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PIB fact-checks “microphone muted” claim by Mamata Banerjee, Nirmala Sitharaman says Bengal CM alloted due time at NITI Aayog meeting

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PIB fact-checks “microphone muted” claim by Mamata Banerjee, Nirmala Sitharaman says Bengal CM alloted due time at NITI Aayog meeting

The central government’s fact checking body on Saturday refuted as “misleading” the claim made by West Bengal chief minster about her microphone being switched off during a meeting of the NITI Aayog in the national capital on Saturday.

A PIB fact check today debunked her allegations stating that “only the clock showed that her speaking time was over.”

“It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. This claim is Misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it,” the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told ANI that it is “completely false” of Mamata Banerjee to claim that her microphone was switched off and claimed that every chief minister at the meeting was “allotted their due time to speak.”

“CM Mamata Banerjee attended the Niti Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every CM was given the allotted time and that was displayed on the screen which was present before every table…She said in the media that her mic was put off. That is completely false, ” Sitharaman told ANI.

“Every CM was given their due time to speak…It’s unfortunate that the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has claimed that her mic was switched off which is not true…She should speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood,” the Union Finance Minister said.

According to the government fact check body PIB, Mamata Banerjee’s turn to speak would be only after lunch if one goes alphabetically but she was “accomodated” as the seventh speaker on an official request from the Chief Minister.

“Alphabetically, CM, West Bengal turn would have come after lunch. She was accommodated as the 7th speaker on an official request of the West Bengal government as she had to return early,” PIB Fact Check explained in a subsequent tweet.

Earlier today speaking to reporters, the West Bengal Chief Minister alleged “political discrimination” and said that at the NITI Aayog meeting she was not allowed to speak for more than five minutes while other chief ministers were given more time.

“…I said you (central government) should not discriminate against state governments. I wanted to speak but my mic was muted. I was allowed to speak only for five minutes. People before me spoke for 10-20 minutes,” Banerjee told reporters after she stormed out of the NITI Aayog meeting today.

“I was the only one from the opposition who was participating but still, I was not allowed to speak. This is insulting…,” Banerjee said as she walked out mid way from the meeting.

“I have come out boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting. Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak, Chief Ministers of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped after just 5 minutes. This is unfair,” the Chief Minister said speaking to reporters after coming out of the meeting.

Claiming that she had chosen to participate in the meeting to strengthen “cooperative federalism” Banerjee said, “There are many regional aspirations. That is why I am here, to share those aspirations. If a state is strong, the Union will be strong.”

The Chief Minister said that several states, including West Bengal, were deprived in the Union Budget that was presented in Parliament this week,

Asking the central government to treat states equally, Banerjee said, “Bengal has been deprived of MNREGA funds for the last three years, nothing was paid. Treat all states equally. I said that today. I am speaking on behalf of all the states which have been deprived.”

Hitting out at the central government over the Budget, the Chief Minister said that the Centre does not support “cooperative federalism.”

“From the Opposition side, I am here to strengthen cooperative federalism. But you are not for cooperative federalism. The Budget is totally politically biased. Why discriminate against other states?” Banerjee said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also asked the Centre to give financial powers to NITI Aayog or bring back the Planning Commission.

“NITI Aayog has no financial powers, how will it work? Give it financial powers, or bring back the Planning Commission,” she said.

Chief Ministers of opposition-led states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi and Punjab boycotted the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that their government will boycott the NITI Aayog in protest against the central government’s alleged injustice to the state in the allocation of funds in the 2024 Union Budget.

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

A day after CCTV footage of brutal murder of 22-year-old Bihar girl in a Bengaluru PG went viral, the accused man arrested from Madhya Pradesh

OpIndia Staff
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A day after CCTV footage of brutal murder of 22-year-old Bihar girl in a Bengaluru PG went viral, the accused man arrested from Madhya Pradesh

On Saturday (27th July), Police arrested the accused who brutally stabbed a 22-year-old Bihar girl to death inside her Paying Guest accommodation in Bengaluru, Karnataka, earlier this week. Following the incident, the man absconded from Bengaluru and was hiding in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, from where he was taken into custody. The development comes a day after the Police released CCTV footage of the murder which captured the gruesome incident. 

