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Love Jihad in MP: Wasim Khan poses as Sonu to trap a Hindu girl, rapes and records obscene videos to blackmail her to convert

OpIndia Staff
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Love Jihad in MP: Wasim Khan poses as Sonu to trap a Hindu girl, rapes and records obscene videos to blackmail her to convert

A shocking case of Love Jihad has come to light from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. A bus driver named Wasim Khan introduced himself as Sonu to develop a friendship with a Hindu girl who works at a Pharmaceutical company. It is alleged that after trapping the victim in a love affair, he spiked her drink. When the victim became unconscious, the accused raped and recorded her obscene videos.

It is further alleged that he blackmailed and threatened the victim stating that he would leak her private videos if she didn’t convert to Islam. The victim finally sought help from Bajrang Dal and went with them to file a Police complaint. Based on her complaint, the Police have registered a case and taken Wasim into custody.

According to reports, the Love Jihad victim resides in Umaria, Indore. She works at a pharma company in Rau. She used to commute frequently between Indore and Mahu by bus. It was at the bus stand where she met Wasim, who introduced himself as Sonu and befriended the victim. Wasim was the bus driver. After some time, they exchanged their mobile numbers with each other.

After that, they started talking to each other. One day, Sonu (false name used by Wasim) asked the victim to accompany him under the pretext of introducing her to his friend. The victim trusted Wasim’s words. They both arrived together in the Medicaps area where the accused first fed the victim and later offered her tea. After drinking the tea, the victim began to lose consciousness. 

The victim suspects that the accused had put some intoxicating substance in her tea. After she lost consciousness, Wasim raped her. It is also alleged that he recorded obscene photos and videos of the girl. When the girl regained consciousness, she started crying, however, the accused pacified her by promising marriage.

After this, Wasim blackmailed the victim and raped her several times. One day, the victim found an Aadhaar card inside the bag of the accused, which revealed that the man who introduced himself as Sonu was actually a Muslim man named Wasim. When the girl asked him about the reason for deceiving her, Wasim became furious. He first showed the victim the fear of her explicit photos and videos and later started pressuring her to convert to Islam after leaving Hinduism.

He told the victim, “I have your obscene photos and videos. If you act too smart, I will make them viral. So now, do as I say. It is in your best interest to become a Muslim, otherwise it won’t be good.” Wasim continuously pressured the victim to convert and marry him. He threatened her that if she didn’t convert to Islam, he would kill her along with her family. 

The victim was quite scared by his threats. She started to keep her distance from Wasim. On Wednesday (12th June 2024), the victim went to the Vishwakarma Temple in Rao Bazaar. That’s when Wasim arrived there. He forcibly tried to take the girl with him. When the victim resisted, he brutally assaulted her. The disheartened Love Jihad victim then contacted Hindu organisations for help.

Finally, the victim narrated her ordeal to Bajrang Dal district coordinator Ram Dangi. Dangi accompanied the victim to the police station where she lodged a complaint. Police have registered a case against Wasim under the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Conversion Act and other sections. He has been taken into custody. The matter is under investigation.

While Delhi Jal Board is submerged in scams, AAP Government focuses on attacking BJP govt in Haryana for the water crisis instead of cleaning its own house

Rukma Rathore
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While Delhi Jal Board is submerged in scams, AAP Government focuses on attacking BJP govt in Haryana for the water crisis instead of cleaning its own house

On 15th June, Aam Aadmi Party minister Atishi Marlena stated that the Delhi government had asked Haryana to release water on humanitarian grounds amidst a serious water shortage in the national capital. “Delhi government officers have also talked to Haryana government officers, and on all probability, a delegation of senior officers of Delhi will travel to Chandigarh and meet Haryana officers.” The AAP MLA added that Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh reiterated its willingness to supply water to Delhi during the Upper Yamuna River Board meeting on 14th June.

The Haryana govt had said that it possesses an excess of 130 cusecs of water from its portion of the Upper Yamuna River and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister, has promised his support to Delhi. But the Himachal Pradesh administration on 13th June took a U-turn and informed the Supreme Court that it did not have an excess of 136 cusecs of water and withdrew its previous assertion. They said that the water was already released and it was flowing uninterruptedly to the Hathnikund barrage.

The Delhi administration was then instructed by the court to ask for a water supply from the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB). The development came while the Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its water crisis.

The government of Delhi has also sought water from Haryana, as the Upper Yamuna River Board’s evaluation of the estimates would take some time. However, it has unleashed a barrage of attacks on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led administration in Haryana. On 10th June in a fresh tirade, Priyanka Kakkar, the AAP’s chief national spokesperson accused BJP of doing negative politics and cutting off the Yamuna’s water supply, resulting in a serious scarcity in Delhi.

At a press conference, she asserted that Delhi had not yet received the 137 cusecs that Himachal Pradesh had provided in response to a Supreme Court ruling. The national capital’s share of 1,050 cusecs, as per an agreement between the two states, has been lowered by 200 cusecs by the Haryana government, she alleged, in addition to suspending Delhi’s water supply from Himachal Pradesh. She also dragged Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena, claiming he had an opportunity to ask Haryana to release the water through negotiation, but he chose not to do so.

AAP leaders also protested against the Haryana government on 10th June, alleging that it was denying the national capital its fair share of water. Kuldeep Kumar, AAP’s Delhi State Vice-President and MLA, along with colleagues Shiv Charan Goel, Vinayy Mishra, Somdutt Sharma, and Women’s Wing President Sarika Chaudhary, participated in the demonstration next to Haryana Bhawan, Mandi House. Protesters called for the central and Haryana governments to guarantee the prompt delivery of Delhi’s share of water and sang slogans denouncing the BJP for depriving the city of “its share.”

On 14th June, senior leader of the AAP and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh asked the newly elected BJP MPs in the capital and the centre to make a plea to the Haryana government to “bring water to Delhi.” He claimed that Haryana was “hell-bent on stopping the supply,” despite the Delhi government’s best efforts to guarantee a continuous water supply for the populace. “We want to tell the BJP government of Haryana that you can take out your enmity with us but why are you punishing the people of Delhi? The people of Delhi have elected seven BJP MPs, now where are those seven MPs? There is nothing more virtuous than providing water,” he alleged in a press conference.

