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NIA crackdown on Kashmiri separatists continues, wins custody of Masarat Alam Bhat, Shabir Shah and Asiya Andrabi in terror funding case

OpIndia Staff
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NIA crackdown on Kashmiri separatists continues, wins custody of Masarat Alam Bhat, Shabir Shah and Asiya Andrabi in terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a part of its crackdown on Kashmiri separatists that intensified in the aftermath of the ghastly Pulwama attack continues unabated. The investigative agency today took custody of Masarat Alam Bhat, the alleged kingpin of stone pelting and Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League, along with Shabir Shah and Asiya Andrabi. While Shah is the chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Andrabi heads the women’s secessionist group Dukhtaren-e-Millat. All the three have been taken in for questioning for their roles in terror funding.


Bhat was brought to Delhi on Monday night by NIA from a prison in Jammu and Kashmir where he was lodged under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Today, he was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Syal, who gave the agency his custody for 10 days.

Bhat was under detention for his role in triggering protests and serial stone pelting in the Kashmir Valley in 2010 for several months. During these peltings, 110 protesters were reported to be killed.

Besides Bhat, the court has also remanded Shah and Andrabi to NIA’s custody till June 14 in connection with a terror funding case that it registered in May 2017.

Earlier, the infamous JKLF chief Yasin Malik was arrested in the wake of the crackdown against anti-India and secessionist elements in the valley. He was remanded to NIA custody for 12 days in April 2019 and shifted to Tihar jail in Delhi.

In fact, as a part of the same investigation, the NIA had in March issued fresh summons to Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Naseem Geelani, the son of another separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to be present in New Delhi for questioning in connection with a terror funding case.

The NIA investigation attempts to identify other key players in the nexus of the terror funding, stone-pelting at the forces and vandalization of government institutes. The case also includes Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafeez Saeed as an accused. Besides, it also names Hurriyat leaders such as SAS Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Following the Pulwama attack in February, the government had withdrawn security cover of 18 separatists including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Naseem Geelani and 155 politicians and ‘activists’, calling it a ‘wastage of resources’.

Recently there were reports based on an NIA FIR that alleged Kashmiri separatists’ activities were being funded by money from Pakistan-based terror groups and ED was likely to attach the properties of these separatists.

NDA Government delivered 3.6 times more Metro projects in just 5 years, compared to UPA Govt

Dhairya Roy
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NDA Government delivered 3.6 times more Metro projects in just 5 years, compared to UPA Govt

With rapid urbanization, metropolitan cities are plagued with transportation issues. While cities are expanding its landscape, the population and traffic problems are indicating a shift towards public transport from private transport. The pressure is mounting on the public transport system from the people living in cities and towns across the country. Mass Rapid Transport System, MRTS has emerged as one of the most effective means of mobility for the citizens in tier-1 and tier-2 cities and Metro has been a major player.

Metro has been instrumental in reducing pollution levels, road accidents and travel time, while providing a substantially cheaper means of travel. The current government is aiming to build world class infrastructure across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and many more tier 1 and tier 2 cities.

 

Current Status of Metro projects

Currently, 585 km of Metro lines are operational in the country. Approximately another 60 km of metro lines are likely to be opened in soon, in the cities of Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Nagpur and Ghaziabad.

With a modest beginning with 8 km in 2002, modern metro rail has shown phenomenal growth in the country.

In the current financial year (2018-19), 140 km of metro lines have been opened for the public (till 10 February 2019).  Out of the 585 km of operational metro lines as on 10 February 2019, 326 km have been made operational after May 2014. That accounts for over 55% of metro projects that have been made operational within the last 5 years. Additional 622 km of Metro projects are underway. The under-construction projects itself account for more than 2.4 times the completed projects during UPA tenure. If all projects are considered, then they are more than 3.6 times.

Since May 2014, 258 km of metro lines have been sanctioned by the Govt. of India. Currently there is about 600 km of sanctioned metro lines under construction which will be operational in next five years. There are about 1000 km of metro line proposals under planning.

Government of India has taken various steps for standardization and growth of metro rail in India.  The Metro Rail Policy 2017 of Govt. of India enables rapid and sustainable growth of metro rail in the country.

