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Gujarat: Muslim youths show black flag to Owaisi, chant ‘Modi, Modi’ in Surat, day after AIMIM chief skipped Ahmedabad rally over ‘backache’

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Muslim youths show black flag to Owaisi, chant ‘Modi, Modi’ in Surat, day after AIMIM chief skipped Ahmedabad rally over ‘backache’

Muslim youths in Surat East constituency, where AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed a public gathering, showed black flags as protest. Some even chanted ‘Modi, Modi’ when he went on the stage.

Owaisi was in Surat to campaign for Surat East candidate of AIMIM ahead of state assembly elections. As per local media reports, Owaisi had arrived there late evening on Sunday to campaign for Wasim Qureshi. He even addressed a public gathering for the same. However, as soon as he got on to the stage, some Muslim youth who were present in the rally, showed him black flags and protested against him. Some even chanted pro-Modi chants in the rally. They even chanted ‘wapis jao, wapis jao’ (go back) chants for Owaisi.

Prior to that, in Ahmedabad’s Danilimda area, where Owaisi has fielded Kaushik Parmar, the AIMIM chief skipped the public rally. Danilimda is an SC reserved seat. On Saturday, Owaisi was to address a public gathering in Danilimda. However, the same was later called off. Sabir Kabliwala, AIMIM chief in Gujarat had said that Owaisi skipped the rally because of ‘backache’. However, just next day he was addressing a rally in Surat East.

This is not the first time Owaisi has faced opposition in Gujarat, especially from Muslim residents. In May this year, when he was in Surat, many people of Muslim community had opposed him.

In Surat’s Mitha Khadi area, local Muslim residents had shown flags to Owaisi to oppose him.

Surat East constituency

Surat East area is where Gopipura area situated which has significant Muslim population. Some parts of the constituency has the Disturbed Areas Act in place which was brought in to prevent polarisation of communities and demography change. The Surat Municipal Corporation building where the waqf recently staked claim, that is also in Surat East area. Earlier this year, OpIndia had reported how Gopipura, where most residents were of Jain community, has seen demography change and many such apartments are being sold on lower than market rate because most Jain residents want to leave.

In 2014, a Jain Sadhvi who stayed in Surat’s Gopipura area wrote a letter to President of India, Governor of Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel and other leaders about the harassment she was facing in Gopipura, a traditionally Jain locality in Surat, which has slowly turned into a Muslim majority area. In the letter, the Sadhvi had written how near the Upashrays where Jain Sadhvis stay in Gopipura, there are around 25 Jain temples and 35 Upashrays within a 1 km radius. About 70-80 Jain Sadhvis were staying in this place. The Sadhvi pointed out that slowly the area has seen more and more Muslim residents come and live there. 

The Sadhvi in her letter had stated that God has made all living beings the same but Muslims have very ‘tamsic and janooni‘ (aggressive, to put it mildly) and the Sadhu-Mahatma are facing difficulties. “Some Muslim families keep 4-5 cats and goats. Near Sulasa Shravika Aaradhana Bhawan, a Muslim family that has come to stay has tied two goats. These goats can be heard crying in middle of the night because of cold. This pains me too much. I have grown up being kind to animals and this kind of suffering of theirs is very painful for me,” she said.

Of total voters, about 77,365 voters are of Muslim community in Surat East while Hindu voters are 35,427. Interestingly, despite being Muslim majority area, the BJP has managed to win this seat over the years since 1990 – except for 2002 when Congress’ Manish Gilitwala won. Political analysts say that this is because the majority of the Muslim residents here belong to the business-class Bohra community who just want peace and want to make their own living. Bohra/Vohra community voters prefer to vote for the BJP which promises conducive environment for thriving business.

Dani Limda constituency

Dani Limda is another Muslim-dominated area. However, this is a reserved seat and only a member of the Scheduled Caste can contest from this seat. Here about 50% voters are Muslims and has significant population of people from Dalit community. This area is also considered a communally sensitive area and the Disturbed Areas Act is in place here.

It is notable that Shah Alam area in Ahmedabad falls under the Dani Limda constituency and during the anti-CAA violence, this area saw some of the worst communal riots where even policemen were attacked by rioting mob consisting mostly of people belonging to Muslim community.

Investigation had revealed how local Muslim leaders including a corporator were involved in the violence.

It is also believed many illegal Bangladeshis live in this area, especially near the Chandola lake area. During the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts, many bombs had gone off in this area and accused were found living in this area. Indian Mujahideen terrorists who planted the bombs lived in the Dani Limda society and many provocative speeches were given to the Muslim youth to join the terror ranks.

