A Muslim youth named Firoz kidnapped a 22-year-old tribal girl from Kondagaon in Chhattisgarh. From Kondagaon, the accused took the girl to Mumbai’s Dharavi and raped her for nearly one and a half years. The accused Firoz not only kept the victim tied up in a dark room but also burnt her genitals by pouring chemicals. Firoz has been arrested from Uttar Pradesh.
The matter pertains to a village in the Makdi police station area, Kondagaon district, Bastar division. The 22-year-old tribal girl said that in 2023, as her health deteriorated, she went to Kondagaon Hospital for treatment, there, Firoz broke a bottle and placed it around her neck before kidnapping her. The perpetrator kidnapped the victim, seized her phone, and held her captive in Dharavi, Mumbai.
The victim further said that around 2022-23, she received a call from an unknown number on her phone. She would frequently disconnect and block the unknown number, but Firoz continued to follow her. He would ask the victim to meet him, but she would decline. When the victim’s health deteriorated, she traveled to Kondagaon for treatment. Somehow, accused Firoz learnt about this and followed the victim.
In a secluded area, Firoz stopped the girl and placed a broken glass bottle around her neck before kidnapping her and taking her to Mumbai. Firoz also seized the victim’s phone and sent a message to her family. He wrote, “I am safe. I am in love with a boy and intend to marry him. You people don’t worry about me.”
Another report says that Firoz and the victim met on Facebook in 2023 and Firoz lured the girl during the conservation. Regarding the kidnapping, the police said that the accused is a native of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh and had come to Kondagaon to meet the girl. On the 7th of June 2023, both of them went to Mumbai. They stayed there for more than a year, and the victim returned to Kondagaon in November 2024.
The girl said that Firoz works in a factory in Mumbai. He kept her in a small room in the Dharavi slum which did not even have a window. The girl added that when Firoz used to go to the factory for work in the morning, he would tie her hands and legs with a cloth. Moreover, he used to pull her hair and brutally thrash her. She further stated that the accused deprived her of food and other essentials. The victim claimed that since she did not know anyone in Dharavi, she endured Firoz’s brutalities for months.
In addition, the victim said that for over 1.5 years, Firoz raped her multiple times and upon refusing, he would mercilessly beat her. Three months ago, when the victim stopped Firoz from raping her again, the accused allegedly poured chemicals into her private part and burnt it.
Detailing how she managed to escape Firoz’s captivity, the victim said that one day, Firoz forgot his mobile at his home. The victim checked his phone and found the number of the owner of the factory where the accused worked. The victim dialled the number and revealed her ordeal. The factory-owner helped the victim escape and she reached the railway station. From there, the victim reached her native village in Kondagaon and informed her family about Firoz’s crimes. Subsequently, the victim lodged an FIR against the accused.
Meanwhile, the victim has been admitted to the district hospital of Kondagaon, where she is undergoing treatment. Dr RC Thakur, Civil Surgeon at Kondagaon District Hospital, stated that on the 5th of November, the victim arrived at the hospital complaining of vomiting, weakness, and stomach pain. It has been found that there is a long-standing infection in the private part.
The civil surgeon says that there were no burns or injuries on the girl’s body. Meanwhile, accused Firoz has been arrested by Kondagaon police in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He has been brought to Kondagaon. Additional Superintendent of Police Kaushalendra Dev Patel said that the police of the Makdi police station area are interrogating the accused.
Last week, the Malegaon police charged a ‘businessman’ identified as Siraj Ahmed Harun Meman with misusing 12 people’s bank accounts and conducting transactions worth Rs 90 crore. According to the police, the trader informed the interested parties that he intended to start a corn trading company through the Malegaon agriculture market committee and required various bank accounts.
As per the reports, the accused further assured the villagers that he would help them get the jobs if he was helped with the bank accounts to establish the business. Around 12 bank account holders identified as Rahul Kale, Manoj Misal, Pratik Jadhav, Pavan Jadhav, Lalit More, Rajendra Giri, Dhanraj Bacchav, Bhavesh Ghumre, Divakar Ghumre, and Dattatray Kailas were alarmed when they discovered the large sums of money transacted through their accounts.
This led them to promptly file a complaint against the trader at the Chhavani police station, where an FIR was lodged under sections 3(5), 316(5), 318 (4)(cheating), 336(3), 340(2) and 338 (forgery) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Inspector Deepak Jadhav of the Chhavani police station stated, “We are investigating the details of the transactions made through the accounts of these 12 individuals. No arrests have been made so far.”
According to Jadhav, the trader, who runs an agency dealing in tea and cold drinks in Malegaon, had informed his vehicle driver that he needed to open bank accounts in other people’s names to facilitate payments to farmers, as he was planning to enter the corn trading business at the market committee. The trader had also promised him a job in the market committee in return for his assistance in opening the accounts.
The driver subsequently arranged for 11 others, who provided their documents to open accounts in a co-operative bank in Malegaon, hoping to secure jobs as well. These accounts were opened on September 27th. As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, one of the account holders then checked his account and discovered that crores of rupees had been transacted through his account.
Upon contacting the others, they all visited the bank and learned that transactions totalling Rs 90 crore had been made across the 12 accounts. Concerned that their accounts were being exploited for illegal activities, they filed a complaint of cheating against the trader.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya meanwhile took cognizance of the incident and wrote to the Election Commission saying that money was being used to practice ‘Vote Jihad’. “It seems hundreds of crore rupees benami transactions have taken place in October 2024. Some money would have been used for the elections, Vote Jihad,” he said.
“In all 17 bank accounts were used to receive money and transfer the same to various more than 2 dozen bank accounts in various parts of Maharashtra. Some details about Rs 25 crore hawala transactions are traced to Mumbai. It seems that more than Rs 50 crore have been transferred to a couple of accounts in Mumbai/Ahmedabad. Siraj Ahmed and his colleague Naim Khan have anonymously used Rs 125 crores. This Rs 125 crore has been withdrawn and transferred to various benami entities,” he added.
