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Another nun accuses rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of sexual abuse, did not register complaint due to fear

OpIndia Staff
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Another nun accuses rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of sexual abuse, did not register complaint due to fear

A second nun has accused disgraced rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of sexual abuse. The second victim is a witness in the ongoing rape case against the Christian priest. As per reports, the latest victim had narrated her ordeal to the Police in September 2018, however, she was unwilling to register a complaint about the matter because she was afraid. As a consequence, a second case wasn’t registered against the Bishop.

The police have said that they have received the statement of another nun against the Bishop. The nun has alleged that the Bishop made sexual remarks and lewd comments in a telephonic conversation with her. The nun says that they were in telephonic conversation for a period of two years between 2015 and 2017.

She had said in her statement that in 2017, Mulakkal visited the convent she was in and then proceeded to grab her and kiss her. The nun has also alleged that she was forced to display her body by the Bishop. The nun’s statements have been recorded in the charge sheet against the Bishop. However, a separate complaint could not be filed in the matter. The nun said that she was not interested in the sexually explicit chat but could not oppose the Bishop due to fear of expulsion from the Church.

“I had to contact the bishop over the phone for some official needs since 2015. But, shortly after the bishop started talks with sexual connotations over the phone, which was disgusting for me. He also talked about sexual acts and later started describing various body parts of me and the bishop,” the statement said. “Between April and May 2017, I lived in a convent in Kerala. Franco came to the convent to conduct a probe about my conduct. His driver and Father Antony were with the bishop but they lived in separate rooms. Franco called me to his room and asked me for an explanation. While I was leaving, he hugged me and kissed me on my forehead,” she stated.

Read- Bishop Franco case: Sister Lucy’s autobiography recounts rampant sexual abuse in churches, reveals ‘unholy’ practices of priests

The second nun’s statement was released by the Save Our Sisters (SOS) forum. They have now demanded that a separate case be registered against the Bishop. “It is mysterious that police didn’t initiate suo moto case even after nun had made a serious deposition before the investigation team. A fresh investigation should be launched into the allegation. More importantly, police should ensure that the victim, who belongs to the same diocese, is not intimidated or influenced by the bishop,” SOS office-bearers said in a press release.

SOS has also claimed that after the second nun gave the statement, the convent made a concerted attempt to silence her by not allowing her to leave the convent or talk to anyone outside. “After the nun gave this statement, the convent tried to silence her by not allowing her to leave the convent or talk to anyone outside. It was only recently that we got to know about the treatment meted out to her by the convent authorities. That is why we decided to release the statement she gave the police in 2018. This is a statement that she has signed,” Riju Kanjoorkaran, a convener of SOS, told The News Minute.

There have been regular attempts to silence the nuns who have spoken out against Bishop Franco Mulakkal. Sister Lucy Kalapura, one of the five nuns who stood in support of the nun who accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the rape case, said last month that she was being starved at the convent as authorities have been depriving her of food to force her out of the church.

Read- The sordid and shameful whitewashing of rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal

Four nuns who had supported the rape survivor nun were asked to leave the Kuravilangad convent, and go to convents, previously assigned to them. Apart from threats and intimidation, Father Kuriakose who had testified against Bishop Franco was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

The allegations against Bishop Franco Mulakkal surfaced after a nun from Kerala had accused the Bishop from Jalandhar of raping her. Bishop Franco Mulakkal is said to have raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and exploited her sexually on several other occasions. The nun had registered a complaint before the Kottayam district Police chief Harishankar in June 2018.

CAA is to not take away anyone’s citizenship, nobody should be worried about it: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

OpIndia Staff
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CAA is to not take away anyone’s citizenship, nobody should be worried about it: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray reiterated his stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act. Thackeray said that the new Citizenship Law provides citizenship to the beleaguered minorities from the neighbouring countries and not a statute to snatch the citizenship of Indians.


Speaking at a press conference after his meet with PM Modi, Thackeray said, “We have had a discussion on Citizenship Amendment Act, NPR and NRC. I have already stated my stance on these in Saamana. No one should be scared of CAA. This law is not to take away citizenship from anyone but about granting citizenship to the minorities of the neighbouring countries.”

