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“Haryana-Rajasthan challan war”: Female cop from Haryana refuses to pay Rs 50 fare in Rajasthan Roadways bus, leads to ‘challan war’ between the two states

OpIndia Staff
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“Haryana-Rajasthan challan war”: Female cop from Haryana refuses to pay Rs 50 fare in Rajasthan Roadways bus, leads to ‘challan war’ between the two states

A video of an intense argument between a female Haryana cop and the conductor of a Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) bus has gone viral on social media. The woman refused to pay for the bus ticket, and the conductor asked her to leave the bus. The incident sparked an absurd dispute between Haryana and Rajasthan with several buses on Haryana and Rajasthan roadways getting fined in each other’s ‘territory’.

The video shows the RSRTC bus conductor asking the woman to pay Rs 50 for the bus fare. However, the woman, who is in a police uniform refuses to pay. Moreover, she also refuses to leave when the conductor instructs her to get off the bus if she cannot pay. The conductor says, “If you’re taking the bus to Dharuhera (in Haryana), pay Rs 50. You must pay the money if you are travelling.” However, the woman says, “You will not get it.”

The bus conductor then asks, “Why won’t you pay? If you have to travel, you must pay.” He also blows his whistle, signalling the driver to halt the bus so the female cop can get off. However, the police officer refuses to leave the bus and continues arguing with the conductor over the bus fare.

In what is being called a revenge move, Haryana Police levied penalties on more than 50 RSRTC buses operating on busy routes such as Gurugram and Faridabad shortly after the video went viral on social media. In response, the Rajasthan authorities penalised 26 Haryana roadways buses through their routes. Reports say that out of the 26 Haryana Roadways buses fined by Rajasthan, 9 faced challans at Jaipur’s Sindhi Camp, while 17 others were plying elsewhere in the state.  A Patrika report says that 76 Haryana Roadways buses were fined and 8 buses were seized in Rajasthan, while more than 100 Rajasthan Roadways buses were fined in Haryana.

Notably, the dispute is reported to have been resolved now after the intervention of high-level authorities. The Rajasthan Roadways employee union also protested the incident involving the female police official and the matter soon reached both the state governments. After the situation worsened, the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation wrote to the Haryana DGP, requesting that he take action against the female constable.

The dispute has finally been settled following high-level talks between the Haryana and Rajasthan governments. According to Haryana Minister Anil Vij, additional action would be taken after receiving a factual report on the matter, while state transport bus services between the two states have returned to normal.

BBC insinuates attack on Muslims after UP and Uttarakhand govts announce strict punishment for contamination of food with spit, urine and dirt

Rukma Rathore
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BBC insinuates attack on Muslims after UP and Uttarakhand govts announce strict punishment for contamination of food with spit, urine and dirt

After The Guardian, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) another flagbearer of hypocritical Western media tried to cry about Muslim victimhood and criticise the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for introducing strict punishment to punish contamination of food through various means including spitting.

The BBC and Western media in general appear to have taken issue with the regulation that requires restaurant owners, managers and employees of all religions including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and others to display their real names so that customers know who they are buying their food items from. They want Indians, especially Hindus, to forgo personal hygiene and health care at the altar of secularism.

The BBC attacked the saffron party for trying to ensure that the food served to customers is at least free of spit and other such contaminants in an article titled, “India states’ plans to punish spitting in food spark controversy,” published on 28th October. It was written by Cherylann Mollan and read, “This month, two states ruled by India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced plans to impose hefty fines and imprisonment for contaminating food with spit, urine and dirt. The northern state of Uttarakhand will fine offenders up to 100,000 ($1,190, £920) rupees while neighbouring Uttar Pradesh is set to introduce stringent laws to address the issue.”

The piece added, “The government directives followed the circulation of unverified videos on social media showing vendors spitting on food at local stalls and restaurants – and one video depicting a house-help mixing urine into the food she was preparing. While the videos sparked outrage among users, with many expressing concern about food safety in these states, some of the videos also became the subject of blame campaigns targeting Muslims, which were later debunked by fact-checking websites. They pointed out that many on social media had alleged that the woman adding urine to food was Muslim, but police later identified her as a Hindu.”

It should come as no surprise that the BBC used ‘fact-check’ of Islamic fanatic Mohammed Zubair’s dubious Alt News to assert that Muslims are innocent and Hindus are the ones who pollute the food, then place blame on the former while citing the case of a maid who peed into dough meant for making rotis for her employers. BBC singled out one case to invalidate all the real instances of spitting and urinating in food and drinks prepared by Muslims to undermine all the credible complaints, in a standard liberal-Islamist move to mislead others.

“Officials say strict laws are necessary and are aimed at deterring people from indulging in unhygienic practices around food, but opposition leaders and legal experts have questioned the efficacy of these laws and allege that they could also be misused to vilify a specific community. The Indian Express newspaper criticised the ordinances proposed by Uttar Pradesh state, saying that they ‘act as a communal (sectarian) dog whistle that preys on the majority’s notions of purity and pollution and targets an already insecure minority’,” the article linked the government directive to prejudice and demonization of a group to further denigrate its true objective of providing consumers with safe and hygienic food.

BBC simply repeated rhetoric from the opposition and liberal elements of Indian media. Nevertheless, like them, it provided no data or proof to support its claims. The article then elaborated on how food safety is a critical and significant subject in India. “Food and food habits are sensitive subjects in culturally diverse India as they are deeply intertwined with religion and the country’s hierarchical caste system. Norms and taboos around food sometimes lead to clashes between communities, sparking feelings of distrust. Consequently, the notion of ‘food safety’ has also become entangled with religion, which is sometimes used to ascribe motive to alleged incidents of contamination.”

Notably, the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision was prompted by numerous incidents of altercations between devotees and Muslim vendors who were discovered to be polluting the food that the former were being served. The decision was taken to maintain both communal harmony in the state and respect the religious sentiments of the Hindu pilgrims.