Somaiya also noted that Malegaon was a place where a very aggressive Vote Jihad movement was going on. During Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the BJP candidate got only 100 votes against the Congress candidate who got 194000 votes, he said.
He also demanded the strictest punishment against the accused and his associate.
Many controversies have arisen as a result of the comments uttered during the Muslim conference protesting the Waqf Amendment Bill that was held at Talkatora Stadium in the national capital, Delhi. The government was even asked to express gratitude to the Muslim community at the gathering of Muslim scholars and others from different parts of the nation, which included the head and other officials of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
According to former Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb, it was a favour by the Muslim community that the border of Pakistan only limited to Lahore otherwise it would have been expanded as far as Lucknow. He also referred to the bill as the greatest assault on Waqf. Mohammad Adeeb, referring to having completed nearly eighty years of his life and moving around in political circles for more than fifty years, claimed, “Today we are living like criminals in our area. Now, we have even become traitors. We have seen such people who were with us and then left us to fate to build their lives in politics. We were blamed for those who went to Pakistan.”
He then added, “We believe that those who went to Pakistan made their lives, but we shared our blood, we refused and rejected Jinnah. We did not believe in Liaquat Ali Khan, we believed in Nehru, Gandhi and Maulana Azad. We Muslims did not go with Jinnah, the government should accept this favour of ours. Otherwise, Pakistan would not have been made till Lahore but till Lucknow.”
He alleged that Pakistan remained small because of Muslims yet the current government has been punishing and oppressing them. “Of all the attacks on us so far, the biggest attack is on our status. We endured riots and bulldozers were run on our houses, but we (some of us) did not speak because our homes were safe and we lived for ourselves,” he remarked.
Ex MP “मो० अदीब” ने हिंदुस्थान में दी “पाकिस्तान” ki धमकी
मो० अदीब बोले कि अगर मुसलमान "जिन्ना के साथ जाते तो पाकिस्तान लखनऊ तक होता"
दलितों को मिल रहे न्याय से भी बहुत दुःखी दिखे “मो० अदीब”
सियासी दलों को अब इस बात की चिंता नहीं कि “मियाँ नाराज़ हो जाएगा”
Mohammad Adeeb invoked the old days and remarked, “Today we have nothing left. You people are our strength. The biggest problem we have faced is that we no longer have any status. When we were studying in Aligarh, the political parties used to say that the miyan (Muslims) might get angry,” indicating how the political class of the time was in constant fear of losing the Muslim vote bank and hence never took any action which could upset them.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) President Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and General Secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi, Secretary Muhammad Umrain Mahfuz Rahmani were also present on the stage along with Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi, Samajwadi Party leader and MP from Rampur Maulana Mohibbullah Nadvi and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka Syed Naseer Hussain.
On 28th July, the central government proposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. However, it was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) due to the objection from the opposition parties. Waqf boards now have the jurisdiction to declare any property “waqf property.” The law seeks to limit their authority. It also recommends including Muslim women and non-Muslims to state Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
An undated video of a Muslim cleric allegedly spitting after allegedly reciting a surah, or Muslim prayers, in water bottles held by his zealous followers has been going viral on the internet. Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen shared the video of a presumably Bangladeshi Muslim cleric who could be seen spitting as scores of his Muslim followers jostled to hold their water bottles to him for him to spit into them.
“A mullah is reciting a surah and then spitting or blowing on the water, giving it to people who believe that this water is holy, and by drinking it, they will be free from diseases and troubles. the mullah is clever, and the disciples are fools,” Nasreen tweeted along with the video.
A mullah is reciting a surah and then spiting or blowing on the water, giving it to people believe that this water is holy, and by drinking it, they will be free from diseases and troubles. the mullah is clever, and the disciples are fools. pic.twitter.com/06wgj1oamq
The significance of spitting in Islam: How it can ‘ward off Satan’
Food hygiene has recently gained prominence on social media, particularly due to viral videos showing people contaminating food with urine, saliva, and other substances, and for those who regard personal hygiene and cleanliness as something that is uncompromisable but that doesn’t appear to be the case for the Muslim devotees seen in the above video, who eagerly line up to get their water spat into by a Muslim cleric, possibly driven by the belief that his spit would cure them of their illness and enrich their religious pursuits. As such, in Islam, spitting carries a special meaning, especially, to ward off the ‘evil spirit’ or ‘Satan’.
According to various Hadiths, spitting in a particular manner can ward off bad dreams and even the interference of Satan (Shaitaan) himself. According to Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 513, spitting to your left is a way to be safe from bad dreams. It says that the Prophet of Islam said: “A good dream is from Allah, and a bad or evil dream is from Satan; so if any of you has a bad dream of which he gets afraid, he should spit on his left side and should seek Refuge with Allah from its evil, for then it will not harm him.”
This also gets credence in Sahih Muslim, Book 026, Number 5463 which says that spitting to your left three times stops the interference of Satan.
Uthman b. Abu al-‘As reported that he came to Allah’s Messenger and said: “Allah’s Messenger, Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur’an and he confounds me. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: That is (the doing of Satan) who is known as Khinzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allah from it and spit three times to your left. I did that and Allah dispelled that from me.”
Though Muslims not only have no qualms with their religious leaders spitting in their food and water as clearly evident in the above video, they also tend to link it to divinity, the Uttar Pradesh government under Yogi Adityanath had been mulling over enforcing strict laws to ensure food is not contaminated with spitting, urine, or other unsanitary items. A report published last month said the Yogi Adityanath administration was all set to bring a new law that would grant every consumer the “right to know essential information” about food and beverage sellers and service providers.
Ilma Afroj, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Baddi in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district has gone on a 15-day leave amidst reports of the administration of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reportedly preparing to transfer her soon. The matter transpired after Doon MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kumar Chaudhary got into a heated argument with the officer. He also initiated a privilege motion from the state assembly against her. She allegedly faced pressure even from her own department due to the intimidation by the government.
This conflict began in August 2024 when authorities issued challans for the vehicles of MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary’s wife in connection with the illegal mining in Baddi. This drove a wedge between the MLA and the policewoman. He then levelled serious allegations against her in the state assembly and moved a privilege motion against her.
