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In landslide-hit Wayanad, RSS is there helping people but Rahul Gandhi said he can’t go because of the rains

OpIndia Staff
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In landslide-hit Wayanad, RSS is there helping people but Rahul Gandhi said he can’t go because of the rains

As Wayanad district in Kerala is grappling with the destruction caused by massive landslides, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the nationalist organisation despised by left-liberals is on the ground helping the affected people. However, Congress party’s ‘JanNayak’ and former Waynad MP Rahul Gandhi and the party’s candidate from the seat Priyanka Gandhi Vadra didn’t go there due to “incessant rains and adverse weather conditions”.

In an X post published on 30th July, Rahul Gandhi said, “Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation. However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land. I want to assure the people of Wayanad that we will visit as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide all necessary assistance. Our thoughts are with the people of Wayanad at this difficult time.”

Similarly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote, “My brothers and Sisters in Wayanad, Even though we cannot come to Wayanad tomorrow, our hearts are with you at this tragic hour and we are praying for all of you.

Earlier it was reported that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra will visit the landslide-affected areas in Wayanad, but later they decided not to visit. Notably, Priyanka Vadra is Congress party’s candidate for byelections from Wayanad after Rahul Gandhi chose to retain Rae Bareli after winning both seats in Lok Sabha polls.

While only the ‘thoughts’ and ‘hearts’ of Rahul and Priyanka are with the Waynad people, the RSS volunteers are doing selfless service in the landslide district. Landslides have caused widespread devastation, destroying homes and roads, uprooting trees, and causing water bodies to flood. Despite the wreckage and sorrow, the Indian Army and NDRF are conducting rescue operations. Along with the Army, RSS and Sewa Bharati volunteers are also assisting them.

These RSS and Sewa Bharati volunteers are assisting NDRF teams in locating the deceased, arranging food camps to provide food and shelter to those who have lost everything, and assisting bereaved families in identifying their loved ones Wayanad. They are also organising respectful last rituals for individuals who have died.

RSS volunteers helping NDRF (L), RSS volunteers operating food camp (R) (Source: Organiser)

In addition, the RSS swayamsevaks are managing the safe transportation of injured people to hospitals, ensuring that they get timely medical care. Besides, they are also cleaning debris from blocked roads, which allows emergency vehicles to reach isolated and affected areas more swiftly. These volunteers are also providing food and essentials for the injured at hospitals.

Source: Organiser

According to an Organiser report, Sewa Bharti volunteers are operating its mobile mortuary at Ch Chitagni Churalmala to provide dignified disposal of deceased bodies. Several people from the Christian community are also using Sewa Bharti’s mobile mortuary for performing religious rites. Notably, nearly 150 people have died due to the massive landslide in Wayanad.

Sewa Bharti’s mobile mortuary, RSS volunteers in Wayanad (Source: Organiser)

While RSS members are often targeted in the Left-ruled state they are always dedicated to helping the common people when faced with any man-made crisis or natural disaster. It is pertinent to mention that RSS has been helping the people regardless of their religion or caste identity while Rahul Gandhi is ensconced in Delhi peddling a caste-based divisive narrative in the Lok Sabha.

Former chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission mourns the death of Hamas chief Haniyeh, refers to him as a ‘martyr’

Jinit Jain
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Former chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission mourns the death of Hamas chief Haniyeh, refers to him as a ‘martyr’

Zafarul Islam Khan, the erstwhile chief of Delhi Minorities Commission Wednesday mourned the death of top Hamas leader Haniyeh who was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran. 

Khan, known for his apologia for Islamic extremism, took to X, to mourn the death of Haniyeh, referring to him as a ‘martyr’.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioun. Hamas head Ismail Haniyya was assassinated. Most probably by Israel which has a very long history of assassinations starting with the UN mediator Bernadotte in Sept 1948. Here Haniyyah is reading a verse from the Quran saying martyrs are not dead,” Khan tweeted along with the video.

Even so, the tweet condoling the death of the head of Hamas, a terror group that carried out the deadly October 7 attacks on Israeli kibbutz along the border with the Gaza strip, is not the first instance that Zafarul Islam has displayed his extremist tendencies.

