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As Delhi gradually comes back to normalcy, anti-CAA protesters removed from Jaffrabad resume sit-in dharna at Seelampur

OpIndia Staff
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As Delhi gradually comes back to normalcy, anti-CAA protesters removed from Jaffrabad resume sit-in dharna at Seelampur

After the riots in North-East Delhi which were finally brought to a halt by security forces today, the Anti-CAA women protestors have moved to Seelampur to continue their protest against Citizenship Amendment Ac. Earlier they were protesting in front of the Jaffrabad metro station, blocking access to the station, but the sit-in protest there were cleared by police due to riots in the northeast Delhi area. The stretch below Jaffrabad metro station, which was occupied by the mostly woman protesters, was cleared by on Tuesday as the surrounding areas went up on flames and mob unleashed fury calling to vacate the place.

Some people were already protesting at the Seelamour site for the last 2 months, and today nearly 300 women shifted there from Jaffrabad metro station that is nearly a kilometre away and joined the sit-in there. The protesters said that they have relocated for their own safety, as local leaders, clerics and activists requested them to shift. A call for relocation was also made from the local mosque after the evening prayers.

Volunteers coordinating the protests said that they were having to navigate between the two protest sites, and women protesters reaching the Jaffrabad site had become a challenge due to the violence. Volunteers formed a human chain around the women so that they can safely shift from Jaffrabad to Seelampur.

The protests against CAA hit the streets of Delhi in the middle of December last year, which led to riots in Seelampur-Jamia and other parts of the country. The Islamist mob set ablaze, destroyed and Vandalised crores of public property in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The Islamists took the agitation further with the Shaheen Bagh sit-in protests including women and Children against CAA and NRC, that was expected to meet an end after mediation by supreme court lawyers but the protestors continues there, with additional protesters gathered at Jaffrabad Metro station, further leading to the violent clashes among groups and the police.

The death toll of the Delhi riots has reached 20 including policeman Ratan Lal, and more than 200 people are injured. On Wednesday, the fury in ecosystem mounted when IB officer Ankit Sharma was found murdered in a drain in North-east Delhi amidst the communal riots.

Today the Delhi Commissioner of Police, Amulya Patnaik said that the situation in Delhi under control, as normalcy is coming back to the areas affected by the clashes.

“Journalist” Sagarika Ghose and assorted ‘liberals’ ask Arvind Kejriwal to open CM’s relief fund to crowdfund reconstruction of mosque damaged in Delhi riots

OpIndia Staff
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“Journalist” Sagarika Ghose and assorted ‘liberals’ ask Arvind Kejriwal to open CM’s relief fund to crowdfund reconstruction of mosque damaged in Delhi riots

The National Capital of the country was in throes of unprecedented violence as Muslim anti-CAA protesters ran amok, indulging in violent skirmishes with pro-CAA supporters and law enforcement officials, especially in northeast Delhi.

The total breakdown of the law and order was evident by the fact that several policemen suffered injuries, with one head constable of Delhi police and one IB Constable losing their lives and a DCP being severely injured. The situation exacerbated as religious places of worship were targeted by the sparring sides. According to several reports, a mosque in Delhi’s Ashok Nagar was vandalised by a mob, a video of which was doing the rounds on the Internet.

Even as the anti-CAA rioters continued to hold the city by ransom, assorted liberals, spearheaded by “journalist” Sagarika Ghose floated a crowdfunding measure to rebuild the mosque in Ashok Nagar, that was reportedly damaged during the riots. She suggested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal start a chief minister’s relief fund to rebuild the mosque in northeast Delhi, the epicentre of the violent riots.


Sagarika tweeted, “I would like to contribute to re-building of Ashok Ngr mosque & towards bereaved families, including of Constable Ratan Lal. CM @ArvindKejriwal pls start a chief minister’s relief fund to rebuild NE Delhi @AamAadmiParty #DelhiRiots2020. Let’s do it, Dilli. Let’s rebuild, restore.”

Soon after Sagarika appealed the Delhi CM to institute a relief fund to rebuild the mosque, assorted liberals descended on her timeline, extending their support to the idea.

Actor Swara Bhasker, who has been instigating Muslims against the CAA, supported the initiative mooted by Sagarika and responded with “Me Too” on her tweet.


Indian Express journalist Harneet Singh too rallied behind Sagarika and backed her proposal to renovate the mosque.


Businessman Zafar Sareshwala too extended his support saying he would like to participate in the noble cause.


Quoting Sagarika’s tweet, washed-up actress Amyra Dastur said “Yes PLEASE! Would love to contribute to this! What a beautiful initiative.”


