On Monday (24th June), Nripendra Misra, the chairman of the Ram Temple Construction Committee, clarified that there is no design or construction issue in response to priest Satyendra Das’ claims of water leakage in Ram Mandir. Notably, several users have made misleading claims and allegations on social media platforms based on the claims made by chief priest Satyendra Das.
Misra dismissed the allegations of a “design or construction issue” and attributed the seepage to ongoing construction work.
Speaking with news agency ANI, Misra said, “I am in Ayodhya. I saw the rainwater dropping from the first floor. This is expected because Guru Mandap is exposed to the sky as the second floor and completion of Shikhar will cover this opening.”
In a statement to ANI, Sri Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman, Nripendra Mishra speaks on the alleged water leakage at the Shri Ram Temple; and says, "I am in Ayodhya. I saw the rainwater dropping from the first floor. This is expected because Guru Mandap is exposed to… pic.twitter.com/nwY9qGXTJ9
He added, “I also saw some seepage from the conduit as this work on the first floor is in progress. On completion, the conduit will be closed.”
Misra also dismissed concerns about drainage issues in the Sanctum Santorum. He stressed that the Mandap has a proper slope for clearance of water and noted that water in the Mandap is manually absorbed. Additionally, devotees don’t perform jal Abhishek, he added.
He further told ANI, “There is no drainage in the Sanctum Santorum because all the Mandaps have measured slope for clearance of water and the water in Sanctum Santorum is manually absorbed. Moreover, the devotees are not performing Abhishek on the deity. There is no design or construction issue. The Mandaps which are open may get rainwater drops which was debated but the decision was to keep them open as per Nagar architectural norms.”
Earlier, the chief priest of the Ram Mandir, Acharya Satyendra Das, said that water leakage was observed in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum and other areas just after the first monsoon rains.
Speaking with ANI, Acharya Satyendra Das said, “During the first rain, the roof of the sanctum sanctorum where the idol of Ram Lalla resides began to leak.”
He added that attention should be paid to this issue and what caused it. There’s no way for rainwater to drain out of the temple. If the rain intensifies, it could disrupt prayer services.
In another interview with PTI, Das said, “It is very surprising. So many engineers are here and the Pran Pratishtha was held on January 22, but water is leaking from the roof. Nobody would’ve thought this.”
Congress leaders and netizens make misleading claims and brazen defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations in the construction of Ram Mandir based on the Chief priest’s claims
While Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Misra clarified and addressed concerns raised by chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das, several netizens and Congress leaders began spreading misleading claims, as well as defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations, to undermine the construction of the Ram Mandir, which represents the culmination of a five-century-long struggle.
An X user named Ritu alleged shortcomings in the Ram Mandir construction. She wrote, “This is the pathetic condition of the newly constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. How water is leaking from the rooftop. Painful to watch this…No words.”
This is the pathetic condition of the newly constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. How water is leaking from the roof top. Painful to watch this No words. https://t.co/VgZOCbJgbipic.twitter.com/7f9X52FHcO
Some users had even alleged ‘corruption’ in the Mandir construction.
Wow corruption even in Shri Ram Mandir construction??? ??????
— Meera ??❤️ (#MainBhiKejriwal) (@Mystic_Soul25) June 24, 2024
22 January 2024 is etched in the annals of Bharatvarsh’s glorious history after Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratishtha concluded in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. PM Modi performed the consecration ceremony, reinstalling Ram Lalla to his rightful abode after 496 long agonising years.
FMCG major, Britannia Industries Limited, is all set to shut down its historic factory in Taratala, Kolkata which has been operational for more than seven decades. The biscuit-manufacturing giant recently informed the stock exchanges – BSE and NSE – that all permanent workers at its Taratala factory in Kolkata had accepted the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) offered to them.
Notably, the Taratala factory is the second oldest factory in India, following the one in Mumbai. It was established in 1947.
Earlier on 20th June 2024, the company stated, “This is to inform that a Voluntary Retirement Scheme offered by the Company to the workers at its factory situated at Taratala, Kolkata, West Bengal has been accepted by all the permanent workers of the aforementioned factory of the Company.”
This is not good news – we need industries in Bengal – it’s a state which has good labour power – they need more jobs .. pic.twitter.com/mQurhWdLUW
“There is no material impact on the business operations of the Company,” the company added in the regulatory filing.
According to reports, management has also initiated discussions with contractual workers regarding VRS. The closure of the Taratala factory is expected to impact approximately 150 employees. This decision comes as Britannia Industries confronts economic viability challenges. It follows the earlier shutdowns of Britannia’s older factories in Mumbai and Chennai.
