On Wednesday, July 3rd, the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) filed a complaint against Calvary Ministries in Telangana’s Bellampally region run by Christian Pastor R Praveen Kumar and Sharon. The complaint was filed after the Pastor was allegedly found imposing cruelty and medical negligence in the name of miracle healing towards a little girl who was suffering from kidney failure.
As per the LRPF, a video was posted on 16th May on the official YouTube channel of Pastor Praveen Kumar in which a mother of a little girl explained that her daughter was suffering from kidney damage. The mother could be seen crying in the video as she stated that her little girl had been under treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Niloufer Hospital, Hyderabad for the last 3 days and that she had got her to the Calvary Church’s Miracle Healing Show in Hyderabad for her life to be saved.
According to the girl’s mother, physicians advised them that the girl would not survive any longer, so they took her immediately from the ICU to the Calvary Church, despite the doctors’ warnings. She also stated that they signed an undertaking paper stating that doctors would not be responsible if anything happened to their daughter’s life. According to the mother’s statement, the girl was unable to move owing to kidney damage but can now walk.
“It is evident from the video posted on Pastor R Praveen Kumar’s YouTube channel that, instead of providing sufficient medical treatment to the little girl during her critical situation, her parents took her to the Miracle Healing Show organized by Pastor Praveen Kumar and Sharon under the impression that her daughter would be cured with their prayers. It is also evident from the video that the little girl, who was just brought from the ICU after rejecting ongoing medical treatment by her parents, was subjected to cruelty and forced to walk during the Miracle Show by Pastor Praveen Kumar,” LRPF said in the complaint filed with the NCPCR.
“The act of cruelty by Pastor Praveen Kumar and Ms Sharon of Calvary Ministries towards the little girl who was suffering from serious kidney damage. Moreover, the video-graphed the minor girl child and uploaded it on their YouTube to project themselves as Miracle Healers. This is an act of causing damage to the dignity and privacy of the victim girl,” the organization added in the complaint.
Calvary Ministries is a trust registered under registration number 39/2013. Its registered office is at Somagudem in Mancherial District, Telangana.
The trust was incorporated in 2003. As per the LRPF, Pastor R Praveen Kumar, President of the Calvary Ministries Trust, and his wife, Sharon, have put on enormous Miracle Healing exhibitions in Bellampally and Hyderabad in the name of religious prayer gatherings.
The complainant states that the Pastor and his wife are giving the impoverished, uneducated, marginalized, and weaker sectors the erroneous impression that they can treat any critical medical conditions with their prayers, something doctors and medical specialists cannot do.
In this sense, they have arranged for a few persons to appear at large crowds and provide false testimony that their medical problems have been healed thanks to Pastor Praveen Kumar’s prayers. These testimonial videos are being shared on their official YouTube channels for publicity.
It is crucial to note that the Pastor and his wife were booked in the year 2019 in a similar case. On 25th May 2019, an FIR was registered against the duo under sections 304-II, 420, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 at Kasipet police, Bellampally after a 21-year-old person died due to negligence of the Pastor.
The case was filed in response to a complaint initiated by Girishetty Mangamma who stated that her son Girishetty Rajesh, 21, who was suffering from a severe fever, went to the Miracle Healing Show at Calvary Church in the hopes that the prayers of Pastor Praveen Kumar and Sister Sharon would cure him.
As his health deteriorated, he desired to leave the Church grounds and travel to the hospital for medical attention. However, Pastor Praveen Kumar, sister Sharon, and other pastors refused to allow her son to be taken to the hospital, and he died in Calvary Church. The FIR copy of the said incident has been obtained by OpIndia.
Section 5 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, forbids the advertisement of Magic Remedies for the treatment of specific diseases and ailments. The subsection further reads: “- No person carrying on or purporting to carry on the profession of administering magic remedies shall take any part in the publication of any advertisement referring to any magic remedy which directly or indirectly claims to be efficacious for any of the purposes specified in section 3”.
Section 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 deals with punishment provisions and plainly states: “–Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act [or the rules issued thereunder] shall, on conviction, be penalized – a) in the case of a first conviction, with imprisonment for up to six months, a fine, or both; b) in the case of a subsequent conviction, imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both.
The complaint has been registered with the NCPCR seeking strict action against the accused persons.
Uttar Pradesh Police constable Sheela Maurya, who was on security duty at the Hathras religious event, said the stampede occurred as a large number of people rushed to exit the venue together. In the Hathras stampede, 123 people were killed.
Maurya said that she helped various women get over the situation but eventually, she also fell and suffered injuries.
“I was deputed in front of the stage. There was a huge crowd there after the event concluded. People started falling over each other. I helped many women but later even I fell and suffered injuries. The problem was that there was a huge crowd and everyone started exiting the venue together. At the time, I was only trying to save people. The CM asked me about the incident yesterday,” she said.
She said that the ground was muddy because of rain, and it was hard for people to get out.
“There are farmlands there, that’s how people tried to make it out,” she added.
Earlier in the day, the Uttar Pradesh Police conducted a search operation at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri for ‘Bhole Baba’, a self-styled godman who conducted a Satsang in Hathras.
An FIR has been registered on the incident naming organizers of the prayer meeting but ‘Bhole Baba’ has not been named yet.
Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mainpuri Sunil Kumar on Thursday said “Baba has not been found inside the ashram.”
“There are 40-50 sevadars inside the ashram. He (‘Bhole Baba’) is not inside, neither he was yesterday nor he is today…” said DSP Mainpuri Sunil Kumar.
SP City Rahul Mithas said, “I had come to check the security of the ashram. Nobody was found here.”
The police force was deployed around the ashram today early morning.
On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the spot and ordered a judicial probe into the incident.
A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava has been constituted to ensure comprehensiveness of the subject matter and transparency in the inquiry, according to an official statement.
The Judicial Commission will investigate the various aspects of the Hathras stampede in the next two months and after the investigation, a report will be submitted to the State Government.
