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NBDSA asks News18 to pull down 2023 interview of Bageshwar Dham: Read how the media body headed by a former SC judge has been passing anti-Hindu orders

Siddhi Somani
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NBDSA asks News18 to pull down 2023 interview of Bageshwar Dham: Read how the media body headed by a former SC judge has been passing anti-Hindu orders

The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) on Thursday (7th November) asked News 18 media to take down an exclusive interview of Hindu spiritual leader Bageshwar Dham Sarkar (also known as Dhirendra Krishna Shastri) that was shared on their platform in July 2023. NBDSA stated that they had sought a response from News 18 based on a complaint from one Pune-based techie Indrajeet Ghorpade, and the channel has failed to respond within a stipulated time period.

The complainant mentioned that in the interview, Bageshwar Baba promoted his supernatural powers and the channel allowed it to be shared, breaking the regulations of news broadcasting and digital standards. The complaint also alleged that Shastri promoted the idea of Hindu Rashtra and the love jihad “conspiracy”. As per the reports, Ghorpade who is an activist has earlier filed several complaints against the channel.

Following this, the NBDSA stated that Shastri promoted superstition during the interview and that his statements concerning Hindu Rashtra were divisive in nature. “The seer who was invited by the broadcaster made several claims during the broadcast, which promoted superstition. Furthermore, during the broadcast, several statements were made by the seer concerning Hindu Rashtra and religion, which were divisive in nature, such as that in order to live in India it would be mandatory to say ‘Sita Ram’ and that Islam asked men to trap young Hindu girls in love jihad and then kill them,” the NBDSA headed by former SC judge AK Sikri said.

Image- News18

It added that the response of News 18, claiming that what Dhirendra Shastri said was his own personal views and not the views of the channel, was not satisfactory. It mentioned that Shastri mentioned several instances of his alleged ‘supernatural powers’, promoting superstition and occult practices, like finding lost cattle and jewels of people, and making religious proclamations that were divisive in nature.

As per the original NBDSA order obtained by OpIndia, the show violated the principles of Self-regulation which enjoins the broadcasters to refrain from advocating or encouraging superstition and occultism. The complainant stated that Shastri during the interview claimed that he had superpowers and that he could find missing animals, and diamonds using his powers.

The broadcaster responded to the allegation stating that it was a live interview and Bageshwar Dham Sarkar chose to answer questions referring to his personal life and ‘experiences’. It further added that the channel in no way would be responsible for such statements. Further, it added that Bageshwar Dham Sarkar clarified that he had no magic and that his predictions are to be taken as indicative and not as ultimate truth.

However, the NBDSA observed that the program caused harm to the religious harmony between the communities and promoted superstition, occultism, and blind belief. “Such programs should not be broadcast,” it added.

Previous complaint by Ghorpade against News18 against ‘love jihad’ show

It is important to note that this is not the first time that the Pune-based activist techie has filed a complaint against News18. Ghorpade had dragged News18 and its anchor Aman Chopra in the year 2022 as well when the latter reported several incidents of love jihad during Navratri and Garba celebrations. Aman Chopra’s show at that time ‘Desh nahi Jhukne Dunga’ had reported about Muslim men allegedly beaten by local Hindu groups for entering into garba pandals by hiding their original identities. The men were then identified and handed to the police who booked them in three separate cases in Ahmedabad, Indore, and Akola.

NBDSA order obtained by OpIndia

In the complaint against News18, the activist said that the anchor made the following tickers, “Garba mein ghusne se pehle pehchan patra dikhana hoga par uska virodh ho raha tha, ki kagaz nahi dikhayenge, garba mein jayenge. 7 logo pe FIR, Akola mein bhi Ahmedabad mein bhi Indore mein bhi, aur fir kehte hai Kagaz nahi dikhayenge. Khabar kya hai? Garbe mein ladkiyon ki photo lene par pitai, pakde gaye sabhi 4 yuwak vishes samuday ke, Ahmedabad mein 2 Muslimon ki pitai.” “These were repeated by the anchor which portrayed the entire Muslim community as demons,” the complainant added.

Denying the said allegations, the News18 media broadcaster then had explained that the challenged program ‘Desh Nahi Jhukne Dunga’ was based on viral videos of three incidents showing certain individuals being beaten for deceptively attending Garba celebrations to record videos of women without their consent. In one of the cities, an FIR was also filed against such individuals. The broadcaster argued that these incidents were newsworthy, given allegations that some people were concealing or misrepresenting their identities to gain entry to the Garba events. The broadcaster also clarified that the program did not condone violence.

The broadcaster further noted that other TV news channels had also aired the viral videos, and the incidents were also given wide coverage by various newspapers. It explained that the challenged program also raised the question of whether it was inappropriate for members of the Muslim community to attend Garba celebrations and why some individuals were entering the event using falsified documents.

Given this context, the media platform questioned how the program could be viewed as communal or as promoting hate, as alleged by the complainant. The broadcaster pointed out that the incident involving seven individuals allegedly entering Garba festivities in Indore by concealing their identities was breaking news at the time.

In response to one of such incidents in Indore, the then Culture Minister of Madhya Pradesh had stated that Garbas had become a medium for “Love Jihad.” Additionally, the broadcaster, News18 in the year 2022 mentioned that the demand for identity verification prior to attending Garba celebrations was raised by local committees to ensure the safety of women and to maintain law and order.

The NBDSA, however, at that time also observed that the challenged broadcast was a news report on viral videos from Ahmedabad, Indore, and Akola, showing certain individuals being physically assaulted for just attending Garba celebrations. While NBDSA acknowledged that the broadcaster had merely reported on these incidents as they occurred in those cities, it noted that the tickers used during the interview gave a ‘communal tone’ to the broadcast. “These phrases created an impression that men from a specific community were miscreants or criminals aiming to deceive or harm women of another community,” the NBDSA said deciding to caution the broadcaster against using such language in future broadcasts.

Love Jihad downplayed by Islamist supporters, termed it as conspiracy

It is crucial to note that incidents of Love jihad have been downplayed by leftists and their supporters giving a clean chit to the Islamists who deliberately trap Hindu women into love affairs and then force them to convert their religion. The leftists Islamists and their supporters consider Love Jihad a hoax and usually term it a conspiracy. However, OpIndia has reported several such cases from across the country with relevant evidence and legal reports exposing the sickening mentality of the Islamist community. During the NIA raids on the banned terrorist organization PFI, the authorities also recovered several incriminating documents in which specific mentions of Love jihad were made. The Islamists had made calls to the Muslim community asking them to trap Hindu women and convert them. Monetary rewards for doing the same were also announced. However, the Centre imposed a ban on the terrorist outfit in the year 2022.

In the given case also, Pune-based activist Ghorpade downplayed the incidents of Love Jihad and called it a conspiracy. He, in his complaint against New18 in the year 2022 stated that the latter was trying to allegedly spread hatred in the society by ‘demonizing’ the entire Muslim community. Ignoring the safety concern of the women attending Garba, and the fact that the Muslims had hidden their original identity to enter Garba pandals, Ghorpade stated that the channel glorified the assault over the Muslim men in Indore, Ahmedabad, and Akola respectively. He said that Shastri also during the interview with News18 recently promoted the idea of Hindu Rashtra and the love jihad “conspiracy”. Following this, the NBDSA directed the media to take down the interview from all its platforms.