Ilma has been awarded by several organizations for her commendable work in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area. She gathered these medals and books as cherished keepsakes and set off for Uttar Pradesh. Ilma took on the role of Superintendent of Police in the Baddi Police District on January 27, 2024.
On the other hand, there was also a firing incident in Baddi that was recently discovered. A bulletproof car on Kheda Rajpur Road was shot at many times. Ramkishan, a scrap trader, was the target of the bullets. However, after further investigation, it was revealed that he had orchestrated the entire incident including the firing at him. He disclosed secret information to the accused who had launched the bullets.
Ramkishan was constantly demanding an All India Gun License from the police, but considering his old record, they did not accept his application. He was arrested and a case was launched against him. According to sources, the scrap dealer is close to an influential Congress leader who started to force Ilma Afroz to cover up the matter. The members of the ruling party turned it into an issue and reached Shimla. On the orders of the government, senior police officers called her and addressed the matter but she refused to stop the investigation, per media reports. Afterwards, she was directed to go on a long leave.
Furthermore, the absence of the official from the 15th August program infuriated the MLA. Subsequently, he did not visit her office when the Industry Minister went there. He had also raised questions about her working style and boycotted events where she was present. He even made grave accusations against the woman officer while talking to the media during the assembly session when a notice of breach of privilege was introduced by him. Afterwards, the tippers and JCBs of his family were challaned by her which only escalated the controversy.
Ilma Afroz was preparing for the two-day conference to be held at the Shimla Secretariat on the 7th and 8th of November and went to Shimla on the 6th of November to attend a meeting regarding the same. She met with Congress leaders and officials after which she returned to Baddi, packed her things and went to her home in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh along with her mother. She recently joined the position around ten months ago on 27th January of this year.
Ahead of the Maharashtra elections scheduled on 20th November, netizens on social media shared several videos of deliberate attacks and assaults that took place in the state when Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power from 2019 to 2022. Netizens indicated that if MVA returns to power in Maharashtra, a series of targeted attacks and deliberate assaults would continue against people raising their voices against the government.
One of the videos shared online was that of Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale, who was put behind bars for around 40 days after she shared a post against NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
“This video is of Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale being released from jail. 22 FIRs were registered against her. Was arrested like a wanted criminal. Spent over 40 days in jail. And why? For sharing a poem on social media criticizing Sharad Pawar? Is Maharashtra ready for the same again? INDI alliance has the audacity to talk about democracy, FoE etc?” said one of the users.
This video is of Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale being released from jail -22 FIRs were registered against her -Was arrested like a wanted criminal -Spent over 40 days in jail
And why? For sharing a poem on social media criticizing Sharad Pawar
While several users shared the post, some of them also slammed the then-MVA government for disrespecting Chitale’s free speech in the case. “They act all righteous about freedom and rights, but the moment someone calls them out, it’s a whole different story. Just shows how fragile their ego is. If they can’t handle criticism, they should never be in power,” one of the users added.
“Why no one is speaking for free speech in the Ketaki Chitale case? Why does any German shepherd not call it a dictatorship?” another user said.
Marathi Actress Ketaki Chitale was molested by NCP workers in police custody
The videothat is going viral dates back to June 2022, which shows Chitale getting released from the Thane jail. She was arrested on May 15th of that year for sharing a ‘derogatory’ post on Facebook against NCP chief Sharad Pawar. She was also allegedly molested by the NCP workers while she was in Police custody. Claiming that she did not speak about Sharad Pawar in the first place, she then slammed the MVA government for misusing its power against her.
“I did not speak about Sharad Pawar. I was unlawfully picked up from my house without any prior notice, or any statement. I was molested by the NCP workers during the police custody,” she said in an exclusive interview with Times Now.
I was unlawfully picked up from my house without any prior notice, without any statement. I was molested during police custody by NCP workers: Ketaki Chitale, Actor@thenewshour AGENDA @PadmajaJoshipic.twitter.com/JGklSFZUgg
Another video shared by the netizens was that of the Republic TV journalist Arnab Goswami who was attacked by two Congress workers during Uddhav Thackeray tenure as CM. “Not to forget the then MH govt’s witch hunt of Arnab Goswami,” one of the users shared indicating that the state should expect more such attacks in the coming times if the MVA comes to power.
Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami attacked in 2020 by Mumbai Police
On the intervening night of 22nd and 23rd April 2020, after his regular edit call post the 10 pm debate, Arnab Goswami and his wife were driving back home when two bike-borne assailants attacked their car.
The assailants parked their bikes in front of Arnab Goswami’s car in order to get him to stop the car and then attacked him. Arnab Goswami and his wife escaped unhurt. However, the assailants, after attacking the car and trying to break the windows, also threw ink at the car. According to Republic TV, the goons confessed that they were from Congress and the attack took place only 500 meters away from Goswami’s residence.
Further, in a targeted witch-hunt against Goswami, the Mumbai Police under the MVA rule reached his residence and physically manhandled him as they tried to detain him in a 2018 abetment to suicide case that was already closed. A team of Mumbai Police arrested Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami after they physically assaulted and dragged him by grabbing his hair. He was also dragged by his belt by Mumbai Police and beaten up on his spine causing him serious injuries.
Palghar Sadhu lynched in 2020
Apart from this, several brutal incidents, like the mob lynching of Hindu Sadhus in Palghar district, were reported during the rule of the MVA government. On 16th April 2020, two Sadhus associated with the Juna Akhara, 70-year-old Kalpavrishka Giri Maharaj, and 35-year-old Sushil Giri Maharaj, along with their driver 30-year-old Nilesh Telgadewere, were on their way from Mumbai to Gujarat to give Samadhi to another Sadhu.
