Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday performed the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for a new bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Western Guwahati. The 4-lane road bridge will connect Palashbari in the south with Assam’s silk capital Sualkuchi in the north.
The event was held at Bathan Pam in Sualkuchi, and it marks the formal start of the construction of the bridge that will provide vital connectivity in the region. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “Marking another milestone in our infrastructural journey, the 12.21 km long Palasbari-Sualkuchi Bridge will bridge the gap between the two important places and boost connectivity in the State.”
The project’s foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2023, and the estimated cost of the project is ₹ 3197.20 crore. The project is supported by the New Development Bank (NDB), which approved a $300 million loan in 2019.
The 12.21 km long bridge includes a 3.6 km long cable-stayed bridge portion, a 5.61 km approach on the Palashbari side and a 3 km approach on the Sualkuchi side including wetland approach viaducts. Two approach viaducts of 0.216 kilometres each and wetland viaducts of 0.864 kilometres are included in the approach sections.
The construction arm of Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has won the contract awarded by Assam’s Public Works Roads Department to build the bridge, defeating SP Singla Constructions.
The 12.21 kilometre long 4-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete bridge will connect Palashbari on National Highway 17 to Sualkuchi via the Bongshar-Sualkuchi Road. The bridge will provide connectivity to the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. The upcoming Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Guwahati is also located near the southern end of the bridge.
This is among the several new bridges being constructed and proposed on Brahmaputra. The 6-lane Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge is nearing completion and will be opened next year, while another bridge on Eastern Guwahati is being built as part of the Guwahati Ring Road project. A second bridge between Jogighopa and Pancharatna, India’s longest 20 km Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, and the Jorhat-Majuli bridge are under construction.
A third bridge at Saraighat in Guwahati which will be a rail-road bridge, a tunnel under Brahmaputra in central Assam, another bridge between Marigaon and Darrang districts have been approved and constructions for them will start soon, while another bridge between Sivsagar and Lakhimpur districts is under consideration.
After the Waqf Boards of various states declared villages, and big hotels, and even colleges as their property, the intentions of the Waqf Board have come to the fore, and it is not ready to stop. Now, the Maharashtra Waqf Board has staked its claim on the lands of 103 farmers of Latur. It has also issued notices to the farmers who own these lands.
The aggrieved farmers say that the Waqf is now trying to usurp the lands on which they have been farming for generations. The farmers say that the Waqf Board set its eyes on about 300 acres of their land and usurped it. Notices have been issued to 103 farmers to vacate the land. A suit has been filed in the Maharashtra State Waqf Tribunal of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar about this matter.
The notice sent by the Waqf Board says that the farmers of Talegaon in Latur should vacate these lands immediately. The farmers, scared by the notice, have appealed to the government and administration for help to save their lands. The farmers say that this is their own land, the Waqf Board has no part in it. It has been almost two months since the notice was sent.
The Waqf Board says that these lands have been given to the villagers by it and now it wants these lands back. Some villagers say that they have the documents of these lands from the Nizam period. At the same time, a farmer showed the Hyderabad Gazette. He told that he has this document since the time when Bidar was a district. During that time his ancestors had bought the land.
Audacity of the Waqf Board
This is not the only case of arbitrariness of the Waqf Board. The Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board has also staked its claim on the famous Uday Pratap College (UP College) located in Varanasi. The board says that this property belongs to it. Uday Pratap College was established about 115 years ago in 1909 by Raja Uday Pratap Singh Judev of Bhinga (Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh).
Additionally, in the year 2022, the Waqf Board of Tamil Nadu staked its claim on the entire Thiruchendurai village of Hindus, calling it a Waqf property. There is a 1500-year-old temple there, but still the Waqf Board also declared it as its property. In this way, the Waqf Board has staked its claim on 369 acres of land.
In Karnataka, the Waqf Board has claimed 1200 acres (about 2000 bighas) of land as its property by calling it Shah Aminuddin Dargah’s land. After this, the Congress government of the state sent notices to the farmers asking them to vacate those lands. Later, the farmers of Honwada village in Tikota taluk of Vijayapura district complained about this to Minister MB Patil.
