Home Blog Page 804

Leftists irked over call for ‘blow the conch’ during “Reclaim the Night” protests against Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Leftists irked over call for ‘blow the conch’ during “Reclaim the Night” protests against Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case

On 14th August, left-liberals got irked by the calls to “blow the conch” during the “Reclaim The Night” event in Kolkata. In a post on Facebook, Jadavpur 8B Coordination Committee’s member Shalini Mitra “apologised” to the “Comrades” after a video message called for “blowing the conch” during the “Reclaim The Night” event.

She wrote, “URGENT. Comrades, Jadavpur 8B ‘Reclaim the Night’, the coordination committee is informing that WE DO NOT ENDORSE blowing conch shells as a part of this protest program. Our continuing fight is against Brahmanical/Manuvadi Patriarchy and we deeply regret and apologize for any miscommunication. –Jadavpur 8B, Coordination Committee”

Source: X

The message came after a video message asking the women to take control of the night and fill the city with the sound of conch shells on 14th August 2024 at 11:55 PM. The text message written in Bengali in the video read, “Girls, take control of the night, fill the city with the sound of conch shells. 14th August 2024 11:55 PM. Either you come down to the streets, or stay with us by blowing the conch shells.”

The ‘Reclaim The Night’ event and call for blowing conch

The event “Reclaim The Night” is being organised to raise awareness about the importance of safety for women at night given the recent RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Rape and Murder Case. On the night of 14th August, women in different cities are organising programs on the streets to “Reclaim The Night” calling out the administration to ensure the safety of women. The organisers of the event have claimed that it is a non-political event and have strictly asked the participants not to carry any symbol, flag, poster or placard that is anywhere linked to any political party.

Source: Facebook

Amidst the event calls, posters asking women to blow the conch surfaced on social media and it was shared by many netizens and celebrities including Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee.

Source: Facebook

The call to blow the conch however has irked the left-liberals including the organisers. In a post, the organisers said, “From the “Reclaim The Night” program in Jadavpur, we did not call for any conch shell blowing. We do not support such religious activities. If you are unable to join this time, come next time. You can shout slogans from your balcony, sing songs, and continue your fight against rape culture in your own way, both inside and outside your home. Our fight is also against Brahmanical patriarchy. Our fight is against gender-based labour division. Our fight is to break the confinement of women within their homes and claim the entire sky, day and night. We hope you will join us in protest in your own way.”

Source: Facebook

RG Kar Medical College Rape and Murder Case

On 9th August, a semi-nude and brutalised body of a female PG trainee doctor was found inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. It is a government-run hospital. Following the discovery, her father had said that she was raped and killed inside the hospital, and efforts were underway to “conceal the truth.”

The doctor had dinner with four of her coworkers at 2:30 am that night after seeing Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw event during the Paris Olympics. Afterwards, she went to the seminar hall to relax. The main accused in the case, Sanjay Roy, had access to every department as he worked at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital police outpost. He was not affiliated with the institution but often went there. CCTV evidence shows him entering the premises where the doctor was discovered, that led to his arrest on 10th August. He returned home after committing the horrifying act and slept in late. Roy also cleaned the outfit he wore to remove any evidence. The police recovered his bloodstained shoes during a search.

The Doctor was brutally tortured before she was suffocated to death, according to the post-mortem report. The four-page report stated that she had been strangled and that “perverted sexuality” and “genital torture” had resulted in a serious wounds in her private parts.

The Doctor’s thyroid cartilage was also shattered. A source stated that the rape and murder occurred on 9th August most likely between 3 and 5 am. Her lips, fingers, left leg, and abdomen were all covered with injuries.

According to sources, the Doctor’s head was slammed against a wall or the floor resulting in severe injuries and her mouth and nose were squeezed shut to stop the victim from shouting. The accused had reportedly beaten her up as she attempted to defend herself and resist. He then raped and killed her. According to the autopsy, the girl’s hands and face had cuts on them. Shards of glass from her spectacles broke and got into her eyes following an intense blow. The initial postmortem report ruled out suicide and stated that the trainee doctor had been sexually assaulted before being murdered.

