The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice on a plea filed by convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, seeking permission for his urgent medical treatment. Malik currently imprisoned at Tihar Jail in Delhi, has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, stating that he has been on a hunger strike since November 1.
The imprisoned Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is protesting what he claims is the denial of his fundamental rights, including proper medical treatment and attention to his health issues, by the Tihar Jail authorities.
In his plea before the Delhi High Court, Yasin Malik has sought direction from the Tihar Jail Authority to produce records of his medical treatment. He has sought appropriate directions from the court to ensure that he is referred for proper and necessary medical care at AIIMS or any other super-speciality hospital, either in New Delhi or in the Kashmir region, to address his ongoing health concerns.
Additionally, Malik has asked the court to direct the authorities to produce him before the courts in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi whenever his presence is required.
The bench of Anoop Kumar Mendiratta is scheduled to hear this matter today itself.
Earlier this year, Yasin Malik had also approached the Delhi High Court, claiming inadequate medical treatment and citing serious cardiac and kidney issues.
In response, the court was informed that Malik had been examined by doctors at AIIMS, where he was provided the necessary medical care. The counsel for the central government and the Director General of Prisons (Tihar Jail) assured the court that Malik would receive any further required medical treatment as needed.
Recently, the Tribunal handling matters under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has upheld the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decision to extend the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for another five years.
The MHA had initially extended the ban on March 15, 2024, citing the group’s continued involvement in unlawful activities.
The UAPA Tribunal, led by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of the Delhi High Court, reaffirmed the decision, emphasizing that associations promoting secessionism would not be tolerated. Despite Yasin Malik, the imprisoned leader of the JKLF, asserting that he had renounced armed resistance in favour of a Gandhian approach to achieve their goals since 1994, the Tribunal noted his ongoing links to violent means and groups.
The Tribunal remarked that Malik’s continued association with wanted terrorists and his admission of having visited a terrorist camp in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), where he was reportedly honoured, could not be overlooked.
The Delhi High Court is currently examining an appeal by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking the imposition of the death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in connection with a terror funding case.
Representing the NIA, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that Malik was responsible for the killing of four Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel and the kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed. Mehta also highlighted that four terrorists released following the kidnapping were later involved in orchestrating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Friday (8th November), the Supreme Court ruled that an educational institute’s minority status does not end simply because the parliament passes a law to regulate or govern it or because it is governed by non-minority members. The court said this while hearing the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) minority status-related case. A 7-judge bench of the Supreme Court (by a 4:3 majority) reversed the 1967 ruling in S. Azeez Basha vs. Union of India, which declared that an institution incorporated by legislation cannot claim to be a minority institution. The Supreme Court, however, stated that a separate three-judge bench will decide whether Aligarh Muslim University is a minority institution.
“The view in Azeez Basha that minority character stops when statute comes into force is overruled. Whether AMU is a minority or not will be decided as per this (today’s) judgment,” the Court said.
The Court stated that when determining whether an institution is a minority institution, who established the institution needs to be taken into consideration.
“The court has to consider the genesis of the institute and the court must see who was the brain behind the establishment of the institution. It has to be seen who got funds for the land and if minority community helped,” the Court said adding that administration by non-minority members will not eliminate an institution’s minority character.
“We have held that to be a minority institution, it only had to be established by the minority and not necessarily be administered by the minority members. Minority institutions may wish to emphasise secular education and for that minority members are not needed in administration,” the court held.
Notably, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud delivered the judgement on behalf of the majority which included himself, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra), while Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and SC Sharma dissented.
The Court ruled that the government may regulate minority educational institutions till it does not violate their minority status. “An educational institution established by any citizen can be regulated under Article 19(6). This court has maintained that the right under Article 30 is not absolute. Regulation of minority educational institution is permitted under Article 19(6) provided it does not infringe the minority character of the institute,” the Court said.
The Court also ruled that Article 30 of the Constitution, which grants minorities the basic right to create and run educational institutions, applies to institutions founded by minorities before the Constitution went into effect.
“Article 30 shall stand diluted if it applies to only institutes those which have been established after the Constitution came into force. Thus, educational institutions established by minorities which were established before the constitution came into force, will also be governed by Article 30,” the court said, as reported by Bar and Bench.
In his dissenting judgement, Justice Surya Kant stated that a minority can establish an institute under Article 30, but it must be recognised by law as well as by the University Grants Commission, a statutory authority within the Education Ministry.