Currently, Congress’ Shailesh Parmar is the MLA. Local residents believe Parmar has the patronage of local Muslim leader Nawab Khan’s family. One of his relatives, Shehzad Khan Pathan is also a corporator here. Localites believes that if the seat were not a reserved seat, Pathan would have been the MLA. However, due to the reservation, they have extended support to Parmar instead.

Congress supporters attack journalist terming her as a “terror supporter” for exposing Congress’ hypocrisy over the release of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers

OpIndia Staff
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Congress supporters attack journalist terming her as a “terror supporter” for exposing Congress’ hypocrisy over the release of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers

Journalist Pallavi Ghosh on Monday attracted the wrath of Congress supporters on Twitter after she called out the party’s hypocrisy over the release of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers.

Quoting a tweet posted by Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, who took a dig at the media for “not outraging” over the release of former PM’s killers, Ghosh reminded him that the Congress party is in alliance with the DMK—a political party whose leaders have hailed the remission of sentence for the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

“Congress ally DMK has welcomed this – will cong leave the ally,” Ghosh tweeted, asking if the Congress party will quit its alliance with DMK, which has welcomed the release of the killers of Rajiv Gandhi.

No sooner did she question the Congress party over its duplicity on the issue than a flurry of online attacks came her way, ostensibly from Congress supporters who accused her of being a “terror supporter”.

Congress supporters on Twitter attack Pallavi Ghosh for exposing party’s hypocrisy

“Hence proved @_pallavighosh is justifying terror activity! Shame on you,” said one Twitter user. 

Source: Twitter

Another Twitter user, Bhavika Kapoor, an avowed Congress supporter as per her Twitter bio, said, “Are you justifying terror activity? Shame on you.”

Source: Twitter

Many others were miffed that Pallavi was exposing the hypocrisy of the Congress party.

Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter

Congress alliance partner DMK hails the release of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers

Earlier last week, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin hailed the court’s decision to free 6 convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. 

In a statement, Stalin said the verdict ordering the release of six convicts, including S Nalini and her husband Murugan, was a victory to the “strong legal struggles” undertaken by the DMK government after assuming office in 2021. He said the victory can also be credited to those who believed in humanity and human rights. 

“The Supreme Court verdict is proof that Governors who are appointed to the post cannot sit on decisions taken by governments democratically elected by the people. This judgement is also a historic foreword to democratic principles,” Stalin said.

The Congress party is in alliance with the DMK and recently, MK Stalin had attended the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, a political campaign aimed at energising its party cadres across the country amid the gloom of myriad electoral defeats.

Delhi: Aftab slaughters his Hindu live-in partner into 35 pieces for asking him to marry her, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Aftab slaughters his Hindu live-in partner into 35 pieces for asking him to marry her, arrested

On Saturday (November 12), the police nabbed a man for murdering his Hindu live-in partner and disposing of her chopped body in the National Capital.

As per reports, the accused was identified as one Aftab. He met the victim, Shraddha, in Mumbai. The duo worked together at a call centre. Shraddha fell in love with Aftab and eloped from her home after her parents disapproved of her relationship with Aftab.

The duo, thereafter, began living together in the Mehrauli area of Delhi. Aftab was reportedly miffed with the victim for asking him to marry her. On May 18 this year, he strangled her to death.

The accused then purchased a refrigerator and stored her body in it for several days. He chopped his partner into 35 pieces and disposed them at 18 different locations in Delhi.

Reportedly, he would go out every night at 2 am to dump the body parts and destroy the evidence of his heinous crime. Shraddha’s family kept track of her whereabouts through her social media posts.

When she stopped posting updates, her family grew worried. Shraddha’s father went to Delhi but was unable to find her. Thereafter, he lodged a complaint with the police. The arrest of Aftab on Saturday (November 12) thus brought closure to the 6-month-old case.

In a statement, the Delhi police said, “Mehrauli Police solved a six-month-old case and arrested one Aftab for killing one Shraddha, chopping her into pieces and disposing of them. They fell in love while working in Mumbai and came here after families’ opposition. He murdered her when she started forcing him for marriage.”

India’s WPI inflation eases to 8.39 per cent, drops below the double-digit mark for the first time since March 2021

OpIndia Staff
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India’s WPI inflation eases to 8.39 per cent, drops below the double-digit mark for the first time since March 2021

India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation dropped to 8.39 per cent from 10.70 per cent in September—the first time it dropped below the double-digit mark since March last year, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed.

