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Anti-CAA riots: UP police books 12 rioters under Goonda act for violence in AMU, name of students’ union president included in FIR

OpIndia Staff
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Anti-CAA riots: UP police books 12 rioters under Goonda act for violence in AMU, name of students’ union president included in FIR

After Muslim mob went on a rampage and had attacked police officials during anti-CAA riots in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus, the Aligarh police have decided to book twelve rioters, including two erstwhile students’ union office-bearers, under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goonda Act for instigating the Muslim mob.

According to the reports, the Uttar Pradesh police have identified five ex-students through the CCTV footage of December 15, which was provided by the AMU authorities. He said all the five have a criminal history and “are a threat to peace” in the district.

“I have written a letter to district magistrate CB Singh to take action against them under the Goonda Act, and they can be extended from the district for six months,” Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhar Kulhary said.

The former students have been identified as Huzaifa Amir, former secretary of the students union, Hamza Sufiyan, former vice president of the students union, Nadeem Ansari, Aamir, Mintoe, and Sarjil Usmani. In addition to these five, the name of AMU’s students’ union president Salman Imtiaz is also included in the FIR.

Among these, Hamza Sufiyan and Huzaifa Amir had been rusticated by the university administration for five years for creating ruckus at the vice chancellor’s office and for allegedly misbehaving with the varsity employees in July 2019.

Reportedly, the UP police have filed three FIR against the protestors, including students of the AMU, in the December 15 violence that took place on the campus. 26 identified ‘protesters’ including seven AMU students have been arrested for violence during the anti-CAA riots. They were booked along with other 1,200 to 1,300 unidentified people.

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

The violent rioters were booked under IPC sections 307 – attempt to murder, section 147 – rioting, section 332 – voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty, section 336 – act endangering life or personal safety of others, section 504 – intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace, section 506 – criminal intimidation and section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act (CLA).

Another FIR was registered against 1,000 unidentified protesters under IPC sections 147 -riot, section 153 – provocation with intent to cause riots, section 332 – voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty, section 353 – assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, section 336, section 188 – disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant and section 3, 7 the Prevention Of Damage Of Public Property Act on the complaint filed by the Rapid Action Force.

Earlier, the students and the mob associated with the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) had unleashed violent riots against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The ‘students’ of AMU had clashed with UP Police on December 15. The violent rioters had broken a police cordon and fought pitched battles with the security personnel.

DGP Singh had informed that 16-17 policemen had received injuries in the violent clashes with students. The police had to fire tear gas shells. The UP Police had also shared images on Twitter where they said the AMU Proctoral team was trying to block the gates and prevent AMU students from going out. The police team, they said, was at AMU circle at that time.

The police stated that despite the proctor team’s attempts, many students had scaled the gates, and had come outside to clash with the police at AMU circle. Another video showed the police warning the students not to resort to violence and breach orders of unlawful assembly. When the rioters continued to pelt stones, the police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

As Gen. Bipin Rawat takes charge as India’s first CDS, PM Modi says the institution reflects the hopes and aspirations of 130 crore Indians

OpIndia Staff
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As Gen. Bipin Rawat takes charge as India’s first CDS, PM Modi says the institution reflects the hopes and aspirations of 130 crore Indians

As General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday became country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the post reflected the hopes and aspirations of 130 crore Indians.

Congratulating General Rawat as he took charge, PM Modi wrote on Twitter that the institution of CDS carries the responsibility of modernising the Indian military. PM Modi said the former Army Chief has served the country with great zeal.

“I am delighted that as we begin the new year and new decade, India gets its first Chief of Defence Staff in General Bipin Rawat. I congratulate him and wish him the very best for this responsibility. He is an outstanding officer who has served India with great zeal,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.


He added, “On 15th August 2019, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I announced that India will have a Chief of Defence Staff. This institution carries tremendous responsibility of modernizing our military forces. It would also reflect the hopes and aspirations of 1.3 billion Indians”.

The PM also wrote about the newly-created Department of Military Affairs, which he said would help the Indian armed forces face the ever-changing challenges of modern warfare.

“Creation of the Department of Military Affairs with requisite military expertise and institutionalisation of the post of CDS is a momentous and comprehensive reform that will help our country face the ever-changing challenges of modern warfare,” PM Modi tweeted on his personal handle.

Read- Union Cabinet approves creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff, to be a four-star General and head of the Department of Military Affairs

The demand for having a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been raised on multiple occasions by experts and veterans. It was first recommended after the 1999 Kargil War. The post is aimed at ensuring better coordination between the three services.