Uddhav also added in the press conference that PM Modi has assured him that there won’t be countrywide NRC, a major bone of contention against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Regarding the ongoing protests against the CAA and NPR, Uddhav added that the demonstrations are taking place because people are being instigated to wage agitation against the new citizenship law.

Regarding a letter written by the Maharashtra CM to the Centre seeking “legitimate dues” of Rs 15,558.05 crore towards the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation until November 2019, the Maha Vikas Aghadi leader said, the state is getting the returns but the speed at which it is getting is very slow. “PM Modi has promised to extend all cooperation to Maharashtra government,” he added.

Read- Maha Vikas Aghadi crumbling? NCP fumes as Uddhav Thackeray stays firm on NPR implementation, Pawar summons meeting

Thackeray’s endorsement of the CAA comes a couple of days after he announced that he wouldn’t block the NPR in Maharashtra. “CAA and NRC are two different concepts. Nobody should worry about CAA. NPR will happen in the state as there is nothing controversial about it,” Thackeray had said.

While parties like Congress and NCP continue to protest against CAA by spreading falsehood about it, their alliance partner in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena’s support for it has created an embarrassing situation for them.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala makes a bizarre suggestion, says Uniform Civil Code should be optional

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala makes a bizarre suggestion, says Uniform Civil Code should be optional

While addressing the 10th edition of Chhatra Sansad on Friday at Vigyan Bhavan, the Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Uniform Civil Code should be optional and cannot be coerced upon the Indian citizens.

He asserted, “The very fact of the Uniform Civil Code is that it cannot be forced upon you, it has to be optional and not compulsory. It has to be voluntary and that will be a great step.”

Randeep Surjwewala said that one should not shy away from talking about caste-based violence in India. He said, “When I discriminate and violate your rights because you are from the scheduled tribes or backward classes, why should you shy away from stating the naked truth in public? That is the only way to societal reforms and the realisation that caste-based violence is an ugly menace that prevails in our society.”

Randeep Surjewala stated that the menace can only be cured through a change of mindset and by punishing those involved in hate crimes against the SCs, and STs. He added that poverty and caste governed Indian society and that students should “deliberate” on both caste and class divide.

Read- Filing PILs for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code is a bad idea, here’s why

Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been a part of the BJP’s manifesto for a long time. It proposes a uniform family and personal laws for all the citizens of the country, in place of current separate laws for each religion. A voluntary UCC will be meaningless, as it will not bring the equity that it aims to bring. If Randeep Surjewala’s proposal is accepted, for example, a Muslim man may choose to follow polygamy or monogamy, depending on whether he chooses to follow UCC or not. This means, such a situation will not be different from the current situation.

‘Forces do not conduct fake operations, but provide proof’: Kamal Nath continues questioning the Surgical Strike

OpIndia Staff
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‘Forces do not conduct fake operations, but provide proof’: Kamal Nath continues questioning the Surgical Strike

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath continues to question the authenticity of surgical strikes by Indian forces against terror camps in Pakistan. After asking ‘what surgical strikes’ on Friday, he has again sparked controversy saying that armed forces do not conduct fake operations and that’s why proof of the same should be published.

As per a report by ANI, Kamal Nath said that he is proud of Indian armed forces but armed forces do not conduct fake operations. “The Army and the Air Force do not conduct fake operations but provide information about the strike”, Kamal Nath said after he was asked if he thinks the surgical strikes were fake. He demanded that the government should provide proof of the surgical strikes.

On Friday, in a public meeting in Chindwara, the Madhya Pradesh CM attacking the ruling BJP and questioning the authenticity of the surgical strikes, he had said, “Our youth, who will ensure the development of this country need jobs. However, Modi Ji does not talk about employment. He does not talk about justice for farmers too. He used to say that every year two crore youth will get employment in India. I want to ask him even if two lakh people are getting employment today. The only thing PM Modi speaks about is Pakistan. They link Pakistan to our party; they don’t remember that 90,000 Pakistani jawans surrendered to India during Indira Gandhi’s regime. But they talk about surgical strikes. What surgical strikes. Tell the nation something about the surgical strike.”

