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Who is Subhas Nair, Why he was convicted in Singapore for his social media posts: Read here

OpIndia Staff
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Who is Subhas Nair, Why he was convicted in Singapore for his social media posts: Read here

Subhas Nair, an Indian-origin rapper has been sentenced to six weeks in jail in Singapore for making racially-charged remarks. Nair began his jail term on 5th February after he lost a court appeal against his conviction. 32-year-old Singaporean resident Nair was reportedly convicted in 2023 for his remarks made between July 2019 and March 2021.

What is the case against Nair

Subhas Govin Prabhakar Nair has been quite vocal about racism against people of Indian and Malaysian origin in Singapore. He is currently facing four charges one of which relates to an Instagram post about a Chinese-origin man Chan Jia Xing, who was involved in the murder of an Indian-origin man called Satheesh Noel Gobidass. This case was infamously called the 2019 Orchard Towers murder. In this case, the accused Chan was initially charged with murder but later on, charges against him were diluted. It was alleged that Chan was allowed to get away because of his Chinese origin.

After he posted on his Instagram about the Orchid Towers murder, Nair was given a two-year conditional warning by the police. However, Nair did not comply and put out social media posts calling out racism and Chinese privilege in Singapore. In 2018, Nair released an album called ‘Not a Public Assembly’ in which he raised the issue of migrants and minorities in Singapore. Calling out the disparity in the treatment of Chinese people and the people of Indian and Malaysian origin in Singapore, he said, “Calling out racism and Chinese privilege = two-year conditional warning and media smear campaign. Conspiring to murder an Indian man = light sentence and media sympathy.”

Nair posted a YouTube video in 2019 which had an advertisement featuring a local actor named Dennis Chew, who portrayed multiple ethnicities in the video including an Indian man. The authorities claimed that the lyrics in his video were offensive to Chinese people. He was also charged for his 2021 performance at The Substation in Singapore where he reportedly displayed a hand-made replica of his Instagram post about the murder of Satheesh Noel Gobidass.

Nair’s lawyer defended his actions as emotive responses to racism

As per reports, the rapper filed an appeal before Justice Hoo Sheau Peng. Justice Peng rejected Nair’s appeal saying that she agreed with the lower court’s decision of convicting Nair and that the six-week jail term was not inappropriate. Too Xingh Ji, Nair’s advocate argued during his appeal that his actions were emotive responses to racism typical of social media discourse, not intended to incite racial hostility. However, Justice Peng upheld the conviction saying that the law did not require proof of malicious intent. She highlighted that Nair did not plead guilty and did not show any remorse for his actions. She added that Nair promoted ill will and displayed a disregard for the law despite receiving a conditional warning.

Congress attacks BJP over Trump deporting illegal migrants: Here is how it happened during Congress regime as well, and its bizarre to demand diplomatic war over it

Raju Das
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Congress attacks BJP over Trump deporting illegal migrants: Here is how it happened during Congress regime as well, and its bizarre to demand diplomatic war over it

Soon after becoming the American President for the second time, Donald Trump has started deporting illegal immigrants using both military and commercial flights. As part of this exercise, over 100 Indians who had entered the USA illegally have been sent back to India. A military plane carrying the first batch of 104 Indians landed in Amritsar on Wednesday.

The Congress party has decided to make it a political issue, and has started attacking the Modi government for not doing anything to keep the Indians in the USA. The Congress party expects the NDA government to support illegal immigration.

The party leaders are also spreading fake news, using visuals of illegal immigrants from Guatemala in handcuffs and chained to claim that they were Indians. Using the images of Guatemalan immigrants, Congress leaders like Priyanka Vadra claimed that despite the friendship with PM Modi, Trump treated the Indians with indignity. She also demanded that the Indian government send flights to the US to bring back the illegal immigrants.

There is no doubt that the Congress party always supported illegal immigration into India and now wants the Modi govt to show sympathy for Indians who entered the US without valid papers. But the fact is, the American government has full authority to deport illegal immigrants, just like the Indian govt has the full authority to detect and deport illegal immigrants staying in the country.

Indian govt regularly evacuates people from conflict or disaster-hit zones across the world. But the undocumented Indians in the US don’t fall in this category, and therefore there is no question of India on its own sending planes to bring them back. The US administration is using both military and commercial planes for the operation, and the Indian govt should not interfere in this.