Sources said the company has directly negotiated an agreement on the VRS with the employees and depending upon the period of service left, permanent employees have been offered severance packages ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹22 lakh besides gratuity and PF.
According to sources, the management has indicated to the employees that the plant, which makes biscuits under brands such as Good Day, Milk Bikis and Cream Cracker, has become old.
Sources stated that the FMCG firm renewed the lease for the 11-acre plot in 2018 and that runs till 2048. However, the company found it cost-efficient to continue production at the unit. Although the factory has not been shut down, sources indicated that management is considering returning part of the land to the SMPT (formerly Calcutta Port Trust), which owns the plot. Meanwhile, several netizens have claimed that it is akin to the Tata Nano exit from the state and slammed the governance model of the state government led by TMC for the state’s economic loss.
Make bombs and baby-jihad, not cars and biscuits. After the landmark Tata Nano fiasco, the iconic #Britannia factory is shutting down in West Bengal. Disaster after economic disaster. My state’s spiral into doom fills me with shame, anger, and sadness. pic.twitter.com/MoRAyGMPBq
— Shashank Shekhar Jha (@shashank_ssj) June 24, 2024
The iconic Britannia factory on Taratala shut down its operation. This is nothing new for West Bengal now. No new industry happening, and even the current ones are shutting down. Egiye Bangla ! pic.twitter.com/FDHTCuPZRa
Britannia Industries, one of India’s leading food companies, considers Bengal its third-largest market, generating over Rs 900 crore in revenue. In addition to its Kolkata plant, Britannia operates facilities in Bihar, Odisha, and Assam. In 2016, the company announced plans for a second unit in Bengal, intending to start operations by 2018. However, despite scouting locations in the state, the plan did not materialize. Instead, the company inaugurated its Assam plant in 2018 and recently established a second unit in Bihar in December 2023.
Notably, Britannia is not the first company to exit West Bengal over anti-business policies and attitude of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. Earlier, Tata Group left the state over controversies surrounding the Tata Nano plant in Singur.
Back in 2006, the erstwhile Left Front government in Bengal had acquired around 1,000 acres of land in Singur and Hooghly. Subsequently, it handed it over to Tata Motors to build a Tata Nano manufacturing facility for job creation in the state.
However, the land acquisition was opposed by the then opposition leader and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the current Chief Minister of West Bengal. As a result, Tata Motors had to shelve the Singur project but by then it had already invested over Rs 1,000 crore in the Singur plant.
The automobile major later shifted to Gujarat and set up a plant in Sanand for manufacturing the Tata Nano. Tata Motors inaugurated a new plant to manufacture its Nano cars in Sanand in June 2010 almost two years after it was forced to shift the plant out of West Bengal because of Mamata Banerjee-led protest against the land acquisition.
The Tata Nano’s Sanand plant was inaugurated by the then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi along with Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata.
On Monday, 24th June, Khadak Police Station in the Pune district of Maharashtra booked 9 Islamists identified as Atul Khan, Salman Sheikh, Sultan Sheikh, Aslam Patel, Asif Sheikh, and 4 others for a deadly attack on a Hindu Dalit activist. The accused mobilised ruffians and attacked Akshay, breaking his thumb and leaving him severely injured. The accused persons are said to have attacked Dhavre given his claimed association with the BJP. The victim also works as a Hindu-Dalit activist and is known for raising his voice against Islamists in the region.
The sections imposed by the Police on the accused persons are 307, 324, 323, 143, 147, 148 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, sections 4 and 25 of the Arms Act, 1959; sections 37(1), 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 and sections 3(1)(2) and 3(1)(10) of the SC/ST Act, 1989. The FIR copy of the said incident has been obtained by OpIndia.
As per the complaint, the incident is said to have happened on 23rd June, Sunday when the victim and his friends were having tea on the Shankarsheth Road. The accused persons, from nowhere arrived on the spot on bikes and began issuing threats to Akshay. “Today we’ll do with him. He is God for many Dalits in Lohiyanagar. Earlier two attempts to kill him were foiled. Not this time,” the accused persons were heard saying as mentioned in the FIR.
The accused persons also demeaned Dalits and said that lower caste people were equivalent to their shoes. The accused persons used iron rods and sharp weapons to launch an attack on the victim. Accuse Atul Khan attacked Akshay’s head while he foiled the attack by defending himself with his right hand. During this, he lost his thumb as it broke apart his palm.
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) June 24, 2024
Later, Salman Sheikh and Asif Sheikh attacked the victim from behind resulting in severe injuries on his head and back. Also, the other accused persons assaulted the victim and his friends after which the latter ran to save their lives. Meanwhile, the accused persons followed the victim and his friends and said, “Hum yaha ke baap hai. Hamare khilaf agar koi bolega to hum use jinda nhi chodenge (We rule over this locality. We won’t spare anyone who would talk against us).”