The piece then mentioned, “Food safety is also a major concern in India, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) estimating that unsafe food causes around 600 million infections and 400,000 deaths annually. Experts cite various reasons for poor food safety in India, including inadequate enforcement of food safety laws and a lack of awareness. Cramped kitchens, dirty utensils, contaminated water, and improper transport and storage practices further compromise food safety. So, when videos of vendors spitting on food came out, people were shocked and outraged. Soon after, Uttarakhand announced hefty fines on offenders and made it mandatory for police to verify hotel staff and for CCTVs to be installed in the kitchen.”

“In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said to stop such incidents, police should verify every employee. The state also plans to make it mandatory for food centres to display the names of their owners, for cooks and waiters to wear masks and gloves and for CCTVs to be installed in hotels and restaurants. According to reports, Adityanath is planning to bring in two ordinances that will penalise spitting in food with imprisonment for up to 10 years,” it shed light on the legislation that the two governments had put in place to guarantee food safety.

It’s interesting to note that the article’s attempt to paint the law negatively actually highlighted the significance of food safety, and pointed out that the government’s decision was not unexpected, rather, it followed several such occurrences that sparked public outcry. Additionally, it unintentionally underlined how the government is trying to prevent any anti-social or illegal elements and more importantly avoid any unfortunate events by asking for identification proof to verify an individual’s true identity.

It also brought out that the Supreme Court of India forbade the implementation of the order and stated, “In July, India’s Supreme Court had stayed directives issued by the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments asking people running food stalls along the route of Kanwar yatra – an annual Hindu pilgrimage – to prominently display the names and other identity details of their owners. Petitioners told the top court that the directives unfairly targeted Muslims and would negatively impact their businesses.”

BBC tried to defend the perpetrators but exposed its agenda

The article also included two recent cases involving spitting by members of the Muslim community. “On Wednesday, police in the state’s Barakanki town arrested restaurant owner Mohammad Irshad for allegedly spitting on a roti (flat bread) while preparing it. Mr Irshad was charged with disturbing peace and religious harmony, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported. Earlier this month, police in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, arrested two men – Naushad Ali and Hasan Ali – for allegedly spitting in a saucepan while making tea, and accused them of causing public outrage and jeopardising health, reported The Hindu.”

Amusingly, the instances were stated to allege that Muslims are now ‘under attack’ only because they were caught spitting. “The videos of the men spitting, which found their way onto social media days before they were arrested, were given a religious spin after many Hindu nationalist accounts began calling them incidents of ‘thook-jihad’ or ‘spit-jihad.’ The term is a spin on ‘love-jihad‘ which has been coined by radical Hindu groups, who use it to accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage. By extension, ‘thook-jihad’ accuses Muslims of trying to defile Hindus by spitting in their food.”

First of all, there is a long list of similar incidents of Muslims spitting or urinating in food meant for others to label the aforementioned occurrences as isolated. The outrage transpired only after many such incidents were recorded not only in the two states but all over India. Just last month, at a Noida dhaba, a man by the name of Chand was observed spitting on the rotis that were being prepared for the customers. Spit is even utilized as a cosmetic component as was demonstrated when Muhammad Zaid was witnessed spitting on his client Pandit Ashish Kumar’s face at his salon, in June. Notably, when the instance is not of spitting then it is of disrespecting the religious feelings of Hindus through other ways as illustrated by Tanver who sold chicken biryani to devotees returning from Haridwar after claiming it was vegetarian.

The “radical Hindu groups” do not ask the members of the Muslim community to pollute the food and drinks just like they never told them to hide their identities to trap, torture and forcefully convert Hindu girls to Islam which often leads to a brutal end of the victim’s life. The term ‘thook-jihad’ or ‘love jihad’ came into existence after these cases surfaced in various parts of India over the past many years. BBC purposefully attempted to cast doubt on these tragedies by implying that they were collective figments of a notorious Hindu imagination without any roots in reality, to deny extremely serious and real events that continue to affect thousands of lives.

“This is not the first time that the Muslim community has become the target of spitting accusations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of fake videos showing Muslims spitting, sneezing or licking objects to infect people with the virus went viral on social media. The videos heightened religious polarisation, with Hindu hardline accounts posting anti-Muslim rhetoric,” the article then makes an effort to refute the documented cases of Muslims, particularly those in the Tablighi Jamat, who were a major contributor to the pandemic’s spread. They not only violated the strict measures put in place but also fled and hid in different parts of the country. They even harassed hospital staff where they were admitted. Many Muslims also publicly boasted that Corona is from Allah, and even called it “Allah’s NRC” (National Register of Citizens).

The piece then added a statement from a Uttarakhand government officer and mentioned “But Manish Sayana, a food safety officer in Uttarakhand, says the government’s orders are solely aimed at making food safe for consumption. He told the BBC that the food safety officers and the police have started conducting surprise checks at eateries and that they ‘urge people to wear masks and gloves and install CCTVs’ wherever they go for checks.”

“Legal expert and journalist V Venkatesan says there is a need for new ordinances and laws around food safety to be properly debated on the assembly floor,” the piece stated and quoted him, “According to me, the existing laws (under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006) are sufficient to take care of any offences connected to food safety. So, one needs to ask why the a need for these new laws and directives. Governments seem to think that laws prescribing harsh punishments will deter people from committing crimes, but research has shown that it is the proper implementation of laws that deter people from committing crimes. So, have the existing laws not been properly implemented in these states yet?”

