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Karnataka: Islamists attack on Ganpati Visarjan procession in Mandya when it passes near a dargah, stones pelted, slippers thrown

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Islamists attack on Ganpati Visarjan procession in Mandya when it passes near a dargah, stones pelted, slippers thrown

On 11th September, communal clashes erupted in the Mandya district of Karnataka after stones were pelted at the Ganesh idol near a dargah in Nagamangala town on Mysuru Road.

According to reports, some Hindu youths were taking out a procession for the immersion of the Ganesh idol in Badarikoppalu village. When the procession was about to cross a dargah on Mysuru Road, people from the Muslim community came and started a heated argument with the Hindu devotees. Following the altercation, members of the Muslim community allegedly pelted stones at the Ganesh idol and displayed lethal weapons. According to a News18 report, slippers were also thrown at the idol.

Members of the Hindu community became angry at the attack and approached the police seeking justice. They kept the Ganesh idol in front of the police station and staged a massive protest. As more people learned about the incident, they reached the police station and joined the protest, demanding permission to take out a procession on Mysuru Road.

Following the incidents, some miscreants set shops owned by Hindus on fire. Several shops were ransacked. Bikes and other vehicles parked on the side of the roads were also damaged and burnt.

Speaking to India Today, Mandya Superintendent of Police (SP), Mallikarjun Baladandi, said, “There were arguments between members of the two communities over this. Police intervened and tried to disperse the crowd. Due to the large number of people, the police had to resort to lathicharge to control the situation. Following that, people protested in front of the police station. Members of the other community also gathered in large numbers and started throwing stones. They even torched a few bikes and shops on the roadside.”

The situation in the area became tense, and Section 163 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (order issued in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) has been imposed. Additional forces were deployed to manage law and order.

SP Baladandi added that the situation was “completely under control” and “We have sufficient police forces, and fire engines are at the spot. No one suffered major injuries; only a few sustained minor injuries.”

Union Minister HD Kumarswami condemned the violence that took place in Mandya, Karnataka. In a post in Kannada, he said, “I strongly condemn the incident that occurred during the Ganesh immersion procession in Nagamangala, Mandya district. Miscreants from a particular community deliberately instigated violence by targeting devotees who were peacefully participating in the Ganapati procession. They threw stones, sandals, and petrol bombs at the public and police and brandished swords, demonstrating a blatant failure of law and order in the town.”

He added, “When these miscreants continue to oppress those who were peacefully protesting in front of the police station seeking protection, it raises serious concerns about where we stand. The failure of local police is also evident here.”

“The @INCKarnataka party and the state government, in their political self-interest, have excessively appeased a specific community, leading to this heinous incident in Nagamangala. Such appeasement politics must stop. If it doesn’t, tough times are not far for the Congress party. I earnestly appeal to the public to maintain peace. The government must take immediate action to restore peace in the town. Moreover, if the police misuse this incident to display arrogance against the leaders and workers of the opposition parties, it will not be tolerated,” he further said while attacking the Congress-led Karnataka government.

Nagamangala will observe a bandh on 12th September. The bandh call has been issued by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.The bandh was announced by Mahesh, the Taluk Secretary of Bajrang Dal.

Attack on Hindus during Ganeshotsav

The attack on Ganesh Idol in Mandya was not the first incident of attack on Hindus during Ganeshotsav this year. On 11th September, it was reported that stones were pelted on Ganesh Mandap in the Kutch village of Nakhatrana. Muslim children were reported to have been used to execute the conspiracy due to which the idol of Lord Ganesha was vandalised. Seven people including Hussain, Asif, Sahil were arrested.

On 10th September, Rubyna Irfan Pathan and Laima Salim Shaikh were arrested for breaking the idols of Lod Ganesh in the Soni Bazar area of Athwa, Surat. It is believed that the two women also incited their children to break the idols.

