On Thursday, 1st August, Imane Khelif of Algeria won ‘her’ first Olympic boxing battle as her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, abandoned the match after 46 seconds. Khelif was excluded from the 2023 world championships for failing a gender eligibility test, and ‘her’ appearance at the Paris Olympics has currently sparked controversy.
Carini abandoned the battle after receiving two huge punches from Khelif, which is uncommon in Olympic boxing. The fight between Angela Carini and Imane Khelif lasted only 46 seconds, after which the Italian boxer threw her helmet onto the floor, abandoned the clash, and yelled, ‘This is unjust.’
The 25-year-old entered the ring at the North Paris Arena to a storm of enthusiasm, but the fight ended abruptly, confusing the spectators.
Carini then refused to shake Khelif’s hand after Khelif was declared winner, she fell to her knees and burst into tears in the ring before departing. She said that she had never felt such strong blows in a contest before. “I have always honored my country with loyalty. This time, I didn’t win because I couldn’t fight anymore. So I ended the match,” Carini stated.
She further said, ‘I’m used to suffering. I’ve never taken a punch like that, it’s impossible to continue. I’m nobody to say it’s illegal.’
“I have never been hit so hard in my life. It’s up to the IOC to judge,” she added while talking to media after the fight.
“I have never been hit so hard in my life. It’s up to the IOC to judge.”
Italy’s Angela Carini after lasting just 46 seconds against Algeria’s intersex athlete Imane Khelif.
Carini’s coach said that some people had advised Carini to not contest against a ‘man’, saying it would be dangerous.
Khelif is a skilled amateur who earned a silver medal at the International Boxing Association’s 2022 global championship. However, The same governing board disqualified her from last year’s championships in Delhi just before her gold medal match, as he failed a gender test, along with another ‘female’ boxer, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. As per IBA president Umar Kremlev, DNA tests had proved they had XY chromosomes and were thus excluded from the sports events. They also had elavated levels of testosterone. This means that the tests show that they were biological males and went through puberty as males.
Despite being disqualified by the International Boxing Association, Khelif is able to participate in the Olympics because IBA has been banned from running the Olympic boxing tournament in Paris because of old issues regarding governance, finance and some judging scandals. As a result, boxing matches are being organised by IOC’s Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, which has more relaxed rules than the IBA on gender issues.
Notably, the IOC has been criticised for clearing Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete in Paris despite their disqualification by the IBA for failing gender tests. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said earlier, “Everyone competing in the women’s category… is complying with competition eligibility rules.” He argued their passports mention that they are women.
Lin won the IBA world championships in 2018 and 2022, but the governing organization stripped ‘her’ of a bronze medal last year, stating she failed to meet eligibility conditions in a biochemical test. The IOC’s official website acknowledges that both boxers failed gender eligibility tests last year. Lin will meet Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova in a featherweight match on Friday.
The Algerian Olympic Committee released a statement on Wednesday defending Khelif. They claimed that it was ‘unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with unfounded propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.’
Young Stunners, a popular Pakistani hip-hop duet formed in Karachi in 2012 by Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus is scheduled to perform in Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. The platform SkillBox is officially hosting the duo and has released the dates for the event, which will take place in three cities starting on 13th December and will last till 25th December. As of right now, no more information about the event is available.
The official website read, “Young Stunners India Tour 13th December 2024 – 25th December 2024. Join us for an electrifying experience as the dynamic duo, Young Stunners, embark on their much-anticipated India tour. Spanning three major cities, this tour promises to be a musical extravaganza featuring the raw and powerful Urdu rap that has taken the world by storm.
Giving information about the rappers and their background it conveyed, “About the Artists: Young Stunners comprises two incredibly talented Urdu-language rappers, Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus. Known for their thought-provoking lyrics and captivating performances, they have carved a niche in the music industry with their unique style and profound storytelling Talhah Yunus & Talha Anjum a.k.a YOUNG STUNNERS; the real street vibe of Urdu rap.”
It added, “They have always been critical of presenting the real essence of Rap and Hip Hop, in such a way that it is effective yet constructive to the listeners, and able to keep the interest of the listeners in the content and spirit of their music. Besides that, they also believe in the need for variety in the content which made them create records with different themes, lessons and sometimes humor. That’s how they worked things out, and with Umair Khan on the music, they brought about hits like Burger-e-Karachi, Maila Majnu, Laam se chaura etc. And that is how Young Stunners was founded on July 9, 2012. Splitting up and working individually gave them a way to polish themselves in their own ways, and after three years, they got together and were back with some massive shots.”