The accused has been identified as Abhishek, a Bihar resident, and the ex-boyfriend of the victim’s PG roommate. The victim identified as Kriti Kumari, was also from Bihar. She had been staying at the PG since March this year. As per the Police officials, she was working as a business development associate at a project-based learning platform. 

According to the Police, during the investigation, they found out that Abhishek frequented the victim’s PG where he often had arguments with his girlfriend. However, the deceased victim would often intervene in their arguments. 

Police added that Kriti Kumari had urged her roommate to stop living with the accused and move with her. 

According to the Police, on the day of the incident, the accused was seen carrying luggage and was allowed entry by PG security when Kriti claimed that he was her brother and that he would leave soon.

Police have blamed the negligence of the PG owner for the incident. According to Police sources, a few days earlier, Kriti Kumari’s roommate had moved out of the paying guest accommodation. It is suspected that she had gone to stay with her boyfriend.

However, on 23rd July, she returned to the PG to stay with Kriti Kumari. According to Police sources, the accused doubted that Kriti Kumari could have persuaded his girlfriend to change her decision. 

According to the Police, the brutal murder took place at around 11 PM at the Bhargavi Staying Homes For Ladies in Venkatreddy Layout. Reportedly, the PG is just over a kilometre away from the South East Deputy Commissioner of Police’s office and the Koramangala police station.

As per the CCTV footage, moments before the incident, the accused Abhishek had walked up to Kriti’s room in the PG and knocked on her door. A few moments later, he is seen dragging her out. Despite strenuous efforts by the victim to resist the knife attack, he repeatedly stabbed the victim. Abhishek then fled the crime scene when girls from the PG heard the victim’s cries for help.

The Koramangala Police Inspector Nataraj had earlier stated that the Police registered a case under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated an investigation.

Police had added that the accused sneaked into the PG hostel and slit Kriti’s throat with a knife near her room on the third floor at 11.30 pm on Tuesday (23rd July). The woman died on the spot. Police added that the woman sustained multiple stab wounds.

Following the arrest, the Police stated that the accused was being brought to Bengaluru for further investigation. 

Jammu and Kashmir: HSS Bani principal Mohammad Hafiz, lecturer Farooq suspended over thrashing a student for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ reinstated

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: HSS Bani principal Mohammad Hafiz, lecturer Farooq suspended over thrashing a student for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ reinstated

Mohammad Hafiz, the former principal of HSS Bani school in Jammu, and lecturer Mohammad Farooq, suspended in August 2023 for thrashing a student who allegedly wrote ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard, have been quietly reinstated following a ‘departmental inquiry’.

An order by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department said the Director of School Education had reinstated the accused principal, Mohammad Hafiz, citing a lack of evidence and witnesses to testify against him. It also recommended he “remain vigilant in the future as he holds the vital position of principal and the head of the institution.”

The committee has also recommended the reinstatement of senior lecturer, Mohammad Farooq, with the imposition of a penalty and withholding of two increments.

The period of suspension of both officers is treated as on duty, the government order dated 22 July 2027 said. Mohammad Hafiz and Mohammad Farooq will not only be reinstated but will also be granted 10 months of salary for their period of suspension.

Minor student thrashed by Mohammad Hafiz and Mohammad Farooq for writing Jai Shri Ram on the blackboard

On August 25, 2023, Mohammad Farooq and Mohammad Hafiz allegedly beat a minor student studying in the government school HSS Bani for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard.

Following the incident, a video of the hospitalised minor victim had gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage. In the video, the minor student (class X) was seen narrating the incident. Explaining the reason why he was in the hospital, he said that his teacher Farooq, and the school principal brutally thrashed him for writing Jai Shri Ram on the blackboard. 

