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The Tirupati temple employment of non-Hindus controversy explained

OpIndia Staff
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The Tirupati temple employment of non-Hindus controversy explained

Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary L V Subramanyam recently announced that non-Hindu employees working in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala hill, one of the richest Hindu temples, will be sacked.

He added that those who had converted their religion while in employment, it is fine as it is their choice. However, they shall not be allowed to continue with their employment, he had added. Subramanyam had said that their continuing their employment will hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. He even added that surprise inspections would be conducted at the residence of those working with TTD if needed. There have been reports suggesting that the vigilance wing of the TTD has already started identifying non-Hindu employees.

Last week, after facing severe flak from the Hindu pilgrims for the advertisements of Jerusalem and Hajj pilgrimage on Tirupati Bus tickets, the administration had withdrawn the tickets and ordered probe. Andhra Pradesh CM YSR Jaganmohan Reddy was on the receiving end of criticism and the fact that he is a Christian fuelled it further. The BJP in the state and other smaller organisations have criticised that when YSR Jaganmohan Reddy’s father was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2009 over two terms, the Christian evangelists were given a free hand in Tirupati. Moreover, YS Reddy also used to go to Jerusalem for pilgrimage before election results. In fact, back in 2009, Andhra Pradesh had also announced subsidy for pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

However, this controversy is not new. In January 2018, a video had surfaced when a senior temple official was seen visiting a church. An inquiry was ordered which led to revelation that the lady officer who had visited the church was appointed in 1986 whereas the order banning recruitment of non-Hindus in temple administration was passed in 1989.

In 2007, another order also banned employment of non-Hindus in educational institutions run by the TTD. Despite the orders, there were reports that over 40 non-Hindus were appointed for managing the affairs of the temple.

In 2018, following the video controversy, 44 non-Hindu employees were identified and removed from religious duties. They were given non-religious profiles like that of gardener, driver, etc. This decision was challenged in the High Court and they secured a stay on the order in February 2018. The stay order is still in place.

It is believed that the new order by the Jaganmohan Reddy government seems to be a ‘damage control’ after the Jerusalem ads on bus tickets to Tirumala.

Kashmir updates: Mobile phone services restored in 5 districts of Jammu, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury leaves for Srinagar

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmir updates: Mobile phone services restored in 5 districts of Jammu, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury leaves for Srinagar

Mobile services, which have been cut off across Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 have been restored in five districts in Jammu: Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch. The communication blockage was in place following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir and subsequent bifurcation of the state into two union territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.

CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury today morning left for Srinagar after the Supreme Court allowed him to visit Jammu & Kashmir, not as a party leader to do politics but to meet his party leader Yousuf Tarigami as a friend and not for any political purpose. The SC asked Yechury not to use the visit for political purpose and refrain from raising any issues other than the health and safety of Tarigami. He has also been asked to submit a report to the SC upon his return.

Yechury was also a part of the delegation of opposition leaders who had travelled to Srinagar and were sent back from the airport recently. On Saturday, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi led a delegation of opposition leaders to Srinagar. However, they were sent back from the airport due to restrictions being in place.

Amit Shah proposes National Police University, Forensic Science University, and undergraduate degree in Policing in affiliated colleges across India

OpIndia Staff
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Amit Shah proposes National Police University, Forensic Science University, and undergraduate degree in Policing in affiliated colleges across India

Home Amit Shah has proposed to start an undergraduate degree program in policing, to groom future police forces properly. He has proposed setting up National Police University and Forensic Science University in the country, and their affiliated colleges in every state.

While addressing the 49th Foundation Day of Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) as Chief Guest in New Delhi on August 28, the home minister revealed that a proposal for same will be soon tabled with the cabinet. He said that to bring changes to the internal security mechanism in the country, National Police University and Forensic Science University will set up at a national level. These universities will have affiliated colleges in all the states, which will offer undergraduate degree program in policing. Students who want to pursue a career in the police or any of the central armed forces will be able to join the bachelor degree courses in these colleges after the 12th class.