The pair will perform on 25th December, Christmas Eve, in Delhi after 7 pm. The description read, “Join us for an electrifying experience as the dynamic duo, Young Stunners, embark on their much-anticipated India tour. Spanning three major cities, this tour promises to be a musical extravaganza featuring the raw and powerful Urdu rap that has taken the world by storm.” Urging people to participate in the event it stated, “Witness live performances of hit tracks that have garnered millions of views and streams. Experience the energy and passion of Young Stunners up close. Be part of a historic tour that brings together fans from across India to celebrate the power of Urdu rap.”
It further informed, “Pre-registration is now open! Ensure your spot at this unforgettable event by signing up early. Pre-registered attendees will get priority access to ticket sales once they become available. Mark your calendars and prepare for a night of unforgettable music, vibrant energy, and a celebration of artistic excellence.”
The website also shared details about the pre-registration and informed, “Stay tuned for further announcements on ticket sales and event details. Don’t Miss Out: This is your chance to be part of a landmark event in the world of music. Pre-register now and be the first to secure your tickets for the Young Stunners India Tour 2024!”
While the rest of the description is the same, according to SkillBox, Young Stunners will perform in Mumbai on 13th December and 21st December in Bengaluru from 7 pm onwards.
The official Instagram account of SkillBox also posted about the Pakistani artists’ upcoming event in the country which stated, “Young Stunners with Jokhay India Tour,” along with the images of the two rappers and Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai displayed at the top of the poster. It also confirmed that the event is going to happen in December of this year and pre-registration is available on their site but the dates are to be announced yet.
Image via SkillBox’s Official Instagram Account
Co-founder and CEO of SkillBox Anmol Kukreja shared a story about the event declaring, “@skillboxofficial always changing landscape! Pre-registration open now! Big ups to @desi_disco.au.”
Notably, the impending event has sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media, as users are incensed by the development. They are sharing old tweets of Talha Anjum in which he mocked Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, expressed anti-India sentiments and hatred against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as advocated for Kashmir’s secession from India. A user highlighted, “Who is Talha? The one who wrote against (India’s stand in) Kashmir. The one who spewed venom against PM Modi. The one who made fun of Abhinandan. Now Indians will purchase his show’s tickets. It’s a shame that he is allowed to perform in the country.”
Kaun Talha ?
Kashmir ke khilaf tweets kara wo Talha Modi ko hate diya wo Talha Abhinandan ko mock kiya wo Talha India ka hater wo Talha
Jiske show ki tickets Indians kharidenge wo Talha
Such a shame that he is allowed to do a show in India ?
— Elvish Army (Fan Account) (@elvisharmy) August 1, 2024
Popular YouTube channel “Aaj Ki Taza Khabar” also brought up the vitriolic remarks of Talha Anjum and asked, “Talha Anjum a Pakistani Rapper who has been tweeting against Bharat, Kashmir, Modi and everything Bharatiya. This guy has a show scheduled in December in Mumbai, Bharat. Should he be allowed to enter?”
Talha Anjum a Pakistani Rapper who has been tweeting against Bharat, Kashmir, Modi and everything Bharatiya. This guy has a show scheduled in December in Mumbai, Bharat. Should he be allowed to enter? pic.twitter.com/RuFLEZiszc
Meanwhile, Ankit Jain, social media co-in charge of Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) posted, “I have been assured this anti-India pig won’t be allowed in India. Rest assured,” while reacting to a post featuring the Pakistani artist’s offensive statements.
I have been assured this anti India pig won’t be allowed in India. Rest assured. https://t.co/beuHGaspRM
Young Stunners and their hatred for all things Indian
Talha Anjum shared a picture of bleeding Captain Abhinandan after he landed in Pakistan with “Total Dhamaal” written on it and tagged Ajay Devgn who was in the Bollywood movie.
The rapper endorsed Kashmir’s separation from India in another tweet and claimed that Pakistan’s army is striving for its “freedom”. He also alleged that India and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) are treating Muslims as “second-class citizens” and referred to it as racism.