Notably, Zafarul Islam Khan had threatened Hindus in the past. In the year 2020, Khan had written a Facebook post in which he had called Hindus bigots and had praised Islamist hate preacher Zakir Naik. He claimed that people like Naik are respectful household names in the Arab region and Muslim world.

The incident had taken place when Kuwait had taken note of the “persecution of Muslims in India”. Khan then extended gratitude to Kuwait for “standing with the Indian Muslims” and attacked Hindus by referring to them as “Hindutva bigots”. 

“Mind you, bigots, Indian Muslims have opted until now not to complain to the Arab and Muslim world about your hate campaigns and lynchings and riots. The day they are pushed to do that, bigots will face avalanche,” he had said.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police reportedly had booked Zafarul Islam, the then Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, for sedition (IPC Section 124A) and promoting religious animosity (IPC Section 153A).

Later, he tendered an apology saying that his statement was a little ‘out of proportion’ and that he would continue to defend India on crucial issues as doing otherwise would be against the Constitution and his religious beliefs.

But then in November 2023, Khan openly supported the death sentence granted to 8 ex-Indian Navy officers by the Qatari government.

In a tweet (archive), he claimed, “There must be no sympathy if these ex-Navy officers spied for Israel. India must properly investigate before jumping to defend them.”

However, perhaps to his chagrin, the Indian government under PM Modi pulled off a major diplomatic coup as the Qatari government agreed to release the 8 ex-Indian Navy officers.

Hamas head Haniyeh assassinated

On Wednesday, April 31, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas confirmed in a statement that their chief Ismail Haniyeh had been assassinated in Iran’s Tehran. The group said that Haniyeh was killed in an Israel air strike on his house in Tehran.

A day before this, Israel’s army confirmed that it had “eliminated” Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for attacking the annexed Golan Heights where 12 children were killed.

Kerala: Death toll in landslides in Wayanad district reaches 150; dog squad, army, navy, air force and NDRF join rescue efforts

ANI
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Kerala: Death toll in landslides in Wayanad district reaches 150; dog squad, army, navy, air force and NDRF join rescue efforts

Death toll in landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district has climbed to 148, the Kerala State Revenue Department said on Tuesday.

However, the Commandant of the Para Regimental Training, Brigadier Arjun Seagan said “150 deaths have been recorded so far.” He said that “around 200 to 250 individuals have been rescued.”

Further, a dog squad has joined the search and rescue operations in Wayanad’s Chooralmala which was hit by a landslide on Tuesday.

Two massive landslides struck the state’s hilly areas in Meppadi panchayat early on July 30 morning with villages Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala and Noolpuzha among the severely affected.

The area which has been witnessing incessant rainfall over the past two weeks faced devastation after the landslide struck, with rivers and their tributaries swelling and changing course, flowing through the villages and wreaking destruction.

Rescue teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force and NDRF are assisting in rescue operations. 60 teams from the Ezhimala Naval Academy arrived in Chooralmala early this morning to assist in rescue operations.

The team, comprising 45 sailors, five officers, six fire guards and a doctor is headed by Lt Commandant Ashirvad, the Kerala Public Relations Department said.

Commandant of the Para Regimental Training, Brigadier Arjun Seagan told ANI that “rescue operations have been ongoing since yesterday morning. Yesterday, due to bad weather conditions, the rescue teams were not able to rescue a lot of people. Around 500 to 600 personnel from the NDRF team, army, state police, forest officials, and volunteers have been carrying out the rescue operations today.”

Brigadier Seagan said efforts were on to rebuild the washed-away bridge and as soon the conditions become better, people will be airlifted out.

“We are trying our best to build the bridge again so that we can move the earth-moving equipment inside and to make the digging process easier. We have been doing the process manually as of now. As soon as the weather conditions become better, we will start airlifting the people,” the army official said.

The Southern Command of the Indian Army posted on its social media site X on Wednesday morning that upto 1,000 people have been rescued so far.

“In a remarkable display of coordinated efforts, #IndianArmy Columns along with #NDRF, State rescue teams, #CoastGuard, #IndianNavy and #IAF, have been relentlessly working to address the crisis. Upto 1,000 personnel rescued so far using a man-made bridge and human effort. Approx 70 dead bodies recovered by Army column,” the post read.