On 13th August, Calcutta High Court came down heavily on West Bengal government for attempting to save principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

‘Muslims will turn your house into Bangladesh’: Hindu woman threatened by municipal chairman Syed Abid Ali for complaining against Muslim hawkers

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Muslims will turn your house into Bangladesh’: Hindu woman threatened by municipal chairman Syed Abid Ali for complaining against Muslim hawkers

On Wednesday, 14th August, a Hindu woman belonging to the SC community was threatened by the local municipal chairman Syed Abid Ali in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh for complaining against the Muslim cart owners. She had complained that the Muslim hawkers parked their vehicles in front of her house causing trouble. To this, Ali threatened the woman saying that he would convert the place into Bangladesh if she didn’t stop complaining.

In a video, the woman can be heard saying that Ali also abused her for her caste and said, “You belong to the lower caste so behave in your limits. I’ll get your husband out of the job, and ask Muslim men to barge into your house and create a scene like Bangladesh.”

It is pertinent to note that currently, Hindus are being persecuted in Bangladesh by Islamist mobs. There have been over 200 incidents of violence that have been reported from Bangladesh against Hindus. At least 30 Hindu women have been raped, several houses and businesses have been burnt and there have been Hindus who have been murdered as well.

The police also took cognizance of the event and confirmed that the Hindu woman was abused over her caste. The police also said that the accused persons, Syed Abid Ali, Lalaram Maurya, and others threatened the woman with dire consequences.

“SI Nitesh investigated the case and interrogated the accused. The woman has filed a police complaint. Further investigations into the case are underway. Strict action against the accused will be taken,” the authority added.

OpIndia has obtained a copy of the complaint in the case. As per the document, the husband of the woman who was abused works as a cleaning staff local corporation office. The local municipal chairman, Syed Abid Ali, and his associates threatened the woman that her husband would be removed from the job if she continued to complain against the Muslims.

Complaint copy obtained by OpIndia

The woman has problems with Muslim people parking their fruit and vegetable stalls in front of her home blocking the way. However, she is being threatened and asked to adjust with the situation just because she belongs to the Hindu community.

Such theft not possible, probably lights were not installed: Ayodhya Admin denies contractor’s allegation that over 3800 lights were stolen, assures action for false FIR

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Such theft not possible, probably lights were not installed: Ayodhya Admin denies contractor’s allegation that over 3800 lights were stolen, assures action for false FIR

On Wednesday (14th August), the Ayodhya district administration issued a clarification after a contractor filed an FIR alleging large-scale theft of fancy lights on Ram Path and Bhakti Path in the temple town. Speaking to reporters, Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said that a large-scale theft is improbable due to strict security and the height of the lights. He said that the possibility is emerging that the lights were never installed installed in the first place, and added that the Development Authority is probing it. He assured that action would be taken against the contractor if his complaint turns out to be false. 

Speaking with reporters, Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said, “The issue is being blown out of proportion, being exaggerated. Some ornamental lights were installed on trees, and in areas that were not well lit. Small bamboo lights were installed. The contractor has not been awarded the payment. Now it is his claim that many of the lights affixed on top of the trees have been stolen. It is not possible. It was such a difficult task to install lights on trees, theft on such a large scale is improbable…so there is a possibility that the lights were never installed. The Development Authority is investigating this.” 

The development authority discovered discrepancies in the number of installed lights versus those reported stolen, the district administration has pointed out, as per news agency IANS. 

The Divisional Commissioner added, “It is possible that the contractor gave such a complaint in the police station to create a defence for himself. Ayodhya has such tight security and on busy streets, theft on such a large scale is an impossible task. The issue is being exaggerated.” 

He further stated that as per the contract, the maintenance of these lights is the duty of the contractor for a period of one year. If anything happens to these lights, the contractor is responsible and liable for it. The official added that there is no issue of security lapse and that the contractor has not been paid yet. The allegations levelled by the contractor are being probed. And if the complaint is found to be wrong, action will be taken against him, the Divisional Commissioner noted.

It is pertinent to note that earlier in the day, it was widely reported in the media that a contractor named Shekhar Sharma filed an FIR in the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station alleging the theft of 3,800 bamboo lights installed on the trees of Ram Path and 36 gobo projector lights on Bhakti Path, worth over Rs 50 lakh. As per reports, Sharma is a representative of the firm Yash Enterprises and Krishna Automobiles that had bagged the contract for installing lights in the temple town. 

According to the FIR, as many as 6,400 bamboo lights were installed on Ram Path and 96 gobo projector lights on Bhakti Path by the firm.