The complaint has been lodged by Nagesh Dhavre, brother of the victim. He said that the accused persons also tried to attack him but he somehow saved his life. “We were all running towards seven Love Chowk in Pune to save our lives. The accused also ran behind us. They attacked us. Later when we yelled for help, they all fled from the spot,” Nagesh said.
The victim lay in pain near the hotel where he was having tea. He was immediately taken to the Sassoon Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
Team OpIndia talked to the complainant Nagesh who confirmed that the accused persons attacked Akshay only because he stood by Hindu Dalit victims and raised his voice against the Islamist goons. “Akshay is a Hindu activist and he engages in social work. He has to date been the voice of several Hindu Dalit activists who have faced problems at the hands of Muslims. He also is associated with the BJP,” Nagesh said while exclusively talking to OpIndia.
He further added that the Islamists have tried to attack and kill Akshay several times in the past but fortunately, their attempts were foiled. “This time they had planned this and they came out of nowhere while we were having tea. They threatened Akshay and also me and his friends for helping the Hindu Dalit persons in Pune and around the area. They broke his finger. He is in severe pain. Doctors are treating him,” he added.
On asking about the police action, he said that several complaints had been made to the police against Islamists after they threatened Akshay, and tried to attack him, but no action was ever taken. “The police have booked 9 persons of which 3 are believed to have been arrested. We demand strict action against all those involved,” he said.
As informed to OpIndia by Nagesh, 3 persons are said to have been arrested by the police in the case, but the same could not be confirmed by the police. OpIndia contacted Khadak Police Station to get updates on the case, but no authoritative information could be obtained. The subordinates restricted themselves from sharing information or even confirming the arrests. The case is being investigated. Further updates will soon be revealed.
A teenager stabbed a man to death for allegedly speaking against the companions of Prophet Muhammad in Pakistan’s Punjab province, police said on Monday (24th June). The victim killed for alleged blasphemy belonged to the Shia minority Muslim community. As per reports, the 14-year-old accused was instigated by his uncle and father who is a Maulvi at a Sunni mosque. The incident occurred on Sunday in Kunjah, Gujrat, which is approximately 170 km from Pakistan’s capital Lahore.
Speaking with PTI, a senior police officer stated that the minor seminary student stabbed 55-year-old Nazir Hussain Shah to death after being incited by his father and uncle’s remarks. The father of the accused works as a prayer leader at a Sunni mosque. His father and uncle had told him that the victim Shah would often speak against the companions of the Prophet.
The police officer said, “Getting motivated by the words of his father and uncle, the enraged teenager took a knife from his house and confronted Shah on Sunday afternoon, stabbing him multiple times and killing him on the spot. The boy then fled the scene.” Police have formed a team to arrest the minor accused.
It is pertinent to note that Pakistani outlet Dawn has reported the case as a killing over a “sectarian argument”. A case has been registered against the minor accused, his uncle and his father. Based on the complaint deceased’s brother Shabeer Hussain Shah, has been booked under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Local and police sources stated that the prime suspect seems to be a religious fanatic. It is pertinent to note that the recent killing is the second blasphemy-related murder in the Islamic Republic in four days and the third case within a month.
Blasphemy-related murder on the rise in Pakistan
Earlier on 20th June night, a mob of frenzied Muslims lynched a man, after accusing him of desecrating the Quran in the Madyan area in Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
As per reports, the victim was a native of Sialkot district in Punjab province of Pakistan and had been on a visit to Swat as a tourist. The Muslim mob alleged that he set fire to some pages of the Quran and used it as a pretext to carry out his lynching.
It is pertinent to note that the Swat police had initially taken the ‘blasphemy accused’ into its custody to prevent any untoward law and order. However, the frenzied mob charged at the police station dragged out the victim and took him away. The victim was then lynched and his body was set on fire (torched). A video of the disturbing incident went viral on social media on Thursday (June 20th night).
Nearly a month earlier, in May, an elderly Christian man named Nazir Masih was lynched by a frenzied Muslim mob over dubious allegations of Toheen-e-Mazhab (blasphemy). The incident took place in Mujahid Colony in Sargodha city in Punjab province of Pakistan.
The Muslim mob vandalised Masih’s house, looted his factory and set him ablaze over rumours that he burnt pages of the Quran. In reality, the victim was acting out of goodwill and that cost him his life.
‘No Minority is safe in Pakistan, killed over false allegations’: Pakistan Defence Minister admits in Parliament
On Sunday (23rd June), Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif admitted that no minority group is safe in Pakistan. In the Pakistani Parliament, he added that Pakistan is facing a global embarrassment.
