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With Scindia gone, is this the beginning of an end for Congress in Madhya Pradesh?

Abhinav Khare
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With Scindia gone, is this the beginning of an end for Congress in Madhya Pradesh?

Jyotiraditya Scindia has quit Congress putting the Kamal Nath government in deep crisis, bringing an irreversible change to Madhya Pradesh politics. But, his decision comes after years of being mistreated and ignored by Congress. No, it isn’t betraying the Congress but this is the story of Scindia’s Ghar Wapsi!

Let me start with a little story. The story of Madhavrao Scindia. The year 1971 was a very crucial year for him. It was the year when his son Jyotiraditya was born and it was also the year he entered politics. Despite the huge Indira Gandhi wave that swept the country, there were only three people from the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh who won a Lok Sabha seat that year. Do you know who were they? Vijaya Raje Scindia from Bhind, Atal Bihari Vajpayee from Gwalior and Madhavrao Scindia from Guna!

The Scindia family has always been major patrons of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party. They have also had a great relationship with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Jiwajirao Scindia, the grandfather of Jyotiraditya Scindia was the last Maratha King and had close ties with Nehru. So, after the death of Jiwajirao in 1961 and Nehru in 1964, Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia saw no reason to stay back in the corrupt dynastic party. She first joined the Swatantra Party and then in 1967 she officially joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Even before officially joining Jana Sangh, the Scindias discreetly supported them but kept things under wraps owing to the Nehru factor. Madhavrao was the only member of the Scindia family who joined Congress. Rest all, from Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia to her daughters Vasundhara and Yashodhara, have all been a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party with Vasundhara being a two-time Chief Minister of Rajasthan. So, this is nothing but Gharwapsi for Jyotiraditya, who is honoured his late grandmother’s wishes on his father’s birthday!

Read: ‘Hath’ se nikal gaya: Amul takes a jibe on Jyotiraditya Scindia slipping out of Congress’ hand

Let us now look at how the exit of Jyotiraditya will change the political dynamics in Madhya Pradesh. In the previous Vidhan Sabha elections itself, Congress had just managed to win 114 seats, 1 seat short of the magic number, while the BJP had 107. However, Congress received the support of BSP (2 MLAs) and SP (1 MLA), taking their tally to 117. The current strength of the assembly is 228. Now, if the resignations of 19 MLAs who are loyal to Scindia are accepted, the strength will fall to 209, which makes the magic number as 105. But, by losing 19 members, Congress would be reduced to just 95 and BJP would comfortably cross the magic number on its own with the 107 seats. While the floor test on Monday is postponed after adjournment of Assembly session in view of coronavirus, I am sure that the saffron wave is bound to return.

Scindia’s exit has indeed triggered many leaders in the Congress. The Congress high-command seemed to have ignored those who have grievances in the party! For Mrs. Gandhi, the problem isn’t Scindia. For her, the problem at hand is who shall be the next Congress President – Rahul or Priyanka (as nobody else can even imagine being that!) The Nehru-Gandhi family has always been dictatorial in their approach of ruling the party, but now small rebellions have started cropping up in the states once the young leaders are realizing how much their contributions are being ignored by the High Command!

This fact is further proven by the recent Rajya Sabha poll nominations. Till now, 12 people have been nominated by the Congress. Most of them share a few common traits, namely: Loyalists of the First Family, dynasts, and election losers or un-electable! Now, for a partywho doesn’t value both talent and hard work, this is only natural. But for the youth in the party who are pouring their blood and sweat for the party, it is extremely hard to accept. So,when they see no growth in the party, it is only natural for them to move out. But this is something that the Congress honchos won’t get. They will label those who leave the party as traitors and will indulge in mudslinging instead of trying to mend their own ways. But they are now trying to protect the elephant in the room, which here is their top leadership, namely the three: Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka.

