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Faced with an existential threat, forces inimical to India’s interest and the media will continue to spew venom against India

Ashish Shukla
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Faced with an existential threat, forces inimical to India’s interest and the media will continue to spew venom against India

A criminal is sanitized if his presence is a threat to society. A terrorist is neutralized if he has common people in his gun’s range. Individuals or groups who are hazards are brought to book by those who have the assigned role to protect society or a nation.

Thus we are looking at two ends of the spectrum. One end has the authority which has a job to keep the nation safe. At the other end are the suckers who won’t let it happen. At one end is the welfare of the millions. At the other end is the good of the few. It’s a no-brainer that individuals have constitutional rights only till they start imperilling a society.

Two such individuals are presently in public eye: One, a high-profile politician; the other a fringe player. Both face serious allegations. Both are under probe. Both claim vendetta. Both are relying on hidden support from within society.

Let’s presume that both P. Chidambaram and Shehla Rashid are not guilty. One has been named “kingpin” in massive financial scandals by no less than judiciary.  The other has been refuted by the Indian army and hauled to court for inciting communal discord. The next logical corollary is: Who would decide they are innocents? When a criminal has ever admitted to his crimes?

That’s why society sets a mechanism which can arbitrate, punish or pronounce not-guilty.  This mechanism could be judiciary or law-enforcing agencies such as police, CBI or ED.  Irrespective of how one or thousands or millions feel, it’s this mechanism which we have entrusted to carry out justice. Everything else is gasbag—including you or me.

But try telling this to our politicians and media. Both feed on each other. When it’s convenient, they hail judiciary as they did on pronouncements on Ahmed Patel’s Rajya Sabha elections or favouring HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka’s unholy tie-up. When it doesn’t suit them, they don’ t bat an eyelid in trying to impeach even the chief justice. CBI is “caged parrot” when it pursues cases against Mamata Banerjee or P. Chidambaram. But when the agency was in hot pursuit of Amit Shah, for instance, it was hailed for setting high standards of probity.

Just follow the headlines and editorials in our newspapers on P. Chidambaram. Indian Express in its editorial finds it revolting that P. Chidambaram was pursued in the manner he was done by the investigating agencies. It doesn’t question Chidambaram once on his reprehensible conduct is not submitting himself to law and thus subverting the course of justice. No newspaper has given a headline that Chidambaram was deemed “kingpin” of grave financial misdeeds.  Just look at this headline in Hindustan Times: “Please sit, the judge asked Chidambaram…He declines.” (As standing is a conduct of a morally upright person!).  Be it media or politicians, both are aghast that Chidambaram was not given urgent hearing by the Supreme Court. We even have a letter from a group of Supreme Court lawyers protesting against the denial of urgent hearing to Chidambaram. Pray, god, when a matter is presented on Wednesday and the hearing is fixed on Friday, is it not urgent hearing?

Shehla Rashid has been hauled to court in a criminal complaint against her claim that torture and excessive force is being applied by Indian forces on Kashmiris. Indian Army was quick to make a strong rebuttal: “Allegations levelled by Shehla Rashid are baseless and rejected. Such unverified and fake news is spread by inimical elements and organizations to incite the unsuspecting population.”

Did you find anyone in Lutyens Media question Rashid to either provide evidence or apologise? up. When she was cornered by journalists in an Opposition protest drama in the Capital on Thursday, she, instead of offering evidence, threatened to call the police.

Has Lutyens Media questioned Shehla Rashid on fake allegations? Has it questioned the politicians of CPI or CPM, SP or BSP, Congress or TMC etc on what a fake news peddler who spreads lies on our Indian Army was doing on their platform of protest? Are we wrong to presume that these politicians, political activists and Lutyens Media have no regard for institutions and integrity of the nation and instead, could be hand in gloves?