Shekhar Sharma said, “Till 19 March, all the lights were there but after an inspection on May 9, it was found that some lights were missing. Till now around 3,800 bamboo lights and 36 projector lights have been stolen by some unknown thieves.”

According to the FIR, the firm came to know about the ‘theft’ in May but filed the complaint on 9th August. However, now the Ayodhya administration has denied the theft allegations, and accused the contractor himself of probably not installing the lights in the first place and then filing false FIR alleging theft.

Assam: 30-year-old Injamamul Haque awarded 15 years in prison for kidnapping and raping minor girl in 2022

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Assam: 30-year-old Injamamul Haque awarded 15 years in prison for kidnapping and raping minor girl in 2022

Injamamul Haque, who abducted and raped a little child, was given 15 years in prison and hard labour by Special Judge Jaydev Koch of the Kokrajhar Court in a landmark ruling on 13th August. The shocking incident occurred on 17th January 2022.

Public prosecutor Manjit Ghosh unveiled that he deceived the minor girl into believing he was taking her to tuition to convince her to leave her house. However, he abducted her and took her to the national capital where she endured four days of captivity and was subjected to regular sexual assault. The authorities eventually arrived in Delhi and rescued the victim. They booked him and filed a chargesheet against him.

Injamamul Haque was handed down the sentence after the court found him guilty of violating Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. Furthermore, the court imposed an additional three months of jail time without the option to pay a penalty. In addition, he was sentenced to five years in prison and an additional month of imprisonment without the possibility of a fee under Section 368 of the Indian Penal Code. He was also fined Rs 5,000. The victim’s family members were pleased with the court’s decision. Kokrajhar locals are happy with the ruling as well and believe that the Assam police’s exhaustive and successful investigation would contribute to a decrease in crimes against women and children.

There are several such cases that emerge from Assam and other parts of the country. Only recently, in another case, a massive protest calling for harsh punishment for the gang rape and murder accused in the Dudhnoi case took place under the banner of the All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in the town centre of Kokrajhar. On 3rd May, two underage tribal girls were raped by Dhan Ali Talukdar, Bahar Ali and Rahman Ali in the Dudhnoi area of Goalpara district.

The girls were returning home from a Rongjali Baisagu cultural event. On 5th May, Hiranmoy Khakhlari, the brother of one of the victims was brutally assaulted by Talukdar’s brother Shekabor Ali, sister Parmina Begum and Ramzan when he confronted them about the incident. He passed away from his wounds in a Guwahati hospital. The savage attack also injured two other people.

The illegal houses of the accused were then demolished by the state government. The administration arrived in Tangbari village with bulldozers, supported by hundreds of police officers. The homes of accomplices Bahar Ali, Rahman Ali and one Ramzan Ali were also demolished by the officials along with the residence of the principal accused Talukdar, his elder brother Shekabor Ali and his sister Parmina Begum.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi outrages against ‘Muslim’ students chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, says teachers have ‘sanghi mindset’: Watch viral video

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Maulana Sajid Rashidi outrages against ‘Muslim’ students chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, says teachers have ‘sanghi mindset’: Watch viral video

On 14th August, a day before Independence Day, a video of Maulana Sajid Rashidi of All India Imam Association, went viral on social media in which he objected to slogans of the “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” slogan in schools.

In the video message, he said, “Friends, today around 8:30-9:00 AM, I passed by Turkman Gate, where I saw a procession from Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya School celebrating the upcoming 15th August. In this procession, the school’s teachers made Muslim children chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai.’ These teachers have a ‘Sanghi’ mindset and are trying to impose their beliefs on Muslim children against their faith. I urge the government to take action against such teachers. I also advise Muslim parents to prepare their children for such events so that if someone tries to instil something in their minds that goes against our Islam and our faith, the children strongly resist it.”

It is unclear if the video is recent or if an old video has surfaced again. OpIndia could not verify video’s the release date as Rashidi’s social media accounts did not have the video.

As the video went viral, several social media users including journalists and political analysts criticised Rashidi. Journalist Ashok Shrivastav said in a post on X in Hindi, “Maulana Sajid Rashidi is saying that chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by Muslim school children on Independence Day is an insult to Islam. This is astonishing. They took 30% of India’s land by dividing the country, and now they are saying that even in the remaining India, they won’t say “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Those who find “Bharat Mata ki Jai” un-Islamic in India should move to an Islamic country like Pakistan or Bangladesh.”