Five shows of News18 were issued notice by the NBDSA in 2022 accusing it of spreading ‘communal hatred’

In 2023, the NBDSA issued notices against 5 shows by News18’s Aman Chopra and alleged that the anchor instigated communal hatred by ‘deliberately’ targeting the Muslim community. “Chopra targeted, vilified, and castigated the entire Muslim community for the actions of a few miscreants and gave an incident a communal tilt,” the NBDSA had said as it fined Rs 25,000 to News18.

One show aired on 4th October 2022, in which Chopra, as per the complainant, termed police action of caning against the accused Muslims as ‘Dandiya’. The Muslims in Kheda, Gujarat. The accused Muslims had reportedly attacked the garba event after which police resorted to caning. The second show aired on September 29th, 2022 where Chopra allegedly reported about the Muslims barging into the garba events in Ahmedabad, Indore, and Akola. The complaint stated that the anchor allegedly portrayed all Muslim men as criminals trying to deceive Hindu women.

Gujarat Police flogging accused Islamists in the chowk in Kheda, Gujarat

The third show by News18 was aired on 5th August where the channel reported about sharp rise in the Muslim population in border areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bangladesh. The complainant then complained that the show and the channel tried to portray all Muslims as intruders. Interestingly, all the above three complaints were also filed by Pune-based activist Ghorpade.

The fourth show aired on January 18th, 2022 when the channel reported about UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s ’80-20′ comments. This time the complaint was filed by the Citizens for Justice and Peace and one Anuj Dubey who said that Chopra’s reporting was biased and partial. As per them, Chopra used statements like “20 were ganging up against 80 who were Hindus.” News18 India was fined Rs 50,000 and ordered to remove videos of the broadcast. 

The fifth show that was challenged aired on July 28th, 2022, and was about the murder of Praveen Nettaru in Dakshina Kannada. As stated by the NIA, Praveen Nettaru was murdered by the PFI ‘killer squad’ to create terror in the Hindu community and establish Islamic Rule by 2047. Based on the complaint filed by one Utkarsh Mishra, the NBDSA stated that Chopra, rather than holding a few miscreants accountable for the murders and violence, actually attributed the violence to the religion itself.

Praveen Nettaru ran a chicken shop. He was killed by PFI Islamists. Image Source: File Photo

NBDSA favors minority to portray its anti-Hindu stance?

It is further important to note that the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has also allegedly been posing an anti-Hindu, anti-India stance. It has issued similar orders in the past too, sometimes downplaying the hijab issue or issue of religious conversion. It has evidently been siding by the minority community and issuing orders to several media houses whenever the latter attempted to expose the real faces of the Islamists.

1. Notice against News Nation for airing show on ‘conversion jihad’

  1. In 2021, the NBDSA issued a notice against another media channel named ‘News Nation’ for airing a show about ‘Conversion Jihad’. An NGO called CJP (Citizens for Justice and Peace) had lodged a complaint with NBSDA taking umbrage to the “Conversion Jihad” show by News Nation TV, anchored by Deepak Chaurasia. The complaint said that the anchor called one Maulana Syed Ul Qadri a ‘factory of lies’ and made him apologize on behalf of the entire Muslim community.

The complaint also said that there was an “attempt” to promote “Islamophobic” ideas during the show and that some of its clips on Twitter, which received thousands of likes and retweets promoted hate against the Muslim community. The NGO claimed that such programs must not be aired as they may hurt the “composite and diverse” culture of India and that it may lead to violence.

News Nation TV had in turn said that the channel or the anchor cannot be held responsible for statements made by the guests in the program, but, had tendered an unconditional apology if the statements had hurt anyone. The NBDSA had ordered for the show to be deleted upholding the notion that any harsh reality being discussed in the media amounts to “Islamophobia”.

Conversion Jihad is a reality that the mainstream media, the organizations that govern the media, and the political class, on the whole, want to push under the rug. There are hundreds of cases where Hindu women have been forcefully converted to Islam either by deceit or force. There are other cases where Hindu women are even brutally murdered and/or raped when they find out the real identity of the perpetrator and refuse to convert to Islam. OpIndia has time and again reported several such cases from across India with legal pieces of evidence. All such reports can be read here and here.

2. Notice against Times Now Navbharat for airing show featuring love jihad

On June 3rd, 2023, activist Indrajeet Ghorpade had filed a complaint with Times Now Navbharat, raising concerns about the tickers and headlines displayed during the show, which he argued promoted ‘demonization and hatred against the Muslim community’. The show named ‘Love to banana hai, Hindu betiyan nishana hai’ talked about love jihad and the modus operandi of how Islamists trap Hindu women and then force them to convert to their religion. Ghorpade alleged that numerous generalized statements targeting the Muslim community were made without any factual basis. He also said that the murder of Shraddha Walker was repeatedly presented with a ‘communal slant, casting Muslim men in a suspicious light’.

“Shraddha Walker was incorrectly cited as an example of Love Jihad. Further, during the broadcast false generalized statements were made to target Muslim men, by stating, ‘Kyun har jageh, Hindu naam rakh ke ek Hindu ladko fasane ka kyun aata hai saamne ye bataiye? Aisa kyun hai ki jo ladki fasti hai woh Hindu hai aur jo ladka maarta hai woh Muslim nikalta hai baad mein? Kyun dhoka diya jata hai iss tarah se?’ Another panelist baselessly claimed that this is an organized crime against our (Hindu) women,” the complaint read.

NBDSA then imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on Times Now Navbharat. It observed that several Muslims married Hindu girls, however the same did not warrant for news anchors to make generalized statements.

The order stated, “Some such instances should not lead to making generalized statements regarding inter-faith marriages by giving it a communal color. Every citizen, from whichever religion, has a right to marry a person of his/her choice, irrespective of the religion to which he/she belongs. Merely because a Hindu girl married a boy of another faith would not be tantamount to love jihad unless it is established that such a Hindu girl was duped or coerced into the marriage. Further, because of few incidents of such forced marriages, an entire community cannot be branded. Thus, it was not proper to generalize the incidents with the tickers such as ‘Love to banana hai, Hindu betiyan nishana hai’ Jihadiyon se Beti Bachao.”

3. Notice against Aaj Tak and its show ‘Black and White’ by Sudhir Chaudhary

This specific complaint was recently filed by activist Indrajeet Ghorpade, this time against the ‘Black and White’ show, hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary and aired on Aaj Tak. In the complaint, Ghorpade alleged that the anchor made false statements aimed to incite hatred and fear against the Muslim community. He wrote that “the broadcasters ignored the widespread discrimination faced by Dalits and Muslims, opting instead to air a show that portrayed Muslims as rioters and labeled Muslim areas as ‘mini-Pakistan.'”

The show by Chaudhary notably reported on the Islamist violence in Nalanda district of Bihar during Ram Navami celebrations in March 2023. As reported, a religious mob in Nalanda set fire to Hindu shops and their warehouses, causing extensive damage. Chaudhary while reporting stated that Islamists aimed at making India an Islamic country. “Today they have Muslim area, tomorrow they might want Muslim Bharat. Have you ever heard of Hindu area, Sikh area, Parsi area?” Chaudhary reported.