“The legislative intent behind a statute incorporating a university or institution would be necessary to decide its minority status,” Justice Suryakant said. In his verdict, Justice Dipankar Datta stated that AMU was not a minority institution.
Justice Datta: I have clearly held that AMU is not a Minority institution and cannot come under Article 30@AMUofficialPRO#SupremeCourt
Back in 2005, the AMU further introduced a policy that reserved 50% of postgraduate medical seats for Muslim candidates. This was challenged in the Allahabad High Court, which, the same year, reversed the reservation and declared the 1981 Act invalid. The court determined that the AMU could not maintain an exclusive reservation because, according to the Supreme Court’s decision in the S. Azeez Basha case, it was not classified as a minority institution. In 2006, a series of eight petitions, including one from the Union government, challenged the High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court.
In 2016, the NDA government told the Supreme Court that it was dropping its case, stating that “as the executive government at the Centre, we can’t be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state.” On February 12, 2019, a three-judge bench led by the then-CJI Ranjan Gogoi referred the case to a seven-judge bench. And, today (8th November 2024), the Supreme Court delivered its verdict while also ruling that a separate three-judge bench, which will decide whether AMU can be deemed a minority university.
On 6th November, the Switzerland government announced that a”burqa ban” in the country, which forbids the wearing of face coverings in public places, would go into force on 1st January of next year. According to the Federal Council, the prohibition will go into effect from the fixed date and those who break it risk fines of up to 1,000 Swiss francs, or about $1,144 (₹96,525). A Swiss referendum in 2021 narrowly approved the policy, which was criticized by Muslim organizations.
51.2% of Swiss voters had voted in favour of the ban. It was put in place by the same group that prevented the construction of new minarets in the country in 2009.
The provision will be implemented through the Federal Act on the Prohibition of Covering the Face. Violators of the act will be penalised through an administrative fine to minimise bureaucracy. The administrative fine would be CHF100 and it can be paid on site. However, if the fine is contested, it will go through normal procedure and the maximum fine in that case will be CHF1,000.
The Swiss government has made it clear that the ban on face covering will not be enforced on aircraft or in diplomatic and consular buildings. Furthermore, it will still be permissible to conceal one’s face in houses of worship and other places of worship. According to the administration, face coverings will be allowed for traditional reasons, health and safety, or weather-related reasons.
Additionally, they will be permitted for advertising, creative, or entertainment purposes. If the appropriate authority gives prior clearance and public order is maintained, face coverings may also be allowed for personal protection in relation to freedom of expression and assembly.
Background of the matter
A prohibition on facial coverings, including the burqas worn by Muslim women, was passed by Switzerland’s lower house of parliament in September of last year. With a vote of 151-29, the National Council finally adopted the law, which had previously been approved by the upper house. Despite opposition from the Greens and centrists, the measure was pushed through by the Swiss People’s Party. This decision comes after a nationwide referendum in 2021 in which Swiss voters supported a ban on bandannas and ski masks, which are frequently used by protestors, as well as facial coverings like burqas and niqabs, which only leave eye slits.
Although the law prohibits covering one’s mouth, nose, or eyes in public areas and privately accessible buildings, there are some exceptions. Similar prohibitions are already in place in two Swiss cantons, St. Gallen in the north and Ticino in the south. Switzerland is now in line with nations like Belgium and France that have implemented such limitations due to their respective national law.
A constitutional amendment initiative in Switzerland requires 100,000 signatures, but a referendum on parliamentary laws can be triggered with 50,000 signatures. A national vote results from the initiation of a referendum. The purchase of new fighter jets and the “burqa ban” on face coverings have been recent referendum matters.
The assembly elections in Maharashtra are just 10-12 days away. The intensity of the campaigns, vote waves, and ideologies is increasing as the date of voting, 20th November, draws closer. Amid this, it has come to the fore that around 180 ‘NGOs’ are working on the ground to mobilize Muslim votes in the state. The said ‘NGOs’ are working specifically among the Muslim community to raise ‘awareness’ and increase the community’s voter turnout against the BJP, the strategy that helped the MVA led by Congress during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
As per the reports, in predominantly Muslim areas such as Shivaji Nagar, Mumbadevi, Byculla, and Malegaon Central, voter turnout during the Lok Sabha election was significantly higher than in nearby assembly segments. This increase has been attributed to heightened ‘awareness’ and concerns within the Muslim community, with targeted efforts over the past year.