Speaking with OpIndia, Kathua Police had confirmed that the minor schoolboy was beaten for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard. 

They had added that they have filed an FIR in the case against two accused under Sections 323 (deals with punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 504(intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, they had charged the accused under Section 75 (which provides for punishment, if any person having control of the child, assaults, abandons, abuses or willfully neglects the child) of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Assuring swift action, the Police said that they will soon arrest both the accused in this case. “The FIR has mentioned lecturer Farooq as the accused who thrashed the victim for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the class blackboard. Principal Mohammed Hafiz has also been named in the FIR. They will soon be arrested,” the police official told OpIndia. 

Subsequently, the Jammu and Kashmir government has formed a three-member high-level committee. This probe committee was led by the Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Bani. The other two members of the committee include the Deputy Chief  Education Officer Kathua region and the principal of the government school HSS Kharote.

Uttar Pradesh: Speeding car travelling on the wrong side hits Hindu devotees, damages a Kanwar, Islamists and media paint accused Muslim man in car as victim

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Speeding car travelling on the wrong side hits Hindu devotees, damages a Kanwar, Islamists and media paint accused Muslim man in car as victim

On Friday (26th July) evening, a speeding car travelling on the wrong side of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway hit Hindu devotees part of the Kanwar Yatra and collided with a Kanwar. As per reports, the collision impact damaged the Kanwar making the aggrieved Kanwariya’s Yatra futile. Following the incident, Kanwariyas attempted to confront and nab the accused car occupants which led to clashes. While three out of the four accused fled from the crime scene, Kanwariyas caught one accused and handed him over to the Police. 

However, it was later found out that the accused occupants in the car belonged to the Muslim faith, which triggered Islamists to peddle the boogie of ‘Muslim victimhood’ and launch a smear campaign against Kanwar Yatra, a religious Hindu practice. Additionally, the media reports on the incident have also painted the accused car occupants as victims and blatantly accuse Kanwariyas of indulging in violence, vandalism, and terrorising Muslim car occupants for a “minor incident”.   

According to reports, the incident took place on Friday evening in Partapur near the T-point where the Delhi-Dehradun Highway and Delhi-Meerut Expressway intersect. The car which was travelling on the wrong side hit the Kanwar of a Hindu devotee who was marching on foot from Haridwar to Ghaziabad. It broke off his water pot thus ending his religious yatra before its culmination. Notably, Hindu devotees bring Ganga Jal (holy water) from Gaumukh, Gangotri in Uttarakhand, and other holy rivers to do Jal Abhishek of Shiv ji in their revered nearby temples. For this, they accumulate water in pots or other containers in Kanwar and do Padyatra from these holy cities back to their hometown.    

After the speeding car travelling on the wrong side ramped into their yatra, the Kanwariyas attempted to nab the accused car occupants which escalated into violent clashes between them. However, three out of the four accused managed to flee the area to avoid getting arrested by the Police. But the Kanwariyas caught one accused and assaulted him before handing him over to the Police. 

Meanwhile, after getting the information, SP Traffic Raghavendra Singh, CO Brahmapuri Pramod Kumar, and CEO Suchita Singh reached the spot with heavy police force and pacified the matter.

They convinced the Kanwariyas and made travel arrangements for the victim Kanwariya to fetch Ganga Jal again from Haridwar. Additionally, the police took the car involved in the accident into custody and sent it to the police yard.

Narrating the incident, the Kanwariyas recounted that the car was coming from the wrong side. They added that the riders didn’t pay heed to their warnings that they were driving on the wrong side of the road and could end up hurting Kanwariyas or disrupting their Yatra. 

The Kanwariyas said, “The Kanwar has been broken due to the collision. We signaled the car riders that we were carrying the Kanwar and that they were coming from the wrong side, but they ignored us. This is why this accident happened. Our Kanwar was broken.”