Complaining against this, Ghorpade stated that “the anchor failed to mention that a mosque was burnt down in Nalanda, Bihar, that Muslim shops and houses around the mosque were also burnt down and that the cops did not arrive for several hours while the burning was taking place, and when they did arrive, they misbehaved with Muslim women and looted the houses. The anchor kept blaming Muslims for the violence.”

Original document obtained by OpIndia

The complainant stated that, throughout India, areas are often segregated by caste and religion. A simple search on Google Maps for terms like Jain Colony, Hindu Colony, Sindhi Camp, Brahman Colony, or Parsi Colony reveals numerous such locations. Even when areas are not explicitly named after a specific religion or caste, ghettoization remains widespread across the country.

The NBDSA noted that there would have been no issue with the broadcast if it had limited its focus to analyzing incidents of communal violence. However, by displaying tickers like “Aaj Muslim ilaake, Kal Muslim Bharat,” “Aaj ilaaka, kal zilla, parso desh,” and “Aapne kabhi Sikh ya Parsi ilaaka suna hai” during the program, the broadcast took on a very different tone.

Similar directives against Aaj Tak

Apart from these three orders, the NBDSA issued similar directives to several other media houses schooling them on ethics and impartial stance. Another episode of the ‘Black and White’ show, hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary that covered former US President Barack Obama’s remarks on minority protections in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US was taken cognizance of by the NBDSA. The NBDSA found that beyond violating the principles of ‘Objectivity and Neutrality’, the broadcast also breached the Specific Guidelines for Anchors, which require that “all programs must be presented in an impartial, objective, and neutral manner.”

Conclusion

The NBDSA is an ‘independent’ body established by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), which represents private television news, current affairs, and digital broadcasters. It identifies itself as the collective voice of news, current affairs, and digital broadcasters in India and is fully funded by its members. NBDA is one of the two major broadcast media federations, the other being the News Broadcasters Federation headed by Arnab Goswami.

NBDSA claims that its goal is to safeguard its members from engaging in unfair or unethical practices and to uphold the credibility of television news broadcasters, digital news media, and other related entities. Currently, the body is headed by former SC judge AK Sikri.

However, it has time and again been slamming notices to media houses that attempt to expose the sickening mindset of the Islamists. It has issued media houses for airing shows on love jihad, conversion jihad, hijab issues, Islamist violence, etc, ultimately downplaying the severity of these issues faced by the majority Hindu community. The Islamists target Hindu women, force them to convert to their religion, attack Hindu festivals, and create violence, they practice jihad (war) against the community with an aim to make India an Islamic nation by 2047. Very recently, the Islamsits (different from the entire Muslim community) have began practicing ‘thook’ and ‘unrine’ jihad where they contaminate the food being served to the customers. Several such incidents have also been recently reported by OpIndia.

It seems difficult to believe but Islamists have a unique agenda to fulfill and that is to make India an Islamic Nation by the year 2047, the year when India would complete 100 years of independence. Several proofs exposing the same have been gathered by the NIA during the raids on terrorist outfit PFI hideouts. Despite this, the media houses allegedly targeted for reporting the truth look concerning and almost like an deliberate act. The authorities involved need to thoroughly verify the incidents, ground realities, and concerns of the surviving majority community in India as well before allegedly giving clean chit to Islamists almost every time.

Further, in an attempt to ‘protect’ the minorities, the authorities allegedly ignore the seriousness of issues like love jihad, conversions, and Islamist violence, further allegedly doing injustice against the majority population of the country. The media should be impartial and ethical in reporting issues, definitely yes! But isn’t it the primary responsibility of the media to show the truth to society and make them aware of the realities? Reportedly, no action is taken against media houses or digital publishers when they attempt to allegedly shield minority people accused of various crimes. Is that what ‘ethics’ looks like? Is that what ‘journalism’ looks like?

In many of the cases mentioned above, several broadcasters allegedly targeted and schooled by the NBDSA based on the complaints from alleged leftist, Islamist supporters clarified that they were reporting what was already out in the public domain or that the opinions expressed during the shows by the studio guests if any were their personal, but to no avail. They also mentioned that in several of the cases like Muslims caught in garba events, police action had been taken and that FIRs had been booked, therefore the credibility could not be doubted. But eventually, the media houses were ordered to take down the reports, accusing them of allegedly portraying the Muslim community as ‘demons’.

In the given case also, the News18 media house has been asked to take down its exclusive interview with Hindu spiritual leader Bageshwar Dham Sarkar (also known as Dhirendra Krishna Shastri).

Canada bans diaspora media outlet Australia Today after it covered EAM Jaishankar’s comments in Australia, MEA says it again highlights Canada’s hypocrisy

OpIndia Staff
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Canada bans diaspora media outlet Australia Today after it covered EAM Jaishankar’s comments in Australia, MEA says it again highlights Canada’s hypocrisy

In a shocking move, the Canadian government has blocked access to Australia Today in Canada. Australia Today is a prominent Indian subcontinental diaspora media outlet based in Australia. Canada banned the outlet after it aired a press conference of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar alongside Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong during Jaishankar’s Australia visit. Australia Today also extensively covered Jaishankar’s visit to Australia, and also published an interview with him.

Social media handles of Australia Today have been blocked in Canada, and they are not accessible to the viewers in Canada, according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

During the press conference in Canberra, minister Jaishankar raised the issue of attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton in Canada by Khalistanis, saying the incident showed how political space is being given to extremist forces in Canada. In the presence of Australian foreign minister, Jaishankar made several comments criticising the Canadian govt over its support of Khalistanis and baseless allegations against India accusing it of attacking Khalistanis in Canada.

During the regular media briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned Canada for blocking Australia Today, saying that it is an important diaspora media outlet in Canada. He said that the ban came just a few hours after Australia Today carried the press conference of EAM Dr S Jaishankar with Penny Wong. He added that the media outlet has published several articles on Jaishankar’s visit, and also published an interview with him.

Condemning the move, spokesperson Jaiswal said, “It looks strange to us. But nonetheless, what I will say that these are actions which yet again highlight the hypocrisy of Canada towards freedom of speech.”

Talking about the trigger for the ban, he said, “You would have seen that EAM in his media engagements, spoke about three things. One was Canada making allegations and a pattern has developed without any specific evidence. The second thing he highlighted was surveillance of Indian diplomats happening in Canada, which he termed as unacceptable. Third thing which he highlighted was the political space which has been given in Canada to anti-India elements.”

Concluding that Canada banned Australia Today for carrying the comments of EAM Jaishankar, Jaiswal said, “So you can draw your conclusions from that, why Australia Today channel was blocked by Canada.”

Delhi HC rules that notification banning import of Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” doesn’t exist as authorities fail to trace it, dismisses plea challenging it

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi HC rules that notification banning import of Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” doesn’t exist as authorities fail to trace it, dismisses plea challenging it

An appeal against the alleged customs restriction in 1988 on the import of Indian-British writer Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on 5th November. A division bench comprising Justices Rekha Palli and Saurabh Banerjee said that no such notification banning the book exists after the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and other officials were unable to produce the notification since the petition was filed back in 2019. The court also stated that as the notification banning the import of the book does not exist, the petitioner is free to procure the book.