The preacher ‘Bhole Baba’ identified as Suraj Pal is also known by the names of Narayan Sakar Hari and Jagat Guru Vishwahari.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The Jharkhand High Court recently ordered the state government to identify the Bangladeshis who have entered India illegally and prepare an action plan to take action against them and send them back. A bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice AK Rai gave the judgement on 3rd July after hearing the petition of Daniel Danish in which the court was told that in regions including Santhal Pargana, adjacent to Bangladesh, banned organisations of the neighbouring country are converting ST (Scheduled Tribe) girls of the state to Islam in the name of marriage. The incidents are being carried out in a planned manner and it is imperative to put an end to them.
Notably, there has reportedly been a sudden increase in the number of madrasas in the districts of Santhal Pargana. There are 46 new madrasas there and they are being utilised for anti-national activities, according to the plea. The intruders are also occupying the land in addition to exploiting the local females. The court has ordered the government to provide a progress report on the matter in less than two weeks and specify the number of infiltrators from Bangladesh that they have identified, how many of them have been stopped, and how many were sent back.
Moreover, the court also asked the central government to submit a response on the issue and declared it a grave matter. It pointed out that state governments alone cannot handle it and the center and the state should work together. therefore, the centre should also inform the court about the measures they have taken in this regard. The centre presented its case to the court during the hearing as well and informed that state governments now have permission to detect infiltrators and take appropriate action as the Modi administration granted them the authority.
The deputy commissioners (DCs) of Deoghar, Pakur Dumka, Sahebgunj, Godda and Jamtara were given orders by the court to create an action plan and take measures to prevent refugees from entering Bangladesh. The chief secretary was directed by the court to become involved in the matter as well and work with the DCs of the districts that make up Santhal Pargana. According to the bench’s oral observation, illegal immigrants have entered the state and are using all benefits. It stated that this should cease and that the government should take action to send them back.
The petitioner told the bench that the state government is denying infiltration in the state and doesn’t even acknowledge any conversion in the Santhal area. Hence, the centre should be directed to take action against the Bangladeshi intruders in such a situation. Now, the next hearing in the case is to be held on 18th July. He revealed, “The court also said that illegal immigration is not a concern of a district or the state but the whole country. The demography of the area will undergo a drastic and unwanted change which will affect the tribal populace of the Santhal Pargana.”
Importantly, the Allahabad High Court earlier expressed strong opinions regarding the subject of conversion. Observing the peril of Christian conversion, it warned that the majority population of the nation would eventually become a minority if the conversion proceeded in this manner. The bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal delivered the significant statement and highlighted that the conversion of Indians should cease right away, no matter where or how it transpires.
In the world of luxury fashion, brands like Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), Armani, and others are synonymous with opulence, exclusivity, and high price tags. These brands cater to a clientele that pays a premium for what they perceive as a superior quality and status symbol. However, beneath the glamorous facade lies a troubling reality: the exploitation of low paid workers who toil under harsh conditions to produce these high-end handbags at a shockingly cheap price.
A recent exposé by the Italian police, which uncovered workshops employing Chinese workers under exploitative conditions, has sent shockwaves through the global fashion industry. This revelation casts a harsh light on the darker side of luxury fashion, highlighting the human cost behind the opulent facades of high-end brands.
Over the past few months, Milan prosecutors have been investigating Dior, an LVMH company, regarding its use of third-party suppliers. A Reuters report said that these companies exploited workers who were producing bags for a very small fraction of their retail price.
According to documents investigated by police, Christian Dior paid a supplier merely $57 to produce bags worth around $2,780. These expenses exclude raw materials like leather. The prosecution alleged that Dior failed to take “appropriate measures to check the actual working conditions or the technical capabilities of the contracting companies.”
On this, Fabio Roia, president of Milan’s court system said, “Why does it cost so little to manufacture the product? The brands need to ask themselves this question.”
The conditions in these workshops were appalling, with workers enduring long hours, inadequate pay, and unsafe working environments. Many of these workers were undocumented Chinese migrants, further exacerbating their vulnerability to exploitation.
Workshops operating 24×7, workers living in deplorable conditions
The investigations carried out in March and April this year on the suppliers the suppliers, named Pelletteria Elisabetta Yang SRL, New Leather Italy SRLS, AZ Operations SRLS, and Davide Albertario Milano SRL, revealed that workers were sleeping at the production plant to meet round-the-clock manufacturing requirements. Data on electricity consumption further showed that work was getting done at night and even on holidays.
Workshop where Armani products were made in northern Italy (Image: Italy’s Carabinieri police/AP)
Moreover, the subcontractors in question were Chinese-owned businesses, with the majority of employees coming from China. The inquiry discovered that two workers were illegal immigrants, while seven others lacked the necessary documents. What is even more shocking is that safety devices on machines were removed to expedite manufacturing.
The court document said that the staff was working “in hygiene and health conditions that are below the minimum required by an ethical approach.”
The Italian authorities also probed Giorgio Armani’s contractors. Armani was also accused of failing to adequately manage its suppliers. The investigation revealed that Armani paid contractors $99 per bag for goods that retail for more than $1,900 in stores.
In reaction to these revelations, Milan judges put Dior and Armani units under judicial administration for one year which implies they will be closely scrutinised yet permitted to continue operations meanwhile.
The prosecution underlined that such labour violations are a common practice in the luxury fashion sector, employed to drive up profits. Court records referred to these acts as a “generalised and consolidated manufacturing method.”
“Made in Italy” label being used as a deception?
The “Made in Italy” label is a hallmark of quality and craftsmanship, used extensively by luxury brands to justify their high prices. However, the exposé reveals a starkly different reality. By employing Chinese workers in Italian workshops, these brands can legally use the “Made in Italy” label, despite the fact that the actual labour conditions resemble those found in sweatshops rather than artisanal ateliers. However, the practice adopted by Dior and Armani undermines the authenticity and integrity of the label, deceiving consumers who believe they are purchasing products made under fair and high-quality conditions.