Earlier it was reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself informed General Bipin Rawat about his appointment as India’s first chief of defence staff.

General Rawat is the first Chief of Defence Staff in the country and will have an office in South Block ground floor while the 3, Kamraj Marg in the Lutyens zone near Defence Ministry has been earmarked as his house.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a post that will act as the single-point advisor to the Government of India. The officer concerned will be in a position to advise on matters related to all the three services – Army, Navy and Air Force, thus making India’s armed forces integrated.

The Chief of Defence Staff will be a four-star general who will have the same rank as the three other service chiefs, but the CDS will be ‘first among equals’.

Apart from being the military advisor for the government, the CDS will also head the Department of Military Affairs. The CDS will be tasked with trimming weapons procurement procedures and integrating operations of the Indian armed forces – Army, Air Force and Navy.

The CDS will have the responsibility to bring coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force, and will also have the authority to create theatre commands as and when needed. The CDS will also command tri-service agencies, organisations and commands including those related to cyber and space.

Further, the CDS will also be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by the Minister of Defence and Defence Planning Committee chaired by the National Security Advisor. He will also function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.

Watch: Pope Francis loses his cool, angrily yanks away the woman’s hand who wanted his blessing

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Pope Francis loses his cool, angrily yanks away the woman’s hand who wanted his blessing

On Tuesday, an angry Pope Francis slapped a woman’s hand away after she tried to grab and pull him towards her as he greeted the public in St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of new year’s eve.

Reportedly, the pope was making his way to the Nativity scene at the centre of Vatican City. As he walked away from the crowd, a woman can be seen reaching out for the pope’s hand and yanked him toward her.


Pope Francis became visibly upset and began slapping the woman’s hand in an attempt to free himself from her grip, and he briefly shouted at the woman.

Read: Mother Teresa, Church leaders knew about crimes of Jesuit who abused victim more than 1000 times and yet, defended him: Victim

The Pontiff was down in Vatican City on Tuesday, ready to ring in the new year with a line of adoring fans and worshippers, many of whom he was happily greeting and shaking hands with along his route.

Union govt contemplates taking online route to grant citizenship under CAA to bypass state governments

OpIndia Staff
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Union govt contemplates taking online route to grant citizenship under CAA to bypass state governments

Amidst veiled threats from few opposition-ruled states that they will not be implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Union government is likely to make the entire process of granting citizenship under the act online to bypass state governments, reports PTI.

According to the reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs is considering the option of doing away with the present procedure of routing applications for citizenship through the district magistrate in view of opposition expressed by several states ruled by opposition parties.

“We are thinking of designating a new authority instead of the district magistrate and make the entire process of application, examination of documents and granting Indian citizenship online,” a Home Ministry official told the news agency.

If the process of granting citizenship becomes completely online, then there will be no interference from a state government at any level.

Also, the home ministry officials are of the opinion that the state governments have no power to reject the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act as the legislation was enacted under the Union List of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution.

“The states have no power to deny implementation of a central law which is in the Union List,” the top official from the Home Ministry said.

Opposing centre’s move, the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday had passed a resolution demanding to withdraw the Citizenship Amendment Act. The ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF supported the resolution while the BJP’s lone MLA and former Union minister O Rajagopal’s was the only dissenting voice in the one-day special session.

Apart from Kerala, a few other chief ministers, including those of West Bengal, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, have already declared that the law is “unconstitutional” and stated that they will not implement the law in their respective states.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said, “In your (BJP) manifesto, instead of development issues, you have put in promise to divide the country. Why will citizenship be on the basis of religion? I will not accept this. We dare you…”.

She had added, “You can pass laws in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha forcefully because you have the number. But we will not let you divide the country”.

Echoing similar sentiments, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said his government would not let the legislation to be implemented in his state. “We have a majority in the assembly and will block the bill,” Singh said.

Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had also claimed that act was clearly unconstitutional. “Whatever decision is made at the Congress party forum on the bill, will be applied in Chhattisgarh,” he said.

Another Congress Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh had said, “Whatever stand the Congress party has taken on the Citizenship Amendment Act, we will follow that. Do we want to be a part of a process that sows seeds of divisiveness?”

Scam-accused senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is currently out on bail had also said the bill was a “brazen assault” on the fundamental ideas enshrined in the Constitution and the fate of the law will be decided in the Supreme Court.