On the night of 10th September, tensions mounted in Bharuch when Hindus and Muslims came face to face after members of the Muslim community forcefully installed Islamic flags and pylons atop Hindu houses during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration.

On 6th September, Hindu youths carrying an idol of Bhagwan Ganesh were attacked by Islamists in the Mundra area of Kutch district, Gujarat.

On 7th September, miscreants pelted stones at a Bhagwan Ganesh idol in Mochipura of Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh.

On 7th and 8th September, stones were pelted at a Ganeshotsav pandal in the Lal Gate area of Surat, Gujarat. As per reports, some Muslim minors pelted stones at the pandal, leading to hundreds of Hindus protesting and demanding strict action. The police swiftly swung into action and made some arrests. Security has been increased in the area.

Chandigarh: Police suspect gangster-terror angle in grenade attack on a retired official’s former house, two suspects identified

OpIndia Staff
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Chandigarh: Police suspect gangster-terror angle in grenade attack on a retired official’s former house, two suspects identified

A blast has been reported in Chandigarh’s Sector-10 at around 6:03 pm on 11th September. According to the available information, three miscreants came in an auto-rickshaw and threw a grenade at House number 575. No injury has been reported as all the family members were inside the house. The grenade blasted into the bungalow’s verandah and created a 7-8 inch crater, damaging the glass windows in the house. 

The bungalow targeted in this incident belongs to a Retired Principal. According to an Aaj Tak report, the house owner is Ramesh Malhotra. However, earlier the house was occupied by a retired SSP of Punjab Police, who is suspected to be the target of the attack.

The entire chain of events has been caught on CCTV cameras installed in the bungalows in this posh locality. In the CCTV footage, an autorickshaw is seen coming from the spot moments after the blast. Before that, a man can be seen running from the house and sitting in the auto. It is suspected that suspects were in the auto-rickshaw who threw the grenade towards the bungalow.

It is said that there were three people in the auto. Glasses of windows of the house shattered due to the blast.

Following the incident, police’s bomb squad, dog squad, and NIA teams rushed to the spot and are investigating the matter. As per initial reports, Police are suspecting gangster-terror angle in this incident. They have pictures of two suspects who are believed to be involved in this incident. According to the agencies, some foreign group may be involved in this incident. 

(Chandigarh grenade attack suspects, Image Source – Dainik Bhaskar)

According to Aaj Tak report citing sources, the family who are currently living in this bungalow were not the target, rather the miscreants reportedly wanted to target a person who was living in this bungalow before them. It seems that the attack was hatched earlier and the one executing it carried out after a long time before the earlier resident left the bungalow. 

The report added that earlier the family of a retired SSP of Punjab Police used to reside in this bungalow. It is reported that a few months ago, they had received intelligence about a threat from gangsters. However, by the time the Rinda gang planned the attack, the family of the retired SSP had left from here.

SSP Kanwardeep Kaur said that it was a pressure blast which damaged flower pots and glass windows. The family has told that two people came in an auto. They carried out this incident.

SSP said that at the time of the blast, the family was sitting in the verandah. They have seen the auto rider and the accused who hurled the grenade at their house. Police are gathering information about the tenants living in the house and those who lived there before.

Climate-smart Bharat: Union Cabinet approves ₹2,000 crore ‘Mission Mausam’ to provide highly accurate and timely weather information

ANI
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Climate-smart Bharat: Union Cabinet approves ₹2,000 crore ‘Mission Mausam’ to provide highly accurate and timely weather information

The Union Cabinet has approved a programme called ‘Mission Mausam’ to create “a more weather-ready and climate-smart Bharat” with an outlay of Rs.2,000 crore over two years

The mission’s focus will include improving observations and understanding for providing highly accurate and timely weather and climate information across temporal and spatial scales, including monsoon forecasts, alerts for air quality, extreme weather events and cyclones, weather interventions for managing fog, hail, and rain,capacity building and generating awareness.

To be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, it is aimed at boosting India’s weather and climate-related science, research, and services.