BBC’s hate campaign against Hindus and India

BBC is infamous for its anti-India coverage and despise of the Hindu community. The media house that cries ‘minorities under attack in India’ at the drop of a hat as shown by the aforementioned article tried to whitewash the deliberate assault of minorities especially Hindus at the hands of Islamists in Bangladesh. It also engaged in propaganda against the Ram Mandir and even justified its outrageously biased coverage of the issue. The media house which is also full of hatred against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “Hindutva” which is demonstrated by their biased reporting didn’t shy away from spewing lies about the anti-Hindu Leicester either.

Conclusion

Notably, the BBC attempted to indicate as though the rule only applied to Muslims, when in reality, it applied to all communities. The report also failed to address the reasons why the Muslims do not wish to operate their eateries under their true names. Are they concealing something? If Muslims can prioritize halal food and other products in the name of basic freedom and rights, why aren’t Hindus granted the same privilege and allowed to choose where they purchase their food? Why should they be subjected to deceit and deception to maintain ‘secularism’ in the nation? Why must Hindus alone bear the burden of secularism?

The media houses from the Western countries that follow strict food safety standards don’t want the two states to maintain the same as it would interfere with their anti-India agenda and their perpetual portrayal of the country’s second-largest community as a vulnerable minority regardless of the ground reality. Or in their efforts to defend their favourite community are the Western media exposing them by implying that they will face legal action because they are frequently caught engaging in such conduct? More significantly, is the author prepared to taste food from such an eatery and jeopardize her well-being and hygiene to promote ‘secularism,’ which she wants the Hindu community to do?

Have never used leather, never will: Spiritual orator Jaya Kishori refutes claims that her Dior bag is made using leather

OpIndia Staff
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Have never used leather, never will: Spiritual orator Jaya Kishori refutes claims that her Dior bag is made using leather

A video showing spiritual orator and motivational speaker Jaya Kishori carrying a custom Dior “Book Tote” at an airport recently went viral. In no time, netizens started raising several questions including her stand on material possessions and alleged use of leather in making the Dior bag.

Addressing the controversy around using leather bags, Jaya Kishori said, “The bag is a customised piece. There is no leather in it, and the customization means it can be made according to personal wishes. My name is also engraved on it. I have never used leather, nor will I ever. Those who have come to my ‘Katha’ know very well that I never say that everything is ‘moh maya’, don’t earn money or renounce everything.”

Speaking about the social media criticism and questions being raised over her credibility as a spiritual orator since spiritual leaders usually encourage detachment from material possessions, Jaya Kishori said, “I am a normal girl, I live in a normal house, I live with my family… I tell the same thing to the youth that you should work hard, earn money, give yourself a good life, give your family a good life, and fulfill your dreams.”

Kishori responded to the torrent of social media posts condemning her by saying, “I have not renounced anything, so how can I advise you to do so? I’ve been clear from the beginning that I’m not a saint, sadhu, or sadhvi.”

Before the Dior bag controversy, a video of Jaya Kishori saying that she likes to possess the latest models of Apple iPhone, had also triggered similar criticism around spiritual orators preaching detachment from the material world to their followers while enjoying the same in their personal lives. Notably, Kishori has a large following on social media, having over 12.3 million Instagram followers alone.

‘Breaking Bad’ in Uttar Pradesh: Meth lab busted in Greater Noida, 95 kg of drugs seized, four including Tihar jail warden arrested; Mexican gang involved

OpIndia Staff
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‘Breaking Bad’ in Uttar Pradesh: Meth lab busted in Greater Noida, 95 kg of drugs seized, four including Tihar jail warden arrested; Mexican gang involved

The Delhi police special cell and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have worked together to bust a large narcotics cartel in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The authorities confiscated around 95 kg of both liquid and solid methamphetamine valued at hundreds of crores, as well as arrested four people.

The operation was prompted by a tip that a laboratory was being set up in the National Capital Region (NCR) to produce synthetic narcotics, such as methamphetamine, for domestic use and export to other nations. The drugs were found on 25th October when detectives searched a factory in the Kasana Industrial Area of the Gautam Buddha Nagar district.

According to officials, this case also involves members of the Mexican drug cartel known as CJNG (De Jalisco Nueva Generacion), which is among the most wanted list of the United States Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA). A Delhi-based businessman and a Tihar Jail warden, who were both inside the plant during the search, were key players in setting up the illicit operation, according to the preliminary investigation.

The businessman reportedly imported the equipment and obtained the chemicals needed to manufacture methamphetamine from multiple sources. He had previously been arrested in an NDPS case by the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and had been imprisoned in Tihar jail. He met the warden, who later became his collaborator.

In addition to them, a pharmacist from Mumbai was hired to produce the drug and a Delhi-based member of a Mexican gang evaluated the drug’s quality. According to the information, on 27th October, all four individuals were brought before a magistrate after being taken into custody by the NCB. The accused have been placed under police detention for a period of three days. As a follow-up measure, a key syndicate member and close associate of a Delhi-based businessman was arrested in Delhi’s Rajouri Garden neighbourhood and will be presented to the relevant court.

Acetone, sodium hydroxide, methylene chloride, premium quality ethanol, toluene, red phosphorous, ethyl acetate, and other chemicals were discovered by officials within the laboratory. Furthermore, they discovered foreign equipment utilized in the production of the drugs. The agencies are currently looking into all of the links and individuals connected to the four people who were arrested. Additionally, their assets and financial history from illegal narcotics trafficking are being investigated. It is believed that the drug mafia is increasingly establishing these covert labs in industrial districts due to the low cost of producing synthetic narcotics like methamphetamine and mephedrone in these areas.

They do this to stay under the radar and prevent local law enforcement authorities from receiving excessive alerts due to the movement of equipment and materials, laboratory waste, and hazardous fumes released from chimneys during chemical processing.