Following the fidayeen attack on an army base near Uri in Kashmir, the Indian army had conducted surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Indian special forces had crossed the border, walked for a couple of kilometres, and destroyed several terror camps. Despite Indian defence forces confirming the surgical strike on terror camps inside Pakistan in 2016, Congress leaders continue to question it. The Congress party has been supporting Pakistan’s argument that there was no such strike.

Watch: The ultra-left wing ‘activist’ who shouted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ had revealed how a big team works in coordination to organise such ‘protests’

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: The ultra-left wing ‘activist’ who shouted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ had revealed how a big team works in coordination to organise such ‘protests’

Amulya Leona, the ultra-left wing ‘protestor’ who has now been booked under sedition case for raising “Pakistan Zindabad” slogan on Thursday at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally in Bengaluru had last month given a video interview to a Youtube channel called ‘AAP ki Aawaz’.

In the interview uploaded on January 21, Leona had revealed that though ‘activists’ like her become the face of many coordinated protests, an entire organised cartel works in unison behind the scenes to endorse such anti-India agenda.

Leona, who is heard speaking about her participation in protests and her life, at the end of the interview, adds that she has become a face of the protests but there are people who are working with her and who tell her what to say. She credits all her advisories, the ‘senior activists’, the ‘content writing team’, her parents and a big student organisation, namely, Bangalore Student’s Alliance who are instrumental in organising such anti-India protests.

“I have become the face of this because of media, but behind is an advisory committee, there is a content team, senior activists, my parents and a very big student protest group which is working. I am just the face of it but they are the ones who are working really hard,” Leona says.

“They are the real heroes”, said Leona, confirming that they are the ones who guide protestors like her on what needs to be said and when. She divulges that there are proper content writing teams who write detailed scripts for people like her who are then just assigned the task to go and speak what is written for them.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD-2x1xEsp8]

Amulya Leona was today sent to 14-day judicial custody. A case under Section 124A (Offence of sedition) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against her shortly after she raised Pakistan Zindabad slogan at Asaduddin Owaisi’s rally.

A ruckus had erupted on Monday at AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Bengaluru on Thursday. Ultra-left wing ‘activist’ Amulya had burst onto the stage to shout pro-Pakistan slogans in his presence.

Following the incident, Amulya’s father Waji Noronha said he did not approve of his daughter’s activities. “I had been cautioning her. The government should take action against her,” he added.

Amulya Leona was also part of the group that had heckled journalist Mahesh Vikram Hegde at an airport in January. They had attempted to coerce Hegde into singing “Vande Mataram” and prove his patriotism “for the country”.

Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan banned in UAE for homosexuality

OpIndia Staff
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Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan banned in UAE for homosexuality

Bollywood’s latest release, ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’, starring actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar has reportedly been banned in Dubai and other cities of UAE over its homosexual content.

According to reports, the makers of the movie had even offered to snip a kissing scene between the protagonists to avoid the ban but to no avail. The movie was still banned in UAE asserting that it is not the scene but the theme as a whole.

A source from Dubai was quoted by Bollywood Hungama as saying: “We knew this was coming. Or, rather not coming. We really wanted to see what Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has to say since it is the first Bollywood film that normalises a gay relationship. Sadly, all films with gay content are banned in these parts.”

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, a directorial debut of Hitesh Kewalya, is a love story between two men in small-town India. In the movie, the homosexual couple tries to win the acceptance of their conservative family. The makers of the movie have tried to break the taboo against homosexuality by aiming to deal with that with humour through Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.

In a recent interview by IANS, Ayushmann said that he was grateful for the country and industry for being acceptive of a film like that. “As an artist, I’m fortunate and privileged to be living and working in such times. I’m proud of my country and industry for the progressiveness that it has shown in the recent past and I’m grateful that I’m part of such a vision like Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan that tells us about important life and societal lessons,” he said.

In India, Section 377 was decriminalised in September 2018. However, same-sex relationships continue to largely remain a taboo.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights are heavily suppressed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All sexual relations outside a heterosexual marriage is a crime and attracts deportation, jail terms and fines.

Many LGBTIQ-related websites, including Grindr and other dating apps, are blocked and not officially accessible from inside the UAE.