At Gadakchinchale village, a wild and frenzied crowd of more than 100 people attacked them. The villagers deemed them as thieves and started attacking them. The police claim that their team, which had rushed to the spot to rescue the 70-year-old man, also came under the attack of the violent mob. But later videos emerged which completely debunked the claim of the police, as it was seen that the sadhus were in the custody of the police, but the police personnel handed them over to the mob. The mob then proceeded to beat them to death in front of the policemen.
Later, it was also reported that the killing of the Sadhus may have been intentional and politically motivated. The involvement of Christian Missionary organizations, some local NCP leaders, and leftists was also suspected. However, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Aditya Thackeray categorically downplayed the incident and claimed that the state has never seen any kind of mob lynching incident. In an interview with the Lallantop, Thackrey claimed that the state had never seen any kind of mob lynching case.
Have you ever heard of mob lynching in Maharashtra?
There has never been any mob lynching in our state
He was then criticized by BJP’s Amit Malaviya who posted a video on X appealing people to vote wisely. “Aditya Thackeray can’t seem to remember Palghar lynchings, perhaps because those lynched were saffron-clad sadhus and grandson of Balasaheb Thackeray despises everything Hindu… Maharashtra will never forgive the Maha Vinaash Agadhi,” he said.
Aditya Thackeray can’t seem to remember Palghar lynchings, perhaps because those lynched were saffron clad sadhus and grandson of Balasaheb Thackeray despises everything Hindu…
Massive mismanagement was reported in Maharashtra during the active spread of Coronavirus. The number of recoveries was allegedly misreported by the state to show that the methods being adopted by the state to prevent the spread of the virus were working well.
Further, the coronavirus patients being treated at Mumbai’s Sion Hospital emergency ward were allegedly sharing beds, with two people being allocated to a bed. A rise in the shortage of beds was reported. The patients, many with coronavirus symptoms were also sharing a single oxygen tank. The videos of the patients lying almost on top of each other, sleeping on shared stretchers, or just lying on the floor had also gone viral years back.
Amidst allegations of mismanagement, a marketing campaign was however launched to show how CM Uddhav Thackeray was the best Chief Minister and was handling the pandemic rather effectively. While the suspicions about the PR campaign for Uddhav Thackeray were just about gaining wind, a tweet by actress and model Urvashi Rautela had given fuel to those speculations. Refuting allegations of plagiarism, she said that it was the “same tweet” that was “provided” to “her and Siddharth Malhotra” by the Mumbai Police and hence, “nobody copied anyone”.
‘Modi ji is country’s PM, not BJP’s PM, why is he not campaigning for MVA’: Uddhav Thackeray
Ahead of the Maharashtra elections, Uddhav Thackeray went on a bizarre rant against Prime Minister Modi during a political rally in the Wani district. Thackeray contended that the Prime Minister is the country’s leader and not the BJP’s leader alone and he should have come for political campaigning for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the alliance that is fighting BJP-led Mahayuti Alliance for the upcoming Maharashtra polls.
“Modi ji is the Prime Minister of India, not the PM of BJP. If he has taken the oath of treating all citizens equally, why is he not here campaigning for the Maha Vikas Aghadi? Are we not Indians?” Thackeray said.
"Modiji is Prime Minister of India, not PM of BJP. If he has taken an oath to treat all as equal, why is he not campaigning for MVA? Are we not Indians?"
Thackeray’s confounding attack against the Prime Minister has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum and has led many to infer that the MVA is indeed lagging in polls as one of its senior leaders attempted to gaslight the public by training guns on PM Modi.
Uddhav Thackeray had earlier slammed the Election Commission officials for checking his bags at the Wani helipad in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district. He released a video in which he could be seen identifying the government identities of the officials and expressing anger over checking his bags. He alleged that the ECI officials had been checking only the bags of the opposition party members and not that of the Mahayuti alliance members.
“Why are only our bags checked? Have you checked Modi’s, Amit Shah’s, Devendra Fadnavis, or Eknath Shinde’s bags?” he asked. To this, the ECI officials stated that the said leaders had not come to the district yet for campaigning. The officials also assured them that their bags would also be checked if they came here.
The 288 legislative assembly seats in Maharashtra will go to the polls in a single phase on November 20th while the counting of votes will take place on November 23rd.
The Organiser Weekly recently went to Sahibganj in Jharkhand’s tribal-dominated Santhal Pargana division to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the assembly elections. The region has been in the news due to the high infiltration of the outside Muslim population, including settlement of illegal Rohingyas and swift demographic change—issues that have also been raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a YouTube video uploaded on 12th November titled “Jharkhand | Why People In Santhal’s Sahibganj Will Vote For BJP?” the locals conveyed their views on the aforementioned issues. “We will vote for those who would do good work,” stated Parasnath Ram, a tribal as he shared his problems. “People from Dira have settled here,” and added, “We won’t allow them to enter. It would be very difficult,” when asked about Bangladeshis and reiterated that they cannot come here.
Another person, Soni Lal Kumar Chaudhary declared his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted, “I will vote for the BJP because it is doing a lot of things for me including providing toilets, water tanks, taps in every home and electricity,” When inquired about Chief Minister Hemant Soren who has been in the state for so many years, he responded, “I will not support him because he has not done anything for me. He only works for his caste. He is a Scheduled Tribe and I am an OBC (Other Backward Class).”
He also stated that Hemant Soren was a Christian when questioned. He even discussed the problem of rampant conversion in the area and announced that his vote was for PM Modi irrespective of the candidate. “I will only cast my ballot for lotus.” He added that the party isn’t against any community or religion. It treats them equally and works for their development. “There are no discrepancies or discrimination in his policies due to which I support PM Modi,” he underlined.
Rajwada, a Congress voter for many years and supporter of its alliance with JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) also confirmed that the BJP is going to come to power in the state and the atmosphere is in their favour. “I will vote for Alamgir Alam as Congress as he is from,” he stated and admitted that he is a beneficiary of the policies of the Modi administration including free ration and pension. However, he yet again clarified that he supports Hemant Soren and Alamgir Alam.