The Citizenship Amendment act seeks to give Indian citizenship to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from three neighbouring Islamic countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh after facing religious persecution.

The Act states the refugees of the six communities will be given Indian citizenship after residing in India for five years, instead of earlier requirement of 11 years. The Act also proposes to give immunity to such refugees facing legal cases after being found as illegal migrants. The cut-off date for granting citizenship will be December 31, 2014.

#RoadToEndia2020: Pakistanis trend doom for India in 2020 by using images from anti-CAA riots and protests

OpIndia Staff
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#RoadToEndia2020: Pakistanis trend doom for India in 2020 by using images from anti-CAA riots and protests

Parody nation Pakistan is at it again. While rest of the world prayed and hoped for a better tomorrow, Pakistanis on Twitter were busy trending doom for India, hoping to bring an ‘end’ to India (hence, ‘Endia’) in 2020. For this, other than using fake images, Pakistanis used the anti-CAA riots and protests to portray that Indian Muslims are under threat from the central government.


Pakistanis know about Shaheen Bagh ‘protests’ and how they are being led by women. OpIndia investigation had recently found that these protests at Shaheen Bagh, where one of the organisers is Sharjeel Imam, a JNU ‘student’, was found inciting Muslim mob to block roads and highways as protest against the law.


Pakistan clearly has a few favourites to further their propaganda.


To make things clear, CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) gives citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from three Islamic neighbouring countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who had fled from these countries and sought refuge in India prior to 31.12.2014. The irony of it all is baffling.

Thank you, readers for a pathbreaking 2019: We are eternally grateful

Nupur J Sharma
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Thank you, readers for a pathbreaking 2019: We are eternally grateful

The year 2019 will be over in a matter of hours and with it, the decade shall come to an end. And what a year it has been. Events of monumental significance occurred one after the other and the latter half of the year, especially, was a relentless adrenaline rush. It was a very special year for the country.

For OpIndia, this was the breakthrough year in many ways. One of our exclusive reports was mentioned by the Prime Minister himself, another was mentioned by the Solicitor General in the Supreme Court. OpIndia reached new heights this year and it was a collective effort by the team that made it possible and we take pride in that.

However, none of it would have been possible if we did not have the trust and support of the most valuable people in the battle of narrative: You, The People. Without your unconditional support and continuous encouragement, we could not have accomplished all that we have. It is you, our dear readers, who provide us with the motivation necessary to make that extra bit of effort, to try that much harder. And for that, the OpIndia team is grateful.

The relationship between OpIndia and its readers has always been one that we have cherished. Often, you have tagged us on relevant news stories and claims that you suspected were fake and requested us to verify the piece of news. When things were a bit low, you came out in our support and showered us with your love and encouragement. OpIndia will never be able to thank you enough for these kind gestures. They are a testament to the faith and trust you have put on us. And we shall be eternally grateful for that.

You have also helped us financially by paying OpIndia for our journalism. And you have been generous with the payments you have made. When OpIndia began, we could not have imagined that so many people would be willing to pay for the service that we provide. But once again, the love you have showered upon us exceeded our wildest expectations. We express our heartfelt gratitude to every single person for considering us worthy enough of your contribution.

When we entered 2019, we knew it was going to be an important year. It was the year of the General Elections. This year has been a wild ride for OpIndia. In 2019, we took back control over the narrative from the corrupt and the Lutyens elite and gave it back to you… the people. And in return, you have rewarded us with your trust and support. It is what everyone in this business aspires for and that is something you have given us in abundance.

OpIndia sincerely hopes that going forward, you will continue to put your faith in us. The year on the calendar will change from tomorrow, however, we hope the great bond that we share will not undergo any transformation. If it has to change, then we hope it only changes for the better. Once again, we express our sincere gratitude towards our readers and hope for your continued support going into the new year.

Last but not the least, we wish everyone a very very Happy New Year. And May the Gods bless you with all that you seek.

Jamia Millia Islamia university refuses to give CCTV footage of anti-CAA violence to Delhi police

OpIndia Staff
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Jamia Millia Islamia university refuses to give CCTV footage of anti-CAA violence to Delhi police

Following the violence during anti-CAA protests at the Jamia Millia Islamia university earlier this month, the university administration and the Delhi Police are at loggerheads over the surrendering of the CCTV footage. While the Delhi police want to access the footage captured by CCTV cameras in the university campus to identify the rioters, the university is not agreeing for the same. The university administration had alleged that the Delhi Police had forcibly barged into the campus without permission, the police, on the other hand, had claimed that it was left with no option but to enter the university in order to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

The anti-CAA protestors in Jamia on December 15 not only carried out vandalism, arson and rioting under the pretext of ‘peaceful protests’ but they also allegedly pelted stones at the police. The CCTV footage will play an important role in ascertaining the allegations against the rioters, but the Delhi Police has so far not yet received the CCTV footage from the Jamia administration.