Thank you, @KhawajaMAsif Sb, for raising your voice in the National Assembly for minorities and addressing the misuse of certain laws. I hope the government will enact effective legislation to counter the staged nonsense of mob lynching and false accusations of blasphemy. pic.twitter.com/DjfFyXhT3B
Expressing concern over the daily killings of minorities, Khawaja said, “Every day, minorities are being killed. They are not safe under the guise of Islam. Pakistan is facing global embarrassment. Even smaller Muslim sects are not safe in Pakistan, which is a disgraceful situation. Those who have been killed so far did not have any evidence linking them to blasphemy; rather, these killings seem to stem from personal vendettas.”
Nonetheless, Pakistan’s lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly passed a resolution on Sunday condemning the recent incidents of mob lynching. According to a Dawn report, at least 2,120 people are reported to have been accused of committing blasphemy between 1987 and 2022. The USCIRF 2023 report said, “Religious minorities were subject to frequent attacks and threats, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, sexual violence against women and girls, and desecration of houses of worship and cemeteries.”
The Karnataka High Court on Monday halted the proceedings against journalist Ajeet Bharti, who faces charges under Section 153-A and 502(2) of the IPC for allegedly posting a video tweet with comments about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over a single judge bench, observed that the statement in the video tweet was based on reports from two national newspapers. The court stated, “If the tweet stems from newspaper reports, which included claims by some former Congress leaders, and the petitioner tweeted about these claims, it becomes a case of claim versus claim.”
“Therefore, the genesis of the problem lies in the claim as aforequoted which has resulted in the tweet by the petitioner. The tweet by the petitioner resulted in a complaint being given against the petitioner for spreading false news and fabricated propaganda, violating sections 153A and 505 of the IPC. The very title that it is fabricated propaganda is contrary to the records as the national newspapers had carried what was claimed as afore quoted. Therefore, till the special public prosecutor would steer clear with truthfulness as regards the publication as afore quoted, no further investigation can be permitted against this petitioner,” the Karnataka HC was quoted as saying by Live Law.
Ajeet Bharti, known for his searing political takes and deadpan humour, welcomed the court’s decision on X, formerly Twitter, and thanked his supporters and Shehzad Poonawalla, Tejaswi Surya, Aruna Shyam, and Roshan Sinha. Before his tweet, Bharti cryptically tweeted, “ZKMKB.”
कर्नाटक वाले विषय में कर्नाटक उच्च न्यायालय ने जाँच पर रोक लगा कर 19 जुलाई को अगली सुनवाई रखी है।
As a result, the court paused the investigation and scheduled the next hearing for July 19.
According to the complaint filed on June 15, Bharti is accused of inciting communal disharmony through his video tweet on social media.
The plea argued that there is no evidence showing Bharti committed any offence and the complaint does not specify how his tweet caused communal disharmony.
Representing Bharti were Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam along with Advocates Anirudh A. Kulkarni and Akshay S. Vasist.
In the Gaya Nagar area in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, an uproar has erupted after the severed head of a calf was found on 23rd June. On Monday, several activists of Hindu rights groups Hindu Yuva Manch and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal gathered in large numbers and staged a protest by gheraoing the collectorate. The Hindu activists first gathered at the Indira Market and subsequently took out a rally towards the DM office.
According to Bhilai SSP Sukhnandan Rathore, an investigation is underway based on CCTV footage, and the calf’s head has been sent to a laboratory for testing. He stated that if the case is proven, action will be taken under the Animal Cruelty Act. On Sunday night, Hindu groups who arrived encircling the police station alleged that some Muslims were behind the calf’s slaughter. The police resorted to lathi-charge on the protestors to calm down the situation. The police have said that a dog had brought the head of a dead calf.
The local police have claimed that the protesters interpreted this episode differently. The calf’s head was found near a water tank in Gaya Nagar. There was a demonstration at Patel Chowk over this. After receiving the information, the cops from Mohan Nagar police station arrived and seized the head. The Dainik Bhaskar report also claims that no one chopped off the calf’s head and threw it away; instead, a dog brought it to Gaya Nagar, where dead animals are thrown.
The head of this calf was found in Ward 4 of Girdhari Nagar. The police inspector has also been injured in the clashes that took place during the protest. CCTV footage showed that a dog had brought the calf’s head. Hindus staged a demonstration from the Sheela Hotel in Durg to the Collectorate. ASP Ashok Jha stated that after getting information regarding this around 7:30 p.m., when the police attempted to seize the bovine head, people began protesting. A team has been constituted to quickly investigate the case.
On the anniversary of the Air India Kanishka bombing, Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman has shared that he was threatened by the local police after he questioned the presence of Khalistani elements at Queens Park in Toronto, Canada, where families of victims of the 1985 Kanishka bombing had gathered for a memorial service. The Police threatened the journalist as he asked why Khalistanis were disrupting the service arranged by the victims of the families of Air India Flight 182.