A resident named Ram Tehel Singhji also stated that his vote was for the BJP and mentioned, “I will vote for the party even if he didn’t get anything. My sons will vote for Hemant Soren but my wife and I will vote for the BJP.” Another man declared that he would vote for the saffron party and conveyed, “We will earn if we work hard,” when asked what the BJP had done for him. “The election is not one-sided,” he added.
Afterwards, two other people expressed their happiness over the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. “This is a matter of great joy and good fortune. Congress party ruled for seventy years but didn’t take the matter seriously. Lord Ram returned after 500 years because humans were the roadblock. They were not allowing him to come back to his palace. The BJP government broke the proverbial locks and made it possible. Now, a grand temple stands at the place and lakhs of devotees visit and bow their hands there as well as seek the Lord’s blessings. What could possibly be more joyful than this,” one of them stated.
When asked about how Bangladeshis are being settled in the area and new voters are being added, according to news reports and whether it is true he replied, “It has been happening on the ground. It has been happening in Barharwa and Pakur among other regions.” He further charged, “They marry tribal women and stay in the area. Our daughters and lands are in grave danger. We are observing everything but what can we do? We are helpless. We are not the administration. Infiltration is indeed taking place,” in response to the mentioning of Jamai Tola, a locality where infiltrators are residing with the women of the tribal community after marrying them. He accused that these things were transpiring right under Hemant Soren’s nose. “All of them are in this together. They are Hemant Soren’s voters. He gets votes from them,” he added.
A vendor named Dilip Chaudhary stated that he would vote for the BJP. “My entire family, even my father and grandfather have been BJP’s voters. I will also do the same until I am alive. Our footsteps would be followed by the future generations as well. I have nothing to do with the BJP’s work. My only concern is earning for myself. I don’t want anything from PM Modi. God is providing for the necessities of my family with the hard work I am doing. That is all I want. Narendra Modi is the best prime minister. He has been in power for the last three terms and will continue for many more. He should be prime minister for as long as I live, at the very least.”
He also expressed his happiness over Ram Mandir and hoped that the dispute at Kashi and Mathura would also be resolved in favour of the Hindu community. “PM Modi now has to turn them into paradise then tourists who come to India can also visit the places,” Dilip mentioned that he has been running his stall for the last thirty to thirty-five years. Meanwhile, a woman working alongside him voiced similar sentiments and also raised the “Jai Shri Ram” slogan.
The serious problem of Bangladeshi intruders
Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held in two phases from 13th to 20th November and the results will be declared on 23rd November. Meanwhile, the problem of Bangladeshi infiltrators and the protection of tribal land and identity have emerged as major issues in the state and Santhal Pargana has been most affected. The Muslim-dominated regions of Santhal Pargana were visited by an Organizer team where amidst several obstacles, thirty-five Hindu families are fighting to uphold and conserve their customs. There are almost 11,000 Muslim families in the area that surround these Hindu households.
Nevertheless, despite pressure from nearby Muslim families, Hindus celebrated Chhath Puja there. Hindu households have virtually vanished from areas like Mansingha and Rajmahal, while mosques and madrasas have sprung up every few kilometres. The BJP has been voicing concerns about these issues regularly. Numerous obstacles confront the remote Hindu communities in this region. They have abandoned fishing since the Muslim majority in the area forbids them from doing so. “We have been paying tax for years, but things changed after 2014 when we felt that the central government has supported us. This change also brought challenges. Now we are not allowed to go to fishing areas,” unveiled a local man named Dhani Chaudhary.
“Even during weddings, controversies are created due to music. When azan is given or namaz is read, the baraat has to go silent. If this is not done, then the occasion is often spoiled by quarrels and fights with us,” he added. “These newcomers are not the Muslims of our country. Their number is increasing month by month and soon they will spread to Bengal,” feared Rajkumar Chowdhury who is also from the area.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised to crack down on Bangladeshi illegal immigrants entering India. He stated, “If infiltration remains unchecked, illegal immigrants will become the majority in Jharkhand in the coming 25-30 years. Do you want Girdh to be filled with infiltrators? Can Hemant Soren stop it? Will Congress stop this influx of illegal infiltration? How can they do it? These infiltrators happen to be the vote bank of JNM and Congress. If Jharkhand continues to be ruled by them, they will not allow the deportation of illegal immigrants,” on 20th September during his election rallies in Girdh and Sahibganj.
“Change the government once in Jharkhand. I want to assure you that the BJP will drive out Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshis from Jharkhand, one by one. They are destroying our culture. They are encroaching upon our land. They are engaging in fake marriages with our daughters. And they are killing opportunities for local employment. There is no place for illegal immigrants in Jharkhand,” he declared. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh had launched a “strong protest” afterwards.
On Monday (11th November), thousands of students demonstrated outside the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Gate number 2 in Prayagraj, asking that the Provincial Civil Services (PCS) preliminary examinations, as well as the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO/ARO) examinations, be held in one shift. They carried posters and chanted slogans opposing normalisation.
Students began congregating at the UPPSC early in the morning, and by midday, thousands of aspirants including women had marched in the direction of UPPSC Gate No. 2.
The protest against the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) was a week after multiple shifts for a single exam were scheduled. Notably, the RO-ARO preliminary exams will take place in three shifts on December 22 and 23, while the UPPCS PCS preliminary exams will be held in two shifts on 7 and 8 December.
Lakhs of students are expected to take the UPPSC RO/ARO exam, which was originally scheduled for the 29th of January and 2nd of February but was cancelled due to a paper leak and was thus and will now take place in December. Notably, back then, the exam was conducted in a single shift. As per a TOIreport, around 16.52 lakh candidates have registered for the coming RO/ARO exam.
What are the demands of the protesting aspirants?
Before the RO/ARO exam, the Provincial Civil Service (PCS) preliminary examination will be conducted on 7th and 8th December. The protesting candidates are demanding that the RO/ARO preliminary exam date be changed. According to the candidates, scheduling both examinations in the same month will have an impact on their preparation. Thus, the commission should change the date of the RO/ARO exam. The aspirants say that this is the first time that the UPPSC is conducting two major examinations in the same month.