The image above depicts the Metro lines in the city of Delhi. As evident from the image, there are over 227 metro stations across Delhi, connecting the entire city with a network of 343 km. The average peak frequency of 2-3 minutes, results in average count of 27,60,000 commuters daily.

 

Progress of Metro projects in India (as on 10.02.2019)

Operational:  585 km

  1. Delhi & NCR : 327 km
  2. Noida – Greater Noida : 29.7 km
  3. Bangalore : 42.3 km
  4. Hyderabad : 46 km
  5. Kolkata Metro : 27.3 km
  6. Chennai : 45 km
  7. Jaipur : 9.6 km
  8. Kochi : 18.2 km
  9. Lucknow : 8.5 km
  10. Mumbai Metro Line 1 : 11.4 km
  11. Rapid Metro Gurgaon : 12 km
  12. Mumbai Mono Rail Phase-1 : 9.00 km

Under Construction Metro/MRTS Projects : 622 km

  1. Delhi and NCR including extensions : 23 km
  2. Kolkata : 108 km
  3. Bangalore : 72 km
  4. Chennai  : 10 km
  5. Kochi : 7.5 km
  6. Jaipur : 2.5 km
  7. Mumbai : 171 km
  8. Hyderabad : 26 km
  9. Nagpur : 38 km
  10. Ahmadabad : 36 km
  11. Lucknow : 14 km
  12. Pune : 54 km
  13. Bhopal : 28 km
  14. Indore : 32 km

Status of Metrorail Projects in the last 5 years

Noida Metro

The Noida Metro is a rapid transit system connecting the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The Phase-1 has been successfully completed, while Phase-2 is planned.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Noida metro Rail Corporation Noida-Greater Noida Completed 25 Jan 2019 29.707 (elevated)

 

Namma (Bengaluru) Metro

Namma Metro, also known as Bengaluru Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bengaluru, India. It is the fourth longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro, Hyderabad Metro and Chennai Metro. It also contains the first underground metro line in South India.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Mysore Road -Magadi Road Completed 16 Nov 2015 6.4
Sampige Road- Yeshwantpur Completed 1 Mar 2014 5.1
Yeshwantpur-Peenya Completed 1 Mar 2014 4.8
Peenya Industry- Completed 1 May 2015 2.5
 Nagasandra
MG Road- Magadi Road Completed 30 Apr 2016 4.8
Sampige Road-National College Completed 18 Jun 2017 4.0
National College-Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road Completed 18 Jun 2017 4.1
Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road-Yelachenahalli Completed 18 Jun 2017 3.9
Mysore Road- Challegata near Kengeri WIP 2020

(expected)

 8.81
Baiyyappanahalli- Whitefield WIP Mar 2023

(expected)

 15.50
Yelachenahali-Anjanapura WIP 2020

(expected)

 6.29
Hessargatta Cross-BIEC WIP Mar 2023

(expected)

 3.77
R V Road-Bommasandra WIP Mar 2023

(expected)

 18.82
Gotigere-Nagawara-Bangalore Airport WIP Mar 2023

(expected)

 50.87
Silk Board-K R Puram WIP 2022 17

Hyderabad Metro

The Hyderabad Metro serves the city of Hyderabad, Telangana. It is the second longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro with 47 stations

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Hyderabad Metro Rail Corporation Nagole-Ameerpet Completed 29 Nov 2017 17.01
Ameerpet-Hitech City Completed 29 Nov 2017 10
Miyapur-L B Nagar Completed 29 Nov 2017 29.2
Hi Tech City-Raidurg WIP 1.47
JBS-MGBS WIP 9.68
MGBS-Falaknama WIP 5.36

 

Chennai Metro

The Chennai Metro serves the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The system commenced service in 2015

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Koyambedu-Alandur Completed 29 Jun 2015 10
Washermanper- Chennai International Airport Completed 10 Feb 2019 13.1
Central-St Thomas Mount Completed 25 May 2018 22

 

Jaipur Metro

Jaipur Metro is a rapid transit system in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Construction of route from Mansarovar to Chandpole Bazaar, started on 13 November 2010, and was completed in 2014