Supreme Court lashes out at AAP

On 11th June, the Supreme Court severely criticized the Delhi administration for the ongoing problems pertaining to the water waste and tanker mafia in the city. Judges Prasanna B. Varale and Prashant Kumar Mishra on a vacation bench questioned the Delhi government’s attempts to address these issues and clarified that the court would order the Delhi Police to act if the government of Delhi did not deal with the tanker mafia. “Delhi tanker mafia is working, and you are not taking action and if the Delhi government can’t take action, then we can ask Delhi police to take action.”

The court asked, “Why were false statements made before this court? Water is coming from Himachal Pradesh, then where is the water going in Delhi? There is so much spillage, tanker mafias, etc. What measures have you taken in this regard? People are suffering, we are seeing visuals on every news channel. What measures have you taken to control water wastage if water scarcity is a recurring problem in summer? What have you done to prevent water wastage coming from all these sources? Have you taken any action or FIR against any tanker mafias? Tanker mafias get water and pipelines are running dry.”

BJP hits back at AAP

After the observations of the highest court, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala remarked, “After the liquor scam, we are now seeing a water scam by the AAP. The Supreme Court has exposed them. The court highlighted that there is no issue with the water supply itself but questioned why the water is being diverted through the tanker mafia and why no action is being taken against them.”

He added, “It is clear that the AAP is incompetent and has a dubious relationship with the water tanker mafia. AAP leaders are cutting deals with the mafia and selling water at exorbitant prices. The Aam Aadmi Party has faced a significant setback in the Supreme Court. The court has exposed the lies of the Delhi government, showing that AAP has left the people of Delhi parched for water.”

“We filed a complaint with the Police Commissioner against this water theft involving tanker mafias and corrupt officials. We demand the formation of a Special Investigation Team to investigate these issues. The people of Delhi deserve answers and solutions, not excuses and inaction,” declared Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva who mentioned that they have released evidence of how water is stolen from the Munak Canal through tankers.

Yogender Chandoliya and Bansuri Swaraj, two new BJP MPs from Delhi, criticized Sanjay Singh for his aforementioned comments and slammed him for engaging in “dirty politics over the crisis.” They released a statement which pointed out, “We thought that after reprimanding of Supreme Court, statements of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana governments. AAP leaders will stop water leakage and theft. Instead, we find MP Sanjay Singh doing politics which forces us to ask Singh and his colleagues Swati Maliwal and ND Gupta, what are you three doing to help fight the water crisis.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by BJP Haryana spokesperson Jawahar Yadav, who maintained that the AAP government has not been able to identify a time when Haryana delivered less water to Delhi. “Haryana does not make its own water, it comes from hills. We are giving more than 1,000 cusecs of water to Delhi. Instead of making allegations, the Delhi government should pay the pending amount of ₹204 crore spent by Haryana on maintaining the Narwana canal.”

Meanwhile, P.W.D minister Atishi Marlena claimed that since 6th June, there has been a scarcity because of a decrease in production to which Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva responded that it was “regrettable that the water minister was trying to mislead the people instead of working to fix leakages and stopping water theft.” He further charged, “If the Kejriwal government worked to check leakages and water theft which account for 54% water loss, then even at 939 MGD, Delhi could have got proper supply. While on normal days, the water theft and leakage loss is 54%. Today, it is 75% as the water theft by tanker mafia has almost doubled.”

The Haryana administration on 12th June asserted that Delhi is receiving more than its due share of water from the Yamuna River. Abhe Singh Yadav, the Minister of State for Water Resources and Irrigation for Haryana told reporters that the state is doing a meticulous job of fulfilling its obligation to provide Delhi with water in accordance with its share. He observed, “From the beginning, we are mindful that there should not be any chaos in the national capital because of the scarcity of drinking water.”

The minister continued, “We have always endeavoured to provide Delhi’s complete share of water. But, how it (the Delhi government) uses that water and how it manages it is entirely its responsibility. If you have read the Supreme Court order, it said that once Himachal Pradesh supplies the water, the Yamuna Water Board will verify the inflow, and then, Haryana will ensure a smooth flow to Delhi. No water came nor was it verified.” 

On 9th June Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also hit out at the AAP government in Delhi and accused, “Lying is in their DNA. If you look at their DNA, they cannot live without lying. They work by relying on lies.” According to him, Haryana was supplying the national capital with water in excess of what was agreed upon and the AAP administration was accountable for the Delhi water problem. Additionally, the state was providing Delhi with 1,049 cusecs of water from the Yamuna. He conveyed that although the AAP government had brought up the matter previously, it had been discovered that Haryana was providing water in accordance with the agreement.

AAP fights with the LG

LG VK Saxena was asked by the Delhi Water Minister on 12th June to send an assistant commissioner of police officer to patrol the Munak Canal in Delhi in order to make sure that there is no unlawful water-filling going on. The AAP leader added that in order to lower the number of Delhi Jal Board tankers, senior officials conspired with the mafia, and called for an investigation into this. “An ACP level police officer should be deployed to patrol the stretch of Munak Canal in Delhi to ensure that no illegal water filling activity happens there.”

Atishi Marlena alleged, “There is a need for an enquiry into the potential collusion by senior officers in the Delhi government with the tanker mafia because it seems that there has been a deliberate and substantial reduction of the tankers deployed by the Delhi Jal Board in the last one year.” Meanwhile, the LG also reciprocated and charged, “A sting operation carried out by a prominent news channel more than established the water mafia operating in the city, forcing a reluctant Water Minister, Atishi, till now in denial, to issue perfunctory statements,” per sources in the Delhi LG office.

The LG reported that he had spoken with Nayab Singh Saini, the chief minister of Haryana, who had told him that water was being supplied to Delhi in compliance with its allotted share. The chief minister of Haryana, he added, promised all assistance possible despite the state’s own limitations brought on by the continuing heat wave.

