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Former ISRO chief who called UPA govt a disaster received death threat from JeM for supporting PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Former ISRO chief who called UPA govt a disaster received death threat from JeM for supporting PM Modi

Former Indian Space Research Organisation chairman G. Madhavan Nair has been threatened by Jaish-e-Mohammed warning him not to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to reports, a letter was received at Nair’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram two days ago by security officials of CISF. The letter, which mentions the name of Jaish-e-Mohammed, was received on the same day PM Modi had announced that India has successfully tested an anti-satellite missile developed by DRDO. The letter was handed over to police for further investigation.

According to police sources, the letter warns that G Madhavan Nair will be killed by the terrorists if he does not stop supporting Narendra Modi. The former ISRO chief confirmed the receipt of the letter in the mailbox at his residence. “I have not read the letter but the investigation officers contacted me and divulged about the content of the letter,” he said.

The letter has been sent for a high-profile forensic examination and the test results are awaited. The Kerala police have already registered a case in the matter and detailed investigations are going on by multiple probe teams of the Kerala Police, said an intelligence official. Central investigating agencies also have been informed about the incident.

Nair had praised PM Modi on Wednesday for the successful launch of the A-SAT missile, saying, “Modiji has taken the initiative and he had the political will and courage to say that we will do this. We have now demonstrated this to whole world.”

Madhavan Nair retired as chairman of the ISRO in 2009 and is a Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee. He played a crucial role in the design and development of the cryogenic engine for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Nair had joined the BJP in October last year.

How the Congress party and its allies supported terrorism in the 1998 Coimbatore blasts case

GujaratRiots.com
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How the Congress party and its allies supported terrorism in the 1998 Coimbatore blasts case

There was a trend on Twitter “#RahulLovesTerrorists” after Rahul Gandhi referred to Masood Azhar as “Masood Azhar ji”. However, the actual pro-terrorist policies of the Congress have been far more dangerous and serious than a mere mention of ‘Ji’. Sam Pitroda’s statement trivializing the Pulwama attack and disapproving the airstrikes too appears to be nothing as compared to other dangerous actions and statements of the Congress Party, its leaders and its allies like the DMK.

There were devastating bomb blasts in Coimbatore on 14 February 1998 which killed 58 people and nearly killed L K Advani, who had a miraculous escape as his flight was delayed by over 90 minutes. The then Congress President Sitaram Kesri made a ridiculous and bizarre allegation at that sensitive time, blaming RSS for the blasts.

After this, the RSS sued Sitaram Kesri and there were reports that he denied having made the allegation. But he then denied having denied the allegation and stuck to his charge. An incident like the deadly Coimbatore blasts nearly killing Advani and killing 58 people, many of whom were BJP workers also was not enough to infuse humanity and the Congress made such a reckless, insensitive and inhumane statement. Not just that, the party fully backed this charge. The Tamil Nadu unit president of the party said: “If the bomb was planted by somebody other than the BJP, they would definitely have killed Advani. Because it was planted by them, they purposely delayed Advani’s meetings.”

That’s not all. The Islamic radicals who carried out these bomb blasts belonged to the Al-Umma and the TNMMK. After these blasts, the Congress actually allied with Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagham (pronounced ‘Kalagham’, ‘la’ like in Tamil) – a party involved in these Coimbatore blasts after the blasts- in 2004, 2006 etc. The TNMMK used to contest polls directly earlier. In Feb 2009 it formed a separate political wing called Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK).

Those 1998 Coimbatore blasts occurred due to pro-terrorist policies of the DMK Government. Before those blasts, there were clashes in November 1997 there. A police constable named Selvaraj was killed by Muslim fanatics first, and in the riots which erupted later, 18 Muslims were killed. Even Communist magazine Frontline reported:

   “The killing of Selvaraj was one singular incident that led to the polarisation of Coimbatore on communal lines. Al Umma cadres stabbed Selvaraj on the night of November 29 when he was regulating traffic at Kottaimedu, a Muslim-majority area…Earlier that day, Sub-Inspector M. Chandrasekaran of Bazaar police station near Kottaimedu detained Jehangir, an Al Umma office-bearer, and two other Muslim youth for riding on a motorcycle without a driving licence. Mohammed Ansari, who was then Al Umma State secretary, went to the police station and demanded their release. A row broke out between the S.I. and Ansari, with the latter threatening to “break Coimbatore in two”.

About an hour later, four Muslim youth stabbed 31-year-old Selvaraj, who was totally unconnected with the earlier incident. Al Umma men wanted to target a policeman because its members had been detained at the police station and Ansari was “humiliated” at the police station. Ironically, Selvaraj had stepped in to relieve another traffic constable.

The death of Selvaraj infuriated the police force. They struck work the following day and demanded the arrest of the assailants. They alleged that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government did not allow them to take action against Al Umma. They were also infuriated by the fact that four policemen and prison officers had been stabbed or murdered in Coimbatore and Madurai by Muslim extremists in the 18 months preceding the murder of Selvaraj.The policemen’s families also staged dharnas, demanding security for the law-enforcers. The situation was so grave that the government called out the Army and the Rapid Action Force to bring back normalcy to the city (Frontline, December 26, 1997).”

Thus, the DMK interfered in the working of the police and prevented them from acting tough against Al-Umma, which was not even banned by the DMK Govt till the 14 Feb 1998 blasts. The DMK Government banned Al-Umma only after the blasts. There was a Gokulakrishnan Commission appointed to probe the Coimbatore clashes of Nov 1997 and the blasts. Even Frontline magazine of June 2000 said after it gave its report:

   “The Gokulakrishnan Commission of Inquiry blames security lapses for the explosions.

The report comes down heavily on the police for their failure to search the Babulal Complex building on Tirumal Street before the blasts even though they had information about the clandestine movement and storing of bombs by “terrorist groups” at an abandoned building near Saravana Metal Mart. If they had searched and combed the nearby area, they would have unearthed the plot by Al-Umma men, arrested the terrorists and seized the bombs prior to February 14. This would have aborted the conspiracy, the report says.

