On 5th June, the Madras High Court overturned the punishment of the Muslim constable for keeping a beard. While hearing the case of G Abdul Khadar Ibrahim, Justice L Victoria Gowri highlighted that the Madras Police Gazette from 1957 allowed Muslim police officers to keep trimmed and tidy beards. The court said that India is a land of diverse religions and customs. The Judge further highlighted that maintaining strict discipline within the police force is essential. However, it should not come at the cost of overpowering the religious customs and practices of a police personnel.
Chronology of events
Promotion and Leave (2019)
On 14th March 2009, Ibrahim was appointed as a Grade II Police constable and was promoted to Grade 1 Police Constable in 2019. On 7th November 2018, he applied for an earned leave from 9th November 2018 to 9th December 2018. He cited reason as pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina. His leave was sanctioned by the authorities.
Medical Leave Request (December 2018)
After coming back, he applied to extend his leave stating his left leg was infected. Ibrahim attached a medical certificate to support his claims. However, the duty Sub-Inspector asked him to get permission from the Assistant Commissioner for the extension.
Preliminary Inquiry and Charges (2019)
When he approached the Assistant Commissioner, he was questioned about his beard. Later, an inquiry commission was setup to look into his conduct. On 24th October 2019, he was asked to explain his conduct. On 30th November 2019, the inquiry commission issued a charge memo against him. It was stated that that he did not report back to duty after his earned leave. He also faced action for maintaining a beard contrary to the Madras Police Gazette’s guidelines.
Disciplinary Action (2021)
During the investigation, the inquiry officer found Ibrahim guilty of the charges against him. On 23rd March 2021, the Deputy Commissioner of Police ordered a punishment. His increment was stopped for three years with cumulative effect. Ibrahim filed an appeal against the punishment after which it was reduced to two years without cumulative effect on 5th June 2021.
Court Petition (2021)
Unsatisfied with the decision, he filed a writ petition in the High Court. He argued that the orders passed against him overlooked the religious obligations and the standing orders.
Details of the case
In his appeal, Ibrahim contended that the actions taken against him violated his religious rights. Being a devout Muslim, it was his duty to maintain a beard as commanded by Prophet Mohammed. He argued that the authorities did not consider the Madras Police Gazette guidelines from 1957 that allow Muslim officers to maintain a trimmed and tidy beard. He also pointed out that there were procedural flaws as he was not allowed to cross-examine key witnesses during the inquiry process including the duty sub-inspector and the assistant commissioner.
On the other hand, the authorities pointed out that Ibrahim was a habitual troublemaker with a history of disciplinary issues. They argued that the punishment was justified and it was imposed only after a fair and thorough inquiry into the matter. They also pointed out that Ibrahim earlier faced multiple disciplinary actions over his 12 years of service.
Judicial findings
Referring to an Official Memorandum issued in Madras Police Gazette dated 5th February 1957, Justice Gowri said that while permission to grow a beard could not be granted to non-Muslim officers, the Muslim officers in the police force were entitled to maintain a beard for their lifetime. The judge emphasised that a Muslim officer is allowed to keep a beard provided it is trimmed and tidy.
Furthermore, the court noted that the authorities failed to consider Ibrahim’s medical leave request on sympathetic grounds as he was suffering from an infection. Calling the disciplinary action against Ibrahim excessively harsh and disproportionate, the judge set aside the punishment.
In a shocking incident in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh, the groom’s father Shakeel eloped with the bride’s mother Asma Khatun shortly before the wedding. The bride’s father has now filed an FIR against the groom’s father.
The incident transpired in the Ganj Dundwara area in Kasganj. Mohammad Pappu’s daughter was due to marry Shakeel’s son, who paid frequent visits to Pappu’s home. When the wedding day neared, Shakeel, father of 10 children stunned both families by eloping with Pappu’s wife, who is the mother of 6 children. Some reports say that the incident unfolded on the 3rd of June and the marriage was scheduled to take place on the 17th of June on Eid, while others report that the marriage was to take place on the 17th of July.
Mohammad Pappu believes that Shakeel, a Ganeshpur resident, lured and abducted his wife. He has filed a case against Shakeel for kidnapping his wife. On Pappu’s complaint, the police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
Complainant Pappu said that his daughter was about to marry Shakeel’s son, thus Shakeel used to frequently visit their home saying that it would be better to strengthen the bond between the two families before the Nikah. During these meetings, Shakeel “seduced” Pappu’s wife and eloped with her. Pappu stated that since then, he has received no information about the duo’s whereabouts.