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Mansarovar-Chandpole Completed 3 Jun 2015 9.6
Chandpole- Badi Chaupar WIP 2.4
Sitapura -Ambapuri WIP 23.09

 

Kochi Metro

The Kochi Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. It was opened to the public within four years of starting construction, making it the fastest completed metro project in India until the Lucknow Metro overtook it

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd Alluva-Petta   Completed 17 Jun 2017
Petta-SN Junction WIP
JLN Stadium – Infopark WIP 11.2
Aluva-Angamaly WIP

 

Lucknow Metro

Lucknow Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Construction of the line begun on 27 September 2014 from Transport Nagar to Charbagh Railway Station which began its commercial operation on 5 September 2017, making it the fastest built metro rail system in the country

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation Transport Nagar- Charbagh Railway Station Completed 5 Sep 2017 8.5
International Airport – Transport Nagar Completed 8 Mar 2019 2.67
Charbagh Railway Station – Munshipulla Completed 8 Mar 2019 12.6
Charbagh Railway Station- Vasantkunj WIP 11.10

 

Mumbai Metro

The Mumbai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The system is designed to reduce traffic congestion in the city, and supplement the overcrowded. It is being built in three phases over a 15-year period, with overall completion expected in 2025.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar Completed 8-Jun-14 11.4
Dahisar–Mankhurd Under Construction 2022 42.1
Dahisar-DN Nagar Under Construction 2022 18.5
DN Nagar-Mankhurd Under Construction 2022 23.6
Colaba – Bandra – SEEPZ Under Construction Dec-21 33.5
Wadala–Ghatkopar-Mulund–Teen Hath Naka–Kasarvadavali Under Construction 2021 32.32
Kasarwadavali-Gaimukh Tendering 2.7
Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Approved 2022 24
Lokhandwala-Jogeshwari-Kanjurmarg Under Construction 2022 14.5
Dahisar (East)-Andheri (East) Under Construction 16.5
Andheri-CSIA Tendering 3.17
CSIA T2-NMIA Proposed 35
Dahisar (East)-Mira-Bhayander Tendering 10.41
Gaimukh-Shivaji Chowk (Mira Road) Approved 9
Wadala-CSMT Approved 11.4
Kalyan-Dombivali-Taloja Approved 25
Mira Bhayander-Virar Proposed
Kanjurmarg-Badlapur Proposed

 

Gujarat Metro

Ahmedabad Metro is a rapid transit system for the cities of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India. It is being built by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Gujrat Metro Rail Corporation North-South Corridor 18.87
East-West Corridor (Vatsal Gram to Apparel Park) Partially Completed 21.16 (6.5)

 

Pune Metro

Pune Metro is a metro rail based rapid transit system under construction to serve Pune Central and its proudly extended city limits Pimpri & Chinchwad.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Pune Metro Rail Corporation PMMC Bilding-Swargate WIP 16.59
Vanaz-Ramwadi WIP 14.66
Civil Court-Hinjawadi WIP 23.33

 

Nagpur Metro

Nagpur Metro is a rapid transit system for the city of Nagpur, India. In February 2014, the Government of Maharashtra gave approval for the Metro Project.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Sitabudi-Khapri Completed 7 Mar 2019 13.5
East-West Corridor WIP 19.407

 

Madhya Pradesh Metro

Indore metro and Bhopal metro are rapid transit systems for cities of Indore and Bhopal that started in 2013.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd Bhopal : (AIIMS-Karond Circle) WIP 14.99
Bhopal : (Ratnagiri Tiraha-Bhadbhada Square) WIP 12.882
Indore : (Benglai Square :Palasia-Bhaarsala-Gandhinagar-vijaynagar-Radisson-kharjana-Bemgali square) WIP 31.55

 

Gurugram Metro

Gurugram Rapid Metro is a metro system serving the city of Gurugram, Haryana, India. Gurugram Metro has a total length of 11.7 kilometres serving 11 stations.