As per Bordman, the Canadian Police said, “They are doing their thing and you are provoking them. We don’t want any fight or argument here. We are here to maintain peace. You have a right to be here lawfully but you are not allowed to breach the peace.”
On asking about the entry of Khalistani terrorists at the Queen’s Park, the police stated that the viewpoint or the opinion of the journalist towards the Khalistanis did not matter and all that they wanted is peace. The Police also added that they (Khalistanis) were at the park to offer prayers and show solidarity with the victim’s families. The video of the incident was shared by Brodman on his X handle where he stated that the Khalistanis were harassing and disturbing the families of the victims.
Further, on questioning about police allowing Khalistanis at the spot, one of the officers threatened the journalist saying, “We are not going to stop you from expressing your opinion but we are not going to allow you to disturb them. So either you separate yourself from the group or we will remove you from here.”
HAPPENING NOW: Khalistani terrorists sympathizers come to harass and disrupt a service arranged by the families of Air India flight 182. These sickos are like if Nazis came to a Holocaust memorial in “support” pic.twitter.com/YhqGTeHOE4
The video of the incident was shared by Daniel Bordman who reported that the Khalistani terrorists had gathered at the spot to harass and disturb the families of victims of the 1985 Kanishka bombing. The Khalistanis, however, claimed that they had arrived at the spot for expressing their solidarity over the incident. “These sickos are like if Nazis came to a Holocaust memorial in support,” Bordman then stated.
In the video shared by Bordman, the Khalistanis could be seen erecting their flags along with those of Canada. One of the Khalistani terrorists while arguing with Bordman held India responsible for the murder of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Khalistanis could also be seen observing silence over Nijjar’s death with Khalistani flags in their hands.
The image of the protest by Khalistanis could be seen in further posts shared by Bordman on X, earlier known as Twitter. Later he also shared that a large contingent of Canadian Jews also showed up to honour the victims of the Air India bombing on the 39th anniversary and raise their voices against Khalistani terrorism.
We are here to honour the victims of the Air India bombing on the 39th anniversary of the terrorist bombing. The Khalistanis tried to show up and intimidate us but they failed like the shameful cowards they are. pic.twitter.com/qoTPBQ0Ljm
Khalistanis could also be seen wearing T-shirts praising Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and holding India responsible for his death. However, a large number of Christians and also Jews gathered at the spot in support of the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Air India Flight 182 incident.
As the day ends, I want to share my thoughts on what I observed today at the Southern Lawns Queens Park Toronto. I went there to pay my respects to the victims of the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history. I did not say a word; I just wanted to stand with the families and… pic.twitter.com/zmxTdgUpnI
What happened in 1985; what Canadian Police says today
Earlier, the Canadian police claimed that the investigation into the bombing of Air India Flight 182 remains active and ongoing. On June 23, 1985, the Montreal-New Delhi Air India ‘Kanishka’ Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before landing at London’s Heathrow Airport, killing all 329 passengers, the majority of whom were Canadians of Indian heritage. The bombing was carried out by Khalistani terrorists in retribution for the Indian Army’s ‘Operation Bluestar’ in 1984, which sought to clear out extremists from the Golden Temple.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) captured Talwinder Singh Parmar, the Babbar Khalsa leader, and Inderjit Singh Reyat, an electrician, months after the Air India explosion. Parmar, who had previously been pursued for extradition by India in the early 1980s, was released due to a “lack of evidence”. Investigators later concluded that Parmar planned the attack.
In a statement issued on 21st June, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner David Teboul described the bombing as the greatest terror-related loss of life involving and affecting Canadians in the country’s history, offering the deepest sympathies, understanding, and support to the families of the victims.
“The Air India investigation is the longest and certainly one of the most complex domestic terrorism investigations that the RCMP has undertaken in our history,” Teboul explained. “Our investigative efforts remain active and ongoing,” he informed reporters.
Bodies of 329 victims lay at the docks in Cork, Ireland, 1985 (Reuters)
Canada observes silence for Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
On 18th June, Canadian Parliament observed a one-minute silence to mark the first death anniversary of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the House of Commons. Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Nijjar was killed on 18th June 2023. He was one of the 40 designated terrorists whose names appeared in a list released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Notably, four Indian nationals Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh have been arrested for killing Nijjar. They were allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The arrests were made in May 2024. The moment of silence was observed after the question period on 18th June. Calling the members to observe a moment of silence, Speaker Greg Fergus said, “I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of Hardeep Singh Nijjar assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, one year ago today. I now invite all of the members to rise.”
Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered in Canada. Khalistani elements accused India of killing Najjar. Almost three months after the murder, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made shocking accusations against India in Canada’s Parliament. In his statement, Trudeau claimed that there were “credible allegations” against India. Following the accusations, Canada immediately expelled the top Indian diplomat.
In retaliation, India rejected the claims calling them absurd, and expelled Canadian diplomats with immediate effect.
Canadian government neglects Khalistani terrorism; several incidents targeting India, Hindu temples
India-Canada relations have been at an all-time low for some time now, owing largely to India’s wrath at Ottawa turning a blind eye to Khalistani extremism on its soil. Over the years governments changed in Canada, from Conservative Party to the ruling Liberal Party, the governments there have failed to crush the Khalistani elements in the country despite repeated warnings from the Indian governments. With time and resources, sometimes active patronage from the political leaders, the Khalistanis have turned into a significant vote bank for the Liberal Party.
The Khalistani terrorists in Canada have time and again insulted Hindu religion, and vandalized temples in Canada. They have also insulted India’s national flag but the government has always sided with the Khalistani terrorists saying that they have the right to assemble and express their views peacefully and without violating the law.
In September 2023, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the outlawed terrorist group Sikh Forum for Justice issued fresh threats to Indian diplomats in Ottawa. He held PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, and EAM S Jaishankar responsible for the killing of his close aide Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani terrorist who was shot dead by two unidentified persons in Surrey in Canada’s British Columbia.
On September 8, Khalistani terrorists vandalized the Shree Mata Bhameshwari Durga Devi Society in Surrey British Columbia. Pictures emerged on social media showing anti-India graffiti with the slogan “Punjab is not India” sprayed on the walls of the Hindu temple.
On August 12, two Khalistan supporters defaced a temple in Surrey with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti. The Khalistani terrorists had placed posters at the entrance of the temple in a bid to terrorize the Hindu community. The poster advocated for a referendum pertaining to “the assassination of Hardeep Nijjar” and investigating India’s role in the terrorist’s assassination.
On July 31st, Pro-Khalistan elements in Canada stepped up their poster campaign against India’s top diplomats in the province of British Columbia. Posters with the word ‘Wanted’ were displayed in various locations throughout Surrey. It referred to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
On July 14, signage at the Shri Bhagavad Gita Park in the city of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA was vandalised. According to reports, the park sign was spraypainted with graffiti targeting the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On 8th July, pro-Khalistani elements participated in protest rallies against India, claiming the Indian agencies were behind the assassination of Khalistani terrorists and ‘Sikhs For Justice’ leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. These rallies were held in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
During the rally, Khalistani elements desecrated the Indian flag. Videos went viral on social media wherein they were seen burning two Indian flags. In one of the videos, a pro-India man was brutally assaulted by Khalistanis when he tried to pick up the Indian flag from under their shoes.
On July 9 last year, a similar incident was reported in Surrey, where hundreds of Khalistanis gathered at the protest site. In a video shared by ANI Editor Smita Prakash, Khalistanis were seen holding the Khalistani flag while placing a torn Indian flag on the railing. They beat up the flag with a shoe with slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ in the background.
Make your Khalistan in downtown Toronto. Filthy chaps desecrating the Indian flag. pic.twitter.com/7LCPwlY0O0
In January last year, a Hindu temple, Gauri Shankar Mandir, was desecrated by Khalistani extremists in Brampton city in Ontario province of Canada.
As per reports, the walls of the temple were defaced with anti-India graffiti by Khalistanis associated allegedly with the banned outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The vicious slogan of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ was found spray-painted on the outer wall of Gauri Shankar Mandir.
Canada- a hotbed of anti-India, anti-Hindu activities; haven for Khalistani terrorists and criminals
Canada has become a hub of anti-India and anti-Hindu activities, as well as a shelter for Khalistani terrorists and criminals. India has often sent strong messages to the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government, requesting them to prevent extremist activities in the nation; but, because of vote bank politics, the Trudeau government has refrained from taking any meaningful action against the terrorists and their anti-India acts.
The Trudeau government has always offered the standard excuse that people in his country have the right to assemble and express themselves peacefully and without violating the law. Another major irony is that Trudeau’s administration had brutally suppressed Canadian truckers protesting harsh COVID regulations. Didn’t the truckers have the right to express themselves without violating the law?
To appease his pro-Khalistan base, Trudeau has opted to alienate and offend a key global economy and trade partner, all in the name of supporting’ a wanted criminal and terrorist who has been twice denied citizenship by Canadian authorities.