However, there were some netizens who were not enthused with the idea of crowdfunding reconstruction of the mosque. Taking a leaf out of liberals’ book, they suggested that instead of a mosque, a school or perhaps a hospital, which has a far more utilitarian value than a religious place, should be constructed instead.

One of the Twitter users did not mince words in expressing his disapproval with Sagarika’s idea of funding the rebuilding of mosques. The user sardonically added that since many mosques have been destroyed, there are enough empty plots for the construction of schools or hospitals.


Another user echoed similar sentiments asking Sagarika why not build a school or hospital at the site of the destroyed mosque as there are enough mosques already.


It is pertinent to mention that before causing grave damages to public property in Delhi during the riots, the Muslim anti-CAA rioters had blocked one of the busiest arterial roads of the National Capital in their bid to prompt the government into revoking the Citizenship Amendment Act, causing huge losses to businesses in the area. The anti-CAA rioters have damaged scores on public and private property in the last two months worth hundreds of crores, but nobody came forward with a proposal for crowdfunding for those loses.

Shaheen Bagh debate worsened into something else, says Supreme Court, defers hearing in road blockade case due to violence

OpIndia Staff
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Shaheen Bagh debate worsened into something else, says Supreme Court, defers hearing in road blockade case due to violence

A bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday called off the hearing on petitions seeking the removal of Road Blockade by people protesting at Shaheen bagh against the amended citizenship amendment act. Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph deferred the hearing after oral observations on the violence that has erupted in northeast Delhi over the last few days, holding that atmosphere aren’t conducive at present to proceed with this case.

The bench will again hear the petitions on March 23 after the Holi vacation.

Justice SK Kaul remarked, “Colours of Holi represent the difference in opinion which can co-exist. It is time for all parties and stakeholders to lower their temperatures.”

Referring to the violence that had erupted in east Delhi on Monday and turned violent rapidly, the judges observed “the debate (around the shaheen bagh blockade) has deteriorated into something else. And this is only an unfortunate example.”

“Let this fandom cool down. The timing is not conducive to hear this matter. It is for law enforcing administration to ensure environment is conducive,” the court said.

Read- As ‘liberals’ blame Kapil Mishra for the Delhi anti-CAA riots in Delhi, here are 6 times when they blamed ‘Kaafirs’ for Jihad

The death toll due to violence in Delhi has reached 20 and over 250 people are injured.

The judges made it clear that they will limit the hearing to Shaheen Bagh blockade and will not extend to the violence in the East part of Delhi. However, the bench condemned the violence and termed it a “really unfortunate” incident.

The court also sharply criticised police for failing to contain the violence. “The problem is lack of professionalism of police. If this had been done before, this situation would not have risen,” Justice Joseph said. Police don’t have to wait for orders if someone makes inflammatory statements but act according to law, the court said.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta objected to this observation by the court, and stated that the police force should not be demoralized and pointed out that a DCP was nearly lynched. “I request your lordship not to get into all this”, Tushar Mehta said.

The Judges elaborated on what the bench felt was the problem with the response of police to the clashes on Sunday that escalated into a full-fledged communal riot. The judges even said that this is Delhi’s worst in three decades.

Balakot airstrikes first anniversary: The inside story of how ‘Operation Bandar’ unfolded

OpIndia Staff
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Balakot airstrikes first anniversary: The inside story of how ‘Operation Bandar’ unfolded

On this day, last year, the Indian Air Force fighter jets carried out cross-border airstrikes to pulverise the Jaish-e-Muhammad training camp situated deep inside Pakistan, in Balakot. The attack, first of its kind on Pakistani soil, was authorised in response to the Pulwama attack by Jaish-e-Muhammad on February 14, 2019, which claimed 40 CRPF personnel’s lives.

Shortly after an indoctrinated terrorist rammed an explosive-laden car into one of the vehicles of the CRPF convoy, killing 40 CRPF soldiers, the Indian Prime Minister had summoned a CCS meeting to take stock of the situation and discuss the various retaliatory options at India’s disposal. In an ANI report, Air Marshal C Hari Kumar has revealed how the events had unfolded at that time.

According to Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, who headed the IAF’s western command during the operation last year, on 15th February, a day after the ghastly terror attack, the Chief of Air Staff at the Western Command was briefed as to what are the options available.

“At that stage, we had a specific set of targets to be addressed. However, on February 18, we got a very strong and credible intelligence input on Balakot which was conveyed to the leadership. The intelligence input provided by Research& Analysis Wing was very accurate and specific. It not only had coordinates that are most important for carrying out such attacks but it also provided with excellent imagery and reliable ground shots of the target,” Kumar said to ANI.

