Home Blog Page 6855

Jodhpur court orders filing of FIR against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Jodhpur court orders filing of FIR against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey

A Jodhpur court ordered the filing of an FIR against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in a defamation case. The court passed the order during the hearing of the case today.

A petition was filed in a local court in Jodhpur on Nov 22 by Vice President of Vipra Foundation’s youth wing, Rajkumar Sharma, over a controversial photo shared by Dorsey in which he posed with some women journalists holding a placard reading ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’.


Jack holding the poster with negative and derogatory comments about a caste had infuriated people. While no clarification came from the Twitter CEO, the Twitter India tried to pass it off as their effort to understand all sides of important public conversations. Twitter India’s Legal, Policy and Trust & Safety Lead, Vijaya Gadde, has also apologised to people for hurting the sentiments.

However, the clarifications of Twitter India were refuted by Sanghapali Aruna who claims to be a Dalit activist and the founder of Project Mukti. She said that the poster that she gifted to Jack Dorsey was questioning precisely the “hegemony and the concentration of power n the hands of one community”.

T-Series versus PewDiePie: Printers hacked worldwide to spread pro-Pewdie propaganda

OpIndia Staff
-
0
T-Series versus PewDiePie: Printers hacked worldwide to spread pro-Pewdie propaganda

For the past few months, the most hard-fought battle on the internet hasn’t been between Trump supporters versus The Resistance, or BJP versus Congress IT Cell or Left-wing versus the Right-wing, trolls versus sex workers on Snapchat or any other troll battle. It has been the one and only, T-Series versus PewDiePie, for the title of King of YouTube.

For years now, PewDiePie has been the most subscribed YouTuber on the planet. But soon after Reliance Jio made internet cheaper and accessible for a lot many Indians, the Indian music brand, T-Series, has been gaining subscribers at a rapid pace on the website. And for a while, it has been clear that if current trends hold, T-Series will soon overtake PewDiePie to become the channel with most subscribers.

This has led to a great battle on the Internet. Supporters of PewDiePie have been campaigning hard to secure more subscribers for the Swede. Adding fuel to fire, Pewdie released a ‘diss track’ about T-Series on YouTube as well. The video currently has 47 million views on the site.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dh-RL__uN4]

The Swede currently has over 72.7 million subscribers while T-Series is at 72.6 subscribers, the difference less than a 100,000. There are multiple videos keeping a live track of the subscriber count of the two channels. However, it’s unclear how authentic their numbers are.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Afni3S-ok]

The battle has really heated up and now, a Pewdie supporter has hacked into printers worldwide to spread pro-Pewdie propaganda. Everyone is reported to have received the following message: “PewDiePie is in trouble and he needs your help to defeat T-Series”.


The troll battle between T-Series and PewDiePie goes on to show the disruptive impact Jio has had on the internet market. The CNN has published a detailed story on why the future of the Internet is Indian. PewDiePie and his supporters may be fighting hard but it appears he is fighting a losing battle.

PM Modi to BRICS nations: “Terror and financial crimes are the biggest global threats”

OpIndia Staff
-
0
PM Modi to BRICS nations: “Terror and financial crimes are the biggest global threats”

PM Modi and other BRICS leaders met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday. PM Modi, while addressing the meeting, claimed that terror and financial crimes are two of the biggest threats the world is facing today.


Exhorting his counterparts to unite against the menace of terrorism, PM Modi underlined the grave threats the world faces from Terrorism and Financial Crimes. “Terrorism and radicalism are threats to global peace. Those who indulge in financial felonies also pose a serious risk to the world order. We have to unite against this menace. We have to fight against the Black money,” he said.

Modi also drew attention to the need to work towards a common interest. Calling upon the developing nations to join together to raise their issues with the United Nations, PM Modi said it is therefore imperative for BRICS nations to take a cohesive stand for this.

“We condemn the persisting terrorist attacks, including against some BRICS countries. Terrorism in all forms and manifestations, wherever committed and by whom so ever is detestable. We appeal for concerted efforts to counter terrorism under the auspices of UN on a firm international legal basis. We request all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, including all the elements identified in the Johannesburg Declaration,” the BRICS statement noted endorsing the Indian PM’s remarks.

The BRICS leaders extended their full commitment to multilateralism and WTO in the dynamic geopolitics and geo-economics. “We express our full support for the rules-based multilateral trading system, as personified in the WTO, to ensure clear, impartial, open and inclusive international trade,” the BRICS statement said.

BRICS leaders conveyed their willingness to engage in candid and result-oriented discussions with other WTO members with a prospect to improve the working of the WTO. The vision and rules of the WTO run counter to unipartite and protectionist measures. In addition, they also requested the members to oppose inconsistencies and discriminating measures adopted by WTO and uphold the commitments undertaken in the WTO.