“Two additional Army Columns airlifted from Trivandrum by Indian Air Force Air Craft AN 32 & C 130 landed at Calicut at 10:30 PM last night. These columns commenced their onward journey to #Wayanad at 6:45 AM today, with even an Army Officer on leave volunteering to join the mission”, it read.

While the first landslide was reported to have hit Mundakkai in Mepadi panchayat around 1.30 am, a second landslide hit the area around 4 am on Monday. Due to the torrent of water gushing down from Mundakkai to Chooralmala the river Iruvazhinji got diverted, resulting in flash floods washing away Chooralmala village. Houses were buried, trees uprooted and people swept away in the landslides.

People who were stranded in Mundakkai after the bridge connecting Mundakkai with Chooralmala and Attamala was washed away, were rescued on Tuesday evening after Army constructed a make-shift bridge across the river.

Houses were buried and trees uprooted in the area and bodies were found floating in the Chaliyar river in Pothukal village in Wayanad’s neighbouring district of Malappuram. The Chaliyar River originates in Chooralmala and flows behind Mundakkai and then goes via the Soochipara Falls to reach Pothukal.

According to reports, bodies of people who were washed ashore and recovered from the banks of dead bodies were recovered from the ghats of Iruttkuthi, Ambittanpotty, Kunippala, Njettikulam, Machikai, Bhoodanam, Vellilamad, Munderi and Panangayam.

The bodies of 75 victims have been identified so far, according to a compilation of official data from the Kerala Revenue Department taking into account data from hospitals in the area. It said that postmortem procedures of 123 dead bodies have been completed and of these bodies of 62 victims have been identified and released to their families so far.

The bodies of 83 victims have been identified so far. Postmortem procedures of 143 dead bodies were also completed. Of these, 32 bodies are kept in Nilambur District Hospital. 25 body parts at Nilambur and the post mortem of all the body parts are completed, it said. Out of the deceased at Nilambur are 19 are male bodies, 11 are female bodies and two small children. At the CHC Meppadi the deceased include 47 male and 44 females.

In Wayanad, several injured were taken to WIMS Hospital in Meppadi, the Government Hospital in Kalpeta, the Taluk Hospital in Vythiri and the Taulk Hospital in Bathery. In Mallapuram, the injured are receiving treatment at Kondotty Taluk Hospital and the Manjery government hospital.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 45 relief camps have been set up in Wayanad and over 3000 people have been rehabilitated there.

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

Congress MP goes from ‘asking caste is abuse’ to ‘we want caste census’ in 55 seconds: Congress, which has been harping on caste, goes on backfoot after Anurag Thakur’s remark in LS

OpIndia Staff
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Congress MP goes from ‘asking caste is abuse’ to ‘we want caste census’ in 55 seconds: Congress, which has been harping on caste, goes on backfoot after Anurag Thakur’s remark in LS

BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s caste remark during his Lok Sabha speech has baffled the Congress party leaders. On Tuesday, July 30, during the debate over the demand for a caste census, which was spearheaded by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, BJP MP Anurag Thakur said those whose caste is unknown are calling for an enumeration.

Responding to the remark made by the BJP MP, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, while speaking to the media, took less than 55 seconds to take a completely divergent stance on the caste issue. From asserting that asking the caste of a person is like abusing him, Gurjeet Singh Aujla went on to say that his party is in favour of the caste census.

The manner in which Anurag Thakur is conducting himself is not civil. Is it right to ask someone’s caste?…Manas Ki Jaat Sabhe Eke Pehchan Bo, he should learn from it. He sits there and abuses to appease his masters, it is not right. It is Parliament. It is the job of the Opposition to raise issues, and that of the Ruling side to answer them and not to abuse,” the Congres leader said. When asked on caste census, Gurjeet Singh Aujla added, “We will make all efforts to get it passed (in the Parliament).”