However, she claimed that the BJP-led administration in the state was “deliberately” and “illegally” attempting to cut off the water supply to Delhi’s Munak Canal pointing to a copy of affidavits that Haryana had submitted with the Supreme Court, which was hearing the case. “While the LG says Haryana is releasing sufficient water to Delhi, the Haryana government in its affidavit in the SC said it is releasing 985 cusecs of water. So, LG’s first lie has been exposed. Second, he said, ‘Delhi is not maintaining the Munak Canal.’ Repair and maintenance of the canal is the responsibility of the Haryana irrigation department, not Delhi’s.”

“If less water is coming at Bawana, the entry point from where water comes to Delhi that means this water is being filled in tankers in Haryana. Do you expect ministers from the Delhi government to stop tankers in Haryana,” she questioned while talking about the LG office statement on “water theft and tanker mafia” being behind the shortage. “You are the LG of Delhi, not a spokesperson of the BJP. If you know there is a problem of water theft and wastage, you should take action, talk to the Haryana CM, complain to the Haryana Police,” she added.

The LG’s office countered her remarks by insisting that the minister was fabricating a story to divert attention from the Supreme Court’s ongoing consideration of the matter and was attempting to justify the Arvind Kejriwal government’s “criminal failure” to provide water to the populace. “The question of a shortfall, if any, is irrelevant since by her own admission, all Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) of Delhi, barring one, are producing more water than their capacity from water supplied by the Munak canal from Haryana,” officials remarked.

The sources at the LG office added, “Yesterday, AAP Water Minister in Delhi, Atishi Marlena issued a patently and blatantly false statement, blaming Haryana for scarcity of water in Delhi and charged the Delhi LG with lies. Convolutedly, she based her fanciful assertions on the affidavit filed by the Government of Haryana in the ongoing matter in this regard, in the Supreme Court.”

Scams and massive losses infest Delhi Jal Board

There have been reports of money laundering in the Delhi Jal Board’s tender awarding process. Tajendra Singh, a chartered accountant, Anil Kumar Aggarwal, and Jagdish Kumar Arora are among those mentioned in the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet. The agency detained Jagdish Arora and Anil Aggarwal on 31st January of last year. The Enforcement Directorate asserted that Jagdish Kumar Arora, the former chief engineer of the Delhi Jal Board granted the flow meter contract to NKG Infrastructure Limited at a “inflated cost” of Rs 38 crore.

During the investigation, the ED learned that M/S NKG Infrastructure Ltd presented false or misleading documentation in order to secure the deal. Additionally, it has come to light that Jagdish Kumar Arora was aware that the company did not meet the technical specifications specified in the bidding. Furthermore, the agency disclosed that the assignment subcontracted by M/S NKG Infrastructure Ltd. was received by Anil Kumar Aggarwal’s single proprietorship, M/S Integral Screws Ltd.

It was also uncovered that only approximately Rs 14 crore of the Rs 24 crore payment received by the Delhi Jal Board was used for the contracted job, with the remainder amount being either embezzled or used as bribes. The agency further emphasized that Jagdish Kumar Arora received a bribe of Rs. 3.19 crore, some of which he disbursed to other officers of the Delhi Jal Board and the AAP for use in the elections. The agency stated that former Delhi Jal Board head engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora “transferred” Rs 2 crore in bribe money to his departmental colleagues and the AAP to be used as political funding.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted a First Investigation Report that highlighted scheduled violations related to bribery and corruption in the Delhi Jal Board under the AAP, which led to the registration of the new money-laundering case. The Enforcement Department declared that it has placed assets worth a total of Rs 8.8 crore under temporary attachment. These assets belonged to Jagdish Kumar Arora, his wife Alka Arora, Anil Kumar Aggarwal (proprietor of Integral Screw Industries, a subcontractor) and NKG Infrastructure Limited, (a Delhi Jal Board contractor). The team conducting the inquiry discovered that each of these properties was located in Delhi.

In the meantime, the Delhi administration led by the Aam Aadmi Party transformed the profit-making Delhi Jal Board (DJB) into a Rs. 800 crore loss-making entity in just three years after taking office, according to a 2018 Right to Information (RTI) request. Arvind Kejriwal had proposed a no-profit, no-loss model for the board before he was elected. He believed that the board’s goal should be to serve the interests of the public rather than to turn a profit. However, since he assumed leadership the Delhi Jal Board turned into a losing organization.

RTI activist Sanjeev Jain filed an RTI, and the board responded, stating that they had lost Rs. 533 crores in 2016–17, while the expected loss for 2017–18 is Rs. 275 crore. This brings the two-year loss to more than Rs. 800 crores. Remarkably, the board recorded no loss in 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16. According to the RTI, the loss occurred as a result of the 7th Pay Commission’s implementation. While it may have been a smart political move, the Delhi Jal Board does not appear to have fared well financially from its free water policy.

In December 2017, the board had raised tariffs by 20% in an attempt to offset the losses and customers started receiving higher bills in February. The tariffs were not increased in the last three years, despite the board’s mandate to hike them by 10% annually, which might have compounded the loss. The free water that the Delhi government provided had also drawn concern from the Delhi High Court. It had advised the Delhi Government that they might charge one paisa or ten paise, but nothing should be given away for free. Notably, Arvind Kejriwal who did not held a single portfolio became the chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board in September 2017.

Conclusion

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP which is renowned for finding solutions to issues and always finding flaws in its opponents, has proven to be incredibly incompetent at running their own government. However, they opted, like a force of habit, to place the blame on everyone and everything, from the Lieutenant Governor to the Bharatiya Janata Party, rather than correcting their policies. With the majority of its senior leaders, including the chief minister, either behind bars or free on bail, the party that purported to offer alternative politics to the country is turning out to be among the most dishonest and inept political entities.