High Commission of India in Ottawa slams Canada for glorifying terrorism
In the given case on June 24, the High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada, honoured the victims of the 1985 Kanishka bombing and slammed the government for shielding terrorists. “On June 23, 1985, Flight no. AI 182 Kanishka, flying on Montreal (Canada) – London (UK) – Delhi (India) route operated by Air India, the then India’s national carrier exploded by a bomb mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland as a result of the cowardly act of terror, carried out by Canada based Khalistani terrorists,” the press release by the High Commission said.
The press release stated that the perpetrators and co-conspirators of the “dastardly act” remained free, and that “any act of glorifying terrorism, including the bombing of AI-182, in 1985, is deplorable and should be condemned by all peace-loving countries and people”.
“It is unfortunate that such actions are allowed to be routine on many occasions in Canada,” according to the statement. On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also commemorated the Kanishka bombing in a social media post, emphasizing that it served as a harsh reminder of why terrorism should not be permitted.
China has been increasing its influence on Nepalese media over the years. So much so, that its ambassadors openly threaten Nepalese journalists who don’t fall in line.
On 29th May, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, faced backlash after demanding an apology from Nepali journalist Gajendra Budhathoki.
Song came down heavily on Budhathoki for revealing that Chinese loans for the Pokhara International Airport were secured at higher interest rates than the officials had stated.
According to Budhathoki, the interest rate was 5% and not 2%. Despite pressure from Song, Budhathoki stood by his report, promising to provide proof.
The way the Chinese ambassador reacted and demanded an apology was a clear indication that China believes it can influence Nepali media. But from where does the confidence come from?
Notably, in 2023, the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CSIFP) released a report on “China’s Influence in Nepali Media Amid Changing Nepal Policy”. It talked about how China was running propaganda to influence Nepali media using its own journalists.
Screengrab of the CSIFP report
Over the past few years, there has been a systematic expansion of Chinese influence in the Nepalese media sector. China has been aggressively trying to control the geopolitical strategy in the media sector in the region by planting its stooges in countries like Nepal.
Notably, even in India, there have been reports that China has been funding media houses like Newsclick to influence the narrative around China.
China is reshaping the media landscape in Nepal through a combination of educational incentives, direct investments and sophisticated propaganda campaigns. The aim is to reshape the Nepalese media in a way that serves China’s strategic interests in the region.
China’s Media Influence Strategies
China is using multiple strategies to influence the journalists working in the country. First and foremost, China sponsors trips for Nepalese journalists to China. These all-expenses-paid trips have been taken by an estimated 9,000 journalists till 2023.
These trips are designed in a way that they look like educational trips but in reality, they serve as indoctrination tours. When the journalists return, these journalists often espouse pro-China narratives. They attempt to downplay the issues such as democracy and freedom of expression.
Apart from trips, China also funds the education of the families of journalists. They provide scholarships and discounted educational opportunities at top Chinese universities for the children of these journalists.
It creates a favourable bias among the journalists. Furthermore, a new generation of pro-China Nepalese gets prepared in the form of the children of these journalists who are sympathetic towards China’s interests. If any of them become journalists, it is even better for China.
China is also establishing Chinese media outlets in Nepal that are operated by Chinese nationals. These channels have funding as well as advanced technology that Nepalese media houses cannot get their hands on easily.
These outlets act as mouthpieces of China disseminating content that promotes Chinese policies and interests while subtly or overtly undermining competing influences, particularly from the US and India.
China also actively promotes misinformation to shape public opinion in Nepal. A notable example if of the campaign against the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant from the United States.
Chinese media outlets and social media channels produced numerous videos and articles against MCC calling it a threat to Nepal’s sovereignty. These campaigns have been effective in fostering a significant anti-MCC sentiment among the Nepalese populace.
CSIFP’s report talked particularly about a Facebook page of the Nepali online portal operated by China Radio International, which argued against the MCC, framing it as a neo-colonial tool of the US.
The video amassed substantial engagement, with 430,000 views, 16,000 likes, 523 comments, and 4,400 shares, highlighting the reach and influence of Chinese media operations in Nepal.
Geopolitical implications
China is increasing its influence on the media in Nepal and it is having significant geopolitical implications. China is seeking to curtail the influence of the US and India on Nepalese people and position itself as the dominant power in the region. This media influence extends to the political sphere, where China has cultivated relationships with key political figures and parties in Nepal.
Historical context and recent developments
One of the most influential projects that China has managed to sign with Nepal was the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement in 2017. However, its implementation has faced delays due to internal disagreement in Nepal. China’s media strategy, consolidated under China Media Group (CMG) in 2018, includes financial support and editorial control over local outlets.
The dragon is consistently making an effort to influence Nepalese media and it peaked during Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi’s tenure, promoting Chinese interests and unifying Nepal’s leftist parties.