Making a mockery of an Indian patriotic song, “Aao bachcho tumhe dikhaye jhanki Hindustan ki,” Talhah Yunus wrote, “Aao bachcho ser karaun main tumko Pakistan ki, Jiski khatir lalalalala Hindustan ki (Come children, let me take you on a tour of Pakistan for whose sake India ********)” abusing the country indirectly.
He attacked his fellow Pakistani celebrities in a tweet for not “speaking up” on Kashmir. He charged, “They refer to themselves as social media influencers. None of them raised their voice on Kashmir. They are scared of losing their Indian fans.” He then abused them and told them to wear dupattas and bangles (portraying them as weak and spineless) and added, “Shame on you.”
The rapper even uploaded a picture of two Kashmiri people with a green and white flag and wrote, “This is what Kashmir wants,” while tagging cricketer Shahid Khan Afridi who has openly supported separatism in the valley and is infamous for his anti-India and anti-Hindu stance.
Talha Anjum posted a purported photo of a man in a mask with “Go India, go back. We want freedom,” displayed in the background. He also retweeted a comment stating, “Modi is a terrorist.”
The two Pakistani rappers’ hateful remarks on India have come back to haunt them, as social media users are calling for the cancellation of their scheduled event in India and protesting against it. They are angry that rappers who regularly abuse and harbour contempt for India want to perform here and make money from it.
Update: Skillbox delists the event from platform after outrage
After the online outrage against the Young Stunners scheduled India tour, Skillbox has announced that they respect the sentiments of the people and they will be delisting the event from their platform.
On Thursday, 1st August, the Supreme Court questioned Bibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal’s close aide over the assault of Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal, saying it was surprised by how the incident occurred at the Delhi chief minister’s residence. The statement came as the court issued a notice of Kumar’s bail application, setting it for a hearing on August 7th.
A bench of justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that the issue is not whether Maliwal’s wounds are substantial or slight. “We are shocked at the manner in which it is done to somebody visiting the CM residence,” it stated, agreeing to hear the bail petition. Kumar approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court refused him bail on July 12th.
Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who defended Kumar, stated that Maliwal came to the chief minister’s residence and no one had gone to her house, prompting the bench to inquire whether the CM’s office was a private property.
“Does it need these kinds of rules? We have released on bail people who are charged with heinous offences. But see the way and manner the offence is done. What kind of power has gone into his head that she tells him to stop as she is having a particular physical condition, but he continues…It is inhuman. What kind of moral policing does he do. Is this kind of goon supposed to work at CM’s residence?” the court said, as per Times of India report.
The court will hear the case next on August 7th and assess the charge sheet. It sought a response from the Delhi Police to Kumar’s bail application while allowing the petitioner’s counsel to file the charge sheet.
Singhvi stated that the most serious allegation against Kumar is that he caused injury and that there are reasons for granting bail because he cannot interfere with evidence with the chargesheet already filed.
The bench responded by asking that if this type of individual cannot influence, who can? “If he can mislead people by calling the staff from outside, can anybody dare to speak against him?” The judges pondered if Kumar was a former chief minister’s aide or a government employee.
Singhvi claimed Kumar, a former government employee, was a political aide who made appointments for the CM. The Supreme Court asked why a former employee had more power at the CM’s residence than Maliwal. “The FIR [first information report] indicates you [Kumar] are an ex-private secretary. What authority did you have at the Chief Minister’s office that the victim did not? You want to make it appear as if a bad guy broke into the residence. And he isn’t even ashamed of his actions.”
Singhvi claimed Kumar was just requesting bail because he had been detained for 75 days. He stated that the event occurred on May 13th and Maliwal chose to register her complaint only three days later.
The bench asked what it meant if Maliwal called the police helpline 112 right away after the event. “This belies your story that subsequently she concocted allegations.” Singhvi claimed that the FIR was feasible due to “friendly” police and a “friendly” Lieutenant Governor, prompting the bench to rule that these were internal political concerns.
Kumar was charged on May 16th under the Indian Penal Code’s sections for criminal intimidation, assault with intent to disrobe a woman, and attempted culpable homicide. Kumar claimed that the allegations were baseless and that his detention was unwarranted because the investigation had concluded. He claimed that his arrest was made in haste, violating his rights because the police did not provide him notice before arresting him without a warrant.