The court highlighted, “In the light of the aforesaid circumstances, we have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists, and therefore, we cannot examine the validity thereof and dispose of the writ petition as infructuous.” Petitioner Sandipan Khan requested that the court issue a writ stating that the CBIC’s 1988 notification (No. 405/12/88-CUS-III), issued on 5th October and distributed to all state governments and Union territories on 6th October 1988, preventing the import of the book, was beyond the powers of the Indian Constitution. He sought authorisation from the publisher, an overseas reseller, or Indian or foreign e-commerce companies to import the famous novel.

However, the CBIC’s issues are not with the notification’s constitutionality but rather with finding it in the first place. The notification, according to Khan’s attorney, was not accessible through any website or authority at all. He argued that it could not be produced or filed with the court by the respondent authorities. He notified the court of the response to his 2017 RTI application, which indicated that the book was prohibited. The lawyer also brought forth a 2022 recording of a verdict issued by a coordinate bench, which concluded that the notification was untraceable and, as a result, could not be produced.

The case was initially heard on 6th May 2019. On 10th May 2022, the court notified the CBIC’s attorney that he was being given a “last and final opportunity to produce the impugned custom notification” following six adjournments without the subject being heard. The latter requested further time on 8th September of that year “to take instructions and produce the relevant notification which is relied upon by the respondent (CBIC) for preventing the petitioner from importing the book in question.”

The court then noted in November 2022 that CBIC’s counsel “states that the notification dated 05.10.1988 is untraceable and, therefore, cannot be produced.” It pronounced, “He seeks a final opportunity to make efforts to trace the said file. The respondent shall also file an affidavit as to the procedure to be adopted, in case statutory notifications are lost or misplaced.” However, the respondents still couldn’t find the notification and requested more time when the matter was heard again on 11th January of the next year.

The court reheard the case on 24th May of this year. This time too, the CBIC was unable to find the notification, as indicated in an affidavit on file. It did not, however, provide the affidavit that the court requested, which would have specified what should be done in the event that statutory notices are forgotten or lost. The court was stern about this oversight. “We are informed by the counsel for the petitioner that it is the stated stand of the respondents, on affidavit, that the said notification is untraceable. To be noted, the coordinate bench, via the aforementioned order, had directed the respondents to file an affidavit indicating the procedure to be adopted if statutory notifications remain untraceable. One last opportunity is granted for this purpose,” the court conveyed.

The final hearing on the matter took place on 5th November. The bench took note of the fact that none of the respondent authorities were able to produce the notification and that the “alleged author” of the notification had also “displayed his helplessness” by failing to submit a copy of it while the case was still pending. Khan will be able to take any legal action regarding the book, the court added, remarking that it has no choice but to assume that the contested notification does not exist. This implies that Khan can import the book to India and there is no customs restriction on it.

Rajiv Gandhi had banned “The Satanic Verses” in India

“The Satanic Verses” was the fourth novel by Salman Rushdie and it was released in September 1988. Rajiv Gandhi, the late prime minister, led the Indian government at the time. It’s interesting to note that India never explicitly banned the book, rather, they used the Finance Ministry to enforce a Customs Act constraint on book imports. Salman Rushdie was even prohibited from entering India by the Congress government. Eleven years later, in 1999, the Vajpayee government finally abolished the prohibition.

India essentially outlawed the book by prohibiting its import within ten days after it was first published in Britain on 26th September 1988. Congress MPs Syed Shahabuddin and Khurshid Alam Khan (father of former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid) spearheaded the call for the book to be banned. Shahabuddin petitioned for the same, arguing that it posed a threat to public order. The father of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Rafiq Zakaria, was also a leading voice in advocating for the novel to be prohibited.

Rajiv Gandhi did what was expected of him and gave in to pressure from Muslim members of his party. He complied with their demand, igniting a communal fire which only grew intense with time. South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Sudan all banned the book after India did. The Margaret Thatcher government refused to outlaw it, despite widespread demonstrations and book burnings in Britain. The protests quickly extended to Pakistan and there were even a few similar demonstrations in America.

As the protests against the book spread to new nations, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, waded into the controversy and issued a fatwa on Valentine’s Day in 1989. Iran quickly declared a $6 million bounty on Rushdie’s head. On Friday, 13th August 2022, he was brutally stabbed at least 10 times by a Lebanese Muslim Hadi Matar (25), before a speaking engagement in Chautauqua, New York. He was seriously injured and lost sight in one eye.

Understanding the ‘liberal’ angst against CJI DY Chandachud and the absolute anti-Hindu submission that Left demands

Ganesh R
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Understanding the ‘liberal’ angst against CJI DY Chandachud and the absolute anti-Hindu submission that Left demands

It’s tragi-comic and it is hilarious – if you are not a liberal. In social media posts (a topic too sensitive to hit the regular MSM), the “liberal” commentariat has been outraging over the “betrayal” by the retiring Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chandrachud. The grief and angst against CJI Chandrachud is genuine. It is as if their spouse ran away with a neighbour, that too one they hated the very sight of. Not too long ago, this Justice was their hero and the toast of liberals. He was walking on water. Not only did he do what they wanted, but his soundbites gave them hopes of more goodies to come. That probably makes the pain that much more unbearable.

To really understand this angst, we need to take several steps back and look at the ecosystem, the players that control it and their agendas. While it is perfectly acceptable to grab a tub of popcorn and enjoy the breast-beating while it lasts, to understand is to be prepared.

  1. The first thing we must understand is the Indian definition of “secularism”. It is NOT the same as the European one which simply keeps the church out of the state, often going to great lengths to do so.
  2. Second, we must understand the ecosystem that gave us this definition and control it. 
  3. Then there is the wider global ecosystem, and the mechanisms put in place to attract coolies from 3rd world to lick and prosper or defy and remain in slums. 
  4. Finally, we must look at the CJ himself, his track record and public utterances. 

Secularism is not church out-of-state and CJI Chandrachud did not submit to their anti-Hindu definition

At least that is what the Indian secularism in the Nehru-Indira-Sonia Gandhi era has been. It is much more. As an act of taqiyya, it pays fake respect to customs and rituals of the majority faith, something European seculars will not do – performing poojas to inaugurate construction, for instance. But the real goal has been very different. 

Indian secularism is built around congenital, active, most often covert and at times blatantly overt hate for Sanatana Dharma. And this has been set, controlled and regulated by the hardcore left. Of course, Nehru himself was practically a communist as his generous praise of Stalin and the Soviet system shows, if you need any proof at all. His policies were communism with a coat of “socialist” paint. 

Left’s hate is not without reason – after all, it is Hinduism that has acted as the last bulwark against a complete takeover by Stalinists, Maoists and other peddlers of rapist savage, mass butcher fringe left imported ideologies. They have been successful in Buddhist, Animist, Christian, and even in Islamic countries, for a while at least. But not in India. To ‘rectify’ this, Hinduism must go. There are no ifs and buts.

Sadly, the left and the corrupt, fascist looter dynasties it supports, hoping to enjoy power without responsibility and the license as well as state resources to pursue its pogrom, are very clear about this idea of “secularism”. It is the foolish Hindu, like a lamb led to slaughter, that sees false hope in their every tiny gesture, proof of faith in every fake temple run (on poll eve) and the occasional tilak on their foreheads. “Oh no! He sure can’t hate us, look! He prays”! His body language may show an obvious lack of engagement or respect and he may have an angry face even inside the temple – but so what? Unki beruki mein bhi iltifat shaamil hai as Begum Akhtar sings. We are living in hope against facts like a foolish unrequited or separated lover in ghazals.