Considering the distance involved, the Air Force was selected for the operation after zeroing in on the targets, he added. Further due-diligence was done to ascertain the designated mean point in the impact of those targets. Regarding the question as to how Mirage 2000 were finalised for the operation, Kumar said, “Looking at the geographic location of Balakot, which is 50 km inside Pakistan, Mirage 2000 was the only option that carried SPICE and Crystal Maze which gave us a significantly larger stand-off.”.

When sought details about how the operation came to be called as “Bandar”, Kumar recalled that the word ‘Bandar” was a codeword to relay the success of the mission. “I distinctly remember. It was on the 25th of February. My farewell was going on at a large banquet when the Air Chief came and took me along the lawn to reconfirm if all the preparations are done. During that time, he told me that when the operation is over and our men have safely landed back, just give me a call. If you say “Bandar”, I will presume everything has gone smoothly and the operation is a success,” Kumar said.

As per the Operation, Mirages got airborne from Gwalior airbase and travelled north towards the Bareilly sector. From Bareilly, they travelled further north, taking advantage of the mountainous terrain, and continued their flight upwards of Srinagar in the direction of Balakot.

Read: 10 remarkable details of the Indian air strike over Balakot terror camp

Talking about minutes before the final moments, Kumar said, “The first bomb impact was 0328. At 0305, PAF scrambled 2 F-16s at the Indian Mirages. However, to thwart their attempts to foil the operation, a decoy was set as we launched four Jaguars from Ambala and two Su-30 Combat Air Patrols(CAPs) at high speed towards Bhawalpur, another major location for JeM training camp. The decoy was successful as two F-16s broke the pattern and flew at high speed southwards. The Indian fleet of aircraft attacked and destroyed the designated targets and landed back at around 0400.”

Kumar also spoke about the possible number of terrorists eliminated in the operation and the consequences of the airstrikes carried out on the enemy soil. “We had an intelligence input about a great number of people present at the Jaish’s facility in Balakot. I think maybe 500 to 600 terrorists were eliminated in the operation. The operation marks a paradigm shift in India’s approach in dealing with cross-border terrorism. We have conveyed them in the strongest term that a terrorist attack on Indian soil is no longer acceptable and will exact punitive measures. Since the Balakot airstrikes, there have been no terror attacks throughout the year. The message is loud and clear. India has the resolve and ability to take swift action against terror attacks. Next time it happens, we will hit them even harder,” Kumar said.

“A thulla called Ankit Sharma was found in the gutter today”: AAP convener’s statement on murder of IB official in Delhi riots

OpIndia Staff
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“A thulla called Ankit Sharma was found in the gutter today”: AAP convener’s statement on murder of IB official in Delhi riots

Aam Aadmi Party leader Mayur Panghaal today took to Facebook to comment on the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau official Ankit Sharma in the Delhi riots. In a status update, referring to Sharma as a ‘thulla’, Panghaal said, “So a thulla called Ankit Sharma was found in the gutter today. Somehow I cant feel sorry for a any dead thulla so spare me the elegy.”

Mayur Panghaal’s ‘thulla’ remark on Facebook

Thulla is a derogatory term used to refer to policemen. Earlier, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, too, had referred to Delhi Police as ‘thulla‘.

He had put up similar derogatory tweets on his Twitter profile as well.

Mayur Panghaal tweets (image: effuctivehumour on Twitter)
Mayur Panghaal tweets (image: effuctivehumour on Twitter)
Mayur Panghaal tweets (image: erbmjha on Twitter)

Panghaal works as joint convener, Aam Aadmi Party, Navi Mumbai for Belapur constituency. He manages the AAP Facebook page for Belapur constituency. His posts over the years have been consistently pro-Aam Aadmi Party. He has now deleted his Facebook post and deactivated his Twitter account.

Mayur Panghaal’s Facebook page

Earlier on Wednesday, the dead body of an Intelligence Bureau constable was recovered from a drain in North East Delhi amidst communal riots in the national capital. Ankit Sharma, who lived in Chand Bagh, was returning home on Tuesday evening when he was allegedly attacked by a violent mob on the Chand Bagh bridge and beaten to death. The anti-CAA mob later threw his body was later into a drain.

Read: AAP leader Tahir Hussain’s goons attacked him, says family of IB officer murdered in Delhi riots

Later, his body was recovered from a drain in Chand Bagh. It is believed that he was beaten to death and later, the mob disposed of his body by dumping it in the drain. Sharma’s father, Ravindra Sharma, who is also associated with the IB had reportedly held local Aam Aadmi Party of murdering his son. Reportedly, his father said that Ankit Sharma was shot after the anti-CAA rioters had beaten up mercilessly.