The fiasco began after Anurag Thakur remarked on the caste census. On Tuesday, while delivering his Lok Sabha speech, the BJP MP, without taking any names said, “Those whose caste is not known, talk about the caste census. I want to remind the Speaker that in this House itself, a former prime minister RG-1 had opposed reservation for OBCs,” Thakur began the exchange, possibly referring to Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul’s father.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Rahul Gandhi attacked the government by using the customary “halwa” ceremony and the absence of diversity in the process of preparing the budget. This prompted the BJP to respond by claiming that the Congress has a history “replete with instances of obstructing reservation.”

Thakur responded to this remark on Tuesday by enumerating the purported scams that have occurred throughout Congress administrations and remarked in Hindi, “Rahul ji, you spoke about ‘halwa’ (sweetmeat). Who had the ‘halwa’ from the Bofors scam, from the Antriksh-Dewas scam, from the Commonwealth Games, National Herald, submarine, AgustaWestland, 2G, coal, urea and fodder scams? Rahul ji, was the ‘halwa’ sweet or tasteless? Some people talk about OBCs, but for them (the Congress) OBC stands for ‘only for brother-in-law commission’. This party will talk about other backward castes?”

“The ‘shahzada’ (prince) from this party will give us ‘gyan’? First, he has to understand what LoP stands for – it is the Leader of the Opposition and not the Leader of propaganda. All I want to say is that he should stop spreading lies. There is a lot of talk about OBC and caste census. He whose caste is unknown is talking about a census?” Anurag Thakur added.

Retorting sharply to the former minister ‘enquiring’ about his caste, the ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has been harping for a nationwide caste census, accused Anurag Thakur of ‘insulting’ him.

Congress and its caste census farce

For months on end, the entire I.N.D.I. alliance, in partnership with Congress and Rahul Gandhi, has been advocating for a caste-based census and the concept of ‘proportional representation based on population.’ The unveiled caste census data in Bihar had set the stage, and against this backdrop, Rahul Gandhi consistently emphasised that a Congress government will conduct a comprehensive nationwide caste census, urging the Modi government to reveal its results.

In December last year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had addressed a huge rally in Maharashtra’s Nagpur citing the occasion of the Congress’ 139th foundation day. Speaking at the party’s ‘Hain Taiyyar Hum’ rally, he stated that the Congress will conduct a caste census if it comes to power at the Centre post the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

This recent love and affection of Congress for OBCs is, however, only politically motivated. Rahul Gandhi’s assertion regarding Congress advocating for the welfare of the OBC community is contradicted by historical facts. The Congress has consistently opposed the interests of the OBC community, particularly evident in their stance on reservations, often citing the Mandal Commission. Notably, the commission was established during Morarji Desai’s Janata Party government in 1979, with its report published in 1980.

Despite this, during Indira Gandhi’s tenure from 1980 to 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi’s term from 1984 to 1989, the Mandal Commission recommendations were not implemented. It was only in 1990, under the Janata Dal government, with support from the BJP, that the Mandal Commission recommendations were finally put into effect. Thus, Rahul Gandhi’s claim has repeatedly been found to be inaccurate in light of historical events.

Gulf countries avoid hiring Pakistanis because they have earned reputations as beggars or criminals: Read what Pakistani Senate Committee was informed

OpIndia Staff
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Gulf countries avoid hiring Pakistanis because they have earned reputations as beggars or criminals: Read what Pakistani Senate Committee was informed

In yet another degrading development for the financially bankrupt Pakistan, several Gulf countries have expressed concerns regarding Pakistani expats and the Pakistani labour force which might have serious ramifications for many citizens of the country. The information was disclosed at a Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis meeting.

As per reports, Secretary Dr Arshad for Overseas Pakistanis informed the group that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have raised reservations over many issues pertaining to Pakistanis living abroad.

The revelation comes months after the government told the same council in September 2023 that the majority of Pakistanis departing the nation are beggars. The official had stated that beggars from Pakistan go under the pretence of ziarat, or pilgrimages, to Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Most tourists with Umrah permits enter Saudi Arabia and engage in begging afterwards. 90% of the beggars who were arrested, per the secretary, were Pakistanis.