How a woman can go to heaven, how to use Zakat Funds: Islamist posters across Bahraich where Ram Gopal Mishra was killed

राहुल पाण्डेय
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How a woman can go to heaven, how to use Zakat Funds: Islamist posters across Bahraich where Ram Gopal Mishra was killed

The situation in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, which has been tense since the murder of Hindu devotee Ram Gopal Mishra by an Islamist mob on 13th October, is stabilising. However, police are still stationed on roads leading to the home of the victim. The state government has issued demolition notices for several houses where residents were involved in the violence against Durga Puja Visarjan, and in shops located in Maharajganj Bazaar, but these orders have been stayed by the court.

The OpIndia team visited these shops and houses where the notices were posted. Inside, numerous posters displayed religious messages on the walls. Local Hindus describe this market as the centre of Islamic activities in the area, stating they have seen unknown and suspicious outsiders, including Maulanas and Maulvis, visiting Maharajganj Bazaar.

Shops in Mosque Campus Displaying ‘Sher-e-Khuda Ali Maula’

Some of the shops that received notices are located within the mosque campus, accessible through a small gate with shops on both sides, including bike repair, medical, and grocery stores. Most of these shops are currently vacant.

Source: OpIndia Hindi

In one shop, Arabic words were stylised to resemble a lion’s face, with the phrase “Sher-e-Khuda Ali Maula” (“Lion of Allah Ali Maula”) in Arabic. Below this, there was additional Arabic text, though its translation remains unclear. This shop belonged to a man named Meraj, son of Mukarram Ali.

Signs of Jannati Auratein

In another property that received a government notice, a poster outlined qualities for women who, according to Islam, are destined for heaven. The poster, printed by S. Alam’s printing press and endorsed by Khurshid and Javed Sonal, states that women following these principles may enter heaven through any gate.

Source: OpIndia Hindi

According to the poster, only Muslim women who pray five times daily, fast during Ramadan, safeguard their chastity and modesty, and obey their husbands can attain heaven. The poster cites Musnad Ahmed for guidance and includes a poetic line: “Nature dislikes harshness in speech, which is why the tongue has no bone.” The house also promoted an event, “Urs Hashmati and Razvi,” led by “Akram Bhai,” scheduled for 9th September last year in Bareilly and Pilibhit, with bus departure times listed.

Advice for Sunni, Hanafi, and Barelvi Muslims

In other houses, posters issued by Maulana Rafi Mohammed Bahraichi provided advice to Sunni, Hanafi, and Barelvi Muslims while dismissing the Deobandi ideology. Labelled as an essential announcement, the poster warned that funds collected through zakat, fitrah, atiyah, and sadqah are not being used properly.

Source: OpIndia Hindi

The poster appeals for zakat and similar donations to be directed to a place named Hazrat Khanqah, located in Jalaliya Ashrafiya Karimiyya Razviya in Maharajganj Bazaar, and includes several contact numbers. A religious book is printed as a logo at the top, though the printing press name is absent.

Maharajganj as the Centre of Islamic Activities

OpIndia spoke to Maruti Nandan Tripathi, an eyewitness to the violence, who described Maharajganj Bazaar as the hub of Islamic activities in the surrounding area. From here, gatherings, Urs events, speeches, and processions within a 10-kilometre radius are coordinated.

According to Tripathi, details such as the number of participants, music for DJs, and other arrangements are decided in Maharajganj. Other Hindu victims also noted that unknown Maulvis and Maulanas frequently visit Maharajganj.

This report was first published in OpIndia Hindi. It can be checked here.

US ‘liberals’ angry after Jeff Bezos announces Washington Post won’t endorse Kamala Harris: How they are trying to prove blind political bias as moral duty

Shraddha Pandey
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US ‘liberals’ angry after Jeff Bezos announces Washington Post won’t endorse Kamala Harris: How they are trying to prove blind political bias as moral duty

Neutrality is one of the basic principles of journalism. Especially true for publications in countries that issue sermons to everyone in the world on principles of democracy and freedom of speech. The second-largest democracy, the United States, however, is witnessing its liberals going bonkers against billionaire Jeff Bezos-owned The Washington Post, which has traditionally been endorsing the Democrat candidates in presidential elections but decided to discontinue this tradition and stay neutral this time.

The anger over Jeff Bezos’s decision to block an endorsement of the presidential candidate Kamala Harris has reached its pinnacle with more than 2 lakh people cancelling their online subscription to The Washington Post. This number accounts for about 8% of the paper’s paid circulation of approximately 2.5 million subscribers, including print.

An X user David Buchbinder cancelled his WaPo subscription and said: “@JeffBezos is weak, and unprincipled. Probably time to exit the Amazon effin’ universe…”

Another Democrat supporter said: “Bezos made a huge mistake morally. Financially it’s doubtful that he will suffer. But he is deplorable none the less.”

Renowned author Stephan King also announced the cancellation of his WaPo subscription as he said: “After 5 years, I have canceled my subscription to the Washington Post.”

Besides, the mass subscription cancellation, several journalists at The Washington Post have also registered their ‘protest’ against the paper’s sudden decision to shun its pro-democrat bias. David E. Hoffman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning contributing editor, and Molly Roberts, an editorial writer who covers technology and society, have resigned from the newspaper’s editorial board.

In a letter to David Shipley, editorial page editor, Hoffman said: “Under our watch at The Post, no one would be lost in silence. Until Friday, I assumed we would apply the same values and principles to an editorial endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. I believe we face a very real threat of autocracy in the candidacy of Donald Trump. I find it untenable and unconscionable that we have lost our voice at this perilous moment.”

Meanwhile, Molly Roberts took to X to express here resentment over Jeff Bezos’s decision and said: “To be clear, the decision not to endorse the election was not the editorial board’s. It was (you can read the reporting) Jeff Bezos’s. By registering my dissent, I don’t intent to impugn the conduct of my colleagues, all of whom were put in nearly impossible positions.”