Swift action by the police in the early hours of February 15 led to the unearthing of the plot to create terror in Coimbatore, the arrests of Al-Umma cadres and the seizure of detonators and lethal weapons. “The major part played in this storming operation” by Sub-Inspector M. Chandrasekaran “at the risk of his life” not only saved the lives of police personnel and the public but became “an eye-opener to the Special Investigation Team to nab the terrorists and unearth the concealed bombs”, the report says. “

The Police, of course, wanted to take action but were prevented by the DMK Government from doing so, before the blasts. Even Frontline blamed the DMK Government for not preventing the Coimbatore blasts. It said: “The crackdown initiated by the Tamil Nadu Government following the blasts was doubtless effective, but it could not absolve it of the criticism that it had failed to prevent the terrorist attack by acting on intelligence reports and following up on earlier seizures of explosives. It seems fair to state that the DMK Government failed to differentiate between the large mass of innocent Muslims and the small number of fundamentalist Muslim leaders who have exploited and preyed on the feelings of insecurity among innocent Muslims. It should have shown a greater sense of urgency in isolating the hardcore of Muslim fundamentalists and taking action against them.”

India Today reported soon after those blasts in an article by l. R. Jagadheesan and K.M. Thomas:

   “The Opposition has accused the Government of failure to anticipate the violence and the blasts and take preventive steps…Stung by criticism, the Government took some decisive, though belated, action against those suspected to be behind the blasts. It ordered a ban on two Muslim fundamentalist organisations, Al Umma and the Jehad Committee. Some of their leaders, including Al Umma President S.A. Basha were detained.The chief minister’s (Karunanidhi’s) stern warnings to them were followed by raids on several extremist hideouts on February 15. Eight people arrested in the raid were later identified as Al Umma activists. Post-blast violence too was swiftly contained with the deployment of the Army and paramilitary forces.

Intensified patrolling proved fruitful on February 16, when the police found 60 kg of explosives in a car in a residential area. It took two days to defuse the bombs…The extremists’ menace had been looming large for quite some time in the state, but political compulsions prevented the state Government from taking decisive action. Police sources in Coimbatore say the Government was well aware of the movement of Muslim fundamentalists, but fearing a minority community backlash during the polls, it delayed action against them.

The charges seem to have rattled the ruling combine in the state, and fearing electoral repercussions, it has roped in actor Rajnikanth for damage control. In repeated telecasts on the DMK-owned Sun TV, the celluloid superstar has blamed the BJP and Jayalalitha for fomenting trouble. He said the blasts were the handiwork of those interested in an AIADMK-BJP government at the Centre. Congress President Sitaram Kesri has squarely blamed the RSS for the blasts. Denying the charge, however, the RSS has filed a defamation suit against Kesri.”

The timeline of the Coimbatore blasts and the belated action taken by the police and recovery of huge quantity of arms and explosives and arrests of Islamic radicals can be seen here. It shows that the DMK government could have easily done that much before the blasts, but it allowed terrorist organizations like Al-Umma to function due to its pro-Muslim policies.

However, the DMK Government at least banned the Al-Umma and took action after the blasts, but the Congress continued to defend the terrorists even after the blasts and instead accused RSS of carrying out the blasts.

Most political leaders and parties expressed shock and revulsion over the blasts. The then President K.R. Narayanan and Prime Minister I.K. Gujral expressed shock over the bombings, DMK president and TN Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said the blasts were part of a conspiracy by foreign forces to disrupt the electoral process. The then Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta and CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet too said that they suspected a foreign hand behind the blasts. Gupta blamed the ISI for attempting to disrupt the election process in India. But the Congress stooped to an unimaginably low level even in this case.

The DMK came to power in Tamil Nadu in May 1996. Towards the end of 1996, G. Bhoopalan, a warder in the Coimbatore Central Prison, was killed by Muslim militants, in a petrol bomb attack in the prison. The RSS office bomb blast in Chennai in August 1993 during AIADMK rule which killed 14 people including 6 high-level pracharaks, resulted in a crackdown on fundamentalist organizations, especially the Al-Umma by the AIADMK Government. But under the DMK rule. 16 Al-Umma men who had been detained under TADA for their alleged involvement in this RSS office blast of August 1993 and for possession of weapons were released on bail in January 1997 when the DMK Government prosecutor did not oppose their bail.

The complacent policy continued even after Tamil Nadu police commandos, following a tipoff, seized a huge cache of explosives (gelatin sticks), detonators, iron pipes, PVC pipes, alarm clocks, cables, wires, soldering equipment, saws and testers, all of which are used in the making of bombs. The seizure took place from a house at Kodungaiyur, a suburb of Chennai, on March 11, 1997. The police arrested two fundamentalists belonging to the Al-Umma group: Mohammed Khan alias Sirajuddin (26) and Shahul Hameed alias Aftar (22). Mohammed Khan is the brother of S.A. Basha, one of the founders of Al-Umma.

A series of bomb explosions had convulsed Tamil Nadu in November-December 1997, just two months before the Coimbatore blasts. Blasts shook the Cheran Express, the Pandyan Express and the Alleppey Express trains on December 6, 1997, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. The police said that the Islamic Defence Force of Kerala, a shadowy outfit, was behind these explosions, which killed nine persons.

On January 10, 1998, a blast occurred under the Anna flyover in the heart of Chennai, and the Islamic Defence Force claimed responsibility for this. This was followed by a powerful blast in a rice mill at Saliyamangalam, near Thanjavur, on February 8. The police seized a big cache of explosives and detonators from the mill. Police investigation revealed that Abdul Khader, son of the mill owner, Abdul Hameed, was connected to Muslim fundamentalist organisations. Both the owner of the mill and his son were arrested. Abdul Khader was seriously injured in the blast. Then came the seizure of hundreds of detonators from Vepery and Tambaram in Chennai, from two Muslims connected with militant organisations. Here, the police seized about 84 gelatin sticks, 50 kg of sulphur, 11.5 kg of ammonium nitrate, 100 detonators, two country pistols, and bottles containing nitric and sulphuric acid.