CO Vijay Kumar Rana informed that a case was reported in Thana Ganj Dundwara. On the 8th of June, Pappu told the police that his wife was missing, and a missing person report was immediately filed. On the 11th of July Pappu filed another application accusing Shakeel of abducting his wife.
On Tuesday (16th July), a court in Jaipur acquitted Khadim Gauhar Chishti and 6 others in connection to raising the ‘Sar Tan se Juda (STSJ)’ slogans outside the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
Gauhar Chishti is a Khadim of the Ajmer Dargah, who had threatened to behead those who insulted Prophet Mohammad in June 2022.
After the video of the incident went viral on social media, Gaurhat Chishti left Ajmer and took refuge in Hyderabad. He was later arrested by the police in July that year. The accused had been languishing in jail ever since.
He had also met the killers of Udaipur tailor Kanhaya Lal.
It is worth mentioning that Gauhar Chishti was arrested by the police in 2020 for making a video of the CRPF camp, though he was let off at that time with a mere warning.
Last week on 8th July, the Uttar Pradesh Police investigating the death case of a Maulana in Moradabad found a two-page suicide note in which it was written that he committed suicide because of his personal problems including his desire to marry again. He, among many other personal things, wrote in Urdu that he wanted to marry for a second time but could not. The police recovered the suicide note and sent it to the forensic department and handwriting expert as a part of the investigation.
It is important to note that the death of Maulana which happened due to a gunshot was peddled by some Islamists as a religiously motivated murder. Several Islamists on social media claimed that Maulana Mohammed Akram was killed over a political dispute after the Lok Sabha elections.
In an X post, Democratic Progressive Azad Party spokesperson Salman Nizami said, “Another Molana killed in UP. As I said, the celebrations over a few seats will turn into misery. In the end, Muslims won’t get a ministry or come into power. Neither will those they voted for speak for them. But they will face the brunt and suffer!”
Another Molana killed in UP. As I said, the celebrations over a few seats will turn into misery. In the end, Muslims won't get a ministry or come into power. Neither will those they voted for speak for them. But they will face the brunt and suffer! pic.twitter.com/V8rLO4olyv
In another post, Nizami used the incidents of the killing of Maulana to question the silence of the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi alleging that they only use Muslims during the election and abandon them later. His post insinuated that the murder was planned and targeted at a specific religious group.
Many other social media handles had also peddled a similar narrative, insinuating that the murder of the Maulana was an anti-Muslim hate crime after the Lok Sabha election results.
Image via X
However, now it has come to the fore that Maulana had committed suicide and that he had not been murdered over any political conspiracy. As per a report by Live Hindustan, the Maulana was a resident of the Chaupura area of Rampur district and was Maulana of Masjid located in Bhaisiya village, 18 km away from Chaupura. He stayed in the village with his wife and 6 children- 4 daughters and 2 sons.
His dead body was however found on 11th June near an unnamed property near his house. The police were informed who then immediately began the investigation in the case. During the probe, some of the locals informed the police that the wife and 3 children of Maulana had left him 2 days before the incident happened, while 3 of his kids stayed with Maulana.
On the night of Maulana’s death, it was claimed that someone had called him outside his home after which he was found dead. However, the family members of the Maulana submitted a suicide note they found at their home. Maulana had written many personal things in his note, which have been forwarded to the forensic for further investigation. He also mentioned that he wanted to marry twice but could not.
The family members of the Maulana have confirmed that the handwriting written on the suicide note is that of the deceased. The police have stated that the investigation is underway.
On Tuesday (16th July) morning, a functionary of the Naam Tamilar Katchi party, C Balasubramanian was brutally hacked to death by unidentified assailants. This murder comes days after the state was rocked by the high-profile killing of state BSP Chief K Armstrong in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu: Naam Tamilar Party's Madurai North District Deputy Secretary Balasubramanian was hacked to death this morning when he was walking in BB Kulam: Madurai City Police Commissioner
On Tuesday, a group of four assailants killed the NTK leader when he was out for a morning walk. The incident took place near the residence of IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Vallabhai Street in Chennai’s Madurai. The deceased NTK leader, Balasubramanian hailed from the Sellur area of Madurai city. He was the Deputy Secretary of Naam Tamilar Katchi Party’s Madurai-North district.