In many Islamic countries, homosexuality is severely punished. At times, the government have even subjected persons to compulsory psychological treatment for homosexual activity. According to Human Rights Watch and the UN Human Rights Council, doctors have been known to administer torturous forensic anal exams to “prove” male suspects’ homosexuality.

Shiv Sena leader demands ban on Sambhaji inspired TV series as Aurangzeb’s atrocities may ‘increase communal tension’

OpIndia Staff
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Shiv Sena leader demands ban on Sambhaji inspired TV series as Aurangzeb’s atrocities may ‘increase communal tension’

Former Maharashtra Minister and senior Shiv Sena leader, Arjun Khotkar, has demanded that the subsequent episodes of the Marathi TV series- “Swarajya Rakshak Sambhaji” should be stopped from being aired on television. Khotkar has asserted that the ensuing episodes in the series have the potential of inciting discord in the society and therefore should not be transmitted on television. The TV series has recently shown Mughal soldiers capturing Sambhaji alive.

“Swarajya Rakshak Sambhaji”, a popular Marathi series chronicles the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son Sambhaji Maharaj. The eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji reined over the Maratha Kingdom for 9 years until 1689 when he was captured, tortured and executed by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

Read: Once upon a time, there was the great Maratha Sambhaji, who continued to haunt Aurangzeb even in death

While there are multiple accounts of Sambhaji’s skirmishes with the Mughal ruler, his torture, execution and disposal of his body, however, by and large, all agree that he was tortured and executed on the Aurangzeb’s orders.

According to Dennis Kincaid’s account in his book- Shivaji: The Grand Rebel, Sambhaji was ordered by Aurangzeb to embrace Islam but he summarily refused, after which he was made to run the gauntlet of the entire Imperial army. Battered and bleeding, he was brought before the Emperor and repeated his refusal. His tongue was torn and was asked the same question. But he reiterated his refusal, claiming he would not budge from his position even if the Emperor bribed him with his daughter. Following this, he was tortured and executed on the orders of Aurangzeb.

Maratha accounts claim that after his arrest, he was asked to bow before Aurangzeb and convert to Islam. Sambhaji rejected the offer of life with all the vehemence he could gather, abused Aurangzeb and his Prophet and asked for one of his daughters as his price in the transaction. This led to Aurangzeb ordering him to death. The torture of Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash continued for over a fortnight and unspeakable atrocities were meted out on them. Their eyes and tongue were plucked out, and their nails were pulled out. Sambhaji was murdered on 11 March 1689, reportedly by tearing him apart from the front and back with tiger claws and beheading with an axe at Tulapur on the banks of the Bhima river near Pune.

In what appears to be climactic part of the series, Sambhaji is shown to have been taken captive by the Mughal soldiers. Khotkar has reportedly made an appeal to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and Zee Marathi to desist from broadcasting the subsequent episodes of the serial claiming that the portrayal of an uncomfortable part of history (horrendous torture of Sambhaji by the Mughal soldiers and Emperor Aurangzeb) could imperil the social harmony of the state.

US President Donald Trump criticises Parasite’s Oscar win citing trade issues with South Korea

OpIndia Staff
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US President Donald Trump criticises Parasite’s Oscar win citing trade issues with South Korea

The United States President Donald Trump took a jibe at the Academy Awards for awarding this year’s best picture honour to Parasite because the film is South Korean.

Lashing out at Parasite, Trump said, “Was it good? I don’t know. I’m looking for, like – can we get like Gone With The Wind back, please?” Trump said, to deafening cheers.


“By the way how bad were the Academy Awards this year. And the winner is … a movie from South Korea. What the hell was that all about? We’ve got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that, they give them the best movie of the year?” Trump said.

Questioning the wisdom of the jury that awarded the Academy Awards, Trump seemed to lament the days when like Gone with the Wind or Sunset Boulevard couldn’t win the prestigious award.

The Parasite movie made history this year by becoming a first non-English movie to win the Oscars. The Black comedy thriller film won awards for best director, best original screenplay and best international film.

However, Trump was visibly perturbed that a movie from South Korea won the much-vaunted Oscars. “The winner is … from South Korea. I thought it was the best foreign film, right? Best foreign movie! No, it was the … did this ever happen before?”