The ongoing water crisis which is an annual affair is also brought on by AAP’s ineptness. However, the Delhi Jal Board exposed the AAP administration’s lies in the Summer Bulletin, pointing out that Delhi gets more water than it needs from sources in Uttarakhand and Haryana. In addition, the board officials stated that Wazirabad was already receiving around 85 million gallons per day (MGD) more water from the Yamuna stream than was allotted to the pond from the Hathnikund barrage.

Water is sent to Delhi from Haryana via the Yamuna River, the Delhi Sub Branch and the Carrier Lined Canal. According to the three summer reports that were released on 31st May, 1st and 2nd June, Delhi is consistently obtaining more water overall from Uttarakhand and Haryana than it is allotted. Delhi received 604 MGD on 31st May and 607 MGD on 1st and 2nd June although it has a total allocation of 547 MGD from Haryana.

Notably, the Delhi Jal Board bulletin divulged that although Delhi was not given any water from the Yamuna, it took 85 MGD on 31st May and 101 MGD on 1st and 2nd June from the river. Carrier Lined Canal’s receipt was less than what was allocated. However, the total amount of water gained from Haryana exceeded the overall allocation since the board drew without permission from the Yamuna and acquired more water from the Delhi Sub Branch.

Unsurprisingly, the AAP leaders will not be dissuaded by the facts from their own department and are going to keep playing politics instead of coming up with tangible solutions to allay public fears and tackle the water crisis in the national capital.

WB: Parents protest after Govt school teacher prohibits student from wearing tilak, student alleges vegetarian students forced to eat non-veg food in mid-day meal

OpIndia Staff
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WB: Parents protest after Govt school teacher prohibits student from wearing tilak, student alleges vegetarian students forced to eat non-veg food in mid-day meal

On Friday, June 14, parents of students enrolled in the state-sponsored Raghunathganj Higher Girls School in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, staged a protest against the school’s administration, after a teacher allegedly issued a diktat prohibiting Hindu students from wearing a tilak and Tulsi mala to school.

In Hinduism, both the tilak and the tulsi mala hold significant religious and spiritual importance. They are more than mere symbols; they carry deep cultural, devotional, and spiritual meanings.

According to local reports, one of the affected students also alleged that the school insists that the students should eat the mid-day meals provided to them by the authorities, but these meals have no vegetarian food to offer to the vegetarian students.

The incident came to the fore after one of the students of the school highlighted the issue to her parents, who in turn, approached the principal of the school.

The parents reached the school and protested outside the main gate of the school by singing bhajans. After the matter escalated, some sadhus and devotees of ISKCON also reached the school and joined the parents in their protest against the school management. The protestors demanded that the directive issued by the teacher be withdrawn with immediate effect.

In what transpired, the children had returned to school after their summer vacations. A class 8 student named Anu Mondal said that when she reached her class sporting a tilak, she was reprimanded by her class teacher Vashwati.

The teacher asked the child to remove the tilak. She reminded her how she had warned them against wearing tilaks to school before the school shut for the summer break. She was infuriated that the student did not obey her order. The teacher reportedly told the victim student that her tilak was hurting her eye and she should not wear it to school.

The student also complained that many students in the school are vegetarians, despite this, they are forced to eat non-vegetarian mid-day meals. 

The student was quoted by the local media as saying, “I requested madam to give in writing that I cannot come to the school wearing the tilak but madam did not sign. She kept scolding me. My hands and legs were shivering in fear,” she said.

Speaking about the controversy, District Inspector Amar Kumar Sheel said, there is no such government mandate that prohibits students from wearing a tilak to school. There should be no objection from the school authorities. I have spoken to the headmistress of the school.

Meanwhile, Karabi Nandi, the principal of the school said, “A teacher of the school had forbidden the student from wearing a tilak. I have enquired with higher authorities whether or not religious rites in schools may be accepted.” She added that at present there is no such rule banning Tilaks in the school, and anyone can practice their religion. “Girls can come to school wearing tilak. There’s no stopping it,” the principal said.

Haryana: Cattle smugglers open fire in Nuh at people trying to protect cows from slaughter, cow protector Sonu Yadav alias Sarpanch suffers bullet injury

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: Cattle smugglers open fire in Nuh at people trying to protect cows from slaughter, cow protector Sonu Yadav alias Sarpanch suffers bullet injury

A cow protector was allegedly shot at by cattle smugglers in the early hours of Saturday morning (15th June) near Mahu-Chopta village in Haryana’s Nuh district, police said. The Police added that his condition is said to be critical. 

The Police added that the victim was identified as Sonu Yadav alias Sarpanch, a native of Rewari district. He was rushed to a private hospital in Faridabad from where he was referred to Gurugram’s Medanta Medicity where he is receiving treatment.

Police further stated that Sonu, a cow protector, and six others were chasing a vehicle that was suspected to be smuggling cattle, on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway near Ferozepur Jhirka, when the smugglers attacked them. 

Police said that the suspects are from Rajasthan as per preliminary investigations. A case was registered under sections 5, 13 (2), and 17 of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, and section 307 (attempt to murder) at Ferozepur Jhirka police station.

The Police added that the suspects who were smuggling cattle from Rajasthan were being chased by the cow protectors on a tip-off. According to the police, the incident unfolded when a cow protection task force received information that some cattle smugglers from Rajasthan were en route to Nuh in a pickup van. 

Nuh Superintendent of Police, Narendra Bijarnia said that the members of a cow protection task force tried to intercept the van, but the suspects started firing at them.

The Nuh SP said, “One of them suffered one bullet injury in his stomach and the suspects fled from the spot, leaving the van. The police team chased and arrested one of the suspects. We are questioning him to get details of his associates and from where they had stolen the cattle.” 

A cow protector, Chaman Khatana said that the incident took place at around 4:45 am on Saturday when a team of seven cow protectors chased the pick-up truck of the cow smugglers. 

Khatana added that the smugglers’ pick-up truck overturned on the road near Mau-Chopta village after which they started running away and one was caught by the cow protectors.