When he was out for a morning walk, the unidentified assailants blocked his path and launched an attack using sharp weapons including sickles. They chased him and hacked him to death near the house of State Minister PT Rajan. The attackers fled from the crime scene leaving behind Balasubramanian in a pool of blood. The NTK leader was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital where he was declared dead. His dead body was sent to Government Rajaji Hospital for post-mortem.
According to media reports, the initial findings have revealed that the deceased NTK leader was a history-sheeter known as ‘Punk’ Bala. There are 3 murder cases registered against the deceased NTK functionary Balasubramanian. He was also embroiled in financial disputes with several individuals.
According to the Police, personal enmity might be the motive behind his murder. As per reports, it is believed that the motive behind the brutal killing could be a financial dispute.
Speaking to ANI, Madurai City Police Commissioner Loganathan said, “It seems that this murder was done because of his family problems. An investigation is underway. We will file an FIR shortly.”
Police sources said that the preliminary investigation revealed that the murder may have been due to personal enmity. Meanwhile, the Police have retrieved the CCTV video of the murder and a probe is underway.
However, this is not the first high-profile killing in the state which has prompted the opposition parties to launch an attack on the ruling DMK party for failure on the law and order front.
One more political killing in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu: Naam Tamilar Party's Madurai North District Deputy Secretary Balasubramanian was hacked to death this morning
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) July 16, 2024
Recent high-profile killings of politicians in the state
On 5th July, K Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was hacked to death by six bike-borne attackers near his house in Chennai. Some of the attackers were reportedly dressed as delivery agents and used sharp weapons during the attack. The incident unfolded when he was standing outside his under-construction house in Perambur. Responding to the gruesome killing, BSP Supremo Mayawati had demanded “punishment for the guilty”.
Later, the Police arrested 8 accused in the case. One of the accused in the case, Thiruvengadam, was killed in a shoot-out near Madhavaram in Chennai.
Two days earlier, on 3rd July, M Shanmugam, a functionary of the AIADMK was murdered in Salem. His wife, S Parameshwari, said that Shanmugam was targeted for filing complaints against the illegal sale of lottery tickets and the drug menace in the area. Based on his wife’s complaint, around a dozen individuals, including a DMK councillor were arrested in this case.
Earlier, a Congress leader, KPK Jeyakumar Dhanasingh (60), died a mysterious death in May 2024. His charred body was discovered at a farmhouse a few days after he had gone missing. He was the party president for Tirunelveli East district.
திருநெல்வேலி வடக்கு மாவட்ட @BJP4Tamilnadu இளைஞரணி பொதுச் செயலாளர், சகோதரர் ஜெகன் பாண்டியன் அவர்கள், சமூக விரோதிகளால் வெட்டிக் கொலை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார் என்ற செய்தி அறிந்து மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தேன். அவரது குடும்பத்தினருக்கு, ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன். சகோதரர்… pic.twitter.com/L4r9rvF9ek
The Dalit community people residing in the Dhule district of Maharashtra have organized a massive rally on Tuesday, 16th July, days after some of the Muslim community people attacked the Dalits over a minor incident. The Dalits will stage the rally ‘Ambedkarite Morcha’ and demand strict punishment against the 18 identified Muslim accused and 25 other non-identified people from the Muslim community.
As per the exclusive information obtained by OpIndia, the Police arrested around 4-5 individuals in the case on 15th July and are conducting an investigation to nab the other accused persons. Earlier, the police had detained 11 persons involved in the case. The incident is said to have taken place on 11th July when the mob from the Muslim community brutally attacked the Dalit community people over a minor incident. However, the Dalits say that the Muslims attacked them as one of their community members had recently married a Muslim girl. The girl also clarified to the police that she had married the Dalit individual only because she was in love with him.
As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, on 10th July, the minor son of one Yusuf Khan had gone to a grocery store owned by the complainant. The minor aged 4, demanded a chocolate and abused the brother of the complainant who was present at the store. The brother of the complainant then asked the minor, “Is this what your parents have taught you?”.
The child then went home and got his grandmother Nazma who argued with the owner and his brother. She also threatened the owner. Further, after 2-3 hours, accused Shoaib Munna Pathan and Bhura Pathan arrived at the spot and started arguing with the complainant.