Metro operator Route Status Completion date Length (km)
Gurgaon Rapid Metro Phase-1 Completed 31 Mar 2017
Sector 42-43 Completed 25 Apr 2017
Sector 53-54 Completed 25 Apr 2017
Sector 54 Chowk Completed 31 Mar 2017
Sector 55-56 Completed 31 Mar 2017

 

Conclusion

Many metro rail projects have been conceptualized and completed in the last five years.  Many projects which have been long delayed due to administrative and financial issues have been fast-tracked in the last five years.

New projects like Ahmedabad metro, Lucknow metro, etc has been conceptualized and made operational already. Many projects like Chennai metro, Hyderabad metro, Bangalore metro have been extended.

Even tier 2 cities have been given importance with projects in cities like Pune, Bhopal and Indore receiving sanction from the government.

Lucknow metro is considered to be the fastest completed metro project in India.

The current government under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi, has accelerated the pace of development and has initiated a rapid transformation of public transportation system. He has worked for the people and has been instrumental in raising the bar of development. The reforms and policies launched by this government have been with a view to not only initiate, but also complete projects. The NDA Government has delivered on its promises in the past 5 years. The full credit of this incredible transformation story of New India belongs to Narendra Modi. Under his able guidance and leadership, the nation will continue to rise, and deliver new rapid transportation systems to cities in India.

Opposition continues to crumble: Now National Conference severs ties with Congress

OpIndia Staff
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Opposition continues to crumble: Now National Conference severs ties with Congress

The recently concluded Lok Sabha election results have cost the opposition parties dearly.

Congress, which was the most affected party in these elections, was somehow reconciling from the meltdown it faced after being reduced to mere 52 seats in the 542 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. However, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) added insult to injury by announcing to sever ties with Congress.

This development comes after Congress accused National Conference for their defeat in Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections by alleging that Farooq and Omar Abdullah did not campaign for the party in Jammu.

As per reports, Abdullah on Tuesday announced that his party will contest the next assembly elections alone, stating his party was confident of achieving a massive mandate on its own. “We won’t have an alliance with any party,” he said in an address to his party workers this afternoon. He further added that a stable, strong and people friendly government is the answer to problems facing Jammu and Kashmir.

Ravinder Sharma, Congress chief spokesperson in Jammu and Kashmir, while speaking to India today lashed out at NC. He said its leaders didn’t campaign for the Congress candidates. The NC, however, brushed off these allegations and hitting back at Congress, their leader Anil Dhar stated that Rahul Gandhi-led party is itself responsible for their Lok Sabha rout.

Warning the Congress against blaming the NC for its poll debacle, Dhar blamed the Congress high command and their state leaders for their debacle.

The Congress and other parties suffered a crushing defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In first back-to-back majority in the Lok Sabha polls for a single party in over three decades, the Modi-led BJP won 303 seats out of 542, reducing Congress to an embarrassing number of 52 seats.

Congress had fielded 421 candidates across the country but only 52 of them got elected from 18 states and union territories. The party won the maximum number of 15 seats in Kerala followed by eight in Punjab and Tamil Nadu each. In 17 states and union territories, it could not even open its account. Meanwhile, the SP-BSP alliance despite its tall claims had barely secured 15 seats out of the 80 in Uttar Pradesh during these elections.

Interestingly, in Uttar Pradesh Congress fielded 67 candidates. However, 63 of these lost their security deposits causing major embarrassment to the party in the state.

On similar lines, the SP-BSP Mahagathbandhan alliance today hinted of a possible break up. Earlier, BSP supremo Mayawati held Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav responsible for SP-BSP Mahagathbandhan’s disastrous performance in the Lok Sabha 2019 polls. She suggested that her party would contest the assembly by-polls solo. Yadav too has admitted the possibility of going into the by-polls alone if the coalition stands broken.

Srinagar: Two burqa clad women attack shopkeeper with chemical spray, loot jewellery

OpIndia Staff
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Srinagar: Two burqa clad women attack shopkeeper with chemical spray, loot jewellery

In a shocking incident, two Burqa-clad women used chemical spray to attack the shop owner and loot the jewellery in Srinagar. According to the reports, the video captured by the CCTV of the shop confirms that two women covering themselves with Burqa, pretending to be customers, entered Marhaba Jewellers.