Notably, the recent statement is related to a far more problematic issue as it exposes the fairly “inappropriate” conduct of Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates, including recording videos in front of females in Dubai. Secretary Dr Arshad informed the committee on 30th July that between 200,000 and 300,000 Pakistanis return from their travels overseas, out of an annual total of 0.6 to 0.8 million. 96% of all travellers go to countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to their disclosure.

‘50% of crimes in the UAE are committed by Pakistanis’

The committee was briefed by the officials regarding the issues other countries have with Pakistan. They remarked that the country has a quota of 1.6 million people, but it has been exceeded to 1.8 million by the UAE. They mentioned that Pakistanis spend a year in Malaysia and then get arrested for extending their stay. According to the officials, there have also been slips in Iraq, though the precise number is unknown.

Senator Nasir Abbas stated that Bangladeshis are getting more jobs than Pakistanis. He dubbed Pakistanis as “helpless” in Iraq since they are used as cheap labour. He unveiled that they are treated like “prisoners” in Iraq. The senator added that labour is needed for the ongoing development projects in Iraq. The foreign officials responded by stating that there are multiple grievances from Pakistanis living in Iraq.

The officials informed the committee members that 0.4 million Pakistanis visit Saudi Arabia annually, out of the 2 million who now live there. The officials confirmed that Pakistanis had been asked not to send “beggars and sick people” by the KSA authorities. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is now modern, they highlighted, emphasizing development and technology. The officials from the overseas ministry asserted that Pakistanis leaving the country are “unskilled” and that their people aren’t receiving the same training. “People from other nations are replacing ours,” they reported.

They additionally stressed how important it is to address Pakistanis’ attitudes toward their jobs, work ethics and their involvement in criminal activities. They underlined that 50% of all crimes committed in the UAE are committed by Pakistanis. According to the officials, countries are looking elsewhere and are “suspicious” of Pakistanis. Giving more information, they pointed out that 96% of the 600,000–800,000 individuals who travel overseas do so to the Middle East. “Sensible people search for opportunities and go abroad.”

Pakistani workforce’s future

The ministry voiced fears for the future of Pakistani workers hoping to find employment in the UAE by noting that Gulf governments are now turning to African labourers because their labour is even less expensive than that of Pakistani expatriates. Furthermore, they underscored other work-related ethical issues that Pakistanis face, as conveyed by the GCC nations. Kuwait has lodged complaints about Pakistani nurses’ reluctance to carry out specific job-related tasks, placing the responsibility for routine tasks like helping a patient sit up on ward boys. The nurses not only wish to leave the country after just six months but also refuse to learn the language.

According to representatives of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Qatar has shown dissatisfaction with Pakistani labourers’ refusal to wear safety helmets. On the other hand, KSA has insisted that it will only hire individuals who have successfully passed the examination administered by their respective authority, the National Center for Human Resources Development (Takamul).

The authorities, in response to questions on the steps the government is taking to solve the urgent issues, announced that the ministry is collecting information on new and open positions across international borders. They added that Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, has formed a cabinet committee to handle immigration-related issues. They claimed, “We want people to think that these (Pakistani) people are skilled.”

‘Interfaith’ couple married as per Muslim law under threat: Read why Bombay HC granted 24×7 protection for the couple

Siddhi Somani
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‘Interfaith’ couple married as per Muslim law under threat: Read why Bombay HC granted 24×7 protection for the couple

On Friday, 27th July, the Bombay High Court ordered the Mumbai Police to safeguard an interfaith newlywed couple who were concerned that the Gujarat Police might take the woman away. The court issued the ruling after consulting with both the man and the woman individually who married each other as per Muslim law. 

During the hearing, the woman informed the court that she had married the man, who was already married with three children. She further stated that she married the man voluntarily and was not forced to be with him. 

The bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan heard a case filed by the couple when it said, “We direct that two armed guards be given to the petitioners 24×7, (12 hours each), who will accompany them wherever they go, until August 8, 2024.”

The judge further asked the Narol Police Station in Ahmedabad not to take coercive action against the petitioners until they are heard.

The man lives in Mumbai, while the woman left her home in Ahmedabad to marry according to Muslim law. However, after she left home, her family filed a missing notice, and her brother filed a theft case against her, alleging that she had fled with Rs 4,50,000 in gold jewelry and Rs 50,000 in cash.