This new shift usher for a new wave in Madhya Pradesh. Jyotiraditya is a young, educated and dynamic politician whose only aim in life has always been to serve the people. So, a party like BJP, which shares the same vision and mission as him, will only ensure his growth and prosperity in politics. BJP isn’t a one-man or one-family party. They have always ensured that the deserving gets the chance to lead the party, from top party positions to tickets to the parliament, they have always given a fair chance to its members to prove their mettle. So,when such a talented chap joined BJP, they immediately offered him a ticket to Rajya Sabha!

Let me now end this article with another story. Fifty-two years ago, another Scindia left Congress which forced the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh to quit! Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, unhappy with the way MP government was functioning quit Congress causing the D P Mishra-led Congress government to topple! Well as the saying goes, history repeats itself, doesn’t it?

Saved by coronavirus? Madhya Pradesh assembly session adjourned for ten days, no floor test for Kamal Nath

OpIndia Staff
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Saved by coronavirus? Madhya Pradesh assembly session adjourned for ten days, no floor test for Kamal Nath

The political drama in Madhya Pradesh has come to an abrupt anti-climax as the assembly session has been adjourned for ten days in the wake of the Coronavirus scare. The floor test that was scheduled today by Governor Lalji Tandon has been postponed for now too. Essentially, the Kamal Nath government remains in power, thanks to Coronavirus.

The Madhya Pradesh assembly has been adjourned till March 26. Earlier today, governor Lalji Tandon had addressed the assembly and stated, “All must follow the rules under the Constitution so that dignity of Madhya Pradesh remains protected.”

Both CM Kamal Nath and former CM Shivraj Chouhan were present in the Madhya Pradesh assembly earlier with their MLAs. Congress Minister PC Sharma had stated to ANI that 16 of their MLAs had ‘disappeared’ about whom CM Kamal Nath has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Anti-CAA riots: Uttar Pradesh govt to set up a tribunal to claim damages from riot-accused

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-CAA riots: Uttar Pradesh govt to set up a tribunal to claim damages from riot-accused

Walking the talking on imposing a penalty on Anti-CAA rioters, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up a tribunal to claim damages compensation from rioters who damage government and private property, reports IANS.

According to the reports, the tribunal, headed by a retired district judge, will have the power to attach the property of the accused and also publicize their photograph so that common people do not buy property belonged to them.

Importantly, as per some reports, the decision taken by the claim tribunal cannot be challenged in any court. The tribunal will be able to deploy claim commissioners for damage assessment.

The decision to set up the tribunal comes after Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday promulgated an ordinance for recovery of damages to public and private properties from anti-CAA rioters and to provide for setting up of tribunals to adjudicate claims for damages and recover them.

The Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the ordinance in a Cabinet meeting on Friday.

The decision to promulgate an ordinance was taken after the Supreme Court refused to stay the Allahabad High Court’s March 9 order for removing the state government’s posters displaying photographs and names of the rioters involved in damaging properties during the anti-CAA protests in December last year.

The Supreme Court had told the Uttar Pradesh government that there was no law as of then to support its action of putting roadside posters of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests in Lucknow, referring the issue of privacy to the larger bench.

In a bid to name and shame the hoodlums who indulged in vandalism during the anti-CAA stir in UP, the Yogi Adityanath government had put up hoardings carrying names, addresses and photographs of anti-CAA rioters, who were accused of damaging public property.

However, on March 9, the Allahabad High Court had ordered the UP government to remove the hoardings, saying that there is no law backing the action of the government. The High Court has said that the posters were “unwarranted interference in the privacy of people”. 

The Yogi government soon filed a plea at the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order, saying that those vandalising public and private property have no right of privacy. Although the vacation bench of the apex court didn’t pass any order and referred the case to a larger bench, it had noted that no law allows publication of details of accused like this.

By promulgating an ordinance and setting up a tribunal to seek compensation from the rioters, Yogi Adityanath government has now ensured that his government’s action passes the legal muster and the troublemakers responsible for fomenting unrest and damaging public property are shamed and made to compensate for the financial losses borne by the state and private individuals.