“We tried our best to pacify the matter. But it didn’t stop there. Yusuf Khan and Mustafa Pathan again came back at around 11:30 pm and then they started hitting us. They also abused us. This was due to the anger they had in their mind against our community,” the complainant Prem Ghanashyam Wagh said. He also added that his father, Ghanashyam Wagh was brutally assaulted by Yusuf and Mustafa.
The next day, on 11th July, a mob of around 30-40 Muslims arrived at the store and started assaulting the complainant and his family. As per the FIR, they attempted to murder the complainant. “They used sharp weapons and attacked me with the intention to kill me. They also pelted stones as a result of which my brother got injured. One minor girl aged 1.5 years also suffered injuries,” the complainant stated in the FIR.
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) July 15, 2024
The accused persons identified as per the FIR are Mustafa Pathan, Nadeem Firoz Shah, Mustafa Sheikh, Arbaaz Tamboli, Shamir Miraz, Nayin Beldaar, Ali Sheikh, Lucky Sheikh, Rizwan Pathan, Wasim Tamboli, Saddyampurna, Shoaib Pathan, Sultan Khatik, Rahis Beldar, Ashfaq Beldar, Arif Sheikh, Zakir Sheikh, and 25 other unidentified individuals.
As per the local reports, the accused persons are said to have launched an attack on Dalits over some past incident. OpIndia talked to one of the local activists who said that a couple of weeks ago, a Dalit boy had married a Muslim girl in the locality. The Muslim community was enraged by the incident and alleged that the Dalit boy had abducted her and forced her to marry. However, the girl appeared at the police station and stated that she was not forced and that she had married the man by her own will. “The couple is now in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar,” said activist Sagar Shinde.
The incident has caused a massive ruckus in the area where the police personnel have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident. Though the FIR has been filed under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, 2023, police are yet to arrest all the accused.
As per the updates, the police arrested 4-5 individuals on 15th July. The authorities are investigating the matter to nab the rest of the accused.
On 15th July (local time), the President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, accused the Ford Foundation of having a role in recent anti-government protests in the country. In a statement, he said, “Our youth are not available for retrogressive assignments. Those sponsoring them to cause violence and mayhem must be ashamed of themselves. We ask the Ford Foundation to explain to Kenyans its role in the recent protests. We will call out all those who are bent on rolling back our hard-won democracy.”
Our youth are not available for retrogressive assignments. Those sponsoring them to cause violence and mayhem must be ashamed of themselves. We ask the Ford Foundation to explain to Kenyans its role in the recent protests. We will call out all those who are bent on rolling back… pic.twitter.com/5IcnwQw6e5
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 15, 2024
Kenya’s President William Samoei Ruto is facing a series of protests from the youth of the country. The protests started as peaceful rallies against the proposed tax hikes. However, they spiralled into a larger campaign against President Ruto and his administration. The protests have been going on for over a month and so far dozens of people have been killed.
Reportedly, on 25th June, angry protesters stormed into the parliament and police opened fire to stop them leading to several deaths. During the event at the Rift Valley town, Ruto said, “Those behind sponsoring the chaos in the Republic of Kenya, shame on them because they are sponsoring violence against our democratic nation.”
William Samoei Ruto added, “We are going to tell them if they are not interested in democracy in Kenya if they are going to sponsor violence in Kenya if they are going to sponsor anarchy, we are going to call them out and we are going to tell them that they either style up or they leave.”
According to Business Day Africa, the Ford Foundation has refuted the allegations and stated that the organisation does not condone violence in any way. The organisation said, “We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grantmaking. While we acknowledge the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, we repudiate any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community.”
BREAKING: Ford Foundation denies sponsoring anarchy, violence and chaos in Kenya as claimed by President William Ruto.
“We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grantmaking.” pic.twitter.com/R5HRqfe0lb
On 2nd July, it was reported that at least 39 protesters were killed in anti-government protests in Kenya. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) announced the toll on Monday, which is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the government for those killed while demonstrating against a raft of unpopular tax increases that have now been withdrawn. Moreover, largely peaceful anti-tax rallies, led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters, descended into shocking scenes of deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the contentious legislation. Later, following the announcement of the vote, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters.
About Ford Foundation and its anti-India activities
Ford Foundation is an American charitable organisation that presents itself as a group engaged in advancing human welfare. In reality, it is a cesspool of intolerant and bigoted left-wing extremists. The group has a storied history of bankrolling the causes championed by left-wing supporters, including that in India.