Muslim-dominated areas such as Shivaji Nagar, Mumbadevi, Byculla and Malegaon Central reported a higher turnout (Hindustan Times)
The Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh, collaborating with over 180 NGOs, has been actively working within Muslim communities to boost voter enrollment. The group has organized meetings and informational sessions for Muslim voters across the state, urging them to vote for the MVA alliance led by the Congress under the guise of spreading ‘vote awareness’.
“These efforts resulted in a voter turnout exceeding 60% in the Lok Sabha election about 15% higher than previous averages. We encourage Muslims to support secular candidates and vote in line with constitutional values. Our collaboration with other organizations and religious leaders has produced a stronger response. Over 200 meetings have been conducted statewide, contributing to the increase in turnout,” stated Fakir Mehmood Thakur, the organization’s leader.
Thakur also highlighted that concerns among Muslim voters regarding central government policies, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), contributed to the high voter turnout during the Lok Sabha elections. He added that these issues remain relevant in the ongoing state elections.
Shakir Shaikh, coordinator of the Maharashtra Democratic Forum, shared that the forum held at least 70 meetings statewide in the past two months, including 18 in Muslim-majority areas of Mumbai, Maharashtra. “Awareness and voter turnout among Muslims were traditionally quite low, but issues like the CAA, the Uniform Civil Code, and the Waqf Bill have motivated more people to vote. Our awareness initiatives and voter registration drives have played a role in boosting turnout during the Lok Sabha elections. In Mumbai alone, we’ve registered at least nine lakh new voters, and the response has been very positive,” he said.
It is crucial to note that while a report by Hindustan Times states that around 180 NGOs are working to mobilize Muslim votes on the ground, a report by Zee News states that the number of such NGOs who promote ‘vote jihad’ is around 400. The media stated that it received a leaflet from the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangha who were spreading hatred against the BJP under the guise of spreading awareness about voting.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Kirit Somaiya alleged that ‘vote jihad’ was also practised during Lok Sabha elections. “This plan has been going on for the last 12 months. It’s a well-planned conspiracy. I visited several localities during the Lok Sabha polls and saw Muslim women being polarised. I even published a book ‘Vote Jihad’ to highlight these issues. They are hatching a poisonous conspiracy. They want to spread riots,” said Somaiya further raising questions over funding of such organizations.
He said that he had sent a complaint to the Election Commissioner in this regard. “This is an attempt to provoke the religious sentiment of the people,” he added. Notably, Somaiya has also filed a police complaint against the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh for planning and executing such conspiracy against the BJP, further causing harm to the democratic fabric of the state.
I filled complaint at Mulund East Police Station against Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh & such other NGO's for Provoking Muslims & indiltinto Religious Campaign.
Notably, the leaflet poses several questions to Muslim voters, asking whether they would support a party that aims to close madrasas, interfere with Sharia law, or impose a Uniform Civil Code on Muslims, among other issues. It also encourages Muslims to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a coalition of Congress, NCP-Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena-UBT.
It is important to note that a study by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on 5th November has also revealed that the Muslims and illegal immigrants in Mumbai are changing the demography of the region and influencing politics by voting for specific political parties. The study, conducted by TISS pro-vice-chancellor Shankar Das and assistant professor Souvik Mondal, also claimed that illegal immigrants are influencing the city’s socio-economy by taking low-skilled employment, resulting in pay suppression and annoyance among locals.
“Some political entities are alleged to use illegal immigrants for vote-bank politics, which can disrupt the democratic process. Claims of voter registration manipulation, where undocumented immigrants allegedly obtain fake voter IDs, raise concerns about electoral fairness and the integrity of India’s democratic system,” the study alleged.
The authors of the study further happened to blame several NGOs and religious groups who ended up helping these immigrants which caused to change in the demography of the region and influenced the economy and politics. “Due to strict regulations, registered NGOs often avoid assisting illegal immigrants, leaving undocumented NGOs to fill the support gap without legal authority to challenge exploitation or advocate for migrant rights,” the study read.
OpIndia had after the Lok Sabha elections concluded in May-June 2024 reported that the Muslims had mobilized in the state of Maharashtra to specifically defeat the BJP. Islamists had issued fatwas, raised Islamic flags in MVA rallies, and urged voters to vote for Shiv Sena (UBT), INC and NCP (Sharad Pawar). This time also several NGOs under the roof of Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh are urging Muslim voters to vote against BJP, practicing ‘vote jihad’, the conspiracy downplayed by leftist Islamists and its supporters.