X user Jitendra Pratap Singh wrote, “This is not a Maulana from Pakistan; this is a Maulana from India, and he is associated with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He is saying that when he passed by Turkman Gate today, he saw a procession of children from a government school, in which Muslim children were chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” He questioned why Muslim children are being made to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Furthermore, he incited the parents of Muslim children, telling them not to send their children to any 15th August or 26th January events because “Bharat Mata ki Jai” is chanted there. Think about it: they live in this country, they benefit from this country, but they don’t love this country. They can’t even tolerate hearing chants of praise for this country. If they reach 40%, no Hindu will be able to perform any religious rituals.”

X user Rishi Bagree said, “Children chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ corrupts their religion.”

Maulana Sajid Rashidi has a controversial past

This is not the first time Maulana Sajid Rashidi has created a controversy. On 5th August, Sajid Rashidi threatened India with another partition and violence if the Waqf Act is amended. “The BJP seeks to draw political mileage by bringing one divisive issue after another. After the Ram temple, they have found new divisive issues like Kashi Vishwanath temple vs. Gyanvapi mosque and Srikrishna Janmabhoomi temple vs. Idgah at Mathura,” he said. “Just as the farmers had got the three laws repealed by sacrificing their lives, similarly now Muslims will come on the streets and fight for their rights constitutionally,” he added.

He stated that it is critical to understand Waqf. It is for the benefit of the Muslim community that the government has constitutionally granted Muslims the right to Waqf. “Right now the Muslims are silent. A significant portion of our property is owned by the state and federal governments. They (the administration) are concerned that if Muslims begin to demand their rights, things will change,” he said. Maulana Sajid Rashidi also claimed that the government was deliberately targeting the Muslim community members. “Ever since the Modi government has come to power, it has been bringing bills only to target Muslims. There is no talk about inflation and employment. The Hindus who have voted for the BJP will also have to think about what this government has done for us,” he maintained.

In February 2023, he claimed that Mahmud Ghazni attacked Somnath Temple only to stop illegal activities. Later, an FIR was lodged against him for his remarks that the Islamic tyrant Mahmud of Ghazni did not destroy Somnath Temple due to his hatred towards infidels (Kafirs) but to stop the alleged ‘wrongdoings’ that were taking place inside the temple. Following the FIR, Maulana Rashidi has issued a half-hearted apology to Somnath Trust saying it was not his intention to hurt anyone. He has also stated that his claims were based on Romila Thapar’s writings. he also added that during their 800-year rule, Muslim rulers in India had donated lands for temples and invested money to beautify those temples.

In November 2022, he threatened that India would on fire after Uttarakhand government decided to modernise madarsas. Maulana Sajid Rashidi told ANI, “Every state has a madrassa board that comes under the government. The government can order dress codes, play movies or songs, and do whatever they want in those Madarssas, and no one can stop them. However, we will not allow you to do anything in our private Madarsas, hear this out. Because Indian Muslims retain 4% of children from private madrasas to become maulvis and maulanas, if they attempt to intervene in that 4% of madrasas, all the Indian Muslims will oppose it. We will not allow them to do this.” Rashidi went on to say, “We never accept anything from the government. These are the foolish people who gave their madrassas to the government in order for the government to earn money, and now they are paying the price. That is why our great Maulavis and Ulemas advise others not to accept government funds for Madarsas.”

“We do not need anything from anyone… Do whatever you want in the government-run Madrassas. But don’t touch the private Madarsas; otherwise, India will be on fire,” Rashidi threatened.

‘Radicals are targeting Hindu minorities’: Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy condemns anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Radicals are targeting Hindu minorities’: Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy condemns anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh

On the 14th of August, Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential candidate, condemned the violence unleashed by Islamists on Hindus in Bangladesh since the unceremonious ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power on 5th August.

Taking to X, Vivek Ramaswamy said that a quota conflict in Bangladesh created to rectify the wrongs of rape and violence in 1971 is now leading to more rape and violence in 2024. He called the ongoing anti-Hindu pogroms in Bangladesh by ‘radicals’ “wrong” and “concerning”.