“It will help to better equip stakeholders, including citizens and last-mile users, in tackling extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change,” an official release said.

The ambitious program will help broaden capacity and resilience across communities, sectors, and ecosystems in the long run.

As part of the Mission Mausam, India will exponentially expound research and development, and capacity in atmospheric sciences, especially weather surveillance, modelling, forecasting, and management.

By integrating advanced observation systems, high-performance computing, and cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, Mission Mausam will set a new benchmark for predicting weather with high precision.

Critical elements of Mission Mausam will include the deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems with advanced sensors and high-performance supercomputers, the development of improved Earth system models and a GIS-based automated Decision Support System for real-time data dissemination.

Mission Mausam will directly benefit numerous sectors, such as agriculture, disaster management, defence, environment, aviation, water resources, power, tourism, shipping, transport, energy, and health. It would also enhance data-driven decision-making in areas such as urban planning, road and rail transport, offshore operations, and environmental monitoring.

Three institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences: the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting will primarily implement Mission Mausam.

These institutions will be supported by other MoES institutions (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, and National Institute of Ocean Technology), along with collaborating national and international Institutes, academia and industries, furthering India’s leadership in weather and climate sciences and services, the release said.

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

Islamic clerics Maulana Kalim Siddiqui and Mohammed Umar Gautam among 12 sent to life imprisonment in 2021 illegal religious conversion case

OpIndia Staff
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Islamic clerics Maulana Kalim Siddiqui and Mohammed Umar Gautam among 12 sent to life imprisonment in 2021 illegal religious conversion case

A special NIA-Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) court in Lucknow sentenced Islamic preacher Maulana Kalim Siddiqui, Islamic Da’wah Centre founder Mohammed Umar Gautam, and 10 others to life imprisonment on Wednesday in connection with a 2021 illegal religious conversion case.

The court stated that out of the twelve accused, four individuals — Mohd. Salim, Rahul Bhola, Mannu Yadav, and Kunal Ashok Chaudhary — were also sentenced to 10 years in prison under the UP Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act 2021.

In addition to Gautam and Siddiqui, those sentenced to life imprisonment include Irfan Sheikh, Salauddin Zainuddin Sheikh, Prasad Rameshwar Kanware alias Adam, Arsalan Mustafa alias Bhupriya Bandon, Kaushar Alam, Faraz Shah, Dheeraj Govind Rao Jagtap, Sarfaraz Ali Jafri, Qazi Jahangir, and Abdullah Umar, all charged under IPC section 121A (conspiracy to commit an offence against the State).

Officials stated that the accused were operating a racket called the Islamic Da’wah Centre, which was involved in converting poor individuals and students with hearing impairments to Islam. The group is also suspected of receiving funding from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Director General of Police Prashant Kumar explained that Gautam, who had converted to Islam from Hinduism and resided in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, Batla House, claimed during interrogation that he had facilitated the conversion of “at least 1,000 people to Islam,” enticing them with promises of marriage, money, and jobs. Kumar further added that an FIR was filed in Lucknow, leading to an investigation into alleged illegal religious conversions and foreign funding. Officials stated that all the accused were arrested by the ATF in multiple operations carried out across various parts of the country.

The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021 states that “no person shall convert or attempt to convert another individual from one religion to another through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, fraudulent means, or marriage, nor shall anyone abet, convince, or conspire to facilitate such a conversion.”

Any conversion found to be unlawful—whether through force, misrepresentation, coercion, or marriage—is punishable by imprisonment ranging from 1 to 5 years. If the conversion involves minors, women, or individuals from Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, the sentence can be extended to 10 years.

Union cabinet approves ₹3,435 crore scheme to support procurement and operation of over 38,000 electric buses by Public Transport Authorities

ANI
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Union cabinet approves ₹3,435 crore scheme to support procurement and operation of over 38,000 electric buses by Public Transport Authorities

The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for the procurement and operation of e-buses by Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) with an outlay of Rs 3,435.33 crore.

