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‘Why don’t we invoke the UN?’ Shehla Rashid takes EVM row to a new level as exit polls predict Modi’s victory

OpIndia Staff
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‘Why don’t we invoke the UN?’ Shehla Rashid takes EVM row to a new level as exit polls predict Modi’s victory

In a bizarre rant by the JNU freelance protestor-turned-full-time politician Shehla Rashid who jumped into the election fray by forming a political party with a former IAS officer Shah Faesal, today posted a series of tweets on the EVM row and suggested to invoke the United Nations and other International bodies to resolve the purported EVM fraud.


Shehla asserted that the opposition has a lack of clarity and consistency in their allegations of EVM fraud. “If we are alleging EVM fraud, we should boycott the elections till EVMs are abolished. If we are agitated about the movements of EVMs around the strongroom, we should demand repolling,” she tweeted.

Shehla also insisted that MCC violations, EVM fraud and rigging are three separate issues shouldn’t be conflated as each of the above issues calls for a different measure of action. Shehla has accused the opposition of having a flippant attitude towards the allegations made which eventually may harm their cause.


Citing that the country’s institutions are at stake, Shehla called upon the opposition leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to have a joint meeting and take a firm decision on the EVM fraud. She contended that the opposition’s protest against the EVM fraud cannot be based on the outcome alone.

“EVM rigging can’t be a part of the election rhetorics. This is not just an elections issue, it is an existential issue that is threatening the health of our democracy. If we believe our own words, all the opposition leaders should unite and fight this out,” Shehla tweeted.

Shehla also slammed the opposition party on being duplicitous on their stance vis-a-vis EVM fraud. She contended that the parties aren’t serious about the allegations as they haven’t called in internal meetings and briefed their party members about the issues, to arrive at one position regarding EVMs. Perhaps, for the first time, Shehla also censured the EVM-hacking conference in London, which was attended by Congress leader Kapil Sibal, calling it a sham that sabotages the genuine concerns regarding EVMs.

After the Exit Polls numbers predicted a landslide victory for the BJP, many opposition parties have resorted to blaming EVM manipulations, rigging and fraud to deflect the humiliation of a defeat and evade accountability of the loss. Despite Election Commission’s repeated assurances that the EVMs are hack-proof, many political leaders have continued raising doubts on their functioning.

There will be tit for tat: Ram Vilas Paswan on Upendra Kushwaha’s call for violence over EVMs

OpIndia Staff
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There will be tit for tat: Ram Vilas Paswan on Upendra Kushwaha’s call for violence over EVMs

Responding to the remarks made by Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RSLP) leader Upendra Kushwaha calling for violence over EVM tampering allegations, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Ram Vilas Paswan said that there will be ‘tit for tat’.

Paswan made the statement during a media interaction session held after the dinner meeting of NDA leaders hosted by BJP National President Amit Shah in New Delhi. Taking a jibe at the statement made by Kushwaha yesterday, he said, “Neither the PM has done anything nor there was anything about it on the proposal. Even Rajnath Singh may not do anything about it. But there will be tit for tat”, Paswan said, hinting that if the opposition’s attempts to incite violence over election results, they will be met with an adequate response.

On the issue of EVM Paswan said that the opposition raises doubt over EVMs when they are aware that they will be losing the election. “When they see their defeat is imminent, they raise doubts about EVMs, but when they won in three States, then they did not say anything on EVMs. Why did they not raise doubts after they won in Punjab?”, said Paswan.

Sounding confident about NDA’s victory, Pawan said that sweets and garlands are ready and that the NDA will win more seats than predicted in the exit polls. “We will win more seats than predicted by exit polls. Sweets are garlands are ready”, he said.

Upendra Kushwaha while addressing a press conference in Patna yesterday had accused the central government of tampering with EVMs and had urged the Mahagathbandhan allies and the people of Bihar not to hesitate from picking up arms if it was needed to ‘protect their votes’.

Now, even Rajdeep Sardesai abandons opposition parties’ EVM clown car

OpIndia Staff
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Now, even Rajdeep Sardesai abandons opposition parties’ EVM clown car

Following the exit poll results, controversial journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, departing from his usual characteristics, criticised the opposition parties for raising the false bogey of ‘EVM malfunctioning and theft’ in an apparent bid to hide their failure. Rajdeep said that the complaint raised by the opposition leaders about EVMs are wrong.