Advocates ML Kochrekar and Mohammed Ahmed Shaikh, representing the couple, contended that the theft case was an afterthought, as it was filed after the couple sought protection from the high court.

The 24-year-old woman’s parents and brother, as well as Gujarat Police, were present in court. The woman informed the bench that she had not stolen anything when she fled her home on July 15th, 2024.

She also indicated that she was willing to give her parents the gold chain and earrings she was wearing. However, she refused to return to her parent’s home, even for a few days, and refused to look at them.

The woman had known the man for the past six years because he worked with her maternal uncle in a firm. She informed the court that she was aware that the man was married with three children, and despite this, she decided to get married to him.

The judges interacted with all of the parties involved, both individually and together. The judgment noted that there was a lot of “animosity between the parents against the petitioners,” and “in order to avoid any untoward incident,” the bench asked police to immediately protect the couple.

The Narol Police Station officials from Ahmedabad informed the bench that they were in Mumbai solely to record the couple’s statements and had no intention of returning them to Gujarat.

The bench directed that they could do this via videoconferencing.

Was unaware of my resignation until I was referred to as ‘former’: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slams Congress top leadership for removing him without prior intimation

OpIndia Staff
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Was unaware of my resignation until I was referred to as ‘former’: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slams Congress top leadership for removing him without prior intimation

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has officially stepped down as president of the West Bengal Congress committee. AICC general secretary in charge of the state Ghulam Ahmad Mir confirmed the same on Tuesday morning. He added that the process to appoint a new chief of the state unit is on.

According to reports, Chowdhury resigned after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge met senior functionaries from West Bengal in Delhi on Monday to select the next state president.

Notably, Chowdhury won Murshidabad district’s s seat five times since 1999. He was defeated in the recent Lok Sabha election by former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan fielded by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee.

On Tuesday, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury gave his first reaction after his resignation and spoke about a rift in his relationship with the Congress high command. He criticized the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Bengal minder Ghulam Ahmad Mir for the way they treated him during his tenure as the departing chief of the state unit.

He said he was unaware of the high command’s decision to accept a resignation he had submitted till he was referred to as the “former” Pradesh Congress Committee president at a meeting on Monday.

“I had offered my resignation to Khargeji (after the June 4 results), to which he had asked me to come to Delhi for a discussion. Accordingly, I had gone to attend the meeting,” said Chowdhury.

“There, I saw I was being referred to as the former president. I was not even aware my resignation was accepted,” added the former MP, whose resistance to any truck with Mamata Banerjee in Bengal was instrumental in her decision to go it alone in the state.

Slamming the Congress’s top leadership for removing him from his position without prior intimation, Chowdhury said, “The day Mallikarjun Kharge became the party president, all other posts of the party in the country became temporary, according to the Constitution of the party. Even my post became temporary…While the election was underway, Mallikarjun Kharge said on television that if necessary I would be kept out, which made me upset.”

Meanwhile, reacting to Chowdhury’s removal as the WB Pradesh Congress Committee president, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said, “Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has insulted our leader Mamata Banerjee and our party many times. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is not the Congress, we always believed that he’s a BJP front.”

Notably, during the Lok Sabha elections, even when the Congress and TMC were in the midst of alliance talks, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury continued to criticize Mamata Banerjee. Later, the TMC called off the talks, blaming Chowdhury for the decision.

Mamata Banerjee’s party contested the elections alone and scored a landslide victory in the state.

Punjab: Nihang Sikhs kill businessman with swords, injure son and nephew over monetary dispute, case registered against seven

Anurag
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Punjab: Nihang Sikhs kill businessman with swords, injure son and nephew over monetary dispute, case registered against seven

On 30th July, a group of seven Nihang Sikhs killed a businessman identified as Shammi Puri in the city of Patti of district Tarn Taran, Punjab. Patti is located 28 KM away from the District headquarters in Tarn Taran. Shammi’s son and nephew also got injured in the attack. A case against the seven accused has been filed by Tarn Taran police. Video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

On 30th July, Nihang Parminder Singh, a resident of Waltoha, came with his six associates at around 12 PM to Shammi’s residence. At that time, his son Karan Puri and nephew Aman Puri were also present at the home. They got into a verbal argument that led to the attack.