Notably, the Congress party wants to create the impression that this is the first time such large-scale deportation of Indian illegal immigrants has taken place, and somehow this is a diplomatic loss for India. But that is completely wrong, as every country has the right to deport undocumented aliens, and it has nothing to do with the diplomatic relations between the two countries concerned.

Just like Indian authorities regularly detect and take steps to deport illegal immigrants, other countries also regularly do the same with Indians who entered those countries without valid visas. Several such instances were reported in the media in the past, including when the Congress party was in power at the centre.

Not just illegal immigrants, foreign countries also deported Indias who were living there legally but were found to be involved in various kinds of crimes, irregularities etc.

Here are a few such examples:

In 2011, around 6500 students were deported from Australia for Visa irregularities. In the same year, Saudi Arabia sent back around 50,000 Indian illegal immigrants, mostly unskilled workers, in an amnesty program. This also included those Indians who entered the country legally but had overstayed their Visas, including Haj and Umra Visas.

In the same year, a large number of Indian students were detained in the USA for alleged immigration fraud.

In an article in 2011, NBC reported that between October 2009 and March 2011, the US Border Patrol detained at least 2,600 illegal immigrants from India. It said that the number rose dramatically over around 150 to 300 arrests per year.

In February 2014, months before the Modi govt came to power, the Ministry of External Affairs informed the parliament that 56 Indians were deported from Singapore for allegedly being involved in riots.

Deportation of Indians from the USA took place under the Biden administration too. Kirti Vardhan Singh, MoS External Affairs, told the Lok Sabha in December last year that 519 Indian nationals were deported from the USA to India between November 2023 and October 2024, citing US government data. The reply stated, “As per US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Indian nationals who were deported from the US to India were under order of removal, as they were declared unauthorized to stay in the US by the competent authorities.”

Notably, according to data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, over 5,000 Indians were deported from the country between 2018-2023 for entering and staying in the country illegally.

In 2019, more than 325 Indians were deported from Mexico for illegally entering the country. Mexican immigration authorities had chartered a Boeing 747-400 plane to transport the Indians back to India after they were issued Emergency Certificates.

Treatment of detainees

The Congress leaders have targeted PM Modi over alleged inhuman treatment of those deported from USA to India. However, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the process of deportation used by the US is not new, it has been there for years. He added that this is not a policy applicable to only one country. 

The minister added that women and children were not restrained by US authorities.

Jaishankar further said that illegal immigration should be discouraged and deported Indians should be taken back, adding, “Our focus should be on crackdown on illegal migrants.”

Comparison with Devyani Khobragade incident

Congress leader Pawan Khera cited the incident of investigation against Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the USA in 2013. He said that when Khobragade was handcuffed and strip searched in America, Indian govt reacted sharply, registered a strong protest, and similarly the Modi govt also should protest against the Trump administration.

However, this is a baseless allegation. Devyani Khobragade not only entered US legally, she was an Indian diplomat having diplomatic immunity. She was investigated alleging that she obtained visa for a woman illegally. To strip search a woman accused of visa fraud for someone else was excessive use of force, and therefore the Indian govt had lodged a strong complaint.

The current case can’t be compared with that. US has arrested illegal immigrants, restrained them and deporting them to the respective countries. Evert country has the right to arrest illegal immigrants, and India can’t protest if authorities in US arrest Indians who entered the country illegally.

Rahul Gandhi says that Indians deported from USA for illegal immigration deserve dignity and humanity, because the deportees were allegedly handcuffed and chained. While this sounds inhuman, the fact remains that they violated the rule of the land by entering the country, and the country has right to take appropriate legal action.

Handcuffing and restraining people detained for violation of law is standard police practice done everywhere, including in India. Calling for a diplomatic war against USA over this issue is completely illogical.

Supreme Court grants interim protection to officials of Discovery India after threats over ‘Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu’ documentary

ANI
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Supreme Court grants interim protection to officials of Discovery India after threats over ‘Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu’ documentary

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection to the officials of Discovery Communications India who are allegedly facing threats after the release of the documentary series “Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu”.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan ordered police authorities of at least seven states to ensure the protection of officials and properties of the broadcasting channel.

The order of the top court came on a petition filed by Discovery Communications India and its senior staff based in different states across India.