This of course is not the first instance of transgressions by Shehla Rashid. She posts old videos and pass them off as recent; an FIR was filed against her for spreading rumours after the Pulwama attack; she had once tweeted that Nitin Gadkari was plotting to assassinate PM Modi on which the former had threatened her with legal action; despite a video evidence of abusing the police, she termed Jignesh Mewani as victim; Delhi Police has filed a chargesheet against her in the infamous JNU sedition case;  She wanted United Nations to intervene on EVM issue as Modi seemed set to return to power in 2019 polls;  and she termed Modi a “mass murderer” after his first win in 2014 polls.

All of Rashid’s allegations of course are unsubstantiated. She is encouraged into vomiting more of such diatribe as Lutyens Media lends a helping hand and investigating agencies dither in view of the entrenched break-India forces within the system. As Chidambaram was encouraged to be allegedly more corrupt even as his bête noire Dr Subramanian Swamy asserted that former’s crimes are fit for a 500-year-long sentence. Why, Indian Express reserves the top of his editorial page for Chidambaram every Sunday. Like Times of India is nonchalant about allegations of paid write-ups from across the border against one of its’ regulars, Shobhaa De.

All of this of course is unlikely to stop. Faced with an existential threat, these forces inimical to India’s interest would continue to spew venom in a concerted manner.  You would have letters from films, legal and writers’ corners tearing into Modi government for its violations of “democratic” principles. We, the stunned citizenry, must take note of these virulent rats which are a plague to India’s sovereignty.

UNESCO headquarters erupt with ‘Modi, Modi’ chant as PM Modi addresses Indian community in Paris, France

OpIndia Staff
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UNESCO headquarters erupt with ‘Modi, Modi’ chant as PM Modi addresses Indian community in Paris, France

The UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France erupted with chants of ‘Modi, Modi,’ during Prime Minister Modi’s address to the Indian community.


These chants were followed by “Modi hai to mumkin hai (If Modi is there, it is possible)”. Addressing the Indian community in France, he said, that with the mandate his government has got, India is not only running a government but also building a new India. “In new India, the way in which action is being taken against corruption, nepotism, loot of people’s money, terrorism, this has never happened before. Within 75 days of the new government coming to power we took many strong decisions,” he said.

Speaking on strengthening the ties between India and France, he said that in the 21st century, everyone is speaking of ‘INFRA’. “I would like to say that for me it is IN+FRA, which means the alliance between India and France. From Solar infra to social infra, from technical infra to space infra, from digital infra to defence infra, India and France’s alliance is going stronger by the day,” PM Modi said. Speaking on the climate change and measures to control it, he said that he has spoken to President Macron regarding the solar alliance.

Adding that the friendship between India and France is based on strong ideals, PM Modi said, “Both the countries are built on values of liberty, equality and fraternity. If India and France have come together to fight the dangers of the world, it is because of these values. India and France have fought for each other and lived for each other. Both countries have fought terrorism shoulder-to-shoulder.

Last night, in a joint statement issued by both the leaders, France said that India and France shall continue their fight against terror. It was also announced that the first Rafale jet will be delivered to India next month.

UAE woman seeks divorce claiming her husband is so loving and caring, it is ‘choking’ her

OpIndia Staff
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UAE woman seeks divorce claiming her husband is so loving and caring, it is ‘choking’ her

In a strange case, a UAE woman had sought a divorce from her extra-caring and loving husband as she apparently felt “choked” by his care and affection.

The woman approached a Shariah court in Fujairah for a divorce from the man lamenting that her husband never yelled at her, nor he ever turned her down. The woman further bemoaned saying that her husband even helped her in cleaning the house and cooked for her.

The woman complained that her life has “turned hell” because of her husband’s generosity and lack of discord between them in their year-long marriage. She stated that her husband was so considerate that he even cooked food for her at times.

“I yearn for at least one day of quarrel, but this seems impossible with my romantic husband who always forgave me and showered me with gifts. I want to have a real discussion, perhaps a dispute, not this easygoing life of compliance,” the woman said.

In his defence, the man contended that he did nothing wrong and behaved like “a perfect and kind husband.” When his wife complained about his obesity, the man followed a strict diet and exercise regime. However, he suffered a fracture in the leg for his attempts, as per the Khaleej Times report.