The Home Minister said that if a student decides to join security forces as a career, joining an art, commerce or science course does not benefit them much. Now such youths will be able to join the police courses at the undergraduate level.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGAgrl_EZWE]

Amit Shah informed that BPRD has prepared a proposal for police colleges, which will be presented before the cabinet soon and a decision on this will be taken by the government. He also said that BPRD also needs to work towards Forensic Science University and Forensic Science colleges at a fast pace. Amit Shah said that the current conviction rate for crimes in the country is very low, which is unsustainable. He said that to increase the conviction rate, the investigations much have the support of forensic science.

The Home Minister said that the government may decide to make use of forensic science in some crimes, for example in every crime having a punishment of 7 years jail term. Buy only making that rule will not be enough, we will need manpower, which is not available at present. So, first manpower will have to be created. Forensic Science University will be able to solve this problem by creating students and officers in the field of forensic science. He said no student who has completed courses in existing forensic science colleges are unemployed, which means there is enough demand for experts in the field.

Commenting on the changing role of police from British era to today, Amit Shah said that while earlier the primary function of police was to maintain the stability of the British empire, Sardar Patel brought forth a new paradigm for Indian police system after independence. Today the primary objective of police is to serve people and protect their rights.

Shah emphasized the need for police modernization in a changing era filled with new challenges. He also remembered the 34,800 police personnel who laid their lives in the line of duty to keep India safe from internal security threats.

The Home Minister also called for a countrywide consultative process to make changes in IPC and CrPC.

Union Cabinet gives nod to set up 75 new Medical Colleges, total seats in new medical colleges go up to 15,700

OpIndia Staff
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Union Cabinet gives nod to set up 75 new Medical Colleges, total seats in new medical colleges go up to 15,700

The Union Cabinet today gave its nod to set up additional 75 Government Medical Colleges across the country by the year 2021-22. The decision was taken in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs meeting that was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.


These colleges will be established with existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-III of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored scheme.

The new medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas which have no medical college at present, and which have at least 200 bedded District Hospital. Preference will be given to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital having 300 beds.

Alongside the schemes that were approved in a bid to expand the accessibility of healthcare infrastructure and human resources, the Cabinet also approved an amount of Rs. 24,375 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period through the year 2021-22.

“The establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing District/Referral Hospitals, would lead to an increase in the availability of qualified health professionals, improve tertiary care in Government sector, utilize existing infrastructure of districts hospitals and promote affordable medical education in the country,” read the official government statement.

The government aims to set up the new medical colleges in under-served areas that have no medical college. The plan is to build at least 200 bedded District Hospital in such locations. The government will give preference to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital having 300 beds.

The government has its focus hinged on creating health care infrastructure and had earlier approved to set up 58 new Medical Colleges attached to existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-I and 24 under Phase-II. With the 75 proposes hospitals, the total 157 new hospitals will add at least 15,700 seats for medical students in the country.

Out of this, 39 medical colleges under Phase-I, have already started functioning, while the remaining 19 would be made functional by 2020-21. Under Phase-II, 18 new medical colleges have been approved.

Jammu and Kashmir: Investor summit scheduled to be held for the first time in October postponed to November

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: Investor summit scheduled to be held for the first time in October postponed to November

The Investor Summit which was to be held for the first time ever in Jammu and Kashmir in the month of October has now be postponed by a month. The summit which was supposed to happen on October 12-14, 2019, will now take place around November 8.

There is also a press conference expected by Governor Satya pal Malik shortly where he is expected to officially make this announcement.

The Modi-led government is trying to push a development drive in Jammu and Kashmir since it successfully revoked Article 370 in the valley. In its endeavour to do so, a special developmental plan for Jammu & Kashmir had been worked out which included the setting up of industries, state of the art educational institutes, healthcare facilities etc.

Keeping the development in J&K in mind, the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) President, eminent banker Uday Kotak has announced an investor’s summit in J&K in October, in which major industrial groups are expected to participate and unveil concrete ideas for investment in sectors including hospitality, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and healthcare.

The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, accorded sanction to the holding of J&K Investor Summit, 2019. The event was to begin in Srinagar on 12 October. It was being told that more than 2000 investors would be invited to this program. The honour ceremony associated with this was to be held in Jammu on 14 October.

But, considering the present situation in the valley, the Government has decided to delay the summit by a month. Though normalcy has been steadily returning back to the valley, the Government probably wants to wait until conditions become absolutely normal in the valley.