Read- Jamia, AMU and many other anti-CAA agitations are “protests of entitlement”

According to a senior police official, when the SHO of Jamia Nagar went to the university to collect the CCTV footage, a raft of students gathered opposing the police official from collecting the evidence. The students studiously refused to provide the CCTV footage of the December 15 protest to the police. The students’ staunch denial for handing over the evidence begs a question that if they have something to hide from the police. The SHO had to return empty-handed from the university.

However, the Jamia Millia Islamia administration had earlier assured the police in writing that the CCTV recordings would be handed over to the police so that the violence during the protests could be properly investigated. Now, it appears that the university administration is reneging on its promise to deliver the videos to the police.

Senior officials claim that if the CCTV recordings are destroyed, further action will be initiated against the university.

Read- 150 members of radical Islamist outfit PFI entered Delhi, hid in Jamia area 2 days before anti-CAA riots: Police on Jamia Millia Islamia riots

Defending the University administration, the Chief Proctor of Jamia, Wasim Ahmed, said, “On December 15, Delhi Police detained several Jamia students. The police had then made the students to sign a document, which read that the police will have to be given the CCTV footage for investigation. They have asked for the footage and we are considering it right now. A police officer came for this but as soon as the students came, he left from here.”

Jamia Millia Islamia has asked the Ministry of Human Resources to conduct a judicial inquiry into the entire matter. Therefore, they do not want to hand over the CCTV footage to the police. The Jamia administration has also complained to the National Human Rights Commission about the matter.

Dalit-Muslim Unity? Shehla Rashid wants Dalits to give up a part of their reservations for Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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Dalit-Muslim Unity? Shehla Rashid wants Dalits to give up a part of their reservations for Muslims

As the two strong men of the Indian politics-Narendra Modi and Amit Shah set about the uncharted path of correcting the historical mistakes one by one, some closet Islamists are having a hard time reconciling with this new reality. The abrogation of Article 370, enactment of CAA and the imminent implementation of NRC and NPR have forced many left-liberal ‘intellectuals’ to drop their veneer of secularism and reveal their subterranean communalism.

Shehla Rashid, the freelance protestor-turned-politician-turned-armed chair critic had had a delirious breakdown on Twitter after several people rubbished the predominantly Muslim overtones of the anti-CAA protests.

In a series of tweets, Shehla had exposed the meticulously cultivated pretence floated by the liberals that the anti-CAA protest was a mass movement, and not just a Muslim-centric agitation. Shehla asserted that the anti-CAA protests were led and sustained by Muslims and the Muslims paid with blood for that.

Read- Career protestor Shehla Rashid busts mainstream media propaganda, claims liberals are trying to hijack Muslim struggle against CAA

In line with her assertions, Shehla posted another tweet stating that if liberals want to be an ally of Muslims then they should dump the charade of Dalit-Muslim unity and start demanding a cut in SC reservations for Dalit Muslims. Shehla alleged that the deprivation of Muslims from the reservations under SC category is “faith-based discrimination against Muslims by the Indian state”.


With this demand, it appears that Shehla Rashid has delivered the final nail in the coffin for the Dalit-Muslim Unity Project. She is now advocating for the invasion of Muslims into benefits reserved for the Dalit community. She claims ‘Dalit Muslims’ should be granted the opportunity to receive benefits under reservations for the Dalit Community.”

In reality, there is nothing called Dalit Muslims. As ‘Eminent Historians’ keep telling us, Caste is intrinsic to only the Hindu faith and the egalitarian nature of Islam is what forced many to convert in order to escape the oppressive caste system. Therefore, people cannot turn around now and claim that caste is a feature of the Muslim community too, nor can they feign victimhood accusing the Indian state of faith-based discrimination.

In essence, Shehla Rashid’s demands mean that Dalits will now have to sacrifice their share of reservations and accommodate Muslims in order to achieve Dalit-Muslim Unity. It also means that Shehla had realised that the drawbacks of promoting the Dalit-Muslim Unity project has far outweighed the theoretical benefits it may have yielded. It has dawned upon Shehla that Modi and Shah cannot be stopped by continuing the same banal rhetoric of Dalit-Muslim unity. It is, perhaps, this sobering realisation that has made Shehla to effectively put to rest the farce of Dalit-Muslim unity and demand a share into the privileges currently reserved for Dalits only.