In 2015 the Government of Gujarat while investigating Teesta Setalvad’s embezzlement case came across funding by Ford Foundation to her entities. It was found that her trust had violated FCRA norms. Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited, with which Teesta is associated, received $ 2.9 lakh from Ford Foundation as a grant to “address communalism, caste-based discrimination in India, including media strategies”.
Later, a letter was issued by the Gujarat Police, following which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) expressed its intention of probing the activities of the Ford Foundation. This probably set off a chain of events, most of which happened in the background and was later revealed by Wikileaks.
As per the leaked emails, Ford Foundation claims that they got embroiled in a controversy over its funding to Sabrang Trusts managed by Teesta Setalvad. The letter titled Ford Foundation in India: Notes to John Podesta dated May 26, 2015, also mentions their funding to Arvind Kejriwal’s NGO before he got into politics as a possible reason for Government’s action.
This was confirmed by none other than one of the leading luminaries of the Indian left-wing firmament, Ms Arundhati Roy. In an interview with Sagarika Ghose, Roy talked about one of the articles that she wrote for The Hindu in which she alleged that NGOs of Kejriwal and Sisodia had received over $400,000 from Ford Foundation in three years of time. Roy claimed that the group of ten people who were the top ‘management’ of the movement had well-funded NGOs. She said that three core members of the team had won Magsaysay Award which is also funded by Ford Foundation.
The Kolhapur district administration on the 15th of July evening began removing illegal encroachments from Vishalgadh Fort in Kolhapur, amidst heavy police presence. According to officials, by the evening, the administration had demolished around 35 stores.
The administration responded to protests organized by Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a former Rajya Sabha MP and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The enraged protesters reached the foothills of the fort on Sunday, 14th July, and happened to create a ruckus in the Gajapur area. Several videos of the same have been going viral over the internet.
As Maharashtra Govt took firm stand n started removing #Vishalgadh Islamic Encroachment; INDI alliance partners including Kolhapur MP @ShahuChhatrpati who is decendents of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is brazenly rallying behind massive #Jihadi squatters on historic fort of… pic.twitter.com/b0sjxgbKVI
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) July 16, 2024
Following the protest organized by Sambhajiraje, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrived in Kolhapur after midnight on Sunday. He presumably asked the Kolhapur district administration to clear encroachments from the fort, which is around 70 kilometers from Kolhapur. The fort is located in the Shahuwadi taluka of the district.
“The administration has started removing encroachments from Vishalgad. However, attempts are being made to give it a communal color. The first few encroachments which have been removed belong to Hindu community members,” Sambhajiraje clarified while talking to the reporters in Kolhapur.
Sambhajiraje stated that if a case is made against him, he should be arrested. Notably, the police have filed four cases against more than 500 people, including political leaders, and arrested 21 people involved in the ruckus that happened on 14th July in Gajapur. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister visited Kolhapur after midnight on Sunday to assess the situation following the violent happenings in the district. He eventually ordered the removal of illegal encroachment on the fort.
Mahendra Pandit, Superintendent of Police in Kolhapur, stated that the situation was under control and that action was being taken against those involved in the violence. Sambhajiraje, who led the march on Sunday, requested that all encroachments be removed, regardless of the caste or religion of unlawful inhabitants.
Team OpIndia had been to Vishalgadh recently to check the ground reality. It was observed that massive alleged illegal construction and encroachment has been happening for years on the fort causing ‘insult’ to around 24 Hindu temples and structures originally located on the fort since the 17th century.
It is believed that the population located on the fort of Vishalgadh, most of which is Muslim, has been involved in carrying out alleged illegal encroachments, construction, or expansion of the Masjid. The population there has also for years constructed illegal sheds, further expanding the businesses of chicken and cattle slaughters.
The Hindu protestors on the 7th of July this year conducted the first massive protest in heavy rains on the lower ground of the fort and demanded the removal of the illegal structure and ban on the animal slaughter on the fort.
#Vishalgadh Thousands of spirited Hindu youths have gathered at historic Vishalgadh Fort to free it from the clutches of global squatters called #Jihadi land mafias! Sprawling Izlamic structures have propped up at Shivshahi fort spread across thousands of square fts as a result… pic.twitter.com/NIWdMqrevJ
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) July 7, 2024
As per the documents exclusively obtained by OpIndia, there are a total of 156 properties that have undertaken illegal expansion of the homes and shops by building iron sheet sheds. Many of the houses on the other hand are illegally built only using iron sheet sheds. Among these 156, around 100 plus properties belong to the Muslim community people who are said to have illegally encroached on the area around the old Dargah and the firm extended Masjid covered by iron sheets.