The channel which released the documentary on self-styled godman Asaram Bapu said several hate comments against Discovery and persons associated with it were received on the social media accounts of the Broadcasters.

The counsel of the broadcasting channel told the bench that it has become increasingly difficult for the petitioners to travel freely across the country.

The bench observed that it may not be possible for the petitioners to approach different High Courts where their staff may be posted and issued notice to the Central government and the authorities in Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

“Issue notice returnable in the week commencing 3rd March 2025. In the meanwhile, we request the police authorities to ensure that the petitioner gets to use the office and no threats by way of physical harm are extended to the petitioners,” ordered the bench.

The petitioners claimed that the documentary on Asaram Bapu was made based on public records, court orders and witness testimonies. After the documentary was released on the OTT platform Discovery +, the petitioners claimed to have received threats.

The petition stated, “The series sheds light on the life of Asaram Bapu, a self-proclaimed spiritual leader currently serving a life sentence for crimes including rape and murder since 2018. It presents factual insights based on public records, witness testimonials and judicial records.”

The protection was being sought in light of threats and criminal intimidation from groups claiming to be supporters/ fans/followers/devotees of Asaram.

The plea said that on January 30, a mob gathered outside their Mumbai office, creating a ruckus, though the police dispersed the crowd, no action was taken against the perpetrators.

Asaram, serving life imprisonment in rape cases, is currently on bail on medical grounds.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Who coined the term ‘Pakistan’ and how Indian Muslims accepted it, furthering the movement for partition: All you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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Who coined the term ‘Pakistan’ and how Indian Muslims accepted it, furthering the movement for partition: All you need to know

Last month, on January 28, was the day when Pakistan was given its name by Choudhary Rehmat Ali Khan, one of the earliest proponents of the creation of a separate country for Muslims living in British India. Contrary to the popular belief that Mohammad Ali Jinnah proposed the idea of Pakistan, it was, in fact, Choudhary Rahmat Ali Khan who suggested that the five provinces of Punjab, Afghania (North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan should constitute an independent Muslim nation.

Rehmat Ali Khan proposed the idea of a Muslim nation named ‘Pakistan’

Choudhary Rahmat Ali Khan, born in 1897 in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, laid down the foundation of the Pakistan Movement. Khan was a student of law at Cambridge University when he wrote his famous pamphlet on January 28, 1933, titled ‘Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever’. The pamphlet that came to be known as ‘the Pakistan Declaration’ suggested the idea of naming the dreamland of the Muslims in India as ‘Pakstan’ (without an ‘i’). Pakstan was an acronym for the names of provinces that were to constitute the Islamic country- Punjab, Afghania (North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan.

Addressed to the British and the Indian delegates at the third and last Round Table Conference held on November 17, 1932, the pamphlet failed to garner the support of the delegates who rejected it as student ideas.

The Third Round Table Conference (The Creative Post)

Khan’s idea of an independent Muslim nation was derived from the two-nation theory proposed by Islamist Syed Ahmed Khan. Khan believed that the fact that the Indian Muslims were ‘different’ from the rest of the people living in India, particularly Hindus, was reason enough for creating a separate country for Muslims. He mentioned his views in the pamphlet:

“Our religion and culture, our history and tradition, our social code and economic system, our laws of inheritance, succession and marriage are fundamentally different from those of most people living in the rest of India. The ideals which move our people to mak the highest sacrifices are essentially different from those which inspire the Hindus to do the same. These differences are not confined to broad, basic principles. Far from it, they extend to the minutest details of our lives. We do not inter-dine; we do not inter-marry. Our national customs and calendars, even our diet and dress are different”.

Almost a decade later, the idea of Pakistan found traction with Muslim leaders, including Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and culminated in the adoption of a political statement by the All-India Muslim League popularly known as the Lahore Resolution or the Pakistan Resolution during the Lahore Conference held in March 1940 in Punjab. Marking the beginning of the Pakistan Movement, the Lahore Resolution accepted the constitution of a united homeland for Muslims recommending the creation of independent Muslim-majority states.

Addressing a gathering of thousands, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had earlier rejected the idea of Pakistan, validated the two-nation theory and said,

“Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs, and literature…It is quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes…To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numeric minority and the other as a majority must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.”