He further stated that when Sonu caught one suspected smuggler, the other cow smugglers opened fire. In the ensuing gunfire, Sonu got critically injured after getting a bullet shot in his stomach. 

After getting information about the incident, the cow protectors gathered outside the Medanta hospital and demanded protection for the cow protectors. 

A member of Bajrang Dal and counsel for cow protectors, Kulbhushan Bhardwaj said that licensed weapons should be made available to the ones protecting cows.

He stated that Sonu is being operated on and is reported critical. He added, “The cases of cattle smuggling have increased in the last few years and such incidents are becoming rampant in the district. The new expressway is used by these smugglers to safely smuggle cattle.” 

‘Over-sensationalisation and false depiction of facts’: Delhi HC orders removal of SM posts claiming Rajat Sharma abused Congress leader on TV

OpIndia Staff
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‘Over-sensationalisation and false depiction of facts’: Delhi HC orders removal of SM posts claiming Rajat Sharma abused Congress leader on TV

The Delhi High Court has ordered the removal of social media posts and videos by Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera, which accused journalist Rajat Sharma of abusing and using foul language against Nayak on live television.

In an ex parte interim order issued on Friday, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna stated that the Congress leaders had exaggerated the incident and misrepresented the facts. The Court determined that allowing the content to remain on social media would cause irreparable harm to Sharma.

Sharma has filed a defamation lawsuit against Nayak, Khera, and Ramesh, seeking ₹100 crore in damages. A video clip from a discussion on India TV, Sharma’s news channel, was circulated on social media during the Lok Sabha election results, alleging that Sharma used offensive language towards Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak. On June 10, Nayak posted the video on X, claiming that it captured Sharma using abusive language against her, and subsequently filed a police complaint.

On June 11, Sharma accused the Congress party’s media cell of orchestrating a false campaign against him, stating that India TV had warned Congress’ communication department that spreading false information would be considered defamation. He suggested that Nayak was sent to provoke him during the broadcast. Despite the warning, the Congress media cell continued their allegations, prompting Sharma’s legal action.

Sharma’s legal counsel issued a statement on India TV’s X handle, warning Nayak, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera against making defamatory claims. The statement asserted that the allegations were baseless, malicious, and constituted fake news, violating public decency. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, assisted by Sudeep Chatterjee, Rohan Swarup, Kunal Vats, and Sanyam Suri from Singh & Singh Law Firm, represented Rajat Sharma.

Congress government in Karnataka hikes petrol, diesel prices in the state by Rs 3 per litre

ANI
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Congress government in Karnataka hikes petrol, diesel prices in the state by Rs 3 per litre

The Karnataka government has announced an increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, effective immediately from Saturday.

The increase in price comes following an official notification from the Government of Karnataka, which indicates a revision in the sales tax levied on petroleum products.

The price of petrol has surged by Rs 3, bringing the cost per litre in Bengaluru to Rs 102.84, up from the previous rate of Rs 99.84. Similarly, the price of diesel has increased by Rs 3.02, raising the cost per litre from Rs 85.93 to Rs 88.95.

According to the Petroleum Dealers Association, the price has increased because the state government has revised the sales tax in the state, which is levied on petroleum products in the state.

According to the notification, the sales tax on petrol has been increased from 25.92 percent to 29.84 percent, while the tax on diesel has risen from 14.3 percent to 18.4 percent by the state government.

This significant increase in the sales tax has directly impacted the retail prices of both petrol and diesel across the state.

The move by the Finance Department of Karnataka aims to generate additional revenue for the state. However, it is likely to have a ripple effect on various sectors, including transportation and goods distribution, potentially leading to increased costs for consumers.

The immediate implementation of these new prices has caught many residents and businesses by surprise, prompting concerns over the financial burden it may impose.

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

Uttar Pradesh: Maulvi Abdul Hafeez forces children to wash his private part in Madrasa, also accused of forcing them to clean him after defecation, complaint filed

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Uttar Pradesh: Maulvi Abdul Hafeez forces children to wash his private part in Madrasa, also accused of forcing them to clean him after defecation, complaint filed

A shocking case of crime against a minor inside the premises of Madrassa has come to light from the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh. A Maulvi (cleric) named Abdul Hafeez is accused of committing obscene acts with minor students attending madrassa. It is alleged that he forced minors to wash his private parts. A child further alleged that the Maulvi also used to ask to wash his buttocks after defecation. He used to threaten students if they refused his directions. Consequently, many students started refusing to attend the Madrassa.    

On Thursday (11th June 2024), several villagers lodged a complaint with the District Superintendent of Police, demanding strict action against the Maulvi. After receiving the complaint, the police started investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the Maulana has denied the allegations. In his defence, he called the accusations baseless and stated that he would take legal action against the complainants.

This incident pertains to the Munderwa police station area in Basti district. In the village of Parsa Hajjam, a madrasa named Arabiya Shamsul Uloom has been operating for a long time. Many minor children from the village and its surrounding areas attend this madrasa to receive religious education. About three years ago, a Maulvi named Abdul Hafeez from the Munderwa police station area was appointed to teach children at this madrasa.

According to the complaint, the appointment of the cleric is part of a conspiracy by certain individuals to take control of the madrasa. It further states that Abdul Hafeez is merely pretending to teach the children, as some villagers are aiding and supporting him. Shortly after his appointment, children began complaining about the Maulvi committing atrocities. One of the victims is a child from Bihar.

The child called home and reported that Abdul Hafeez made the children wash his buttocks after he returned from defecating. He also accused the Maulvi of committing heinous acts with him. The family of the victimized student has recorded this complaint over the phone. In this recording, the child further said that he would no longer study at the madrasa.

The complainants expressed their embarrassment over the activities taking place in the madrasa. It has also been alleged that Maulvi Abdul Hafeez is being protected by Sadiq Ali’s son Muslim, Parvez Ahmed, Tawakkal Hussain, and a few other villagers. The villagers also fear that a conspiracy is being hatched to frame them instead.