Most importantly, luxury brands like Dior and Armani enjoy significant cost advantages by outsourcing production to workshops that employ cheap labour. By paying workers minimal wages and providing poor working conditions, these brands significantly reduce their production costs. This cost-saving allows them to maintain high-profit margins while keeping prices competitive. In contrast, law-abiding companies that adhere to fair labour practices and pay decent wages face higher production costs, making it difficult for them to compete on price.
This concern was also raised by Fabio Roia, the president of the Milan Court who said, “The main problem is obviously people being mistreated: applying labour laws, so health and safety, hours, pay. But there is also another huge problem: the unfair competition that pushes law-abiding firms off the market.”
Notably, Smaller and emerging brands, in particular, bear the brunt of this unfair competition. Lacking the financial clout of established luxury brands, these companies often struggle to compete on price while maintaining ethical standards. The exploitation of cheap labour by larger brands creates an uneven playing field, where smaller, ethical brands find it challenging to survive and thrive. This not only stifles innovation but also limits consumer choice by driving ethical companies out of the market.
Workers exploitation in big brands has been found before
This, however, is not the first time that workers’ exploitation in major luxury brands has been exposed. In May, a Public Eye investigation revealed that fast-fashion retailer Shein was having its suppliers work 75-hour workweeks with low compensation violating Chinese labour rules, despite the company’s commitment to discontinue the practice in 2021. The workers also turned out to be working in warehouses with fire risks. In China, it was reported in 2020 that 83 foreign and Chinese companies benefitted from the assignment of nearly 80,000 Uyghur workers to their factories under abusive labour transfer programs.
In the year 2021, Uniqlo and Zara owner Inditex came under a French investigation over forced labour abuses linked to China’s Uyghurs. Even Swedish brand H&M allegedly used similar methods in Myanmar, prompting an investigation and eventually forcing the company to close its business there.
Moreover, popular brands like Gucci, Gap, Inc., Adidas, Prada, Zara, Puma, and Fendi among others have in the past been accused of labour exploitation. A 2020 report by NYT said that major luxury brands including Dior, and Saint Laurent use Indian embroiderers for their products and pay them very small wages for the same while making huge profits out of these products.
This, however, is not limited to major fashion and footwear brands but transcends to popular tech companies, the toy industry, automotive industry among others. Back in 2011, similar allegations were made against Apple, through its supplier Foxconn in China’s Shenzhen. It was reported that seven Chinese workers at Foxconn committed suicide over deplorable working conditions. Even HP, Samsung, and Microsoft have faced worker exploitation allegations. Similarly, in the automotive industry, major companies like Volkswagen, and BMW among others have been accused of using slave labour in countries like Brazil etc.
Notably, countries like China, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam among others offer a vast pool of labour willing to work for low wages due to economic necessity. For large fashion brands, this presents an opportunity to reduce production costs significantly. By outsourcing manufacturing to regions where labour is inexpensive, brands maintain high-profit margins while selling their products at premium prices. This practice, driven by the desire to minimize costs and maximize profits, however, raises serious ethical concerns and exposes the hidden human cost of fashion.
The use of cheap labour is often hidden from consumers, who are enticed by the allure of luxury and craftsmanship. Labels like “Made in Italy” or “Made in France” evoke images of skilled artisans working in pristine ateliers, yet the reality may involve exploited workers toiling in substandard conditions, as revealed in the latest case of Dior and Armani. This deception undermines consumer trust and calls into question the authenticity and value of luxury products.
Brands must commit to greater transparency in their supply chains, ensuring that all workers are treated fairly and ethically. Moreover, consumers should also stop blindly running behind big brands for the sake of flaunting their wealth. People’s character should be their ’status symbol’ not essentially the handbags they carry, the clothes and shoes they wear. The true cost of fashion should be measured not just in dollars, but in the dignity and well-being of the people who bring these products to life.
Assam Police arrested radical Islamic preacher Mufti Mukhibur Rahman Azhari for his inflammatory statements against the authorities on Tuesday, 2nd July. He was apprehended by the Darrang district police on the directives of Director General of Police G P Singh after a provocative video of the accused went viral on social media which included a demand for a violent protest against the Lakhimpur police station and the superintendent of police.
Azhari planned for the gherao (encirclement) of the Lakhimpur Police Station on 6th July and made threats to organize large agitations to cause disruptions to daily life in the state between 6th and 10th July.
Mufti Mukibur Rahman Azhari from Assam calls for violence in the State after a man pleaded not to kill Gauvansh during Eid, Mufti arrested.
Darrang, Assam: Police detained controversial Islamist Mufti Mukibur Rahman Azhari from Assam following provocative comments and… pic.twitter.com/QLRGsIDTJJ
The remarks transpired after an Islamic cleric Mustafa Kamal previously appealed that cow sacrifice is not required by Islam and noted that while sacrifice is significant, it was never stated in Islam that cows should be the sole animals sacrificed. Islamists in Assam disapproved and condemned the cleric’s comments. Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika also expressed his outrage over threats made by Mufti Mukibur Rahman Azhari in a social media post.
Minister Hazarika wrote, “All this because during Eid, a person from the minority community had appealed to the people not to sacrifice cows. It is unimaginable that such a benign appeal could flare hatred that he is now challenging Assam Police in a live video and calling for violence Is this where Assam is going today?”
Look at the audacity!
This person belonging to a special community is giving Open Threat to gherao Lakhimpur Police Station on July 6. He is also threatening to come out with large number of people from July 6 to 10 and disrupt normal life.
The mufti during a Facebook live session was heard declaring that he would gherao Lakhimpur police station and the residence of that “devil” (Mustafa Kamal) between the 6th and 10th of July, and boasted that many others voiced their intention to join him. Mukhibur Rahman Azhari announced, “I’m eager to find out how brave that person is. I came in for a live session since I received a call from someone at Uttar Lakhimpur Police Station today. During the break, I will give you his phone number. He enquired as to my identity. I was asked not to come on the 6th. I replied that if you were the OC (officer in charge), you could have my word that I would show up on the day, Insha’allah.”