After facing heat for his photo-op with Khalistani, Navjot Singh Sidhu lies blatantly

OpIndia Staff
-
0
After facing heat for his photo-op with Khalistani, Navjot Singh Sidhu lies blatantly

The inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan has not been free from controversy, especially for some Indian politicians and journalists who were extremely excited at the prospect of travelling to Pakistan.

Navjot Singh Sidhu has been in the middle of the political storm after his repeated shenanigans with Pakistan. First, when he travelled to Pakistan for Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony and hugged the Pakistan Army’s chief and now, for this enthusiasm during the Kartarpur inauguration. Sidhu, on his trip to Pakistan this time, was heavily criticised by Captain Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab who had declined the invite to travel. In the face of that criticism, Sidhu was heard saying that he went because Rahul Gandhi wanted him to travel. In fact, a video surfaced where he also spoke about Rahul Gandhi proving Sidhu with a special plane so he could travel to Pakistan on time.

After a picture of Sidhu with Khalistani terrorist Gopal Singh Chawla went viral, along with his statements putting Rahul Gandhi in the middle of the storm, the party would have presumably been jittery.

In the face of such mounting criticism, Sidhu decided to lie blatantly. He took to Twitter on 30th November and said that “Rahul Gandhi Ji never asked me to go to Pakistan”.


This U-turn by Sidhu is interesting and disingenuous because he has clearly been mentioning “captain” Rahul Gandhi’s blessing as far these travel arrangements went.

Here is a video of Navjot Singh Sidhu talking about his “captain” Rahul Gandhi and how he sent Sidhu to Pakistan.


In this video reported by CNN-News18, Sidhu can be heard talking about how Rahul Gandhi sent a special plane to enable his travel plans to Pakistan.


It is thus amusing the Sidhu believes his half hearted brazen lie would convince anyone that he did not have Rahul Gandhi’s explicit blessing while travelling to Pakistan and embracing Imran Khan. It seems like the political frenzy after he was photographed with Khalistani terrorist Chawla is what is compelling Sidhu and the Congress party to lie in order to do some much needed damage control.

Sabarimala: Kerala’s communist government rewards police officers who arrested devotee KP Sasikala

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Sabarimala: Kerala’s communist government rewards police officers who arrested devotee KP Sasikala

The Communist Kerala government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a controversial decision has rewarded cops who were involved in the arrest of the devotee and Hindu Aikya Vedi president KP Sasikala during her visit to Sabarimala shrine near Marakootam area on November 16, reported ANI.

According to reports, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera had announced that 10 cops will be rewarded up to Rs.1000 for arresting the Hindu leader Sasikala. The Kerala police had forcefully stopped Hindu devotees including KP Sasikala from entering the shrine by taking them to preventive custody.

“Women police officers were deployed in Sabarimala for the first time. It was the first action that they have effected. It was a good work done by the women police for the first time in Sannidhanam and so the reward is being given. The temple was shut and we had asked Sasikala to return. When she refused, we had to use force and take her into custody,” the official told the media.

Following the arrest of Sasikala, a statewide hartal was called to protest against her ‘preventive detention’. The strike called by various Hindu organisations and devotees had left thousands of people stranded across the state. The massive protests in Kerala by Hindu devotees had come as a result of the Kerala government trying to stop genuine devotees while allowing activists and non-Hindus to enter the Sabarimala shrine, even escorting them.

However, KP Sasikala took a jibe at the Kerala government and state police chief Loknath Behera saying that she hails the decision to reward the cops as they were deployed at Sabarimala shrine without making even the basic amenities available. She further went on to mock the Kerala police chief saying, “I’m ready to go to Sabarimala again if the DGP will again offer good service entry for blocking me. At least someone will have some use of a retired hand like me.”

The Supreme Court had, in a controversial judgement had ordered to allow women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala shrine against the age-old traditions of not allowing women of reproductive age to enter the shrine.

In the garb of implementing Supreme Court judgement, the Kerala government, with the help of state police force had turned the area near Sabarimala into a war zone after some devotees had clashed with the police. The Kerala police had unleashed violence against Hindu devotees by pelting stones and lathi charging as the situation went out of control.

The Kerala High Court, while hearing a petition seeking to restrict entry of non-Hindus in Sabarimala temple, had expressed its extreme displeasure over the police excesses at the Sabarimala temple. The Kerala High Court while hearing a similar petition in the past had slammed the Communist Kerala government led by Pinarayi Vijayan for its undue obstruction in Sabarimala’s religious affairs and asked the government to restrict itself to providing adequate security to the devotees visiting the shrine.