There was no crackdown, let alone ban, on Al-Umma even after all these blasts and acts, not even after the 8 February blast. These indications and warnings of big trouble failed to make the State Government act firmly. It was a significant failure of preventive action.

Banned fundamentalist outfit Al-Umma president SA Basha openly threatened to kill the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if he visited Coimbatore in July 2003. The open warning was given by Basha and 8 others while talking to journalists in the Coimbatore court premises after they were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in a case relating to the murder of a Hindu Munnani leader. Such a man with his organization Al Umma was allowed to function openly by the DMK Government till the 14 February 1998 blasts.

Diehard anti-RSS magazines like Outlook and Frontline too accepted the role of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TNMMK) in these blasts. Frontline reported in March 1998: “Within hours of the blasts, the Tamil Nadu Government banned Al-Umma and the Jihad Committee. Al-Umma founder-president S.A. Basha and 12 other members of the organisation were arrested in Chennai; explosive materials and weapons were seized from his house in Triplicane, Chennai. Leaders of the Jihad Committee and the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) were arrested in a State-wide crackdown. Among those arrested were Jihad Committee president R.M. Haniffa, general secretary Mohammed Haniffa, student wing secretary Akram Khan, TMMK president and college lecturer M.H. Jawahirulla and treasurer G.M. Pakkar. Over the next few days, over 100 activists of the three organisations were arrested at Keezhakkarai, Devakottai, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Nagercoil, Melapalayam and Udumalpet. About 1,000 others were detained as a precautionary measure…”

Even Outlook accepted TNMMK’s involvement in the Coimbatore blasts. It said:

 “As the crackdown following the February Coimbatore blasts continues, it is disturbingly clear that the ordinary Muslim is becoming increasingly alienated. Every day the police recover quintals after quintals of explosives hidden by the ‘fringe’ Islamic fundamentalist group, Al Umma—which, as it now turns out, is in fact a rather well connected terrorist outfit…

Initially the Muslim groups were splintered into as many as 10 major outfits. However, after the November riots in Coimbatore most of them started working in tandem. The most significant groups are: the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Jihad Committee, Al Umma, Tamil Islamic Peravai, Sunnath Al Jammath Youth Front, SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India), Students Organisation of Islam, Muslim Protection Force and the JAQH (Jamiathul Ahle Quaran Wal Hadis).

…According to arrested members of the Al Umma, the ISI had suggested the elimination of the Hindu Munnani leader, Rajagopal, in Madurai in 1994. And the RDX used to blast the RSS office (August 1993) and the Hindu Munnani office (1995) was supplied by the ISI.

…By December 15, they (Al Umma men) also managed to get the support of the People’s Democratic Party chairman Abdul Nasser Madani—a radical Islamic figure of Kerala—in mobilising additional explosives. According to police sources, explosives weighing nearly 1,000 kg were accumulated in four weeks.”

This is enough to know the involvement of the TNMMK and Abdul Madani in those blasts. We must now see the pro-Madani and pro-TNMMK acts of the Congress, Left and DMK.

DMK returned to power in Tamil Nadu in May 2006 after a 5-year rule of AIADMK from 2001-06. The Indian Express reported on 24 July 2006 in a report titled: “DMK turns the jail into a spa for Coimbatore terror accused”-

“Introduction: Ayurvedic massages for Abdul Nasser Mahdani paid for by taxpayer, wife facing arrest warrant has free access, no checks

One man has reason to laugh at all the tough talk on the need to crack down on terror: Abdul Nasser Mahdani, key accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts that targeted BJP leader L K Advani and killed 58 people and left several more injured.

For, ever since he (Karunanidhi) was sworn in as Chief Minister, the atmosphere has been upbeat in the high-security prison here, housing Mahdani and 166 Al Umma prisoners, mostly arrested for the Coimbatore blasts. Thanks to Karunanidhi, a team of 10 masseurs and four senior Ayurvedic doctors began their “high quality treatment” on Mahdani, who has been housed in the prison’s hospital wing since 2001…

While the prison manual says that a prisoner pays for the cost of any private medical treatment he avails, the Tamil Nadu government is using taxpayers’ money to pick up the bill for Mahdani’s “dhara” and “pizhichil” (the ayurvedic massages)…

But what has infuriated investigating officers in the blast case is the move by the Chief Minister’s Office to quietly lift the ban under Section 268 CrPC, restricting Mahdani’s movements within the prison.

“Soon after the DMK came to power, there were attempts to move him out of the prison and get him treatment outside, preferably in Kerala. We strongly resisted such a move. With a friendly government in Kerala, we can never hope of seeing him again, particularly when the trial (in a special court) is likely to end in three months’ time and a verdict is expected soon,” pointed out a senior police officer on the condition that he be not named…In fact, in the pre-blast days, the DMK, then ruling Tamil Nadu (1996-2001), was accused of flirting with Muslim militancy and turning a blind eye to the activities of Jehadi groups like the Al Umma.”

Though the DMK was forced to act against Islamic radicals after the Coimbatore blasts, and it did not follow an openly pro-terrorist policy from 1999 to 2003 during the period of its alliance with the BJP at the Centre, it went back to its true nature 2004 onwards. It again got the support of TNMMK for 2004 Lok Sabha polls and also for the 2006 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, which it won. Barely two weeks after it was sworn in in May 2006, Tamil Nadu’s DMK government ordered that cases be dropped against 12 Muslim fundamentalists, all followers of Kichaan Buhari, an Al-Umma sympathizer and key accused in the Coimbatore serial blasts. The Indian Express of 8 August 2006 reported:

“…Senior Policemen in Thirunelveli were shocked by what they termed the DMK Government’s ‘blatant sympathy’ for the Muslim fundamentalists. Obviously, the accused committed the offence with the grave intention to create law and order problems and disrupt peace in Tirunelveli district, known to be communally sensitive. Also, all of them have links with Muslim fundamentalist outfits. The government should have allowed the law to take its natural course. For a new government to resort to such a move is rather demoralising for the police force,” said a senior police officer in Tirunelveli.