The radical Islamist further challenged that even a phone call from the SP (Superintendent of Police) or DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) wouldn’t be able to suspend his plans.
Abusing Mustafa Kamal, he said, “I would still go Insha’allah. That man has started this game and it is his last. I would put an end to the game. I work very hard to propagate Islam. Now, you insult Islam? You abuse Rasool (Prophet Muhammad). He pronounced Rasool to be Shaitaan. I’ll leave even if they cut my legs or break my hands. I’ll go, no matter which police he calls. I earn 3 to 4 lakh a month. This man only earns through RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). He can file a case for defamation, but it is true. He had met a Bangladeshi atheist also. He is 100% RSS.”
Azhari once again reiterated that nothing would be able to prevent him from launching a jihadi agitation at the police station and alleged, “The affront to Islam and our Rasool is intolerable to me. I will wage a war and protest. You can show my video to the SP. But I will protest according to the constitution. I will create a disturbance. The constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar has granted us the freedom to believe in the Hadith, the Quran, Allah, and Rasool.”
“Who granted him permission? Which RSS provided him permission to disparage our Nabi and Quran? I’m going to grab hold of him. If you disrespect Islam, the Quran, Rasool, or Nabi, we won’t sit silently. We’re not going to be idle. Assam is not your father’s property. I’ll travel to your city and to your area to assess your level of bravery,” Azhari threatened Mustafa Kamal.
Law authorities acted swiftly as the incendiary video gained popularity on social media and arrested Mufti Mukibur Rahman Azhari on 2nd July. The Dhula police station opened case 97/24 against him which has been brought before the Mangaldoi court. In an effort to prevent any more disturbance, authorities are also keeping a close eye on the situation.
In a recent twist of events, the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) notice to Hindenburg Research revealed significant details about how the Adani Group was targeted. The revelations involved Kingdon Capital, which allegedly used Kotak Mahindra Bank to short-sell Adani. Hindenburg’s response to SEBI has disclosed that Hindenburg and Kingdon Capital partnered to orchestrate a strategic move against Adani Group and benefitted from short-selling Adani stocks.
The disclosure has put a spotlight on Kingdon Capital, its founder Mark Kingdon and the complex financial manoeuvres in play. Kotak has however denied the allegations.
Offshore fund and investment manoeuvres
The focal point of the scrutiny is that on Kingdon Capital’s recommendation, Kotal Mahindra Bank created an offshore fund named the Kingdon India Opportunity Fund. It served as a critical vehicle for Kingdon Capital to engage in short selling of Adani Group’s shares.
It has come to light that the creation and utilisation of this fund was part of sophisticated strategies employed by Kingdon Capital to leverage financial markets to their advantage. Kotal Mahindra Bank facilitated this offshore fund which further complicates the narrative and prompts questions about the bank’s involvement and due diligence processes. The implications of these manoeuvres extend beyond just financial gains for the stakeholders involved and touch upon regulatory, ethical, and geopolitical dimensions.
Here’s a huge smoking gun in the sordid episode of the short sale of #Adani shares by #Hindenburg. Pursuant to #SEBI's notice to Hindenburg, the following facts emerge: 1. Hindenburg – a research agency – was hired by American businessman #MarkKingdon to prepare a report on the… https://t.co/yar0uEuarm
As pointed out by Mahesh Jethmalani, Kingdon India Opportunity Fund took large short positions in Adani shares through the Mauritius route before the Hindenburg report was published. The Rajya Sabha MP disclosed that funds amounting to $40 million were provided by Kingdon’s Master Fund, owned by the Kingdon family.
The man behind Kingdon Capital
Mark Kingdon is the founder and owner of Kingdon Capital. He is a prominent figure in the investment community. Kingdon’s background and connections add layers of complexity to the story that has been unfolding for the last week. Anla Cheng, a Chinese American woman, is the wife of Mark Kingdon. She is a senior partner at the private equity firm Sino-Century and the founder of the New York-based news platform SupChina.
Her career includes significant roles in investment banking including her tenure at at Robert Fleming & Co. and her positions on the Committee of 100 and the board of the Columbia Global Centers, East Asia. The affiliations that Cheng has can be attributed to Kingdon Capital as an extension at the intersection of influential financial, cultural, and geopolitical networks. This background raises questions about potential influences and interests shaping Kingdon Capital’s strategies and actions in global markets.
Investigations and allegations
Notably, Anla Cheng is facing an investigation by the US Senate for her involvement with SupChina which has now been renamed to The China Project. The focus of the investigation is on the allegations that SubChina harboured Chinese Communist Party agents, raising serious concerns about foreign influence and espionage.
The investigation against Cheng began in 2022. It cast a shadow over her professional activities, and by extension, the operations of Kingdon Capital’s operations. The possible implications of the allegations against Cheng are far-reaching as they touch upon issues of national security, economic espionage, and the integrity of financial markets. The investigation’s outcomes could have significant ramifications for Cheng, Kingdon Capital, and their associated networks.
The Haifa Port Deal: A possible motive
There is one critical element to the narrative which revolves around the Hafia Port Deal which Adani Group won. Hafia Port is located in Israel. Adani Ports and Israel’s Gadot outbid Chinese competitors for this strategic port privatization deal. The Adani Group’s victory to take control of the port defeating the Chinese represents a significant geopolitical and economic win for India and a corresponding loss for China. Haifa is one of the largest sea ports in Israel.
This development has fueled the speculation that the attack on Adani Stocks could be a retaliatory action by China using a short-selling campaign against the business group. The Haifa port deal is not just a commercial victory; it strengthens India-Israel business ties and enhances India’s strategic position in the region.
The possibility of China using its position in the financial markets and partnerships with entities like Kingdon Capital to retaliate against Adani highlights the interconnectedness of global business, finance, and geopolitics.