The World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2024 is scheduled to take place from 13th December to 15th December at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai. This year’s theme is “Think in Future, for the Future”. According to the press release by WHEF, keynote speakers at the event include some of the most prominent names in the country including feature Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
WHEF 2024 is more than just an event—it's a global movement aimed at empowering individuals, businesses, and communities through the collective strength of Hindu economic principles#WHEF2024pic.twitter.com/iSUxcapDfi
A platform for forward-thinking economic strategies
In a statement, WHEF Founder Swami Vigyananand stated that the forum aims to promote sustainable economic strategies aligned with the vision of a “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He added that this year, the forum is inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. The theme will reflect priorities from the Union Budget and aim to provide a platform for innovation and economic growth through dynamic dialogue.
The event will focus on the future of Bharat’s economy through plenary and parallel sessions on emerging sectors like Industry 4.0, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, agritech, skill development, and semiconductor manufacturing. Other topics include defence and aerospace, electric mobility, capital markets, and tourism.
A decade of connecting wealth creators
WHEF was formed in 2012. Since its inception, the forum has provided a notable platform for wealth creators. It has united financially successful individuals to share resources and mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. Around 1,000 delegates from across the globe are expected to attend this year’s edition which will offer unparalleled networking opportunities to rising entrepreneurs and businesses.
In a statement, Shri Ravikant Mishra, Secretary of the Organising Committee said, “WHEF has curated an exceptional list of speakers, including industry stalwarts such as NSE CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan, Jio Financial Services Chairman KV Kamath, Bharat Forge Vice Chairman Amit Kalyani, and Indian Dairy Association President RS Sodhi.”
New opportunities for startups
Furthermore, WHEF will debut a launchpad this year that has been designed to showcase innovative startups. Shailesh Trivedi, Joint Secretary of the Organising Committee, said in a statement, “This platform will enable startups to pitch their ideas to global investors and expand their market reach.”
The forum said in a press release that it is driven by its mission of “Creating and Sharing Surplus Wealth,” advocating for collaboration among governments, businesses, academia, and civil society to achieve a USD 10 trillion economy. The forum is aimed to turn Bharat into a prosperous and equitable society by 2047 by fostering connectivity, partnerships, and affordable capital.
A case of love jihad has come to light in Uttar Pradesh, linking the districts of Amroha and Noida. As per media reports, a man named Tabish Asghar posed as a Hindu named Vishal Rana to deceive a Hindu woman. Asghar, who is a resident of Naugawan Sadat in Amroha, posed as Rana to deceive the daughter of a businessman from Shahjahanpur.
The accused married the victim under Hindu rites and later pressured her to convert to Islam. Furthermore, he also forced her to abort her pregnancy and even attempted to murder her. An FIR was registered against Asghar at Gautam Buddh Nagar Sector 113 Police Station. He was arrested and sent to jail.
According to media reports, the woman is the daughter of a businessman from Shahjahanpur. She met Tabish Asghar four years ago. At that time, he introduced himself as Vishal Rana, a Rajput, from Naugawan Sadat. As time passed, he gained her trust, and their friendship soon turned into a romantic relationship.
On 22nd February 2023, Asghar, under his assumed identity, married the Hindu woman in a ceremony that followed Hindu traditions at a banquet hall in Ghaziabad. The event was attended by the family of the victim and Asghar’s brother, Wasim Akhtar, who falsely identified himself as “Vasu Rana” to support the deception.
A few days after the wedding, Asghar took the victim to Allahabad High Court under the pretext of registering a court marriage. During the process, the woman discovered the real identity of Tabish Asghar through official documents. Shocked by the revelation, the woman questioned him about his deception. However, Asghar silenced her by claiming her future would be at stake if she pursued the matter further.
Later, Asghar started to pressure her to convert to Islam. When she resisted, he forced her to undergo an abortion and threatened to kill her. The woman could not bear the coercion and returned to her parents’ house in Shahjahanpur. Tabish, however, went to the woman and apologised to her. He somehow managed to convince her to return to Noida with him, only to resume his coercive behaviour shortly after.
The situation escalated when he allegedly attempted to murder her by pushing her off a hill during an outing in Ramnagar. After that, he fled and remained untraceable for several days. The woman lodged a missing person complaint, which led the police to locate him.