Bangladesh: Court orders death penalty to 4 radical Islamists, including one ‘Rajib Gandhi’, for murdering Hindu priest in 2016

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Court orders death penalty to 4 radical Islamists, including one ‘Rajib Gandhi’, for murdering Hindu priest in 2016

Four men belonging to the radical Islamist terror outfit, Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), had been sentenced to death on Sunday by a Rajshahi court for murdering a Hindu priest, Jagneshwar Roy, in 2016 in Panchgarh, Rangpur division of Bangladesh.

Roy was the Head Priest at the Santo Gaurio Temple in the northern district’s Debiganj Upazila. His throat was slit and was hacked to death with sharp weapons while conducting religious rites in the temple on February 21, 2016. A devotee, Gopal Chandra Roy, was also shot and wounded during the attack. Two other followers were also injured. The convicts had fired shots and used IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) while fleeing the crime scene.

The convicted radical Islamists include Jahangir Hossain alias ‘Rajib Gandhi’, Rajibul Islam Molla, Alamgir Hossain and Ramzan Ali. Rajibul is still on the run. Three other accused, namely, Harej Ali, Khalilur Rahman and Md Rana had been acquitted as the charges against them could not be proved. Jahangir Hossain was also involved in the 2016 terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka that claimed 29 lives.

The verdict was handed by Judge Anup Kumar. The four had also been sentenced to additional 5 and 10 years imprisonment under in two additional cases related to possession of arms and explosives. A case was filed by Rabindranath Roy, elder brother of the Hindu Priest, against ten people. Four of them were neutralised during encounters conducted by law enforcement agencies.

Atrocities against Hindus are not new to Bangladesh. In 2017, a violent mob set ablaze 30 Hindu homes at Thakurbari village in Rangpur Sadar Upazila of Bangladesh. This village is about 300 kilometres from Dhaka. The mob carried out such a violent attack after it was angered by a supposedly defamatory Facebook by a Hindu resident of that village.

The police intervened in this matter after the mob had burnt 30 Hindu houses apart from vandalising and looting a sizeable number of houses. In the subsequent police action, 6 people were injured and later one youth named Hamidul Islam succumbed to his injuries. A total of 33 people have been detained in connection with this whole incident.

Iran goes from threatening ‘isolation from Islam world’ to requesting India’s help to fight Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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Iran goes from threatening ‘isolation from Islam world’ to requesting India’s help to fight Coronavirus

The Islamic Republic of Iran, one of the worst affected nations due to COVID-19 outbreak, on Saturday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over how the efforts to fight coronavirus has been “severely” impacted by the US sanctions.

President Hassan Rouhani, in his letter, emphasised that the fight against the coronavirus requires bolstering joint and coordinated regional and international measures, adopting serious strategies, and sustaining huge medical and care costs.

The pleading for help from the Islamic Republic of Iran comes at a time when Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had stoked a controversy by threatening India of isolation in the Muslim world. He had asked the Indian government to confront what he called “extremist Hindus and their parties”, saying the hearts of Muslims all over the world are “grieving” over the recent communal violence in Delhi.

Despite the anti-India and anti-Hindu stand, Iran has now approached India to fight the global epidemic in the country. Iran has emerged as the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in West Asia, with more than 12,700 confirmed infections – including several senior government officials testing positive. According to the Iranian health officials, more than 610 have died due to the outbreak.

Following the health emergency, Iran President has written a letter seeking India’s help in tackling the global pandemic. “This virus knows no boundary and claims, victims, without political, religious, ethnic, and racial considerations,” he wrote to the world leaders including PM Modi.

Calling the act of continued sanctions when the world is fighting the coronavirus pandemic, as “immoral”, Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif in a tweet wrote, “In a letter to counterparts Hassan Rouhani informs how efforts to fight COVID-19 pandemic in Iran have been severely hampered by US sanctions, urging them to cease observing them: It is IMMORAL to let a bully kill innocents. Viruses recognize no politics or geography. Nor should we.”