Speculation and retaliation
It has to be noted that so far, it is just speculation that there might be a connection between Kingdon Capital, Hindenburg Research, and the broader geopolitical context involving China and Adani Group. However, the speculations are compelling. The theory that China might be using financial manoeuvres as retaliation for losing the Haifa port deal is plausible. However, it requires in-depth investigation. There is a need for thorough analysis and transparency in uncovering the full scope of these activities. As more information becomes available, the motivations and implications of these actions will likely become clearer.
The revelations about Kingdon Capital’s involvement in short-selling Adani Group shares using offshore funds by Kotak Mahindra Bank and the ongoing investigations into Anla Cheng’s activities dive into a complex and multifaceted story. It highlights how complex and sophisticated the high-stakes financial strategies are and how they can have long-term effects on geopolitics. Notably, since Hinderburg initiated an attack on Adani Group, the business house has found itself in the defensive mode as it has to come up with explanations to counter the long list of allegations against it.
Questions that need answers
After these revelations, several questions have emerged that need answers. First is how the Kotal Mahindra Bank’s collaboration with Kingdon Capita took place, and who facilitated it. The Hindenbard report was amplified by a larger number of politicians, and it is needed to whether they were party to the conspiracy. It will be interesting to know whether Kotak Mahindra went ahead with the tie-up with Kingdon Capital even after known the China connection and the probe in the USA.
On 3rd June, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani said that the results of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 were the outcome of strategic voting by minorities, specifically Muslims, aimed at defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He asserted that the General Election results rejected the politics of “hatred and communalism” and attributed the outcome to the “wise voting” by the Muslim community. He said, “Had the voters not voted wisely, the results could have been different,” he said.
Madani emphasised that the parties, particularly the Congress Party, have the moral duty to “protect the constitution and democracy” while “fighting for the rights of the oppressed minorities”. He also lauded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav for their “secular stance”. He claimed that it was their so-called secular stance that garnered trust and support from the “secular-minded” voters. He also claimed that Muslims are “patriots” and they love the country more than their lives.
According to Madani, there has been a systematic effort to render the Muslim votes ineffective in the elections and marginalise the community altogether. However, the recent elections, according to him, saw Muslims voting en-masse to “uphold secularism, democracy and the constitution.” He highlighted the need for “secular parties” to continue their struggle for the rights of the Muslim community both inside and outside the Parliament.
Madani pointed out that there is a declining trend of Muslim representation in parliament and legislative assemblies. He claimed that it could be attributed partly to the ‘strategic’ reservation of Muslim-majority constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Reflecting on the 2021 meeting with RSS Chief
In stark contrast to the recent statements by Madani, he had praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its chief, Mohan Bhagwat in 2021. At that time, he had welcomed Bhagwat’s comments on the shared ancestry of Hindus and Muslims in India and suggested that RSS was moving towards a more inclusive ideology.
According to reports, Madani said that he likes the statement made by Mohan Bhagwat. He said that in India, there are Gurjar, Rajputs and Jats, for example, amongst Hindus and Muslims both, therefore, there is nothing wrong in saying that Hindus and Muslims in India share the same ancestry. He is further claimed to have said that RSS is “changing its old ideology and is now on the right track”.
Arshad Madani believes Taliban is “good”
Arshad Madani, the principal of Darul Uloom Deoband who is also president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind doesn’t believe the Taliban as a terror outfit, and, he adorns Taliban and Talibanis as freedom fighters. In an exclusive interview given to the Dainik Bhaskar, Madani said that if fighting against subjugation is terrorism then by this logic Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Hazrat Shekhuddin were also terrorists.
It must be noted that the Taliban is believed to have drawn inspiration from the Deobandi movement which originated in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband. As the Taliban has come to conquer Afghanistan a large number of Muslim scholars, politicians and leftist media are trying for the makeover the image of the Taliban as ‘Good Taliban.’ “Anybody fighting against subjugation we don’t consider them as a terrorist. We clap if the Taliban are fighting for independence because everybody has the right to independence. If this is terrorism then Gandhi, Nehru and Shekhuddin were also terrorists, all those who fought against the British government were terrorists,” Dainik Bhaskar quoted Madani saying.
On 3rd July, the Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court that the 2024 Kallakurichi hooch tragedy cannot be compared to the two 2023 hooch tragedies at Chithamur in Chengalpattu district and Marakkanam in Villupuram district because the methanol source and quantity were different. Notably, the report was submitted following the court’s request for a thorough action report on the subject during the hearing of appeals for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation.
Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena stated in a status report submitted to the first Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice R. Mahadevan and Mohammed Shaffiq that the methanol content in the samples was found to be 99.1% in the 2023 instances while it was only between 8.6% and 29.7% in Kallakurchi. The report alleged that within five days of the incident, 21 people including six retail sellers, seven transporters, and eight suppliers as well as assistants had been taken into custody. Furthermore, around 700 litres of illegal goods were nabbed and three First Information Reports were filed in relation to the matter while 132 witnesses were questioned.
He claimed that the government formed a one-man commission led by a retired judge to look into the matter and district officials were either suspended or transferred in the wake of the tragedy in Kallakurichi. A bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act was introduced and passed in the assembly to raise the length of imprisonment and fine for offenders.
Speaking about the actions the government took in response to the 2023 occurrences, the Chief Secretary claimed that widespread raids against fake alcohol and illegal arrack were carried out throughout the state, resulting in the arrest of 95 additional people as of May of this year and 159 people in 2023. He also enumerated the steps performed since 2021 to combat offences against the restriction.
The Chief Secretary, meanwhile, also disagreed with the demand for a CBI inquiry, arguing that the Crime Investigation Department’s (CID) investigation had already advanced sufficiently. A Central Bureau of Investigation investigation into the hooch tragedy, which claimed at least 65 lives, was sought by attorneys representing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in a court filing. Shiv Das Meena claimed, “Transfer of the case to the CBI is not to be resorted to routinely but only to be used in rare circumstances where the investigation was found by the courts to have failed.”