An FIR was registered at Sector 113 Police Station in Gautam Buddh Nagar under several charges, including assault, forced abortion, and violations of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. He has since been arrested and sent to jail.
The Bar Council of India on Sunday directed the immediate removal of Advocate Sanjeev Nasiar from his position as Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi.
Additionally, the Secretary of the Bar Council has been instructed to request an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the authenticity of Nasiar’s LL.B. (Hons.) degree and possible fabrication of related records. Nasiar, who also heads the legal cell of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), faces scrutiny over these allegations.
The Bar Council of India, in its meeting held on December 7, 2024, has resolved to take immediate and decisive action in the matter concerning allegations of irregularities in the LL.B. (Hons.) Degree issued to Sanjeev Nasiar, Vice-Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi by Devi Ahilyabai Vishvavidyalaya, Indore.
This decision follows an inquiry conducted by a sub-committee constituted as per the resolution dated September 3, 2024, and in response to directions of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.
BCI issued a press statement stating that the inquiry has revealed significant and glaring discrepancies in the records relating to Sanjeev Nasiar’s degree. The inspection of P.M.B. Gujarati Arts and Law College, Indore, disclosed that the college was not authorized to conduct an LL.B. (Hons.) Course during the relevant period.
The academic records provided to the Sub-committee appeared tampered with or fabricated with uniform handwriting and ink consistency spanning an extended period. Additionally, it was established that the LL.B. (Hons) program was introduced under The Bar Council of India regulations only in 2008, rendering the degree in question, purportedly issued in 1988, inconsistent with regulatory requirements.
The non-cooperation and obstructive behaviour of university officials during the inquiry further cast serious doubts on the authenticity of the degree.
The Sub-Committee constituted by The Bar Council of India, has after a thorough enquiry, concluded that the authenticity of the LL.B (Hons.) Degree of Sanjeev Nasiar is highly questionable.
In accordance with its statutory authority under the Advocates Act, 1961, and the Bar Council of India Rules, the General Council of the Bar Council of India has resolved as follows.
“The report dated 25.10.2024 of the Sub-Committee regarding enquiry of the LL.B (Hons.) Degree of Mr. Sanjeev Nasiar is hereby adopted. The Secretary, Bar Council of India is directed to approach the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the request to hold an immediate investigation into the authenticity of the LL.B. (Hons.) Degree of Mr. Sanjeev Nasiar and potential fabrication of related records and take appropriate action.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, Sanjeev Nasiar is removed from the position of Vice Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi, said BCI statement.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Residents of Parom, a town in the Panjgur district of Balochistan, staged a sit-in outside a local Frontier Corps (FC) camp, calling for the immediate release of their missing family members. They warned that if their demands were not addressed, they would escalate their protests.
In a statement, the residents claimed that Pakistani forces carried out an operation late Thursday night, encircling the area and raiding homes. They accused the forces of damaging property, stealing valuables, and physically abusing the locals.
During the operation, four young men Khalil Siddique, Abdul Shakoor Saleh, Arshad Rafiq, and Waseem, son of Muhammad Hashim were reportedly taken into custody and have since disappeared, with no information about their current whereabouts, The Balochistan Post reported.
The protesters have declared that their demonstration will persist until the detainees are freed and emphasized that any harm during the protest would be the responsibility of the forces and local authorities.
Local sources revealed that all the missing individuals were labourers or drivers of vehicles transporting oil. The residents have demanded their immediate release, stressing that these men were not engaged in any criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the protest camp organized by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) outside the press club in Quetta marked its 5659th day. Political and social activists, including Muhammad Ali Baloch, Abdul Razzaq Baloch, Mir Bijjar Marri, Tahir Badini, and Suresh Bugti, arrived from Khuzdar to express their solidarity with the families of the missing persons.
In a conversation with the visitors, VBMP Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch criticized the Pakistani state for its ongoing disregard for international human rights standards. He denounced the growing crackdown in regions such as Panjgur, Khuzdar, Kharan, Kalat, Bolan, Dera Bugti, and Harnai, where military operations have reportedly intensified in recent weeks.
Mama Qadeer also accused state-backed militias of carrying out atrocities against the Baloch people. He pointed to the rising number of abductions and the discovery of mutilated bodies, describing it as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Balochistan.