In another tweet, Zarif had highlighted the severe shortage of medicine and equipment that Iran is now facing.

Reportedly, the Iranian President, in his letter to the world leaders has said that while the Islamic Republic has faced serious obstacles and restrictions emanating from two years of extensive and illegal sanctions, the US administration did not stop exerting ‘illegal’ pressure on Iran even after the coronavirus outbreak started.

Iran’s envoy to the UN also called on the US to lift sanctions on the country and to ‘depoliticise’ its approach toward efforts related to containing the coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, 234 Indians stranded in Iran were successfully brought back to India on Sunday. This is the third batch of Indians to be evacuated from Iran.

Maharashtra: 11 coronavirus suspects flee from Navi Mumbai hospital, had returned from Dubai

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: 11 coronavirus suspects flee from Navi Mumbai hospital, had returned from Dubai

11 persons suspected of coronavirus infection have fled from a hospital in Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai. They were kept in isolation and their test results were awaited.

The persons had reportedly gone to Dubai to play a cricket match. They were sent to isolation within 2 hours of returning to India. However, they reportedly evaded security and have absconded.

As per a report in Times Now, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the local police have swung into action and have launched a search operation for the 11 persons. It is concerning because even if 1 of the 11 persons tests positive, the entire team and all the people they have come in contact with will be exposed to the infection.

It is one of the many cases reported in the country where the irresponsible behaviour of patients has created a potentially dangerous situation. Earlier, 4 people had fled from an isolation ward in Nagpur.

In another such development, another coronavirus suspected case has escaped from a hospital in Darbhanga, Bihar.

In the case of the first coronavirus death in India, the 76-year-old patient’s family had reportedly shifted him to Hyderabad from Kaluburgi against medical advice. They had exposed many other people and now it is reported that one of the family members of the deceased man has been tested positive.

Read: Malaysia: 190 people who attended Islamic evangelical event in mosque tested positive for Coronavirus

In another news, four Muslim men who had returned from Dubai in Karnataka had threatened health officials and resisted undergoing coronavirus test stating that Islam does not permit them to undergo medical tests.

Malaysia: 190 people who attended Islamic evangelical event in mosque tested positive for Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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Malaysia: 190 people who attended Islamic evangelical event in mosque tested positive for Coronavirus

On Sunday, nearly 190 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Malaysia, most linked to Tablighi Ijtema, an Islamic evangelical event at a mosque that was attended by more than 16,000 people from several countries. Ijtema is a congregation of Muslims which is an essential part of Tablighi Jamaat. Often referred to as a show of strength of the Muslims, the 3-day event is all about moral reform of individuals and often described as ‘making Muslims true Muslims’.

According to the reports, a total of 243 people have been reported positive for coronavirus after they had attended the gathering at a mosque. Nine cases are considered to be critically ill and are closely monitored in intensive care. The health officials of Malaysia stated that all event participants and their close contacts will be placed under mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

The new cases bring the total number of infections in the country to 428, the health ministry said in a statement. Malaysian health authorities have said around 16,000 people attended the religious gathering held at a mosque near Kuala Lumpur between February 27 and March 1. Around 14,500 of the participants are Malaysian.

The Tabligh group had held a mass gathering at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur involving thousands of people leading to the spread of the deadly virus. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday that the country was facing a “second wave” of infections, and warned of an impact on economic growth.

In neighbouring Brunei, 45 of the total 50 cases have been linked to the religious gathering, the health ministry said on Sunday. Singapore has also reported some cases linked to the same event. The health ministry has said Bruneians and foreign residents are barred from leaving the country due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus is a deadly respiratory disease which has killed more than 6,000 and so far more than 1,59,0000 cases are reported globally, according to the World Health Organisation. The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019.