However, as soon as the shopkeeper turned to the other side, one of the two ladies stood near the entrance while the other attacked the shopkeeper from with a chemical spray. As he fell to the ground, they were left with enough time to loot the shop.

Following the attack, the shopkeeper addressed the media and said, “When I turned towards the safety locker, one of the women attacked me from the back with a wet chemical cloth, which made me unconscious. I was shocked and fell on the ground as I was unable to understand the situation.”

He added that he did not realize he was conned until he regained his consciousness in the hospital. He divulged further and said the thieves took away a small box, which contained less expensive items. He is, however, yet to ascertain the amount of loss he has incurred following the incident.

We had reported earlier about how terrorists were using burqas to execute terror activities Kashmir. Veiled terror is indeed a threat and worry!

Read here: The list of discrepancies in Robert Vadra’s answers to the questions asked by ED

OpIndia Staff
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Read here: The list of discrepancies in Robert Vadra’s answers to the questions asked by ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has resumed questioning Robert Vadra in a Money Laundering case filed against him. Earlier in February and March this year, Vadra had appeared for several rounds of questioning by ED. Not satisfied with his replies, ED has also been seeking custodial interrogation of Robert Vadra, but courts have not allowed the same far, and his bail is getting extended regularly.

ED has found several discrepancies in the responses of Vadra, as his replies do not match with the replies given by his associates who are also being questioned in the case. The list of such questions and replies to the questions given by Vadra and his associates show that they are contradicting each other. ED also have compiled a list queries, which Vadra has either denied or said he does not remember them. OpIndia has accessed the list of such questions and their responses from reliable sources, which are given below.

 

Q1. Whether Robert Vadra knows Pooja Chadha?

On February 7th Robert Vadra said he cannot categorically state.

On March 8th he said does not know Pooja Chadha.

 

Q2. Whether Robert Vadra knows Summit Chadha?

Ans: On February 7th, Vadra told ED that he has not met Summit Chadha.

But on 14th January 2019, an associate of Vadra told ED that Robert Vadra knows Summit Chadha through Sanjay Bhandari.

 

Q3. How Robert Vadra knows CC Thampi?

Ans: On February sixth, 2019 Robert Vadra told ED that he met CC Thampi onboard an Emirates flight.

On April 6th 2017, CC Thampi has stated that he met Robert Vadra through Madhavan, PA of Sonia Gandhi.

 

Q4. Whether Robert Vadra has knowledge about Bryanston Square in London.

On February 7, Vadra said that he never stayed at that address.

But on 6th April 2017, CC Thampi has said that Robert Vadra had stayed at 12, Bryanston Square.

 

Q5. Emails to Robert Vadra from Summit Chadha and Pooja Chadha.

Ans: On sixth February Vadra, had agreed that [email protected] is his email id.

However next day ie on February seventh he denied that the concerned emails were written to him.

On January 16th, his associate Manoj Arrora stated that emails appears to have been sent by Summit Chadha on the email id of Robert Vadra and Robert Vadra can explain the contents of email as these are addressed to him.

 

Q6. Whether Robert Vadra knows Vipul Beriwala and Sanjeev Varma (London based businessmen).

Ans: On February 7th he said he does not know Vipul Beriwala.

On January 14th and 31st January Manoj Arora has stated he does not know Vipul Beriwala. However, if he has sought appointment with Robert Vadra, his number must be in his mobile phone contacts. His mobile has contact of Vipul Beriwala.

 

Q7. Whether Robert Vadra knows Sanveev Verma.

On 8th Marth Robert Vadra said he does not know Sanjeev Varma.

But Manoj Arora has stated if he has sought appointment with Robert Vadra, his number must be in his mobile phone contacts. His mobile has contact of Verma.

 

Q8: Whether RV stands for Robert Vadra in emails.

Ans: On February 7th Vadra said that he is not known as RV and people don’t refer to him as RV.

On 31st January Manoj Arora has stated MRV in his mobile phone contacts refers to Mr Robert Vadra.

 

Q9. Whether Robert Vadra knows Jagdish Sharma?

Ans: On 6th February 2019, Vadra told ED that Jagdish Sharma hovers around him, follows him and tries to associate with him and has never worked for him.