The Chief Secretary refuted the charges that despite the local AIADMK MLA’s complaints about illicit brewing in the area prior to the occurrence, no action was taken to avert the catastrophe, asserting that no records on the matter could be located despite searching numerous station houses and local authorities for a considerable amount of time. However, later information from the assembly disclosed that the speaker had turned down a calling attention motion that the MLA had submitted.
According to Shiv Das Meena, the speaker rejected a call attention motion made by AIADMK Kallakurichi MLA M. Senthilkumar on 29th March 2023, concerning the sale of counterfeit alcohol. As a result, the issue was not brought up in the Legislative Assembly and no notice of it was given to the relevant authorities. He defended the speaker and claimed, “Kallakurichi MLA had sought the permission of the Hon’ble Speaker to move an Attention Notice in the Tamil Nadu assembly. It appears that the same had been disallowed, and hence the matter was never discussed in the Assembly, nor was notice of it received by the government authorities.”
He further added, “Hundreds of Call Attention Motions are submitted to the Assembly Secretariat and the Hon’ble Speaker, depending on the seriousness and accuracy of the information that permits discussions. When the rest are rejected, the government hardly ever receives information unless the Hon’ble Speaker forwards it. In this case, as stated above, it was not done.”
The report was submitted in response to two public interest litigation petitions asking for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation that were filed by Pattali Makkal Katchi counsel K. Balu and AIADMK advocate I.S. Inbadurai. Following the submission of the status report by State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohamed Jinnah, Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran requested an extension for Advocate General P.S. Raman’s attendance as he was unable to appear in court since his mother Kalpakam Raman had died earlier on the same day, according to the AAG.
The justices granted his plea and postponed the hearing on the two PIL petitions until 10th July (22nd July per other reports). Meanwhile, lawyer A. Mohan Doss also requested a CBI investigation into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in a separate Public Interest Litigation filed in the High Court. On 18th June, a hooch tragedy occurred in Karunapuram hamlet in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, resulting in at least 65 deaths and 118 hospitalizations.
In a disturbing incident, two bridges in Saran district collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the state of Bihar. Now there are 9 such incidents reported in the last 15 days in the state. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported in the latest incidents of bridge collapse. As per the reports, both the bridges that collapsed on July 3rd were constructed over the Gandaki River.
The collapse of both bridges has reportedly hampered the connection between multiple villages, hurting local businesses and also hampering access to critical services such as schools and hospitals. One of the bridges that collapsed yesterday was built in the year 2004 near a British-era bridge.
Image- Daini kBhasker
Locals stated that riverbank cleaning was underway, and once completed, water was dumped into the river, coinciding with the bridge collpase. People who were present at the spot captured the incident on their cell phones and posted it on social media.
The second bridge, also on the Gandaki River, is said to be over 100 years old and collapsed due to excessive rain during the monsoon season. Given this, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding a structural audit of the bridges built in the state. 12 bridges have collapsed in the last two years in Bihar, posing danger to the lives of civilians.
A two-person team, led by the Sub-Divisional Officer and an engineer from the Flood Department, has been constituted to investigate the incident. Saran District Magistrate Aman Sameer remarked that the team will submit their views within 24 hours, following which a complete report will be provided to the state government.
Several similar incidents of bridge collapse have happened in districts like Madhubani, Siwan, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj recently. A small bridge connecting several villages with Mahrajganj in the district’s Deoria block also collapsed on July 3rd.
“The incident took place around 5 am. As per initial information, the bridge was constructed in 1982-83. Repair work was going on the bridge for the last few days,” Deputy Development Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said confirming the incident.
On June 22nd, a portion of a bridge collapsed in the Darounda area of Siwan. This came 4 days after a bridge collapse was reported from the Araria district.
On June 18, a large segment of an 182-meter bridge fell in Sikti, Araria. The bridge, built for Rs 12 crore, had recently been completed. Only approach roads on either side had to be built before its opening.
On March 22nd, one labourer was killed and eight others injured when three slabs of an under-construction bridge over the Kosi River in Supaul collapsed. The 10.5-kilometer-long bridge, valued at more than Rs 1,200 crore, is to be built between Bakour in Supaul and Bheja in Madhubani.
The state has also issued red alerts in around 17 cities given heavy rainfall. People in the state have been advised to stay at their homes.
A lot has changed in Jammu and Kashmir. The region mired in violence, stone pelting and anti-India protests is now witnessing an unprecedented wave of development, peace and prosperity after the abrogation of Article 370. However, the agony of those who ruled Jammu and Kashmir for many years after independence is yet to subside.
In an interview with leftist propaganda portal The Wire on 2nd July, Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader and Srinagar’s newly-elected MP Ruhullah Mehdi almost threatened the Indian government that “the anger of Kashmiris over Article 370 removal” can erupt anytime in the future just as it did 40 years after independence.
In a nearly 44-minute long interview with The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Ruhullah Mehdi made several remarks that sounded like furtherance of the Pakistani narrative and whitewashing of Islamic terrorism instead of ‘concerns’ of a common Kashmiri. Before delving into what all Ruhullah Mehdi said in the interview, it is interesting to mention that it is the same JKNC MP who in his maiden parliamentary speech last week claimed that Article 370 was abrogated by the Parliament within half an hour. He was, however, schooled by the Lok Sabha speaker that the bill to repeal Article 370 was discussed for nine and a half hours before its passage.
Ruhullah Mehdi cherrypicks incidents of violence to play the “Musalmaan Khatre Mein Hai” narrative
In the backdrop of the BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri’s offensive remarks against the then BSP MP Danish Ali in Lok Sabha last year wherein Bidhuri called the latter a “terrorist” and was later made to apologise, Ruhullah Mehdi asserted that common Muslims and other ‘oppressed’ minorities are being targeted. The JKNC MP talked about an incident wherein a Dalit boy was allegedly beaten for drinking water from a tap in a temple. He also asserted that Muslims are being “mob lynched”. Sikhs are called Khalistanis when they seek their rights and Christians when they step out to do ‘social work’ are called “missionaries” converting people to Christianity.