However, Neon, the studio that produced Parasite responded to Trump’s jibe by another jibe.


“Understandable, he can’t read,” Neon responded to Trump’s criticism of awarding the South Korean movie with Academy Awards.

Andhra Pradesh: Vigilance Department unearths Rs 404 crore scam in ESI scheme, three Insurance Medical Service directors named

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: Vigilance Department unearths Rs 404 crore scam in ESI scheme, three Insurance Medical Service directors named

A scam has been unearthed in the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) in Andhra Pradesh by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department. According to reports, Three directors of the Insurance Medical Service (IMS) in Andra Pradesh purchased medical equipment without inviting open tenders and constituting Drug Procurement Committee, thereby leading to a ₹404.86 crore scam. They have been identified as Dr. B Ravi Kumar, Dr. CK Ramesh Kumar, and Dr. G Vijaya Kumar by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department.

The directors were given the charge of implementing the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme in the State. The Department had issued a notice seeking action against the trio for forgery, breach of trust and criminal misconduct. Charges have also been filed against companies involved in the alleged scam between 2014-2015 and 2018-2019.

The alleged scam was facilitated by the trio by keeping bills from rate-contract firms pending since 2012 and by diverting funds from the allocated budget to the non-rate contract firms. Despite the budget allocation of ₹293.51 crores, the directors spent ₹698.36 crores on medical supplies.

By purchasing drugs from non-rate contract firms, the exchequer suffered a loss. The directors paid 36% in excess while procuring lab kits worth 237 crores from non-contract firms such as Legend Enterprises, Avantor Performances India Private Limited, and Omni Medi.

The investigation had also revealed that surgical items worth Rs 47.77 crore were purchased without inviting open tenders. Furniture was also purchased at a 70% higher rate than the market price. Quotations were found to be fabricated. Comparision with market prices issued by ESI revealed an additional expenditure of ₹10.43 crores on syringes, thermometers, trolleys for ECG machines and so on.

This is not the first case of an alleged scam that has come to light from the State of Andhra Pradesh in recent times. In November last year, the governor of Andhra Pradesh Biswabhusan Harichandan had ordered an investigation into the alleged ‘job scam’ that was supposedly done by an outsourcing agency on the claim of offering jobs in Raj Bhavan.

Shaheen Bagh women don’t trust each other? ‘Protestors’ refuse to meet in groups as there may be ‘distrust’

OpIndia Staff
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Shaheen Bagh women don’t trust each other? ‘Protestors’ refuse to meet in groups as there may be ‘distrust’

The terms set by the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors for talks with the Shaheen Bagh protesters have been rejected by the latter. On Thursday, fake news peddler and Supreme Court lawyer, Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran had told the protesters that the terms and conditions of the talks will be decided by them. However, the condition for talks was not acceptable to the protesters.

The women at Shaheen Bagh have taken an objection in particular to Ramchandran’s suggestion that the women meet them in groups of 20. They say that there will not be any talks in groups. That particular stance appears to be motivated in part by the distrust between the protesters themselves. As reported by news agency ANI, one such protester, Mehrunisa, said, “There would be distrust among the rest who did not meet them in that particular group. Whatever they have to say, they should say it before all of us.”

Read: Watch: Teesta Setalvad tutors Shaheen Bagh ‘protestors’ what questions to ask SC-appointed interlocutors

“There would be no talks in groups. We are here with others. And we want everyone to listen to what others have to say, ” another protester Shakila Begum said. On being asked whether the women of Shaheen Bagh will agree to the conditions set by interlocutors of meeting them in groups and batches, she said, “Why? We won’t. We are here together. We have sat here braving the rains and cold. We won’t vacate. If they want to brief the court, they should do it about CAA and NRC.”

A 2-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph directed senior advocates, Sadhana Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde, to act as interlocutors and convince the Shaheen Bagh protestors to relocate to an alternative place. The order came at the backdrop of two petitions filed in the apex court, seeking clearance of Shaheen Bagh area and the Kalindi Kunj Road. It is notable here that lawyer Sanjay Hegde has been caught spreading fake news several times. After Twitter suspended his account, he had even stated that he will take Twitter to the international court.

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