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Criminal defamation case filed against Congress’ Digvijay Singh for accusing Bajrang Dal and BJP of taking money from ISI

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Criminal defamation case filed against Congress’ Digvijay Singh for accusing Bajrang Dal and BJP of taking money from ISI

A criminal defamation case has been filed against veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh for accusing Bajrang Dal and the BJP of taking money from Pakistan spy agency ISI. The court will consider the matter on 9th October.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister had equated Hindus with Pakistani spies and added that non-Muslims are spying for ISI more than Muslims. He had also said that the BJP and Bajrang Dal are funded by Pakistan’s ISI.


Earlier this month, another case was filed against him by BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal for his above remarks.

It is notable here that Singh was one of the leaders of Congress who had called the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as a conspiracy of Hindu organisations. He was one of the main proponents of the ‘Hindu Terror’ bogey propagated by the then UPA government. Though Digvijay has increasingly become incoherent, especially so after losing by a huge margin to BJP’s first time MP-candidate Sadhvi Pragya, who was put in jail and tortured by UPA government under false charges of terrorism, his latest statement may have been an extension of the same ‘Hindu Terror’ hoax that Congress had run in the country for years.

Echoing Pakistan’s rants after India stripped Article 370, Digvijay had also stated that if the Indian government is not careful, they will ‘lose Kashmir’. He had also called for a protest march from Lal Chowk to Lal Qila against the Indian government’s decision to strip Article 370.

It is notable here that Pakistan has been using the statements of Congress leaders to further its narrative against India. Recently, the Pakistani government had quoted Rahul Gandhi in their letter to the UN.

Digvijay’s remarks against the government of India have been used by Pakistan after the Balakot airstrikes too.

Uttarakhand to make Sanskrit a mandatory subject in all schools from class 3 to 8

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand to make Sanskrit a mandatory subject in all schools from class 3 to 8

In a bid to revive to the usage of India’s ancient cultural language Sanskrit, the Uttarakhand government has decided to make Sanskrit a mandatory subject for students from class 3-8 across all schools in the state.

According to reports, the announcement to this effect was made by the minister for school education after a meeting with his department officials on Tuesday. The Uttarakhand government announced that it will make Sanskrit education compulsory from Class 3 to 8 in both government and private schools of the state.

Sanskrit is the second official language of the hill state and according to the government, the step will help promote language’s popularity. Uttarakhand was the first state in the country to declare Sanskrit one of its official language.

Sanskrit is already taught compulsorily from class 3 till class 12 in Uttarakhand government schools. Sanskrit is Uttarakhand’s second state language. While this status was also one of the reasons behind the move, school education minister Arvind Pandey said it will enable students to learn and follow the teachings of Gita. He added that it will bring positivity and help them fight depression.

“Another reason for making Sanskrit compulsory is that children in this age of technology get depressed from a very early age. By learning the teachings of Geeta as part of the subject, the morale of the younger generation will be boosted and they can use these teachings in later phases of life too,” said Pandey.

Reportedly, the minister further said that the decision is a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. “Prime Minister Modi has been advocating the promotion of Sanskrit around the world. Our decision is a tribute to his efforts,” said minister Pandey.

Earlier, private school students in the state had Sanskrit as one of the optional languages from class 3-8, or otherwise, as per the norms of the board followed, Sanskrit was taught from class 6 onwards.

Pandey stated that the order will be implemented from the next academic year and schools will be notified with plenty of time in hand so they are better equipped to implement the order. Apart from this, Sanskrit Vidyalayas operational in the school will have a new revised syllabus. The government has also has a proposal to start nine more Vidyalayas.

Uttarakhand has been trying to revive Indic cultural values through its government policies and programmes. The education department had recently asked the teachers in government schools to sing Sanskrit poems to make it easy for the children to grasp. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, last month launched a CD of the Sanskrit poems in the song form.

Last year, the Uttarakhand government had decided to instruct all the 18,000 government-run schools covering 12 lakh students to chant the ‘Bhojan Mantra’ (a mantra for food) before having mid-day meals.

In a similar attempt, the Uttar Pradesh government in February 2019, while presenting the state budget had given special emphasis on promoting the Sanskrit language. It had allocated Rs 242 crores for grants to Sanskrit Pathshalas in the state. Another 30 crores had been allotted to provide a grant to aided Sanskrit schools and degree colleges.