On Thursday, the number of people infected with coronavirus in India rose to 110, with fresh cases reported from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The transmission of the virus takes place when someone who is infected comes in contact with another person. According to medical experts, coughing, sneezing or even shaking hands with an infected person can cause exposure.

Pak representative who raked up Kashmir issue at SAARC COVID-19 meet is accused of smuggling 20 million face masks

OpIndia Staff
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Pak representative who raked up Kashmir issue at SAARC COVID-19 meet is accused of smuggling 20 million face masks

Dr Zafar Mirza who represented Pakistan at the SAARC video-conference on COVID-19 on Sunday is being probed for his involvement in the smuggling 20 million face masks out of Pakistan as per reports.

Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza took part in the SAARC conference on coronavirus instead of Pakistan PM Imran Khan. As the SAARC leaders got together to discuss ways to combat the deadly virus, the Pakistani leader raked up the Kashmir issue and politicised global pandemic. Even as India offered technology help, fund and rapid response teams to SAARC countries, Pakistan chose the platform to play petty politics.

“We hope that during this COVID-19 our member countries will provide access to all the regions. In this regard, it is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has reported from Jammu and Kashmir. In the view of emergency its imperative that all lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir must be lifted immediately, opening up communication and movement,” Zafar Mirza had remarked. It is important to note here that the security situation in Kashmir has not hampered administration efforts to ensure that the pandemic is contained.

Ironically, it is now reported that Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a probe against Dr Zafar Mirza for his involvement in the smuggling of 20 million face masks to the foreign countries.

According to the complaint, the Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza is accused of colluding with the deputy director of DRAP Ghazanfar Ali to smuggle 20 million face masks to other countries. The accusations against Imran Khan’s aide Mirza comes at a time when the world is facing a global epidemic of COVID-19 and there is a huge shortage of masks, sanitizers across the globe.

Young Pharmacists’ Association’s General Secretary Dr Furqan Ibrahim submitted an application to the Prime Minister’s complaint cell. Following the complaint, FIA’s Additional Director General has directed to submit the report within 15 days.

“20 million face masks were smuggled out of Pakistan by the aide of Mr Ghazanfar Ali Khan S/O Mr Maqbool Khan Deputy Director DRAP and Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister,” read the complaint submitted by Pakistan Young Pharmacists Association.

History has always been unkind to Veer Savarkar, and we all need to correct this

Abhinav Khare
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History has always been unkind to Veer Savarkar, and we all need to correct this

I was 21 when I was first introduced to Veer Savarkar. As a young management trainee in Paris trying to make a mark in my professional life, I felt that I was going farther away from my roots. I was searching a connect, and that’s when I came across the brilliance of Veer Savarkar. While every other history book is busy capturing the lives of Nehru and Gandhi, Savarkar has always been ignored by historians and if at all he does get some attention: it is negative. Somehow, Savarkar was never relooked from a modern perspective as all other freedom fighters of the day.

Let us not forget that he was the one who formed the revolutionary secret society: Mitra Mela which later got renamed to Abhinav Bharat Society in the early 1900s. He demanded for complete independence from the British, a thought that was not yet conceived then. He was also the central figure to start the revolutionary movement in London, where he gathered people to fight for India’s independence. We should never forget the harsh treatment meted out to him in the cellular jail of Andaman for eleven long years! He only got a conditional release and was confined to Ratnagiri for a significant part of his life! Criticizing is a straightforward task, but one should delve in deeper before coming to any conclusions!

Savarkar was a voracious reader who was well-versed with almost all of the philosophers of the West. He, in fact, would even translate revolutionary literature from English to Marathi so that his peers could get inspired from it. Lest we forget, he lost many family members during his tenure in jail. He had to stay away from his wife and children as they were being shunned by the society owing to his arrest.