Even the US State Department accused China of spreading false information about the MCC, highlighting a broader geopolitical contest in Nepal’s media landscape.
China encroaching on Nepal’s territory
From time to time, there have been reports that China is influencing Nepal against India. Interestingly, while it instigates Nepal against India, China continues to take over Nepalese land forcefully. In February 2022, a memorandum was handed over by the Rashtriya Ekata Abhiyan to the United Nations, informing them about the land encroachment in Humla, Nepal, by China.
The Nepali civil society group has urged the international community to intervene in the issue of land grabbing by China in neighbouring countries. According to a report in Khabarhub, Binay Yadav, chairperson Rastriya Ekata Abhiyan, approached the UN office in Kathmandu and handed over the memorandum to Richard Howard, Resident Coordinator, United Nations, via Rajendra Man Banepali, Information Officer at the UN office.
The study alongside the China-Nepal border found the area between pillar number 5(2) and the middle of the Kit Khola was marked as the border between the two countries according to the Boundary Protocol of 1963.
However, China had erected fences and wires on the Nepali land. Another report suggested China has been limiting grazing by Nepalese farmers. The report also noted that the surveillance activities by the Chinese security forces led to restrictions on religious activities in Lalungjong which falls on the Nepalese side of the border. This area is near Mount Kailash, which is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tamayo Perry has died after a shark attack in Hawaii.
Perry, who also featured in Blue Crush and Hawaii Five-0, was surfing at Malaekahana Beach on Oahu when the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.
Perry had been surfing near Mokuauia, close to Laie, Hawaii. He was discovered dead around 1 PM. An eyewitness reported seeing a man with severe shark bite injuries off Malaekahana Beach near Kahuku. Perry’s body had multiple shark bite wounds.
Local emergency services reported receiving a call at 1 pm about a person “fatally injured by a shark” and used a jetski to recover Perry’s body from the water.
Honolulu Ocean Safety acting chief Kurt Lager stated at a press conference that Perry was a beloved lifeguard and professional surfer known worldwide and throughout Oahu’s North Shore. “Tamayo’s personality was infectious, and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more,” Lager said, extending condolences to Perry’s family.
In Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth instalment starring Penélope Cruz and Johnny Depp, Perry played a buccaneer. He also worked as a stunt performer in the Owen Wilson surfing movie The Big Bounce, based on Elmore Leonard’s novel.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi described Perry’s death as “a tragic loss,” saying, “Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected, [he] grew up right over here, and was a valued member of our ocean safety team.” Blangiardi urged the public and press to “honour and respect” Perry’s family during their time of grief.
Despite their high media profile, there were only 69 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide last year, 10 of which were fatal, according to the 2023 International Shark Attack File by the Florida Museum of Natural History. Florida had the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks with 16, none of which were fatal.
The Rajasthan police have arrested the man who was seen misbehaving with female tourists in a viral social media video.
As per reports, the accused was identified as Vinod Meena. He had uploaded a video on his Instagram account (@guru__brand0000) wherein he was seen putting price tags on foreigners in Jaipur.
“This woman is for ₹150 and that woman is for ₹200. This woman here is available for ₹500 and this woman for ₹300,” he was heard saying while pointing his fingers at the female tourists.
The women, who were unaware of his malafide intentions, were seen waving at the camera. The controversial video created by Meena was re-posted by popular user Madhur Singh on X (formerly Twitter).
In a tweet, he said, “Guys like these are the reason why international tourists have bad experience in India.” Singh also sought immediate action from Jaipur police.
“Jaipur police should arrest this guy for harassing tourists and teach him basic civic sense and the meaning of Atithi Devo Bhava,” he further added.
Guys like these are the reason why international tourists have bad experience in India. @jaipur_police should arrest this guy for harassing tourists and teach him basic civic sense and the meaning of Atithi Devo Bhava. pic.twitter.com/I59AymLtHQ
On Monday (24rd June), the Jaipur police took cognisance of the matter and informed, “A reel is going viral on the internet through Instagram. The police took strict action against the accused who touched some foreign female tourists, behaved indecently and made baseless false statements.”
पुलिस ने धारा 354, 505(2) IPC, 66D IT Act, 13(1), 13(2) राजस्थान टूरीजम बिजनेस एक्ट के तहत रिपोर्ट दर्ज कर आरोपित को राउंड अप किया है।
जांच में पाया गया है की आरोपित जबरन स्वयं की निर्धारित दुकानों पर समान ख़रीदने के लिए पर्यटकों को बाध्य करता है।#JaipurPolice#ViralVideo
The police have arrested Vinod Meena and booked him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 354, 505(2) IPC, 66D IT Act, 13(1), 13(2) and relevant provisions of the Rajasthan Tourism Business Act.