This ecosystem doesn’t feel contented if a judge, or anyone for that matter, is a secularist in the classic sense of the term. You see, CJ Chandrachud is a practising Hindu – he is not an atheist or agnostic. He likes Ayurveda, does Ganapathi puja and so on. Of course, he is staunchly secular, respects other faiths and sings Christmas carols. You might foolishly think this should be good enough and he is the kind of secular Hindu that the left wants every Hindu to be. After all, isn’t this what they preach overtly?

No sir! You can’t be further from the truth.

The Left is not interested in such lip service to their ideals. After all, they are not Hindus (except in name) to be foolishly led or controlled. Whether it is Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot or Kim or their ideological coolies in India, they want total obedience. They want the CJ as well as every Hindu to be atheist, self-hating and a willing warrior in their pogrom of Hindus and their faith. If you don’t fit in, you are out. Convert or die as the left’s heroes – Aurangzeb and other such Sultans used to say. This expectation is not just from Hindus – it applies to any Christian or Muslim who doesn’t hate the majority community. President Abdul Kalam was out too. He was a devout Muslim who did not hate Hindus or Hinduism. That was a serious violation of the leftist idea of secularism. So, they hated him from their guts. Lesser mortals like Tarek Fatah who dare to respect the Hindu faith or try to be genuinely secular, face this all the time.

In fact, the CJI himself recently made it clear he understands the left’s idea of “judicial independence”. Although as a sitting CJ, he couldn’t name the left openly. He pointed out how some “pressure groups” expect total compliance and if you disobey, you are not “independent”. You must be a mentally retarded child to miss what he was obviously implying. That is an amazing clarity of thought on the part of his lordship. I wish every Indian understood this and acted accordingly. That level of intolerance and expectation of total subservience has been a standard feature of their ideology that has only resulted in rapist savagery, mass murders and crimes against humanity wherever they or their demi-Gods like Stalin, Mao ruled.

This clarity of thought and definition of judicial independence has obviously been with the CJ since day 1 – you don’t suddenly change stripes or ideologies. But somehow, the left has chosen to listen to whatever was convenient to them – his anti-majoritarian soundbites that came out of his secular instincts. Secularism, which may be pure, but to the left is not good enough as I pointed out earlier. They want hate – towards Sanatan Dharma. Nothing less will do.

Fooled by their own delusion, the Stalinist cabal suddenly woke up to the fact that CJ was not and is not going to be their puppet – and they are lashing out in violent, venomous attacks. Like Biden’s dementia crudely thrust into the face of US liberals on that debate evening, to a point where it couldn’t be denied or lied about any longer, the CJ’s idea of secularism, independence etc., were too much for them to swallow and hope for better days. 

He is retiring soon and several of his recent words and actions – the Ganapati puja, with or without Modi present, his visit to Ayodhya, and his remarks about praying to the wrong God for guidance on the judgement all brought home the bad news – this man is no “secular” – at least not in the Stalinist definition of it. No amount of Christmas carol singing is going to rescue that image because it is not about being decent or liberal – it MUST be about living in hate. Once he retires formally, I can bet you the propaganda vitriol will switch into higher gear – as a warning to anyone who dares to cross them. I do hope the government can protect him as the dog whistling gets shriller.

I have kept for last the third point I made to start with – the global ecosystem that enables this.

As you must be aware, leftist hate for Sanatan Dharma is not of recent origin – but it was essentially an ideological pursuit untainted by money. I leave it to you to decide if that is any better than today. Of course, leftist “intellectuals” used to hang out at the doors of the Russian embassy for vodka bottles or free trips to Moscow but beyond that, it was just a labour of love. But the global woke ecosystem and the oil money of Islamist states like Qatar have thrown a new variable into the equation – $. Today, there is so much money, gigs, scholarships, jobs and favours chasing you if you have a credible track record of anti-Hindu hate that even observant Hindus will be tempted to suspend scruples and lick. After all, if you are an upper-caste/class elite used to good life but armed only with a degree in sociology or political “science” from JNU, Asoka etc, it makes you unemployable in any productive venture. Al-Jazeera boots or Soros orifices may look like el Dorado.

It is this ecosystem that Hindus face everyday, and CJ Chandrachud may face in his retired days!

‘Poison in their minds’, ‘communal class’, ‘drug users’: YouTube journalist Ravish Kumar’s unhinged rant against Middle Class Hindus

Sandeep Singh
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‘Poison in their minds’, ‘communal class’, ‘drug users’: YouTube journalist Ravish Kumar’s unhinged rant against Middle Class Hindus

YouTube journalist Ravish Kumar has gone on a bizarre unhinged rant against Middle Class Indians accusing them for everything under the sun, from communalism to not protesting against the government to illegally entering USA to theft of GST to drugs consumption to even intellectual bankruptcy.

In Ravish Kumar’s video titled ‘Murjha Gaya Middle Class‘, Ravish Kumar first complained that Middle Class is no longer visible, and can’t be heard even when Rupee slides against the Dollar or even if inflation rises. Ravish claimed that Middle Class is just happy if bulldozers raze a Muslim’s house.

Ravish further said that the middle class is happy if you just scare them by rising Muslim population, and by calling Muslims infiltrators. Apparently the youtuber is getting concerned with the shrinking middle class that is withering away.

In his rant, Ravish Kumar said that the brains of these people have rusted away, and that their language has also deteriorated. He said that middle class children are now just becoming Hindus, and is no longer an aspirational and ambitious class, and just communal class. Apparently for Ravish, middle class can’t understand the difference between nationalism and communalism, and they just have poison in the minds.

Ravish said that since middle class just cared about ‘nationalism’ for the last 10 years, and now their kids are just focused on becoming illegal immigrants in the US. He even bizarrely attacked middle class for GST theft. If even linking companies avoiding GST to middle class wasn’t bizarre enough, Ravish accused middle class for consumption of drugs as well.

Regarding rise of cyber crimes like ‘Digital Arrest’, Ravish Kumar said that middle class loses 1000s of crores in such scams due to their ‘intellectual development’. He further implied that they are getting bankrupt, but religion-based politics is enough for middle class.

He then went on to blame his perennial target Narendra Modi for destroying the minds of middle class, and keeping them occupied with the fear of Muslim population, illegal Bangladeshis, Mangalsutra etc. Ravish said that Narendra Modi is the hero of middle class, and he is keeping middle class scared by showing fear of Muslims.

In the video, Ravish Kumar claimed that Middle Class is now becoming economically weaker, but now this class is politically happy, and are now happy just being a “Hindu Class”.

Ravish even bemoaned that markets saw a “slow Diwali” this year because middle class is now economically much weaker, since as per Ravish, it is more focused on communalism and religion politics. However, the data shows that Diwali witnessed record sales this season, with shoppers thronging the markets to purchase. Over 28 Lakh vehicles were sold in India during the festive period, another record. But for Ravish, this is slowing down of demand as middle class has no money left.

Actually, the problem Ravish has is not with the middle class, it is with the fact that middle class votes for Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, and not his beloved INDI Alliance. While every problem in the world is due to Indian middle class right now as per Ravish, this opinion will change sharply the day Indian middle class starts voting for Rahul Gandhi as the PM.

