Singh called his associates-Sengar and his brother Atul who reached the spot and beat up the Unnao rape victim’s father and his co-worker.

The father was taken to the police where an FIR was filed against him and he was arrested.

The charge sheet mentions that Kuldeep Sengar was in contact the whole time with the district police superintendent and Makhi police station in-charge Ashok Singh Bhadauria. He later also talked with the doctor who examined the father.

Kuldeep Sengar, his brother Atul, the Makhi police station in-charge, Sub-Inspector Kamta Prasad, Constable Amir Khan and six others were charged with the conspiracy of murdering the Unnao victim’s father.

The case was transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh after the Supreme Court directed it to shift the case in August last year.

In December 2019, Sengar was convicted by the court for kidnapping and raping a woman in Unnao in 2017. Convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar was sentenced to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 25 lakhs to the victim.

Supreme Court declines to hear foreign funded ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s plea till he clarifies his ‘justice on the streets’ speech

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court declines to hear foreign funded ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s plea till he clarifies his ‘justice on the streets’ speech

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear controversial foreign-funded ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s plea till he clarifies on his hate speech and his comments against the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court slammed the controversial ‘activist’ after his controversial hate speech inciting people to hit the streets was submitted to the apex court.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court was hearing a petition concerning the anti-Hindu riots that engulfed the streets of Delhi. Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to the petition filed by Mander.

“Harsh Mander’s speech says we have no faith in the Supreme Court and still we have to go. This is the speech at CAA protests,” SG Mehta said.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cited the video clip of Harsh Mander making hate speech and “calling on the people of India” to hit the streets and also expressing distrust in the courts, saying “real justice will be done on the streets”. Mander had said that “there is no trust left in the courts and that ultimate justice has to be on the streets”.

Following the incendiary remarks, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said the court will not Harsh Mander’s petition unless he clarifies on the matter.

“You made statements against the Supreme Court. We will not hear from you now… If Harsh Mander feels about the Supreme Court, then we will have decided on that first,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said, referring to Mander’s hate speech during an anti-CAA protest in January, where he had asked mobs to hit the streets and dismantle courts and parliament.

SG Mehta also cited an old plea by Harsh Mander in which he had called upon Supreme Court judges to show loyalty to the nation.

However, Mander’s counsel represented by Karuna Nundy denied that he made any such statement.

Mander had filed a petition seeking registration of FIR against BJP leader Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Abhay Verma for their alleged hate speeches in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections.

The top court declined to hear Harsh Mander in his petition after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta produced transcripts of his reported speech at Jamia. Nundy also sought time to verify the hate speech.

Interestingly, SG Mehta took a dig at Harsh Mander and his counsel stating that it was strange that Mander wanted time for verifying his own speech but wants FIRs against everyone immediately, citing Mander’s plea seeking FIR against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and others for their alleged hate speeches.

Calling Mander’s speech “derogatory and instigating”, the Solicitor General also pointed out that in the past, former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had struck off Harsh Mander’s name as a petitioner in a case involving Assam’s detention centres. At the time, the activist had asked for a change of bench. “Learn to trust your judges,” Ranjan Gogoi had said, accusing Harsh Mander of “damaging the institution” and dismissing his plea, cited SG Mehta.

Yesterday, an undated video had now gone viral where Mander can be heard saying how there is no scope of secularism in Supreme Court, especially after the Ayodhya verdict. Speaking to a gathering in Delhi, the foreign-funded activist was seen inciting the mob, calling them to descend on streets to decide for themselves based on the show of the strength. Mander claimed that time has now come for people to hit the streets as both the Supreme Court and parliament have failed them.

The George Soros funded former member of Sonia Gandhi’s NAC, Harsh Mander had attempted pushing the Muslims to rebel against the institutions of the country, by asking them to show their strength on the streets. In a way, Mander who claims to be a saviour of Constitution had asked the crowd to dismantle Parliament and Courts and create anarchy on the streets of the country. Harsh Mander was perhaps hinting at a mob-controlled governance structure where justice is delivered on the streets. 

Harsh Mander is also the Chairman of George Soros’s Open Society Foundation’s Human Rights Initiative Advisory Board.

Harsh Mander’s hate speech comes at a time when the Delhi High Court has already issued a notice to the centre in connection to a plea seeking an FIR against him and others including rabble-rousers like RJ Sayema, Swara Bhaskar, Amanatullah Khan (AAP Party) for instigating people to indulge in violence during the anti-Hindu riots.