In March 2021, wholesale inflation was at 7.89 per cent. Since then, it hovered over the double-digit mark for eighteen straight months from April 2021 to September 2022, marked by surging worldwide inflation due to increasing global volatility amid disasters caused by climate change and Russia’s war on Ukraine, hike in oil prices, among other tumultuous events.

The WPI in August was revised to 12.48 per cent from 12.41 per cent, the government data showed. In October 2021, the WPI was 13.83 per cent.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) represents the price of goods at a wholesale stage i.e. goods that are sold in bulk and traded between organisations instead of retail consumers. It is used as a measure of inflation in some economies. 

Additionally, Indian consumer price index (CPI) inflation will be announced later today. As per a poll ran by Reuters, CPI is expected to ease to 6.73 per cent last month, in the wake of weaker food price rises and a robust base year. However, it will continue to remain above the RBI’s 6 per cent upper limit.

In September 2022, the inflation rate, as measured by the annual change in the CPI, was at 7.41 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mainly looks at retail inflation to frame monetary policy. The RBI has raised its main repo rate by a cumulative 190 basis points since May to 5.90% to bring inflation under control.

Deadly blast in Turkey’s Istanbul leaves 6 dead and over 80 injured, blacklisted terror group blamed for the attack: What we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Deadly blast in Turkey’s Istanbul leaves 6 dead and over 80 injured, blacklisted terror group blamed for the attack: What we know so far

Hours after a deadly bomb blast tore through a crowded shopping street in Turkey’s Istanbul, killing six and wounding dozens on Sunday, November 13, the state-run Anadolu agency confirmed that one suspect has been arrested. Turkey’s interior minister Suleyman Soylu on Monday said the person is believed to have planted the bomb.

The minister attributed responsibility for the Sunday explosion on the Istiklal Avenue to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), saying, “our assessment is that the order for the deadly terror attack came from Ayn al-Arab in northern Syria” where he said the group’s Syrian headquarters are located.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK is a Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla movement. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, the EU and some other countries. Since the 1980s, the PKK has maintained a deadly insurgency in southeast Turkey for Kurdish self-rule. Regularly the target of Turkish military operations, the PKK is also at the centre of a dispute between Sweden and Turkey. Turkey has been preventing Stockholm’s membership in NATO since May, blaming Stockholm for showing favouritism to the PKK.

“We will retaliate against those who are responsible for this heinous terror attack,” he said, adding that the death toll has risen from six to eight and that 81 people had been wounded, with two of them in “critical condition”.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet.

Video of the bomb blast in Istanbul surfaces

The explosion occurred on a busy shopping street near Taksim Square on Sunday at about 16:20 local time (13:20 GMT). At least six people have been killed and 81 wounded in the explosion.

Videos that were shared online shortly after the explosion showed hundreds of people fleeing the street as ambulances and police rushed to the scene. The place was crowded with tourists, families and shoppers as usual when the deadly blast took place.

As seen in the videos and images that surfaced online, the explosion was accompanied by flames which immediately triggered panic, with people running in all directions. A massive black crater and many bodies laying on the ground were also visible in the images.

Authorities later revealed that among the dead were a Turkish government ministry worker and his daughter. According to news agency Reuters, five persons among those injured were shifted to intensive care in a hospital, with two of them being in a critical condition.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the perpetrators would be punished.

Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, he condemned what he called the “vile attack” and said “the smell of terror” was in the air.

“It might be wrong if we say for sure that this is terror but according to first signs… there is a smell of terror there,” Erdogan said. “The attempt to take over Turkey and the Turkish nation through terrorism will not reach its goal today or tomorrow,” Erdogan added. 

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, meanwhile, told Turkish media a woman had sat on a bench in the area for more than 40 minutes, leaving just minutes before the blast took place.

India expresses condolences

Following the blast on Sunday, India expressed its condolences for the unfortunate loss of lives. Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, expressed India’s heartfelt condolences and wished those affected a speedy recovery.

He tweeted, “India conveys its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Türkiye on the tragic loss of lives in the blast that took place in Istanbul today. Our sympathies are also with those who sustained injuries. We wish them a speedy recovery.” 

Istiklal Street had previously been hit during a campaign of attacks in 2015-2016 that targeted Istanbul. Those attacks, claimed by the Islamic State organisation, had killed approximately 500 people and injured over 2,000 more.