Notably, ever since PM Modi moved to national politics, his support in urban areas, where as Ravish Kumar pointed out, the middle class resides, has remained strong. With Congress unable to do well in these centres, a frustrated Ravish Kumar has started blaming middle class for every problem in the world.

Ravish won’t be the first to vent out at middle class for voting for PM Modi, after every election, you can see social media platforms full of posts from leftists blaming them for once again voting for BJP and PM Modi.

To Mr. Ravish Kumar, keep hating middle class while it keeps growing in India, and is doing much better on every scale than what it was doing 10 years ago.

The complete video can be checked here on Ravish Kumar’s official YouTube channel.

Yasin Malik’s Pakistani wife Mushaal Mullick writes to Rahul Gandhi seeking debate on her husband, read how Congress and its ecosystem tried to present him as a revolutionary

Rukma Rathore
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Yasin Malik’s Pakistani wife Mushaal Mullick writes to Rahul Gandhi seeking debate on her husband, read how Congress and its ecosystem tried to present him as a revolutionary

Anti-India elements including Pakistan and its terrorist lackeys have consistently expressed their strong belief in the opposition parties, especially Congress and its ecosystem. With quotes from Rahul Gandhi in their United Nations dossier and endorsements from the dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the party has its own following in India’s adversarial neighbour. Interestingly, Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Digvijaya Singh have also reciprocated the same while urging Pakistanis to assist the party in overthrowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s democratically elected government and even promising to reintroduce Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The party’s open mollycoddling and pampering of Kashmiri separatists together with the prioritisation of Muslim appeasement politics above everything else has created a favourable perception of itself in anti-India and Islamist echo chambers. The convoys of Kashmiri separatist leaders and pro-Pakistan stooges like Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the national capital and the cordial invitation extended to terrorist Yasin Malik who is the supremo of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to the Prime Minister’s official residence speaks volumes about the party’s assessment of the perilous threat posed by jihadis hell-bent on destroying India.

Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the Pakistani wife of Yasin Malik seems to have remembered how the oldest political party in India knowingly supported and hosted her husband despite his role in the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus and the murder of four IAF (Indian Air Force) officials, including Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna. Hence, she decided to approach Rahul Gandhi who is the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha in order to further the case of her jailed spouse under the pretext of “bringing peace to Jammu and Kashmir,” in a letter on 6th November. She has asked him to initiate a debate for her husband in the Indian Parliament.

Notably, she earlier served as the assistant to the prime minister on human rights and women empowerment under the caretaker government headed by Anwarul Haq Kakar. She addressed Yasin Malik’s “three-decades-old sedition case in which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has demanded a death sentence for him” in her letter. The agency filed an appeal seeking the death penalty for him in a case involving terror funding. Yasin Malik is currently arguing the issue before the Delhi High Court. Several people were charged by the NIA in the 2017 terror funding investigation, including him. He pleaded guilty to the accusations and was given a life term in jail by a trial court in 2022.

“Since November 2, Malik has gone on an indefinite hunger strike to protest the inhumane treatment in jail. This hunger strike will further adversely affect his wellbeing and put at risk the life of a man, who after renouncing armed struggle, chose to believe in the concept of non-violence,” Mushaal stated while referring to her husband’s alleged transition from a terrorist to a separatist demanding the balkanisation of India as he repeatedly parroted Pakistan’s agenda and sown the seeds of hatred and animosity against the country which often transmogrified in violence and bloodshed in the valley.

“Rahul Ji, I recall these anecdotes not to glorify Malik but to recall them to apprise you that he stood by his end of the bargain,” she added, quoting many authors who had written about Malik’s change of heart. Additionally, she claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party administration has been victimizing Yasin Malik “in all unimaginable ways” since 2019. “He is being tried for waging a war against India in a 35-year-old case and now capital sentence is being demanded for him in concocted cases filed against him by NIA. I request you to bring to use your high moral and political influence in the Parliament and to initiate a debate in the case of Yasin Malik, who could become an instrument for bringing organic and not cosmetic peace back to the Jammu & Kashmir — paradise on earth,” she urged the Gandhi scion. Mushaal married Yasin Malik in 2009 and the couple has a daughter together.

The truth of the matter is that neither she nor any other terror apologist even anticipated that Kashmir would experience such a significant transformation under PM Modi’s leadership. She never expected that the sins of her husband would come back to haunt him and that his heinous actions would bear the fruit of consequences, considering how the Congress party indulged him during its time at the centre. Now, she and the likes of her are running around like headless chickens. Furthermore, another issue that is besetting them is that the valley is witnessing unprecedented change, development and progress that was unfathomable prior to 2019.

Congress-Yasin Malik bonhomie

Yasin Malik enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the centre and its ecosystem. He was hailed as if he were a Gandhian peacemaker instead of being prosecuted for his crimes against humanity while his victims were rendered to fend for themselves and pick up the pieces of their tormented and broken lives. He was regarded as if he had given up the guns as a favour to the Indian state when in reality he had only changed his tactic and never his intention or goal. It is pertinent to remember that he was apprehended by security forces in August 1990 and incarcerated until 1994, when he was eventually granted bail after which he claimed to “renounced violence and became a Gandhian.”

Yasin Malik was invited to a meeting in 2006 by then-prime minister Manmohan Singh at his official home in New Delhi. As part of his vital outreach campaign with the political leaders, separatists and other parties in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister also had important conversations with terrorists. His viral photographs with the terrorist as the two smile joyfully emerged as one of the most harrowing images of the recent past, especially for the people whose lives were ruined by the latter. What could have been more shocking than the leader of the world’s biggest democracy merrymaking with a terrorist?

He used to be invited to media conclaves and the liberal media portrayed him as an icon and hero for the Kashmiri youths. He was given platforms to spread his anti-India rhetoric as he sat among prominent personalities and promoted the separatist ideology as well as poisoned young minds with impunity. The India Today Group did the same in 2008 and even called him a “youth icon.” He was emerging as the favourite darling of the Indian media. Moreover, Yasin Malik started mingling with the New Delhi crowd much before that and admitted that he once met Manmohan Singh at a journalist’s house in 2001 and also went to Sonia Gandhi’s residence in 2003 when the party was in opposition.

Yasin Malik not only killed the IAF officers and played a major role in the massacre of Kashmiri Hindus but he also admitted to the kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of then-home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 1989 and she also identified him as one of her kidnappers. He was reportedly involved in the killing of Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo a High Court Judge who was shot dead by three terrorists in the same year in Srinagar after the latter handed over a death sentence to JKLF terrorist Maqbool Bhat.

Despite his bloody history, the Congress and its ecosystem including human rights advocates in New Delhi depicted him as a revolutionary and mainstreamed him. He thus had no fear of law, judiciary or law enforcement agencies. Now, contrary to all their desires and demands, law has finally caught up to him which is still inconceivable for his admirers and family. Therefore, his wife has knocked on the last ray of hope that has previously embraced the terrorist and she expects that they will do so once more. However, in their naivety or on purpose she seemed to have forgotten that times have drastically changed and with that, the prospect of Yasin Malik’s freedom has also died. Or perhaps, like her husband, she merely wishes to inflame tensions and start a political dispute to further her nefarious agenda.