During the argument, Nihangs drew their swords and attacked the trio. Shammi’s arm was chopped in one strike while Karan and Aman got injured. TV9 report stated Karan’s fingers were also chopped during the incident. Speaking to the media, family members said that seven men dressed in Nihang attire entered their home and started assaulting Shammi. They drew swords and attacked Shammi, his son and nephew. The attackers first got into an argument with Shammi. Karan tried to intervene after which they drew swords and attacked them. Shammi’s younger brother Rajan also got injured in the incident. The family members said the attacker was repeatedly demanding his money back from Shammi. He had threatened the victim on the phone several times but the family never thought they would come and attack them with swords.

The residents of the area heard the argument and rushed to Shammi’s house. They pelted stones and bricks after which Nihangs fled the scene. Shammi, Karan and Aman were rushed to the hospital where Shammi succumbed to his injuries due to heavy blood loss.

Speaking to the media, Patti City Police Station SHO Jaspal Singh said that there was a monetary dispute of Rs 1.75 lakhs between Shammi and the attackers for over two years. On the day of the incident, the attackers came dressed as Nihangs and killed Shammi. SSP Ashwini Kapoor rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The family members raised slogans against the administration and the police upon seeing him. SSP had to leave after taking the information about the incident amidst the protests by the family members and locals.

In a statement, Aman Puri said, “My uncle had a dispute over a transaction of money with nihangs. A compromise had been reached 15 days ago at their dera in Goindwal Sahib. Despite the compromise, they attacked my uncle.” The family of the victim staged sit-in protest in the city and stated they would not cremate the body till the accused were arrested. Some of the family members also created ruckus at the hospital claiming negligence in treatment. Police officials including SP(D) Ajayraj Singh and Patti DSP Kanwalpreet Singh reached the crime spot and assured the family members and the accused have been identified and would be arrested soon.

Attacks by Nihang Sikhs

The incidents of attacks by Nihang Sikhs in Punjab have increased exponentially over the years. On 23rd July, a man near Harmandir Sahib was attacked by Nihang Sikhs claiming he was consuming tobacco. On 8th July, Nihang Sikhs halted the shooting of a TV series in Mohali claiming sacrilege. On 5th July, Nihang Sikhs attacked the chief of Shiv Sena in Punjab, Sandeep Thapar in broad daylight. On 15th January, Nihang Sikhs allegedly killed a youth at a Gurdwara in Phagwara claiming sacrilege. On 22nd November 2023, Nihang Sikhs opened fire at police officers in Sultanpur Lodhi of district Kapurthala. A list of such recent attacks can be checked here.

Broken utensils, house filled with rain water: Dara Singh’s family has been living in poverty and still hoping for his return. Ground report

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Broken utensils, house filled with rain water: Dara Singh’s family has been living in poverty and still hoping for his return. Ground report

In 1999, a mob murdered Australian missionary Graham Staines and his family in Manoharpur, Odisha. The crowd claimed that Graham Staines was converting innocent tribal members to Christianity. According to police investigations, Ravindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh of Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya district played a major role in the offense in question. Dara Singh was eventually convicted to maximum life imprisonment and a fine in four separate cases by the Supreme Court.

OpIndia’s team visited the village of Dara Singh, who has been imprisoned for more than 24 years, and assessed the present condition. We discovered that Dara Singh’s family is living in deplorable conditions.

Dara Singh’s residence is located on a street after entering Auraiya’s Kakod Bazaar, around 200 meters from the main road. The roadway was full of water, and the drain was gushing. Dara Singh’s unplastered house is built ahead of a drain. As we entered through the iron gate we saw that the cows, buffaloes, and goats were tied up. Dara Singh’s family considers rearing goats as their ancestral work. He is originally from the Pal Hindu community in Uttar Pradesh, widely known as Gadaria. Animal husbandry is the primary occupation in the village.