Police officials say that in one of the cases, Crime No. 15 of 2001 registered at the Melapalayam police station, while two of the five accused were juveniles and let off given their age, the other three, including M S Syed Mohammed Buhari, Sheik Hyed and Jafer Ali had “admitted to the offence”. “Despite this, the government ordered the withdrawal of cases against them,” an officer said… There are also allegations that the ruling DMK was bending backwards to appease its electoral ally, the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK). A section of the police believe that the dropping of the six cases by the DMK government could be part of a pre-poll deal with the TMMK.”

The TNMMK was not just the DMK’s alliance partner, it was also of the Congress. The Congress too was a part of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) alliance in Tamil Nadu with DMK and hence TNMMK was its partner too. It is one thing to ally with a mainstream party whose ‘some members’ may have been guilty of involvement in terrorism in the past while the party, on the whole, is sensible, but it is quite another to ally with a radical pro-terrorist party & release terrorists and withdraw cases against them due to pressure of that party. [At that time, DMK had 97 MLAs out of 234 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with the Congress having 33. DMK-Congress had a comfortable majority without needing the support of any other allies, and TNMMK did not have a single MLA, though it supported the DMK-led Congress allied DPA.]

This misplaced sympathy for the sake of vote banks was the reason behind the DMK government’s refusal to appeal against the acquittal of Abdul Nazar Madani in the 1998 Coimbatore blasts case.

The Congress Legislature Party passed a resolution in the Kerala Assembly in 2006 demanding release of Abdul Madani who was in a Coimbatore jail from 1999 onwards. This was also supported by the Left, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed this resolution unanimously on 16 March 2006 with not a single MLA opposing it. Madani was later also the accused in the bomb blasts in Bangalore in 2008 at the time of an IPL game. After a resolution demanding his release in March 2006 [The resolution was before his acquittal] and his subsequent release on 1 August 2007 after his acquittal in the Coimbatore blasts case, he again was involved in another attack in 2008.

The Indian Express reported on 25 July 2006: “If the DMK government in Tamil Nadu is arranging for 1998 Coimbatore blast accused Abdul Nasser Mahdani’s Ayurvedic massages, the Left and the Congress in Kerala have been doing the stretching-prostrate at his feet.”

Later the DMK-Congress Government released Coimbatore blast convicts pre-maturely in 2009 for which they were slammed by the BJP.

In September 2005, TNMMK had openly demanded the lifting of the ban on SIMI despite the fact that at that time SIMI was proven to be involved in bomb blasts in various parts of the country. And this party TNMMK was an ally of the Congress in Tamil Nadu. A Times of India report of May 2006 said:

“Terming the AIADMK as a “proxy” to the BJP, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) on Monday said it has decided to extend its support to the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in the May 8, 2006 assembly polls. TMMK activists would work in all the 234 constituencies in the state to ensure the victory of the DPA, TMMK President M H Jawahirullah and its General Secretary S Haider Ali, told reporters in Chennai.”

This party announced a boycott of the 1998 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu on 4 Feb 1998, a few days before the Coimbatore blasts due to the ‘communal riots of 1997 in Coimbatore’. In the 1999 Lok Sabha, 2001 Assembly and 2004 Lok Sabha poll too, TNMMK was with the Congress alliance. In 2001 AIADMK was with the Congress.  After the deadly bomb blasts in Mumbai on 11 July, 2006 which killed 187 people, the then BJP President Rajnath Singh attacked the Congress and DMK for their ties with the TNMMK.

Even today, after so many years, the Congress has never apologized for its false and shameless allegation that the RSS carried out the 1998 Coimbatore blasts, nor has it ever condemned the TNMMK or explained its alliance with the party or even its precise connection to it.

Rahul Gandhi and the Congress need to be pin-pointedly asked to apologize for their false charges on RSS or at least clarify their position on the 1998 Coimbatore blasts’ perpetrators. More than using words like ‘Ji’ for terrorists, such acts of the Congress and its allies like the DMK need to be exposed more comprehensively.

(The writer is the author of book “Gujarat Riots: The True Story” which gives all details about the 2002 riots- Godhra and after, one of the admins of www.gujaratriots.com and one of the admins of the Twitter handle @gujaratriotscom)

‘Neutral’ journalist Supriya Shrinate replaces existing Congress candidate two days after favouring Rahul Gandhi in her shows

Shashank Bharadwaj
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‘Neutral’ journalist Supriya Shrinate replaces existing Congress candidate two days after favouring Rahul Gandhi in her shows

‘Neutral’ journalist Supriya Shrinate, Executive Editor of ET Now, on Friday joined Congress party after the party leadership announced her candidacy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Maharajaganj, Uttar Pradesh. Supriya Shrinate replaced Tanushree Tripathi, whose name was initially announced as the candidate from Maharajganj.

Interestingly, Supriya Shrinate, who joined Congress party was working as an Editor at ET Now till this week raising questions about the ‘neutrality’ and integrity of journalists. Recently, Supriya Shrinate had carried out an interview with former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan and had also endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s NYAY programme on her show.


It is not unsurprising today to acknowledge that there are several journalists in the country who are sympathetic to the cause of the Gandhi Parivar but somehow pretend to be ‘neutral’ in the public. Supriya Shrinate’s transition from being a ‘neutral’ journalist to a Congress candidate may not have happened in few days and certainly, not after her recent news shows and interviews endorsing Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

Supriya Shrinate must have taken a sufficient time to lobby for her ticket or at least to comprehend the ideologies of any political party before being made a candidate for Lok Sabha elections. If at all Supriya Shrinate was lobbying for a ticket or contemplating on joining the Congress party from a long time, does that not amount to a conflict of interest or a clear case of bias in terms of her conduct as a journalist?