“Is this what we created this country for? Is this what we gave our blood for and continue to do so?” Mehdi said.
While violence against anyone for their caste or religious identity is condemnable, the Srinagar MP did not talk about the incident wherein a Brahmin youth was brutally thrashed by Dalits and made to drink urine. Will Ruhullah dare to raise his voice for Praveen Nettaru who was killed by PFI’s Islamic terrorists? Is it not true that during the farmer’s protest, some people raised pro-Khalistan slogans and wore T-shirts featuring slain Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale? Is it not true that there are several Christian missionaries operating in different states in the barb of ‘Changai Sabha’ converting poor and vulnerable people by misleading them with false promises of cure and financial bribery?
Even the Allahabad High Court recently said if religious conversions at such congregations continue, the majority Hindu community would be reduced to a minority. Not a day goes by when a Love Jihad case is not reported but such incidents are not much discussed and often dismissed by the Islamist-sympathising ecosystem as “hoax”, “fiction” and “propaganda against Muslims”. But Ruhullah Mehdi will not demand justice for the victims of Love Jihad since it doesn’t suit his narrative.
It is notable that Pakistani political leaders also peddle the same narrative that the minorities particularly Muslims, who actually form the second largest religious majority are under threat from the ‘Hindu majoritarian’ government. Mehdi’s comments advertently or inadvertently give an apparent push to this sinister narrative aimed at furthering fissures in Indian society.
Ruhullah Mehdi downplays the 1990 Kashmiri Hindu Genocide as “Haadsa”
During the interview, when Arfa Khanum Sherwani asked about Ruhullah Mehdi’s ‘secular’ stand, the JKNC leader said that Kashmir is secular and that just one “Haadsa” [accident] and that even Muslims were killed during the militancy in those days.
“Kashmir is secular but the way attempts are being made to mould it in the last 10 years, Kashmir is not like that. An accident happened in the early 1990s when [Kashmiri] Pandits had to leave their homes due to the fear of guns. Situations were created and they had to leave their homes…their killings should not have happened but even Muslims were killed…” Mehdi said.
No Ruhullah! It was not a “Haadsa”, it was a well-planned killing and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus. It did not happen all of a sudden but the hatred against non-Muslims (Kafirs) was being instilled in the local Kashmiri youth since the 1960s by JeI. Notably, during the exodus, lakhs of Kashmiri Hindus were forced to flee their valley literally overnight, abandoning all of their belongings. Mosques made declarations urging Kashmiri Hindu men to flee the valley, leaving their women behind. The chants ‘convert (to Islam), leave or die’ (Raliv, Galiv, Chaliv) echoed across the valley. Mosques also played inflammatory slogans like Kashmir mei agar rehna hai, Allah-O-Akbar kehna hai’ (If you want to stay in Kashmir, you have to say Allah-O-Akbar); ‘Yahan kya chalega, Nizam-e-Mustafa’ (What do we want here? Rule of Shariah); ‘Asi gachchi Pakistan, Batao roas te Batanev san’ (We want Pakistan along with Hindu women but without their men).
It was not a “Haadsa”, (mishap). Calling the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from their motherland a “Haadsa”, is sinister and ridicules their pain, especially coming from someone claiming to be a victim of terrorism. Apparently, such people want to discuss terrorism but not the root cause of it, by selectively highlighting the killings of some local Muslims during the 1990s, they want the people not to know that the Islamists orchestrated terrorism in the valley to establish what they call “Nizam-e-Mustafa.”
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)’s Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, a notorious Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorist who waged war against the Indian state for decades was a local Kashmiri born in Srinagar.
Notably, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) has played a significant role in shaping the political and militant landscape of Kashmir. Founded in 1941, JeI is an Islamist terrorist organisation that aims for the establishment of “Nizam-e-Mustafa”, an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. This was the vision of JeI’s founder Maulana Abul A’la Maududi, a hardcore Islamist who advocated for a theocratic state where Islamic laws and principles would govern all aspects of life. JeI’s establishment in Kashmir can be traced back to the socio-political upheavals in the region during the mid-20th century.
The local chapter, Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir (JeI-JK) became a significant vehicle for spreading Maududi’s venomous ideology. JeI-JK set up numerous educational institutions, including schools and madrasas, aimed at instilling Maududi’s ideological principles among the youth. These institutions provided religious education that emphasized the need for an Islamic state and governance. The organisation’s political wing engaged in local elections and used its platform to advocate for an Islamic Sharia rule. The Jamaat contested the 1987 elections as a part of the Muslim United Front (MUF), however, it failed to do well. There were allegations of rigging. Jamaat’s political failure gave rise to terrorism in Kashmir and during the 1990s, its Pakistan-backed armed wing Hizbul Mujahidin headed by Syed Salahuddin became active in the valley. Notably, following the heinous terror assault in Pulwama, the union government banned Jamaat-e-Islami on 28th February 2019.
While hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits were killed by Islamic terrorists during the 1990s, Ruhullah Mehdi has the audacity to dub their killings as mere “Haadsa”. Mehdi kept emphasising as to how concerned he is for the Kashmiri Pandits, however, not once did he talk about Pakistan’s role in the terrorism in Kashmir especially during the 1990s.
Ruhullah Mehdi says incidents shown in film The Kashmir Files never happened
The JKNC leader claimed that in the last ten years, a large section of the majority community has been prepared to become thirsty for the blood of Muslims. He went on to claim that whatever is shown in the film The Kashmir Files is not true. Mehdi should answer, that what exactly is not true. Was a Government Girls High School lab assistant Girja Tikoo not gangraped for many days by five Islamists? Was she not sliced to pieces by those terrorists at a sawmill? Was there no Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate? Were no Raliv Galiv Chaliv announcements were made?
Ironically, Ruhullah Mehdi belongs to the same political party that ruled Jammu and Kashmir just before Islamic terror was unleashed on Kashmiri Pandits. Farooq Abdullah was re-sworn in as Chief Minister in an NC-Congress coalition government in November 1986, following the infamous Rajiv-Farooq Accord. In mid-June 1988, spontaneous protests took place demanding a commitment to Islamise Kashmir through the enforcement of Shariah law.