Gradually, the idea of Pakistan gained popularity among the Muslims and the Pakistan movement led by the All-India Muslim League resulted in the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947. But the man who conceived the idea of Pakistan was not pleased. Choudhary Rahmat Ali Khan was dissatisfied with the smaller geographical area of Pakistan than he had proposed in his 1933 pamphlet. He criticised Jinnah for settling for a smaller Pakistan and referred to him as ‘Quisling-e-Azam’ (meaning a traitor or collaborator) drawing a comparison with a Norwegian leader Vidkun Quisling who collaborated with Nazi Germany during WWII.

Expelled from his dreamland of Pakistan, Ali died a pauper in England

While Jinnah got all the glory after the creation of Pakistan, Choudhary Rahmat Ali Khan led a life of seclusion and destitution till his final days. Ironically, Khan, who so vehemently vouched for a separate Muslim nation which was supposed to be the dreamland of the Muslims of British India, could not get a piece of land in that Muslim dreamland even for his grave. When he returned from England in April 1948, he was expelled from Pakistan by its first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan. An impoverished Ali died a lonely death in Cambridge. Emmanuel College, Cambridge bore his funeral expenses. He was buried at Cambridge City Cemetery on February 20, 1951

Hamas reveals terror plans for India: Joins hands with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in PoK, threatens to separate Kashmir

OpIndia Staff
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Hamas reveals terror plans for India: Joins hands with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in PoK, threatens to separate Kashmir

On Wednesday, February 5th, the Hamas that launched a terror attack on Israel in October 2023 joined hands with the terrorist organizations Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Kashmir. At an event named ‘Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ Conference’ held at the Shaheed Sabir Stadium in Rawalakote, one of the terrorists from JeM announced from the stage that the Hamas and Pakistani terrorist groups have united.

“The ‘Mujahideen of Palestine’ and ‘Mujahideen of Kashmir’ have now united. It’s time to shed blood in Delhi and to separate Kashmir from India,” he threatened.

As per the reports, the event was attended by Talha Saif, brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, Jaish commanders Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and top LeT leaders. Dr Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Hamas representative in Iran, also attended the event making the first Hamas leader’s visit to Kashmir. Apart from this, several Palestinian leaders participated in the event.

It is important to note that Pakistan observes ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ on 5th February and conducts activities that usually push the anti-India agenda. This development reveals Pakistan’s crucial hand in promoting terrorism under the guise of ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day.’ Terrorist organizations like JeM and LeT have launched several terrorist attacks on India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

On 7th October 2023, Israel came under one of the worst attacks in recent history after hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated the Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Palestinian terrorists also launched massive rocket barrages at southern and central Israel from the Gaza Strip prompting it to declare a ‘state of war’. 

The terrorists also held several Israelis hostage including women, children, and the elderly. Around 1300 people were killed in indiscriminate firing, and videos reveal that they had also paraded women bared and bruised on the streets. Several people remained to be held hostage by Hamas, although some of them have been released in recent days in a peace deal.

Until now, the operations of Hamas were only limited to the Middle East, but its recent developments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and growing links with Pakistan-based terror outfits indicate the increased influence of Hamas in the region nearby. Earlier, in 2023, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated that “the Palestine and Kashmir issues had been a litmus test for advocates of human rights.” He had indicated that all the Islamists must unite in support of Palestine and Kashmir. Notably, in June 2024, Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed in Tehran.

Hamas: Emerged out of the Muslim Brotherhood in the region

Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, which means “Islamic Resistance Movement” in English. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin who was a Palestinian cleric. After doing Islamic scholarship in Cairo, he was associated with the local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. In the 1960s, Yassin preached religious sermons in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 

Subsequently, in December 1987, Yassin established Hamas as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza. This came in the backdrop of the first intifada – Palestinian attacks against Israel for alleged atrocities in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Initially, Hamas believed that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was a threat to the Muslim Brotherhood so it did everything to ‘counter’ it. In 1988, Hamas published its charter which called for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in historic Palestine. 

Since April 1993, Hamas has been carrying out suicide bombings. The first reported bombing was done five months before PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords. The historic accord led to the establishment of limited self-government for parts of the West Bank and Gaza. A new entity called the Palestinian Authority (PA) was created for this purpose. However, Hamas condemned and tried to derail these developments towards peace. It also condemned the PLO’s and Israel’s recognition of each other.