No place to sit or sleep

After entering Dara Singh’s house, a shattered plank lay in the outer hallway. Raindrops dripped from the roof and landed on the fractured plank. A rusty bicycle was parked nearby, and Dara Singh’s brother Arvind Kumar Pal rode it to work. Inside the house, two cots have been put together in the courtyard to provide sleeping space for Dara Singh’s family members. There are no concrete floors throughout the house. Bricks have been laid in the area where animals are tied.

The kitchen and toilet are both dilapidated

Dara Singh’s kitchen and toilet are in disrepair as a result of poverty. Dara Singh’s brother, Arvind Singh, informed us that he will have it repaired soon because it is causing a lot of hardship for the family. The kitchen included some utensils, including a cylinder gas, but outdoors there was also an earthen burner. We were told it was to save money. 

Broken glass and 25-year-old television

Dara Singh’s family’s mirror, which they use to get ready before leaving, is at least 15 years old. The mirror is cracked on one side, and Arvind Pal has plastered it to the house wall with a mud mixture. Along with this, there is a small black and white television inside the house that is around 25 years old and is still operative. We were told that when Dara Singh’s news was carried on Doordarshan 24 years ago, his father took out a loan to buy this television. Since then, Dara Singh’s family has been unable to acquire funds to purchase a new television.

House filled with water during rains

When the OpIndia team arrived at Dara Singh’s house, it had begun to pour severely due to heavy rains. Dara Singh’s neighborhood and the majority of his house had been submerged within a brief period of time due to the rain. The outer area of the home where the animals were chained was inundated. The inner half, where food is cooked, was likewise filled with rainwater. Dara Singh’s family members described it as an everyday concern. They further stated that, in addition to insects and mosquitoes, snakes and other creatures emerge as a result of this.

Religion is still paramount for the family

Even though Dara Singh’s family has been financially devastated by court disputes over the previous 24 years, religion remains paramount to them today. The family takes extremely good care of the cattle raised at home. Aside from that, the images and idols of Gods and Goddesses have been carefully placed in areas where water and dust won’t damage them. Dara Singh’s house’s front entry gate also bears the ‘Om’ symbol.

Bricks marked ‘Ram’ were also used in building the house. Even today, the family members of Dara Singh start their work in the morning after taking a bath and performing puja. Dara Singh’s brother Arvind Kumar Pal told us, “Our religion is our heritage.”

Ruined in litigation and legal battles

Arvind Pal explained that the family’s immovable property, as well as their jewelry, were sold during the 24-year-long legal battle. Loans have been taken out to keep the family afloat, and people still come to get the loan amounts back. Arvind Pal further claims that the legal battle would continue until Dara Singh gets released from jail and comes home.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, hours after Israel eliminates Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr responsible for killing 12 children last week

OpIndia Staff
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Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, hours after Israel eliminates Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr responsible for killing 12 children last week

On Wednesday, July 31, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas confirmed in a statement that their chief Ismail Haniyeh had been assassinated in Iran’s Tehran. The group said that Haniyeh was killed in an Israel air strike on his house in Tehran.

A day prior to this, Israel’s army confirmed that it had “eliminated” Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for carrying out an attack on the annexed Golan Heights where 12 children were killed.

Fuad Shukr was also wanted by the US government for his role in a 1983 bombing attack that killed roughly 300 American and French soldiers in Beirut.

Hezbollah kills 12 children in rocket strike

On Saturday (27th July), around 12 people including children were killed in a rocket strike by Hezbollah in the town of Majdal Shams in Golan Heights.

As per reports, the deadly attack was carried out by the Islamic terror outfit from Lebanon. The rocket fired by Hezbollah landed on a soccer field, leaving children and young teens dead.

Most of the victims were aged 10-20. The victims did not have time to escape the bloody carnage. Several dozen others were injured in the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised a swift response against the Islamic terror outfit.

Israeli forces had killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh’s children

Notably, three sons of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli attack in April this year. In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, Haniyeh confirmed the killing of his children Hazem, Amir and Mohammad along with a number of his grandchildren.

“Through the blood of the martyrs and the pain of the injured, we create hope, we create the future, we create independence and freedom for our people and our nation,” he said, adding that around 60 members of his family, including nieces and nephews, have been killed since the start of the war.

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