Infuriated by the incident, the Kanwariyas demanded that the miscreant car occupants be handed over to the Police and that they should face strict actions for their act. However, it led to a violent confrontation and while the three accused managed to flee, the Kanwariyas assaulted one of them and handed him over to the Police.   

However, media reports about the incident have painted victim Kanwariyas as the aggressor and accused them of assaulting and vandalising the car of the Muslim occupants for a minor collision incident. Soon, usual suspects and Islamists started peddling the boogie of Muslim victimhood and presented it as a near-lynching incident to launch smear campaigns against the Hindu religious Kanwar Yatra. 

Meanwhile, several X users also pointed out that concerted efforts have been going on to smear the Kanwar Yatra and present devout Shiva bhakts, and Kanwariyas as hooligans and vandals accusing them of wanton communal violence.

Many users pointed out the details of the incidents and called out media reports and Islamist propaganda being peddled in this incident. 

‘Don’t know about you but I have self-respect’: Shazia Ilmi blasts Rajdeep Sardesai for defending cameramen who filmed her inappropriately

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t know about you but I have self-respect’: Shazia Ilmi blasts Rajdeep Sardesai for defending cameramen who filmed her inappropriately

On Friday (26th July), BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi came down heavily on Rajdeep Sardesai after the latter accused her of ‘attacking’ the cameraman of the India Today group.

Ilmi had left the primetime debate of the ‘propagandist masquerading as journalist’ half-way after he asked to cut off the mic of the BJP spokesperson. Despite this, the cameraman kept filming without her consent, leading to a physical altercation.

In a tweet, Shazia Ilmi stated, “Don’t you ever bring down my Fader again. Remember I have been on both the sides and know how to handle bullies like you. BTW it doesn’t behove political propagandists masquerading as journalists to sermonise.”

Rajdeep Sardesai was quick to play the ‘victim card’ and accuse the BJP spokesperson of assaulting the cameraman. “I respect all my guests always. If anything, I am too indulgent: the fader is lowered only to avoid cross talk and noise on the show. If you have a grouse with me or with an army general on the show, of course that’s your prerogative. And I respect that too,” he claimed in a tweet.

“But for you to chuck the Mike and abuse our video journalist and throw him out of your house is just NOT done. He was only doing his job. No excuse for bad behaviour. The rest I leave to you. Have a good weekend (the video below is from last night…” he continued.

Sardesai had also shared a video of the physical altercation. Shazia Ilmi thanked the propagandist for providing video evidence and called out the ‘pervert’ cameraman for zooming on her chest.

“Why on earth would I stay on your show when you humiliate me and say CUT SHAZIA’s Mike off ? Only because I asked you whether you think all the Defence Chiefs are lying. Don’t know about you but I have SELF RESPECT,” she tweeted.

The BJP spokesperson detailed the problematic behaviour of the cameraman, which forced her to evict him from her house.

“Your cameraman watched me struggle as I got up and continued to film me trying to remove my mike, instead of helping me with the wheelchair. Why was he still continuing to focus on MY UPPER BODY showing it up close. It was so uncomfortable for me and I felt most embarrassed,” she pointed out.

    “Any lady would tell you that focussing on their chest is a clear NO NO. I could see this live on screen and requested him not to film me any or switch off the camera light. The pervert cameraman continued to film me despite my obvious physical and emotional discomfort after the show was over. Why ? Why would he keep filming him in my home, my SAFE place against my WILL? And that too, AFTER the show?” Shazia Ilmi asked.

    “Just because you’re a famous anchor (just as much you’re a sore loser) doesn’t mean you can humiliate people who call you out and force your crews on people , beyond the brief and violate their private space. And I dare India Today to show footage of my upper body and chest again. I will take this matter up seriously as I was deeply hurt and humiliated by this behaviour,” she warned.