The integrity of Supriya Shrinate as a journalist is clearly questionable as her plans to join Congress may not be instinctive but carefully planned from a long time with utilising her privilege of being a ‘neutral’ journalist. It also raises questions not only on the credibility of the debates she carried out till recently and but also on the authenticity of the interview she did with Raghuram Rajan to endorse Rahul Gandhi’s policies.

Meanwhile, it is also intriguing to know whether ET Now was aware of the fact that Supriya Shrinate had inclinations towards the Congress party. If at all ET Now knew about her Congress links, why did the media organisation not disclose it in the public or at least try to keep her away from doing the Congress propaganda from ET Now studios under the garb of journalism?

Neutrality in the field of journalism is a facade. While every journalist is entitled to have their own political views, their bias often creeps into their profession, while the entire time, they pretend to be politically neutral. The likes of Supriya Shrinate lobbying for a Congress ticket despite being part of a media organisation is yet another low in Indian journalism and casts a shadow on the uprightness of the so-called independent ‘Lutyens’ journalists of the country.

Two cow smugglers arrested, two escaped after they try to run over the cops who were chasing them

OpIndia Staff
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Two cow smugglers arrested, two escaped after they try to run over the cops who were chasing them

In Nanauta, Saharanpur, one constable and two cow smugglers were injured in a firing which took place on Thursday early morning. As per reports, the police have recovered two country pistols, cartridges and some cartons.

According to station in-charge Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, at around 4 am on Thursday, SI Saiyed Munajir Hussain, Head Constable Rajiv and other four police officers stopped a suspicious pickup truck for checking. However, the driver pushed the pedal and increased speed. Not just that, during the chase when the police team closed in on them, the driver of the pick-up truck tried to run over the policemen.

Then, four of the men occupying the pick-up truck jumped out and went near a lake from where they opened fire at the police. Head Constable Rajiv got injured in cross-firing but thankfully station in-charge Chaudhary was saved owing to the bulletproof jacket. In return firing by the police, two cow smugglers were injured whereas two managed to escape.

In reference to the case, one Kala, s/o Chhota and one Rahman s/o Rizwan who had opened fire on the police were injured. Nikim s/o Riyasat and Fana s/o Arshad managed to escape. Six calves, who were drugged with tranquilisers, were also rescued from the pick-up van.

The police have undertaken further investigation.

Punjab: AAP candidate contesting from Christian dominated Gurdaspur says nun rape case won’t have impact on voting

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: AAP candidate contesting from Christian dominated Gurdaspur says nun rape case won’t have impact on voting

Peter Masih Cheeda, the Aam Aadmi Party nominee from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, has stirred controversy while answering about the impact of the nun rape case on the voting in the Christian dominated Gurdaspur. He said that “There is no question that case will have any impact on voting pattern. The accusations have not been proved and were more in media.”

The AAP has fielded Peter Masih as its candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency, which has sizeable Christian population.

During 2017 Gurdaspur byelections, which was necessitated by BJP MP from the constituency, actor-turned-politician, Vinod Khanna’s death, AAP candidate Maj Gen Suresh Khajuria (retd) had faced a major defeat. The AAP candidate had lost despite the fact that then Catholic Church Bishop of Punjab and spokesperson of Masih Maha Sabha, Bishop Franco Mulakkal had announced to extend community’s support to Khajuria,

Mulakkal is the accused in Kerala nun rape case. He is also the first bishop in Indian Catholic history to be arrested in a rape case.

Surprisingly, this time too, AAP is counting on the Christian votes in the constituency, but the fact that Franco Mulakkal’s announcement in the last election did not help the party does not seem to bother Pater.

He remains unruffled at the fact that Mulakkal is a rape accused and feels that the accusation would have no impact on the voting pattern in Gurudaspur though it’s a Christian dominated constituency.

Talking to TOI, Masih said, “The government figures put Christians votes at around 7%, but I believe it is double the figure,” furthering that “Things have significantly changed now, I am going to give a tough fight to my opponents”.

He said that lack of development, poor education and health services were the main issues in the constituency, besides he intended to seek more funds for Christians. About the rape case, Masih said, “There is no question that the case will have any impact on the voting pattern”.

Meanwhile, Gurudaspur had significantly been a stronghold of Congress until BJP fielded Vinod Khanna in 1998. Since then Vinod Khanna had won the Gurudaspur seat 4 times, losing it once to the Congress in 2009, only to regain it in 2014 general elections.

Gurdaspur, which falls in the Manjha area, has never been considered to be AAP’s stronghold. In the 2014 parliamentary election, AAP candidate, Suchcha Singh Chhotepur had come on the third position after BJP and Congress.

In the 2017 byelections, the Congress won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat which had fallen vacant following the death of Vinod Khanna of the BJP. Congress’ Sunil Jakhar defeated BJP’s Swaran Salaria with a huge margin of 1.93 lakh votes.

While Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes, Salaria polled 3,06,533. AAP nominee Major General (Retd) Suresh Khajuria polled just 23,579 votes and forfeited his deposit.

This was, however, followed by the resignation of Khajuria from the party’s primary membership in November 2018.

Meanwhile, with the party faring badly in Gurdaspur in the last two polls, the hopes for AAP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections also appear to be bleak.

As AAP disintegrates, senior leader says AAP ready to dissolve and merge with Congress

OpIndia Staff
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As AAP disintegrates, senior leader says AAP ready to dissolve and merge with Congress

As Aam Aadmi Party is losing relevance and facing an existential crisis in the Indian political scene, the leadership of the party seems to be desperate as senior AAP leader and Punjab unit President Bhagwant Mann has indicated that the party is willing to dissolve and merge with Congress party, reported The Tribune.

According to reports, AAP senior leader Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said that his party was ready to be dissolved if it saved the country from the “unholy nexus of PM Modi and Amit Shah”. Responding to a question regarding AAP’s attempts to join hands with Congress, Mann claimed that both Modi and Shah were pursuing ‘politics of hatred’, which he said was extremely dangerous to the federal structure.