The people of Balochistan have consistently raised their concerns about enforced disappearances and military operations, yet their calls for justice and accountability have gone unaddressed.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Police on Sunday deployed tear gas at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border to disperse farmers who began their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march earlier today.
Police and protesting farmers got into a verbal altercation and drone footage showed police blocking the farmers at the border.
According to Haryana Police, the group of farmers moving ahead did not match the list of 101 farmers they were given who were scheduled to participate in today’s march.
“We will first identify them (farmers) and then we can allow them to go ahead. We have a list of the names of 101 farmers, and they are not those people – they are not letting us identify them – they are moving ahead as a mob,” said a Haryana police official deployed at the site.
Police said that the farmers did not have permission to move towards Delhi.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The ‘Jattha’ of our 101 farmers and labourers have reached. We have already issued the list, if they (the police) have decided that they will check the IDs first before allowing us to move, they should tell us we will cooperate with that. We have shown the discipline and will continue to be so… They are using more tear gas today, as the wind direction is towards us. We are ready for any kind of sacrifice… It’s the PM who has the solution for our problems, either he does it or let us march to Delhi.”
A protesting farmer at the Shambhu border claimed that the police had the wrong list. He said that they were requesting the police to allow them to move ahead, as they have identity cards.
“The list they (police) have is wrong – the list doesn’t have the name of farmers coming here. We have asked them (the police) to let us move ahead and we will show them our identity cards. Police are saying that we (farmers) don’t have permission to move ahead – so why do we have to prove our identity?… We are trying to sort things out through dialogues – but anyhow we will move ahead. I told them (police) to go to Haryana as this is the land of Punjab.”
Earlier today, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that a ‘Jattha’ of 101 farmers would march at 12 noon.
SSP Patiala had issued a memorandum cautioning the media against interfering in farmers’ matters, citing a specific incident on December 6, that violated statutory provisions, and urging mediapersons to maintain a safe distance while fulfilling their responsibilities.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A Muslim man in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh divorced his wife using the banned triple talaq practice just because she said that the riots and attack on police in Sambhal were wrong. The man accused his wife of being a kafir, pronounced instant divorce, and abandoned her along with their 5-month-old son.
The woman identified as Nida was planning to visit Sambhal for a wedding, and was watching videos on Sambhal violence to check if it was safe to visit the town. The violence in Sambhal erupted in Sambhal after a court ordered survey of the Jama Masjid there over claims that it was built by demolishing a temple.
Her husband Ejazul was living separately from his family for some time, and was not providing financial support to his family. Therefore, recently Nida went to his office to meet him, and while waiting, she was watching videos on Sambhal violence on her phone. When the husband arrived and saw her watching the videos, he confronted her about why she was watching such videos.
In response, the woman asked what is wrong in watching the videos. She then proceeded to say what is wrong is wrong, and everyone has the right to defend themselves, referring to the attack on the police by Muslim mob.
संभल में हुए उपद्रव के दौरान पुलिस कर्मियों पर हो रहे पथराव का वीडियो देखकर महिला ने उसे गलत बताया था
पीड़िता का आरोप पति एजाजुल आबादीन ने काफिर कहते हुए तीन तलाक दिया है
Her husband got enraged at hearing this, and announced instant divorce on the spot declaring that she is not Muslim. He said, ‘You are a kafir (infidel), you are not a Muslim. You are supporting police. Now I will not keep you, I am divorcing you right here’. Saying this, he pronounced the word ‘Talaq’ three times.
He then asked her to leave, saying that their relation has ended. She pleaded to not divorce her, saying that their kid is ill, but he didn’t listen, and ordered her to leave.
Nida also said that she has 3 children from her previous marriage, and married Ejazul after the death of her previous husband. But Ejazul refuses to accept them, and he also refuses to accept his own son with her.
After the incident, the woman filed a complaint against the man at police station in Moradabad. Confirming the development, Moradabad SP Ranvijay Sing said, “A woman has filed a complaint against her husband that she was watching a YouTube video related to Sambhal, which led to a fight between the couple. The husband asked her not to watch the video, and when she did not agree, he ended the marriage by saying talaq three times.”