“…because the imperative to endorse Kamala Harris over Donald Trump is about as morally clear as it gets. Worse, our silence is exactly what Donald Trump wants: for the media, for us, to keep quiet,” Roberts added in her statement.

The sheer discontent of these ‘journalists’ over their publication though suddenly but finally waking up to uphold journalistic ethics and shun bias, demonstrates how The Washington Post has over the years been a propaganda machine for the Democrats, all while pretending to be progressive and liberal.

Meanwhile, over a dozen of WaPo columnists including Eugene Robinson have issued a joint statement loathing WaPo discontinuing presidential candidate endorsement not only for this but all future presidential elections. They called the decision a “terrible mistake”.

“…It represents an abandonment of the fundamental editorial convictions of the newspaper that we love. This is a moment for the institution to be making clear its commitment to democratic values, the rule of law and international alliances, and the threat that Donald Trump poses to them — the precise points The Post made in endorsing Trump’s opponents in 2016 and 2020. There is no contradiction between The Post’s important role as an independent newspaper and its practice of making political endorsements, both as a matter of guidance to readers and as a statement of core beliefs. That has never been more true than in the current campaign. An independent newspaper might someday choose to back away from making presidential endorsements. But this isn’t the right moment, when one candidate is advocating positions that directly threaten freedom of the press and the values of the Constitution,” the statement reads.

A noticeable aspect in the meltdown of The Washington Post ‘journalists’ is how blatantly the WaPo reporters and columnists are exposing their lack of journalistic ethics in the garb of taking a stand for ‘democratic values’, ‘moral’ imperative, and serving the self-proclaimed ‘higher purpose’ of stopping Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Journalists are expected to stick to the principles of objectivity and impartiality as well as hold all governments accountable for their actions and policies rather than advocating for politicians or their parties. However, these WaPo ‘journalists’ prioritising political allegiance over journalistic integrity demonstrates that under the pretext of being an ‘independent’ news outlet, WaPo has been running as no less than a propaganda arsenal of the Democratic Party.

OpIndia has time and again exposed The Washington Post’s biased reportage, particularly, in the Indian context. While the outraged WaPo journalists are talking about preserving democratic values, the publication was recently accused of colluding with the Liberal Party government in Canada to further its mendacious anti-India narrative. While there are numerous incidents wherein WaPo indulged in biased reporting and peddling propaganda, the very fact that it platforms Rana Ayyub, a donation fraud accused and a known anti-Modi detractor, makes it clear why the credibility of The Washington Post has tanked.

Jeff Bezos defends decision to discontinue presidential endorsements amidst depleting subscriber base and staff resignations

Amidst the continuous fall in subscription count of The Washington Post, Amazon founder and WaPo owner Jeff Bezos penned an opinion piece defending his decision to go neutral in this and future presidential elections in the US. In the article titled The hard truth: Americans don’t trust the news media, Bezos argued that endorsements have no practical impact and that doing so adds only to the perception that the US’s mainstream media is unreliable.

Admitting that the credibility of WaPo and the legacy media in general is continuously falling, Bezos said that a “victim mentality” will not help. “We must be accurate, and we must be believed to be accurate. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but we are failing on the second requirement. Most people believe the media is biased. Anyone who doesn’t see this is paying scant attention to reality, and those who fight reality lose. Reality is an undefeated champion. It would be easy to blame others for our long and continuing fall in credibility (and, therefore, decline in impact), but a victim mentality will not help. Complaining is not a strategy. We must work harder to control what we can control to increase our credibility.”

Addressing the questions over the timing of the decision to stop presidential endorsements altogether, Bezos said, “By itself, declining to endorse presidential candidates is not enough to move us very far up the trust scale, but it’s a meaningful step in the right direction. I wish we had made the change earlier than we did, in a moment further from the election and the emotions around it. That was inadequate planning, and not some intentional strategy.”

He further clarified that “no quid pro quo of any kind is at work here. Neither campaign nor candidate was consulted or informed at any level or in any way about this decision.”

Bezos added that David Limp, the CEO of one of his companies Blue Origin met Donald Trump on the day of the announcement of blocking Kamala Harris’s endorsement, however, the meeting with Trump was quickly scheduled one and no one including Limp and Bezos knew about it, he added.

Democracy dies in darkness when newspapers stop being stooges of Democrats?

While Jeff Bezos has finally decided not to leave The Washington Post on “autopilot” mode and let it fade into irrelevance, all these years on autopilot mode, WaPo has lost credibility by roping in absolutely biased propagandists masquerading as journalists, the so-called American right-wing has already lost any faith left in the legacy media including WaPo, the publication is now facing wrath of its own loyal support base for finally deciding not to be a democrat/liberal mouthpiece but actually become unbiased and credible news outlet.

Liberals, not just in the US, but across the world share this trait, they talk about democratic values and press freedom, liberty and whatnot but only till they control the things, do they reveal their true ‘fascist’ character in the face of slight deviance by anyone from their established and control ‘system’. Only liberals and wokes can loathe the media for being unbiased or at least trying to become impartial. For this lot, fearless reporting, bringing out the truth and holding government leaders accountable etc is only commendable when the media is questioning and targeting the ‘right-wing’ or the conservatives, however, even the quest to take a neutral stand and not even going explicitly against the liberals triggers massive outrage and hatred against anyone including one of their own.

Even WaPo’s cartoon team (no pun intended) is mocking Bezos’s decision to restore neutrality in the newspaper as its illustrator Ann Telnaes created a gloomy, formless graphic that is evidently designed to mock the “Democracy Dies in Darkness” slogan that the outlet adopted during Bezos’s ownership. Clearly, democracy dies in darkness when a newspaper deviates from being a supporter of a liberal party but democracy thrives when the same news outlet endorses the democrat leader and eulogies to the Democratic Party.