Taking cognisance of the matter, the court has adjourned the case as of now as the husband exhorted the judge to ask his wife to withdraw the case. “It is unfair to judge a marriage from its first year, people learn from their mistakes,” he said.

IAF Court of Inquiry confirms friendly fire had shot down IAF chopper on February 27, finds 5 officers guilty

OpIndia Staff
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IAF Court of Inquiry confirms friendly fire had shot down IAF chopper on February 27, finds 5 officers guilty

An Indian Air Force court of inquiry has confirmed that the February 27, 2019 chopper crash in Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir was caused by friendly fire. The inquiry confirmed that an Indian missile shot down the IAF chopper in a friendly fire incident and 5 officers have been accused in the case.

The incident happened at a time when the Indian air defence was on high-alert in the wake of Pakistani retaliation on India’s Balakot airstrikes. Following India’s dare-devilry, Pakistan had scrambled its fleet of fighter jets to target the Indian Army installations in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the attack was thwarted by the Indian Air Force’s fighter jets deployed to chase down the enemy aircraft.

The chopper was reportedly shot down at the same time when Indian and Pakistani jets were involved in a dogfight over Jammu and Kashmir. 5 officers have been held guilty by the court of inquiry and the report has been sent to the Air Force Headquarters for further action.

After the crash of the chopper, initially Pakistan had tried to claim that they had shot it down, but soon it became clear that the aircraft became the unfortunate target of its own forces. The Indian Air Force had already accepted that it was a case of friendly fire, which has been confirmed by the court of inquiry now.

According to the sources, the officers were found guilty of negligence and not adhering to the recommended procedures. The guilty officers include one Group Captain, two Wing Commanders and two Flight Lieutenants. The responsible officers violated several standard operating procedures, and the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system also did not work on that day. It was reported earlier that the officers can face the charges of culpable homicide.

The Mi-17 V-5 helicopter was on a routine shuttle flight from the Srinagar airbase when it was shot down by an Israeli origin Spyder air defence system. All the onboard crew of the Mi-17 chopper died in the incident. The helicopter was flown by squadron leader Siddharth Vashisht with other members squadron leader Ninad Mandvgane, Kumar Pandey, sergeant Vikrant Sehrawat, corporals Deepak Pandey and Pankaj Kumar. In addition to the six IAF officers, a civilian on the ground also lost his life.

‘Chidambaram arrested because he opposed abrogation of Article 370: Congress leader gets support from Pakistan Senator

OpIndia Staff
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‘Chidambaram arrested because he opposed abrogation of Article 370: Congress leader gets support from Pakistan Senator

Senator and former Interior Minister of Pakistan, Rehman Malik, appears to be suffering a nervous breakdown on Twitter, much like his Prime Minister. He claims that senior Congress P. Chidambaram has been arrested because he opposed the abrogation of Article 370. Not only that, he claims that Chidambaram will be the next Prime Minister of India.


Furthermore, the senator from Pakistan claims, in not very appropriate language either, that Narendra Modi shall soon be tried as a war criminal. He didn’t stop there and went on to assert that he shall be arguing the case against Modi himself and apparently, Modi knows that he cannot face him.


Not only Prime Minister Modi, but NSA Ajit Doval has also featured in one of his tweets. Pakistan senator Malik claims that the two of them have given ‘Indian RSS supporters’ direct instructions to attack and abuse him on Twitter. It appears that the Pakistani senator is not aware that Indians mock Pakistanis of their own accord. In fact, it might one of their favourite pastimes.


Malik went ahead and claimed that PM Modi and Doval were asking people to harass him because he is giving them sleepless nights. Members of the Pakistani establishment appear to be suffering from delusions of grandeur indeed.

Ever since the abrogation of Article 370, Pakistanis have been suffering a severe meltdown on social media. They have resorted to peddling fake news and lying through the skin of their teeth to save their face. It appears to be a collective meltdown that began from the very top, Pakistani PM Imran Khan.