AAP national social media member calls BJP the ‘ISIS Of India’

OpIndia Staff
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AAP national social media member calls BJP the ‘ISIS Of India’

The Arvind-Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now stoked a controversy after one of the office-bearers of the party referred the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Islamic State in an attempt to discredit the voters of the country who had overwhelmingly voted for the party in the recent 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Abhijeet Dipke, one of the prominent members of the AAP’s National Social media team, on Wednesday took to Twitter to express his contempt towards the BJP and called the party as the Islamic State of India. “BJP is the ISIS of India,” tweeted Dipke.

Abhijeet Dipke via Twitter

As per the Aaa Aadmi Party national Social Media handler, the party that won the elections with an overwhelming majority in a democratic republic is same as a global terrorist group that has murdered millions of people and seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in the world.

Ironically, it was AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan who was seen giving provocative speeches over Islamist supremacy in Delhi under the garb of anti-CAA protests.

Normalcy returning to North-East Delhi, several confidence building measures being taken: Delhi Police Commissioner

OpIndia Staff
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Normalcy returning to North-East Delhi, several confidence building measures being taken: Delhi Police Commissioner

Commissioner of Delhi Police, Amulya Patnaik has said that normalcy is returning in riot-hit North-East Delhi to a larger extent, and senior officers are on rounds and extra forces have been deployed in the area. He said things are being brought back to normal.


Speaking to the media, Patnaik said, “Normalcy has returned in North-East district to a large extent, senior officers are on rounds, extra forces have been given and a lot of confidence-building measures are being taken. Things being brought back to normal. We are also associating in peace committee meetings.”

He added, “You must have seen that these incidents had taken place in interior lanes of the city. Whenever calls were made the police has reached. As soon as the police reached strict action was taken. In some places police also recused people in distress.”

Around 17 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in the North-East Delhi riots raging since Monday. Localities of Chandbagh, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri, Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Kardampuri witnessed the heinous clashes between two groups pelting stones and hurling petrol bombs at each other. While police tried controlling the situation, in return they became a victim of the communal clash losing police personnel and badly injuring Deputy Superintendent of Police Amit Sharma.

Delhi Police has imposed curfew in some parts of North-East Delhi which have been affected by the recent anti-CAA riots. Internet services were suspended in Seelampur, Jaffrabad, and Maujpur, while section 144 of the IPC has been imposed in entire North East district of Delhi for a month, from February 24 to March 24. Delhi Police Commissioner also said on Tuesday that sufficient police force to overcome the riots is deployed debunking the rumours of lack of police force to control Delhi riots.

Security forces, including police and central armed forces, conducted flag marches in several areas in northeast Delhi following the widespread riot, arson, stone-pelting and firing of guns. Entry and exit gates at five metro stations in the area, which were closed during the violence, have now been opened.

AAP leader Tahir Hussain’s goons attacked him, says family of IB officer murdered in Delhi riots

OpIndia Staff
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AAP leader Tahir Hussain’s goons attacked him, says family of IB officer murdered in Delhi riots

In a startling revelation, Ravinder Sharma – the father of the deceased IB officer Ankit Sharma has blamed Aam Aadmi Party for the brutal murder of his son. Sharma’s body was recovered earlier today from a drain where it was dumped.


As reported by Republic TV journalist Shivani Gupta, his family has blamed a local Aam Aadmi Party leader for the murder. Gupta reports that the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s goons took Ankit away. He was later hacked to death and his body was thrown away in a drain.

Reportedly, his father said that Ankit Sharma was shot after the anti-CAA rioters had beaten him up mercilessly.

It is being reported that the AAP councillor’s name is Tahir Hussain. Some social media posts were seen sharing videos where a mob was pelting stones from a rooftop, claiming that it was the same councillor’s house in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the government sources speaking to Times Now have confirmed that the IB officer Ankit Sharma was killed as a revenge for being associated with the government which is currently led by BJP-led NDA where Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister. The government officials also said they had been warned by the intelligence officials that such heinous could occur during the anti-CAA riots.

Shockingly, Ankit Sharma was killed after the rioters knew that he was working for the Modi government, who then dragged him out of his to brutally murder him.


The dead body of an Intelligence Bureau constable was recovered from a drain in North East Delhi amidst communal riots in the national capital. Ankit Sharma, who lived in Chand Bagh, was returning home on Tuesday evening when he was allegedly attacked by a violent mob on the Chand Bagh bridge and beaten to death. The anti-CAA mob later threw his body was later into a drain.