CCTV footage shows Tahir Hussain moving with armed goons a day before Ankit Sharma’s murder: Report

OpIndia Staff
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CCTV footage shows Tahir Hussain moving with armed goons a day before Ankit Sharma’s murder: Report

The Delhi Police who are in the lookout for Delhi anti-Hindu riot accused Tahir Hussain, have recovered CCTV footage of February 24. The CCTV footage allegedly shows that the now expelled AAP leader was accompanied by at least 15 rioters, all carrying guns, as he moved in and out of his house, a day before IB sleuth Ankit Sharma was brutally murdered by a rioting Islamist mob and his mutilated body was dumped in a ditch behind the house of AAP leader Tahir Hussain.

According to a Jagran report, the footage also showed a huge group of people coming out of Tahir Hussain house. They can all be seen carrying stones or sticks.

According to police sources, all the rioters who accompanied Tahir with pistols have been identified. Their mobile phones have been found to be continuously switched off since February 26, a day after Ankit Sharma’s murder, informed the police source. Tahir Hussain is also absconding with the family since February 26. Both his houses are locked. Mobile phones of all family members are also switched off.

It is being believed that Tahir Hussain along with his family is hiding in Jamia or any nearby place.

As per the Jagran report, the said video has been kept confidential by the police. It is being believed that this CCTV footage is a big breakthrough for the Delhi police in the IB official Ankit Sharma’s murder case.

On Tuesday, several DCP level police officers along with Special Cell and Crime Branch officials with large teams had raided six possible hideouts of Tahir Hussain around Chand Bagh area, but the police could not find him. Now police are also searching areas like Jamia and Okhla in Delhi.

The Delhi Police Tuesday refuted the false claims made by suspended Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) suspended leader Tahir Hussain that he was rescued by the Delhi Police on the night of February 24.

According to the Delhi Police: “The facts are that on the intervening night of February 24-25, 2020, some men informed police deployed at Chand Bagh that Tahir Hussain was trapped as the crowd had surrounded his house. The police verified the same to be incorrect and Tahir Hussain was found available in his house.”

It also said: “Tahir Hussain was named as accused on February 26, 2020, upon recovery of the body of the IB staffer. His house was searched and he was found absconding. Efforts are being made to arrest him.”


As it has emerged, AAP Corporator Tahir Hussain is smack in the middle of this brutal saga where Ankit, a young, dedicated IB officer was brutally murdered. Eyewitnesses have said that Ankit Sharma was dragged in the house that belongs to Tahir Hussain, an AAP leader, by a Muslim mob along with two others.

According to the multiple eyewitnesses accounts, along with Ankit Sharma, there were three other people too who were dragged away by the frenzied Muslim mob inside Hussain’s building.

Ankit Sharma’s autopsy report had revealed the horrific brutality that was inflicted on him before his body was dumped in a ditch behind the house of AAP leader Tahir Hussain.

South Korea: Christian sect with secret religious practises spread coronavirus across the country, criminal charges to be filed against the cult

OpIndia Staff
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South Korea: Christian sect with secret religious practises spread coronavirus across the country, criminal charges to be filed against the cult

The investigators in South Korea are planning to criminally charge 12 executives of the controversial Shincheonji Church of Jesus for the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the country, the disease that results from the coronavirus, France 24 reports.

According to the reports, the 80-year-old Lee Man-hee, 80, leader the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive religious sect often described as a cult, will be charged by South Korean investigators for the propagation of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) in South Korea. Eleven other executives of the movement are also in investigators’ sights.

Lee Man-hee, who fancies himself the new “messiah” and the leader of a South Korean sect linked to more than half the country’s 4,000-plus coronavirus cases had also apologized for the spread of the disease.

“I would like to offer my sincere apology to the people on behalf of the members,” said Shincheonji head Lee Man-hee.

The 88-year-old twice got down on his knees to bow before reporters in Gapyeong, his head to the floor. “Although it was not intentional, many people have been infected,” he said. He added, “We put our utmost efforts but were unable to prevent it all. I seek the forgiveness of the people.”

The authorities want to investigate whether due to cult’s unorthodox religious practises and preference for secrecy, it has put lives at risk during the coronavirus outbreak. More than 5,000 people have been infected and at least 28 deaths have happened to date in South Korea, the largest cluster of infections outside of China.

The virus spread in South Korea after a 61-year-old woman who was a member of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city of Taegu was diagnosed with the symptoms. The elderly lady is considered to be at ground zero of the explosion of COVID-19 cases. The Korean health authorities believe one in five of the people infected by the coronavirus can be linked to her.

The woman first went to the hospital on February 7 after a minor traffic accident. During that tests, she complained of a pain in her throat. She then returned to the hospital a few days later for treatment of a persistent fever. The doctors had twice recommended that she submit to coronavirus screening.

However, the woman had refused to take a test both times. Later, her health continued to deteriorate and 10 days later on February 17, doctors examined her more closely and diagnosed a COVID-19 infection.