The 288 legislative assembly seats will go to the polls in a single phase on November 20 while the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Last week, on November 5th, a study by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) revealed that the number of illegal immigrants, especially Muslims from Bangladesh and Myanmar, has been on the rise in Mumbai and that certain political parties have been using them as a voting bloc. The study, conducted by TISS pro-vice-chancellor Shankar Das and assistant professor Souvik Mondal, also said that illegal immigrants are influencing the city’s socio-economy by taking low-skilled employment, resulting in pay suppression and annoyance among locals.
The findings of the study titled ‘Illegal Immigrants to Mumbai: Analysing Socio-economic and Political Consequences’ were presented at a private seminar in Mumbai’s TISS institute on 5th November. The chief guest and the keynote speaker of the event was Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, VC, JNU, New Delhi.
“Some political entities are alleged to use illegal immigrants for vote-bank politics, which can disrupt the democratic process. Claims of voter registration manipulation, where undocumented immigrants allegedly obtain fake voter IDs, raise concerns about electoral fairness and the integrity of India’s democratic system,” the study found.
“Some politicians may support granting IDs or ration cards to migrants for votes but politics-driven migration increases polarization and can impact electoral outcomes, diverting focus from essential development,” it added. The study additionally claimed that a significant influx of Muslim immigrants had shifted religious demographics, contributing to feelings of insecurity and communal tensions, particularly within Mumbai’s Hindu communities. It also suggested a link between illegal immigration and increased crime rates in the city.
The authors of the study further happened to blame several NGOs and religious groups who end up helping these immigrants who cause to change the demography of the region and influence the economy and politics. “Due to strict regulations, registered NGOs often avoid assisting illegal immigrants, leaving undocumented NGOs to fill the support gap without legal authority to challenge exploitation or advocate for migrant rights,” the study read.
As per the reports, the authors of the study examined around 3000 immigrants but the report was presented early on the basis of 300 samples ahead of the state elections scheduled on 20th November. The immigrants considered for this study currently reside in Dharavi, Govandi, Mankhurd, Mahim West, and Ambedkar Nagar.
Muslim community mobilized 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra
It is crucial to note that OpIndia had after the Lok Sabha elections concluded in May-June 2024 reported that the Muslims had mobilized in the state of Maharashtra to specifically defeat BJP. The results of the Lok Sabha Elections were wild here with the Muslims extending support to parties other than BJP. The Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde secured 7 seats, and BJP won 9 seats, whereas parties like NCP (Sharad Pawar), Indian National Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT) who garnered Muslim and Communist support secured 8, 13, and 9 seats respectively. It was clearly evident by this that the Muslims in the state of Maharashtra chose to vote for any party standing against the BJP and its allies.
Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar, a loyalist of chief minister Eknath Shinde then had issued a statement saying that it was because of ‘fatwas’ issued by Muslims against BJP that Shiv Sena (UBT) and INC, NCP (Sharad Pawar) could secure majority of the seats in Mumbai and several other parts of the state.
Notably, Islamists in the Pune region had issued fatwas against the BJP and had asked the Muslim voters to vote only for the candidates representing Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) from the Pune, Shirur, Baramati and Mawal constituencies respectively. The declaration by the Islamist leaders was made at the ‘Taqreer By Hazrat Maulana Sajjad Nomani’ event organized by Kul Jamati Tanzeem Pune in the Kondwa region on 2nd May.
Jamiyat-Ulema-E-Hind (Pune) has issued a fatwa to vote for Congress+Pawar+UT Indi alliance candidates in Maharashtra.
During his speech, Nomani stated that every Muslim who is a voter today should exercise his right in favor of the community. He also instilled fear in the minds of the Muslims saying that if Modi came to power, all the Mazars and Madarsas would be razed to the ground. Islamic flags were also raised in the rally hosted by Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai.
UBT च्या मिरवणुकित पाकिस्तान चा झेंडा !
आता काय PFI , SIMI, AL QAEDA चे लोक मातोश्रीत बिर्याणी घेऊन जातील…
Over 180 NGOs work to enrol Muslim voters, increase awareness
Amid the ongoing campaign for the upcoming elections scheduled on 20th November in the state, around 180 NGOs are working on the ground among the Muslim community to raise ‘awareness’ and increase the community’s voter turnout, the strategy that helped MVA during the Lok Sabha elections.