While talking to a journalist on Dilli Tak channel, Rajdeep Sardesai asserted that the complaints regarding the EVMs raised by the opposition leaders are mere allegations that need to be proved. Defending the Election Commission, Rajdeep said that the organisation had already come out clean saying that those EVMs which have been caught in many places across the country were the reserved EVMs which were never used in the Elections.

Rajdeep also slammed the opposition leaders saying, “The opposition leaders should be careful in undermining an organisation just to further their politics. In Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, they won the elections and the BJP lost it, they didn’t complain about the faulty EVMs.”

However, Rajdeep also added that the Election Commission should be more transparent in their conduct and have at least 50 per cent counting of VVPATs against the Supreme Court verdict which rubbished the request of having 100 per cent VVPATs counted.

It is notable here that Rajdeep’s statement comes when several journalists have been trying to peddle lies and false narratives regarding EVMs, helping political parties further their agenda.

In another video, Rajdeep Sardesai can be seen lauding PM Modi for transforming h Varanasi and the overhaul of the Ghats and cityscape brought about after PM Modi’s election from the Varanasi constituency.


“You have to acknowledge that after PM Modi’s election, Varanasi has turned into a VVIP constituency. Roads leading to airports have become broader, there’s a complete makeover of the Ghats, they are cleaner now. There’s a Cancer Hospital built there, uninterrupted electricity has come to the city. Cleanliness campaign ran by him has struck chords with the people.”

The change in his tune comes amidst severe flak that Rajdeep has been facing from his own colleagues and people for his biased reporting. Recently, Rajdeep was left red-faced when a man asked him what had previous governments did for Kashi.

Even his colleagues, Anjana Om Kashyap and Shweta Singh took sly digs at him recently after he allegedly suggested some of his colleagues are ‘pliant’ journalists to the government. Rajdeep had also reportedly attempted to discredit India Today- exit polls that predicted an overwhelming majority to NDA government.

Remembering India’s ill-fated 1999 campaign, last time World Cup was held in England

Sandeep Singh
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Remembering India’s ill-fated 1999 campaign, last time World Cup was held in England

It has been 20 years since the Cricket World Cup was last held in England, and it was a tournament most Indians would like to forget.

India came into the world cup in indifferent form, having lost to arch-rivals Pakistan in finals of triangular tournaments in India and in Sharjah. The team still boasted of some great names in Tendulkar, Ganguly, Azharuddin, Dravid, Kumble, Srinath, and the ODI specialists Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh. However, it was a sorry tale during the tournament as they exited after Super 6 stage with 2 points to their name.

The tournament started on a losing note against South Africa, a game where India frittered away the advantage they once had when batting first. After 40 overs, India sat pretty on 190/1 but even with wickets in hand and 2 set batsmen in, the last 10 overs only produced 63 runs and India ended up at 253/5. In response, South Africa lost their openers early but a promoted Boucher changed the momentum of the game with a quickfire cameo, and then Jacques Kallis anchored the innings with a fine 96, setting up an easy victory.

After the game, Sachin Tendulkar unfortunately lost his father, and had to return to Mumbai. In his absence, India produced their worst game of the tournament, losing to Zimbabwe by 3 runs.

Bowling first after winning the toss, India produced a terrible bowling performance contributing 51 extras to Zimbabwe’s eventual total of 252. There were wides and no balls all over the place and an average fielding performance to back it up. In the chase, India lost their 3 star players, Ganguly, Dravid and Azhar quickly, but a 99 runs partnership between S Ramesh and Jadeja looked to have put India back on the track. Then, Ramesh tried to clear mid-on, and gave a catch to Goodwin off Grant Flower bowling. A late cameo from Robin Singh kept India in control but with 9 needed off 12 balls, Olonga bowled THAT over. Robin Singh, Srinath and Prasad all fell in that over, as India ended up short by 3 runs, a loss that proved to be decisive in their exit from the World Cup later on.

Sachin Tendulkar returned ahead of the next game against Kenya and produced a masterful 100 in a very emotional innings as India brushed Kenya aside for an easy win. Batting first, India put on 329/2 thanks to centuries from Tendulkar and Dravid, and then restricted Kenya to 235/7 with Mohanty picking 4 wickets.