Telling in brief how the quota system came into existence after Bangladesh’s liberation, Ramaswamy wrote, “The targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh is wrong, it’s concerning, and it’s a cautionary tale for victimhood-laced quota systems. Here’s what happened: Bangladesh fought a bloody war for its independence in 1971. Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi civilians were raped and murdered. It was a tragedy, and it was rightly mourned. But in its aftermath, Bangladesh implemented a quota system for jobs in their civil service: 80% of the jobs were allocated to specific social groups (war veterans, rape victims, underrepresented residents, etc.), and only 20% were allocated based on merit.”

Furthermore, Vivek Ramaswamy called the quota system a “disaster” and pointed out how it triggered widespread protests in 2018 demanding the scraping of quotas, however, as the quota patrons fought back, it was reinstated in 2024. He claimed that as the controversial quotas were reinstated, it triggered further protests resulting in the toppling of the Hasina government adding that since then Hindu minorities have been targeted by ‘radicals’. Calling bloodshed the endpoint of grievance and victimhood, Ramaswamy asserted that there are several lessons to learn from the Bangladesh episode.

“The quota system proved to be a disaster. In 2018, protests led Bangladesh to scrap most of the quotas, but the victim-patrons fought back…and the quota system was reinstated this year. That triggered more protests which toppled the government, and the prime minister fled. Once chaos begins, it can’t easily be reined in. Radicals are now targeting Hindu minorities. A quota conflict created to rectify the wrongs of rape and violence in 1971 is now leading to more rape and violence in 2024. Bloodshed is the endpoint of grievance and victimhood. It’s hard not to look at Bangladesh and wonder what lessons we would do well to learn right here at home,” Ramaswamy posted.

While the denouncement of the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh is appreciated, Vivek Ramaswamy missed some crucial points in his post. The 2024 anti-quota protests led by students were never anti-government protests since it was the Sheikh Hasina-led government that had scrapped the quota for government jobs.

The 2024 anti-quota protest traces its roots back to the anti-quota movement in 2018. On the 8th of March 2018, the Bangladesh High Court rejected a petition challenging the validity of the country’s quota system, which has been in effect since the 1970s. After this, Sheikh Hasina stated that she would preserve the quota for the descendants of liberation war veterans. However, her decision caused widespread student discontent. In reaction to the turmoil, Hasina issued an executive order cancelling quotas for families of freedom fighters in Bangladesh’s civil service.

It must be noted that until 2018, 56% of government posts in Bangladesh were reserved for certain groups. These groups included people with disabilities (1%), indigenous communities (5%), women (10%), people from underdeveloped districts (10%), and families of freedom fighters from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War (30%).

In June 2024, the Bangladeshi High Court overturned PM Hasina’s order and decided to reinstate 30% reservation in government jobs to the descendants of the freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War. This sparked violent protests across the country.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s decision on the 4th of July triggering widespread protests. After Sheikh Hasina govt filed an appeal against it, the Bangladeshi apex court directed all petitioners to maintain the status quo till the 7th of August 2024.

It is thus, clear that the students and the govt were on the same side, and therefore the student protests were not essentially anti-government protests as misconstrued by Ramaswamy. The student protests were hijacked by opposition parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and jihadist Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). While protests became more violent as clashes between protestors and police rose, the violence escalated when the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) began to amp up the protests and use them to attack the ruling Awami League government. The involvement of these opposition groups exacerbated the intensity of the protests, as their supporters joined in.

While the Supreme Court attempted to placate the unrest by annulling the quota ruling, however, the protests now hijacked by BNP and JeI supporters grew adamant about seeking Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Both the parties, notorious for their disdain for Hindus and India have been accused of active involvement in anti-Hindu violence.

Speaking to OpIndia, the Hindus in Bangladesh said that Jamaat-e-Islami members have been making a list of Hindu businesses and Hindu houses since the fall of Sheikh Hasina.

Gujarat: Class 8 Unit test for Hindi with questions related to Khuda, Ramzan, Eid and Namaz stirs outrage on social media, officials say questions asked from syllabus

મેઘલસિંહ પરમાર
-
0
Gujarat: Class 8 Unit test for Hindi with questions related to Khuda, Ramzan, Eid and Namaz stirs outrage on social media, officials say questions asked from syllabus

A picture of a Hindi subject question paper for Class 8th students is doing rounds on social media as four out of five visible questions asked in the Unit test relate to Islam. The question paper was distributed in Narmada Vidyalay located in Bharuch, Gujarat. As the question paper went viral, it triggered an outrage on social media with several netizens inquiring whether the school falls in Pakistan or Bangladesh or has India become an Islamic nation. 