Later, in 1997, the United States designated Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization, as it went on to spearhead violent resistance during the second intifada, in the early 2000s. Hamas’s founder, Yassin was killed by Israeli forces in 2004. Apart from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), Hamas is the other major outfit in Palestinian territories. Since 2006, the Islamist outfit Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip. Back then, it defeated its rival political party, Fatah, in elections, but there hasn’t been any election in the Palestinian enclave.

Previously, Syria used to host Hamas leadership, but it had a fallout with Syrian authorities after the Palestinian refugees participated in the 2011 uprising that preceded the Syrian Civil War. Meanwhile, some of the Hamas leadership has an office in Turkey and they reportedly operate from there. Notably, the group behind the horrific attack on Israel on 7th October is not only responsible for terrorism in the Jewish country or the Middle East but also has penetrated its venomous claws in India as well.

Hamas and SIMI’s shared goal of an Islamic state in India

The Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) which had close ties with Pakistan-based terror outfits and Indian Mujahideen (IM) was banned by the government of India on 27th September 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. The group faced serious charges, including sedition, creating hatred, and engineering communal violence, among others. It was earlier reported how Hamas and SIMI shared the goal of an Islamic state in India and also furthered funding to promote anti-India activities.

SIMI believed that ideas of secularism, democracy, and nationalism are anti-Islamic, and it frequently emphasized the need for an armed struggle to establish Islam’s supremacy, the restoration of the Khalifat (the Islamic state or caliphate), and ummah (Muslim brotherhood) in India. The organization believed that, despite being a minority in the country, Muslims should work hard to ensure that Shari’ah is implemented, as failure to do so will result in their demise in Hell. Hence, the creation of an Islamic polity in the state of India is considered to be the primary goal of Indian Muslims, per SIMI. The goals of SIMI, which resembled what Hamas sought to do to Jews in Israel, underscored the commonality between the two groups.

SIMI, which had a pan-India presence with bases in states including Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, not only had close links with JeI, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Pakistan-based jihadi groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) but also Hamas. The latter also funded the former, which was unveiled and confirmed by one of the SIMI terrorists who was arrested by the Indian state. Salim Sajid, an ex-financial secretary of SIMI unveiled that one of the organization’s main funding sources was Hamas.

He also informed that SIMI received financial support from both Bangladesh’s Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) a student wing of JeI Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia’s Jamayyatul Ansar (JA) which is mainly made up of Indian Muslims who work in the country and believed to be transferring money to SIMI. The other sources of funding to SIMI, as per Sajid, were the Consultative Committee of Indian Muslims in the United States, the International Islamic Federation of Students Organizations headquartered in Kuwait, and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth in Riyadh.

Hamas looking for potential recruits?

Extremist and terror groups frequently establish front organizations to hide their identities, and members of these groups often join groups that share similar beliefs, be it LeT which tries to masquerade as a “charity outfit” named Jama’at-ud-Da’wah or Jaish-e-Mohammed which is hiding behind People’s Anti-Fascist Front to carry out its violent operations in Jammu and Kashmir. More importantly, the relationship between Hamas and SIMI, or any other terror group, may seem odd to some because of multiple differences including linguistic, geographic, or even political but the important thing to remember is that these groups are all motivated by the same ideology which is hatred of Kufar or Kafir (infidels) and the establishment of an Islamic state. 

On the other hand, Hamas has been firing a spree of rockets and mortars into Israel after it took over Gaza. Hamas has been dropping hundreds of balloons laden with inflammatory substances and explosives, along with rockets, on Israeli territories,s causing indiscriminate death and destruction to civilians. Additionally, Israel has responded fiercely and unsparingly against the continued provocation, with persistent airstrikes and tank fires on locations described by it as Gaza’s military infrastructure installations. Following this, Hamas, which has lost most of its terrorists to Israel’s counter-attack operations, might be looking to expand its infrastructure, joining hands with terrorist minds and furthering anti-India ideology.