VIDEO | UPPSC PCS Preliminary Exam 2024: Aspirants continue their protest outside the UPPCS headquarters in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
“Our main demand is that PCS and RO/ARO examinations should be conducted on the same day in a single shift. We suspect that if this examination is held on different days, there may be a lack of transparency in the paper, and the possibility of rigging may increase. We believe that conducting the examination on the same day will ensure fairness and equal opportunity,” a protesting student from Mirzapur told TheHindu.
Another protestor said, “We are protesting to express our disagreement with the new rules. We’re waiting for the UPPSC chairman to come and talk with us on the recent changes made for the examination.”
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Aspirants in Prayagraj continue their protest outside the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) office. They are demanding that the PCS and RO/ARO exams be conducted in one day and one shift.
Aspirants in Prayagraj continue their protest outside the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) office on Tuesday (12th November) as well. They are demanding that the PCS and RO/ARO exams be conducted in one day and one shift. Rapid Action Force (RAF) and police personnel were present at the spot.
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Notably, many aspirants are also opposing the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)’s normalisation policy. It must be noted that UPSC normalises marks acquired in subjects such as mathematics to ensure parity among candidates who chose different subjects. The UPPSC claimed that they plan to apply this approach to exams taken on different days, with scores calculated using a percentile system. However, students say that this procedure is complex and may not be fair, particularly when exam difficulty varies drastically.
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Candidates protested opposing the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)'s normalisation policy, leading authorities to turn the area outside the Commission’s office into a fortified zone. Along with the police force, the Rapid Action Force… pic.twitter.com/xIECsuVO9c
UPPSC responds to criticism over multiple shifts and normalisation policy
Meanwhile, a UPPSC spokesperson issued a statement earlier saying that in order to “ensure the integrity and quality” of examinations, only government or government-funded educational institutes located within a 10-kilometre radius of a bus stop, railway station, or treasury, and with no history of suspicion, controversy, or blacklisting, would be designated as examination centres. This arrangement was created in response to candidates’ requests for “maintaining exam purity and quality,” the statement reads adding that it is “essential to hold exams in multiple shifts” since there are over 500,000 candidates.
The Commission’s spokesperson also added that when exams are held over multiple days or shifts for a single advertisement, the “normalisation process is essential for evaluating the results.” The method is widely used by reputed recruitment boards and commissions across the country, and it is upheld by numerous court decisions. The Supreme Court-appointed Radhakrishnan Committee for the NEET exam also recommended that the exam be conducted in two shifts, as was the police recruitment examination.
Amidst the widespread protests and social media outrage, UPPSC issued another statement assuring the aspirants that the concerns raised by them as well that rules in this regard will be taken care of in the normalisation process. Furthermore, the Commission said that any candidate who wants to give their suggestions in this regard write the same to the Commission. UPPSC said that these student suggestions will be placed before the experts and whatever changes will be made will be done as per the rules.
“In the context of normalisation, the Commission welcomes suggestions from candidates. Anyone with recommendations for improvement or a better system is encouraged to submit them. These suggestions will be reviewed by a committee of eminent experts, ensuring that the necessary purity and quality, in the best interest of the candidates, would be upheld,” UPPSC said.
Politicisation of student protests begins
Mocking the UPPSC’s normalisation policy, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav decided to score political points against the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party government. “Will BJP apply the normalization formula even in the elections being held on different days? Parents today say, we don’t want BJP! when bjp will go then the job will come,” Yadav posted on X. The Samajwadi Party leader has been regularly publishing posts accusing the BJP of being “anti-youth”.
क्या अलग-अलग दिन हो रहे चुनावों में भी भाजपा नॉर्मलाइज़ेशन का फ़ार्मूला लगाएगी।
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also attacked the Uttar Pradesh government and said: “It is unfortunate that lathi charge was done on the students protesting for their demands in Prayagraj. The students raising their voice against the arbitrariness of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission should be listened to carefully. This is not the first time that the BJP is trying to suppress the voice of the youth in this way. Earlier too, attempts have been made to suppress their voice when they demanded jobs or protested against recruitment scams and paper leaks. Understanding these problems of the youth, the Congress Party had talked about taking concrete initiatives under the Youth Justice Guarantee. Under this, we had made 5 promises including the guarantee of immediate permanent appointment on 30 lakh government posts, freedom from paper leaks and timely recruitment through the job calendar.”
प्रयागराज में अपनी मांगों को लेकर प्रदर्शन कर रहे छात्रों पर लाठी चार्ज किया जाना दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। उत्तर प्रदेश पब्लिक सर्विस कमिशन की मनमानी के ख़िलाफ़ आवाज़ उठा रहे छात्रों की बातों को ध्यान से सुना जाना चाहिए।
यह पहला मौका नहीं है जब भाजपा युवाओं की आवाज़ को इस तरह से दबाने…
Meanwhile, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya directed the UPPSC officials to quickly address the concerns raised by the protesting students, emphasising that students should be able to spend their precious time on preparation instead of agitation.
यूपी पीसीएस परीक्षा में एक से अधिक दिन की परीक्षा, निजी संस्थानों को केंद्र न बनाने और मानकीकरण प्रक्रिया को लेकर छात्रों की चिंताएं गंभीर और महत्वपूर्ण हैं। छात्रों की मांग है कि परीक्षाएं पूरी तरह निष्पक्ष और पारदर्शी हों, ताकि उनकी मेहनत का सम्मान हो और भविष्य सुरक्षित रहे।…
“The concerns of the students regarding more than one-day examination in UP PCS exam, not making private institutions centres and standardization process are serious and important. The students demand that the examinations should be completely fair and transparent, so that their hard work is respected and their future is secure. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji, the BJP government has set an example of fair recruitment process by taking strict action against the recruitment mafia since 2017. The government has shown its strong will by giving appointment letters to about 7 lakh youth. All competent officials should listen to the demands of the students sensitively and find a quick solution. Ensure that the precious time of the students is not spent in agitation but in their preparation. The pending cases in the court should also be resolved quickly so that the future of any student does not remain in the dark,” the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said.