As per the reports, in predominantly Muslim areas like Shivaji Nagar, Mumbadevi, Byculla, and Malegaon Central, voter turnout was notably higher than in neighbouring assembly segments during the Lok Sabha election. Organizations have attributed this increase to a combination of Muslim voter concerns and awareness efforts directed at the community over the past year.
The Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh has collaborated with over 180 NGOs and these organizations work within Muslim communities to boost voter enrollment and awareness. The group has been organizing meetings and informational sessions with Muslim voters across the state. “This led to a voter turnout exceeding 60% in the Lok Sabha election, about 15% higher than the previous average. We urge Muslims to support secular candidates and vote in alignment with the Constitution. Our partnership with other organizations and religious leaders has brought a stronger response. Over 200 meetings have been held statewide, contributing to the increase in voter turnout,” said Fakir Mehmood Thakur, the organization’s leader.
Thakur also noted that Muslim voters’ concerns over central government policies, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens, played a role in the high voting percentage, adding that these issues continue to resonate in the state elections.
Shakir Shaikh, coordinator of the Maharashtra Democratic Forum, shared that the forum conducted at least 70 meetings across the state, including 18 in Muslim-majority areas of Mumbai over the past two months. “Awareness and voter turnout among Muslims used to be quite low until recently. However, issues like the CAA, the Uniform Civil Code, and the Waqf Bill have motivated people to participate in voting. The awareness-building efforts and registration drive contributed to the high turnout in the Lok Sabha elections. In Mumbai alone, we have registered at least nine lakh new voters, and the response has been very encouraging,” he noted.
It is important to note that Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh has a history of glorifying Tipu Sultan who was one of the most ruthless Islamic invaders in India. There have been several recorded instances of Tipu’s army forcefully converting, raping, and kidnapping Hindus on his orders. Many temples are recorded to have been demolished under his reign. Several historians and researchers like Khan Hussain Ali Kirmani have recorded that Tipu Sultan had animosity toward the local Hindus and tribals in the area.
screengrab of Instagram page of Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is boosting the intensity of its campaign, claiming that they are the only ones raising Muslim issues. The AIMIM wielded influence among Muslim youth in the 2014 and 2019 Assembly elections, as well as the Lok Sabha elections. After 2019, Muslims realized that they would have to vote tactically to ‘remove’ the BJP from power. This strengthened the MVA in Maharashtra. However, the community this time is believed to have expressed dissatisfaction with the candidates’ lack of representation.
Conclusion
Muslims in Mumbai are allegedly working for MVA, especially the Shiv Sena UBT with a zeal that has not been seen since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept them aside. At the time, a panicked Congress, aware of the Muslims’ dissatisfaction with it, invoked the specter of Gujarat 2002 to scare them into not dividing their votes. The plan worked; however, Muslim youth, delighted by a party that recognized them not as a vote bank but as equal citizens, pushed themselves into the campaigns for the 48 AAP candidates in Maharashtra.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition received Maharashtra’s Muslim vote by default, even though it was not in the minds of Muslims. By then, lynchings and the ruling party’s facilitation of lynch mobs had become common. There was no choice but to vote for the party that stood up against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even if its presence on the ground appeared to be non-existent, such as the Congress in Maharashtra. The party won one seat in the state it ruled for the past 15 years.
During the recent 2024 LS elections, the I.N.D.I.A. alliance became the obvious alternative not only for Muslims but for all those who opposed the BJP. As if the Muslims and the anti-BJP individuals had some particular theme to follow, ‘Candidate toh majboori hai, I.N.A.I Alliance zaruri hai.’ Then several ‘theories’ appeared in the market highlighting ‘vote jihad’ which was obviously downplayed by the leftist Islamist supporters as usual. However, this time the Muslims agreed to the fact that they mobilized the LS elections 2024 and that they have the power to change the political scenario in the upcoming elections too.
Notably, at least 9 lack Muslim voters have been newly registered in alone Mumbai by the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh, posing a major challenge to the Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP. Muslim voters overwhelmingly supported and they would evidently continue to support parties like INC, NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Shiv Sena (UBT), given the former’s opposition to CAA and NRC. However, several non-Muslims too who believe in ‘secularism’ at such times ignore such dreadful community waves and end up supporting parties who wear the masks of ‘secularism’, but allegedly exist because of and for specific communities.
In the coming years, people, particularly non-Muslims, who tend to support the NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), and INC who have been obtaining positions based on Muslim votes would understand what a mistake they have been making in an endeavor to simply wrestle against the BJP.