Reports suggest that intelligence agencies had earlier warned of Hamas’s potential engagement with radical elements in South Asia. Therefore, Hamas’s old friendship with Pakistan and jihadi organizations furthering anti-India ideology cannot be ignored hereinafter. The Pakistani army has been providing training to Hamas terrorists. Several terrorists of Hamas’s Air and Naval Wing are trained by SSG commandos of Pakistan. The country also provides huge funding to Hamas. And now, it is openly hosting events promoting terrorism under the guise of ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ where terrorists who have previously launched deadly terrorist attacks on India are joining hands with Hamas.

At the event, notably, the terrorist groups talked against the leadership in India. They also made indefinite comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing the event, one of the JeM terrorists said that the ‘Mujahideen of Palestine’ and ‘Mujahideen of Kashmir’ have now united. He also indicated war against India as he threatened to shed blood in Delhi and to separate Kashmir from India.

Delhi HC asks NIA to clarify its stand on jailed MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend Parliament amidst jurisdictional row

ANI
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Delhi HC asks NIA to clarify its stand on jailed MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend Parliament amidst jurisdictional row

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked National Investigation Agency (NIA) to clarify its stand on an application moved by Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend ongoing parliament session amidst a jurisdictional row.

The bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan has scheduled the hearing for February 7.

Rashid, who is currently in Tihar Jail facing terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was mainly sought interim bail.

During the hearing, Delhi High Court acknowledged that the Registrar General has filed an application with the Supreme Court of India regarding the jurisdictional authority to hear Rashid’s bail plea in an NIA case.

This issue arose after the Special NIA Court (Trial Court) recently declined to hear the matter, citing that it falls under the jurisdiction of the MP/MLA court since Rashid Engineer has become a Member of Parliament.

Counsel representing the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court informed the court that the Registrar General has already approached the Supreme Court for clarification and will mention the matter tomorrow before the Supreme Court for urgent listing.

On last date of hearing, NIA opposed the interim bail plea of Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, arguing that it was not maintainable and should be dismissed on merits. In its reply, the NIA said, “The present case is a classic case of misuse of Interim Bail provision which has to be used sparingly when intolerable grief and suffering is displayed by the concerned Accused.”

NIA further stated that the Applicant/ Rashid Engineer has not specified in what manner he will be able to serve his constituency and vague averment has been made that he intends to “serve the constituency” and therefore the same is not a valid ground for grant of any relief whatsoever. “Moreover, the work done by the Applicant/ Accused is put to strict proof to the work done by the Applicant/ Accused in his constituency,” it said.

Rashid’s counsel Senior Advicate N Hariharan argued that while his bail petition was heard in August, the subsequent issue of jurisdiction had left him without a remedy.

The counsel for Rashid Engineer submitted that his entire constituency cannot go unrepresented for a long period as he was not granted interim bail during the last session as well

He pointed out that his regular bail is pending since September 2024.

Engineer has moved the High Court after Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh, the special judge assigned to NIA cases, declined to rule on his bail application on December 23. The judge stated that the court only had the authority to hear miscellaneous applications, not bail petitions.

Rashid was arrested in August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During his incarceration, he filed his nomination for the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and won by a margin of 2,04,000 votes, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

In 2022, the NIA Court of Patiala House Court ordered the framing of charges against Rashid Engineer and several other key figures, including Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin, Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Masrat Alam, Zahoor Ahmed Watali, Bitta Karate, Aftab Ahmed Shah, Avtar Ahmed Shah, Naeem Khan, and Bashir Ahmed Butt (also known as Peer Saifullah).

The charges are part of an ongoing investigation into terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleges that various militant organizations, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and JKLF, collaborated with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, to orchestrate attacks on civilians and security forces in the region.

The NIA’s investigation claims that in 1993, the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was formed to further separatist activities, with funding channelled through hawala and other covert methods. Hafiz Saeed, along with Hurriyat leaders, is accused of using these illicit funds to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting security forces, inciting violence, burning schools, and damaging public property.

The agency contends that these operations were designed to destabilise the region and promote terrorism under the guise of political resistance.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Congress moves adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss deportation of Indian illegal migrants from USA

ANI
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Congress moves adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss deportation of Indian illegal migrants from USA

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Thursday moved an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the deportations of over 100 Indian nationals by the United States government.

In his notice, Tagore said that the recent deportation of the Indian nationals who were identified as illegal immigrants has shocked the nation.

“This process not only reflects an utter disregard for human rights but also raises serious diplomatic concerns. These actions are being carried out without significant intervention from the Indian government, which has remained largely silent on the matter,” he said.

