Home Blog Page 6176

Forget Gold. Invest in Indian movie CDs: Legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle mocks Pakistan for banning Indian movie CDs

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Forget Gold. Invest in Indian movie CDs: Legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle mocks Pakistan for banning Indian movie CDs

Parody country Pakistan which is making hue and cry after facing global isolation is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. After its decision to ban the sale of CDs of Indian movies protesting India’s historic decision to abrogate Article 370, the parody nation has been subjected to severe ridicule.

Reacting to Pakistan’s ban, legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle took to Twitter to mock Pakistan and asked people to forget investing in gold and invest in Indian film CDs, as it will soon be in ‘high demand’.


Earlier in the day, Pakistan had decided to put a ban on Indian movies and the airing of advertisements for India-made products on television channels in the wake of tensions after India revoked Article 370 that gave separate status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information announced the government’s decision to ban Indian movies and advertisements of Indian products.

The government of Pakistan had directed PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) to step up its vigilance in this regard along with actions against the sale of Indian DTH instruments.

PEMRA, in an official statement released on Wednesday, said that the “appearance of Indian characters on Pakistani TV screens aggravates miseries of Pakistanis who are perturbed over Indian atrocities on Kashmiri brethren.”

It is amusing that when the rest of the world has moved on to newer technology like cloud networking and online streaming platforms, Pakistan is stuck in the time warp where they confiscate CDs like it is the 1990s.

West Bengal: Education Minister Partha Chatterjee summoned by CBI over the Saradha Chit Fund Scam

OpIndia Staff
-
0
West Bengal: Education Minister Partha Chatterjee summoned by CBI over the Saradha Chit Fund Scam

Education Minister of West Bengal and close aide of CM Mamata Banerjee, Partha Chatterjee, has been issued a notice by the CBI over the Sarada Chit Fund Scam. Chatterjee has been summoned in connection with the TMC mouthpiece ‘Jago Bangla’.


Chatterjee, who is also the General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, has been asked to appear before the CBI today. It is unclear, however, whether he will heed the notice.


Last month, CBI had summoned top Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien over the matter. Senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress have been alleged to be intimately involved in the scam ever since the CBI initiated its investigation. Earlier, it was reported that the agency had questioned Manik Majumder in connection with the case who is believed to be a close aide of the Bengal CM.

The Saradha scam broke in 2013 when a ponzi scheme run by the Saradha Group, a consortium of over 200 private companies, collapsed after collecting hundreds and thousands of crores from over 15 lakh investors.

J&K Chief Secretary: No life has been lost in the state due to abrogation of Article 370, 12 out of 22 districts functioning properly

OpIndia Staff
-
0
J&K Chief Secretary: No life has been lost in the state due to abrogation of Article 370, 12 out of 22 districts functioning properly

Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir, BVR Subrahmanyam, briefed the media on the situation in the state on Friday. He stated that the measures taken by the government were necessary in light of credible information that terror attacks were being planned in J&K.


Consequently, restrictions on free movement and telecom connectivity, prevention of large gathering, closure of educational institutions and preventive detentions of certain individuals were enforced with the objective of maintaining law and order, he said.


Schools will begin reopening on Monday area by area. Public transport, too, will be made operational. The Chief Secretary added that telecom connectivity will be restored in a phased manner.


Most significantly, Subrahmanyam stated that there have been no loss of life in the region due to the abrogation of Article 370. Moreover, 12 out of 22 districts are functioning properly, he said, with limited restrictions in 5 of them.


The Chief Secretary also stated that preventive detentions are being reviewed and decisions will be made subject to law and order assessments. He asserted that the government wants the earliest return to normalcy while ensuring that terrorists cannot find an opportunity to engage in bloodshed.

Imran Khan’s Twitter meltdown continues as international community ignores his rants

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Imran Khan’s Twitter meltdown continues as international community ignores his rants

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, continued with his meltdown on social media on Friday. He is persisting with his line of attack where he calls India a Hindu Supremacist state. Until now, he has equated the ruling Indian dispensation with the Nazis and has claimed that ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Muslims is imminent.


For all his theatrics, Imran Khan appears to be screaming into the void. The tweets, which are quite obviously targeted towards an international audience, have failed to attract any meaningful attention from important geopolitical players.

Apart from traditional Indian allies like Russia, even Pakistan’s alleged friends have supported India on the matter. Saudi Arabia and the USA, who have traditionally sided with Pakistan on such matters, have left them to their fate. China is more concerned about Aksai Chin than they are about Article 370 and Pakistan’s tantrums on the same.