Terrorists did not land from the moon, they came from Pakistan, we should support India: European Conservatives and Reformists

OpIndia Staff
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Terrorists did not land from the moon, they came from Pakistan, we should support India: European Conservatives and Reformists

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) today backed India while censuring Pakistan for its role in promoting terrorism in India and Jammu and Kashmir. Ryszard Czarnecki of the ECR hailed India as the greatest democracy of the world while asserting that the terrorists in India didn’t land from the moon but the neighbouring country.


“India is the greatest democracy in the world. We need to look at terrorist acts that took place in India, Jammu and Kashmir. These terrorists didn’t land from moon. They were coming from the neighbouring country. We should support India,” Ryszard Czarnecki, a Polish politician and the Member of European Parliament from Poland said.

The ECR is the parliamentary group of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe(ACRE) European political party (formerly known as the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists), but also includes MEPs from four other European parties and thirteen MEPs without European party affiliation. Currently it is the fifth-largest group in the European Parliament with 62 MEPs from 15 countries.

After India decided to repeal Article 370 on August 5 this year, an incensed Pakistan has been knocking the doors of many international organisations and countries to solicit their support against India’s move. However, several countries and global organisations have extended their support to India’s decision and called the move as “India’s internal matter”.

The United Nations also snubbed Pakistan saying Kashmir is a bilateral issue. The UAE had already hailed India’s decision and expressed hope that it will bring positive development in Jammu and Kashmir. Many other countries such as the United States, France, Sri Lanka, Australia came out in support of India, leaving Pakistan alone and isolated.

Photographs of PoK monuments displayed at ‘National Unity through Monuments’ exhibition organised on PM Modi’s 69th birthday

OpIndia Staff
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Photographs of PoK monuments displayed at ‘National Unity through Monuments’ exhibition organised on PM Modi’s 69th birthday

Beautiful images of the Ramkot fort on the banks of the Mangla dam lake, ancient Buddha Mujassama in Gilgit Baltistan, the Sharada Peeth, Ali Baig gurdwara, and the fountains and gardens at Khuiratta are on display as part of an exhibition titled “National Unity Through Monuments”, which opened on Tuesday to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 69th birthday.


According to the reports, the exhibition was organised on the occasion of the 69th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the National Monuments Authority with an aim to celebrate “national unity, peace and tranquillity under the leadership of Narendra Modi”.

The event was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel at the National Monument Authority (NMA) here.

Alongside featuring photographs of ancient monuments in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, the exhibition also featured stunning images of monuments from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and other places.

The exhibition had also unveiled pictures celebrating the country’s rich historical past. The photographs of the Shankracharya temple on the hill overlooking the Dal lake in Kashmir, the Raghunath Temple built by the first Dogra ruler Maharaja Ghulab Singh in 1835, now in PoK and the Lamayuru, one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Ladakh, among others were displayed at the exhibition too.

The picture of the Kirti Toran in Vadnagar, flanked by PM Modi’s present-day and childhood photographs on either side was one of the main attractions.

Also known as the “Kirti Stambh”, the 40 feet toran is known for the design of its two pillars, and is one the most popular tourist attractions in the region. “The village where our Prime Minister was born, the boy who sold tea near the Kirti Toran became the greatest icon of India,” read the caption of the photograph.

A special section announced ‘The Cultural Heritage Sites in PoK’ with a board outside the National Monuments Authority (NMA) complex in New Delhi listing 28 heritage sites that fall in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The list covered architectural and cultural monuments in the districts of Bagh, Bhimber, Haveli, Kotli, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and Sudhanoti.  Forts, Mosques, shrines and other archaeological ruins were included in the collection.

Sun TV fined Rs 2.5 lakh for telecasting a violent rape sequence in its prime time serial Kalyana Veedu

OpIndia Staff
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Sun TV fined Rs 2.5 lakh for telecasting a violent rape sequence in its prime time serial Kalyana Veedu

The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) has pulled up Sun TV and slapped a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh for telecasting a violent rape sequence in one of its prime time serial, Kalyana Veedu. Along with the financial penalty, the council has also asked the channel carry an apology before each episode for a week (September 23 to September 28).

As per reports, in the episodes aired in May, one character ‘Roja Madam’ informs the men she is hiring to rape her sister that her sister is a virgin but they should have no pity for her in their heart. ‘Roja Madam’ instructs them that they should have no pity, kindness or mercy no matter how much she wails. Later, one of the men then decides to gang rape ‘Roja’ instead to ‘teach her a lesson’. He takes her to bushes and then rapes her. He asks other men to then go and rape her taking turns. Later, in the episode aired in June, another character helps ‘Roja’ avenge the rape by setting genitals of the perpetrators on fire.