    The BJP spokesperson concluded, “I have a right to choose what I want up show on air and I object to the lens focusing on my body and not my face AFTER the show. It’s my house and I’m curious whether your wife would entertain a crew shooting her remove her mike from up close and then follow her around after show. Thanks for providing this VIDEO EVIDENCE, which clearly shows how the lecherous cameraman is continuing to film me despite me not wanting to be ON air.”

    Police reach house of person who performed dangerous stunt on Mumbai local, find that Farhat Azam Shaikh already lost a leg and an arm in another train stunt

    OpIndia Staff
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    Police reach house of person who performed dangerous stunt on Mumbai local, find that Farhat Azam Shaikh already lost a leg and an arm in another train stunt

    A video of dangerous stunts by a man in a Mumbai local train went viral a few days ago. The Railway Police registered a First Information Report in the case and started an investigation after which they identified the accused Farhat Azam Sheikh. They reached his house to arrest him where it was discovered that he does not have one hand and one leg. He had lost his limbs while doing another stunt later. A railway official revealed the shocking information on 26th July.

    On 14th July, footage of Sewri railway station in Mumbai went viral on social media in which a youth was seen performing stunts and clinging on to a local train in Mumbai. In the video, the man was seen holding on to the handlebars on the doors of a running train while sliding on the platform. After sliding this way for around 15 seconds while the train speeds up, he jumps onto the coach just before he runs out of the platform. The clip from Sewri railway station is almost 5 months old, it is from 7th March and was recorded by one of his friends on the train.

    Social media users shared the clip and demanded action on the matter. The Divisional Railway Manager of Mumbai Central responded, “Thanks for the information. RPF Post VDLR has been instructed to register the case against the unknown passenger shown in the video. Efforts are on to trace him. We request all the concerned to desist from such unsafe practices and life-threatening both for them and passengers.”

    “Central Railway has issued stern warning against performing dangerous stunts following a video posted on X (Twitter) on 14th July showing a young boy engaging in risky behavior while boarding a moving train and prompted swift action from railway authorities. Upon being brought to attention, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Post at Vadala Road registered a case against the unidentified individual seen in the footage. Efforts were made to trace and apprehend the person involved,” an official conveyed.

    Farhat Azam Shaikh, a resident of Antop Hill, Wadala, was recognized as the boy after the video became public. After a case was registered against him, the authorities arrived at his place to arrest him. But they were shocked to find out that he had already lost both his left hand and leg when carrying out a similar stunt at Mumbai’s Masjid train station on 14th April. The Railway administration immediately brought him to St George’s Hospital, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) for treatment after the accident. Given his condition, the police didn’t arrest him.

    “Central Railway’s Railway Protection Force (RPF) recently identified Shaikh as the individual from the video. On 14th April 2024, while attempting another perilous stunt, Shaikh suffered severe injuries, resulting in the amputation of his left arm and leg. He is currently bedridden due to his critical condition and has not been arrested due to the severity of his medical state,” an official stated on 26th July.

    The police have issued a strict warning regarding such stunts and the press release mentioned that Farhat Azam Shaikh has been facing tremendous trouble in completing daily tasks as a result of the stunt. “He has appealed to all passengers through a video to stay away from such acts, which are not only illegal but life-threatening. Central Railway requests passengers to desist from such unsafe stunts/activities that are life-threatening both for the individuals involved and other passengers,” the statment added.

    Karnataka: Trader Abdul Razzaq under scanner over sale of ‘dog meat’, accused claims meat belonged to sheep

    OpIndia Staff
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    Karnataka: Trader Abdul Razzaq under scanner over sale of ‘dog meat’, accused claims meat belonged to sheep

    On Friday (26th July), Hindu activists led by gaurakshak Puneeth Kerehalli carried out a demonstration at the Bengaluru City Railway Station, stating that a trader named Abdul Razzaq ordered a large consignment of ‘dog meat’ from Rajasthan.