OpIndia has accessed a complaint copy. The complainants described Maulvi Abdul Hafeez as very cunning, expressing concern that he wants to incite conflict among the villagers. He is also accused of luring many other children, committing inappropriate acts with them, and threatening them if they resist. About half a dozen villagers have signed this complaint letter.

The allegations against me are baseless, will take legal action: Maulvi

While talking to the media, Maulvi Abdul Hafeez dismissed the allegations against himself as baseless. He described it as a conspiracy to defame him and tarnish the reputation of the Madrassa. He has announced sending legal notices against those who tarnish his reputation. The cleric has alleged that Abraar Ahmad, Mohammad Sagir, Nisar, Mohammad Hakeem, Samsuddin, and Yunus threaten him on a daily basis.

Maulana Abdul Hafeez has expressed danger to his life from all these people. The legal advisor of the madrasa, Shoaib Azam, has called this complaint a conspiracy by influential people in the village to take over the madrasa. Meanwhile, the parents of the students studying in this madrasa have reached the area to take their children with them.

The unending menace of Love Jihad: Sarfaraz rapes a Hindu victim multiple times in Agra; Firoz traps and blackmails a Hindu girl in Jaipur

OpIndia Staff
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The unending menace of Love Jihad: Sarfaraz rapes a Hindu victim multiple times in Agra; Firoz traps and blackmails a Hindu girl in Jaipur

Despite all the laws and awareness campaigns, Love Jihad cases in the country show no signs of stopping. Notably, two separate cases of Love Jihad were recently reported from Jaipur in Rajasthan and Agra in Uttar Pradesh. In Agra, it is alleged that the accused raped the victim on the pretext of marriage and pressurised her for religious conversion. While, in the Jaipur case, the accused Firoz, belonging to the Muslim community, blackmailed a Hindu girl to run away with him. 

In Agra, a Muslim youth named Sarfaraz introduced himself as Raj to develop a friendship with a minor Hindu girl. He later snared her in a Love trap. During this time, he raped the girl multiple times on the pretext of marriage. Later he started pressurising the girl to convert and do Nikah. He also threatened to kill the victim and her family if she refused to obey him. 

The girl is a resident of the Chhatta Police Station area. While filing a complaint with the police, she stated that her father passed away five years ago. Her mother earns a living by sweeping and cleaning utensils in other people’s homes. She mentioned that about a year ago, she used to attend tuition classes, where she developed a friendship with a boy named Raj alias Raja. Eventually, they started interacting and meeting each other more frequently.

During this time, Sarfaraz posed as Raj told her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. The girl agreed as well. After this, under the pretext of marriage, the accused raped the minor victim multiple times. The girl alleges that whenever she mentioned marriage, he would evade the topic. One day, after a lot of insistence, Raj (name used by Sarfaraz) said that for marriage, the girl would have to convert to Islam.

The minor victim said that it was for the first time that she found out that the person who introduced himself as Raj was actually a Muslim man named Sarfaraz. After this incident, the minor started maintaining distance from him. Despite this, Sarfaraz continued to pressure the girl and her family for marriage. Frustrated by this, the victim and her family told the accused that they would marry her when she turned 18 years of age. After this, Sarfaraz started threatening them.

The victim and her family allege that Sarfaraz threatened to kill them. After this, the girl’s family sought help from Hindu organisations, and, with their assistance, they filed a case at the Chhatta police station. Based on the complaint filed by the girl’s brother, a case has been registered against the accused under various sections. Meanwhile, the police are searching for the accused.

Love Jihad in Jaipur: Family alleges Firoz and his gang lure Hindu girls and then blackmail them into marriage

On 11th June 2024, a girl left for college in Jaipur, Rajasthan but she did not return home and went missing. Subsequently, her family members lodged a complaint at the nearby Bindiayaka police station. They alleged that the girl had left home with a gold chain, Rs 20,000 in cash, and her brother’s scooter. Her brother stated that Firoz was blackmailing her for marriage.

The girl’s family has accused Firoz Khan and his associates of blackmailing the Hindu girl to elope with them. They allege that Firoz and his gang lure Hindu girls and force them into marriage by blackmailing them. Hindu organisations intervened, after which a case was registered in this matter. 

While filing a complaint, the girl’s brother expressed fear of a possible fatal attack by Firoz Khan and his associates on himself and his mother. It has been reported that Firoz Khan has applied for marriage under the Special Marriage Act at the Office of the ADM Fourth. DCP West Amit Kumar stated that an FIR has been filed and preliminary action is underway.

Delhi HC directs Sunita Kejriwal and social media platforms to delete video of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressing court in excise policy case

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi HC directs Sunita Kejriwal and social media platforms to delete video of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressing court in excise policy case

On 15th June, the Delhi High Court issued an order to Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and many others to remove footage of the proceedings during which he addressed the court after his arrest in connection with the excise policy case. Judges Neena Bansal Krishna and Amit Sharma of the Division Bench further instructed social media platforms X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to delete similar content when it is brought to their notice.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by attorney Vaibhav Singh was being heard by the court which called for the creation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into and lodge a First Information Report (FIR) about the “alleged conspiracy of recording and sharing the audio and video” of the court proceedings and “putting the life” of the trial court judge at “risk.”

According to the plea, the accused “contemnor(s) and members/supporters of political parties” are Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and a few other individuals. They are charged with recording and posting the trial court proceedings on 28th March, the day Arvind Kejriwal (who had been produced) spoke before the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Kaveri Baweja. The court also instructed the removal of the video from numerous other social media accounts. Moreover, Sunita Kejriwal, the social networking sites and other accounts that had uploaded the video were given notice by the bench.

The bench also sent notifications to Sunita Kejriwal and five other respondents, stating in an “ex parte ad interim order” that they are “restrained from reposting” the content in question. The court pronounced, “The order be communicated to them within 48 hours. Service be also effected through ordinary and electronic mode.” The petitioner was also asked to deliver to the respondents who had not been served.