Punjab: Drunk men create a ruckus in Mata ka Jagrata, attack women with kirpans in Jalandhar

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Drunk men create a ruckus in Mata ka Jagrata, attack women with kirpans in Jalandhar

The law and order situation in Punjab has been steadily deteriorating in recent times, as seen by a slew of crimes committed throughout the state. A fresh incident has been reported in Jalandhar’s Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Nagar, where drunk hooligans created a ruckus during a Jagrata on Sunday. Several women were injured as a result of the subsequent violence by the hooligans. Following the violence, there has been tension in the area, necessitating a heavy police presence.

According to sources, the drunkards arrived at the jagrata and got into an argument with the organisers. The people in the jagrata tried to drive them away so that they wouldn’t ruin the jagrata, but after a while, they returned and abused and assaulted the people sitting in the pandal with kirpans.

According to those who arranged the jagrata, the hooligans arrived armed with kirpans and created trouble at the function. They attacked individuals listening to bhajans in the jagrata, but the victims managed to flee and preserve their lives. Several women attending the jagrata were also injured in this unprovoked attack. The young men were so drunk that they even hurled kirpans at the sacred flame. The hooligans then left the spot after some time.

Following a complaint, Police reached the spot and took stock of the situation. The police then got the jagrata to resume and promised the organisers that they will catch the hooligans soon.

Deterioration of law and order in Punjab

Notably, the state’s law and order situation has been steadily deteriorating since Aam Aadmi Party came to power early in 2022. After AAP won a landslide victory in Punjab, annihilating the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, the state has seen a spike in murders, with even famous Kabaddi players and world-famous singers not immune to the violence, videos of open drug sales in the state have also gone viral, and the state has even witnessed communal violence after so many years.

Very recently, Hindu leader Sudhir Suri was shot dead in broad daylight in Amritsar. Suri was shot numerous times in broad daylight on November 4 in Amritsar, in the presence of police. When the attackers fired Suri from the crowd, he was demonstrating outside a temple in Amritsar. 

Also, flower petals were showered on Sandeep Singh, the suspected killer of Shiv Sena Taksali leader Sudhir Suri, outside the court as he was being driven there in a police van. Sandeep Singh was produced in court on Saturday after his 7-day police remand expired. The court extended the police custody for three more days after hearing the matter.

Just recently, a couple was brutally murdered in Ludhiana while their daughter could hear their shrieks. These are hardly isolated cases in Punjab over the last 2 months as criminals are getting more and more brazen, and openly executing their activities.

Maharashtra: NCP’s Jitendra Awhad booked for manhandling BJP Mahila Morcha leader during bridge inauguration

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: NCP’s Jitendra Awhad booked for manhandling BJP Mahila Morcha leader during bridge inauguration

On Sunday (November 13), a case was lodged against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad for assaulting, and shoving BJP Mahila Morcha (Maharashtra) Vice-President Rida Rashid in Mumbra.

As per reports, the incident occurred after Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde inaugurated a new bridge in Mumbra. Awhad, who serves as the MLA from the Mumbra-Kalwa Assembly constituency, was also present during the event.

When Rida Rashid was approaching the car of Chief Minister Shinde, she crossed paths with the NCP leader. In a video shared by the BJP Mahila Morcha VP, Awhad is seen pushing Rashid aside while saying something.

In a tweet, the BJP leader wrote, “NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad insulted me openly, holding me by my hand and pushing me saying, “What are you doing here?” I am a woman, who is being insulted publicly in this manner. The police administration should take action on it.”

A First Information Report (FIR) was thus registered at the Mumbra police station, based on the complaint of Rashid. Jitendra Awhad was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty).

Screengrab of the FIR against Jitendra Awhad

While speaking about the incident, Rida Rashid stated, “Today, the new bridge at Y junction was going to be inaugurated. All of us reached at 4 pm itself as we knew that Devendra Ji and the CM is coming.”

The inauguration happened nicely. When the CM was leaving, I thought that I should meet him. “There was a lot of crowd. So, I was going through one side. I am walking close to the car. Two-three people passed by. The MLA Sahab came.”

Rashid pointed out, “A lot has happened in Mumbra. I have spoken out against this. Today, he insulted me. He grabbed me and pushed me aside. So, I registered my complaint at the police station.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Jitendra Awhad

While reacting to the development, the NCP MLA tweeted, “Police registered 2 false cases against me in 72 hours and that too under Section 354. I will fight against this police brutality…I have decided to resign from my MLA post. I cannot see the murder of democracy with my eyes.”