Another feature that has become evident is Imran Khan’s not-so-subtle threats of Jihad. Today, he alluded to people ‘not fearing death’. Yesterday, he had claimed that the abrogation of Article 370 will radicalize Muslims around the world. All of this was after he had threatened that there would be more Pulwama-type suicide terrorist attacks. The Pakistani Prime Minister’s conduct on Twitter only shows that his nickname ‘Taliban Khan’ is duly earned.

Without too many options on the table, Imran Khan appears to be relying on Pakistan’s age-old tradition of emotional blackmail and threats of Jihad to make the international community heed its concerns. However, countries the world over appear to be tired of their shenanigans. With India extremely unlikely to suffer any adverse consequences for administrative decisions on its internal matter, the highly anticipated climactic end to Imran Khan’s meltdown remains to be seen.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hints at revision of India’s ‘No First Use’ nuclear doctrine, says it will depend on circumstances in future

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hints at revision of India’s ‘No First Use’ nuclear doctrine, says it will depend on circumstances in future

Making a very significance comment, the Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh today suggested a possible shift in India’s nuclear doctrine, if needed. While commemorating Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 1st death anniversary, Rajnath Singh said that for a long time India has adhered to the ‘No First Use’ policy regarding country’s nuclear weapons but its future compliance will be contingent upon the circumstances.


Singh was in Jaisalmer for the International Army Scout Masters Competition. He visited Pokhran as a mark of tribute for the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whose leadership India had conducted the second round of nuclear tests.

This is not the first time that a change in India’s nuclear policy has been suggested. Ever since PM Modi came to power in 2014, there has been a growing chatter among defence analysts and security officials about an urgent review of India’s ‘No First Use’ nuclear doctrine. In fact, erstwhile Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar was pretty vocal in questioning India’s no first use policy. He had said that India shouldn’t bind itself to the policy and instead declare that it will use its nuclear prowess responsibly.


According to India’s long followed ‘No First Use’ nuclear doctrine which was first adopted after its second nuclear tests, the Pokhran-II, in 1998, the Indian government asserted that the nuclear weapons are solely for deterrence and that India will pursue a policy of “retaliation only”. The Indian government released a draft of the doctrine stating that “will not be the first to initiate a nuclear first strike, but will respond with punitive retaliation should deterrence fail” and that decisions to authorise the use of nuclear weapons would be made by the Prime Minister or his ‘designated successor(s)’.

India and China remain the only two nuclear powers in the world who have still pledged their allegiance to this doctrine. Among other nuclear-powered nations, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France say they will use nuclear weapons only for defensive purpose if they are attacked or invaded by others. But it is not a ‘No First Use’ pledge, as they may retaliate with nuclear weapons even if they are not attacked by nuclear weapons.

Despite repeated provocations from hostile neighbours such as Pakistan, India has remained firmed and committed to its nuclear no-first-use policy. However, latest remarks by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hints that India might alter its stance vis-a-vis country’s nuclear doctrine. India is precariously perched between two inimical neighbours- Pakistan and China and given the ever-evolving threat of asymmetric warfare from non-state elements from Pakistan, India cannot afford to remain inflexible on its nuclear policy.

The statement from Rajnath Singh comes at a time when there is heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan PM Imran Khan has been hysterical ever since the decision to strip JK of its special status was taken by the virtue of a presidential decree.

Columnist at Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint spreads Pakistani and Khalistani propaganda about London protests on Article 370 abrogation

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Columnist at Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint spreads Pakistani and Khalistani propaganda about London protests on Article 370 abrogation

Columnist associated with Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint, Zainab Sikander, has resorted to using the protests by Pakistani immigrants and Khalistanis in Britain to peddle her agenda against the abrogation of Article 370. She has dubbed protests held by Pakistanis and Khalistanis a “movement by the people for the people of Kashmir”.


Even after people pointed out to her that the people in the video were Khalistanis, Zainab attempted to brazen it out instead of offering an unconditional apology.


In other videos of the Pakistani protests shared by the same media outlet, Pakistani flags are clearly visible which betray the actual motivations of the protesters.


However, according to Zainab, attempts to enlighten her with the truth are ‘characfter assassination’.


As we have reported earlier, thousands of Pakistani immigrants in London resorted to violence on Thursday to mark their protest against abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir. Protesters carrying Khalistani and Kashmiri flags tried to push forward across police lines and pelted stones and other objects at Indians who were present at the spot to celebrate the Independence day.