Bangladesh govt gives immunity to Islamists against prosecution, all hopes of ‘justice’ for persecuted Hindus end

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh govt gives immunity to Islamists against prosecution, all hopes of ‘justice’ for persecuted Hindus end

In a concerning update to the protests that happened in Bangladesh leading to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the current interim government has provided broad immunity to supposed ‘student protests’ who unleashed mayhem.

As per the reports, the new government has issued an order exempting ‘demonstrators’ from punishment for acts committed between July 15th and August 8th.

This move has created controversy, with many believing it undermines responsibility for violent acts executed during the period of instability.

There have also been calls for clarification on the scope of the immunity ruling, with fears that it may shield persons involved in major crimes.

Hundreds were killed in the ‘student-led’ movement that deposed Bangladesh’s leader Sheikh Hasina, but those affected by the violence fear that the new authorities’ pledge of justice will not include them.

“A new journey toward a nondiscriminatory Bangladesh has begun with the fall of an autocratic and fascist government. Students and citizens who put forth all efforts to make this uprising successful will not face prosecution, arrest, or harassment for their acts between July 15 and August 8,” the official statement by the Home Ministry read.

It is important to note that the minority community in Bangladesh consisting of the Hindus, Muslim Ahmadiya Sufi sect, Buddhists, and Christians have faced brutal attacks after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

On 5th August, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, resigned from her post and fled the country amidst violent protests that were allegedly led by the students.

Following her exit, the Bangladeshi Army took over and soon an interim government under Muhammed Yunus took charge of the country. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi Hindus started to get targeted by Islamists across the country.

Initially, the Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star reported that Hindus were attacked in at least 27 districts spread to 40+ districts over time.

OpIndia has been consistently reporting attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh despite the vicious propaganda to prove that Hindus have been safe in the neighbouring country.

Notably, attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh were not uncommon and there have been several reports where Hindus, their temples, and shops have been targeted in the country. 

Islamists burnt Hindu homes, they targeted Hindu temples across the country. The Islamists also targeted Hindu women and murdered minority community people after the fall of the Hasina-led government.

Initially, 54 such targeted attacks were reported. Later several such attacks on minorities at the hands of Islamists continued to happen. Details of these attacks can be read here.

Notably, Muslim Ahmadiya Sufi sects were also targeted, their people were attacked and their homes were burned to ashes. While these attacks happened, the police there blamed the ‘student’ protestors and forced more than 700 people to go into hiding to save their lives. The political turmoil in Bangladesh also cost the lives of around 46 officers who were lynched by the Islamist mob. Despite this, the police instead of taking action against the protestors became busy investigating the old regime, and dozens of Hasina’s allies have to date been arrested. An arrest warrant against Hasina has also been issued while the woman continues to stay in hiding.

Recently, Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor to the interim government in Bangladesh talked about the onslaught against the Hindus in Bangladesh and said that the events were ‘exaggerated’. Yunus said that the violence against Hindu minorities was not communal, but a ‘result of Hindus becoming synonymous with the deposed Awami League in the eyes of the attackers.’

Yunus further tried to contextualize the Islamist violence against the Hindu minority saying that he had told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that there were several ‘dimensions’ to the issue. “I have said this to Modi also that this is exaggerated. This issue has several dimensions. When the country went through an upheaval following the atrocities by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them also faced attacks,” Yunus was quoted as saying.

He completely whitewashed the attacks on Hindus and further advised the latter to not identify themselves as Hindus but as Bangladeshis to stay safe. What protection would a leader give to the persecuted Bangladeshi Hindus when he is advising them to hide their religious identity and simply identify as Bangladeshi citizens? Why can’t Hindus of Bangladesh identify themselves as Hindu citizens of Bangladesh, still be safe, and lead a dignified life, if at all the ongoing anti-Hindu violence is ‘political’ in nature and not communal?

Instead of acting tough on the Islamists, Yunus wants Hindus to disassociate themselves from their Hindu religious identity. By downplaying the religious motivation behind the anti-Hindu violence and calling such incidents ‘exaggerated’, Yunus blatantly supports the violence while pretending to be a ‘savior’.

Muhammad Yunus should answer if the violence against Hindus was politically driven why were Hindu temples attacked, why the idols of Hindu deities smashed, and why Jamat-e-Islami prepared a list of Hindu houses to single them out and attack. While it is true that several Muslim leaders of the Awami League were also attacked and lynched, the Islamists did not destroy any mosques as ‘political revenge’, why only temples? Notably, some Sufi dargahs were said to have been vandalised, however, it also proves the point that the violent mob was driven by Islamic extremism which is fundamentally intolerant towards any perceived form of idol worship.

Reportedly, following the attacks, Hindus came down to the streets to protest against the atrocities. Protests erupted in Shahbag in Dhaka, Shariatpur, Chittagong, Barishal, Dinajpur, Mymensingh, and other places, demanding protection of religious minorities in the country that is soon becoming an Islamic fundamentalist state under the interim govt.

Protests by Bangladeshi Hindus

The Hindus demanded the formation of a ministry for minority communities, the establishment of a minority protection commission, formation and implementation of strict laws to prevent all kinds of attacks on minorities. The protesting Hindus also called for allocating 10 percent of seats in the national parliament for minorities.

Hindus in Bangladesh have not only been attacked after Hasina’s government fall but minorities have been targeted for decades. Recently, the Hindus were also targeted during the Durga Puja celebrations. Several Hindu idols were vandalized, and processions were attacked leading to a rise in communal tensions in the country.

The current interim government is just pretending to be standing behind the minorities, but in reality, it supports activities that result in massive suffering of the minority communities in Bangladesh. The current decision by the state to not penalize the protestors by granting an immunity shield to the protest participants is just another instance that exposes the interim government against the Hindus.