In the meantime, the patient had managed, twice, to leave the hospital to attend the Sunday gatherings of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Each time, she had contact with a thousand fellow faithful.

“Her behaviour is not surprising to people familiar with the church,” said Chung Yun-Seok, a South Korean expert on religious cults. “To them, getting sick is a sin because it prevents them from doing God’s work,” Seok added.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus: A cult of secrecy

The discovery of infection in Taegu and the link made with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus has been a turning point in South Korea’s coronavirus battle. The authorities believe that the very secretive practices of the sect have resulted in members’ keeping their membership secret from their relations, even from their parents.

“To Shincheonji members, their priority is not the safety issue but rather protecting” the church, Ji-il Tark, a Busan Presbyterian University theology professor who studies the group revealed.

Initially, the church executives were accused of a lack of forthrightness, but later, officially, offered assurances that they were cooperating completely. However, they had sent messages to members asking them to lie about their membership in Shincheonji Church if contacted.

The groups religious practises is considered to be the reason for the rapid spread of the virus. The group members meet often in small halls, where they are huddled close together. The members are not allowed to wear any accessories on their faces as such practices are considered insults to God.

In addition to that, participating in weekly meetings is mandatory, even in case of illness. The members of the movement must record every detail during the prayer meeting, allowing executives of the group to monitor devotees’ diligence.

With the church head now apologising for the spread of the virus, there are growing demands seeking a ban on the cult. A petition signed by more than a million people has been presented to the South Korean government requesting the dissolution of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which counts more than 260,000 members.

Madhya Pradesh: Operation Lotus vs Operation Panja? Congress accuses BJP of poaching its MLAs to topple state government

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Operation Lotus vs Operation Panja? Congress accuses BJP of poaching its MLAs to topple state government

The Congress party on Tuesday claimed that the BJP took 10 of its MLAs from Madhya Pradesh to a luxury hotel in Gurugram as a part of its conspiracy to topple the government in Madhya Pradesh. As per reports, 6 Congress MLAs, 2 BSP and an independent MLA were allegedly held hostage in the ITC hotel in Haryana.

The high-voltage political drama started late Tuesday night after the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh set the Congress party on its heels when he accused the BJP of trying to overturn the government in Madhya Pradesh. Singh also alleged that a senior leader of the BJP had taken a BSP lawmaker to Delhi in a chartered flight, asserting that “poaching” attempts were being made by the BJP on Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh.

Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP of indulging in horsetrading by offering Rs 25-35 crores to the Congress MLAs to switch side. However, he added saying that there is no threat to the Congress government and it is absolutely safe.

As per reports, BSP MLA Rambai was allegedly manhandled when Congress ministers reached the hotel to meet her. “When we got to know about the BJP’s ploy, Jitu Patwari and Jaivardhan Singh went sent there. People with whom our contact was established were ready to come back to us. We were able to get in touch with Bisahulal Singh and Ramabai. Ramabai came back even when BJP tried to stop her,” Digvijaya Singh said.

Earlier, Jitu Patwari flew to Delhi to meet the Congress MLAs allegedly held against their will in an ITC resort in Gurugram. Speaking to news agency PTI, he said, “Senior BJP leaders including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former ministers Narottam Mishra, Bhupendra Singh and Rampal Singh among others who had forcibly taken MLAs to a hotel in Haryana.”

“Shivraj Singh Chauhan is the mastermind behind all this. BJP wants to kill democracy. Is this the kind of politics Modiji talks about? MLAs have been offered Rs 50 to 60 crores to join the BJP. Some MLAs are in Bengaluru, but they are with us,” Patwari told news agency ANI.


Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s son Jaivardhan Singh stated that Congress was successful in getting six of 10 MLAs out of the hotel and the party was in touch with the rest of the MLAs. 4 MLAs are still in the Gurugram luxury resort but the Congress leaders have claimed that they will soon return back.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath too reassuringly said that things are under control and the MPs will come back.

However, rubbishing the allegations levelled against him, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that Digvijaya Singh is a blackmailer who tries to keep his relevance by issuing baseless statements.

Regarding the allegations of being the mastermind of this “poaching” attempt, Chauhan said, “The matter is of their party but allegations are being levelled against us. There are so many factions within the Congress party that they are fighting within themselves.”


The ongoing upheaval can be attributed to the fact that the ruling coalition led by the Congress Party in Madhya Pradesh has a tenuous majority of 121 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, has 107 MLAs. In such a scenario, the Congress MLAs switching sides to the BJP can topple the coalition government in Madhya Pradesh and provide the BJP with the prerequisite numbers to stake a claim at the government.

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