However, facing backlash, the school management defended itself claiming that the intentions were not wrong and the questions were asked from the syllabus itself. Additionally, the District Education officer (DEO) also defended the school saying that the questions were asked as per rules adding that the matter was being blown out of proportion. 

As per the details mentioned in the question paper, Bharuch’s GNFC Narmada Vidyalaya held a unit test on 7th August. In the Hindi subject examination for Class 8th, students were given this question paper which is now circulating on social media. In the viral picture, 5 multiple-choice questions under question number 1 are visible, 4 of which relate to Islam.  

The first question asked in the Hindi subject unit test reads, “On whose will/command we are born in this world?” The four options include – Mother, father, family and Khuda (Almighty).   

The second one was a fill-in-the-blanks type of question which asked, “If Khuda wished, he can mitigate all (blank space left for the correct answer).” Options include – Kismat, Mannat, Daawat or Afat (troubles/calamity). The rough translated English version has been rephrased to better suit the ‘correct’ option in the said questionnaire.  

(The question paper for Hindi subject class 8th students circulating on social media, Image Source – X_@atsshow7)

The third question was related to Ramzan and it asked, “Ramzan comes after observing the full thirty (blank space for correct answer)”.. The options – Vidhan (legislations), grains, Phere (circumcircles) or Rozas.  

Fourth question – “What is the name of the place where Namaz is read during Eid?” The options were Idbagh, Idmaidan, Idghar or Idgah.

The fifth one was a geography question asking, “Karnal city falls in which state?” Options included – Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat or Haryana. 

As per reports, when the students went back to their homes, they showed the question paper to their parents and some of them shared pictures of the question paper on social media which soon went viral. They also raised objections against asking such questions from their children.

Questions were asked from the curriculum, the intentions were not wrong: School management

When the matter came to the notice of OpIndia, we contacted the school management for further information on this matter. According to the school management, “The questions were taken from the government textbook and no out of syllabus questions were asked in the examination. The controversy arose because the questions were consecutive, but the school or the teachers had no other intention behind it. That is to say, the questions were asked from the text itself.” 

They further added that they have submitted a reply to the District Education Officer (DEO) and the Collector’s office in this matter. 

Meanwhile, the District Education Officer Swati Raol has also responded to the question paper row. She said that the questions were asked as per the rules and claimed that the issue was being blown out of proportions. 

Speaking to ‘Divya Bhaskar’, she said, “The questions have been asked as per the government rules and textbooks and they are from the chapters part of the curriculum. Someone has tried to make a big deal out of this entire incident.”

OpIndia also contacted District Primary Education Officer Sachin Shah in this matter. However, he said that the matter falls under the purview of the District Education Officer, but added that as per the information he received, a report on the matter has been submitted to the state government and the questions were taken from the textbook itself. He added that the dispute has been resolved.

Madras HC allows BJP’s ‘Tiranga Rally’ in Tamil Nadu after DMK govt refused permission: Read what happened as court slammed draconian order

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madras HC allows BJP’s ‘Tiranga Rally’ in Tamil Nadu after DMK govt refused permission: Read what happened as court slammed draconian order

On 14th August, the Madras High Court granted permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to organise the “Tiranga Rally” (bike rallies with the national flag) in Tamil Nadu on 78th Independence Day after a writ petition was submitted by A. Krishna Prasath, the Coimbatore district secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha requesting approval for the same in celebration of 15th August. Earlier, the police had refused permission for the rally saying that it could cause law and order situations.

The decision to refuse permission, according to Justice G Jayachandran, violated fundamental rights. The court also noted that the Congress party had also been denied permission by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government due to concerns about law and order issues, road congestion and damage to the national flag. “Why must citizens have to take the court’s permission every year to hoist the national flag,” the court questioned. The state DGP was instructed by the court to give authorisation for any such gatherings so long as the organizers provide assurances that traffic and law and order regulations won’t be broken and that the flag will not be damaged.

The court stated that it would still like to clarify the legal position when the state attempted to claim that the matter was not political. However, Additional Advocate General J Ravindran persisted in opposing the plea, citing images from earlier rallies to support his argument that some attendees are not wearing helmets. He alleged that the DCP’s decision to deny the approval was influenced by more than just the narrow roadways and ongoing construction of the flyover. The latter had however originally highlighted inadequate route information for denying permission.