    A state of chaos ensued at the railway station over the meat consignment, which weighed 3 tonnes and was packed in 150 cartons.

    While speaking about the matter, Puneeth Kerehalli informed, “The meat is then mixed with dog meat and sold in Russell Market and mutton shops. The stale meat, which is 75 to 80 hours old, is cleaned in vinegar to make it look fresh.”

    The gaurakshak further added that Abdul Razzaq brought 6 tonnes of meat from Jaipur each day. Other meat traders and mutton stall owners in the area have stated that the meat sold by the accused is stale.

    “It was brought to the notice of the BBMP commissioner and police, but no action was taken. Officials are aware of stale meat being sold to hotels and affecting the health of meat consumers,” a meat trader named Rizwan Khureshi informed.

    A team of police was dispatched to Bengaluru City Railway Station to maintain law and order situation. The cops took Gaurakshak Puneeth Kerehalli and other Hindu activists into custody on Friday night. They also seized the meat consignment and sent it for testing.

    Trader Abdul Razzaq had cried foul over the matter and claimed that Karehalli was making false accusations to extort money.

    “Everything is legal. The meat is kept in an ice box. We have FSSAI licence, trade licence and BBMP licence. We are getting the meat from Jaipur. The meat is tested and of good quality. The allegations are all fabricated. No illegal business is going on, I will explain in detail at a press conference,” he was quoted as saying.

    As Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ pushes for private sector reservations, a look at the economic and social pitfalls of such a step

    Paurush Gupta
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    As Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ pushes for private sector reservations, a look at the economic and social pitfalls of such a step

    On Friday (26th July), Azad Samaj Party MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Nagina and Bhim Army Chief, Chandra Shekhar Azad introduced a private member bill in Lok Sabha to extend reservations for the SCs, STs, and OBCs in the private sector. The bill is titled, ‘The Reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes in Private Sector Act, 2024’. 

    Currently, reservations are only applicable in the public sector and there is no reservation in the private sector. The bill proposes to change this and extend reservation benefits to the SC, ST, and OBC communities in the private sector as well. 

    The bill introduced by Bhim Army Chief Ravan seeks to extend reservations in the private sector, educational institutions, and other establishments that have no government financial interest and employ at least 20 people. 

    The bill proposes that the Central government must incentivise private sector entities to implement reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs by giving them special concessions and facilitating lower-interest loans through nationalised banks.

    It also proposes that the government should present an annual report in both houses of Parliament to highlight all actions that have been taken under the Act, in case it is passed by both houses as well as get Presidential assent. 

    The proposed legislation also wants to make it mandatory for the Union government to frame rules to ensure the effective implementation of the Act (if passed). 

    The bill claims to rely on support from Articles 16(4) and 16(4A) of the Constitution. Incidentally, the said article permits reservations in public sector undertakings (PSUs) and financial institutions receiving government grants.

    In his statement of objects and reasons, the Bhim Army Chief claimed that to ensure equitable growth and socio-economic upliftment, it is imperative to have representation from all sections of the society while highlighting the importance of the private sector in nation-building. 

    Private Member bill

    Any Member of Parliament (MP) can also introduce proposed legislation in both houses of Parliament and it is known as the Private Members’ Bill. Just like any other bill proposed by the government, a Private Member bill, to become an act, must be passed by both houses and receive Presidential assent. Notably, such bills can only be introduced and discussed on Fridays. 

    Yesterday (on 26th July), as many as 31 private members’ Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also moved a private member bill seeking to reserve 10 seats in the Lok Sabha for those below 35 years of age.

    Nonetheless, it is pertinent to note that while Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad has proposed to extend reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in the private sector, the Congress government in Karnataka recently proposed to extend reservations in the private sector for Kannadigas. Strikingly, the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had decided to present seven bills, including 100% reservation for Kannadigas in Category C and D jobs in all private industries in the state. 

    However, the legislation extending reservations in the private sector for Kannadigas triggered massive opposition from top Industry leaders and within the state government, forcing the state government to halt the proposed legislation for want of ‘further discussions’.