The 288 legislative assembly seats will go to the polls in a single phase on November 20 while the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
A goof-up has led to a CID investigation in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh. Who ate Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s samosas and cake? A five-star hotel order intended for him was seemingly served to the wrong persons, that is, his security staff. Now, the silly fumble has blown into a major controversy and led to a CID probe into the matter. Furthermore, the agency has been very active in addressing the brouhaha which transpired on 21st October.
Five police officers have received show-cause notifications including a female inspector. The CID investigation referred to the irresponsible consumption of the three boxes containing the cake and samosas as “anti-government” conduct, as per reports.
“The police personnel served the show cause notices are in the process of recording their final statements before a DSP-rank probe officer, who has recommended strict disciplinary action against the five,” based on the sources. On 25th October, Vikram Chauhan, the concerned Detective Superintendent of Police (DSP), delivered the investigative report to the Inspector General of Police (CID).
“CM Sukhu had gone to the CID Headquarters to inaugurate a Cyber Wing station when an Inspector General (IG)-rank officer, who was not aware that the CM did not have samosas, instructed a sub-inspector to fetch three boxes of samosas and cakes from Hotel Radisson Blue for him. After the eatables were brought to the CID headquarters, these were served to the CM’s security staff,” a source mentioned while giving background on the matter.
A large number of officials were present at the CID Headquarters at the time. While Sukhu was joined by local MLA Harish Janartha and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, the police brass comprised the DGP, CID, S R Ojha, IG Santosh Patial, DIG (Crime) D K Chaudhary, and DIG (Cyber Crime) Mohit Chawla.
DSP Vikram Chauhan stated in his investigation report that the sub-inspector who was instructed by the IG to obtain some food “in turn directed an assistant sub-inspector and a head constable to bring the refreshments. The ASI and the head constable fetched the refreshments from the hotel in three sealed boxes and informed the SI.” The probe officer was informed by at least two of the five police personnel who received show-cause notices that they were informed that the snacks in the three boxes were not on the CM’s menu when they questioned the on-duty Tourism Department employees, who normally supply refreshments at CM events.
The two informed the sub-inspector of this, per sources. The sub-inspector was the only one who knew the three boxes were for Sukhu, according to the probe. Without consulting a senior officer, the female inspector who received the food items reportedly gave them to the Mechanical Transport unit, which was tasked with setting up the refreshments. In his deposition before DSP Chauhan, one of the police officers claimed that he was instructed to deliver the food to ten or twelve individuals seated in the IG’s office. The three refreshment cartons passed from multiple people.
A senior official in the CID department stated that the items could not be provided to the VVIPs since all of the individuals included in the inquiry report had acted in an anti-CID and anti-government manner. The note further charged that they acted in accordance with their own agenda. Questions concerning possible motivations have now been highlighted by the CID’s internal report, suggesting that a further inquiry into the conduct of the involved officers may be in progress.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Himachal government of caring more about the chief minister’s snacks than the issues facing the people. On 7th November, the party’s chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma charged, “The state government is not concerned about the development of the state and its only concern seems to be the chief minister’s samosa.” He stated that there is now controversy surrounding the recent occurrence involving the samosas brought for Sukhu.
According to the MLA, the error was referred to as an “anti-government” act throughout the investigation, which is a strong word. “This incident has become a topic of discussion in the political circles of Himachal Pradesh. In fact, the government machinery is embarrassed due to such coordination problems in a programme related to a VVIP like the chief minister,” he added.
In a second instance this year, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ‘visited’ the Chinese embassy on Wednesday (6th November) to condemn the fire incident in Karachi wherein two Chinese nationals were injured. This comes after Chinese nationals were shot and injured on Tuesday (5th November) in Karachi’s SITE Industrial Area. Chinese nationals Wang Xing Zhong, Zheng Luwen, Zhou Baolin, and Wei Sixian were at the Liberty Mill in Karachi to install new machinery.
Reports say that the Chinese nationals arrived daily in a bulletproof vehicle, with protection provided by a private agency and Sindh Police’s Special Protection Unit (SPU).
“I have come here to condemn the attack on Chinese nationals and to inquire about the health of the injured. I am personally overseeing the process of apprehending those involved in this incident and ensuring they are given due punishment,” Shehbaz Sharif told Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong.
While the Pakistani PM claimed that China is Pakistan’s long-standing friend, it appears that India’s hostile neighbour is nothing but a puppet of China, a de-facto colony, the leader of which summoned from time to time only to be rebuked by China over failure to protect Chinese nationals on Pakistani soil.