Don’t think many of us know that it was Savarkar who first called the Sepoy mutiny the first war of Indian independence. He was the one responsible for creating the intellectual corpus for the freedom struggle. He was inspired by the revolutionary movements of Italy, France, Ireland etc. He would translate all these works in London and send them to India to be shared widely. In fact, even Bhagat Singh lauded his work and was inspired by him. He would also make Savarkar’s biography by Chitragupta a mandatory reading for all those who would want to be part of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

Savarkar was way ahead of his times. He even challenged many orthodox and outdated Hindu customs. He wanted to dismantle the entire caste system for which he even undertook a massive reform movement. He had constructed a to-all-castes temple called Patit Pavan Mandir in Ratnagiri. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar even lauded this endeavour. He defined Hindutva to all of us, which is inclusive and all-accepting.

Read- Congress’ criticism of Savarkar’s mercy petition is filled with pure hypocrisy and hatred

He has often been ridiculed for begging to the Britishers for releasing him in return of not being a part of the freedom struggle. But that is absolutely ridiculous! He was a political prisoner, and it is only natural for him to file a petition. He was a renowned lawyer who very well knew what was best for him. Unlike Bhagat Singh who was ordered a death penalty in just one court hearing, he was ordered 50 years of rigorous imprisonment! In case we also forget, in 1920, even Mahatma Gandhi wrote a petition to the British for his release so that he could join the constitutional reform process. Also, if we even take a look at his petitions, not once did he apologize for what he did. Instead, he said that he would leave violent means of protests and take the route of non-violence!

This recent demonization of Savarkar is part of a political ploy to insult the ruling party. When Savarkar died in 1966, even Indira Gandhi hailed him as a brave patriot. A few years later, she also released a stamp in his name. No, she did not do it under any political pressure as the Jana Sangh was formed only in 1980. We need to bring the legacy of Savarkar to the forefront. History hasn’t been kind to Savarkar, and we all need to undo this mistake.

Police control room had received 4000 distress calls in one day during Delhi riots, police probing involvement of outsiders: Delhi Police

OpIndia Staff
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Police control room had received 4000 distress calls in one day during Delhi riots, police probing involvement of outsiders: Delhi Police

The Delhi Police informed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that its control room received 4,000 SOS calls in the wake of Delhi Anti-Hindu riots on February 25, the first day of US President Donald Trump’s visit to India. The calls were made by locals to narrate the horrific incidents of violence, arson and clashes.

It was earlier reported that some of the mob involved in the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots came from nearby areas of Ghaziabad and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. The vital information came to light during a coordination meeting between the Delhi and the Uttar Pradesh police.

The meeting was held at the DCP office in North-East Delhi and had DCP Northeast Ved Prakash Surya, Meerut IG Praveen Kumar, and SSP Ghaziabad, besides the Joint Commissioner (Delhi Police) Alok Kumar. The cops suspect that a group of rioters came from Deoband and stayed in Mustafabad in North-East Delhi prior to the riots that claimed 53 lives.

The Delhi police said that they “collected all postmortem reports and DNA profile as well as fingerprints of all unknown dead bodies. Examining all injured persons, recording their statements. Examining all witnesses in the cases so that no aspect is left out. CCTV footage of all liquor shops in the area has been analysed.”

It further added, “Bad characters of all police station of North East Delhi have been rounded up and are being examined giving special focus on their presence/role during the riot. Collected clips from social media, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok uploads and gathering details of Whatsapp groups to retrieve chats. Analysing phone records of criminals and suspects in the riot-hit areas.”

44 localities reported large-scale violence during the riots that took place in last week of February. Case files from 5 police stations, namely Khajuri Khas, Karawal Nagar, Sonia Vihar, Welcome and Jaffrabad have also been collected. 1922 rioters had been identified out of 336 belong to Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi Anti-Hindu riots were fuelled by Islamic Supremacy and a direct consequence of the city being held hostage by rabid Islamists for their sinister objectives in the name of anti-CAA protests.

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