The scheme called “PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM)” will support the deployment of more than 38,000 electric buses (e-Buses) from 2024-25 to 2028-29, a release said.

The scheme will support the operation of e-buses for a period of up to 12 years from the date of deployment.

At present, the majority of buses operated by Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) run on diesel/CNG, causing adverse environmental impacts.

On the other hand, e-buses are environmentally friendly and have lower operational costs. However, it was anticipated that Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) would find it challenging to procure and operate e-buses because of their high upfront cost and lower realisation of revenue from operations.

The scheme addresses this concern by ensuring timely payments through a dedicated fund. In case of default of payments by public transport authorities, CESL, the implementing agency, shall make necessary payments from the scheme funds, which will be later recouped by the PTAs/State/UTs.

This initiative seeks to facilitate the adoption of e-buses by encouraging private-sector participation. The scheme will also lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and also reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.

The scheme will provide benefits to all the Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) in the state/UTs who opt for the scheme.

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

Power crisis, breakdown of law and order, influx of Rohingyas and more: How Bangladesh is gradually descending into chaos under Muhammad Yunus

OpIndia Staff
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Power crisis, breakdown of law and order, influx of Rohingyas and more: How Bangladesh is gradually descending into chaos under Muhammad Yunus

The fantasy of ushering into a ‘new era of democracy’ remained short-lived for Bangladesh as the country descended into complete chaos on all fronts after the takeover of the new interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Bangladesh is now faced with intense periods of load-shedding and power outages for upwards of 10-12 hours a day, which has disrupted industrial production and daily life of the citizens.

There is a daily shortfall of 1500 MW of electricity production, which has been worsened by Tk9,500 crore ($800 million) of coal shortage and a drop in exports from Tripura. On Tuesday (10th September) evening, the daily shortfall had increased to 2000MW.

A power crisis like no other

The shutdown of the Barapukuria power plant due to a technical issue has added to the existing woes.

Chief Engineer Abu Bakr Siddique claimed, “We need two electro-hydraulic oil pumps to run our turbines. In 2022, one of our electro-hydraulic oil pumps broke. We sent a letter to the contractor, but they haven’t been able to supply the equipment. As a result, our unit has been running with a single pump all this time. That pump broke on Monday and now the whole plant is closed.”

Bangladesh owes $500 million to just one Indian conglomerate Adani Group alone. And the country’s daily gas supply is now down by 820 million cubic feet. It’s unclear how the Islamic country will now get out of this mess.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) member Khondker Mokammel Hossain said, “On one hand, reduced LNG supply has led to a decrease of approximately 1,500MW of electricity production, and on the other hand, due to unpaid bills, we are receiving 500MW less electricity from Adani.”

“The government has taken steps to settle the outstanding payments. While it may not be possible to pay off the entire amount at once, part of the dues will be paid in the coming days to restore full capacity,” he added.

In the meantime, the Finance and Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has hinted that there is no respite soon. He announced on Tuesday (10th September) that it would take ‘some time’ for the electricity production to return to normalcy.

He said: “The government is working to address the electricity shortage. We are giving priority to importing fuel and coal to meet this shortage.”

Lawlessness at its peak

Bangladesh has not returned to normalcy ever since ‘student protestors’ and Islamist groups created anarchy on the streets to overthrow former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Just on Monday (9th September) night, a Swechchhasebak Dal leader and a supporter of Gokul Union Jubo Dal leader were murdered in Bogura’s Sadar upazila by their political rivals.

The deceased were identified as 37-year-old Mizanur Rahman Mizan and 35-year-old Ledu. Mizan was attacked by 8-10 bike-borne miscreants with sharp weapons during a power outage.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital. Mizan’s supporters later hacked Ledu to death after accusing him of being part of the group that killed their leader.

