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AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid instigates Muslims to create unrest over Waqf Amendment bill, says it is ‘matter of life and death’

OpIndia Staff
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AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid instigates Muslims to create unrest over Waqf Amendment bill, says it is ‘matter of life and death’

Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani, the president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) stepped up his opposition to the proposed Waqf (Amendment) bill. In an effort to provoke Muslims, he vowed to fight its implementation “at any cost” and declared that members of the organisation are willing to give their lives for the cause. He further alleged that the government wanted to limit the board’s rights and added that it had unlawfully occupied the highest number of Waqf properties.

“It is a matter of life and death for us, and we should stop it (Waqf bill) at all costs. If needed, the Muslims of the country will fill the jails in such a way that the government will not have any place to house criminals,” he threatened while speaking at an event in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. “If needed, we will not hesitate to give our own lives,” he claimed in front of his audience.

“If its (waqf boards) management is done by non-Muslims, will they sympathise with your mosques and graveyards? The result will be your land will be taken away from you. This is a very dangerous law. In Tamil Nadu itself there are 4,78,000 acres of temple land. In Andhra Pradesh, there are 4,68,000 acres of temple land. Both these states have 10 lakh acres of temple land. If Muslims have six lakh acres of Waqf land in the whole country, then what is the problem,” he asked.

Additionally, the AIMPLB chief accused that the center governemnt was “pressurising” certain Waqf Board members to drop the legal battle and refrain from submitting any paperwork. “Think about it. If there is a dispute between the Waqf board and the government, will the collector give a decision against the government? The collector is from the government itself,” he claime dinf ront of the gathering.

Notably, a group headed by the AIMPLB supremo met with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on 9th October to allegedly discuss their objections to the bill. They claimed that the Waqf Act would permit the seizure of Waqf holding and charged that the move is in violation of the Constitution, federalism, democratic values and the pluralistic structure of the nation. According to a statement issued by the AIMPLB following the meeting, Soren would “never support the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 if it is presented in Parliament.”

On 28th July, the central government proposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. However, it was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) due to the objection from the opposition parties. Waqf boards now have the jurisdiction to declare any property “waqf property.” The law seeks to limit their authority. It also recommends including Muslim women and non-Muslims to state Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.

On 22nd October, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee reportedly attacked JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal with a glass bottle during the Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) bill. He had a heated dispute with Bharatiya Janata Party member and former Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay and injured his thumb as well as index finger when he shattered a glass water bottle on the table out of rage. Meanwhile, Jagdambika Pal expressed, “Yesterday during the Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle and threw it with such anger and fury and the way he threw it at me, it is God’s grace that I narrowly escaped.”

“The government is having discussions on the bill so that it can benefit the Muslim community. The objective of the bill is to benefit the poor Muslims. The state wants such land to be used for the education and development of poor Muslims. We have to come to a consensus. If anybody disagrees, they must make their point. But showing such anger is not valid,” Jagdambika Pal noted.

Kerala govt refuses to prosecute Kalamassery blast accused Dominic Martin under UAPA, will be charged under IPC and Explosives Act

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala govt refuses to prosecute Kalamassery blast accused Dominic Martin under UAPA, will be charged under IPC and Explosives Act

In an update to the blast that was reported in Kerala’s Kochi last year, the police have withdrawn terrorism charges against Dominic Martin, the only person accused in the case. The blasts took place last year at a Jehovah’s Witness convention in Kalamassery, which killed eight people and injured 45 others severely. 

The UAPA charges filed against Martin were reportedly dropped after the state refused to prosecute him under the said act. According to the New Indian Express, the police stated that despite the fact the investigation team had finished every procedure for prosecuting Martin under UAPA, the state administration declined to pursue UAPA charges.

“The paperwork was completed, and the police had submitted the documents to the UAPA committee. After the committee reviewed it, the government decided not to grant prosecution sanction under UAPA in the case. The sanction was denied due to the stand of Left parties against UAPA,” a police source was quoted as saying by the New Indian Express. 

After the police submitted the chargesheet at the Ernakulam District Principal Sessions Court in April of this year, the matter was sent to the Kalamassery magistrate court for committal hearings. Martin will now stand trial for offenses only under several sections of the IPC and the Explosives Act.