Imran ‘Taliban’ Khan goes on a bizarre defense of terrorists who may have infiltrated India disguised as Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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Imran ‘Taliban’ Khan goes on a bizarre defense of terrorists who may have infiltrated India disguised as Hindus

Pakistan very existence now seems to be a glaring question mark on the intellectual evolution of humankind. The parody nation keeps defying its own records in displaying the utter stupidity of its political leaders.

Imran Khan, after days of whining about RSS, Modi and Nazis that got zero attention from anywhere, has today crossed some invisible line between ranting and raving. He has taken to Twitter to defend some terrorists who may have infiltrated into India.

Imran Khan on Twitter

Just like his army violates the ceasefire and starts shelling whenever they want to help some terrorists trying to enter India through LoC, Imran Khan tried to provide a narrative cover, claiming that India is lying to divert attention from whatever Pakistan daydreams about happening in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Not stopping there, Khan even claimed that the terrorists whose existence and their entry into India he had just denied, may actually be a ‘false flag operation’ by India

Imran Khan on Twitter

Khan was referring to media reports earlier today where it was revealed that 6 LeT terrorists might have entered Coimbatore posing as Hindus, with Tilaks on their forehead. There were also reports that Pakistan is preparing Afghan terrorists for an attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

It is notable here that the Pakistani terrorists that had attacked Mumbai on 26/11 also had tried to look like Hindus with saffron threads (Kalawa) on their wrists.

khan’s statement, despite being hilarious, also shows how ‘mainstream’ the idea of terrorism is for the terror factory of Pakistan. If harbouring, nourishing and sending terrorists to India was not enough, Pakistan has now shed all pretence and has been officially using terrorism as its state policy.

Earlier, an ex-military chief from Pakistan had revealed that Pakistan is planning to exploit the Kartarpur corridor to revive khalistani terrorism in India.

Samajwadi Party dissolves its state and district units, removes everyone from their posts except Naresh Uttam Patel

OpIndia Staff
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Samajwadi Party dissolves its state and district units, removes everyone from their posts except Naresh Uttam Patel

Samajwadi Party today disbanded its Uttar Pradesh state and district units and removed everyone from their posts except Naresh Uttam Patel, the UP state head.


In another tweet, Samajwadi Party said the party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also disbanded all youth wing, women’s wing, student wing and removed their national and state heads and other office bearers.

Here is how these 7 opinion pieces in 4 days reveal newspaper The Hindu’s legendary level of meltdown and arrogance

S. Sudhir Kumar
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Here is how these 7 opinion pieces in 4 days reveal newspaper The Hindu’s legendary level of meltdown and arrogance

While the vast majority of our country is rejoicing at the bold move by the Modi government on Jammu and Kashmir, the self-proclaimed liberal intellectuals have gone into a tizzy. Their OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) levels have been consistently rising. But, this week, there is someone whose OCD levels have peaked! None other than “India’s National Newspaper”, The Hindu. You think I am exaggerating? Let’s take a look at their opinion pieces, published in their print edition, in this week.

The lack of creativity is really amusing! For how many more years do they want to continue with the same “Democracy under siege” and “Idea of India” phrases? For all the talent at their disposal, can’t they really do better than repeating these boring phrases? Most articles say the same and mean the same. However, there are two articles that are quite upsetting, because they seem to assume that the reader is naïve and will believe anything that is written.

The first such article was published on Wednesday, August 21st: Choppy waters lie ahead. The author of this article is a former National Security Advisor of India, Shri M.K. Narayan. In the section titled “Global reactions and lessons”, he begins thus: “International opinion is unlikely — whatever gloss we may apply — to accept at face value our reasons as to why the steps taken in Kashmir were necessary.”