A day earlier on Sunday (8th September), workers of a garment factory in the Jamgora Shimultala area of Ashulia city in Bangladesh attacked the army, police and its anti-terror branch Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

They were protesting over unpaid wages and had blocked the streets. When security forces tried to intervene, the garment factory workers hurled stones and bricks at them. They also vandalised a RAB vehicle and attempted to set it on fire.

While speaking about the incident, Major Jalis Mahmud Khan, company commander of RAB-4 CPC-2, said: “We tried to disperse the workers, but they became agitated. In the end, we were able to manage the situation.”

“Some troublemakers vandalized a RAB vehicle and attempted to set it on fire. However, we managed to extinguish the fire. They also threw bricks at an army vehicle. The garment sector is extremely important for Bangladesh, and we will make every effort to keep it operational,” he added.

Similar protests by factory workers were observed in Jamgara, Narsinghapur, and Unique

Top criminals and terrorists out of jail

The lawlessness in Bangladesh has been further exacerbated by hardened criminals taking advantage of the changing political landscape in the country.

According to a report by Prothom Alo, at least 6 top criminals and terrorists have been freed since the undemocratic ouster of Sheikh Hasina on 5th August this year.

They include ‘Killer Abbas’,  Sheikh Mohammad Aslam/ Sweden Aslam, Imamul Hasan Helal, Sanjidul Islam, Naim Ahmed and Khorshed Alam Rasu. The dreaded terrorists had spent close to 10-15 years behind bars.

Other criminals are now reportedly lobbying hard to get out of prison. Those freed are eyeing to leave the country. With little to no monitoring of the released criminals, the police and intelligence authorities alike are in a state of panic in Bangladesh.

Professor at Dhaka University, Tawohidul Haque told Prothom Alo, “The top terrorists used to control the crimes staying in jails. That is why their release on bail enhances the possibility of an increase in criminal acts.”

“Strict monitoring is required on whether the terrorists released on bail are reviving their old networks. Otherwise, the aspiration of student-people for a new Bangladesh will be demolished,” he added.

‘Boycott India’ campaign fails, Bangladesh dependent on Indian imports

Muhammad Yunus, who has been given the command to sail the sinking ship of Bangladesh to safety, is busy appeasing radical Muslim groups in the country. This becomes evident from the decision to stop Hilsa export to India ahead of the Bengali Hindu festival of Durga Puja.

It must be mentioned that as a goodwill gesture, Sheikh Hasina would send consignments of the premium fish each year between August and October. Muhammad Yunus had decided to make a sharp departure from this annual practice citing ‘domestic demand’.

Bangladeshi Fisheries Minister Farida Akhter had even tried rationalising the abrupt decision by claiming to make Hilsa accessible to poor families in the country. “No Hilsa will be exported to India for Durga Puja this year,” she had declared.

This single decision had increased support for Muhammad Yunus among Islamist groups, spearheading the ‘India Out’ campaign. They were given to believe that the interim government of Bangladesh has stood up to the ‘big bully’ India.

“Even if the prices don’t soften, the news of an export ban will please people here. That’s the main reason behind the ban,” a source told The Telegraph. However, the tough stance had to be softened within 2 days.

Far from boycotting Indian products, Bangladesh imported 2.31 lakh chicken eggs worth USD 11,272 from India to curb soaring prices in its domestic market. The first shipment of eggs was received on Monday (September 9) at the Benapole land port in Jashore.

Interm govt of Bangladesh panders to Islamists

Given the rising Islamism in the country, Yunus found a two-pronged way of further solidifying his space in the country’s political sphere.

He revoked the ban on the radical Islamist outfit ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ and released the leader of the radical outfit ‘Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)’ Muhammad Jasimuddin Rahmani.

At the same time, Muhammad Yunus began discounting the religious angle in the targeted attacks on the Hindu community.

He has gone on record from lamenting about attacks on Hindus to saying that the claims of atrocities are ‘exaggerated‘.

The two decisions by the head of the interim government elated the Islamists in the country.