At least ten persons lost their lives after severe rains in Uttarakhand destroyed a concrete bridge and footbridge on the Kedarnath path. Meanwhile, the renowned Char Dham Yatra was temporarily halted due to torrential rain, which caused landslides, flooding, and widespread devastation throughout the state. As per the report by Jagran, the majorly affected areas in the state are the Jakhanyali, Ghansali, and Tehri Garhwal districts.
“All Chardham paths are open; only the Kedarnath pathway has been blocked. 100 more routes are clogged; efforts are ongoing to open them,” the State Disaster Secretary was quoted as saying. Rescue operations are underway.
On Thursday morning, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with authorities at the State Emergency Operation Centre to assess the status of rescue and relief activities in districts affected by the downpour. During the assessment meeting, CM Dhami stated that rescue teams had been active throughout the night, transferring people to safer regions after heavy rain.
“We received information about the disruption of life in many areas across the state. Consequently, rescue teams worked through the night to move people to safer locations,” CM Dhami said. He also stated that he is in constant contact with the local authorities. He also instructed the NDRF and SDRF teams to stay on high alert.
रुद्रप्रयाग में अतिवृष्टि से प्रभावित क्षेत्रों का स्थलीय निरीक्षण कर अधिकारियों से राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों के साथ ही श्रद्धालुओं की सुरक्षा के दृष्टिगत की गई व्यवस्थाओं की जानकारी ली।
इस दौरान श्रद्धालुओं से बातचीत कर उनका कुशलक्षेम जाना और उन्हें सुरक्षा के लिए आश्वस्त किया। साथ… pic.twitter.com/P4fEBqaGie
“All officers should keep in mind that whatever funds are required for evacuating people from sensitive areas to safe places, relief and rescue operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation from security point of view, will be sanctioned by the government immediately. The safety of the people of the state is our priority and every possible effort will be made for this,” he said taking to X.
आपदा की वजह से अपने प्राण गंवाने वाले लोगों के परिजनों से मुलाकात कर उन्हें ढ़ाढस बंधाया। ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगतों की आत्मा को शांति एवं शोक संतप्त परिजनों को यह कष्ट सहने की शक्ति प्रदान करें। pic.twitter.com/Mbn7foyTKy
With heavy rainfall expected across the state, the Uttarakhand government has issued safety advice for Chardham Yatra pilgrims, urging them to postpone their treks till the weather improves. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert in Uttarakhand for the next five days. A red alert has also been issued in connection with a cloudburst incident near Kedarnath.
Earlier, two individuals were found dead and another injured after going missing following a cloudburst in Jakhanyali, Ghansali, Tehri Garhwal district. The deceased were identified as Bhanu Prasad, 50, and Anita Devi, 45.
Following severe rainfall in the state, the water level of the Ganga at Rishikesh rose to 20 meters above the warning line. The police squad has also notified locals in Ganga’s adjacent coastal areas, including the Triveni Ghat. At 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, the Ganga water level in Rishikesh has reached 339.70 meters.
The Allahabad High Court on 1st August ruled that the 18 lawsuits submitted by the Hindus in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute were maintainable, dealing a severe blow to the hope of the Muslim side. The suits aim to have the mosque removed from the 13.37-acre property that it shares with the Katra Keshav Dev temple.
The Muslim side argued that the Places of Worship Act, the Limitation Act and the Specific Relief Act prohibited the lawsuits, contesting the maintainability of the claims brought by the deity and Hindu parties.
The court pronounced that neither the Limitation Act nor the Places of Worship Act, among other laws, forbade lawsuits brought by the Hindu devotees or the deity. The court’s observation that each of the eighteen suits is maintainable opens the door for them to be considered based on their merits. The bench of Justice Mayank Kumar Jain had reserved the decision on 6th June.
“Today Allahabad High Court has rejected the application of order 7 rule 11 filed by Shahi Eidgah Masjid and held that all these 18 suits are not barred by the Places of Worship Act. The next date of hearing is 12th August. The result is that the trials will proceed and the intention and the effort to nib in the trial on the issue of maintainability has been rejected. We will file the caveat before the Supreme Court and if the Shahi Eidgah Masjid approaches the SC, we will be present there,” Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain informed.