I was immediately reminded of this awesome tweet of Ashok Mallik where he roasted Sadanand Dhume’s vague definition of “internationalization”. But since I was reading a piece by a former National Security Advisor, I was really expecting more depth than Sadanand Dhume. He continues by telling us that “Already, voices critical of India’s actions are beginning to be heard. China made its views clear…”

Yes, China is not happy, we know that. We want to know from the former NSA who else is not happy? He enlightens us that “Most nations across the world may adopt a similar line…”. So we have a grand total of one country not happy with what we did. No other nation has adopted a “similar line” like China. If this article came in a piece of advice within a day or two of the monumental decision, then it made sense. This advice came a full three weeks after no country commented on India. And yet the former NSA found it fit to continue the fear-mongering that the alleged liberals bank on!

The fear-mongering by the former NSA doesn’t stop. Weeks after the government had emphatically clarified that there will be no impact on Articles 371, he chooses to write that “It could also induce fears across the entire Northeast, even though Article 371 still holds sway there.”

To top it all, we are also told by him that “It would be an error of judgment, however, to believe that “all is well” in J&K.”. Slowly, but surely, all is getting well in Ladakh, Jammu and parts of Kashmir. Why can’t he acknowledge the areas where things are getting normal and the areas which are still problematic? He was NSA for quite some period of time – why can’t he tell us what is it that he did to resolve the problem of Kashmiris? Why, instead, resort to this fear-mongering?

The second such article was also published on Wednesday, August 21st: Recognising fair criticism.

The Lancet is a reputed medical journal. They, however, chose to comment on India’s decision to remove Article 370 from J&K. This invited a rebuke from many in India and also the Indian Medical Association. And this rebuke hurt these self-proclaimed intellectuals, so much that R. Prasad wrote in The Hindu– “The editorial is not an “act of commission” by The Lancet, as the IMA calls it, but what the journal considers as its beholden duty to speak up for people in health distress.”

The Lancet editorial has only one mention of a “formidable health crisis”. This is based on a study done in two districts of J&K which concluded that “that nearly half of Kashmiris rarely felt safe and of those who had lost a family member to violence, one in five had witnessed the death firsthand. Therefore, it is unsurprising that people in the region have increased anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

There needed no study to be done to understand that Kashmiris live in fear because of the terrorism infested violence. There needed no magazine to tell us that people living in conflict areas suffer from anxiety. And there is only one way to solve this problem – end the violence! And that is precisely what India is aiming to do now. The Modi government is reaching out to Kashmiris to put an end to all their woes, “health distress” included. The Lancet finds this move “controversial” is even more surprising.

What’s even more surprising is that R. Prasad repeatedly comes to The Lancet’s defence on grounds that Lancet focused on health! Sample another line from his article – “But the central focus has always been on health, and the editorial on J&K is no different.” Slow claps for the ingenuity, (over)confidence and the staggering boldness of the author when he emphatically declares that the editorial on J&K is about health. Does the author, R.Prasad, really think that people today will not have access to Lancet’s editorial; will read it and understand how the focus is anything but health?

Then we have an article on “State breaking is not nation-making”. This, after repeated assurances by the government that while Ladakh will continue to be a UT (a long-pending people’s demand that was finally met), full state status will be restored to J&K at the earliest possible opportunity. Yet this ilk continues to perpetuate the same old argument, only to spread fear and rumours.

The icing on the cake though is the following conclusion by The Hindu’s readers editor in his Monday’s article – “A cursory reading of the responses to critical voices in the comment section of this newspaper proves that there is an explosion of ignorance.” In my opinion, no one can beat The Hindu in their legendary arrogance. They will continue to display this in abundance in the days to come

Tej Pratap Yadav toes Congress’ line to malign Veer Savarkar’s contributions to India’s freedom, calls him ‘coward’ and ‘British agent’

OpIndia Staff
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Tej Pratap Yadav toes Congress’ line to malign Veer Savarkar’s contributions to India’s freedom, calls him ‘coward’ and ‘British agent’

Tej Pratap Yadav, the RJD MLA from Mahua in Bihar, took to Twitter to malign Veer Savarkar’s contributions to India’s freedom by branding him a ‘coward’ and a ‘British agent’.