He questioned further that why has the Indian government not condemned the inhumane treatment of its nationals during deportation?

“What actions is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) taking to ensure the protection of Indian citizens abroad? Why was the Indian government not consulted about the use of military aircraft for deportation? What steps are being taken to ensure the safety and dignity of those being deported?” the Congress MP said.

He demanded an explanation from the Minister of External Affairs on the “government’s position” and the actions being taken.

A US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US arrived in Punjab’s Amritsar on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, a US Embassy spokesperson said that while specific details cannot be shared, the United States is vigorously enforcing its border and immigration laws. The spokesperson emphasised that the actions taken send a “clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

“I have received a number of inquiries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can’t share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” a US Embassy spokesperson said. 


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Shark Tank India announces collaboration with Adani Airports director Jeet Adani to encourage entrepreneurship among people with disabilities

ANI
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Shark Tank India announces collaboration with Adani Airports director Jeet Adani to encourage entrepreneurship among people with disabilities

Shark Tank India has announced a special episode dedicated to encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship among specially-abled individuals or those supporting them.

Jeet Adani, director of Adani Airports and Shark Tank India have collaborated for the special episode ‘Gateway to Shark Tank – Divyang Special’, which will bring groundbreaking ideas and solutions, as per the press release.

“There is potential to disrupt this space. We need more passionate people to create solutions for problems faced by those who are specially abled. I am excited to partner with Shark Tank India and support entrepreneurs to help bring about this change, in whatever way possible,” said Jeet Adani in a statement shared in the press release.

Jeet Adani, the world’s youngest airport infrastructure developer, is offering mentorship and support through Shark Tank to entrepreneurs with disabilities and entrepreneurs who are working for people with disabilities. In a special program, titled ‘Gateway to Shark Tank – Divyang Special’, Jeet Adani and Anupam Mittal discussed the dire need for focused interventions in this domain, as per the release.

“There is potential to disrupt this space,” said Jeet Adani. “We need more passionate people to create solutions for problems faced by people with disabilities. I am excited to partner and support entrepreneurs to help bring about this change, in whatever way possible.”

On the International Day of People with Disabilities in 2024, Jeet facilitated a collaborative effort between the Adani Foundation and the Gujarat Government’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. This partnership led to the distribution of over 1,150 technical kits to differently abled students across the state’s Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Jeet has also been a driving force behind the Adani Foundation’s collaboration with the Mitti Social Initiatives Foundation. At the Adani Group’s Mumbai and Lucknow airports, Mitti Cafes provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, celebrating diversity and inclusion. In 2023, he launched the Adani Group’s GreenX Talks, where resilient individuals with disabilities shared their inspiring life stories of overcoming numerous challenges through determination and strength.

Taking to the Instagram handle, Shark Tank India and Sony LIV posted the video of Jeet Adani along with the caption, “Jeet Adani welcomes incredible entrepreneurs to a special episode on Shark Tank India Season 4! Watch inspiring founders turn challenges into opportunities, only on Sony LIV!”

Ranjana Mangla, Head of Ad Sales Revenue, Sony LIV talked about the special episode and appreciated Jeet Adani’s efforts in supporting the cause.

“Shark Tank India has been the beacon of hope for every Indian aspiring to make a mark. We have consistently aimed to be an inclusive platform that also supports initiatives for the specially abled, be it specially abled entrepreneurs or products and services catering to empower them,” said Ranjana.

Mangla added, “It is truly heartening to see established entities like Mr Jeet Adani – Director, Adani Airports, also supporting a common cause, thus amplifying the overall impact and reach of Shark Tank India and the causes we support.”

‘Gateway to Shark Tank – Divyang Special’ is inviting entries until February 15, after which shortlisted pitches will be selected for an exclusive episode.

Through this initiative, Shark Tank India and Jeet Adani aim to mentor and support entrepreneurs driving disability-inclusive innovation, promoting accessibility and progress, as per the press release.

‘Gateway to Shark Tank – Divyang Special’ will soon be available on Sony LIV.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation drowning in debt two years after announcement of free bus ride scheme for women: All you need to know

Aditi
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Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation drowning in debt two years after announcement of free bus ride scheme for women: All you need to know

Facing a severe financial crunch, the Karnataka State Road Corporation (KSRTC) is seeking a bank loan of about Rs 624 crore to clear its arrears including statutory dues like provident fund (PF) and fuel payments. According to a report of the Moneycontrol, the KSRTC has invited an expression of interest from financial institutions and commercial banks.