In the next group game against Sri Lanka, India produced their best performance of the 1999 World Cup. Batting first in Taunton, India rode on a 318 run 2nd wicket partnership between Ganguly and Dravid to put 373 on the board. Ganguly went on to equal the highest score by an Indian batsman in the World Cup before being dismissed for 183. In response, Sri Lanka were never in the game and were dismissed for 216 with Robin Singh picking 5 wickets.

In their final must win group game, India faced England in a game that was played over 2 days due to rain. Batting first, India scored 232 with all the batsmen getting starts but none carrying through for a big score. England in response were 74/3 when rain interrupted and took the game to a reserve day. Indian seamers, aided by conditions and a couple of dodgy Umpiring calls, made short work of England on the 2nd day, bowling them out for 169 pushing them through to the Super Six stage. However, India entered the Super Six without any points as they had lost their games to the other 2 qualified sides from the group, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

In the Super Six stage, India needed to win every game to qualify for the semi-final, similar situation to their first opponent, Australia. A resurgent Australia was too strong for India as they put on 282 on the board while batting first, once again aided by plenty of extras from the Indian bowlers, 35 in this case. Indian chase was over in the first 7 overs itself as McGrath and Fleming ran through the top order to leave India at 17/4. A 141 runs partnership between Jadeja and Robin Singh delayed the inevitable but it was too big a task after the top order collapse as India folded for 205 effectively knocking them out of the tournament.

Even though India was out of the tournament, the next match carried great significance for the team. With Kargil conflict already underway back home, the game against Pakistan carried a little more edge than usual. Batting first, India scored 227/6 with half centuries from Dravid and Azhar, and useful contribution from Tendulkar as well. Pakistan’s innings in response never really got going as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Inzamam and Moin threatened a bit of a fightback but it wasn’t enough as Pakistan was bowled out for 180, with Venkatesh Prasad picking 5 wickets.

With nothing to play for, India faced New Zealand in their last game with New Zealand needing the win to get through to the semi-final. Batting first, India ended up with 251/6 with Jadeja once again among runs with a half century. It turned out to be an easy chase for New Zealand though with Roger Twose and Matt Horne setting up the chase before Adam Parore applied the finishing touches.

Apart from the Ganguly-Dravid partnership against Sri Lanka and the win over arch-rival Pakistan, there was little joy in this tournament for India as they returned home before the knockout stages. India will be hoping to do a whole lot better this time around in the same country.

Indian Squad in 1999: Mohammad Azharuddin (C), Sourav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, S Ramesh, Rahul Dravid, Robin Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Nayan Mongia (wicket keeper), Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Nikhil Chopra, Debasis Mohanty, Javagal Srinath, Amay Khurasiya.

HDFC Bank promises ‘appropriate action’ against employee for exercising his constitutional right, people threaten boycott

OpIndia Staff
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HDFC Bank promises ‘appropriate action’ against employee for exercising his constitutional right, people threaten boycott

A journalist employed by the AFP news agency, Uzair Hasan Rizvi, has implored HDFC Bank to act against one of its employees for views he calls ‘Islamophobic’ and ‘Xenophobic’. He has also tagged Mumbai Police suggesting that the person he is accusing of bigotry is in need of counselling.


In the concerned post, a data scientist had suggested that in light of the partition since Hindus were not given an opportunity to express their opinion on the matter of India becoming a secular country and giving citizenship to Muslims, there ought to be a Brexit-style referendum where Hindus can register their opinion. According to him, “a bunch of elitists” forced their personal idea of India upon the Hindus of the country.

In response to Rizvi’s tweet, HDFC has stated that it has taken cognizance of the matter and will take appropriate action against the individual concerned.


HDFC’s tweet has sparked outrage among people on social media who claim that the employee was merely expressing his constitutional right of freedom of expression. People further stated that he was not threatening violence or forcing his opinion down anyone’s throat.


People have also threatened to boycott HDFC if any adverse action is taken against the employee for his opinions.


It is also notable here that the journalist who accused the concerned HDFC employee with Islamophobia has his own history of Hinduphobia. In 2017, he had shared a tweet branding the Hindu custom of ‘Ayudh Puja’ during the Vijaya Dashami celebrations in Bengal as ‘Saffron camp learning from Godse’.

The attempt to have employees sacked for expressing their opinions and branding any general observation as ‘Islamophobia’ is not new. Last year, a celebrated Indian chef Atul Kochhar was hounded by such so-called ‘secular liberals’ after he tried to highlight that Hindus have suffered under Muslim invaders in India, a plain historical fact.