Land for Jobs scam: Court directs Railway board to grant sanction to prosecute accused govt officials, CBI receives sanction to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav

ANI
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Land for Jobs scam: Court directs Railway board to grant sanction to prosecute accused govt officials, CBI receives sanction to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav

The Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday directed the competent authority to grant sanction within one week to prosecute public servants accused in a CBI case linked to the Land for Job case.

Special judge Vishal Gogne passed the direction after he was informed by the CBI that the sanction was pending with the competent authority at the railway board. It may take two weeks to get the sanction.

Special public prosecutor for CBI DP Singh informed the court that they have been informed that it may take two more weeks for grant of sanction to prosecute.

The court said that it is okay the stand for last several dates. It is impressed upon the competent authority to expedite the process. Three Charge sheets and two supplementary charge sheets were filed in the court.

It is directed that competent authority grant sanction within one week. The matter is listed after two weeks. The court has listed the matter on November 26.

On September 20, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed sanction to Prosecute former Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The CBI received sanction from the competent authority and filed it in the court. The CBI had informed the court that there are more than 30 other accused for whom prosecution sanction is awaited.

The CBI had sought 15 more days to obtain sanctions against other accused persons. The court had asked the CBI to expedite the process to obtain sanctions for other accused persons.

In July the court had asked the competent authority to decide the question of sanction of Prosecution against 32 public servants including former Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The conclusive charge sheet filed by the CBI on June 7 is at the stage of consideration.

Advocate Manu Mishra proxy counsel for SPP DP Singh informed the court that Prosecution sanction against accused public servants is awaited.

On June 7, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a conclusive charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav and 77 other accused in a land-for-job case. The charge-sheeted accused also included 38 candidates.

On May 29, the court directed CBI to file its conclusive Charge sheet/Charge sheet in land for job case. The court had also expressed its displeasure over the non-filing of a conclusive charge sheet despite giving time. In this case, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav are also accused.

On October 4, 2023, the court granted bail to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi and others in relation to a fresh Chargesheet in the alleged Land for Job Scam case.

According to the CBI, the 2nd chargesheet is against 17 accused including the then Union Minister of Railways, his wife, son, then GM of West Central Railways(WCR), two CPOs of WCR, private persons, a private company etc. in a case related to land for job scam

The CBI filed a chargesheet in land for job alleged scam case against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav including Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and others.

On May 18, 2022, CBI registered a case against the then Union Minister of Railways and others including his wife, two daughters and unknown Public servants and Private persons.

It is alleged that the then Union Minister of Railways during the period 2004-2009 had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members etc. in lieu of appointment of Substitutes in Group “D” Post in different Zones of Railways.

It was further alleged that in lieu thereof the substitutes, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land situated at Patna in favour of the family members of said Minister and a private company controlled by his family members, which was also involved in the transfer of such immovable properties in the name of said family members.

It was also alleged that no advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointments of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur.

Searches were conducted at multiple places including in Delhi and Bihar etc, said CBI.

During the investigation, it was found that the then Union Minister of Railways with intent to acquire the land parcels situated at the places where his family already owned land parcels or the places that were already connected to him entered into conspiracy with associates & family members and allegedly derived a design to grab the land of various land owners by offering/providing group D employment in Railways, CBI said.

The accused had allegedly collected applications and documents of such candidates through associates and then sent those to West Central Railway for processing and providing jobs in Railways and the General Managers of West Central Railways under the influence /control of the accused accorded approval for the engagement of candidates, CBI said.

For providing jobs in Railways, they allegedly devised an indirect way wherein the candidates were engaged firstly as substitutes and subsequently, were regularized. A hard disk containing lists of candidates (who were engaged) was also recovered during searches. It was further alleged that a land parcel was purchased in the name of a private company at Rs 10.83 lakh during 2007 and subsequently, the said land along with some other land parcels purchased by the said company, were brought into the ownership/control of his wife & son of then Union Minister of Railways by way of transfer of shares at Rs One lakh only, CBI said.

At the time of transfer, the company was allegedly owning land parcels purchased at a total cost of Rs 1.77 crore (approx) and it was transferred for a mere Rs 1 lakh(approx) only, however, the market value of the lands was much more, CBI added.

Earlier, a chargesheet was filed on October 7, 2022, against 16 accused.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Ayodhya Ram Mandir supporter, Indian origin Donald Trump loyalist Kash Patel floated as the choice for post of CIA Director

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya Ram Mandir supporter, Indian origin Donald Trump loyalist Kash Patel floated as the choice for post of CIA Director

Following the dramatic win of Donald Trump and becoming the 47th President of the United States of America, name of an Indian-origin Trump loyalist, Kashyap Patel, also known as Kash Patel, is being floated for the role of Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

After Donald Trump takes office, he is expected to announce high-ranking officials for his cabinet. One of those names expected to be announced is of Kash Patel. Patel, a former Republican House staffer who has held several high-level positions in the defense and intelligence sectors during Trump’s first term. Patel has often appeared on the campaign trail to mobilize backing for the Republican candidate. He formerly served as Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller.

Lawyer by profession, Patel has his roots in Vadodara, Gujarat

According to reports, Patel was born in 1980 and has roots in Vadodara, Gujarat. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond, and received a law degree and a Certificate in International Law from University College London. Initially, he is believed to have faced challenges in setting up his law practice or securing a position at prominent law firms. This is the sole reason that he began his career as a public defender. He worked in Miami courts for nearly 9 years and handled serious cases such as murder, narcotics trafficking, and financial crimes. Eventually, Patel’s career got closely tied to Trump’s political rise.

He happened to be a part of the federal government as a terrorist prosecutor at the Department of Justice, where he supervised probes and indictments of terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. He also has experience working as the Justice Department’s liaison officer with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), cooperating on worldwide counter-terrorism activities.

Kash Patel’s support for Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

In one of his statements, highlighting US mainstream media’s biased narrative, Kash Patel said that when Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha took place in AYodhya, and PM Modi went there, the Washington newspapers covered only last 50 years of history. Patel highlighted that the media failed to cover 500 years of history, ignoring Hindus’ long fight to reclaim the Ram Temple.

Patel stressed that there was a Hindu Temple at the site of one of the quintessential Gods in the Hindu pantheon. He said that the ancient Ram Mandir at the site was toppled and Hindus had been trying for 500 years to get it back. He said that by forgetting that part of history, the newspapers were involved in a disinformation campaign harmful to India and PM Modi’s position.

Kash Patel’s career progression

In the year 2017, Patel joined the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which was chaired by Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, a strong Trump loyalist. Patel rapidly gained national heed for his work in the committee’s probe into alleged Russian intervention in the 2016 US presidential election. He helped produce the contentious “Nunes Memo,” which accused the FBI of abusing surveillance authorities during its investigation into the Trump campaign.

Despite strong condemnation from the US Justice Department, the document grabbed Trump’s attention and cemented Patel’s standing as a trusted person within the Trump administration.

During Trump’s first term, the 44-year-old held several high-profile national security positions. He joined the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in February 2020, serving as Principal Deputy to Acting Director Richard Grenell. He eventually became Chief of Staff to Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, assuming major control over the Department of Defense’s operations and transition procedures.