He wasn’t serious: Paine on Warner’s possible retirement reversal

ANI
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He wasn’t serious: Paine on Warner’s possible retirement reversal

Former Australian captain Tim Paine revealed that former opener David Warner was not serious and barely joking as he offered to come out of retirement from international cricket to help Australia end their hunt for an opener ahead of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

Days back, Warner had offered to come back to the international cricket if Australia could not find the right opening partner for Usman Khawaja due to Steve Smith sliding down to number four after mixed performances as an opener and all-rounder Cameron Green being out of the Test summer due to a back injury. But Paine, now speaking to SEN, suggested that Warner was just joking around and even had remarked “I got them good” in a conversation with the former Aussie wicketkeeper.

“He was not dead serious, that is Davey. How do I know? Because I spoke to him, that is how. Is that good enough for the people?,” said Paine to SEN.

“He said, ‘I got them good, haha’. Of course, that’s Davey’s thing. People say, ‘You’re not serious’, I am dead serious, but he is not (about returning to cricket),” he concluded.

Warner retired from international cricket after Australia’s Super Eight exit in the ICC T20 World Cup tournament this year in West Indies and USA.

In 112 Tests for Australia, Warner scored 8,786 runs at an average of 44.59, with 26 centuries and 37 fifties in 205 innings. His best score is 335*. He is the fifth-highest run-getter for Australia in Tests.

Playing 161 ODIs, Warner scored 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 and a strike rate of above 97, making 22 centuries and 33 fifties in 159 innings. His best score is 179. He is the sixth-highest run-getter in ODIs for Australia.

Warner is Australia’s highest run-getter in T20Is, scoring 3,277 runs in 110 matches at an average of 33.43 and a strike rate of 142.47. He scored a century and 28 fifties, with the best score of 100*.

With 18,995 runs in 383 games, 49 centuries, 98 fifties, two ICC Cricket World Cup titles, one ICC T20 World Cup and ICC World Test Championship title each, Warner retired this year as Australia’s second-highest run-getter and one of the greatest all-format openers of all time.

Warner is a part of the teams which won the 2015 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the ICC World Test Championship 2023, making him a multi-time world champion.

Coming to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the first Test will take place at Perth from November 22 onwards.

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

Mumbai: Hindus abused and attacked for bursting firecrackers, victims reveal Imran and his associates led the attack

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Hindus abused and attacked for bursting firecrackers, victims reveal Imran and his associates led the attack

On 27th October, communal tensions erupted in the Mira Bhayander region of Mumbai as a group of persons allegedly belonging to the specific community attacked Hindus for bursting firecrackers while celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali. The accused persons allegedly attacked around 10-12 Hindus with sharp weapons resulting in serious injuries.

The video of the incident is making rounds on social media in which more than a dozen of the alleged accused persons can be seen attacking the Hindus for bursting firecrackers and celebrating Diwali. Thane Police has taken cognizance of the incident confirming that the attack happened. However, no details about the accused persons or action taken against them could be obtained on contact.

In another video specifically obtained by OpIndia, one of the victims narrated the entire incident and claimed that the attackers belonged to the Muslim community. The victim said that the Muslims attacked using sharp weapons as they saw Hindus bursting firecrackers and celebrating Diwali.

The victim also stated that the Muslims brutally abused the Hindus before assaulting them resulting in severe injuries. The video of the persons allegedly belonging to the specific community attacking the Hindus is making rounds on social media.

Further while talking to the local news media, three victims who could be seen seriously injured stated that one of the accused named Imran led the attack and also abused them. “I was bursting a firecracker on the road when one of the Muslims got offended and asked me to stop the activity. Later he, whom I don’t identify began abusing me claiming that firecrackers were hurting him. I politely asked him to stop abusing but then he began beating me. He called some of his associates including his brother Imran who began brutally assaulting me. Then I called my friends and brother for help but they too were brutally beaten,” the victim could be heard saying.

As per the Hindu victims, the accused persons used ice-breaker weapons and glass bottles to attack them. Around 5 victims had to be immediately shifted to the hospital and were released after proper treatment. Meanwhile, several Hindus gathered at the spot and at the Navghar Police Station to protest against the incident. The Hindus raised slogans and demanded strict punishment against the accused persons. However, the police are believed to have filed a complaint in the case, which was not accessible during this report’s writing given the case’s sensitivity.

The victim while talking to the local media stated that they had called the police for help when they were being attacked at the hands of alleged Muslims. But the police reached the spot after the brutal attack stopped. Later the police detained several Hindus and took them to the police station. After verifying the statements and injuries, a written complaint was filed.

OpIndia contacted the Navghar Police Station to seek crucial details in the case but the calls remained unanswered. However, the Thane Police and the Mira Bhayander Vasai-Virar Commissionerate confirmed the incident and stated that the complaint in the case had been registered. Further details in the case remain awaited. The report will be updated once more details are obtained.

The geopolitics of Starlink: What Elon Musk’s satellite internet would mean for India and Indian telecom players like Jio and AirTel

Anurag
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The geopolitics of Starlink: What Elon Musk’s satellite internet would mean for India and Indian telecom players like Jio and AirTel

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is trying to launch in India. However, the Starlink’s India entry has raised a set of complex geopolitical, technological, and economic questions for the telecommunications sector in the country. Recently, the Government of India decided to offer spectrum allocation via an administrative pathway instead of opting for an auction.

The decision came after Elon Musk raised objections over the auction format. The government’s decision was met with mixed reactions from local operators, with some expressing displeasure over it. The emergence of Starlink in India may have a transformative impact on connectivity, especially in remote and rural regions. However, there are concerns that it could disrupt the existing telco landscape of the country.

Furthermore, there are speculations that Starlink’s pricing may not be affordable to the majority of consumers. If this is the case, the initiative may be limited to a select group of people who can pay a higher price for internet in India. Currently, high-speed internet with a minimum speed of 100 Mbps is available for only Rs 600 excluding taxes in India. Anything higher may not attract consumers to Starlink unless no other connectivity option is available.