Jitendra Awhad was arrested for stopping a show of movie ‘Har Har Mahadev’

The NCP MLA was recently arrested by Vartak Nagar police in Thane on Friday (November 11) for forcibly the show of a Marathi film titled ‘Har Har Mahadev’. On November 8, the police registered a case against Awhad and his supporters for disrupting the movie screening on the previous day.

Former minister Jitendra Awhad and some other NCP leaders in Maharashtra claimed that the movie was a distortion of history. They alleged that Jedhes, Bandals, and Baji Prabhu Deshpande were never against Shivaji Maharaj.

Moreover, Jitendra Awhad has said that the current wave of making films on the events in the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was based on history as told by Babasaheb Purandare. He was later released on bail.

Kashi Vishvanath Temple: 3 suspects detained ahead of crucial verdict by Varanasi court in Gyanvapi case, security tightened

OpIndia Staff
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Kashi Vishvanath Temple: 3 suspects detained ahead of crucial verdict by Varanasi court in Gyanvapi case, security tightened

According to media sources, three suspects were detained in Varanasi before today’s crucial verdict in the Gyanvapi Kashi Vishvanath case. On Monday, a Varanasi court will decide on the Hindu side’s petition for permission to worship the Shivling found within the Gyanvapi disputed structure’s Wuzukhana.

As per a report by Times Now, two of the detained three have been identified as Muslims wearing green towels on their necks, as per reports. All three suspects were attempting to enter the Kashi Vishvanath temple when they were discovered to be suspicious by officials, who stopped them and took them into custody for further investigation following primary questioning. Notably, the entry of Muslims is barred inside the Kashi Vishvanath temple.

The 3 suspects are from Giridih, Jharkhand.

As revealed by the suspects in basic questioning, they were on their way to Delhi and stopped in Varanasi to spend some time roaming around. Following the incident, security has been tightened in the area considering the verdict in the Gyanvapi case to be pronounced by the Varanasi district court.

Today, a Varanasi fast-track court will give a ruling on a petition asking for permission to worship the Shivling inside the Gyanvapi complex. The matter was postponed by the court until November 14 during the most recent hearing on November 8.

The court will decide whether to grant the Hindu side’s demands, which include allowing the Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar prayer to begin right away, handing the entire Gyanvapi complex to Hindus, and banning Muslims from accessing the Gyanvapi complex.

A Shivling was discovered inside the Wuzukhana of the mosque compound on May 16, 2022, during a survey by the court-appointed panel. The Hindu side said that this was major proof that the mosque was erected by razing Lord Vishweshwar’s temple in Kashi.

The Muslim side, on the other hand, stated that the object was a fountain that was no longer in use. On the same day, Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar issued an order sealing the disputed location in the complex in response to a plea filed by the Hindu side’s attorney Vishnu Shankar Jain.

The Supreme Court extended its earlier directive to protect the region where the Shivling was found during the court-mandated survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex on November 11.

The Shringar Gauri-Gyanvapi complex case has been heated, with the primary lawsuit demanding the right to pray at the Gyanvapi Complex site. In this case, five female Hindu petitioners argued that the structure is a part of the temple.

Pakistan bans the film Joyland, its official Oscar entry, because of ‘highly objectionable content’ concerning queer theme

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan bans the film Joyland, its official Oscar entry, because of ‘highly objectionable content’ concerning queer theme

On November 11, Saim Sadiq’s critically-acclaimed film Joyland got banned in Pakistan by the authorities. In its notification, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said it contained ‘highly objectionable material. The movie reportedly got a screening certificate from the government on August 17. It was the official entry of Pakistan for the 2023 Oscars.

Notification issued by Pakistan authorities banning Joyland. Source: Twitter

Notably, objections were raised over the content after its release. Some protests and concerns allegedly pushed the authorities to ban the film to avoid a backlash. In its notification, the ministry noted, “Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which does not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979.”

The film was scheduled for theatre release on November 18. The story revolves around a ‘patriarchal family’ wanting to have a baby boy to continue the family line. The youngest son of the family joins an erotic dance theatre secretly. He then falls for a transgender.

The fundamentalists in the country have deemed the movie as anti-Islam. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami in the Pakistan Senate said in a tweet, “Pakistan is an Islamic country, and no law, ideology or activity can be allowed against.”

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan rooted for the ban on Joyland. Source: Twitter

Actors and netizens came forward in support of the film and criticised the ban. They slammed the government for paving the pressure by the fundamentalists against the film. Reportedly, Joyland was the first Pakistani movie to be screened at Cannes Film Festival. It won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and Queer Palm award at the festival. Further, it was screened at Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival.