Recently, a doctor in the UK was accused of Islamophobia and is on the verge of losing his job after his simple act of asking a woman to lift her veil so he could hear her talk regarding her daughter’s illness was termed as ‘discrimination’.

The series of events will also bring into focus the debate on whether private companies ought to regulate the freedom of expression of its employees beyond the regulations imposed by the Constitution of India.

Breaking: Attempted break-in carried out at IAF Rafale project management team in Paris suburb

OpIndia Staff
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Breaking: Attempted break-in carried out at IAF Rafale project management team in Paris suburb

As per reports, a break-in attempt was made in the Indian Air Force’s Rafale Project Management Team in a Paris suburb on Sunday night.


As per reports, an Indian team headed by a Group Captain rank officer is in France to oversee the 36 Rafale aircraft production as well as training of Indian personnel there. The Defence Ministry has been briefed about the incident by the Indian Air Force.

Businessman’s ex-driver kidnaps his son, a class one student for ransom, shoots himself after retaliation by UP Police

OpIndia Staff
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Businessman’s ex-driver kidnaps his son, a class one student for ransom, shoots himself after retaliation by UP Police

In an unexpected turn of events, an ex-driver of Abhishek Singh, a businessman in Prayagraj, who kidnapped the contractor’s son for a ransom of Rs 3 crore shot himself when countered by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

The incident occurred when the Uttar Pradesh police corned the kidnapper, Sanjay Yadav, in Suriyawan area in Bhadohi district, Prayagraj, after putting his mobile phone on surveillance. The UP police tracked the kidnapper’s location and reached the spot where the kidnapper fled with the child in a red car. Realising that he has been cornered the abductor open fired at the police. This invited retaliation from the police force. Intimidated by the retaliation the accused shot himself.

The police rushed him to the nearest hospital where he was declared dead. The child, Ranvir Singh, was rescued safely and handed over to his family. Ranvir Singh is a student of class one studying in St. Joseph’s College.

The ex-driver, Sanjay Yadav, resident of Katak Jhansi kidnapped Ranvir, around 6 pm from the gymnastics hall of Boys High School and College located in the Civil Lines area of Prayagraj where the child went for extra classes.

Ranvir’s father, Abhishek Singh had dismissed Sanjay Yadav from his job a few months ago. Yadav reached the gymnastics hall of Boys High School and College and told Ranvir’s instructor that it was Ranvir’s birthday next week and he needs to take him for shopping.

Since the teacher recognised Yadav he did not smell anything fishy and he let the child go.

Yadav took Ranvir away and later called Abhishek Singh to inform that his son has been kidnapped and would be released for a ransom of Rs 3 crores.

Abhishek immediately informed the UP Police who were quick to respond. Several officers including SP city Brajesh Shrivastav reached Singh’s house. In an exemplary display of alertness, the Uttar Pradesh police put the abductors’ phone on surveillance and successfully traced the kidnapper’s location and rescued the child.

In another unique encounter by the Uttar Pradesh police, the personnel had shouted ‘thain thain’ as an attempt to echo the sound of a gunshot to intimidate criminals during an encounter in Sambhal after his revolver got jammed. However, it was later reported that in the same encounter a criminal was arrested after being shot at in the leg.

AAP’s Sanjay Singh wants Arnab Goswami to either go to a mental asylum, be jailed or drowned

Nirwa Mehta
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AAP’s Sanjay Singh wants Arnab Goswami to either go to a mental asylum, be jailed or drowned

One of the biggest takeaways of 2019 Lok Sabha elections is that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have lowered the bar of decency in the political discourse to such an extent that only another AAP leader can only lower it further. With 2019 Lok Sabha election results less than 24 hours away, seems like AAP leaders are the biggest casualties in losing their senses.

From AAP chief floating conspiracy theory that PM Modi wants him assassinated to their social media teammate sharing dubious links of shady websites to allege ‘switchover’ of EVMs, AAP has set such standards that nothing seems outlandish anymore.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP and senior leader Sanjay Singh today took to Twitter to share a video clip of Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami where Arnab is mocking how the Opposition parties are riding on the ‘EVMs are hacked’ bogey.


In it, Arnab mocks AAP leaders as well and says how AAP may not even get 100 seats in Delhi.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh then responded to the tweet by saying that Arnab should be sent to a mental asylum in Agra.