They are now led to believe that Bangladesh will witness full-scale implementation of Sharia law in the absence of Sheikh Hasina and the emergence of their new Messiah aka Muhammad Yunus.

Influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh and looming security threat

Amid the internal political turmoil in Bangladesh, over 15000 Rohingyas have entered the country from neighbouring Myanmar in the past 8-10 days. To make matters more, an additional 50000 of them are waiting to infiltrate Bangladesh.

The large-scale human trafficking is facilitated by smuggling rings through the Naf River along multiple border points. Much of the infiltration is carried out during the night.

Just on Sunday (8th September), 30 Rohingyas travelled from Maungdaw in Mynamar to Keruntali in Teknaf upazila of Bangladesh. While 9 of the illegal immigrants were women, another 15 of them were children.

However, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has dismissed these media reports. Smuggling rings have reportedly been facilitating these crossings in exchange for money.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahiuddin Ahmed claimed, “The number of Rohingya infiltrations being reported is not accurate. There are some isolated infiltrations. We are jointly repelling them. Nearly 4,500 Rohingya have been sent back in the last month. Patrols have been intensified in the Naf River.”

Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, conceded that he has no idea about the extent of illegal immigration.

“Those who are crossing the border are taking shelter with their relatives in various refugee camps. We do not have any record of how much infiltration has occurred,” he stated.

In 2019, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina raised alarms over the infiltration of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh from the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Without mincing any words, she had said, “In terms of regional security, I would like to say that more than 1.1 million Rohingya citizens of Myanmar fled to Bangladesh in the face of persecution and they are a threat to the security not only for Bangladesh but also for the region.“

Possible conflict with Myanmar

On Tuesday (10th September) morning, bullets were fired without any provocation at a Bangladeshi passenger trawler from the Myanmar side.

The trawler, belonging to one Abdur Rashid, was on its way to Teknaf from Cox’s Bazar’s Saint Martin’s Island.

A passenger named Nashir Uddin informed, “The 50-60 passengers aboard panicked, some screamed while others lay down in fear. Around 50 shots were fired, and a section of the trawler was damaged.”

It remains unclear as to which party (rebels or government forces) fired the shots.

Bangladesh, which is now reeling under an economic crisis and deteriorating law and order situation, cannot afford a conflict with Myanmar.

Rahul Gandhi heading to become anti-India separatist leader: Yogi Adityanath slams Congress leader for his contentious remarks in US

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi heading to become anti-India separatist leader: Yogi Adityanath slams Congress leader for his contentious remarks in US

At a time when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is facing severe criticism for making divisive remarks during his ongoing USA trip, UP CM Yogi Adityanath has slammed the Gandhi scion. CM Yogi said that Congress Prince Rahul Gandhi is heading toward becoming an “anti-India separatist leader”. The UP CM also lambasted Mr. Gandhi and blamed him for pushing the country towards “civil war”.

CM Yogi added that after handing over a major section of reservation of backward classes to Muslims, the Gandhi scion has now hatched a conspiracy to “abolish” reservation from the country. He further stated that Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to sow the seeds of division in the country is “condemnable” adding that he should apologise to the countrymen for this.

Notably, the recent controversy involving Rahul Gandhi erupted after he made several contentious remarks during his ongoing US trip including ‘Sikh community not free to profess their religion’, altering reservations, besides casting aspersions about Indian democracy, the state of free speech, and the country’s economic progress.

Rahul Gandhi’s attempts to sow seeds of division condemnable should apologise: CM Yogi

Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi for launching a tirade against India from foreign soil, UP CM Yogi Adityanath accused him of sowing the seeds of division in the country. 

Taking to X, CM Yogi wrote, “Congress prince Rahul Gandhi is heading towards becoming the leader of an anti-India separatist group. Their only aim is to destroy the unity, integrity, and social harmony of India and push the country towards civil war.” 