Patel has courted several controversies

It is crucial to note that, throughout his career, Patel has courted controversy a lot of times with some more experienced national security officials viewing him as erratic and overly eager to please the president. Near the conclusion of Trump’s first term, Patel was also considered for the position of deputy director of the CIA or FBI, but CIA Director Gina Haspel and Attorney General Bill Barr objected, claiming Patel lacked the required experience.

Patel has ever since continued to promote Trump’s policies while also pursuing commercial and media interests. He has written a memoir titled ‘Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy’, as well as children’s fiction that supports and promotes Trump. He also is on the board of directors for Trump Media and Technology Group, which controls the Truth Social media platform.

If Patel fails to get a Senate vote to become CIA director, the Trump administration will most likely assign him to the National Security Council.

Trump won surpassing Harris

Donald J Trump won the elections, becoming the 47th President of the United States of America with 312 Electoral Votes compared to Kamala Harris, who managed to win 226 electoral votes. Trump won approximately 50.9% of the popular vote (72,560,841) and Kamala got 47.6% (67,878,826). In a major upset for the Democrats, the US Senate has also a Republican majority now with 52 seats. The House of Representatives is yet to see final results which may take days. Currently, it is a very tight contest.

Akbaruddin Owaisi alludes to his infamous ’15-minutes’ remarks during rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

OpIndia Staff
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Akbaruddin Owaisi alludes to his infamous ’15-minutes’ remarks during rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

On 6th November, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi alluded to his incendiary “remove police for 15 minutes” remarks made in 2012 while addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (previously known as Aurangabad).

Referring to the campaigning time, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that there is time till 10 o’clock and it is 9:45, there are still 15 minutes left. Addressing the crowd, he said, “Hey brother, there are 15 minutes left, be patient, neither she is leaving me alone nor I am leaving her alone. She is still walking but what is the echo.”

As Owaisi signalled to his genocidal “remove police for 15 minutes” remark, the Muslim crowd cheered and applauded with some even screaming “15 minutes, 15 minutes”.

Notably, Owaisi made the inflammatory and inciteful speech against Hindus back in 2012. In his speech, he was seen taking many jibes at Hindu Gods and Goddesses while making an open challenge to Hindus for their survival if the police were to be removed for 15 minutes. He also claimed that he would see how Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister one day.

“Many of such Modis came and went. Today people are saying Narendra Modi has won Gujarat, and that he will become Prime Minister of the country one day, even we will see how that happens. And people are scaring Muslims by saying Modi is here. Modi who? Where did he come from? Dare to come to Hyderabad for one time and we will show you,” he said in his address.

“Taslima Nasreen came and now no one knows where she is. Dear Hindustan, we are 25 crore and you all are 100 crore, right? Fine. You are far ahead of us in numbers. Remove the police for 15 minutes and we will see who is more powerful.” Owaisi Junior’s remarks were received amidst thunderous applause and cheering from the audience which was gathered in large numbers. “Remove the Police for 15 minutes! Be it a thousand, a lakh or even one crore impotent(Hindus), even if they try collectively, they will not be able to give birth to a single one. These people are not able to see us face to face. When the Muslim becomes weak, only then these impotent (Hindus) arrive,” Owaisi remarked in his hateful incitement against Hindus.

In the same speech, Owaisi insinuated against Rama and his mother Devi Kausalya while making an argument against the Ram Janmabhoomi case.

Owaisi in his snide remarks against Hindu Gods said, “They use to say that after every hundred kilometres, the language changes, the culture changes, the way of life and customs change, rituals also change however it is ridiculous that here images of Gods also transform!”

Despite the Hinduphobic and inflammatory nature of his remarks, in 2022, a Hyderabad court acquitted Akbaruddin Owaisi in two hate speech cases related to his 2012 speech.

PM Modi congratulates ‘friend’ Trump on his return to the White House for the second time, Trump responds by calling Modi a ‘magnificent man’

ANI
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PM Modi congratulates ‘friend’ Trump on his return to the White House for the second time, Trump responds by calling Modi a ‘magnificent man’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday and congratulated him on his “spectacular victory” in the US elections.

In a post on X, PM Modi said he is looking forward to working closely together once again with Trump to strengthen India-US relations across domains including energy and defence.

“Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors,” PM Modi said.

Sources said PM Modi also congratulated Donald Trump on the performance of the Republican Party in the Congressional elections.

The sources said both leaders affirmed to work together for world peace.

The sources also said that President Trump stated that the whole world loves PM Modi and that India is a magnificent country and PM Modi is a magnificent man.

President Trump also told PM Modi that he considers India and him to be true friends. He said PM Modi was one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory.

Donald Trump won a second term in office in the presidential polls. He surpassed the 270-majority mark with a key win in Wisconsin.

According to CNN projections, this has taken his tally to 276 electoral college votes, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris as counting continued for the rest of the states.

Earlier, PM Modi congratulated Trump on his election victory.

“Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

This will be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the first in over 100 years. Grover Cleveland served as a non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. Trump had earlier served as US President from 2016 to 2020.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential elections for a second term and said India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership.

“Congratulations on your victory, @realDonaldTrump! Wishing you success in your second term as US President. All the best to @KamalaHarris in her future endeavours,” Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, said in a post on X.

Kharge said the relations between India and the United States are underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values and aligned interests.

“On behalf of the Indian National Congress, we extend our congratulations and best wishes to President @realDonaldTrump for his election victory. India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership, underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values, aligned interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity,” Kharge said in a post on X.

Party leader Jairam Ramesh said Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback and noted that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which America had rejoined under President Biden, is now extremely shaky.

“Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback. Undoubtedly, why and how it happened will be analysed in great detail over the next few weeks, as will the question of what this comeback means for the USA and the rest of the world. But what is certain is that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change which America had rejoined under President Biden is now extremely shaky. If the US were to withdraw again it would be disastrous,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

World leaders including Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Trump on his election victory.

Russia said it will interact with the new White House administration, firmly upholding its national interests and working to achieve its goals in the Ukraine conflict.

In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry took a dig at the outgoing Biden administration while also stating that the US “ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles” and the policy of “containing Moscow.”

“The victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election and his return to the White House after a four-year break obviously reflect Americans’ disappointment in the performance of the Biden administration and the election programme of the Democratic Party formulated by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was hastily chosen to replace the incumbent President in the race,” the statement said.

It highlighted some issues of Trump’s campaign stating that Republican candidate highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate “as a counterbalance to the White House’s globalist course”.

“Despite an overpowering propaganda campaign, which Democrats launched against Donald Trump based on the administrative resource and support from the liberal media, the Republican candidate, who relied on the experience of his previous presidency, highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate, namely, the economy and illegal migration, as a counterbalance to the White House’s globalist course,” the statement said.

It claimed there is civil discord in the US and a confrontation between Democratic and Republican states.

The statement said Moscow has no illusions regarding the President-elect, who is well known in Russia, or the new Congress, where Republicans have reportedly won control.

“The US ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of “containing Moscow.” This line does not depend on changes in America’s domestic political barometer, no matter if it is Trump and his supporters “America above all” or the Democrats’ focus on a “rules-based world order. Russia will interact with the new administration when it comes to the White House, firmly upholding Russia’s national interests and working to achieve all the goals of the special military operation,” the statement said.

“Our conditions have not changed, and Washington is well aware of them,” it added.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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