    Ramifications of reservations in the Private sector

    Extending reservations, either for locals or the backward communities, in the private sector could have long-term and far-reaching consequences for the economy as well as the social fabric of the country. The proposed legislation would have a chilling effect on meritocracy, ease of doing business, and investment opportunities, as well as could lead to social unrest.

    As a well-established fact, India, or any other country plagued by Licence or quota raj, witnessed sluggish growth for several decades but it has grown leaps and bounds after the economic reforms in 1991 which liberalised the economy and unshackled private sector from needless legislative compliance.

    At a time when companies are opting out of China and relocating to countries that have skilled labour, stifling meritocracy for vote bank politics, and pushing reservations in the private sector would be catastrophic. This would not only be dragging India back in this highly competitive race of ‘free’ and open market access for new companies, it would be undoing the progress in economic and other key parameters of Human development post the liberalisation era. 

    The strength of the private sector lies in the easy and flexible accessibility of factors of production, including skilled human resources. Barring the CSR aspect, the private sector links its outcomes with high standards of performance audits. However, with reservations in the private sector and elections always around the corner, companies would face mounting pressure from the ruling party in their state of operation to not fire employees despite audit reviews, as well as to improve recruitment from the communities forming political vote bank, thus putting a constraint on their say on Human resources.

    This has the potential to limit the functionality of companies causing them to find an exit route to ensure their profit margin and escape the wrath of the government’s and administration’s restrictive measures like the job quota compliance. The government/police intervention in the day-to-day functioning of the company’s operation to ensure compliance would render the companies prone to “corruption”, and “bureaucratic red-tapism”, and send the state/country back to the “License quota raj” period, pre-reform era.

    Furthermore, rather than striving to build an egalitarian society and uplift marginalised society, the bill’s introduction could lead to social unrest, like the protests during the Mandal era when reservations were made applicable only in the public sector which makes up roughly around 2% of the total workforce. 

    Pakistan: Syed Mustafa Shah chops off his daughter’s legs with an axe after she tried to end her abusive marriage

    OpIndia Staff
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    Pakistan: Syed Mustafa Shah chops off his daughter’s legs with an axe after she tried to end her abusive marriage

    In yet another instance of patriarchal honour, a Pakistani woman’s legs were chopped by her father and uncles for filing divorce to end an abusive marriage, reported Geo News.

    In patriarchal societies, violence has been used as a social mechanism to perpetuate the subjugation of women. The woman, named Sobia Batool Shah, told police that her legs were chopped for seeking a divorce from her abusive and deadbeat husband, who never took responsibility for his family.

    The deeply disturbing act of violence occurred in Gul Town, leaving the victim with severe physical as well as mental trauma, which may result in a lifelong disability–with the possibility that she may never be able to walk again.

    Reportedly, Syed Mustafa Shah, Sobia’s father, and her uncles Syed Qurban Shah, Ehsan Shah, Shah Nawaz, and Mushtaq Shah, who were armed with axes, injured Sobia and fled the spot, leaving her screaming for help in a pool of blood, according to Geo News. Sobia was rushed to a Nawab Shah hospital as soon as police reached the crime scene.

    The woman further told police that her husband would regularly abuse her and fail to provide for her and their two children, leaving her to suffer on her own in Karachi.

    According to Sobia, she repeatedly alerted her parents about the plight she was in, but her family turned a deaf ear to her grievances and dismissed her, calling her a disgrace, as reported by Geo News.

    After deciding to escape her abusive marriage, Sobia filed for divorce, which incited her father and uncles to confront her.

    According to the police, Sobia’s enraged parents accused her of bringing dishonour to the family by taking legal action against her husband. When she refused to withdraw her case, they attacked her with axes, they added, reported Geo News.

    The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Nausharoferoz took immediate notice of the incident and ordered the local station house officer (SHO) to bring all the accused to justice and ensure the victim’s security.