At the beginning of the month, according to a statement by the Jammu district Deputy Magistrate Sushma Chauhan, Section 144 (against a gathering of more than 4 people) had been withdrawn from Jammu municipal limits. All school and colleges were set to open from August 10.

The section 144 was already relaxed in Udhampur district where schools opened on August 9 after remaining closed for 5 days. The markets were also opening from 11 AM to 5 PM, and the administration had informed that section 144 will be lifted gradually.

The people in the valley who were confined indoors during the first few days since Article 370 was repealed in the valley, gradually moved out of their houses and started normal daily life. Residents dwelling there had welcomed the audacious decision of the Narendra Modi government, which will transform the future of Jammu and Kashmir.

Maoists shot dead RSS Pracharak in Chattisgarh, leave pamphlet on the spot to terrorise villagers

OpIndia Staff
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Maoists shot dead RSS Pracharak in Chattisgarh, leave pamphlet on the spot to terrorise villagers

Suspected Maoists have shot dead a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Dadu Singh Koratiya in Konde village of Kanker district of Chattisgarh. Located about 200 kms from the state capital Raipur, Kanker, is one of the seven most affected districts of Bastar in the state.

As per the reports, police on Wednesday said that Singh, a RSS pracharak, was killed by suspected Maoists as a pamphlet was found at the crime scene. Singh was shot with a pistol and his body has been sent for post-mortem.

“We are investigating the actual motive behind the killing and whether the person killed was from RSS background”, K L Dhruv, SP Kanker said. Dhruv asserted that the left-wing terrorists have been pushed to the backfoot due to various successful operations against them in the past. He further added that this crime is their attempt to instil fear amongst the villagers.

The police have already launched a search operation in the area.

The pamphlet, which was found at the crime scene, was left by the North Bastar Divisional Committee (CPI, Maoist), wherein Koratiya has been referred to as an active RSS pracharak and an antagonist to the interests of Dalits and tribals.

“He was killed owing to his involvement in anti-tribal activities and we warn the senior leaders and workers of the BJP and the RSS to desist from such activities,” read the letter.

The police said that Koratiya was called outside his house wherein the Maoist shot him with a pistol from a close range. Last year, Koratiya had escaped an attack on his life by Maoists on the eve of Independence Day at the time he was visiting his farmland. This year, however, he succumbed to the left-wing extremism.

ED summons Congress leader Ahmed Patel’s son Faisal Patel in Sterling Biotech bank fraud case

OpIndia Staff
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ED summons Congress leader Ahmed Patel’s son Faisal Patel in Sterling Biotech bank fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Faisal Patel, son of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, in the Sterling Biotech money laundering case. Faisal Patel is being probed by the ED for his links with the Sandesara brothers, the owners of the pharmaceutical company, who are accused in a ₹5,000 crore fraud case.


The ED has asked Faisal Patel tor appear for questioning on Thursday.

On July 30 this year, the ED had also grilled Ahmed Patel’s son-in-law and advocate Irfan Siddiqui in connection with the case.

Sterling Biotech is under investigation as it had taken a loan worth Rs. 5,000 crores from a consortium of banks including Andhra Bank, but the loan has turned into a non-performing asset (NPA). According to ED, the Sandesara group allegedly cheated several banks and its total outstanding against banks and investors may go beyond Rs 10,000 crore.

As per the chargesheet filed in the case, owners of Sterling Group, Nitin Sandesara and Chetan Sandesara, had floated close to 300 shell companies to fraudulently move and layer the loan money abroad.

During the probe by ED, the group’s links with Ahmed Patel was revealed. Several persons questioned by ED in relation with the case had revealed the involvement of Ahmed Patel, his son, Faisal Patel, and his son-in-law, Irfan Siddiqui in the scam.

Sunil Yadav, an employee of the Sandesara group, had said that he had handed over cash to Faisal Patel’s chauffeur and that the cash was to be delivered to Ahmed Patel’s son on behalf of Chetan Sandesara.

The CBI had booked Sterling Biotech, its directors and senior officials, and some unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case. The FIR alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on December 31, 2016.

‘This is why aliens won’t talk to us,’ Elon Musk on Congress party’s tweet that has left the world puzzled

K Bhattacharjee
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‘This is why aliens won’t talk to us,’ Elon Musk on Congress party’s tweet that has left the world puzzled

The Congress party issued a statement on Twitter recently that could only be described as utterly bewildering. It claimed that the BJP had “gone on record to support Pakistan in its attempts to fuel divisive politics in India.”