Although the Pakistani PMO presented PM Sharif’s meeting with the Chinese ambassador as a ‘visit’ to offer condolences and assure action, the fact that Prime Ministers usually do not visit the embassies of other nations and ambassadors are summoned by PMO suggests China summoned the Pakistani PM.
Rampant attacks on Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects have China worried
In March this year, five Chinese nationals working on a dam project were killed in a suicide bombing in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. It was reported that a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of these Chinese engineers when it was heading to the CPEC-linked dam project site in Bakht Zahir.
Within hours, Prime Minister Sharif arrived at the Chinese embassy to ease tensions and offer his condolences.
Notably, attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan have become rampant in the recent past with reports suggesting that Baloch rebels are behind them.
In 2022, an explosion ripped through a van at the University of Karachi, killing three Chinese instructors and their Pakistani driver. In 2021, a bus explosion in northern Pakistan killed 13 persons, of these 9 were Chinese nationals.
In October 2024, Baloch militants ambushed a car near the airport, apparently killing several Chinese nationals. It was reported that two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the suicide explosion.
China demands ‘better’ security, miffed over Pakistan’s failure to prevent attacks
Last month, Pakistan stated in a joint statement with China that it had committed to boost security for Chinese nationals and projects in the South Asian country, as Beijing demanded immediate security steps in response to an upsurge in attacks by Baloch rebels. China also sought a thorough probe of attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
“[The team] demanded that the Pakistani side properly handle the aftermath, spare no effort in treating the injured, thoroughly investigate the truth of the incident, apprehend and punish the perpetrators, and adopt stricter security measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan,” according to China’s foreign ministry.
China’s displeasure over Pakistan’s failure to protect Chinese nationals on its soil despite repeated pledges and commitments to prioritise the security of Chinese nationals can be understood from the fact that on 31st October 2024, raised concerns about Pakistan’s failure to protect Chinese nationals an in a rebuking tone that it was “unacceptable” for China that its citizens are time and again attacked and killed in Pakistan.
Chinese military inside Pakistan soon?
Fed up with Pakistan’s failure to protect Chinese nationals, China wants its own armoured vehicles and its own security troops to protect its citizens working in Pakistan. In September this year, it was reported that China and Pakistan were near reaching an agreement to establish joint security companies to safeguard Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. The proposed agreement would involve Chinese security troops working inside Pakistan, which Pakistan had earlier opposed despite China’s pressure. The arrangement might also result in Chinese nationals being transported around in armoured vehicles. The proposal involves incorporating advanced security measures like vehicle-mounted mobile security equipment and ballistic-protected armoured vehicles.
On Thursday (7th November), a federal appeals court in the United States gave its nod to a complaint against CNN for defaming Project Veritas with actual malice.
Project Veritas, a US-based conservative group known for investigative journalism, filed a complaint in 2021 against the leftist propaganda news network for falsely claiming that the former was banned from X (formerly Twitter) for ‘promoting misinformation.’
According to the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals in the Northern District of Georgia, Project Veritas has reasonably argued for its claim of defamation by CNN and its ‘journalist’ Ana Cabrera.
BREAKING NEWS: Fake News @CNN Must Answer for its DEFAMATION against Project Veritas. 🔥
The 11th Circuit just handed down an amazing victory in the Veritas v. CNN Case.
The US-based conservative group highlighted in 2021 that it was de-platformed by Twitter for exposing private information and not ‘promoting misinformation.’ Project Veritas had asked CNN to issue a retraction, which the leftist propaganda news network refused to do.
Thereafter, the group sued CNN for defamation. At that time, the district court granted the motion to dismiss filed by CNN. However, on Thursday (7th November), a federal appeals court reversed its decision and revived the defamation suit.
“After careful review and with the benefit of oral argument, we conclude that Veritas plausibly alleged a defamation claim under New York law. And although the district court did not reach the issue, we also hold that Veritas plausibly alleged that the statements were published with actual malice, an additional requirement imposed by the First Amendment in a defamation suit involving public figures. Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s decision and remand for further proceedings,” the court ruled.
It further added, “We conclude that, at least at the motion-to-dismiss stage, Veritas plausibly alleged that the implications arising from Cabrera’s statements are not substantially true and thus are actionable under New York defamation law. We further hold that Veritas plausibly alleged that the statements were false and were published with actual malice.“
CNN is also facing another defamation suit from a US Navy veteran for smearing his reputation and falsely accusing him of illegal profiteering from refugees fleeing Afghanistan in 2021.