    Responding to the directions, the police have so far managed to arrest one suspect, Mushtaq Shah, and are still investigating through raids, in search of the remaining culprits.

    Patriarchal values are embedded in Pakistani society, which determines the subordinated position of women. Patriarchal control over women is exercised through institutionalized restrictive codes of behavior, gender segregation and the ideology which associates family honor to female virtue.

    The abnormal, amoral, and harmful customary practices which aim at preserving subjugation of women, defended and sanctified as cultural traditions and given religious overtones. Abnormal and amoral traditional practices in Pakistan include honor killing, rape and sexual assault, sexual harassment, acid attacks, being burned, kidnapping, domestic violence, dowry murder, and forces marriages, custodial abuse and torture.

    ‘Satanic symbolism’: Radical Christians abuse pagans after accusing Olympics of committing blasphemy, mocking ‘The Last Supper’ of Jesus Christ

    OpIndia Staff
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    ‘Satanic symbolism’: Radical Christians abuse pagans after accusing Olympics of committing blasphemy, mocking ‘The Last Supper’ of Jesus Christ

    On Friday (26th July), radical Christians abused pagans and their religious practices after accusing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of hosting a blasphemous rendition of ‘The Last Supper’ during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    For the unversed, ‘The Last Supper’ is an important event in Christianity. It signifies Jesus Christ’s final meal with his 12 apostles before his crucifixion.

    Radical Christians claimed IOC hurt religious sentiments by creating a caricature of ‘The Last Supper’ using drag queens, trans and queer characters and resorting to hyper-sexualisation.

    “This is crazy. Opening your event by replacing Jesus and the disciples at the The Last Supper with men in drag. There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate. Not Welcome,” wrote one Clint Russel.

    One radical Christian used the opportunity to abuse pagans and their ‘satanic practices.’

    “The Paris Olympics have gone FULL BLOWN. SATANIC. Going so far as to mock the Last Supper of Christ & have a celebration of worship to Baal/Moloch. If this isn’t a sign of the times we are living in… Spiritual warfare FULLY manifesting in the flesh. This isn’t “satanic panic”. This is the REAL DEAL,” tweeted ‘The Patriot Voice.’

    “The veil is thinning more and more everyday. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear know exactly what is happening. Jesus is coming back VERY SOON,” he brazened out.

    One Collin Rugg claimed, “An apparent child could be seen joining the drag queens during the performance. Instead of bringing people together, the planners of the event apparently wanted to mock the religion of 2.4 billion people.”

    Jenna Ellis, who identifies as servant of Jesus Christ, alleged,”In this scene from the Olympic opening ceremony, the famous painting of The Last Supper is recreated, but Jesus is replaced with an obese woman, while queer and trans figures (including a child!) depict her apostles. Overt pagan and satanic symbolism.”

    One radical Christian claimed that the event, which supposedly wanted to mock Jesus Christ, was enacted by a 42-year-old Jewish gay man named Thomas Jolly. OpIndia, however, could not independently verify this claim.

    A pastor named Michael Clary tweeted, “The opening ceremony of the Olympics making fun of Christ and the Last Supper. Is anyone out there still denying that LGBTQ is a demonic cult?”

    Event not based on ‘The Last Supper’

    Contrary to the social media claims about the deliberate mockery of ‘The Last Supper’, the official X (formerly Twitter)’ handle of ‘The Olympic Games’ made it clear that the said event was an interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus.

    “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” it informed.

    It must be mentioned that Dionysus is known as the ‘God of Wine’ and ecstasy in Greek pagan culture. He was also referred to as ‘Bacchus’ by the Romans. He is also considered the patron of theatre, given that his festivals often involve dramatic performances.

    As a god associated with vegetation and growth, he is linked to the cycles of nature. Dionysus remains a powerful symbol in art, literature, and culture and hence it comes as no wonder that He was featured during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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