In an important, yet overdue, move towards respecting religious diversity, Air India has decided not to serve Halal meat to non-Muslim passengers. The Halal meals, labelled as ‘Moslem Meal,’ are now available as a dietary preference and will be served only to customers who have opted for them.
Other options on the flight include diabetic meal, gluten-free meal, non-vegetarian meal, vegan meal, Jain meal, Kosher meal, Hindu meal, and more.
The step taken by Air India is a welcome move as it respects religious diversity without imposing particular dietary practices upon unwilling participants. Previously, in Air India flights and, in fact, in most flights, restaurants, and food chains, Halal meat was the default choice, as Hindus and Sikhs often did not enquire about how the meat was prepared. In contrast, Muslims are particular about their dietary choices and prefer not to eat in places where Halal meat is not served.
Upon realising how Halal meat has dominated dietary options and is being imposed on Hindus, Sikhs, and other non-Muslim communities, voices have been raised against the practice. Air India has become one of the first service providers to respect the dietary choices of not only Muslims but all communities.
India is a pluralistic society. It is crucial that religious choices, especially those concerning food, remain precisely that—a choice. The menu now available on Air India’s website has distinct options catering to different communities based on religion and food preferences, such as Jain meal or Hindu meal, as well as vegan meal or fruit meal. The menu seeks to accommodate the cultural and religious dietary preferences of every passenger, which is a welcome move.
However, the core issue remains the implicit expectation that all non-vegetarian food served must be Halal-certified, thus catering exclusively to Islamic dietary laws. The choice provided by Air India should not be limited to Air India but should be extended to all places that serve food. The approach of serving only Halal-certified meat is inherently unfair to Hindus, Sikhs, and other non-Muslim communities who may object to consuming food prepared according to Islamic rules.
Understanding Halal and its religious context
For those who are unaware, Halal, which literally translates to “permissible” in Arabic, refers to food prepared following specific Islamic guidelines. The process of Halal certification includes slaughter practices with distinct religious elements. It primarily involves invoking Allah’s name and a specific method of killing the animal.
Halal is not just a label; it is a religious practice embedded within Islam. For many Hindus and Sikhs, consuming Halal meat is objectionable. Unlike Halal, Hindu dietary requirements do not impose such prescriptive religious rites upon their food sources. Thus, the compulsion to eat Halal meat can be considered particularly insensitive towards non-Muslim communities.
Respecting diverse religious practices
Air India now offers a wide selection of meal types, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to serving India’s diverse passengers. However, it is notable that only Halal and Kosher meals are prepared in kosher-certified and Halal-certified kitchens. The rest of the meals do not undergo such separations in the kitchen. The next step should be to ensure division at kitchen counters where vegetarian, vegan, and non-vegetarian foods are prepared separately, respecting dietary and religious preferences. After all, just as Muslims are entitled to Halal options, Hindus, Sikhs, and others deserve the freedom to eat in a manner that aligns with their beliefs. It is not just about the labels but about respecting everyone’s choice and faith.
Reasserting the rights of the majority
In a secular democracy, the rights of religious minorities are essential. However, this does not mean that the rights of the majority can be overlooked. Hindus have long resisted Halal offerings on religious and cultural grounds. Yet, Halal food has increasingly been normalised without sufficient discussion on its appropriateness with all stakeholders. The silent imposition of Halal on a broader population has resulted in alienating Hindus and Sikhs and disregarding their right to non-Halal food. In a pluralistic society like India, freedom of choice should be available for all communities, regardless of their population size.
The Halal economy and its hidden dangers
The growing “Halal economy” extends far beyond individual dietary choices, involving an entire ecosystem driven by Islamic certification standards. The Halal economy’s expansion impacts industries ranging from food and finance to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where Halal-certified products are increasingly favoured or required.
This certification process often provides funds to Islamic organisations and businesses, potentially creating an exclusive economic circuit that disadvantages non-Halal producers. Moreover, in countries like India, where the majority population is non-Muslim, the unchecked growth of the Halal economy risks sidelining local businesses that do not or cannot comply with Halal requirements, inadvertently enforcing a religious mandate on diverse populations.
Furthermore, there is evidence that some organisations providing Halal certifications have links to terrorist outfits, raising the possibility that funds collected through certification may be diverted to such organisations.
The way forward – True choice in food
A sensible solution to the Halal economy is simple: ensure the availability of non-Halal meat options alongside Halal options in all public food services. All establishments that serve food must offer non-Halal options so that the dietary preferences of all customers are respected. Dietary preferences are, after all, a choice. They should be defined and implemented as a choice, not as a forced preference. The availability of diverse meals on Air India demonstrates the possibility of respectful accommodation.
The debate over Halal in India reflects a growing awareness that non-Muslims should not be compelled to follow Islamic dietary rules. Air India’s move is a beginning. But the real issue of the silent imposition of Halal on everyone still persists in India’s food sector. A truly inclusive approach would ensure both Halal and non-Halal choices are available, with non-Halal as the default and Halal as an option, allowing passengers to eat according to their beliefs without imposition from religious practices that are not their own.
India prides itself on religious diversity. In such a country, respecting the dietary customs of all religions should be non-negotiable. Businesses that serve food cannot cater exclusively to the dietary choices of Muslims while ignoring those of non-Muslims. Air India’s initiative should spark broader changes across all public institutions, from airlines to schools, hospitals, and even workplaces. Only then will we have a society where individual rights are fully respected, and freedom of choice is genuinely upheld.
In a significant move, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pick Rep. Mike Waltz as his White House National Security Advisor (NSA). In an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal, it has been revealed that while Florida Senator Marco Rubio may become Secretary of State, Waltz is seen as Trump’s choice for NSA.
Mike Waltz is known for his firm stance on national security and global defence, bringing a veteran’s perspective to key global issues including Pakistan, China, and NATO. In the past, he has voiced opinions that align closely with Trump’s stand on foreign policy. Waltz has advocated for a more robust US position on global security threats, balancing burdens with allies, and strengthening ties with democratic partners like India.