However, Mahesh Vibhute of the Sakal Hindu Samaj confirmed to OpIndia that the issue is not at all communal. “These people, from both the community illegally expanded their premises by building sheds. Today there are thousands of people living on the fort and a total of 156 properties are illegal. We just want this encroachment to be removed,” he had confirmed. The detailed report covered by OpIndia previously can be read here.
Reportedly, the state took cognizance of the event and is believed to have ordered the removal of the illegal encroachment.
On Tuesday (16th July), four people were killed and numerous more were injured in a shooting near a mosque in Oman’s capital, Muscat. The incident occurred near the Imam Ali Mosque in Oman’s Wadi al-Kabir. Reports say that a gathering of Shias from an Asian nation was the target of the attack.
Omani counterterrorism forces are handling the situation. Over 700 people are reported to be trapped inside while security officers take on the attackers.
— العربية – سلطنة عُمان (@Alarabiya_Oman) July 15, 2024
In an official statement, the Royal Oman Police said, “The Royal Oman Police dealt with a shooting incident in the vicinity of a mosque in the Wadi Al Kabir region, which resulted in the death of four people and the injury of a number of others, according to preliminary information. All security measures and measures have been taken to deal with the situation, and procedures for collecting evidence and investigation are being completed. The Royal Oman Police expresses its deepest condolences. Sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.”
— شرطة عُمان السلطانية (@RoyalOmanPolice) July 16, 2024
Several videos of the attack have surfaced on social media. One video of the incident shows people fleeing near the Imam Ali Mosque, with its minaret visible, as gunshots rang out. In the video, a voice can be heard exclaiming “Oh God” and repeating “Oh Hussein.”
?#BREAKING: There is a ongoing terriost attack right now; Reports of 5+ people killed in the attack by gunfire at Wadi Kabeer, Muscat, #Oman; More than 700 people trapped inside as security forces fire back. pic.twitter.com/T7602gKPm9
— World Source News 24/7 (@Worldsource24) July 15, 2024
Notably, the attack comes at a time when Shias are marking Ashura this week, an annual day of mourning commemorating Hussein’s ‘martyrdom’ in the seventh century.
As the US presidential elections draw near, former US President Donald Trump has made his pick for Vice President, selecting Ohio senator JD Vance as his running mate on Monday.
Trump confirmed Vance’s candidature through a post on social media. “After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator JD Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
After years of scathing criticism of Trump, Vance has embraced the populist ideology of the former president; this choice further elevates him. After getting support from Trump in a fierce Republican primary, Vance, a venture entrepreneur and the author of the best-selling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy”, was elected to the US Senate in 2022, according to CNN.
“J.D. honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.’s book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country. J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond….” Trump further said in his post.
“…As Vice President, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Congratulations to Senator JD Vance, his wife, Usha, who also graduated from Yale Law School, and their three beautiful children. MAGA2024!” the post added.
Notably, in May this year, JD Vance slammed US President Joe Biden for calling India and Japan “xenophobic”. Calling Biden’s foreign policy a “clown show”, Vance said that Biden insulted the US’s two crucial allies in countering China just because they don’t have open borders allowing the influx of immigrants.
“Biden insults our two most important allies in countering China all because they don’t believe in open borders. This guy’s foreign policy is an absolute clown show,” JD Vance posted on 3rd May.
Back in March 2022, the speculations were rife that Biden administration might impose sanctions on India under its Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), over India’s purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia. At that time, Vance had heavily criticised Biden.
“Let’s just be direct: the Biden administration is pursuing a policy of freezing and starving normal Americans. Whether it’s their goal, it’s the obvious effect of what they’re doing. And their reprehensible media cheerleaders are calling it “shared sacrifice”. It’s going to get much, much worse. And there’s no obvious endpoint or goal. Indeed, the stupidity is so extreme it makes you wonder whether it’s stupidity or malicious intent. “Let’s sanction India, which makes 90 percent of our generic pharmaceuticals.” What are they doing?,” Vance posted.