In a statement, Sania Saeed, one of the cast members, said as the film has been banned in Pakistan, it would face hurdles in Oscar nominations. Furthermore, it would be heartbreaking that the people of Pakistan would not be able to see a Pakistani film that received love across the globe, she added.

Another cast member Sarwat Gilani said, “There’s a paid smear campaign doing rounds against #Joyland, a film that made history for Pakistani cinema, got passed by all censor boards, but now authorities are caving in to pressure from some malicious people who have not even seen the film.”

“Shameful that a Pakistani film made by 200 Pakistanis over six years that got standing ovations from Toronto to Cairo to Cannes is being hindered in its own country. Don’t take away this moment of pride and joy from our people!” she added.

The cast of Joyland include Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Rasti Farooq, Salmaan Peerzada and Sohail Sameer.

‘Will break the hands and bones of Suvendu Adhikari’: Video of TMC leader Akhil Giri threatening BJP leader goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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‘Will break the hands and bones of Suvendu Adhikari’: Video of TMC leader Akhil Giri threatening BJP leader goes viral

On Friday (November 11), Trinamool Congress Minister Akhil Giri threatened BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari with physical harm after a stage of the ruling party was found vandalised in Nandigram.

In a video that has now surfaced on social media, he was heard saying, “We have seen pictures of people who went up on the TMC stage and destroyed it. I am making a request to the police that we need to nab all the accused, including Suvendu.”

The TMC Minister threatened, “Suvendu is doing a bit too much. He is displaying his might because he has central security. Will break his hand and bones in Nandigram.” As per reports, Akhil Giri is the uncle of Suvendu Adhikari (he had married the now-deceased aunt of the BJP leader).

He claimed that the situation in West Bengal could be brought to a boil only if Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee desired. “We have said this in Netaji Indoor Stadium that if Mamata Banerjee nods her head, then, we will break his (Suvendu’s) bones,” Akhil Giri warned.

“I am giving the police 3 days’ time…If the culprits are not arrested by Tuesday (November 15), then, all the people of Nandigram will gather in one place and teach a befitting lesson to the leader of the rival party (referring to Suvendu Adhikari),” he threatened.

The TMC Minister continued his provocative remarks and warned the Opposition leaders against ‘playing with fire.’ He further reminded them that his party members are capable of violence as they are not adherents of Ramkrishna Mission or Bharat Seva Ashram.

The Background of the Controversy

On Thursday (November 10), both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress observed Martyr’s Day in Nandigram (the constituency of Suvendu Adhikari) in remembrance of those killed by CPI(M) cadres during the Nandigram agitation of 2007.

A day later, the stage of TMC was found vandalised and charred. The party was quick to blame the rival BJP and staged a road blockade for over 10 hours, demanding the arrest of the accused. The BJP, in turn, alleged that the arson was the fallout of infighting within the Trinamool Congress.

On Saturday (November 12) night, the police raided the residence of BJP leader Meghnath Paul in connection to the case. A First Information Report (FIR) was also lodged against Paul and Adhikari.

The BJP has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of carrying out political vengeance. BJP leader Abhijit Maity said, “On the instructions of the TMC, the police were trying to malign Meghnath Paul and other BJP workers.”

‘Have you looked at her face’: Akhil Giri made derogatory remarks about President Murmu

On Friday, the Trinamool Congress leader also courted controversy after taking potshots at the facial appearance of President Draupadi Murmu. Akhil Giri made the misogynist remarks during a public address in Nandigram town in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.

In a video that went viral on social media, he was heard as saying, “He (Suvendu Adhikari) claimed that I don’t look good. How beautiful is Suvendu? We don’t judge people by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (Draupadi Murmu). But have you looked at her face?”

After coming under the line of fire, the TMC legislator tried to rationalise his remarks in the name of an apology. “I respect President. I mentioned the post&made a comparison to respond to Suvendu Adhikari, I didn’t take any name,” Giri said.

“He had said Akhil Giri looks bad in his appearance. I’m a min,took oath to office. If something is said against me, it’s an insult to Constitution. I said ‘President’, I didn’t take anyone’s name,” he continued.

Following outrage by netizens and from political quarters, the Trinamool Congress was forced to issue a clarification and ‘condemn’ the remarks of its party leader.

In a tweet, it said, “We have the utmost respect for Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. Our party strongly condemns the unfortunate remarks made by MLA Akhil Giri and clarifies that we do not endorse such statements.”

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