They held anti-India placards and abused Indians present at the Indian High Commission. Indian families with small children were trapped for hours as the protestors held them as hostages. However, according to ThePrint columnist, these protests were a “movement by the people for the people of Kashmir”.

ThePrint’s coverage of the Kashmir issue has been dubious at best. Shekhar Gupta had claimed that protests in Kashmir are Pakistan’s best hope, then went ahead to ask the Indian government to lift restrictions so protests can be organized.

Indian intellectuals have been toeing the Pakistani line on international platforms as well. ‘Eminent Historian’ Ramchandra Guha had written an article for the Washington Post that peddled a narrative which was virtually indistinguishable from the Pakistani version of events.

It appears as though the so-called Indian liberals are almost overeager to undermine Indian national interests. In their bid to oppose Narendra Modi at every step along the way, they appear to harbour no hesitation in allying with Khalistanis and Pakistanis.

After downgrading diplomatic ties, parody country Pakistan bans Indian airing Indian ads, confiscates Indian movie CDs

Shashank Bharadwaj
-
0
After downgrading diplomatic ties, parody country Pakistan bans Indian airing Indian ads, confiscates Indian movie CDs

The parody country Pakistan, which sends its artists to seek gainful employment in India, has now decided to put a ban on Indian movies and the airing of advertisements for India-made products on television channels in the wake of tensions after India revoked Article 370 that gave separate status to Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the reports, Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information announced the government’s decision to ban Indian movies and advertisements of Indian products.

“We have banned Indian advertisements and launched a crackdown on CD shops to confiscate Indian movies,” said Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information.

She said that the Interior Ministry had already started a crackdown on Indian movies in Islamabad and it would be expanded to other parts of the country soon in collaboration with the provincial governments. “Today the Interior Ministry raided some shops in Islamabad and confiscated Indian movies,” said Awan.

It is rather amusing to know that Pakistan, which exports donkeys to China and Islamic terrorists to other parts of the world, is still stuck in the era of Compact-Disks (CDs) at a time when other countries have moved on to flash drives and cloud storage networks.

“No Indian film will be screened in any Pakistani cinema. Drama, films and Indian content of this kind will be completely banned in Pakistan”, Awan added.

Last week, Firdous Ashiq Awan had said that all kinds of Indian content have been stopped and PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) was directed to step up its vigilance in this regard along with actions against the sale of Indian DTH instruments.

PEMRA, in an official statement released on Wednesday, said that the “appearance of Indian characters on Pakistani TV screens aggravates miseries of Pakistanis who are perturbed over Indian atrocities on Kashmiri brethren.”

After India abrogated Article 370, Pakistan had unilaterally decided to downgrade the diplomatic ties and had expelled the Indian envoy to Islamabad. It had suspended bilateral trade and reviewed all bilateral treaties and arrangements beginning with suspension of the peace train, Samjhauta Express and banning Indian films in Pakistan.

Considering Pakistan itself was once part of undivided India, most of the Indians are looking forward and hopeful that the parody country bans itself, which will instil a long time peace not only in the region but across the world.

Delhi schools woes: Despite tall promises by Delhi govt, school in Kalkaji does not have drinking water, clean toilets

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi schools woes: Despite tall promises by Delhi govt, school in Kalkaji does not have drinking water, clean toilets

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may be busy making tall claims about the ‘fantastic work’ his government has done for government schools, the reality shows a different picture. A school in Delhi’s Kalkaji, which falls under Greater Kailash constituency of AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj does not have drinking water for school students.

Delhi government school in Kalkaji, Greater Kailash

Parents have also complained of lack of water in toilets especially girls’ toilets. in the school.

Delhi government school in Kalkaji, Greater Kailash

The school is so unclean that even the water tanks were last cleaned over a year back.

Delhi government school in Kalkaji, Greater Kailash. Last time the tank was cleaned in July 2018)

School official sources who do not wish to be named say that they have written to Delhi government over four months back, but no action has been taken.

Delhi government school in Kalkaji, Greater Kailash

Dr Nandini Sharma, SDMC Education Committee Chairperson and Malviya Nagar councillor said that she has been receiving messages from concerned people about the shabby state the school is in. A lot of the students from the nearby labour camps go to study in the school. However, lack of urinal facilities and drinking water facilities make it difficult for them.