As for the social networking platform Meta, attorney Tejas Karia argued that his client would have “nothing remaining” to erase if the original poster(s) took down the content. He alleged, “If they don’t take it down, we will take it down pursuant to court orders.” The court then highlighted that whenever it is brought to Meta’s “notice” that there is a “reposting of these identical content.” it will delete it. The matter will now be heard on 9th July.

“Several members of the Aam Aadmi Party including members of various other opposition parties have intentionally and deliberately and with the wilful intention to malign and manipulate the court proceedings done the audio and video recording. The above circumstance suggests that this was a preplanned conspiracy to record the audio/video recording of the court proceedings hatched by Mr Arvind Kejriwal and his party members. That Mr Kejriwal never before nor after, presented his case in court which shows that presenting his case on 28.03.2024 was part of some conspiracy to gain public sentiments,” the petition mentioned.

He added that numerous social media accounts affiliated with AAP members and other political parties began sharing, resharing, reposting and publishing the audio and video recordings of the trial court proceedings as soon as the hearing ended on 28th March. “Ms Sunita Kejriwal w/o Mr Arvind Kejriwal who is CM of Delhi and accused in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam, reposted the audio recordings of the court proceedings, whereas recording of the court is prohibited Under High Court of Delhi Rules for video Conferencing for Courts 2021.”

The plea noted that the Delhi High Court Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts 2021, which expressly forbid unlawful recording of court proceedings, were broken by the unauthorised distribution of court recordings. It contended that the purpose of court hearings is to guarantee justice, fairness, and impartiality and yet, by encouraging sensationalism, misinterpretation, or manipulation of the recorded content, such illegal recordings have the potential to compromise the integrity of the legal system.

In order to determine who is in charge of purportedly recording and disseminating audio and video recordings of court proceedings, a comprehensive investigation is requested in the petition. “Punish the alleged contemnor as per the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and impose strict penalties on the individuals found guilty of the violation of VC Rules 2021 of this Hon’ble Court, as per the provisions specified in law.” Furthermore, the petition asked that social media platforms be given instructions to halt the release of these illegal recordings in the future and to penalize any person or organization that disobeys the orders.

After Arvind Kejriwal disregarded nine summonses from the Enforcement Directorate, he was taken into custody on 21st March in relation to the excise policy scam. Subsequently, the Delhi High Court upheld the agency’s decision. Later, Arvind Kejriwal petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn his arrest. He was given temporary relief by the Supreme Court in May, allowing him to campaign for his Aam Aadmi Party in the Lok Sabha election for a period of 21 days. On 2nd June, he turned himself in to the Tihar Jail officials per the apex court’s directive.

‘Glorification of terrorism, open calls for secession and repetition of Pakistani propaganda’: Read Arundhati Roy’s anti-India speech from 2010 for which she faces charges under UAPA

OpIndia Staff
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‘Glorification of terrorism, open calls for secession and repetition of Pakistani propaganda’: Read Arundhati Roy’s anti-India speech from 2010 for which she faces charges under UAPA

The day was 21st October 2010. Controversial author Arundhati Roy was invited to a seminar titled ‘Azadi: The Only Way‘ alongside other anti-India activists such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Sheikh Showkat Hussain and SAR Geelani.

The event was organised by Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP in the National Capital of Delhi. During the course of the programme, Arundhati Roy delivered a 15-minute-long speech and provoked people against the Indian State.

OpIndia has been able to access the complete, unedited and uncut version of her seditious speech which received an overwhelming response from her supporters at that time. An 8-minute video of the speech is produced here.

At the very onset, the controversial author claimed that the Indian State had waged a war against the poor in India.

While capitalising on popular discontentment in tribal areas during the then UPA era, Arundhati Roy had said, “About a week or 10 days ago, I was in Ranchi where there was a Peoples’ Tribunal against Operation Green Hunt— which is the Indian state’s war against the poorest people in this country“

She recounted that a journalist asked her about her stance on the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. “So I said, look, Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. However aggressively and however often you want to ask me that,” she parroted the Pakistani talking point on the erstwhile Indian State.

Creating ethnic and communal discord across India

Thereafter, Arundhati Roy went on to exploit existing fault lines and claimed that the Indian State was colonising parts of India through military interventions. She further alleged that minorities and certain ethnic groups were being ‘persecuted’ by the ‘upper caste Hindu State’.

“The British drew the map of India in 1899— so that country became a colonizing power the moment it became independent, and the Indian state has militarily intervened in Manipur, in Nagaland, in Mizoram, in Kashmir, in Telangana, during the Naxalbari uprising, in Punjab, in Hyderabad, in Goa, in Junagarh…So often the Indian government, the Indian state, the Indian elite, they accuse the Naxalites of believing in protracted war, but actually you see a State—the Indian State—that has waged protracted war against its own people or what it calls its own people relentlessly since 1947, and when you look at who are those people that it has waged war against— the Nagas, the Mizos, the Manipuris, people in Assam, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Punjab—it’s always a minority, the Muslims, the Tribals, the Christians, the Dalits, the Adivasis, endless war by an upper caste Hindu state, this is what is the modern history of our country.

After provoking a section of Indian society, the controversial author then openly called for the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India. She reiterated the Pakistani narrative of ‘Azadi’ and how India has occupied Kashmir and its people.

Recounting a 2007 interaction with a journalist, Arundhati Roy remarked, “India needs azaadi from Kashmir just as much as Kashmir needs azaadi from India”, and when I said India, I did not mean the Indian state, I meant the Indian people because I think that the occupation of Kashmir— today there are 700,000 security personnel manning that valley of 12 million people— it is the most militarized zone in the world— and for us, the people of India, to tolerate that occupation is like allowing a kind of moral corrosion to drip into our bloodstream.“

Despite being well aware that their provocative remarks in the National Capital could potentially create law and order discord in the Valley, she continued, “Kashmiris cannot inhale and exhale without their breath going through the barrel of an AK-47. So, so many things have been done there, every time there’s an election and people come out to vote, the Indian government goes and says—“Why do you want a referendum? There was a vote and the people have voted for India…”

False equivalence between Kashmiri separatism to India’s freedom movement

While drawing a false analogy, she claimed that the fight for ‘Azadi’ in Kashmir is akin to India’s fight against colonial British rule.