Notably, the controversial practice of triple talaq that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying the word ‘Talaq’ three times was banned by the Supreme Court in 2017. After that in 2019, the Modi government legislated an act to formally outlaw the practice to protect the rights of Muslim women.
A complaint has been registered at the local police station in Navsari, Gujarat, that a mob of 150 to 200 Islamists attacked Hindus, especially women, living in the Dargah Road area of Navsari on the night of December 7.
It is alleged that after creating a ruckus over vehicle parking, the Islamist mob entered the Hindu areas and abused even the women, threatened to kill them and throw them out of the area. A complaint has been registered at the Navsari Town Police Station in this matter, based on which the police have started a preliminary investigation.
Chandan Rathod, a victim of this attack, told OpIndia that the incident took place on Saturday (December 7) night. He said that there was an argument with a local Muslim youth over vehicle parking. After that, a large number of local Muslims arrived at the location carrying sticks and sticks. It is alleged that a mob of 100-150 Muslims abused the women and threatened to kill them.
However, the police have denied any communal angle in the incident and have stated that it was only a verbal dispute between two groups.
“Go away, infidels, this is our territory.”
According to the victim, a large number of Muslims live on Dargah Road. He further said that the Islamist mob misbehaved with the women and beat them up saying, ‘Infidels, run away from here, this is our area. This is just the beginning.’ Apart from this, it is alleged that the mob also threatened the Hindu women by saying, ‘We will strip them and kill them’. According to the complainant, caste-based abuses were also used.
The women have filed a complaint at the Navsari Town Police Station demanding action. The women have also mentioned the names of some Muslim men in the complaint. A copy of the complaint is available with OpIndia.
The complaint names Shahnawaz Bhandari (main accused), Ajaz Sheikh, Shoaib Sheikh, Sufyan Salim, and Rafiq Patel’s son. It is alleged that 100-150 Muslims had gathered under the leadership of these people. Navsari Town Police is currently investigating the matter.
In this matter, an officer of the town police station told OpIndia that action will be taken in this matter.
A video of the women narrating about the alleged harassment has gone viral on the social media.
Hindus are harassed even during Navratri, Ganeshotsav – Complainant
Complainant Chandan Rathod further said that the majority of the population on Dargah Road is from the Muslim community. They also have a Dargah here, next to which a Hindu temple is also located. The complainant has said that for the last three years, radical Muslims have not allowed them to celebrate a single festival. He said that even in the Ganesh Pandal, local Muslims create obstacles and force them to stop bhajans and kirtans. He has tried to convince the local Muslims many times, but still they create obstacles during Hindu festivals.
Locals say that during Navratri, a Garba program is held in the temple, but for the last three years, local Muslims have been harassing them a lot during the event. They said that during Garba, some Muslims enter the pandal on bikes and threaten to stop the program. They added that Muslims also misbehave and molest the women who perform Garba.
In addition, when the Hindu community built a toran for the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Mahotsava, local Muslims opposed it and threatened to remove the toran. According to the complainant, they have been enduring all this for three years, but now as such incidents are increasing, they have decided to file a police complaint. They further said that people named Shahnawaz Bhandari and Shoaib Sheikh play a major role in every incident and gather crowds.
OpIndia also spoke to a local Hindu organization. The organization said that they are now fully with the victims and are petitioning the police officers and demanding action. Along with the complainants, the Hindu organization’s activists have also gone to the Deputy SP office and demanded action. Currently, the Hindu organizations and the victims are waiting for an FIR to be filed.
Police denies communal angle, says it was a parking disute
Meanwhile, the police have stated that there was no assault, and no religious threats were made against Hindus. Police have added that it was a parking dispute and the incident has no communal angle. However, accused have been arrested under the SC/ST Act and other relevant section. The police have also clarified that anti-Hindu threats or slurs were not spoken and the viral videos of the incident also do not show any anti-Hindu remark.
The accused persons have been booked for offences under the BNS and SC-ST Act. Further action on the issue is underway.
Note: A previous version of this report appeared with a different headline and content. The report has been updated with the latest available information. Further details will be updated when available.
On 3rd December, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières or RSF) held its 32nd edition of the Press Freedom Awards in Washington, DC. Propagandist YouTuber Ravish Kumar, who calls himself a journalist, won the ‘Independence Prize’. Kumar was praised from all directions by RSF on the awards page. Interestingly, RSF is a Ford Foundation and Western government-funded organisation known for its anti-India and anti-Modi coverage.