Speaking to OpIndia, Dr Sharma said, “Shocked to know that Delhi government secondary school at Kalkaji is not having drinking water and toilet facilities. The students studying in this school go without water through out the day. Girls have to urinate on the floor as there is no water in school from last three months.”

Adding that Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and also Education Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia is giving wrong picture about the government schools, she said, the school does not even have the basic facility of drinking water.”

Apparently, the grim situation in the school in Kalkaji is not new.


One Twitter user had informed AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj about water crisis in government school in Kalkaji way back in May 2017. For a government which takes pride in changing the landscape of Delhi government school, especially in terms of infrastructure, the true picture, however, is quite different.

We had earlier reported how the Delhi government is painting a rosy picture about government schools which are ridden with problems. Supporters of Aam Admi Party (AAP) including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are perpetually boasting that a revolution has taken place in the field of education in Delhi. They are never tired of saying that Delhi’s government schools have turned world class. However, a study of trends of board results over last few years shows 10th board exam results have actually shown a downward trend.

Jammu and Kashmir: Restrictions to be eased as schools and colleges to re-open from Monday, landline phones to be restored

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Jammu and Kashmir: Restrictions to be eased as schools and colleges to re-open from Monday, landline phones to be restored

As normalcy is returning back to Jammu and Kashmir, the administration in the state has now decided to relax certain restrictions which were placed previously pre-empting a security threat from Pakistan backed terrorists.

According to the reports, Jammu and Kashmir administration has asked the schools and colleges the state to open from Monday. Reports also suggest that the government is considering opening phone and internet connections in the state in a phased manner.

It has been reported that government secretariat and other offices will start functioning from Friday while easing of public curbs would depend on day’s development after the ‘namaaz’, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said on Thursday.

The officials had said that people have been allowed to move around Srinagar and other towns while adding that the number of security personnel deployed in the state continues to remain the same.

According to reports, the government is set to restore landline phones in Kashmir in a phased manner. The Jammu and Kashmir administration will also consider restoring mobile and internet connections. The Supreme Court today adjourned a petition filed by Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin seeking to lift information blockade. The CJI said he has read in newspapers that landlines will be restored in the state by evening, and the government should be given some time to bring the situation in the state to normalcy.

In Jammu and Kashmir, meanwhile, restrictions continued to be imposed for the 12th consecutive day today. The restrictions were imposed ahead of abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, and division of the state into two Union Territories on August 5. However, the authorities have lifted restrictions on the movement of people in summer capital Srinagar. Section 144 continues to remain imposed in the Valley. Several restrictions imposed in Jammu region have already been lifted by the administration.

Manipur CM Biren Singh raises concerns about Rohingyas in the state, urges residents to identify agents who felicitate their entry

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Manipur CM Biren Singh raises concerns about Rohingyas in the state, urges residents to identify agents who felicitate their entry

After six Rohingyas were apprehended by the Police in Manipur on Saturday, Chief Minister Biren Singh has raised concerns with the presence of Rohingyas in the state. He has asserted that efforts must be made to identify those who are felicitating their entry and providing them shelter in the state.

The six Rohingyas were caught with fake documents at the Imphal airport after they landed there from Delhi in an Indigo flight. The Manipur police had received an input that some illegal immigrants would be coming to Imphal by Indigo flight. Immediately, Foreigner Check Post (FCP) and a team of Imphal West district police were alerted which detained six suspected passengers at the airport. The six individuals were found to be carrying fake Aadhaar cards. Three of them had Manipur as their address on their Aadhaar cards, while the rest three had Hyderbad as their address. But none of them can speak Manipuri and only one of them could speak Hindi. Police also found an ATM card of a Myanmar bank with them.

Police investigation had revealed that the six Rohingyas were trained at a Madrasa in Delhi and had come to Manipur with the help of agents at the National Capital as well as in the state. DIG T Ngasangva had told reporters August 11 that the Rohingyas have already admitted that they are residents of Yangon and Mandalay in Myanmar. They have also informed that Indian agents had arranged fake Aadhaar card and other documents for them.

Addressing people on the occasion of Patriots’ Day on Tuesday, Singh said, “It indicates that many of them are taking shelter in the state and we have to find out the persons who are behind the illegal entry of Rohingya from different places.”

He also urged locals to trace Rohingyas and the agents who are transporting them to Manipur. He stated that the “already sinking” Manipuri population will disappear in the near future if residents do not take the initiative.

1...6,1756,1766,177...7,664Page 6,176 of 7,664