#WATCH | Prayagraj: On Allahabad HC rejects Muslim side's plea challenging maintainability of Hindu suits, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain says, "Today Allahabad High Court has rejected the application of order 7 rule 11 filed by Shahi Eidgah Masjid and held that all these 18 suits… pic.twitter.com/3kklt5MexE
Hindu Sena who is a party in the case welcomed the decision. “Today Allahabad High Court rejected the objections of the Muslim side in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi case. Now the hearing of the Janmabhoomi case will continue in Allahabad High Court. This is the victory of all Sanatanis and the victory of all Shri Krishna devotees living in the world today. Hindu Sena will file a caveat in the Supreme Court,” expressed Vishnu Gupta, the outfit’s national president.
Many lawsuits have been filed demanding the “removal” of the Shahi Idgah mosque, which is next to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. The petitioners contend that the mosque, which dates back to the Aurangazeb era, was constructed following the destruction of a Krishna temple. The management committee of the mosque opposed these suits in its petition. The proceedings were deemed unenforceable under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, according to the Muslim side, which included the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the mosque management committee.
The Muslim side alleged that the cases explicitly acknowledge that the mosque in question dates from 1669 to 1670.
The Muslim side’s representative, Taslima Aziz Ahmadi, had argued in court that the Waqf board’s provisions would be applicable and that the Waqf tribunal was the appropriate forum to hear the case. The Hindu plaintiff asserted that there is no land registered in the government’s record under the name Shah Idgah and this is an illegal occupancy. Additionally, they submitted that the Waqf Board had to reveal the donor of the contested property if it was alleged to be Waqf.
A recurrent petition in the Hindu side’s litigation calls for the “removal” of the Shahi Idgah mosque from the 13.37-acre property in Mathura that it shares with the Katra Keshav Dev temple along with taking possession of the Shahi Idgah grounds.
On 31st July, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024. The new bill was introduced with amendments in the Anti-Conversion Law on 29th July by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath aiming to make the Act more stringent by increasing the maximum punishment.
Earlier, the maximum punishment as per the law was 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000. However, after the amendments, the quantum of punishment has been increased for various religious conversion-related offences.
For example, illegal religious conversion has been made a punishable offence that attracts 3 to 10 years of imprisonment. At the same time, mass religious conversions and religious conversions using foreign funds will attract a punishment of 7 to 14 years of imprisonment.
The bill also stated that in the case of religious conversion, if the life or wealth of a person is put under threat, or there is the use of force or there is marriage or promise of marriage for religious conversion, punishment will range from 20 years to imprisonment to life imprisonment. Furthermore, if a minor, woman or a person is lured and human trafficking is done, imprisonment will range from 20 years to life.
The government of UP said that the existing provisions under the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 were not sufficient. Bill’s statement of reasons read, “Keeping in mind the sensitivity and seriousness of the crime of illegal religious conversion, the dignity and social status of women, and the organised and planned activities of foreign and anti-national elements and organisations in illegal religious conversion and demographic change, it has been felt that the amount of fine and penalty provided in the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act should be increased and the bail conditions should be made as stringent as possible.”
Excerpt from the bill. Source: Government of Uttar Pradesh
The key changes proposed in the Anti-Conversion Law tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath
As per the existing provisions, any aggrieved person, his or her parents, siblings any other blood relative, and anyone related by marriage or adoption can file a complaint in the matter. However, the bill tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath proposes that the ambit be widened to “any person”. The proposed legislation read, “Any information related to violation of the provisions of the Act can be given by any person”.
Earlier, the maximum punishment in such cases was 10 years. However, the bill proposes that any person intending to cause religious conversion can be put behind bars for life. Furthermore, assaults, use of force, promises or instigating marriage, conspiring or inducing any minor, woman or person to traffic or otherwise sell them or attempting on this behalf will lead to rigorous imprisonment not less than 20 years that can be extended to life imprisonment. The bill proposes that the onus to prove the conversion has not been done forcibly will lie on the accused and the person who has been converted. Those who seek to convert must notify the district magistrate using a prescribed form two months in advance. In case anyone fails to comply, he or she may face a jail term of six months to three years.