To that, an RJD MP quipped that Agra asylum is running at full capacity. Sanjay Singh then responded by saying how he should then be sent off to Andaman, which is famous for its now-defunct cellular jail or be drowned in the Indian Ocean.


Sanjay Singh is often caught making derogatory comments, including against the judiciary. Recently, in a big setback to AAP, the Supreme Court has refused to give a hearing to the plea of AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh after the top court found that the earlier statements made by Sanjay Singh against judiciary were derogatory.

Sanjay Singh had questioned the neutrality of the Supreme Court after its split verdict on power-sharing in Delhi. Criticising the Supreme court judgment, Singh had tweeted in Hindi, “Does the Supreme Court not pronounce verdicts against the interests of Modiji? The central government lied in the court on corruption in Rafale (deal), but SC was silent. Did the SC give a verdict on CBI or was it a joke? Played with the emotion of crores of people of Delhi. Is this the Supreme Court or local court of Tehsil?” In a separate tweet he had asked whether the SC has lost its dignity.

Madhya Pradesh: Congress govt to reopen 12-year old murder case against Sadhvi Pragya in which she was earlier acquitted

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Congress govt to reopen 12-year old murder case against Sadhvi Pragya in which she was earlier acquitted

After the Exit Polls predicted a victory for Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal, the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has announced that it is planning to reopen a 12-year old murder case against the BJP Lok Sabha candidate.

State Law Minister, P C Sharma, on Tuesday, said that the government will seek a legal opinion of reopening the murder case of ex-RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi in which Pragya Singh was acquitted. “We will seek a legal opinion on that report and then take a decision about moving a higher court,” he said.

According to Sharma, the district collector then took the decision to shut the case by himself without consulting the law department for a legal opinion on the matter. “The district collector should have sent the report to the law department instead of deciding that there was no need to move a higher court,” he said.

The BJP, for its part, has dubbed the move as political vendetta. “It looks like the MP government is going to take this decision because Pragya Thakur contested the election as BJP candidate against Congress’ Digvijaya Singh. This is politics of revenge,” state BJP spokesman, Rajnish Agrawal, said.

Sadhvi Pragya has found herself in a hub of controversy after her nomination from Bhopal where she is up against Congress stalwart Digvijay Singh. Recently, her Godse remark earned her a strong condemnation from the Prime Minister himself.

She is currently out on bail in the Malegaon blast case. The BJP has consistently maintained that her candidature is a mark of protest against the Congress’ Hindu Terror initiative.

Congress leader Udit Raj accuses Supreme Court of ‘rigging the polls’

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Udit Raj accuses Supreme Court of ‘rigging the polls’

Congress leader Udit Raj accused the Supreme Court of rigging the Lok Sabha elections in a tweet posted on Monday.

Udit Raj tweet accusing Supreme Court

He had tweeted in Hindi, “Why doesn’t the Supreme Court want to count all VVPAT slips? Are they also involved in the rigging? Due to the poll process government work is slowed down for 3 months, what difference does it make if it takes 2-3 days to count?”

He questioned whether the Supreme Court was involved in the alleged rigging of the elections following its decision yesterday where the court dismissed a petition seeking 100% matching of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the counting of votes on 23rd May and termed it nonsense.

Udit Raj has also been previously caught spreading fake news after joining the Congress party. He has been angry with the BJP ever since he was denied a ticket by the party for the Lok Sabha Elections.

Ever since the Exit Polls for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections were released, the Opposition parties have initiated a concerted effort to discredit the EVMs used in these elections. The Congress President, the Deputy CM of Delhi from the Aam Aadmi Party, numerous other senior politicians from other Opposition parties and even some journalists have been peddling fake news and bizarre allegations against EVMs.

On Monday, AAP’s social media team member Savita Anand had peddled a fake ‘news telecast’ made by a dubious ‘Tricolour News Network’.

Yesterday, several journalists had tried to peddle the baseless claims and videos being circulated on social media. The ECI had debunked the claims of EVM replacement or safety issues by issuing clarifications, reinforced by support from representatives of candidates at each location concerned, removing all doubts and aspersions.

Amidst the EVM hacking propaganda spined by various opposition parties, the Election Commission Tuesday set up a 24-hour control room at the Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, to monitor complaints relating to EVMs.

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