On 8th December 2018, Jagdish Sharma stated that he is close to Gandhi family but he is closest to Robert Vadra. He said that he does political profiling of Robert Vadra and also advices him on matters.

 

Q10. Whether Robert Vadra is known as sahab?

Ans: On February 7th, Vadra told that his subordinates refer him to as “boss”. But on 8th March he had said he is not referred to as “Robert Sahab”.

On 10th December 2018, Jagdish Sharma has stated that Sahab in his statements refers to Robert Vadra.

On 8th December 2018, Anuj Nautiyal in his statement had stated that Jagdish Sharma has told him that his “boss” had invested in foreign properties in question. Also, Jagdish had referred to Robert Vadra as his “boss”.

On 16th January 2019, Manoj Arora stated that Robert Vadra is also addressed as Robert sahab and RV.

[googleapps domain=”drive” dir=”file/d/11y-5SblythQgBQ-1PhB0KEIJL7wBNamK/preview” query=”” width=”640″ height=”480″ /]

Apart from these, Rober Vadra was either evasive or didn’t answer several questions posed by ED. Robert Vadra denied having assets outside India, knowing or meeting Sumit Chadha, Vipul Beriwala, stay at Bryanston Square, ownership of London properties. He also denied the email exchanges with Sumit Chadha, Puja Chadha, Sanjay Bhandari and Bishal Bajpai. Robert Vadra denied knowing Sanjay Dhir and Sajeev Verma, and also the ownership of Columbyne Management Ltd.

On the other hand, he said that he can’t recollect meeting Sanjay Bhandari and Sumit Chadha, and he was not sure about email interaction with Sumit and travel with Sanjay Bhandari to France. He also said that he does not remember the emails between Vishal Bajpai and Sanjay Bhandari regarding expenses incurred for Robert Vadra in London.

List of 10 most wanted terrorists in the Kashmir valley released by security forces

OpIndia Staff
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List of 10 most wanted terrorists in the Kashmir valley released by security forces

A list of 10 most wanted terrorists has been released by the security agencies in the Kashmir valley. The list has been prepared as part of the effort of the security forces to establish peace in the region by neutralising terror activities.

Riyaz Naiku alias Mohammad Bin Qasim who has been marked as an A++ category terrorist is in the top spot in the list followed by Wasim Ahmed alias Osama, the District Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba.


The other most wanted terrorists in the list are Mohammad Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Maulvi (Hizbul Mujahideen), Mehrazuddin (District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Baramulla), Dr. Saifullah alias Saifullah Mir alias Dr. Saif, Ashraf ul Haq (District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Pulwama, belongs to A++ category), Hafiz Omar (Operational Commander of JeM), Zaheed Sheikh alias Omar Afghani (JeM), Javed Mattoo alias Faisal alias Shakib alias Musab (Divisional Commander of Al Badar in North Kashmir) and Ezaz Ahmad Malik (District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kupwara).

According to General Officer-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, 86 terrorists have been neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir this year. “During this year, we have been to neutralise 86 terrorists so far. Twenty terrorists were also apprehended. Our operations against terrorists will continue. A number of ultras have been brought back to the mainstream with the help of the parents, teachers and senior citizens” said Lt Gen Singh.

Recently, wanted terrorist Zakir Musa was killed by the security forces in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir during an encounter.

Union home minister Amit Shah had conducted a high-level meeting today discussing the various issues regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

The ‘liberals’ are not introspecting, just angry and upset that their propaganda is failing

Rahul Roushan
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The ‘liberals’ are not introspecting, just angry and upset that their propaganda is failing

I try my best to always put the word “liberal” within inverted commas while referring to a set of people who shout the most about being liberal and who can’t stop worrying how liberal values are under threat in a new India led by Narendra Modi. Such folks want to save India from Modi, and thus they are always in a saviour mode.

In order to be a saviour or a superhero, you need a villain from whom you’ll save the city or the humanity. If you notice, in most superhero movies, the villain is on the prowl all the time. Most of the scenes in such movies would show death and destruction caused by the villain, and then in the climax scenes, the superhero will defeat the villain.