Case registered against Congress politician and writer Nellai Kannan for lamenting that Muslims are not ‘finishing’ Modi and Shah

OpIndia Staff
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Case registered against Congress politician and writer Nellai Kannan for lamenting that Muslims are not ‘finishing’ Modi and Shah

A day after the Congress politician and acclaimed Tamil writer, Nellai Kannan made a despicable remark against Home Minister Amit Shah calling for his murder, an FIR has been filed against him today.

Kannan has been booked under Sections 504, 505(1) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after various BJP leaders registered multiple complaints against the writer.


In a meeting that was called by the Social Democratic Party of India on December 29, the Tamil academician was heard brazenly inciting the Muslims gathered there, by telling them that “he expected but no Muslim doing it”, hinting that he expected that the Muslims in the country would kill Home Minister Amit Shah for implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, which they have been falsely claiming to be anti-Muslims, but no Muslim has yet killed him.

Nellai Kannan had said that Home Minister Amit Shah is acting as the brain behind PM Modi and that if his story was ‘finished’, that of the PM would also be over too. “If his story is finished, then the story of the PM would also be over. I was expecting something to happen, but no Muslim is doing it,” Kannan said during the rally.

Nellai Kannan has fought elections on a Congress ticket in the past and is largely viewed as a Congress supporting voice.

The Islamist outfits Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and its sister organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) have been accused of extreme communalism and has a long history of resorting to violence against their political opponents.

The PFI is also accused by the National Investigation Agency for being involved in love-jihad cases in Kerala. Recently, the SDPI members were also arrested in connection with the brutal murder of ABVP worker in Kannur. Recently, PFI members were accused of killing 42-year-old activist Ramalingam. The activist was brutally murdered for opposing religious conversion. The accused PFI members have been preaching conversion to Islam.

In December, two people, former members of the extremist Islamist organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI) had joined the IS. The police said that K Sajjad and Anwar Poothappara had links with the radical Islamic outfit in the past.

In fact, it has been established that radical Islamist groups like PFI and SDPI and mainstream political parties conspired to perpetrate violence and unleash riots during the anti-CAA protests in various parts of the country.

Today, Uttar Pradesh DGP, Om Prakash Singh, has written a letter to the Home ministry, requesting to ban PFI in the state as soon as possible.

Madhya Pradesh minister Jitu Patwari caught on camera assaulting own party workers, kicks and pushes party man out of room

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh minister Jitu Patwari caught on camera assaulting own party workers, kicks and pushes party man out of room

In a video that has gone viral on social media, minister of sports and youth welfare in Kamal Nath’s government in Madhya Pradesh, Jitu Patwari was caught abusing and assaulting his own party workers.

Unabashed by the camera persons present in the room, the Congress minister was seen indulging in blatant hooliganism as he kicks and punches his own party workers in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, as they allegedly took time to vacate the room in the circuit house, where he was supposed to hold a media briefing.

The incident occurred when two factions of the Congress came face to face in Patwari’s office. The minister asked the workers to go out, however, they did not pay heed to him. Due to this, Patwari lost his cool and himself started pushing them out of the room.

BJP leaders reacted strongly to this incident calling it a “usual” spectacle from the Congress stating that it shows the “values” that the Congress party imparts on its members. Taking a jibe at the Congress leader, Media in-charge of Madhya Pradesh BJP, Lokendra Parashar took to Twitter to share the video and wrote. “Honorable Jeetu Patwari Saheb, Higher Education Minister, handling law and order in Rewa.”


Jitu Patwari, who is a close aid of Rahul Gandhi and is also in his inner circle in the state, also has a criminal case pending against him. He is accused of assaulting a policemen in 2007 after he was stopped by police for driving a car without number plate. In January 2019, the state cabinet in Madhya Pradesh, had initialised the process to withdraw criminal cases registered against Congress workers, leaders and farmers in the last fifteen years.

Moreover, the minister has earlier also come under the limelight for his controversial behaviour against his own party members. Last year, during the Madhya Pradesh elections, a video had gone viral in which Jitu Patwari meeting and greeting people in his constituency was heard saying, “Aap meri laaj rakho, party gayi tel lene, meri izzat ka khyal rakho (You just take care of me. Dump the party, you just take care of my reputation).”

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