Roy continued, “Now, sometimes it’s very difficult to know from what place one stands on as formally a citizen of India, what can one say, what is one allowed to say, because when India was fighting for independence from British colonization— every argument that people now use to problematize the problems of azaadi in Kashmir were certainly used against Indians. Crudely put, “the natives are not ready for freedom, the natives are not ready for democracy.”

“The colonial state whether it was the British State in India or whether it’s the Indian State in Kashmir or Nagaland or in Chattisgarh, they are in the business of creating elites to manage their occupations, so you have to know your enemy and you have to be able to respond in ways where you’re tactical, where you’re intelligent, where you’re political— internationally, locally and in every other way— you have to make your alliances, because otherwise you’ll be like fish swimming furiously around a fish tank bombing the walls and getting tired in the end because those walls are very very strong,” she said towards the end of her speech.

Doomsday prophecies, fearmongering and glorification of Islamic terror

She also fear-mongered about the mass deployment of the Indian police, paramilitary and army in the whole of central India – a doomsday prophecy that did not materialise even after 14 years.

“So we are a slave nation today, our economy is completely—however much the Sensex may be growing, the fact is the reason that the Indian police, the paramilitary and soon perhaps the army will be deployed in the whole of central India is because it’s an extractive colonial economy that’s being foisted on us“, the controversial author continued with her fearmongering.

Arundhati Roy did not mince words before hailing anti-social elements and domestic terrorists (Maoists and Islamic terrorists) as ‘fighters for resistance.’

“…It’s also very easy for us to continue to pat ourselves on the backs as great fighters for resistance for anything whether it’s the Maoists in the forests or whether it’s the stone pelters on the streets— but actually we must understand that we are up against something very serious and I’m afraid that the bows and arrows of the Adivasis and the stones in the hands of the young people are absolutely essential but they are not the only thing that’s going to win us freedom, and for that we need to be tactical, we need to question ourselves, we need to make alliances, serious alliances.”

The controversial author also made sure to undermine the growth of radical Islamism and claimed it to be make-believe concept, stemming from ‘economic totalitarianism’ and ‘Hindu Fascism.’

“I often say that in 1986 when capitalism won its jihad against soviet communism in the mountains of Afghanistan, the whole world changed and India realigned itself in the unipolar world and in that realignment it did two things, it opened two locks , one was the lock of the Babri Masjid and one was the lock of the Indian markets and it ushered in two kinds of totalitarianism- Hindu fascism, Hindutva fascism and economic totalitarianism and both these manufactured their own kinds of terrorism —so you have Islamist “terrorists” and the Maoist “terrorists,” she continued.

Incitement, provocation and more unsubstantiated claims

Arundhati Roy also glorified terrorism and urged the common people of Jammu and Kashmir to continue to overthrow the Indian State and undermine the nation’s sovereignty. She continued to make outrageous claims albeit without evidence to incite those who are yet to pick up arms.

“I haven’t been to Kashmir recently— but I’ve seen and my heart is filled with appreciation for the struggle that people are waging, the fight that young people are fighting and I don’t want them to be let down. I don’t want them to be let down even by their own leaders because I want to believe that this fight is a fight for justice. Not a fight in which you pick and choose your justices—“we want justice but it’s ok if the other chap is squashed”. That’s not right...

And in the Kashmir valley you have such a sophisticated understanding of repression, 60 years of repression of secret operations, of spying, of intelligence operations, of death, of killing. But have you insulated yourself from that other understanding, of what the world is today? What these economic structures are? What kind of Kashmir are you going to fight for? Because we are with you in that fight, we are with you. But we want, we hope that it’ll be a fight for justice.“

With an eye to create communal tension between Hindus and Muslims, she remarked, “We know today that this word ‘secularism’ that the Indian state flings at us is a hollow word because you can’t kill 68,000 Kashmiri Muslims and then call yourself a secular state. You cannot allow the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat and call yourself a secular state and yet you can’t then turn around and say that “we are allowed to treat our minorities badly “—so what kind of justice are you fighting for? I hope that the young people will deepen their idea of Azaadi, it is something that the State and your enemies that you’re fighting uses to divide you. That’s true.“

Besides Jammu and Kashmir, Arundhati Roy had tried to sow seeds of mass uprising in Nagaland and Chhattisgarh by peddling make-believe stories.

“You have to ask yourselves why—the people of Nagaland must ask themselves why there’s a Naga battalion committing the most unbelievable atrocities in Chhatisgarh. After spending so much time in Kashmir watching the CRPF and the BSF and the Rashtriya Rifles lock down that valley, the firat time I went to Chhattisgarh, on the way I saw Kashmiri BSF, Kashmiri CRPF on the way to kill people in Chhatisgarh. You’ve got to ask yourself— there’s more to resistance than throwing stones— these things can’t be allowed to happen— “how is the state using people?” she had said.

Undermining genocide against Kashmiri Pandits

Interstingly, Arundhati Roy was quick to gloss over the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits when quizzed about it by an audience member. She resorted to whitewashing the atrocities by suggesting that Kashmir is a diverse place and majority want the pandits back in the Valley.

“I know the story of the Kashmiri pandits. I also know that the story that these Panun Kashmir pandits put out is false. However, this does not mean that injustice was not done…So, to just try and derail things by shouting at people is completely pointless because I think that people, the pandits in Kashmir, all the time I’ve spent in Kashmir, have only heard people say they are welcome back and I know people who live there, who believe that too…”

The developments in the case

Soon after the controversial author delivered her speech in October 2010, a case was registered against her based on a complaint by one Sushil Pandit (the then campaign manager of Arun Jaitley).

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on 29th November 2010 in connection to the case.

Arundhati Roy was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 504 (insult to provoke breach of peace) and 505 (rumour circulated with intent to cause mutiny).

After almost 14 years of no crucial development in the case, the Lieutenant Governor on Friday (14th June) sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

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