But in our ‘liberal’ fantasy land, it is the superheroes who are on prowl all the time, churning out op-eds after op-eds round the clock causing massive destruction (in their own view) in the enemy camp, but in the climax scene (when votes are counted), the villain Narendra Modi comes and defeats them.

This has happened twice now on the national level, and earlier thrice in Gujarat.

Of late, it appears that the ‘liberals’ have realised that maybe they are wrong. As they say – “one is chance, twice is coincidence, and thrice is a pattern” – so have the self-declared liberals discovered the pattern? Have they accepted that maybe the only villains from which they need to save someone – and that someone is they themselves – is their own warped worldview?

After hearing and reading some recent statements from likes of Shekhar Gupta, Yogendra Yadav, or Karan Thapar, one might be tempted to believe that there is some semblance of introspection being indulged in, but when seen in wider context one realises that there is no introspection at all.

None of them are really saying that their beliefs were based on some wrong or outdated principles that need to be discarded. If you read or hear their full statements, you find that they are still supremely confident that their ideas about how people should live their lives are the ideal ones. The only thing they are lamenting is that they couldn’t convince the common voters that they were the saviours while Modi was the villain. They are indulging in some self-pity, and then immediately proceed to feel pity for the citizens who got a Prime Minister they think doesn’t deserve to be there.

Ingrained in this lament is a belief that they know better than the common voters. Ingrained in this pity is a contempt for the common voter who is seen incapable of having the same sagacious sense like them. They are busy psychoanalysing the voter, that how the hell the ‘idiot’ was not convinced by all their grand talk and instead chose to believe a scheming Modi.

Introspection is when you psychoanalyse yourself. When you psychoanalyse others, you are not introspecting, you are judging.

If you read between the lines, you will find that all such articles or talks that appear like introspection are essentially a lament by the respective folks that their ilk failed at propaganda. That they failed to understand an average voter’s point of view and thus failed to come up with rightly targeted messaging to make them see the ‘truth’. And of course, their ilk is the only one to know what is the ultimate truth.

None of them have really accepted that what they have been believing and professing could be untrue or invalid. That while they shout “lynchistan” and paint every Muslim living in fear, on ground the situation could be just the opposite with pockets of Hindus living in genuine fear as Muslims go on rampage in the neighbourhood. That when they believe that a ‘real’ Dalit can only be someone who is anti-Brahmin, they are being stuck at a JNU dhaba and are unwilling to see the Paswan and Pandey from Bihar, working as security guards at a housing society in Mumbai, striking a common chord. That when they link every ill of the society to some Hindu festival or Manusmriti while giving ‘context’ to Muslim practices and controversial verses of Quran, they appear hypocritical bunch of spineless schmucks.

Nope. Virtually no one has admitted that they were wrong in their beliefs. So where is the introspection and course correction really? None. There is just a conclusion that they need to preach more effectively. It’s more like a bunch of colonisers discussing why they failed at the “civilising mission”. That is neither introspective nor liberal.

You are not a liberal if you have a set of dogmas to stick with and are unwilling to change your stance or beliefs in wake of changing surroundings. The RSS, which they try to project as antithesis of everything liberal, is actually more liberal than these folks. Sangh has often shown willingness to change their views and beliefs; from giving up the hardened stand on swadeshi to changing their stand on homosexuality, the ‘fascists’ have been more liberal than the ‘liberals’.

And which is why the inverted comma on the word “liberal” still deserves a mandatory place.

Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint distorts history: Claims Mughals introduced grapes to India, social media schools the author

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint distorts history: Claims Mughals introduced grapes to India, social media schools the author

The Indian ‘liberal-secular’ historian circuit, which has a great love for Muslim invaders and their alternate history never ceases to amaze readers. The ‘secular’ intellectuals have time and again resorted to false narratives and facts to put Mughal invaders on a high pedestal.

In a similar attempt to glorify the Mughals, ThePrint, run by Editor’s Guild Chief Shekhar Gupta has indulged in writing fictions and fantasies to glorify the Mughals despite the fact that Muslim invaders had nothing to do with that accomplishment.

An article written by Salma Yusuf Hussain, who proclaims to be a food historian, has gone a great length to charm the readers by displaying her intellect regarding the culinary culture of the Mughal era. But, in her attempt to display her intellect, the author has resorted to extreme fawning towards the Mughals, by being flexible with the facts.