The petitioner’s lawyer mentioned that the Registry had turned down a similar request by the BJP leader for rallies throughout the state because of technical difficulties. As a result, the petition was only filed by the Coimbatore official. The state counsel contended, “It is a joyous occasion and we don’t want to prevent anyone from celebrating. In fact, we want everyone to celebrate but there are other ways.” He conveyed that although the state wants to minimize any disruption to drivers, law and order issues must also be avoided and added, “These are sensitive dates and the State must take steps to protect its citizens. 1,700 police personnel deployed for Independence Day, 60 or 90 personnel left for other work.”

The court informed that it would consider the submissions but also challenged the reasoning behind the denial of permission for these types of events. “If the state wants to add ifs and buts, what is the message that the citizen is getting here? That the state does not want to allow them to hoist or carry the national flag even though they have a right to do so,” the court pointed out.  

The court further declared that the order would be restricted to this particular petition alone, but asked why people should be compelled to go before the court annually. It noted that the state police should not forbid any kind of rally including vehicles, bicycles, or people on foot, provided that the flag is flown in a dignified manner and sustains no damage.

The plea contested a 10th August order from the Coimbatore Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North that had refused permission for the rally on several grounds. The petitioner’s attorney was allowed to submit a lunch motion for an expelled hearing by the judge. The former accused the official of giving inconsistent reasons for the denial during the afternoon session. On 13th August, the bench led by Justice G. Jayachandran gave the Government advocate a day to gather the required instructions. However, the bench stressed that permission should not be withheld if the rallies can be held peacefully without causing disturbances to the public.

Bangladesh faces severe financial crisis as annual inflation jumps to 11.66% in July amid widespread anti-Hindu violence, protests

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bangladesh faces severe financial crisis as annual inflation jumps to 11.66% in July amid widespread anti-Hindu violence, protests

Bangladesh is experiencing an extensive economic crisis as it remains to survive on the brink amid serious unrest. As per the data provided by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics on 12th August, the inflation rate or consumer price index hit a 12-year high of 11.66 per cent in July and food inflation surpassed 14 per cent for the first time in thirteen years. The inflation rate stood at 9.72% in June. Food inflation reached 14.10% and non-food inflation at 9.68% which was 10.42% and 9.15% respectively in June. The general inflation rate peaked in May of last year at 9.94 per cent.

The latest numbers demonstrated the ongoing decline in real income and fall in the living standards of low-income groups in the country as it grapples with the terrible aftermath of anti-minority violence especially against Hindus and anti-quota agitation. The protests severely impacted the supply chain in Bangladesh. Curfews and internet outages happened on several days in July which interfered with supply chains and made it difficult for people and businesses to conduct smooth operations. During this period, port and rail services were also interrupted. The breakdowns in the supply chain are predicted to result in an even greater increase in the prices of other items and necessities.

The nation’s business sector is also experiencing a liquidity crunch as a result of the central bank placing limits on the maximum amount of cash withdrawal owing to the unpredictability surrounding the overthrow of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed-led government and the interim administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who seeks to restore normalcy to the nation.

The people are not allowed to take out more than 2 lakh Taka at a time from a bank which is discouraging local traders from purchasing additional currency and is slowing down overall trade. The business community’s inability to acquire currency in large quantities, which is a prerequisite for trading, will ultimately impact imports and drive up inflation in Bangladesh.

The previous two years have seen a nearly 35 per cent decline in the value of the Taka relative to the United States Dollar, increasing the cost of imports. Retailers are under pressure to maintain stable pricing for necessities which prevents them from turning a profit, as the value of the currency is steadily declining in relation to the US dollar. The upheaval in the nation has resulted in a considerable decrease in the number of customers.

Even though Dhaka has been peaceful for the past few days, protests are still raging in Bangladesh’s interior regions. The prices of the stapes including rice and lentils, among other items have reportedly climbed up. Bangladesh imports dried fruits, spices, pulses, and other essentials from its neighbours, particularly India.

On 8th May, the Bangladesh Bank increased the policy rate, the interest rate at which it extends credit to traditional banks by 50 basis points (bps) to 8.5 per cent to minimize the amount of money in circulation. It has increased the rate by 400 bps overall over the last two years. Furthermore, it established a flexible exchange rate system by allowing the dollar to trade within a band and made the lending rate in the banking sector entirely market-based after four years.