"This is a difficult time for journalists all over the world. Many are knowingly risking their lives everyday. It is only a very firm belief in the value of our independence that has enabled journalists like us to continue our work." -Ravish Kumar pic.twitter.com/SoTIEtzbuj
Ravish Kumar has been described as someone who personified the resistance of Indian media to political pressure. RSF called him a “true hero of journalism” in the country. RSF claimed that Ravish Kumar was “brutally ousted from NDTV” after the Adani Group took over the media house, which is a false allegation. Ravish, in fact, resigned from the channel. RSF, however, did not name the Adani Group for some reason but mentioned “a businessman close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
RSF recently came out in support of so-called fact-checker MohammedZubair, co-founder of Alt News, after he was booked by UP Police for allegedly endangering the sovereignty and unity of India.
RSF is funded by Ford Foundation and Western Governments
For those who are unaware, RSF is heavily funded by Western governments and private foundations, including the Ford Foundation. According to its 2023 financial statement, the European Commission MFA, AIDS, Front Line, Oak Foundation, NHRF TAPIEI, MOF Danida Taiwan, Ford Foundation, OSF Core Support, and others are among the top funders of RSF. The European Commission MFA has given 1,760,915 Euros, NED (a US government-funded organisation) gave RSF 333,283 Euros, and the Ford Foundation gave 384,008 Euros in 2023 to RSF.
Source: RSF
One of the other important supporters of RSF is the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is funded by the US Government. Its website states, “Funded largely by the U.S. Congress, the support NED gives to groups abroad sends an important message of solidarity to many democrats who are working for freedom and human rights, often in obscurity and isolation.”
It states further, “Created jointly by Republicans and Democrats, NED is governed by a board balanced between both parties and enjoys Congressional support across the political spectrum. NED operates with a high degree of transparency and accountability reflecting our founders’ belief that democracy promotion overseas should be conducted openly.”
The RSF is also supported by the Ford Foundation, which has a history of financing anti-social elements in India. A report on The Grayzone observed, “Reporters Without Borders has for years also been criticized for its bias against governments that are targeted by the US and Europe for regime change. RSF has shown a particularly extreme prejudice against Venezuela, portraying oligarch-owned right-wing media outlets and US-funded opposition groups that have actively participated in numerous violent coup attempts against the democratically elected socialist government as hapless victims of an autocratic regime.”
RSF’s dubious press freedom rating of India
In May 2023, RSF released its annual Press Freedom Report, in which it put India at 161st position out of 180 countries. As per RSF, India slipped 11 ranks since 2022. Interestingly, according to RSF, Pakistan’s press freedom index has improved. From 157th rank in 2022, Pakistan has acquired the 150th position in the list. The same goes for Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which got its rank improved from 156 to 152.
One of the most bizarre points RSF put in its report is about the money the government of India spends on advertisements. RSF claimed the central government is spending more than 130 billion rupees (Rs 13,000 crores) or 5 billion euros a year on ads in the print and online media alone.
OpIndia had filed an RTI seeking information on the ad spent by the central government on different platforms, including print, outdoor advertisements, social media, radio and television. As per the reply sent by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India, the actual figures are nowhere close to what RSF has claimed. According to the reply sent by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the central government spent only Rs 26.44 crore on television ads and only 1.33 crore on social media ads in the financial year 2022-23. Notably, ad spending has decreased significantly since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The maximum amount the government has spent on television ads was Rs 280.77 crores in FY 2016-17.
Throughout its report on India, RSF made several claims that were nowhere close to reality. RSF claimed Reliance Industries Group led by Mukesh Ambani owns more than 70 media outlets. They also pointed out good relations between Ambani and PM Modi. The claim does not stand strong as it is based on a 2019 statement by Mukesh Ambani where he had said Reliance Industries owned 72 television channels, which includes all genres of channels and not just news channels, with around 800 million viewers. This includes News18 branded TV news platforms like CNN Worldwide, CNN-News18, CNBC-TV18, CNN-IBN, CNBC Awaaz and more. Other than news channels, it also includes an entertainment portfolio under Viacom18 Media which is the parent company of 50 channels. All these are entertainment channels and do not have any “media outlets” as mentioned by RSF. Reliance’s Jio platform is also a source of news for its subscribers but that is more of an aggregator rather than owner of the channels or media outlet.