“We were earlier part of the Mahagathbandhan of 23 parties at the national level to trounce Modi. If need be, we are even ready to dissolve our party. After all, we all came from various fields, including theatre and journalism. We all formed Aam Aadmi Party for course correction in Indian politics,” said AAP Punjab President Bhagawat Mann.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali President and Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal has reacted strongly, while stating that masks of Aam Aadmi Party were finally off and accused Mann of spreading hatred himself. He referred AAP as the B team of the Congress.


Aam Aadmi Party is in disarray as the party has lost its charm it had enjoyed five years ago. With Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal taking massive U-turns, corruption charges and lack of performance in Delhi, the party is facing an unprecedented backlash.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal has been literally pleading with Congress to form an alliance in the Delhi, as he is aware of the fact that he alone can not defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, which had won all the seven seats in 2014.

Recently, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, who was suspended from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2015, joined the BJP in New Delhi. Khalsa a former IFS officer had called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a ‘dictator’ for extreme interference in state affairs. Another suspended MP Dharamvir Gandhi, who was elected from Patiala has started his new outfit Nawan Punjab Party.

AAP Punajb has been in disarray after chief Kejriwal ‘abandoned’ the state unit. After the Punjab assembly elections, the party has faced major backlashes, defection, and other allegations. Recently, an AAP MLA had accused the party of arrogance, sexual exploitation of women and corruption. Several MLAs, including Sukhpal Khaira and HS Phoolka, have quit the party in recent months.

AAP Punjab was also widely criticised for its alleged association with Khalistani elements.

Another controversy has erupted in the name of Aam Aadmi Party after many voters in Delhi alleged that they have been receiving phone calls from the AAP to inform that their named have deleted by the BJP only to be saved by Delhi CM Kejriwal, who had restored their names back to the list.

This mysterious phone calls to the voters of Delhi alleged to be from the AAP did not even leave senior BJP leaders as senior BJP leader Vijay Goel also received a similar call stating that his party has ‘removed his name’ from the voters’ list.

Election Commission says no violation of Model Code of Conduct in PM Modi’s Mission Shakti announcement

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission says no violation of Model Code of Conduct in PM Modi’s Mission Shakti announcement

The Election Commission of India has found no infringement of Model Code of Conduct in PM Modi’s announcement of a successful test of ASAT missile that placed India in the coveted list of countries possessing the anti-satellite capability. 

Responding to a complaint filed by Communist leader Sitaram Yechury, the election commission said that Modi’s speech did not attract the provisions of model code of conduct. EC had constituted a Committee of Officers to look into the accusations that Modi had violated the MCC.

Looking into the matter, the committee concluded that “the MCC provision regarding misuse of official mass media as contained in Para (IV) of Part (VII) of Model Code of Conduct, quoted above, is not attracted in the instant case”. The Election Commission accepted the conclusion of the committee, thereby giving a clean chit to Modi.

Checking whether the prime minister misused state broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio, the committee found that the speech was not directly broadcasted by them. They were informed that Doordarshan had used a feed provided by ANI, and AIR has used the audio from DD News. DG of DD submitted that Doordarshan subscribes to visuals of news event from News Agency ANI under an arrangement that is continuing for long time. DD broadcasted the video as received from ANI, and it was not directly captured and broadcasted by Doordarshan, the DG asserted

The DG of AIR also stated nobody from AIR went to record the speech of Modi, and they used audio signal from the telecast of the speech by DD News.

After studying the transcript of the speech of PM Modi and the responses of DD and AIR, the committee concluded that the model code of conduct not violated.

It may be noted that as state broadcasters, DD and AIR need to obtain prior permission from EC before broadcasting any message by politicians and ministers. But in this instance, PM Modi’s speech was not directly covered by DD and AIR. The speech was essentially broadcasted online by ANI, from where TV channels transmitted the feed. DD and AIR also had borrowed the feed from ANI, hence there was no requirement for them to seek EC’s permission before broadcasting the same.

The Election Commission had sought details after clamour from the opposition political parties regarding the violation of Model Code of Conduct grew as the announcement was made by the PM. The Model Code of Conduct is in force since March 10, 2019, when the Election Commission had announced the dates and other details of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The letter of EC and the report of the committee has been provided below.

Will work for spreading Christianity in whole world if elected, says candidate from Nagaland

OpIndia Staff
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Will work for spreading Christianity in whole world if elected, says candidate from Nagaland

MM Thromwa Konyak of the Indian Christian Secular Party will now contest the Lok Sabha elections from the lone seat in Nagaland as an Independent after he failed to produce the original signed copies of Form A and B issued by his party.

Konyak, for his part, believes his candidature is the Christian God’s work. His primary poll promise is sending 10,000 Christian Missionaries from Nagaland out into the world to spread the message of Christ.

“Our forefathers had a dream, that Nagaland sends 10,000 Christian missionaries out into the world. But that dream remains unfulfilled. I will take up the task once I win the election,” Konyak was quoted as saying by TOI.

He stated further, “Nagaland is a Christian majority state. I believe in and practice politics that is based on Christian principles. But I should not be mistaken as a religious bigot or communal. I am Christian by faith, Indian by citizenship and Naga by blood.”

Konyak appears to be blatantly in violation of the Supreme Court verdict which outlawed election campaigns in the name of religion, caste, race, community or language. Only recently, the Election Commission had reiterated that the use of caste and religion is prohibited. “As per the Model Code of Conduct, the use of caste and religion during the election campaign is strictly prohibited,” a statement issued by Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer had said.

Konyak had contested earlier in state assembly elections in 2008 and 2013 but has never won. It is reported that he had tried unsuccessfully for a BJP ticket before announcing his candidature. Besides his dream of 10,000 missionaries, he has stated that he wants to build churches in all remote regions of Nagaland, especially along the Myanmar border.