The fine imposed under the Act would be paid to the victim for medical expenses and rehabilitation. The bill tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath read, “The court shall also approve appropriate compensation payable by the accused to the victim of the said religious conversion, which may be up to Rs 5 lakh, which shall be in addition to the fine.”
The bill further proposed to increase punishment in the Anti-Conversion Law for anyone who receives foreign funding or funds from illegal institutions in connection to unlawful religious conversion to at least seven years of rigorous imprisonment that can be extended to 14 years. In addition to it, the person will be liable to pay a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.
The bill further proposed that whoever contravenes the provision about a minor, disabled or mentally challenged person, woman or SC/ST, will face rigorous imprisonment for up to 14 years and will be liable to pay a fine of a minimum of Rs 1 lakh. As per the current provisions, the maximum imprisonment is up to 10 years and the minimum fine is Rs 25,000.
In case of mass religious conversions, the person(s) responsible may face a punishment of 7-14 years with a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh. Currently, there is the provision of 3-10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 50,000.
A sub-section under Section 7 of the current Act has been proposed to make it more stringent. Section 7 states, “Notwithstanding anything contained herein, all offences under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable and shall be triable by the Court of Session.” The proposed sub-section states, “A person accused of any offence punishable under the Act, if in custody, shall not be released on bail unless the public prosecutor is given an opportunity of opposing the application for bail for such release, or where the public prosecutor opposes the bail application, the session court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that no offence can be committed by him while on bail.”
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday announced that Hamas military wing commander Mohammed Deif had been killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip on July 13.
In a post on X, IDF stated, “We can now confirm: Mohammed Deif was eliminated.”
The Israeli military said that it obtained intelligence confirming his death in the past few hours. Deif was targeted in a strike at Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade commander Rafa’a Salameh’s compound in Khan Younis area on July 13, The Times of Israel reported.
A day later, the IDF confirmed the death of Salameh. However, it did not have final information on Deif. The IDF believed that its intelligence indicated that Deif visiting the compound belonging to Salameh was highly accurate and the two Hamas military officials were together in the building that was hit with several heavy munitions, according to The Times of Israel report.
Israeli fighter jets had patrolled the building for half a day before conducting the strike after the IDF had early indications that Deif was with Samaleh. The two jets were in the air above the site. After the military received confirmation that Deif had arrived at the compound, the jets were given the order to target, which was conducted within just a few minutes, according to The Times of Israel report.
Israel’s confirmation regarding Deif comes a day after Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Iran’s capital, Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday, Press TV reported.
In a statement to Mehr News Agency, the IRGC said that Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed after their residence was targeted in Tehran.
“With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and the combatants of the Resistance Front and the noble nation of Iran, this morning (Wednesday) the residence of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred,” the statement read.
Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Iranian President-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a Press TV report.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his nation has delivered “crushing blows” to enemies in the last few days, CNN reported. He made the remarks hours after the deaths of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
In his address to the nation, Netanyahu did not claim Israel’s responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing. Notably, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind Haniyeh’s assassination.
“Three weeks ago, we attacked the military chief of Hamas, Mohammad Deif. Two weeks ago we attacked the Houthis, in one of the farthest attacks the Air Force has carried out. Yesterday we attacked the military chief of Hezbollah, Fuad Shukr,” the Israeli PM said. Netanyahu said Israel is facing “challenging days” and it will “settle the score” with anyone who harms the country.
“These are challenging days. There are threats From Beirut. We are ready for any scenario. We are prepared,” CNN quoted him as saying. “We’ll settle the score with anyone who harms us, anyone who massacres our children, anyone who murders our citizens, anyone who hurts our nation, blood is on his head,” Netanyahu added.
He further affirmed that Israel will keep fighting until the aims of the war are achieved. Netanyahu referenced previous calls he has received to end the war in Gaza, saying, “I did not give in then and I am not giving in today.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced a national day of mourning on Wednesday over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, as he condemned the killing as a “cowardly act and dangerous development,” The Times of Israel reported.
Palestinian flags were flown at half-staff for the day, the Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported, as Palestinian factions announced a general strike and called for demonstrations in the West Bank.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
India shooter Swapnil Kusale won the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Kusale also became the first Indian shooter to win a medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event.