We, at OpIndia.com, are not entirely sure what this tweet meant considering the fact that it was former Congress President and son of the current Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, whose words were quoted by Pakistan to further its agenda on Kashmir at the United Nations.

As far as we are aware, the BJP had only slammed the Congress party for indulging in irresponsible rhetoric that undermined Indian national interests. Apart from people associated with the BJP, ordinary people too were extremely perturbed by the Congress’ stance on the matter.

Unable to make much headway on the issue, OpIndia.com approached subject-matter experts to help us decipher the Congress party’s cryptic tweet. First on our list was ACP Pradyuman of the CID. After hearing us out, he said gravely, “Iska matlab samjhe, Daya? Dal me kuch kaala nahi, poori Dal hi kaali hai (Do you understand, Daya? It isn’t that there’s something black in the Dal, the whole Dal is black).” He wouldn’t say anything further.

We then approached noted intellectual Rarundhati Oy to help us understand Congress’ logic behind the tweet. She said, “It is an ugly manifestation of the toxic and fragile masculinity and the overarching heteronormativity of the Patriarchal Colonial Indian State that refuses to recognize the autonomy and the free expression of the intrinsically diverse populace of Kashmir and their sexuality that is demonstrated both in the BJP’s comments and the Congress’ response to it.” Noting that her explanation was even more confusing than the Congress party’s tweet, we realized we had to move on to greener pastures.

Unfortunately for us, Chacha Chaudhury’s brain, which is reputed to work faster than a Computer, suffered a system failure after the tweet was read out to him. Five minutes later, we were informed by NASA that a volcano had erupted in Jupiter. Thanos, on the other hand, threatened to wipe out half the planet after hearing the Congress party’s tweet. Harry Potter told us that he wished Voldemort had killed him.

Aliens from the Andromeda Galaxy were unavailable for comments. ET regretted ever coming to Earth after we approached them. Jadoo from Koi Mil Gaya told us that there wasn’t enough Dhoop (sunshine) in our solar system for him to be able to decipher the tweet. Founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, said, “This is why aliens won’t talk to us.” Joe Rogan suggested that we try Ayahuasca for an answer to the question but we decided it wasn’t in our best interests.

Controversial journalist Alex Jones believed the Congress party was responsible for Jeffery Epstein’s suicide after reading the tweet. Intriguingly enough, the FBI and the CIA were of the same opinion and told us that they would treat the Congress party’s twitter handle as a national mental health hazard henceforth. The Clintons, meanwhile, were just glad that they were off the hook and were too interested in partying than answering our question. Popular conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said his FACTS and LOGIC were no match for the Congress party’s tweet. Clinical Psychologist Jordan Peterson told us we should clean our rooms before attempting to decipher that tweet.

Closer home, IITian and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal told us, “Sab milay huay hain ji (Everyone is involved in this).” Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik were more concerned with which state gets the credit for Rosogolla than the content of the tweet, they cut the phone promising to send over a bucket of Rosogollas for the entire OpIndia team. Popular actor and now Lok Sabha MP, Sunny Deol, told us that “uprooting that goddamned handpump was way easier than this”.

When we posed the question to the CBI, they passed the question to P. Chidambaram, who is currently in their custody. Chidambaram promised to answer the question in lieu of his release, but the CBI would have none of it. “This is exactly the kind of transaction you tend to attempt that has landed you here in the first place,” we heard them tell the senior Congress leader as we prepared to take our leave.

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to find what Congress exactly meant when it said the BJP had supported Pakistan. Next, we intend to approach Tony Stark to help us with Time Travel so that we could go back in time and pose the question to some eminent personalities from the past. We hope that Albert Einstein or Nicola Tesla will have the answers we seek.

Madhya Pradesh: Distressed farmer from Dewas sings a song asking CM Kamal Nath to keep his promise and waive off his loan

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Distressed farmer from Dewas sings a song asking CM Kamal Nath to keep his promise and waive off his loan

Madhya Pradesh farmers have been stranded amidst Congress’ misadventure and politics of farm loan waiver since the party came to power in the state. A distressed farmer in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh has now resorted to an innovative way to reach out to the Chief Minister Kamal Nath attempting to draw his attention at his troubled state.