Sehwag runs out political party trying to fix him in politics

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Sehwag runs out political party trying to fix him in politics

Cricketer Virendra Sehwag today exposed the lies of a political party of Rajasthan called Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) on Twitter. In an advertisement published in a local newspaper, the newly found political party had claimed that cricketer Virendra Sehwag will be addressing a Vishal Kisan Sammelan to be organised by the Party in support of their candidate Mansukh Gurjar who is contesting from Aseend-Hurda Assembly Constituency.

Dismissing the advertisement as a lie, Sehwag posted on Twitter:


The RLP was formed by former BJP leader and independent legislator from Khinvsar Assembly seat Hanuman Beniwal to fight the ‘corruption’ of the ruling party. He had launched his party in October this year.

The Wikipedia page of RLP gives some interesting information about Beniwal and his party. It says that the party was “made known to public” on Oct 29,2018, and that Beniwal is known to have such “command” in his constituency Khinvsar that his mobile number is “verbally” known to all children. It does not stop at that, the page further reads that Beniwal has “holded” 5 rallies at Nagaur, Barmer, Bikaner, Sikar and Jaipur and around 5-6 lakh people turned up in each rally.

RLP’s election symbol is ‘Bottle’. Sehwag’s Tweet did not register well with some supporters of Beniwal. They criticised him for calling out the lie and praised their leader.

Via Twitter
Via Twitter

Beniwal claims that RLP in alliance with “like-minded” parties will emerge as an alternative to the BJP and the Congress. He has formed an alliance with the Bharat Vahini Party of Ghanshyam Tiwari who is also a former BJP leader. Beniwal has claimed that his party will lead the third front in Rajasthan.

Sorry Mithali Raj, but no individual is greater than the team

Sandeep Singh
-
0
Sorry Mithali Raj, but no individual is greater than the team

Indian women’s Cricket has plunged into a crisis since the defeat against England in the World T20 semifinal last week. The row between ODI captain and the senior most cricketer Mithali Raj and the (now former) coach Ramesh Powar has threatened to tear the team apart with Captain Harmanpreet Kaur caught in the middle of it.

When India announced playing XI for the semifinal against England during the World T20, the absence of Mithali Raj’s name for such an important match, caused quite a few raised eyebrows. Captain Harmanpreet explained that they just want to continue with the winning combination that worked so well to defeat the powerful Australian side, the eventual champions.

However, that defeat was just the beginning of the storm that now engulfs women cricket in India. Mithali Raj sent a long letter to BCCI detailing her disagreements with Powar and questioning the decision to drop her. As per reports, Powar has himself raised questions over Mithali’s professionalism and her contribution to a negative environment in the Caribbean.

Mithali in her letter stated that she was unhappy with the decision to drop her to the middle order during the first game of the tournament and reached out to the selectors to get back the opening slot for the game against Pakistan, which she got.

Once she did that, she undermined the Captain and the Coach who are responsible for selecting the final XI and the batting order. Powar is new to coaching and was an interim coach, so he probably got easily pressurised to change the batting order as per the selectors’ wish; can’t imagine a senior coach tolerating this undermining of his authority.

Mithali states she couldn’t understand the change in the behaviour of Powar after that, as he started ignoring her. Bypassing a coach and speaking to the selectors to get the batting spot she desires, and she couldn’t understand why the coach suddenly had no faith in her? I am surprised Powar didn’t send her back from the Caribbean right there and then as it was clear by then that Mithali is not pulling in the same direction as the team management on tour.

Captain and Coach thought an experienced batter in the middle order can guard against a collapse and more aggressive batters as openers can help exploit the first 6 overs better. With Mithali’s reluctance to bat down the order, India went without her for the semifinal and as it turned out, lost thanks to a 23 for 8 collapses in the middle order. Precisely the type of collapse that could have been avoided by having an experienced hand and one of the best Indian batter in history.

In sharp contrast to the Indian side is the eventual champion Australia. Players like Ellyse Perry and Rachael Haynes, with very good record up the order, were playing at Number 6 and 7 as that is what the team desired from them. Rachael was even asked during the tournament if she wants to move up the order but the Australian Vice-Captain decided her role down the order is crucial for the team’s success. Who knows what would have happened if the senior players in Indian side were as willing as these players to put the team over the individual preferences and performances.

Mithali’s contribution to the Indian women’s cricket has been immense during the past 16 years that she has spent representing the country but on this particular occasion, she let the team down, put the Captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle of a no-win situation, and took the attention away from what was a very good run in the tournament for the team otherwise, as they made it to the semifinal by topping a group also involving strong Australian and New Zealand sides.

With Powar out now as his interim stint came to an end, the new coach will have a huge challenge on his hand to unite all the players and get them to work together towards the team’s goals instead of looking out for individual ambitions and personal records.