While the Biden administration extended financial and military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, JD Vance has opposed this stand. Vance has said that America should engage in basic diplomacy with Russia for American interests.
Supports Trump’s call for Israel to ‘finish the job’ against Hamas in Gaza
JD Vance has also backed Trump’s call for Israel to “finish the job” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, claiming that relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia can only be cemented after Hamas is defeated in Gaza. In May of this year, Vance explained why he supports Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists.
At the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance advocated for Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, arguing that European countries should take on greater responsibility for military defence, particularly manufacturing, so that the United States may shift resources to Asia to counter an aggressive China. “We want Europe to be successful, but Europe has got to take a bigger role in its own security. You can’t do that without industry, Vance said.
Called UK under Labour party rule as an ‘Islamist country’
Recently, JD Vance said that the United Kingdom will be the first Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon. Vance made these remarks after the Labour Party won a historic mandate in UK general elections.
“I have to beat up on the UK – just one additional thing. I was talking with a friend recently. And we were talking about, you know, one of the big dangers in the world, of course, is nuclear proliferation, though, of course, the Biden administration doesn’t care about it…What is the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon? And we were like, maybe it’s Iran, you know, maybe Pakistan already kind of counts. And then we sort of finally decided maybe it’s actually the UK,” Vance said.
“What is the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon?
And we were like, maybe it's Iran, you know, maybe Pakistan already kind of counts.
And then we sort of finally decided maybe it's actually the UK.”
Vivek Ramaswamy supports Trump’s choice, says Vance is his friend and classmate
On Monday, Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy expressed joy over Trump picking JD Vance as his running mate and said, “So proud of my friend, classmate, and fellow southwest Ohioan today. We used to watch Bengals games at the bar in law school, it’s awesome we’re now here a decade later with JD joining the strongest presidential ticket in our lifetime. He’ll be an outstanding Vice President and I look forward to everything ahead for him and for our country.”
So proud of my friend, classmate, and fellow southwest Ohioan today. We used to watch Bengals games at the bar in law school, it’s awesome we’re now here a decade later with JD joining the strongest presidential ticket in our lifetime. He’ll be an outstanding Vice President and I…
Marco Rubio of Florida and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, who were considered to be the frontrunners in the race, are now out of it. Vance has been a supporter of Trump in the Senate and frequently casts votes in the former president’s favour.
He echoed Trump’s criticism of increasing aid by opposing a bill aimed at assisting Ukraine earlier this year. He is also close with the former President’s son, Donald Trump Jr, according to a CNN report.
According to the report, Vance–a veteran, author, and former venture capitalist–was one of the contenders who obtained vice-presidential vetting materials from the Trump campaign.
Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri, daughter of Indian immigrants
Vance was born James David Bowman in Middletown, Ohio, to a mother who struggled with addiction and a father who left the family when JD was a toddler. He was raised by his grandparents.
In 2017, Vance returned to Ohio and continued to work in venture capital. He and his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, whom he met at Yale, have three children. Usha Vance, born Usha Chilukuri, is an attorney who has carved out a successful career in the legal field.
Born to Indian immigrant parents, she grew up with a strong emphasis on education and hard work in a San Diego, California, suburb. Usha attended Yale University and also graduated from Yale Law School.
While at Yale, Usha served as managing editor of the Yale Journal of Law & Technology and executive development editor of The Yale Law Journal, according to a biography from Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm. This development comes on the heels of the recent assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday (July 13).
The Trump campaign says the former president, following his brush with death, will call for unity in the face of tragedy instead of criticising his political adversaries as he faces off with President Biden in a 2024 election rematch.
Assassination attempt on Donald Trump
Trump was on stage at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania’s Butler before gunshots rang out and Secret Service agents stormed the stage. Following the attack on Trump, the Secret Service agents surrounded the Republican candidate and escorted him off the stage, with blood visible across his face. Donald Trump said that the bullet pierced the upper part of his ear. One of the rally attendees was killed, while two more were critically injured. The gunman was also killed by US Secret Service agents.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks. It further said that an investigation is underway into the shooting incident.
Earlier in the day, the classified documents case against former US President Donald Trump was dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday, CNN reported.
Cannon said the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith “violated the Constitution.”
Trump was indicted in June last year by a federal grand jury in Miami. He was accused of taking classified national defence documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the government’s attempts to retrieve the materials. However, both Trump and his aide, Walt Nauta, pleaded not guilty to the charges