Kochi City Police Deputy Commissioner K S Sudarshan, who examined the issue, confirmed that Martin’s UAPA charges were withdrawn because they did not get the sanction from the government. “However, we don’t know the reason behind the denial,” he said. 

Officers on the investigation team assert that, while UAPA charge has been dismissed, Martin still faces additional serious allegations that might result in a capital punishment. There are 284 witnesses in this case. Over 150 material objects and documents were submitted before the court, along with a chargesheet spanning over 3,500 pages.

Last year, multiple blasts were executed at a Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer meeting at a convention center at Kalamassery, Ernakulam in Kochi district, killing eight and injuring over more than 50 persons.

Hours after the blasts, a man named Dominic Martin surrendered to the police claiming responsibility for the explosions. Before his arrest, Martin, a former member of Jehova’s Witness, appeared live on a social media platform and said that he believed that its teachings were “anti-national and seditious”.

“Their teaching is not right. They are teaching anti-national things. I told them that they should change their ways. Staying in a…but cursing and addressing people in that country in the worst…derogatory form is they do. They are telling a 4-year-old child that if somebody from another community gives you candy, you shouldn’t have it. From an early age, they are feeding such poison into the child,” the accused reportedly alleged.

He further said, “I took this decision because I understood that this organization is bad for the country. Political parties won’t take action because everyone is scared of religion. You should open your eyes.”

The Indian Express quoted Martin saying that Jehova’s Witnesses ask the children not to sing the national anthem or join the defense services. “They teach that all people of the world will perish and only they will live. What should we do with the people who long for the ruin of the entire people in the world? I could not find a solution,” Martin said.

Jehova’s Witnesses, according to information available on their website jw.org, “strive to adhere to the form of Christianity that Jesus taught and that is apostles practiced”. They consider Jehova as the one true and Almighty God, the Creator, who is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

According to information on jw.org, Jehova’s Witnesses do not participate in nationalistic ceremonies. “Jehova’s Witnesses choose not to participate in such ceremonies because we believe that these conflict with Bible teachings. We appreciate receiving the same respect for our beliefs as we show to others who make a different choice,” the official website of Jehova’s Witnesses reads. The group claims to remain “strictly neutral” in political affairs and “avoid affiliation with other religions”. Interestingly, a lot of these beliefs bear a resemblance to Islam in more than one way primarily owing to their Abrahamic origins. They believe religion to be above nationalism, propagate and practice conversion, and provoke people to commit anti-national acts.

In the given case, the Kerala government and the UAPA committee have now withdrawn the UAPA charge against Dominic. It is believed that the government has taken this decision owing to politics.

MP: Rustam, Akbar and Babu Khan enter Ram Mandir, offer namaz despite priest’s objections, police releases them after giving notice

OpIndia Staff
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MP: Rustam, Akbar and Babu Khan enter Ram Mandir, offer namaz despite priest’s objections, police releases them after giving notice

In the Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh, a case of three Muslim men identified as Rustam, Akbar and Babu Khan, forcibly offering namaz in a Ram temple came to the fore on 26th October. The Police registered an FIR against the accused trio and detained them, however, the accused were later released witha notice. The incident has triggered widespread discontent among the local Hindus, who are demanding stern action against the accused Muslim men.

The incident transpired in the Kiloda village of Salaslai police station precinct of ​​Shajapur, wherein the temple priest Omprakash Sharma filed a complaint with the police alleging that 85-year-old Akbar, 65-year-old Rustam and 70-year-old Babu Khan had come to the temple at around 5:45 pm on Saturday (26th October), washed their hands and feet with water from the pot kept in the temple, and sat in the temple premises and started offering Namaz.

Despite the temple priest’s objections, the three accused remained in the temple for almost 20 minutes before leaving. According to the authorities, the three brothers were coming home after performing some work at a bank, and then it was time for namaz, and all three of them performed namaz in the temple grounds.

Due to this incident, the temple priest and local Hindus are outraged and have demanded strict action against accused Rustam, Babu Khan and Akbar. Notably, after the police registered a case and detained them, the accused trio admitted to their actions. The police filed a FIR and charged them, but later released them after receiving a notice. The investigation and legal action in the matter are still underway, and another trial will be held in court.