The serial is directed by Metti Oli-fame Thirumurugan M, who also appears as the lead in the serial. The order dispersed by the council was based on a complaint received against the controversial episodes aired on May 14 and 15, and June 28 which showed the female antagonist graphically explaining to a group of people how to gang rape her own sister in order to seek revenge.

The complaint received by the council expressed concern that such content would encourage atrocities against women and should not have been aired in such a popular channel with millions of viewership.

BCCC on examining the video clips based on the complaints has said in their order that the content violated the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) guidelines. According to the guidelines laid by IBF, the broadcasters are barred from telecasting any content which glorifies violence, as well as incites the public to obscene or indecent behaviour.

After the council served the notice to the channel and subsequently called them for a hearing, Sun TV and producers, Thiru Pictures in the hearing which was held last month, defended the serial and argued that they had taken precautions to make sure that the dialogues were not vulgar and obscene. However, BCCC was not convinced by the arguments submitted by the channel and has decided to reprimand the channel.

The channel has now apologised to the council and consented to agree to the decision of the council.

Sun TV has agreed to run a 30-second video apology clip in Tamil (whose content was specified by the council itself) for six consecutive days starting from September 23 to 28 on their channel at the beginning of every episode of their serial, Kalyana Veedu, which is aired at 7.30 pm prime time every day as well as during its repeat telecast.

The content of the apology to be aired by the channel which was defined by the council stated: In compliance with BCCC’s directive of 23 August 2019, SUN TV regrets the prolonged depiction of women’s torture, including scenes of gang rape, in the episodes of ‘Kalyana Veedu‘ on 14 and 15th May 2019 and the act of revenge shown in the episode of 28 June 2019. The channel accepts that the social messaging emanating out of the episodes was not constructive and such acts of atrocities committed on women should be condemned.

Sun TV is required to submit a compliance report, along with the original clips of the apology, at BCCC’s Secretariat on or before October 7.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s advisor Firdaus Ashiq Awan caught sharing stage with US-designated terrorist Fazlur Rehman

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s advisor Firdaus Ashiq Awan caught sharing stage with US-designated terrorist Fazlur Rehman

The advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Firdaus Ashiq Awan was seen sharing the stage with the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen founder and US-designated terrorist Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil in an All parties Kashmir conference held in Islamabad on September 16, 2019.


Besides Pakistan PM’s Special Assistant on Information-Firdaus Ashiq Awan, various other prominent Pakistani leaders were also seen attending the conference in the presence of Fazlur Rehman, the founder of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen terrorist group, that has been on the US State department’s foreign terrorist organisation list since 1997. Rehman was considered as a close aide to the Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama Bin Laden and allegedly in direct contact with the terrorist while he was living in hiding in Pakistan’s Abbottabad with his family. HuM was also involved in the murder of the Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl.

The presence of a dreaded terrorist like Fazlur Rehman in Pakistan government’s convened conference on Kashmir reaffirms India’s long-held assertion that Pakistan provides safe havens to terrorists on its land and they form an indispensable part of their foreign policy instrument. In order to escape the blame of sheltering terrorists, Pakistan has often described them in euphemistic terms as non-state actors. However, the legitimisation and mainstreaming of terrorists like Rehman betray Pakistan’s real intentions behind curbing terrorism emanating from its land.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan is also said to have a soft corner for the extremists operating right under his nose in Pakistan. He is also called as Taliban Khan for his staunch support for the terrorist group. Recently, in an interview with a Russian channel, Pakistan PM Imran Khan appeared to defend the jihadists in Pakistan while pinning the blame of the rise of terrorism in Pakistan on the United States of America. HuM terrorist Fazlur Rehman Khalil has been a fervid proponent of Imran Khan and has pledged his support for Imran Khan’s PTI, following which Imran Khan had inducted him into the party.

The photo of HuM terrorist addressing a conference on Kashmir comes on the heels of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting where Pakistan’s obedience to the action plan will be assessed, failing which it fears blacklisting. Pakistan is under the scanner of FATF for facilitating terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to proliferate under its stewardship. In addition, other terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed are regularly spotted in political rallies across Pakistan spewing venom against India and soliciting donations for its so-called ‘charitable trust’ that indulge in promoting terrorism in India.