Between July and December 1989, Farooq Abdullah’s government freed 70 hardline Pakistan-trained terrorists. Is Ruhullah Mehdi downplaying the massacre of Kashmiri Pandits to whitewash the role of Farooq Abdullah?
Mehdi also lamented how ‘journalists’ and several political ‘activists’ were arrested after the abrogation of Article 370, however, he did not talk about why they were arrested. OpIndia earlier reported that such ‘journalists’ like Fahad Shah, Aasif Sultan, Majid Hyderi, and Sajad Gul among others were arrested over allegations of glorifying terrorism and terrorists like Burhan Wani and involvement in other anti-India activities. A detailed report on these ‘journalists’ and their alleged anti-India activities can be read here.
Ruhullah Mehdi refuses to accept Supreme Court verdict on Article 370
When The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani asked Mehdi about what is left in the Article 370 abrogation issue since the Supreme Court has “settled” it, Mehdi said that one Supreme Court judgement is not acceptable to him. He said that before the final verdict, the Supreme Court had said that Article 370 which conferred the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and limited the Centre’s powers to make laws for J&K, had become a “permanent feature”. “If three judgements are not sufficient for the BJP and its like-minded parties, one judgment is not enough for us…,” Mehdi said.
It is worth recalling that on 11th December 2023, a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud upheld the Modi government’s decision to abrogate Article 370. CJI Chandrachud held that Jammu and Kashmir does not hold any internal sovereignty after accession to the Union of India. CJI said that Article 370 was a temporary provision, and it was introduced to serve a transitional purpose to serve an interim process.
While it is shocking that a person elected to the Lok Sabha in a democratic election refuses to accept the Supreme Court verdict, the least shocking part is Arfa not confronting him for disregarding the Judiciary.
Ruhullah Mehdi’s refusal to accept the Supreme Court’s verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is not just a political statement but a challenge to the rule of law and judicial authority in India. His stand also aligns with the Pakistani narrative that the abrogation of Article 370 is ‘illegitimate’, politicises judicial decisions, and risks destabilising the already fragile social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.
By rejecting the Supreme Court’s verdict, Mehdi lends credence to Pakistan’s claims, which can be exploited by Pakistan to further its agenda on the international stage. While Kashmir may have not become a “Utopia” after the removal of Article 370, it is gradually moving towards peace and all-round development, however, raking up the Article 370 issue again seems like an attempt to incite public unrest, fuel separatist sentiments, and deepen existing divisions within society. This can be detrimental to the broader interests of India and its efforts to foster peace and development in the region.
Ruhullah Mehdi calls for fight against ‘Hindutva extremism’
The newly-elected MP from Srinagar said that if the opposition parties have to fight the ‘Hindutva extremism’ they need to talk about and stand with Muslims. Amusingly, Mehdi conveniently labelled Hindutva as an ‘extremist’ ideology but he did not dare to call the terrorists who perpetrated violence against Kashmiri Pandits out of their hatred for non-Muslims as “Islamic extremists”.
Kashmir’s anger came out 40 years after independence, it will happen again: JKNC MP Ruhullah Mehdi threatens Indian government of 1980s-90s-like violence again
Typically, Arfa Khanum Sherwani’s interviews for The Wire appear to be two clowns sitting together and vying to see who can be funnier; however, the interview with Ruhullah Mehdi is unsettling.
In the backdrop of the recent incidents of terror attacks including the attack on Hindu pilgrims in Reasi, Mehdi asserted that ‘militancy’ has not ended in the region. He said that much like the removal of Article 370, back in 1953, a similar thing was done by Congress when Kashmir’s autonomy was snatched. “For the next 40 years, nothing happened and everyone was of the opinion that Kashmiri was settled and there was no anger, no protests but later their anger burst,” Mehdi said.
Completely dismissing the role of the banned Jamaat -e- Islami throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s to nurture Maududi's jihadi mindset, the two-nation theory and the unfinished business of the Partition in the minds of a population in an era sans technology, social media, 24/7… https://t.co/KoZtXMkB9s
Mehdi’s comments imply that the anti-India protests, calls for the Islamisation of Jammu and Kashmir, the radicalisation of Kashmiri youth as well as the anti-Hindu atrocities were the outburst of the ‘anger’ of Kashmiris over their ‘autonomy’ being snatched 40 years ago. By saying so Mehdi blatantly whitewashed the horrific crimes of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizbul Mujahideen and all the Islamists that burnt the valley for their own extremist agenda.
At one point Ruhullah said that he is not an advocate of Pakistan, however, Pakistan does not essentially need to send its advocates here when it has its stooges peddling its sinister narrative just for narrow political gains.
Ruhullah Mehdi went on to warn the Indian government saying that a similar situation is prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir and in the coming decades there will be violence in the valley again. “…So do not get fooled, what we did in 2019 and the [peaceful] situation in Kashmir is permanent. I am afraid of the way that anger burst after 40 years now I don’t know when will it happen now…We have made a wound which can burst anytime and when it happens it will not be good for you…I am warning… the people of Jammu and Kashmir have a sense of defeat and this silence is not good…” Mehdi said.
On one hand Ruhullah Mehdi says he wants peace in Jammu and Kashmir on the other he does not want people to move on from Article 370 and join the Indian mainstream. Similarly, Mehdi wants to be the voice of ‘oppressed minorities’ but downplays the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s and dismisses Islamic terrorism as “anger of people”. Apparently, this time the strategy may have changed, however, the ‘Maqsad’ remains the same.
By suggesting that the current alleged “anger” is akin to the terrorism unleashed in the 1980s-90s, Mehdi implicitly legitimises violence as a response to supposed political grievances. This will also embolden Islamists and separatist groups who thrive on unrest and conflict. It is an attempt to fuel passions and could lead to an escalation in tensions, ultimately resulting in violence.