The state-owned public transport service seeks the loan amount in one instalment with a repayment period of seven years against primary and secondary security to be provided by the state government. KSRTC Managing Director V Anbukumar said that the government has approved a Rs 2,000 loan to all the RTCs to clear all the dues which are around Rs 4800 crore till November 2024.

“This loan is being taken by KSRTC as per the orders of the government. All SRTCs will avail of Rs 2,000 crore loan to clear pending dues related to provident fund and diesel, ” Anbukumar told Moneycontrol. “All four corporations have total arrears of around Rs 4,800 crore, with the most immediate dues amounting to Rs 3,000 crore. The government has approved Rs 2,000 crore in loans. If we receive additional support, we will be free from all arrears. We are not pledging any assets, as this loan is guaranteed by the government,” he added.

All the four RTCs of Karnataka have consolidated liabilities worth Rs 6,330.25 crore

Earlier last month, the Karnataka government hiked the bus fare of the four state corporations namely, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) by 15 per cent.

The consolidated liabilities of all the four SRTCs stood at Rs 6,330.25 crore as of November 2024. “Payments for provident fund transfers, pensions, and other due have been deferred due to a cash crunch. A total of Rs 5,527.4 crore is required to cover all outstanding dues, including Rs 2,901.5 crore in provident fund arrears and Rs 827.37 crore in fuel arrears. Of this, Rs 3,728 crore was sought from the government”, an official reportedly said.

In June 2023, the Congress government in Karnataka launched a freebie scheme called Shakti which allowed free bus travel to all women in all state-owned buses. The Shakti scheme was implemented by all four SRTCs. Despite the humungous financial burden on the SRTCs, the state government has continued with the freebie scheme.

However, the delayed reimbursement by the state government to the SRTCs for the implementation of the Shakti scheme forces the SRTCs to operate in deficit. The state government reportedly owed Rs 1,600 crore to SRTCs for the implementation of the Shakti scheme for the fiscal year 2023-24 and 2024-25 (till October) – with Rs 6,83.21 crore to KSRTC, Rs 280.82 crore to BMTC, Rs 394.7 crore to NWKRTC and Rs 335.67 crore to KKRTC.

Delhi Elections: Exit polls predict win for BJP against AAP, Congress not expected to win any seat

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Elections: Exit polls predict win for BJP against AAP, Congress not expected to win any seat

After end of voting for the Delhi Assembly Elections, several polling agencies in collaboration with news organisations have released their exit poll numbers. Overall, the exit polls indicate a win for BJP, ending the three-term rule of Aam Aadmi Party. However, some other polls have predicted a close fight. All exit polls are unanimous that Congress is not winning any seats or may win just 1-2 seats.

As per P-MARQ exit poll, the BJP is likely to get 39-49 seats, AAP with 21-31 seats and Congress with 0-1 seats out of the 70 seats in Delhi. Matrize has predicted 35-40 seats for BJP, 32-37 seats for AAP, and just 0-1 seats for Congress.

Another poll agency People’s Insight has also predicted BJP’s win with 40-44 seats, with 26-28 seats for AAP and 1 for Congress. According to Chanakya Strategies, BJP is going to win 39-44 seats against 25-28 by AAP, while Congress may win 0-2.

While others have predicted a close win for BJP, Peoples Pulse exit polls show a landslide victory for the party. It has predicted 51-60 seats for BJP with 48.5% – 52.5% vote share. The agency has predicted 10-19 seats for AAP with 36.5% – 40.5% and zero seats for Congress with 6.5% – 8.5%.

Poll Diary has also made similar projections, with 42-50 predicted for BJP, 18-25 for AAP, and 0-2 for Congress. JVC has projected 39-45 for BJP, 22-31 for AAP and 0-2 for Congress.

Going by these exit poll numbers, BJP may return to power in Delhi after a long time. However, it may be noted that reliability of exit polls remains questionable, and many of recent exit polls didn’t match with actual results, including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when most exit polls had predicted a clear majority for BJP.

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