Digital Marketing company that used to pay Professional Congress troll says he won’t be assigning any ‘work’ to the ‘low-level influencer’

OpIndia Staff
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Digital Marketing company that used to pay Professional Congress troll says he won’t be assigning any ‘work’ to the ‘low-level influencer’

Yesterday, ‘Professional Congress’ member, Andria D’souza, found herself in an embarrassing situation after it was revealed that she charges Rs 500 for tweeting promotional tweets. ‘Social media influencers’ often charge a price to post promotional material on their platform. While there is nothing wrong in it, when the fact that Andria charged Rs 500 for her post got out, it rattled her a little. After that, she disowned the post and blamed her ‘manager’ for the promotional post. She claimed that she had ‘fired her manager’ after changing her stand a few times and even defending the promotional tweet that she did.

Andria D’souza took to Twitter again today to out the name of her ‘manager’ and say that not only had she fired him but was also thinking of initiating legal action against him and the ‘imposter’ who posted the fake Flipkart sale ad that Andria ended up tweeting for a fee.


She mentioned an individual called Kaushik Baruah who she claimed was her manager and had been fired.

After this tweet, Kaushik Baruah himself took to Twitter to post a series of tweets and offer an explanation since his name was taken by Andria. First and foremost, he said that was not Andria’s ‘manager’ at all, as claimed by her.


He took to Twitter to say that he runs a company in Bangalore with three resources, where 30% of his work is related to Digital Media marketing, rest is Data Analytics, which is their core competency.


He further clarified that he is not Andria’s manager as is being claimed. He said, “I want to clarify that neither I, nor my company is the Social Media Manager of her account anytime. Nor of any companies or brands. Its that we and our partner network give work to the influencers whom we provide regular compensation”.

Essentially, he said that several brands contact them and in turn, they get in touch with influencers like Andria who are asked to tweet for money. He also said that Andria from Professional Congress is just one of the 50+ verified influencers who are paid by his Digital Marketing Company for promotional tweets.


Kaushik Baruah further said that they have declined offers from several companies to manage their brands and social media, however, they have been declined and thus, the questioning of being the manager of a ‘low-level influencer’ like Andria does arise.

Speaking about this particular incident, he says, “Regarding the particular incident, a promotional tweet came to me from someone who represented an e-commerce company which I gave to @RiaRevealed for tweeting (just one of the multiple requests). She tweeted and the payment was made duly to her. The allegations that I am her Social Media manager are completely false, as she tweeted it herself and received the payment and she is in not a position to afford any social media manager. Also, she has been continuously changing her stance since this issue came to the fore”.

He also said that Andria has been changing her stands often after the controversy broke out. She first said it was a referral code and then blamed the manager, both a lie. He says that he had also requested her to not post the screenshots of the WhatsApp conversation but she didn’t listen. “I requested her yesterday not to display publicly the WA screenshots and end this issue because its related to companies and brands, for whom the work is done”, he said.

Finally, Baruah said that he will not be assigning any ‘work’ to the ‘low-level influencer’ anymore.

This is not the first time that Andria has been caught on the wrong foot. Earlier, she had blamed Prime Minister Modi for an incident of violence in our neighbouring country Pakistan. With Divya Spandana, Congress’ former IT cell head gone incognito, one would like to recommend Andria D’Souza as a personal reference to take the reins of Congress’ social media in her hand. While Divya restricted herself to spreading fake news and goof-ups through the social media handle, Andria has set the bar higher.

Kejriwal Govt has not approved request to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar yet, Delhi Police tells Court

OpIndia Staff
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Kejriwal Govt has not approved request to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar yet, Delhi Police tells Court

The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi hasn’t yet approved the request for sanction to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar and others in the JNU Sedition Case, Delhi Police has said. The request is still pending before the Home Ministry of the Delhi government, the police informed Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Khurana.

The Police said that they had done their part and they were now awaiting the government’s approval on the matter. As per rules, the court can take cognizance of the chargesheet only after the government has approved it. The court reserved its order for 2 pm today for further directions in this regard.

Earlier in the month, the AAP government had rejected Delhi Police’s request on the matter. Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain was of the opinion that no case of sedition can be made against Kanhaiya on the basis of the evidence put up by Delhi Police.

In January this year, the Delhi Police Special Cell had submitted a 1200-page charge-sheet in the case. The JNU sedition case has seen no proceeding so far due to the Arvind Kejriwal government’s refusal to give nod for prosecution.