Devotees in Delhi’s Geeta Colony staged a protest as the artificial ghats constructed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for Chhath Puja rituals remained dry on Thursday.
The devotees took to the streets, chanted slogans, and expressed their discontent, frustrated at being unable to perform Sandhya Puja, which involves offering ‘Arghya’ to Lord Surya.
#WATCH | Delhi: People in Geeta Colony take it to the streets as the artificial ghats prepared for Chhath Puja remain dry and empty without water. pic.twitter.com/8cfF2bkmRC
A devotee, upon arriving at the dry artificial ghat, questioned the Delhi government’s arrangements, saying, “Why did they create all these facilities if they weren’t going to provide water? We could have celebrated the festival at home. We’ll continue our protest if water is not supplied.”
#WATCH | Delhi: "Why did they make all these arrangements if they were not going to give water? We could have celebrated the festival at home. We will take it to the streets if water is not provided…" says a devotee who reached the artificial ghats in the Geeta Colony and found… pic.twitter.com/gnv3qyvS9H
Another devotee, voicing his anger, remarked that they could have performed the rituals on their rooftops using tubs filled with water, accusing the government of “insulting” the devotees.
“There is no water here for us to complete Chhath Puja. The sun is setting, and our time to offer the ‘Arghya’ is slipping away. They could have informed us earlier; we could have done this on our rooftops. We feel insulted. The MLA has switched his phone off,” a devotee said.
Earlier in the day, Delhi CM Atishi stated that the Delhi government had built ghats across the capital to help Purvanchali residents feel connected to their roots.
“These Chhath Ghats have been built across the city so our Purvanchali brothers and sisters never feel far from home,” CM Atishi said.
Today marks the third day of Chhath, when Sandhya Puja is performed, a ritual dedicated to the setting sun. Families gather near water bodies at sunset, offering fruits, sweets, and thekua as prasad to Lord Surya, accompanied by hymns and prayers to Chhathi Maiya.
The Chhath Puja festival began with Nahay-Khay on the Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, a day of purification and preparation, followed by Kharna on Panchami Tithi, Chhath Puja on Sashti, and will conclude with Usha Arghya on Saptami Tithi. The celebrations will end on November 8.
Chhath Puja spans four days, involving strict rituals and fasting to express gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth. The festival is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, as well as by the diaspora from these regions.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Wednesday, 6th November, the Karnataka Board of Waqf claimed 17 structures in Karnataka’s historic Bidar Fort as its property. According to the reports, these properties are prominent landmarks of the fort, which is located in Bidar, the district headquarters.
Reports suggest that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the fort’s custodian, is ignorant of the development. The Waqf Board declared that 17 of the 60 properties on the Bidar Fort premises belong to it.
These include the well-known 16-‘Khamba’ (pillars) mosque and 14 tombs of several Bahmani royals and their families, including Ahmed Shah-IV, Ahmed Shah’s wife, Allahuddin, Hassan Khan, Mohammed Shah-III, Nizam, Sultan Ahmed Shah Wali, and Sultan Mahmud Shah.
A top Waqf Board official stated that notices have not yet been served to the ASI. “How can the Board issue a notice to the ASI, which has been the custodian and protector of the historical monuments for several decades? He claimed that a lot of ‘mischief and disinformation’ is being spread in the name of the Waqf Board, which is allegedly bringing a poor name to the Muslim community.”
“Ever since the controversy started, we decided to withdraw all the notices, because it’s unjust and illegal to evict people sitting on a land for a very long time,” the official added. On the other hand, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman Jagdambika Pal, meanwhile on Thursday, 7th November visited the state of Karnataka amid the ongoing Waqf row and opined that farmers were getting affected due to the Waqf Board.
“You have seen now that the farmers from north Karnataka are at the airport and they have handed over a memorandum which says that the (Waqf) board was claiming a piece of land that belonged to them. I have enquired whether they have the deed (for the land) or (proof of) ownership of the land. They (the farmers) are claiming that they have been here for more than 50-70 years but even then the board is claiming (their land). I will look into it,” Pal said.
“The farmers say that they have been here for almost 70 years, but despite that the Waqf board is claiming ownership of their land,” Pal added. The JPC was constituted to study the Waqf Amendment Bill, which was introduced this year in Parliament.