The son of fodder scam convict and Bihar’s former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, took to Twitter to slander the ABVP-led Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) which had recently installed a pillar with busts of Veer Savarkar, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh at the North Campus of Delhi University.

In his Tweet, the fancy dress buff blamed ABVP which is the RSS’ students’ wing, of ridiculing the sacrifices and contributions made by the other heroic sons of the country in the freedom struggle by installing Savarkar’s bust along with theirs. He says, that the university has not only taught the traitor’s (referring to Savarkar) lesson to its students but have gone a step ahead and installed a statue of the ‘coward’ in the university.

On Tuesday, a pillar with busts of Veer Savarkar, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh had been put up at the North Campus of Delhi University. The pillar was installed by the ABVP-led Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU). As per DUSU’s own admission, the pillar was installed without the permission of the University.

Some people had objected specifically to the Savarkar bust that was installed on the campus. NSUI goons had vandalised the installation, by blackening the face and puting a garland of shoes around it. They had seen the installation of Savarkar’s bust as a prelude to the installation of Nathuram Godse’s bust.

Congress has also on several occasions attempted to malign Veer Savarkar’s contributions to India’s freedom by branding him as a “loyal colonialist”.

NSUI, the students’ wing of the Congress party, straight-out lied that Savarkar worked against the freedom struggle. The Congress government in Rajasthan had gone a step ahead and decided to change the school curriculums to portray Savarkar as a traitor. It’s ex-president, Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly insulted the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Swatantryaveer Savarkar (the meaning of it is ‘Hero of Independence’ Savarkar), and called him a ‘traitor’ for his ‘mercy petitions’ to the British while he was in jail in the Andamans.

Even the mercy petitions ought to be seen in their proper context. One can read behind the actual reasons of Savarkar’s mercy petitions here. Moreover, Savarkar did not give up his political struggle after being released, he continued to serve our motherland as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha.

As much ever these cynics may denounce Savarkar, it is a fact that the seeds of Hindutva Savarkar had sown all those years ago have finally bloomed and Hindutva now dominates the corridors of power.

Parle responds to reports of 10,000 potential job losses, says no job loss yet, definite slowdown but issue blown out of proportion

OpIndia Staff
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Parle responds to reports of 10,000 potential job losses, says no job loss yet, definite slowdown but issue blown out of proportion

In an interview with the media outlet BTVi, senior category head at Parle Products, Mayank Shah clarified that there have been no job losses at Parle yet and that the issue has been blown out of proportion by naysayers. There were reports recently that slowdown could force ParleG to lay off 10,000 staff members.

Shah added that there has been a marked decline in the sales of their products, attributing the slumping sales to the GST tax slab for biscuits below Rs 100 per kg, which attracts 18% GST.


“Biscuit as an industry or category has been severely affected. This phenomenon is industry-wide and not Parle specific. The consumer is thinking twice before buying biscuits now. Biscuits which were earlier exempted from excise were now included after the advent of the GST. This has had a serious effect on the sales of the basic biscuits which are less than Rs 100 per Kg. Right now, basic biscuits fall under the same 18 per cent GST slab as the premium biscuits,” Shah said.

Shah further stated that their company has been requesting the government from last 1 year to look into the matter. “Premium segment biscuits which are sold at or above Rs 100 per kg and basic biscuits which are less than Rs 100 per Kg are two different categories. We have been requesting the government to provide concessions to us in basic biscuits category by changing its GST slab as it did with apparels, footwear and other commodities,” Shah said.

Dismissing the reports of downsizing at Parle Products, Shah said that the job losses will be an eventuality if the sales of the basic biscuits category continue to decline. Once the category which used to grow at 10-12 per cent per annum is currently declined by 7-8 per cent.

“Sales of premium biscuits at Parle are showing impressive growth. However, the sales of the basic biscuits category which is for the consumption of common man is getting the beating after the implementation of GST. We have to take a price hike because of the GST. We urge the government to exempt basic biscuits, which are priced less than Rs 100 per Kg be exempted from the tax like it was before the GST,” Shah said.

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