In February this year, the Patiala House Court had asked Delhi police to speed up the proceedings by receiving Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government’s sanction for prosecution. It had also added that the state government cannot delay the case by withholding nod for prosecution.

But it was revealed before the court that the Delhi government did not respond to the charge sheet after receiving it. According to Delhi Police, the first request to sanction prosecution was sent in 2016, and another request was sent in January this year, without any results.

Delhi HC transfers Aircel-Maxis and 2G cases from Judge OP Saini’s court to Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar’s court

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi HC transfers Aircel-Maxis and 2G cases from Judge OP Saini’s court to Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar’s court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday transferred all cases related to 2G spectrum scam and Aircel-Maxis scam from the court of judge O.P. Saini to the court of special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar at the Rouse Avenue Courts Complex in New Delhi. P Chidambaram, who is currently in jail in the INX-Media case, is named in these cases also, where he had received bail several times. The cases will move to Ajay Kuhar’s court from October 1, as Judge OP Saini is scheduled to retire by the end of this month.

“Chief Justice and Judges of this Court (high court) have been pleased to order that cases pertaining to 2G Spectrum scam pending in the Court of Mr O P Saini, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act)(CBl), Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, New Delhi be transferred and allocated to the Court of Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI)-09, Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, New Delhi presently presided over by Mr A K Kuhar with effect from October, 1, 2019 which shall be the designated Court to undertake the trial of the said 2G Spectrum Cases in addition to matters already pending before the Court of Mr A K Kuhar,” the order issued by the Delhi High Court said.

The court of special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar is already hearing the INX-Media case against P Chidambaram. The court had sent the former union finance minister to CBI custody after his arrest, and after the maximum limit of police custody was over, he was sent to Tihar jail on judicial custody.

The Supreme Court had appointed Judge Saini to head all cases relayed to 2G scam on a day-to-day basis. In 2017, all the accused in the case were acquitted by the court of Judge Saini. The same court had also acquitted former union minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi in the Aircel Maxis case.

CBI and ED had moved the Delhi High Court against the acquittals in the 2G case in March 2018.

China’s industrial production growth at lowest in 17.5 years amidst trade war woes

OpIndia Staff
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China’s industrial production growth at lowest in 17.5 years amidst trade war woes

In August, China’s Industrial Production growth has been at its weakest in a 17.5 years period, at 4.4%. As per a report in Reuters, China’s economic slowdown has deepened amidst a trade war with the USA and softening of domestic demand.

A recent report published by Reuters stated that China is set to reduce some key interest rates soon to prevent a sharper slump in activities. The interest cuts, if they happen, will be for the first time in over 3 years. As per data released on Monday, retail sales and investment market have been worsening too.

Beijing is believed to be preparing to release a stimulus package to boost the economy. Despite corrective measures being rolled out since last year, the Chinese economy is yet to stabilise, the report claims.

Industrial output in August has been 4.4% lower than the same period last year, and the lowest since February 2002. Due to the ongoing US-China trade war, the value of delivered industrial exports has fallen by 4.3% compared to last year.

Following US President’s Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on Chinese goods, the Yuan has fallen further. Analysts have stated that despite the two nations resuming face-to-face negotiations next month, any significant de-escalation is not to be expected anytime soon.

However, expectations of stimulus and ease of loan interest rates are not very high either because the People’s Bank Of China is known to be much more restrained than the US Federal Reserve or European Central Bank.

While retail sales have seen mixed results, auto sales have seen a sharp fall. While investment growth in the mining and the manufacturing sectors has been easing up, infrastructure investment has shown marginal improvements. But a fall in industrial investment growth has been dragging overall figures down.

Financial analysts have also been reportedly puzzled by slow construction growth earlier this year. Some are citing deteriorating finances at the local government level as the reason.

Earlier this month, the PBOC cut the amount of cash banks are required to hold in reserve for the seventh time since early last year in order to increase funds available for lending.

Zhou Hao, senior economist at Commerzbank, as per a report in the SCMP,  suggested that while Monday’s figures from the National Bureau of Statistics were even worse than expected, they may not come as a surprise to the policymakers in the nation because they have been expecting this. Hao added that “The economic figures would not be that good even without the Trade War, The slowdown was already projected.”

Researchers from Oxford have already cut China’s growth estimates for 2020 to 5.7%, down from the 6% growth estimate set by the Chinese government.

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