‘Mandir Yahi Banega’ marker appears on Google Maps, tech giant rushes to fix the ‘issue’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Mandir Yahi Banega’ marker appears on Google Maps, tech giant rushes to fix the ‘issue’

Popular Hindu slogan, ‘Mandir Wahi Banayengey’ featured for a brief moment on Google Maps. When users searched for Ram Janambhoomi on one of the most widely used apps on the internet, “Mandir yahi banega” appeared as a point of interest, close to the birthplace of Shri Ram.

IndiaTimes reported that people were commenting and reviewing the place as well with it gathering 4 out of 5 stars at one point. The company has stated that it has “fixed the issue”.

Google has issued a statement on the issue and attributed it to “unhelpful edits suggested by users”.

A spokesperson for the tech giant stated:

“We’re heavily invested in empowering users to contribute their local knowledge to Google products and services. Overall, allowing users to suggest information provides comprehensive and up-to-date info, but we recognize there may be, as in this case, unhelpful edits suggested by users. When this happens, we work fast to address the issue as quickly as possible.”

Ram Janambhoomi has remained a central figure in the public consciousness for decades. 26 years have passed since the demolition of the Babri Masjid, yet the issue has still not been resolved. The Supreme Court has delayed hearings on the matter until next year. Pressure has been mounting on the BJP to bring an ordinance to settle the matter once and for all by beginning the construction of the Ram Temple.

Viral Video: Man confronts comedian for offensive jokes on Hinduism

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Viral Video: Man confronts comedian for offensive jokes on Hinduism

A video was released on Friday on Facebook by Paras Rajput, who claims to be a BJP leader, where he can be heard confronting comedians Masoom Rajwani and Kunal Kamra. According to the Facebook post, the incident shown in the video occurred on the 15th of April, 2018.

In the video, people can be heard protesting against the offensive jokes made against Hinduism on a show. The post states, “The incident is of 15Th April 2018, when Masoom Rajwani insulted Hindu gods and goddess at canvas laugh club Mumbai. Paras Rajput immediately interrupted the show and filed the police complaint the same night. Next morning in the defence of Masoom came the great Kunal Kamra.”

A man could be heard telling the comedian, “When I protested against the jokes you had cracked peacefully, you replied that Bhagwan is everywhere and it gets weird when people say that because then you feel that Bhagwan is inside your mother.”

A woman can be heard daring the comedians to crack offensive jokes against Muslims. The woman said, “You should be ashamed of that you are making such jokes being a Hindu yourself. Say something about Muslims at least once. Stand here and say something against Muslims. If you say even one word, there will be riots here. You are an educated Hindu, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

The comedian could be seen apologizing profusely in the video. It has gone viral on social media and has garnered 108 thousand views thus far. The full video can be watched here.

Girl suffers miscarriage after punishment ordered by village’s Kangaroo court in West Bengal: Reports

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Girl suffers miscarriage after punishment ordered by village’s Kangaroo court in West Bengal: Reports

An eighteen-year-old girl had to suffer a miscarriage because of a dictate issued by the village’s Kangaroo court, in Uttar Ranichak village of West Bengal. According to reports, the girl had married a boy against the wishes of the village elders.

Reportedly, the girl had married a 21-year-old carpenter 3 months ago. According to the complaint filed by the victim’s mother, the girl was repeatedly harassed by goons in the village. On 27 November when the victim was going to fetch water from a nearby tubewell, some boys in the village passed lewd and sexual remarks on her and said if she complies with them, they can save her from the ire of village’s Kangaroo court. To which the girl had refused.

The ‘court’ was held at 9:30 PM on the same day. It was headed by village headman Sheikh Rabiul Mullick and secretary Sheikh Ashraf Ali. The girl was allegedly punished to perform 25 sit-ups. After 9 or 10 of them, she fell unconscious, which was followed by thrashes and blows to her stomach. She was later rushed to local hospital by villagers, where it was observed that the girl was pregnant and had suffered a miscarriage.

According to sub-divisional officer Tanmay Mukherjee, all the five accused in the incident are still absconding. We tried to contact the police station but could not find information regarding the case.

The victim’s mother has reportedly complained that after the girl fell unconscious, Mullick and Ali had ordered three persons to beat her up. The goons allegedly attacked her with blows and kicks and also snatched a gold chain she was wearing.

Condemning the incident, North 24 Parganas BJP President Pradip Das has reportedly asked Mamta Banerjee led the government to investigate the matter, at earnest. TMC leaders have stated that the accused Sheikh Rabiul Mullick and Sheikh Ashraf Ali had no links to the party.

Crime statistics of West Bengal are a testimony to the alarming level of offences happening in the state, and debacle of executive apparatus. West Bengal in 2016, constituted about 17% of total acid attack cases in the country and 44% of human trafficking.

1...6,8546,8556,856...7,675Page 6,855 of 7,675