RSF used data from different years to claim 1/3 of Covid-19-related deaths of media personnel were from India. RSF linked a report of Dhaka Tribune from June 2021 that noted 1,500 media persons died of Covid worldwide. Dhaka Tribune used data from Press Emblem Campaign. Then it linked to a document maintained by the Network of Women in Media, India, that noted over 500 media persons died of Covid in India. The number on that document now stands at 626. Using these two data points, RSF in 2021 claimed that 1/3rd (33 per cent) of the deaths of media persons by Covid-19 took place in India. Using this report, RSF said, “Under the guise of combatting Covid-19, the government and its supporters have waged a guerrilla war of lawsuits against media outlets whose coverage of the pandemic contradicted official statements.” RSF did not update itself in terms of data. When we checked, it was found that PEC noted till March 2022 that 1,994 media persons died of Covid-19 and out of those, 284 were from India.
RSF claimed the Indian government misbehaved and unlawfully arrested media persons who covered farmer protests. Interestingly, they mentioned the time when Twitter handles of media persons were suspended for sharing fake news about violence. They included the case of The Wire’s Siddharth Varadarajan was booked for reporting the death of a protester. Not to forget, even after repeated clarification from the Police and the doctor who did an autopsy of the deceased, Varadarajan continued to share fake reports about the death of the protester. It must be noted that The Wire was forced to remove multiple reports related to Tek Fog and Meta as they were based on false evidence. This report of RSF was published in 2021 and appeared in the 2023 ranking.
They also mentioned the arrest of so-called journalist Siddique Kappan who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police for allegedly plans to instigate the public during the Hathras case in 2020. Details revolving around Kappan can be read here. RSF also linked a report where it extended its support to propaganda journalist Rana Ayyub. Notably, Ayyub is known for making false claims on international platforms. She is accused of financial fraud. The case against her is sub-judice. Recently, she downplayed gangster Atiq Ahmed’s crimes at a UNESCO event.
They also linked an old report to claim the situation is “still worrisome” in Kashmir. RSF linked to an article calling for the release of Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah. Notably, he was arrested by NIA for glorifying terrorism. Charges were framed against him in January 2023. He was also accused of Me Too. RSF awarded him for his “courage” in 2020. They also came out in support of Irfan Mehraj, an alleged journalist from Kashmir who was arrested in a terror funding case.
About Ford Foundation and its anti-India activities
Ford Foundation is an American charitable organisation that presents itself as a group engaged in advancing human welfare. In reality, it is a cesspool of intolerant and bigoted left-wing extremists. The group has a storied history of bankrolling the causes championed by left-wing supporters, including that in India.
In 2015 the Government of Gujarat while investigating Teesta Setalvad’s embezzlement case came across funding by Ford Foundation to her entities. It was found that her trust had violated FCRA norms. Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited, with which Teesta is associated, received $ 2.9 lakh from Ford Foundation as a grant to “address communalism, caste-based discrimination in India, including media strategies”.
Later, a letter was issued by the Gujarat Police, following which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) expressed its intention of probing the activities of the Ford Foundation. This probably set off a chain of events, most of which happened in the background and was later revealed by Wikileaks.
As per the leaked emails, Ford Foundation claims that they got embroiled in a controversy over its funding to Sabrang Trusts managed by Teesta Setalvad. The letter titled Ford Foundation in India: Notes to John Podesta dated May 26, 2015, also mentions their funding to Arvind Kejriwal’s NGO before he got into politics as a possible reason for Government’s action.
This was confirmed by none other than one of the leading luminaries of the Indian left-wing firmament, Ms Arundhati Roy. In an interview with Sagarika Ghose, Roy talked about one of the articles that she wrote for The Hindu in which she alleged that NGOs of Kejriwal and Sisodia had received over $400,000 from Ford Foundation in three years of time. Roy claimed that the group of ten people who were the top ‘management’ of the movement had well-funded NGOs. She said that three core members of the team had won Magsaysay Award which is also funded by Ford Foundation.