It is notable here that Nagaland is a Christian majority state and the Church has been involved in politics in most elections. Last year, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council was in the news for asking voters to choose between the ‘Trishul and the Cross’, apparently in opposition of the BJP-led NDA. The NDPP, which is currently ruling in the state, is an NDA member.

The gushing pro-Imran lobby wouldn’t ask for ‘proof and evidence’ now

Ashish Shukla
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The gushing pro-Imran lobby wouldn’t ask for ‘proof and evidence’ now

His swooning and gushing crowd in India would go berserk now that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has acknowledged his country has terror groups and that the “Naya Pakistan” wouldn’t allow them to function with impunity on its soil. They wouldn’t bother to seek “proof and evidence” of this resolve, unlike Balakot.

The Lutyens Media is on its own trip, refusing to acknowledge what Imran has himself conceded—that Pakistan has a terror group on its soil. Instead, the Lutyens Media—Times of India, Indian Express, The Hindu and Hindustan Times—have all based headlines on Pakistan’s fear of India attacking them before 2019 Polls.

This swooning crowd is wrong on both counts—India never initiates a war and is always reactive to threats. Second, Imran Khan is unlikely to follow on his promise. But then, one has to ask why Pakistan has acknowledged that it has terrorists on its breakfast table?

That’s because Pakistan has seen the limitations of being a client-state to China. That’s because it knows it cannot do without the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is controlled by the United States (nearly 18 per cent share). If it doesn’t fall in line with Trump’s distaste for their terrorism, Pakistan could simply blow up.

Before we illustrate that Imran Khan is unlikely to follow up his resolve on terrorism-on-its-soil, let’s look at its askance with China and IMF both.

Despite China pulling all stops to flow financial assistance, Pakistan needs at least $12 billion bailouts from the IMF to remain on its feet. As it is, China’s 22 infrastructure projects in Pakistan under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are worth $28.6  billion and Pakistan would have to pay back close to $100 billion to China by 2024, presently completely beyond its capacity.

Imran Khan has begun pushing back against this “client status” of China. It has downsized the main Chinese railway project by $2 billion, removed a $14 billion dam from Chinese financing and scrapped a 1320-megawatt coal-based power plant in the pipeline. The predatory swoop of China is hurting Pakistan: For instance, China would receive tax-free 91 per cent of revenues from the Gwadar port until it returns it to Pakistan in four decades.  Equipment imports from China are rising and the foreign-exchange reserves of Pakistan are consequently seriously depleted and the balance-of-payments crisis is acutely real.

Meanwhile, IMF, as said controlled by the United States, wants “complete transparency” from Pakistan before it loosens its purse strings. Chillingly, IMF has stated that it needs transparent disclosures to determine whether Pakistan has debt sustainability. This means that Pakistan would have to come out clean on the extent, composition and terms of Pakistan’s debts to China. The US, on its part, doesn’t see Pakistan fit to get IMF bailout. The US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said there would be “no rationale” for an IMF bailout of Pakistan that pays off Chinese debts.

That makes it clear that Pakistan would’ve to hedge its bets. It can’t leave the umbrella of China which shields it from international furore on terrorists and sells it weapons that China’s own military has not inducted, including prototype nuclear power reactors.  It also can’t leave out IMF just to live another day, so to say.

The Immy (Imran)-loving elites in India are completely oblivious to the fact that China and Pakistan together are in a blood-pact to contain, if not destroy, India.

China is salami-slicing India in the Himalayan belt and Pakistan is inflicting a thousand cuts in Jammu and Kashmir through its terror networks, many of whom have been officially blacklisted so by the United Nations (UN) itself. Presently, 55 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir is in the hands of Pakistan (35%) and China (20%). China also has ambitions to build a land corridor to Pakistan so that the Arabian Sea and Indian Oceans opens up to them directly.

It would be great news for India if IMF doesn’t release another round of funds – this would be IMF’s 22nd bailout to Pakistan in six decades—unless Pakistan shows some real action on the ground against terrorists. Pakistan’s financial viability alone shouldn’t be criteria to supply the oxygen of funds.

There is no reason to believe that Imran Khan can walk the talk. The terrorist network and Pakistan’s army, which keeps Imran Khan in office, are Siamese twins. It’s simply time-buying tactics till Pakistan secures IMF loan.

So readers, don’t you believe a line in what you read in our partisan Lutyens Media. India is not an aggressor and would never be. It’s just to demonize Narendra Modi and the BJP/NDA government. Terrorism is Pakistan and Pakistan is terrorism.

Meanwhile, we await Navjot Singh Sidhu, Barkha Dutt and Shoba De to gush over how Imran Khan is “shanti ka messiah” in cracking the whip on terrorists. Let’s see if they also ask for its “proof or evidence.”

Congress making random poll promises as they know they won’t win, PM Modi tells Republic Bharat

OpIndia Staff
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Congress making random poll promises as they know they won’t win, PM Modi tells Republic Bharat

Taking a dig at the Congress on its populist minimum income guarantee promise, PM Modi said that the fifth generation of a family is making same promise of eradicating poverty by making such fantastical promises because they know they are not going to come to power to actually implement the same.


Prime Minister Modi in his interview with Republic Bharat touched upon various issues including the prospects of the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the emergence of an Opposition front, dynastic politics, his campaign theme ‘Mein Bhi Chowkidar’, Pulwama and several other issues ranging from the Rafale deal to unemployment.

Stating that in a democracy like India, Modi said that the voter is at the centre of the election and hence political parties have to go to the polls only to meet the expectations of voters.

Prime Minister Modi added that this year the elections will personality-driven. “After 5 years of being in power, it is usual for the people to make the election campaigns synonymous with a personality and I’ve been constantly among the masses,” said PM Modi in his first interview post-Pulwama terror attacks.

Responding to question on Balakot air strikes conducted by India Air Force and the opposition parties’ reactions to these incidents, PM Modi said he had given full freedom to the armed forces to make a plan and excute it.  “It is my behaviour, where there is a risk to the jawans of India, I’m constantly involved it. There is no expectation from their end, but I could not sleep and I was aware of what was happening.”