Kusale clinched the bronze medal for India in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men’s Final after finishing in third place with an aggregate of 451.4. He secured India’s 3rd medal in shooting overall.
Earlier in the qualification round, Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale finished seventh in the qualification round of men’s 50m 3P to qualify for the final at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Indian shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Swapnil Kusale both appeared in the men’s 50m 3P qualification round at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
On his Olympic debut, Kusale finished seventh with a score of 590-38x. While Tomar ranked 11th with a total of 589-33x. Only the top eight shooters qualified for the final round, and Tomar failed to make his place in the final round.
People’s Republic of China’s Liu Yukun registered the qualification Olympic record with a total of 594-38x.
Kusale was also the first Indian shooter to make a place in the men’s 50m rifle 3P medal event at the Olympics.
Earlier at the multi-sport event, India shooter Manu Bhaker opened the nation’s account with a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
The Paris Olympics has been a redemption arc for Manu after her pistol malfunctioned at the Tokyo Olympics. She made history by becoming the first Indian woman in 20 years to reach a shooting final in an individual event of the Olympics since Suma Shirur in 2004.
The Indian shooting duo of Manu and Sarabjot Singh got the better of South Korea’s Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the bronze medal play-off match in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Amidst the outrage over a YouTuber named Gulzar Sheikh putting different items on railway tracks including cycles, soaps, stones and more in the name of content creation, the YouTuber has been arrested. He was arrested after the Legal Hindu Defence filed a complaint against Sheikh, as informed by BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on X (Twitter).
Poonawalla posted that the accused YouTuber Gulzar Sheikh has been arrested after the complaint was filed against him. ““Rail Jihadi” Gulzar arrested. रेल जिहादी गुलज़ार गिरफ़्तार. I assured you that Rail Jihadi won’t be spared by authorities,” Poonwalla said and thanked Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, the UP Police and Railways Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw.
“Rail Jihadi” Gulzar arrested
रेल जिहादी गुलज़ार गिरफ़्तार
I assured you that Rail Jihadi won’t be spared by authorities @legalhindudef
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) August 1, 2024
Earlier, Legal Hindu Defence informed about the cyber-crime complaint they have filed. Notably, Legal Hindu Defence is a legal volunteer group launched by Poonawala last month.
“Under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, there is a violation for creating public mischief with an attempt to derail the train. Despite the clear-cut provisions of this rule, Gulzar Sheikh is committing the act which is a blatant violation of law. The actions of accused can lead to a big public tragedy,” the complaint reads.
“The accused has knowledge that his actions can lead to derailment of a train taking lives of many people. In view of the facts stated above, the offences under Sections 324, 326 and 109 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023; Sections 150, 151, 152, 153 and 154 of The Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966; and Section 66F of IT Act, 2000 have been committed. For the reasons cited above, the offences committed by the accused persons are cognizable. As such, offences may be registered at once and the FIR filed accordingly,” the complaint adds.
Legal Hindu Defence back in action ??
पुलिस कंप्लेंट हो चुकी है। सख़्त से सख़्त क़ानूनी कार्यवाही करवाएगा @legalhindudef ?
Earlier in the day, OpIndia reported that an X user ‘TrainWaleBhaiya” shared a shocking video of a YouTuber Gulzar Sheikh putting different items on railway tracks including cycles, soaps, stones and more in the name of content creation. In his post, the X user wrote, “This is Mr Gulzar Sheikh from Lalgopalganj, UP who puts random things in front of trains for YouTube Money, He is putting lives of 1000s of passengers in danger,” and urged Indian Railways and administration to take strict action against the YouTuber.
In our investigation, OpIndia found that many such YouTube channels have been uploading such videos for likes and shares. In most probability, these channels are earning hefty money by monetizing these videos.
In a major ruling on the 1st of August, a 7-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court ruled by a 6:1 majority that sub-classification of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes is admissible in order to give distinct quotas for more backwards within the SC/ST categories. CJI DY Chandrachud stated that the ruling contains six views. While six out of seven judges agreed that sub-classification is permissible, Justice Bela Trivedi dissented. Justice Trivedi opined that such sub-classification is not permissible.
The seven-judge Constitution bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma overturned the 2005 decision in EV Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh, which ruled that sub-classification of SC/STs violates Article 341 of the Constitution, which grants the President the authority to prepare the list of SC/STs.