The post further read, “The prince of Congress, who had formed an alliance with the anti-national National Conference and had broken into the reservation system of the backward classes and handed over a major part of it to the Muslims, is now hatching a conspiracy to abolish reservation from the country.” 

The UP CM asserted, “…Rahul Gandhi should understand that as long as there is even one BJP worker in this country, his divisive intentions will not succeed. ‘We the people of India’ are united against all anti-national forces including the Congress. Under the leadership and guidance of the honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the NDA government is committed to the upliftment of the exploited, oppressed, and deprived.” 

He concluded by asking Rahul Gandhi to apologise to the countrymen for trying to sow seeds of division in the country. 

Rahul Gandhi’s US speeches spark political furore in India; gets slammed by the opposition for reservation remarks

During his recent appearance in Herndon, Virginia, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the fight in India is about whether a person, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear a turban in India and would be able to visit a Gurdwara. He claimed that this fight is “for all religions”. Incidentally, his remarks on ‘Sikh community’ was later hailed by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. 

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had a flip-flop stand on the issue of reservation. Initially, he told Georgetown University students that the Congress would “scrap reservations” when India is a fair place, claiming that currently, it is not. 

However, when his ambiguous remark on altering reservation – as the debate of fairness is subjective, opaque rather than assuring backward classes of their constitutional rights – led to a massive political storm, the Congress leader went overboard to claim that they would increase the 50% reservation limits.

Additionally, Rahul Gandhi also received flakes for sharing platform with anti-India US lawmaker Ilhan Omar and other controversial figures. Earlier, she had called POK part of Pakistan, a claim outrightly rejected by India, regardless of domestic political party differences.

Reacting sharply to his altering reservation remarks and meeting with anti-India elements, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “Standing with forces that conspire to divide the country and making anti-national statements have become a habit for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Whether it is supporting the JKNC’s anti-national and anti-reservation agenda in J&K or making anti-India statements on foreign platforms, Rahul Gandhi has always threatened the nation’s security and hurt sentiments.” 

Besides, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati also alleged that Congress did nothing for the deprived castes despite decades in power. She warned Gandhi’s “drama” proves that Congress has been “conspiring to end reservation for years”.

Union cabinet approves free health insurance under Ayushman Bharat for all senior citizens above 70 years of age irrespective of income

OpIndia Staff
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Union cabinet approves free health insurance under Ayushman Bharat for all senior citizens above 70 years of age irrespective of income

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved universal health coverage for all senior citizens above 70 years of age irrespective of income. The senior citizens will get the facility of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The scheme aims to benefit approximately 4.5 Crore families with six (6) crore senior citizens with 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis, a statement issued by union cabinet said.

With this approval, all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their socio- economic status would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY.

The senior citizens of the age 70 years and above belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover upto ₹5 lakh per year for themselves. They do not have to share this additional card with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years.

All other senior citizens of the age 70 years and above will get a cover upto ₹5 lakh per year on a family basis. Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY.

Importantly, senior citizens of 70 years and above who are under private health insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

As per the government, AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals corresponding to 12.34 crore families.

All members of the eligible families irrespective of age are covered under the scheme. The scheme has covered 7.37 Crore hospital admissions including 49 percent women beneficiaries. The public has benefited to the extent of over ₹1 Lakh crore under the scheme.

The expansion of cover to senior citizens of the age of 70 years and above was earlier announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in April 2024.

The AB PM-JAY scheme has witnessed continuous expansion of the beneficiary base. Initially, 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families comprising the bottom 40% of India’s population were covered under the scheme.

Later, the Government of India, in January 2022 revised the beneficiary base under AB PM-JAY from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families considering India’s decadal population growth of 11.7 % over 2011 population. The scheme was further expanded to cover 37 lakh ASHAs/AWWs/AWHs working across the country and their families for free healthcare benefits.

Taking the mission ahead, AB PM-JAY would now provide free healthcare coverage of Rs 5 lakh to all citizens of the age-group of 70 years and above across the country.