In her piece, Salma Hussain writes that it were the Mughals who gave India a variety of fruits like cherries, apricots, grapes and melons. Salma in her attempt to eulogise Mughals for introducing exotic food culture in India not only peddles distorted facts but also discredits the true Indian past which had a role in introducing food system and varieties in the country.

Contrary to Salma’s claims, the grapes were not introduced by the Mughals in India rather it was known to the country predating the Mughals. Twitter user Hamsanandi has also provided the excerpts of an old Kannada scripture titled “Lokopakara”, a Kannada work written in 1025 CE during the times of Western Chalukyas of Kalyani. The book ‘Lokopakara’, which means “for the benefit of common people”, is a handbook of everyday life for commoners and describes various topics such as astrology, portents, vastu (architecture), water-divining, vrikshayurveda (the science of plant life), perfumery, cookery, veterinary medicine, etc.

In this book, there is a reference in Old Kannada language, a precursor to the modern Kannada literature, which suggests that fruits like grapes and palms were indeed used as ingredients implying that the introduction of grapes in the country is much more earlier than claimed by the author.


It is not very surprising to see that some sections of secular liberals and self-proclaimed historians fantasising the Muslim invaders like Mughals. The Mughal Fixation Syndrome pushed by the liberals of this country to credit every bit of accomplishment to the invaders who destroyed the long-held culture and traditions of this country is nauseating.

Porn clip plays in the midst of Food and Civil Supply department meeting in Rajasthan, leaves everyone embarrassed

OpIndia Staff
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Porn clip plays in the midst of Food and Civil Supply department meeting in Rajasthan, leaves everyone embarrassed

The officials of the Food and Civil Supply Department in Rajasthan were left red-faced after a porn clip suddenly played while the meeting was underway in the NIC room of the secretariat in Jaipur on Monday.

The meeting was being held through video conference and was presided over by departmental secretary Mugdha Sinha to review various schemes and programs. While district supply officers of 33 districts were participating in the meeting, an obscene clip suddenly started playing on the screen leaving everyone embarrassed. The clip played for about 2 minutes until the technical team managed to stop it. Around 10 people including department officials and NIC representatives were present in the room.

Sinha however, immediately called the NIC Director and ordered an investigation. “In the middle of the video conference, an obscene clip started playing on the screen. I immediately called the NIC Director and asked him to probe the matter and give a report on this,” Sinha updated the media.

She further added that decision regarding the action to be taken against the guilty personnel will be taken on the basis of the report submitted.

Rajasthan is in news for various reasons these days including. We had done a report earlier where MLA and former Director General of Police (DGP), Harish Meena, launched an indefinite hunger strike against his own government in the state.

Did you know why India is playing its first game so late?

OpIndia Staff
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Did you know why India is playing its first game so late?

On Wednesday, June 5, India will play their first match of World Cup 2019. On the other hand, South Africa will be playing their third match of the World Cup on the same day. For Indian fans, such kind of schedule is beyond logic, but both ICC and BCCI have their reasoning behind it.

The most marketable team in the cricket arena is playing a match after six days from the day tournament started. Well, this is due to a technical issue that ICC kept in mind before releasing the World Cup schedule.

As per the Lodha committee (appointed by the Supreme Court of India, to analyze and recommend actions for improving the BCCI after the IPL betting scandal came into the picture), India has to maintain a 15-day gap between IPL final and international match.

The IPL final, in general, is mostly played around 18th or 19th May every year, so a 15-day gap means India can’t play a match before June 4.

“The 2019 IPL will be played between March 29 and May 19. But we need to maintain a 15-day gap, and World Cup starts on May 30. Therefore as per the 15-day gap, we could have only played on June 5. Earlier, we were scheduled to start on June 2, but we couldn’t have played on that day,” a senior BCCI official said.

Interestingly, the IPL Final of 2019 was held on May 12, but the World Cup schedule was released way back in 2018.

“South Africa are our first opponents. The CEC agreed, and the matter has been referred to the ICC board,” the BCCI official added.

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