According to a fresh forecast from the Mastercard Economic Institute (MEI), Bangladesh’s GDP growth and inflation are predicted to slow down in the 2025 fiscal year. The country’s GDP growth is expected to decrease to 5.7% and inflation is expected to decrease to 8% in FY (Financial Year) 25 from 9.8% in FY24. Meanwhile, the Central Bank data unveiled that Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves dropped from $21.78 billion the previous month to $20.48 billion on 31st July.

The economic issues caused by sluggish domestic and overseas demand have been compounded by persistently rising inflation, which has been eating away at consumers’ purchasing power. Higher US dollar exchange rates can also make external sector vulnerabilities worse. MEI recommended changing the pricing to be more market-based to resolve these problems.

The turmoil that has engulfed Bangladesh began as demonstrations against the government’s employment quota system but swiftly grew into anti-government riots that have claimed the lives of at least 400 people. Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign as the nation’s prime minister due to the upheaval and Muhammad Yunus was handed over the authority as the top adviser of the interim government. Minorities have fled Bangladesh as a result of the riots, particularly Hindus, who have been singled out by Muslim mobs and have been the subject of lynchings, looting, rapes and vandalism. Their temples and properties have also been burned and damaged by the extremists amidst the carnage.

Lucknow: Aqeel poses as Akhil Yadav to trap a married Hindu woman, rapes her, force-feeds beef, makes her observe Roza

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Lucknow: Aqeel poses as Akhil Yadav to trap a married Hindu woman, rapes her, force-feeds beef, makes her observe Roza

In Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, it has been reported that a Muslim man named Aqeel and his friends have been accused of gangraping a married Hindu woman. The Muslim man allegedly forced the Hindu victim to eat cow meat and made her observe Roza. When the victim objected, the accused brutally assaulted her and threatened to kill her. Along with Aqeel, his mother-father, Khaleel, Sanu, Irfan Intezaar and an unidentified person are said to be involved.

In this matter, an FIR was registered on Monday (12th August) at the Mohanlalganj Police Station in South Lucknow and an investigation has been launched. In her complaint, the victim said that in 2023, she used to work at a private company where her senior named Sanu gave the victim’s phone number to accused Aqeel who also worked there. Aqeel introduced himself as Akhil Yadav and gradually won the victim’s trust.

The victim further stated that on 8th December 2023, accused Aqeel took her to Lucknow’s Kaiserbagh court on the pretext of providing her a job. During this time, one Intezaar Ahmed, Khalil and an unknown person were also present. These people made the victim sign some legal documents. Since the victim was weak in reading-writing, she could comprehend what exactly was written on those papers and signed them. Subsequently, Aqeel and his accomplices took the victim to Aqeel’s house where she was held captive till 17th January 2024.

During this time, the accused Aqeel and his father raped the Hindu woman several times while Aqeel’s mother encouraged the duo to carry out the crime. On 17th January 2024, Aqeel’s father rented a room at some distance from his house and the victim was moved there. In this room, Aqeel, Irfan, Intezaar and another unknown person raped the victim several times. It is alleged that Aqeel also used to charge money in exchange for handing over the Hindu victim to his friends for sexual assault.

The victim also told the police that Aqeel used to rape her daily. He used to force the victim to eat beef [cow meat] and also to keep Roza. When the victim begged for mercy, the accused threatened to kill her, her husband and the entire family. Aqeel told the victim that if she opened her mouth, he would rape other women in the victim’s in-laws’ house. On 2nd July, Aqeel brutally thrashed the victim and threw her out of the house. Later, he went to Ajmer with his friends.

After returning from Ajmer, on 9th August, Aqeel called the victim to meet him in the Mohanlalganj area on the pretext of some urgent work. However, when the victim reached there, Aqeel took her to a deserted garden and raped the victim and forcibly had unnatural sex with her. When she tried to stop him, Aqeel kicked and punched her. In her complaint, the victim has demanded strict action against Aqeel, his mother-father and all the accused friends.

Notably, Lucknow Police has taken cognizance of the victim’s complaint and registered an FIR. The police have booked the accused persons under sections IPC sections 376-D, 420, 342, 323, 377 and 506. OpIndia has a copy of the complaint. Lucknow Police said that investigation and other legal action are being taken in the case.

1...803804805...7,582Page 804 of 7,582