Gujarat: Shahbaz Ali claimed to be Major Harshit Chaudhary, identity revealed after arrest in Vande Bharat theft case

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Shahbaz Ali claimed to be Major Harshit Chaudhary, identity revealed after arrest in Vande Bharat theft case

Shahbaz Ali, a robber who stole from the Vande Bharat train, has been apprehended by the Ahmedabad Railway Police in Gujarat. He used to introduce himself as a major in the Indian Army and created his fake identity under the name Harshit Chaudhary. Other paperwork and an army ID card were found on him. He used to travel with fictitious documents by rail and aeroplane. His brother is in the Indian Air Force, while his father is a former army personnel.

According to reports, a suitcase was stolen from Vande Bharat train in Gujarat a few days ago and a complaint was lodged with the Ahmedabad Railway Police. During the investigation, the police searched CCTV footage in which a young man was seen with the stolen suitcase. The railway reservation then inquired about him. Based on the documentation utilized for seat booking, he was identified as Harshit Chaudhary of Rajasthan. He was eventually arrested on 5th September. He was brought to Ahmedabad and interrogated after which it was discovered that his real name was Shahbaz Mushtaq Ali Khan.

He had obtained a fraudulent Aadhar Card in the name of Harshit Chaudhary. He not only posed as a Hindu but also an army officer. An ID card with his picture and phoney name was also unearthed from him during the probe. The police further inquired about the matter and questioned him. Afterwards, he confessed that he was originally from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district and lived in Maulana Azad Nagar. He also unveiled that he had employed these false identity cards to travel on three domestic flights and the same number of train trips. He admitted that the reason behind his actions was to flaunt his social status. Investigating agencies are currently looking into the matter.

Shahbaz Ali is married and has two children. The authorities also learned about his father Mushtaq Ali Khan who is retired from the army and his brother who is serving in the Air Force. His other brother is still studying. The accused has been kept in judicial custody. The police are also inquiring whether he created an ID card just to intimidate others or if there’s a sinister motive behind it.

Karnataka: Mechanic Mohammad Nadeem sets Ola showroom on fire alleging unresolved issues in newly purchased electric scooter, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Mechanic Mohammad Nadeem sets Ola showroom on fire alleging unresolved issues in newly purchased electric scooter, arrested

In Karnataka, a motor mechanic named Mohammad Nadeem has been arrested for setting an Ola showroom on fire. On Tuesday, the 26-year-old accused had a verbal argument with the showroom’s customer care executives as he alleged servicing issues with his newly purchased e-scooter. He then brought petrol and set the showroom on fire, causing damage and a heavy loss to the showroom. The Kalaburagi Chowk Police Station has registered a case in this matter.  

According to Police, Mohammad Nadeem had a heated altercation with the customer support executives at the showroom on Tuesday. Afterwards, he poured petrol on the showroom and set it on fire. Six vehicles and the computer systems were gutted in the fire. 

While no casualty has been reported, the entire showroom was destroyed in the fire. Thick smoke emanating from the Ola showroom can be seen in the visual footage of the incident. As per reports, accused Nadeem caused an estimated loss of Rs 8.5 lakh.

As per reports, Mohammad Nadeem is a mechanic by profession. He had purchased an Ola e-scooter in the month of August for Rs 1.4 lakh. He alleged that after a few days, the e-vehicle started experiencing technical issues with the battery and sound system. 

According to him, he repeatedly visited the showroom to have his vehicle repaired, but the customer care executives were not addressing his grievances properly. After a verbal argument, he set the showroom ablaze. 

Speaking with Moneycontrol, a Police officer said, “He bought an Ola scooter from the showroom 20 days ago, but it had frequent issues. The showroom staff did not address the problems despite his repeated visits. Frustrated with the issues and the staff’s negligence, he poured petrol on the showroom and set it on fire on Tuesday.”

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