Later, his body was recovered from a drain in Chand Bagh. It is believed that he was beaten to death and later, the mob disposed of his body by dumping it in the drain.

The family of Ankit Sharma had been looking for him since Tuesday. His father, Ravinder Sharma, is also worked as a head constable in the Intelligence Bureau. Ankit Sharma had joined the IB in 2017. As per reports, his rank was ‘security assistant’. His father has alleged that in addition to being beaten up, Ankit Sharma was also shot at.

Another Head Constable named Ratan Lal had also died on Monday in the violent clashes during the anti-CAA riots. It was earlier believed that he died due to stone pelting but autopsy report revealed that he succumbed to bullet injuries.

The rioters have gone on a rampage in the national capital and have also killed a policeman, and causing death and injuries to many others during the anti-CAA riots in Delhi. The National Capital of the country was in the throes of unprecedented violence and rioting as anti-CAA rioters ransacked the city seeking to draw international attention amidst the high-profile visit of US President Donald Trump.

Devendra Fadnavis’ bangles comment sparks a controversy: Here’s what he actually said

OpIndia Staff
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Devendra Fadnavis’ bangles comment sparks a controversy: Here’s what he actually said

A war of words has sparked between the two erstwhile alliance partners- BJP and Shiv Sena after former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pulled up Sena for its deafening silence over the controversial remarks made by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan during an anti-CAA gathering in Mumbai recently.

Addressing a crowd gathered at Azad Maidan, Fadnavis questioned Shiv Sena for not initiating action against Pathan for his incendiary remarks. Speaking at an anti-CAA rally, Pathan was heard delivering an inflaming speech saying, “We are 15 crores but be aware if we can still dominate over 100 crores Hindus, imagine what we can do to you.”

Fadnavis launched a blistering attack against Shiv Sena’s reticence to act against the controversial AIMIM leader. “Shiv Sena might be wearing bangles. However, women dislike the reference to bangles and thus I take my words back. But Shiv Sena is silent over the incident(Waris Pathan inciting people), but we will not sit ideally,” Fadnavis said.

Before long, many news organisations reported Fadnavis’ bangles remarks without mentioning that he immediately retracted his statements citing disapproval of his statement amongst women.

Quoting one such news report, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray tried to score some political brownie points by posting a tweet slamming Devendra Fadnavis for his bangles remarks. “Bangles are worn by the strongest of all- the women. Politics can go on, but we need to change this discourse. Rather disgraceful coming from a former Chief Minister,” Thackeray tweeted.


However, the official Twitter handle of BJP Maharashtra was prompt and unsparing in responding back. Attaching the video in which Devendra Fadnavis is seen making those remarks, BJP Maharashtra slammed Aaditya Thackeray for relying on written news and on not on facts for political gains.


The video embedded in the tweet shows Devendra Fadnavis addressing the gathering at Azad Maidan when he made the reference to bangles. Shortly after taking a jibe at Shiv Sena with the bangle remark, Fadnavis is seen regretting it, claiming “women dislike it and hence I take my bangle remark back”. However, this important clarification was missed in the report quoted by Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray who then used the misleading report to try to paint Devendra Fadnavis as a misogynist.

Rahul Gandhi skips Congress Working Committee meeting on Delhi riots as he is out of India

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi skips Congress Working Committee meeting on Delhi riots as he is out of India

The Congress Working Committee met today at the All India Congress Committee headquarters to discuss the worsening situation of law and order in Delhi. The meeting was being Chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party’s General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, and many senior leaders of Congress party attended the meeting. They observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives during violence in Delhi.


However, it is notable that Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi was not present in the meeting of the Party’s highest decision-making body as it is known that he is not in India.


Although it has been speculated that Rahul Gandhi will make a comeback as party president, and most party leaders want him back, it is not sure whether he wants to take over the leadership of the party months after resigning from the same. On Sunday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had said that the party should look for alternatives if Rahul Gandhi is unwilling to return. After Rahul Gandhi resigned as president, Sonia Gandhi has taken the responsibility as interim president, although the party needs to find a full-time chief soon due to Sonia Gandhi’s failing health.

On Tuesday, the congress party condemned the violence in Delhi and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah questioning his silence on Delhi riots which broke out after the long protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Congress also blamed Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for riots saying that he has shaken off the responsibility.

Violence broke out in Delhi’s Jaffrabad and Maujpur between the certain groups opposing and favouring the CAA. The clashes among the groups claimed the lives of 17 people including a police personnel who was shot by mobs.

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on Tuesday that he wrote to Home Minister and requested to call in the army to control the riots.

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