Mike Waltz on China – confronting an ‘aggressive force’ in the Indo-Pacific
According to Waltz, there is a need to confront China’s increasing influence and authoritarian policies, specifically within the Indo-Pacific region. When he was a member of the House China Task Force, Waltz worked to shape US policy towards a more assertive stance against encroachments by China in regions like Taiwan, the South China Sea, and areas of strategic importance to allies like India and Australia.
In an interview with WION network, Mike Waltz highlighted his stance, stating, “The Chinese Communist Party is a destabilising force across the Indo-Pacific. It’s not just the Chinese people who suffer under this authoritarian regime; it’s also Taiwan, the Philippines, India, the United States, and more. Democracies need to come together to deter this type of aggression.”
Furthermore, he emphasised that the US-India relationship is central to countering China’s influence in the region. In the same interview, he remarked, “The trajectory of the US-India relationship is only getting higher and stronger. We’re working together in various spheres, from defence to energy,” which is vital for stabilising the Indo-Pacific and presenting a unified front against Chinese aggression in the region.
Waltz on Pakistan – condemning the use of terrorism as state policy
Waltz has been outspoken about Pakistan’s continuous support for terrorist organisations. He has warned against the destabilising impact of such policies on South Asia. Waltz has urged Pakistan to abandon any affiliation with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba that threaten both regional and global security. During the interview with WION, he said, “I’ve said to my Pakistani counterparts many times that terrorism cannot be a tool of foreign policy. And whether that’s through Lashkar-e-Taiba or other types of terrorist groups, it’s just unacceptable. And the Pakistani government and the Pakistani military and intelligence services have to move past that, and we will continue to press them to move in the right direction and not use terrorism as an instrument.”
Mike Waltz on NATO – advocating for European burden sharing
Mike Waltz has been a longtime advocate of equitable burden-sharing within NATO and has strongly endorsed Trump’s position that European allies should contribute more substantially to collective defence efforts. In September 2023, he wrote an op-ed for Fox News, where Waltz outlined his stance, stating, “Stopping Russia before it draws NATO, and therefore the US, into war is the right thing to do. But the burden cannot continue to be solely on the shoulders of the American people, especially while Western Europe gets a pass. There must be policy space between Biden’s current strategy of ‘as long as it takes’ and those demanding ‘not another dollar.’”
He also pointed out instances where major European powers, including Germany, fell short of their defence commitments pledged during the 2014 NATO Summit. He wrote, “Germany, the largest economy in Europe and the most pivotal balancer to Russia, pulled back at the last minute from enshrining the two percent annual commitment into law. That needs to change – the administration cannot expect American taxpayers to pay for European security indefinitely.”
Waltz specifically cited the Biden administration’s lack of assertiveness in compelling European allies to uphold their promises. He said, “In the near term, US military aid must be contingent on European burden-sharing and equal European assistance going forward. The US has provided nearly as much military aid to Ukraine – a reported $46.6 billion – as every other nation combined.”
His views reflect Trump’s broader “America First” philosophy, aimed at pushing for a recalibrated NATO where European nations meet their defence commitments so that the US can allocate resources to its borders.
Waltz on Ukraine – ‘The era of blank cheques is over’
Over time, Waltz has been a vocal critic of the US’s unconditional support for Ukraine. He emphasises the need for a clear objective in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In his op-ed, he argued that the era of Ukraine’s blank cheque from Congress is over. He asserted that, while most Americans are sympathetic to Ukraine, there is a need for a clear and achievable American objective. He questioned the Biden administration’s strategy, stating, “The Biden administration has neither explained the American objective in Ukraine nor his strategy to achieve it. Will American military spending continue until Ukraine has pushed Russia back to its prewar boundaries? Its pre-2014 boundaries? Or until the Putin regime collapses? We don’t know because Biden refuses to tell us. ‘As long as it takes’ is a slogan, not a strategy.”
Waltz called for conditional support based on European burden-sharing and stressed that US taxpayers should not be expected to fund the majority of Ukraine’s defence. He said, “As long as Biden refuses to secure our southern border, Americans shouldn’t be asked to continue funding the defence of Ukraine.” His approach reflects a shift towards a more calculated support model that aligns with Trump’s foreign policy preferences.
On strengthening India-US ties
Waltz has often expressed admiration for India as a strategic and democratic ally. He has previously described the relationship between India and the US as “essential” for regional stability. In his interview with WION, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the progress India has made in various sectors, including biotechnology, energy, and defence. Notably, in June 2023, Mike Waltz and Andry Barr introduced a legislation to allow weapon sales to India from the US to be fast-tracked and deepen the US-India defence ties.
Waltz, who participated in India’s Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, said, “It was a beautiful, amazing setting and what a historic setting. I mean the place of India’s first Independence Day speech by Nehru, the first prime minister. But I think what really jumped out at me was to hear Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India to be a fully developed nation by the 100th year anniversary, by 2047. It was very detailed, it was very forceful, very forward-looking. I thought it was a great speech and it was an honour to be there.”
Highlighting India’s “Make in India” policy, he said, “I support it. I think every strong economy and strong democracy wants to be able to defend itself and to be able to make that equipment. But it’s not just the co-production, which I support. It’s also conducting joint exercises, like the Malabar exercise, that’s happening right now in Australia with the Australian, Indian, and the US militaries all working together. So how do we employ that equipment in our training, operations, tactics, and planning together, which I think will help stabilise the Indo-Pacific and serve to deter a very aggressive Chinese Communist Party from many of the bad actions it’s currently taking right now.”
Future role and alignment with Trump’s policies
Waltz’s name being forwarded as NSA signals Trump’s intent to foster alliances with democratic nations while demanding fair contributions from NATO allies and partners. Waltz’s alignment with Trump’s foreign policy positions is evident in his straightforward approach to tackling issues of terrorism, burden-sharing in alliances, and the recalibration of US global commitments.
With Waltz as NSA, the Trump administration is expected to maintain a tough stance on adversaries while prioritising US interests.