A farmer in Dewas made a video in, which he sings songs to draw the government’s attention requesting them for help by waiving off his loan as promised by Kamal Nath government.


In the video, the farmer sings: “Karz maaf kiya jayen, samarthan mulya diya jayen, hum par Kamal Nath thoda dhyan diya jayen” (waive off loans, respect our support, Kamal Nath give us some attention).

Additionally, the farmer demanded that government should help them recover the price for the standing Soya crop in Dewas that has suffered pest attack. He sang: “Bheek mangte nahi, haq humara hain yeh. Daam faslon ka humko, uchit de do….” roughly translated as “we are not begging, instead it is our right to get the right price for our crops.”

The farmer feels that perhaps social media is the only way he can reach out to the Kamal Nath government, which is otherwise, not paying attention to the farmer’s plight. He says that Kamal Nath is our representative and head, if he will not listen to us then who will? “This is my attempt to bring the farmers plight to his notice,” said the farmer from Dewas sector in Madhya Pradesh.

Congress came to power in Madhya Pradesh over promises of farm loan waiver, however, Kamal Nath led Congress government’s promise in Madhya Pradesh to waive-off farms loans under Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana has turned out to be a debacle. After assuming power in in the state they cleverly altered the conditions to waive-off farms loans in contrast to their earlier stand.

The false promises of loan-waivers has created a stir amongst the poor farmers in the state. Recently, in a video which surfaced, a farmer exposed the government’s farm loan waiver sham. A Madhya Pradesh farmer confronted Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia in a public meeting in Bhopal on May 12 and alleged that farmer loan waiver as promised by the Congress government hasn’t been fulfilled yet

Amidst what can be seen as a massive loan-waiver scam brewing in the state, the distressed farmers had in February, threatened to commit ‘mass suicide’ after their names appeared on the state government’s loan waiver list even though they do not have any dues or have loans far smaller than the ones that are listed.

In January, Kamal Nath govt waived off over 120 crore non-existent farm loans. Depressed and helpless farmers in Madhya Pradesh have been committing suicide over the false promises made by the Congress government, but somehow the government remains unmoved.

While P Chidambaram continues in CBI custody, Supreme Court extends his interim protection from ED arrest till Thursday

OpIndia Staff
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While P Chidambaram continues in CBI custody, Supreme Court extends his interim protection from ED arrest till Thursday

The Supreme Court today extended the interim protection given to scam-tainted UPA era former finance minister P Chidambaram from arrest by Enforcement Directorate. The apex court is hearing his petition against Delhi High Court order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.

The apex court granted protection to Chidambaram from ED custody even while the CBI continues to interrogate him in custody in his culpability in the INX Media case.


P Chidambaram was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) on August 21 and was subsequently sent to 4-days custody by a special CBI court. On the expiry of the custody period, the court had extend his custody by 4 days till August 30 on CBI’s request. Another investigative agency, the Enforcement Directorate, which found sprawling properties owned by him in 12 countries, is seeking custody of P Chidambaram for questioning him in cases related to money laundering.

Yesterday, the SC granted interim protection to Chidambaram from arrest by the ED till Wednesday. Today, the SC extended his protection till Thursday. The hearing the case will continue tomorrow.

Chidambaram’s counsel Dr AM Singhvi yesterday asserted that the former union minister’s custody is sought by the ED only for “humiliation, humiliation and humiliation”. However, prosecutor advocate Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today retorted back saying the ED is seeking Chidambaram’s custody only for “prevention, prevention with Capital P”.

It is notable to mention here that the other central government agency, CBI is displeased with Chidambaram’s evasive answers to their questions and is currently contemplating on securing court’s permission to conduct a lie-detection test on him.

According to reports, the ED has further claimed that Chidambaram and his associates have been trying to tamper with evidence, trying to sell-off assets abroad and close various foreign bank accounts which he and the other co-accused in the INX media case been operating through shell companies.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the investigating agency has claimed that Chidambaram has bank accounts in as many as 12 countries, namely, Argentina, Austria, British Virgin Iceland, France, Greece, Malaysia, Monaco, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and Sri Lanka.

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