What is Starlink?

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk. Starlink is different from conventional broadband, which relies on underground cables and cell towers. Starlink uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide high-speed internet directly from space. According to its website, each LEO satellite orbits closer to Earth, offering faster speeds and lower latency than traditional geostationary satellites used in earlier satellite broadband models. Starlink’s technology aims to serve hard-to-reach or underserved areas, potentially providing reliable internet on a remote island, a mountain, or even while travelling at high altitudes.

To access the internet using Starlink, consumers will need to buy a basic kit that includes a satellite dish and router. Once installed, the dish will connect to the Starlink satellite network and distribute the internet through the Wi-Fi router.

Impact on India’s existing internet services

Fundamentally, Starlink’s entry into the Indian telecom sector with its high-speed satellite internet has the potential to reshape the dynamics of internet services in the country. Major telecom providers, including Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have heavily invested in 5G infrastructure and are pushing fixed wireless access (FWA) services across cities and towns. According to Indian telecom companies, satellite internet, which also provides broadband services, should be subject to the same spectrum allocation process as terrestrial broadband.

In the current system in India, terrestrial broadband providers pay substantial amounts in competitive auctions for spectrum rights. The expected cost would be significantly lower if Starlink receives spectrum allocation via an administrative route. Indian telecom sector players have raised concerns that Starlink may acquire spectrum at a lower cost, leading to lower service prices compared to current offerings, thereby raising fears of a non-level playing field.

Examples from African countries like Kenya should be considered in India’s context, where Starlink’s low-cost services pressured local telecom firms, sparking demands for foreign satellite providers to partner with local operators. Indian telecom leaders such as Sunil Mittal of Bharti Airtel and Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Jio have formed a rare alliance on this issue, both advocating for an auction-based approach to satellite spectrum allocation.

Notably, the economic stakes are very high for telecom companies, which have collectively paid over Rs 4.8 trillion for terrestrial spectrum over the past decade. These funds have helped extend 5G services nationwide. These operators contend that Starlink could threaten revenue, particularly in urban markets where Jio and Airtel see growth opportunities through FWA, powered by 5G.

A global satellite spectrum dilemma – Brazil and the ‘administrative’ allocation debate

It should be noted that the administrative allocation approach, particularly for shared spectrum over 7-8 GHz, is largely a standard worldwide practice. Several countries, including the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, have experimented with auctioning satellite spectrum. However, they found it difficult to price and implement an auction model for non-terrestrial allocations. Brazil’s experience sheds light on the risks of regulatory conflict in the satellite internet sector.

In Brazil, Musk’s Starlink project became embroiled in conflict with President Lula da Silva’s government regarding Starlink’s role in providing internet for remote regions within the Amazon, where the service was accused of facilitating illegal mining activities by its users. This controversy highlighted the potential socio-political and environmental consequences of high-reach satellite internet, underscoring the challenges of managing foreign-owned, high-capacity internet providers within national borders.

The competitive landscape – India’s need for Starlink or local innovation?

While it is essential to consider what Starlink has to offer and its potential impact on the Indian telecom industry, the crucial question remains: does India need Starlink, or can local providers bridge the connectivity gap? In recent years, the digital divide has significantly narrowed. Over 96% of India’s villages are already covered by 4G or 5G mobile broadband services, with the remaining unconnected areas targeted for coverage through public funding and state-led initiatives. This achievement reflects the role of India’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund and government efforts to bring mobile internet to even the remotest parts of the country.

However, as many industry experts have observed, India’s connectivity issue is no longer a matter of geographical reach but of affordability and digital literacy. While urban India races toward 5G adoption, rural regions lag in device access, digital literacy, and use cases, which arguably pose more significant barriers to internet penetration than coverage alone.

Despite the gaps within the telecom sector, domestic providers in India, led by Jio and Airtel, have already amassed over three million fixed wireless access (FWA) subscribers across nearly 1,700 cities, a number expected to grow to 85-100 million by 2030.

The road ahead – balancing innovation, competition, and sovereignty

The ability of Musk’s Starlink to service the vast and varied geography of India appears advantageous. However, the decision to use an administrative allocation method for spectrum raises broader questions about balancing foreign competition with national interests. India has specific security concerns over data sovereignty and network control, prompting mandates for local data termination and strict KYC regulations for Starlink users. The telecom ministry’s current guidelines stipulate that data from Starlink’s satellites over Indian airspace must terminate in India, not on foreign shores, to prevent potential security risks.

Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs is vetting the security issues that have delayed the decision to grant in-principle approval for Starlink to start its operations in India. The final licensing decision is expected soon, but it has been in “expecting soon” mode for a couple of years now.

If Starlink is permitted to launch, Musk’s promise of a high-speed satellite network could offer connectivity solutions in under-served regions. However, pricing challenges remain. Historically, Starlink’s monthly subscription costs and equipment fees have been far higher than those of Jio and Airtel. Recent reductions in Starlink’s prices in other countries, such as Kenya, indicate Musk’s awareness of the need for affordability in emerging markets. Attention will be on Starlink’s pricing to see if Musk truly intends to serve the unserved and marginalised, or if the company will target those who can afford to pay a premium for a monthly Starlink subscription.

Conclusion

The potential entry of Starlink into the Indian telecom market could be a pivotal moment in the geopolitics of digital connectivity. On one hand, Indian telecom companies have raised concerns about Starlink’s entry, citing fairness in spectrum allocation. On the other, the government seems to lean towards global norms of administrative allocation, citing shared high-frequency bands as impractical for auction-based pricing.

In the coming months, it will be determined if Elon Musk-owned Starlink will be able to enter India under competitive terms, potentially redefining rural and urban internet landscapes and testing India’s resolve in navigating the geopolitics of tech infrastructure and data sovereignty.

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