SC: The basis of sub-classification and the model which has been followed will have to be justified on the basis of empirical data gathered by the State. In other words, while the statement embarks on an exercise of sub-classification, it must do so on the basis of quantifiable…
“The members of SC/ST are not often able to climb up the ladder due to the systemic discrimination faced. Article 14 permits sub-classification of caste. Court must check if a class is homogeneous or and a class not integrated for a purpose can be further classified,” the court said.
The Court maintained the legality of statutes allowing for such sub-classification in Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and other states. In this case, the Court affirmed the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act of 2006.
Similarly, the court also upheld the Tamil Nadu Arunthathiyars (Special Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in State Services within the Reservation for the Scheduled Castes) Act, 2009, which provides for Arunthathiyars to be given preference in educational institutions and State government positions from the State’s 18% reservation for Scheduled Castes.
In his decision, CJI DY Chandrachud cited historical evidence to support his contention that scheduled castes are not a homogeneous entity. He opined that sub-classification does not violate the principle of equality established by Article 14 of the Constitution. Additionally, sub-classification does not violate Article 341(2) of the Constitution. Nothing in Articles 15 and 16 stops the State from subclassifying a Caste.
The CJI, however, emphasised that the basis of subclassification must be supported by quantitative and demonstrable evidence from States. The state cannot act on its whims or political expediency, and its decisions are subject to court review.
A Bar and Benchreport says that during the hearings on this matter, the CJI had said that there is a distinction between “sub-classification” and “sub-categorisation”. In addition, he said that exclusion or inclusion of communities should not be done for appeasement politics.
In his concurring judgement, Justice BR Gavai stated that it is the state’s responsibility to give “preferential treatment” to more backward communities. Justice Gavai opined that a select few in the SC/ST category benefit from the reservations. He added that the ground realities cannot be neglected, and certain categories within the SC/STs have endured greater oppression for generations.
However, Justice Bela Trivedi expressed her dissent and said, “Castes can be included or excluded from the Presidential list only by a law enacted by Parliament. Sub-classification will amount to tinkering of the Presidential list. Any preferential treatment for a sub-class within the Presidential list will lead to deprivation of the benefits of the other classes within the same category,” Justice Trivedi said. Justice Trivedi also stated that the decision in E.V.Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh was right.
The bench had stated orally that the Punjab government’s law may have been intended to exclude reserved category applicants who had previously benefited from legal relaxations.
Notably, the Central government has defended reservation for underprivileged groups and said that it supports subclassification. The States argued that sub-classifying SC/STs does not violate Article 341 because it does not alter the President’s list.
States maintained that Article 341 only deals with the establishment of a list of SCs, and that it does not restrict states from sub-classifying SCs depending on their backwardness in order to extend reservation advantages.
Notably, Additional Advocate General of Punjab Shadan Farasat had argued that the recently enacted Article 342A of the Constitution made it obvious that the Chinnaiah decision was no longer applicable. This section particularly enables States and Union Territories to keep a list of Socially and Economically Backward Classes, which may differ from the Presidential list.
Similarly, former Attorney General KK Venugopal also pushed for sub-classification. Recalling his experience litigating in the Chinnaiah case, he remarked that without sub-classification, the weakest sectors of society will be left behind, therefore negating the purpose of reservations.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, standing for the respondents, claimed that all the communities included in the Presidential list suffered from the “taint of untouchability” and the Constituent Assembly decided not to compare who suffered the most atrocities.
Back in 1975, the Punjab government issued a notification separating the 25% SC reservation into two groups. Seats in the first category were designated only for the Balmiki and Mazhabi Sikh groups, which were and remain among the state’s backwards economically and educationally. According to the policy, they were to be given priority for reservation in education and state jobs. The second category included the remaining SC communities.
This notification continued in effect till 2004 when a five-judge Constitution Bench overturned a similar rule passed by Andhra Pradesh in 2000. In E.V. Chinnaiah, the Supreme Court overturned the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2000 finding it in violation of the right to equality. This law had a list of Scheduled Caste communities in the state and the quota of reservation benefits provided to them.
In Dr Kishan Pal v. State of Punjab case, the Punjab & Haryana High Court reversed the 1975 notification two years after the Supreme Court’s verdict.