Regarding the Opposition’s ‘personal attack’ and saying the Pulwama attack, as well as Balakot air strikes, was ‘match-fixing’ between PM Khan and PM Modi, he added, “No one can question my patriotism for my country. Everyone was aware of how big the attack was, but you should question the Opposition regarding such personal attacks. If they are sure of what they are blaming us for, they can go ahead with this as their agenda for the polls.”

On accusations of the opposition regarding the timing of ASAT programme launch, PM Modi defended the allegations stating that a lot of global planning is needed before an event like ASAT test. A government in power can make mistakes, he said. But, Congress, who has been in power for a long time, should have considered these allegations more seriously. Taking a dig at the utter cluelessness of the Opposition on ASAT missile, PM Modi said, “The Opposition cannot keep the country safe as it lacks primary knowledge.”

Clarifying that the ASAT announcement cannot be considered violation of model code of conduct, PM Modi said, “Can government say it’s not on duty? Should the government not respond to critical issues because of elections.”

He further asserted that the BJP will come back to power in 2019 with a much stronger mandate. PM Modi said that country is not against coalitions, the country wants stability. The people of India don’t want to go towards instability and the people of the country have made up their minds, they want a government with an absolute majority, said PM Modi. He further added that BJP will get more seats than it did in 2014.

“We are the government that works 24 hours. It is unfortunate that when Abhinandan Varthaman was detained in Pakistan, the Opposition started questioning the Balakot air strikes and his safe return. It was their plan and they were going to bring out a ‘candlelight march’ for it,” PM Modi said.

Targetting the opposition over questioning him on the issue of handling Pakistan, PM Modi took a dig on opposition parties and their ecosystem saying that, “They see statesmanship in Pakistan PM’s statements and they doubt their own PM. The people should recognise these people.”

He asserted that Pakistan Prime Minister should prove his intent for peace by returning perpetrators of terror and criminals to India. “Pakistan has always assured that they will take decisive action, but they don’t. I do not want to fall into their trap now,” said PM Modi.

With reference to PM Modi picking up Chowkidar as a campaign theme for the elections, Arnab Goswami asked the Prime Minister on why did not he ignore the abuses hurled at him. PM Modi said that he was a Chowkidar, even though not literally, but in its spirit. He said that the issue of Chowkidar was not a simple issue, rather it was an idea similar to the idea of MK Gandhi’s idea of trusteeship.

“There are people who have gotten into the habit of undertaking personal attacks. As far as Chaiwala is concerned, did you hear it when I was the CM of Gujarat? When I was declared the PM candidate, they dug out my background.

“I’ve been the longest serving Chief Minister of Gujarat. Yes, I’m a chaiwala and my past was never spoken about during my tenure as chief minister. But when I was elected as the Prime Minister, they started raising these issues and I proudly said that I was a chaiwala,” he said.

On being questioned about the fleeing of fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, PM Modi said that the Opposition is slamming him for losing these fugitives but was it is because of his strict actions in the country that they have had to flee, asked PM Modi. He claimed the credit of bringing them back stating that his government has come down severely on their assets for which they have had to run because of our actions.

“During Opposition rule, you would not have even known the names of such fugitives, leave alone know what happened to them and what action was taken against them. Properties worth Rs 14,000 crore belonging to Vijay Mallya have been seized even though total liability against him stands at Rs 9,000 crore,” said PM Modi.

PM Modi also spoke about middleman Michel, “I have got Christian Michel, he is sitting in jail and revealing details. The law is taking its course. We made a law for the fugitives, wherever in the world they hide, their money can be confiscated. All the cheats are waiting for the government to change so that they come back.”

Targetting Congress party over their involvement in various defence deals and scams, he said that previous governments used defence deals as their ATMs as they can not imagine that deals can be done with transparency.

With reference to the issue of Robert Vadra and failure of his government to take any action against the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, PM Modi said that the law is taking its course. “In India, there is a proper system of law. Congress has received a number of notices from the Court, but they take their own sweet time to respond. If we had to take the political route, we could have but we cannot and we have to ensure we follow the judicial system and it will the investigation is working at the right speed” added PM Modi.

Taking on the Mahagathbandhan, PM Modi said, “In Bengal, Kerala and Odisha, has there been any understanding between the Opposition parties then how is the gatbandhan working? It is not yet happening. If people of this country have decided to give us the majority, then who can keep us out even if they decide to ally up after the polls are done? The country has made its decision to ensure full majority and reinstate the NDA government, no one can question that,” asked PM Modi.
He also assured that after the outcome of the upcoming elections is declared, he will work with everyone together. “As a responsible citizen, as a responsible political party, as a responsible PM, I will work with everyone together. Be it Congress or Mayawati or Mamata Banerjee,” said PM Modi indicating that a national consensus may be reached post elections.

Commenting on dynastic politics, PM Modi said, “It is not my problem, but dynastic politics is a major threat to India’s democracy. The parties which are run by families, the country cannot function out of the families control. The party which works as a personal company where no one else can come in as President, this is wrong. It is the responsibility of media houses like you to bring out such dynastic political families.

Prime Minister Modi on TDP’s comments accusing him of ‘ending the democracy if Modi wins’, said, “Those who have no issue to raise will focus on fear-mongering to divert from problems. Were the founding fathers so weak that they would make something that one Modi could destroy? They are insulting those who died for independence.”

“Who wanted to impeach the SC judge, who brought in an emergency? Before levelling allegations they should look in the mirror,” PM Modi said.

“Those who have seen my tenure as CM of Gujarat in the past 13-14 years, they won’t accuse me of trying to control the judiciary and parliament. I’ve been silent all this while but should I question as to who ordered for the Emergency? Who jailed political leaders? Who stabbed their own father in law? Please, not make me open my mouth,” PM Modi warned against rumour mongering.

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