Luxury hotels, extravagant parties, chartered flights and more: The life and times of The Hindu ‘journalist’ Mahesh Langa, arrested for GST fraud

OpIndia Staff
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Luxury hotels, extravagant parties, chartered flights and more: The life and times of The Hindu ‘journalist’ Mahesh Langa, arrested for GST fraud

Several surprising revelations have emerged about Mahesh Langa, a journalist for The Hindu, who is implicated in a GST fraud case. Reports suggest that he led a lifestyle far beyond his salary, amassing crores of rupees over the past two years.

Reports indicate that Mahesh leveraged his position as a journalist to engage in blackmail, settlements, and illicit business activities, reportedly earning millions through these means.

Additionally, his name has surfaced concerning the leak of sensitive government documents, and an FIR has been filed in Gandhinagar regarding this matter.

Despite an annual salary reportedly only in the lakhs, a recent Ahmedabad Crime Branch search at his home uncovered Rs 20 lakhs in cash. Police also recovered expensive jewelry and documents related to property holdings.

Furthermore, Mahesh and his wife frequently visited luxury hotels like the Oberoi and Taj Man Singh. As per the revelations, he and his wife stayed in such establishments over 98 times in the past year without covering any of the costs themselves.

Shell companies bore the cost

Investigations have revealed that the lavish lifestyle of the journalist was primarily funded through shell companies. He also frequently traveled by chartered flights, with fares amounting to lakhs.

He even has a history of hosting an extravagant birthday party, inviting prominent businessmen and city officials. For this event, he reportedly paid a Rs 5 lakh advance for the hall and gifted gold coins to each guest.

Use of government documents for personal gain

As reported earlier, Mahesh Langa also acquired government documents. Notably, he did not use these for journalism but rather to blackmail officials and government bodies. However, officially, it is stated that the documents contained no information against the government.

His wife and brother have apparently issued statements against him. The initial FIR named Mahesh’s brother, Manoj Langa. However, the investigation later showed that Mahesh’s wife was a partner in the company being investigated. During questioning, she claimed that she was uninformed of the actions and attributed everything to Mahesh.

Following a raid at the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) office, another FIR was filed in Gandhinagar

As Mahesh Langa was first brought for questioning by the Crime Branch, he claimed that he was being targeted by the government because of his work as a journalist, but this defense failed, and he was arrested.

During the investigation, it was determined that he had been in contact with specific officials, with chat logs to back this up located on his devices. Further police investigation found that Mahesh had gotten documents and other private information about the Gujarat Maritime Board, triggering a search of the GMB office in Gandhinagar.

After seizing several documents and materials, the Gandhinagar police registered another FIR against him at the Sector 7 police station. The investigation remains in its early stages, and police have yet to take him into full custody.

Meanwhile, Mahesh’s bail plea in the GST fraud case was denied by the Ahmedabad Metropolitan Court, and he is currently held in Sabarmati Jail. As the investigation unfolds, there are indications that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may also become involved; reports suggest they have already begun a preliminary inquiry.

Growing cases of drug and weapon smuggling at India-Nepal border, security officials seize pistols, hashish, brown sugar and cash

OpIndia Staff
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Growing cases of drug and weapon smuggling at India-Nepal border, security officials seize pistols, hashish, brown sugar and cash

Drugs trafficking menace at the India-Nepal border area has been a major cause of concern among the border security forces of India and Nepal.

On 16th October, the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) recovered 910 grams of Hashish from a woman who passed through a Nepali security check post at Krishnanagar border point and entered Badhani town in India.

During interrogation, the woman, Mina from Siddharthanagar, India, claimed to be a porter who brought the contraband from Nepal. She had previously smuggled hashish into India from the same border post (Krishnanagar) three to four times.

Pistols and ammunition recovered

In another such incident on 21st September, Nepal Police caught two Indian nationals riding a motorbike with a pistol and five bullets near Chandrauta while on their way to Krishnanagar.

Pritam Kumar and Suraj Dwivedi, both from Uttar Pradesh, entered Nepal through the Krinanagar border crossing deceiving security authorities. The duo were searched after a dispute with villagers in Krishnanagar, and the weapons were recovered from their possession. 

Similarly, Nepal Police recently arrested two Indian nationals Jamkod Khan and his son Kishor from Bihar’s Kishanganj over their alleged role in narcotic drugs smuggling. The police seized 2 grams and 290 mg of brown sugar.

These instances highlight security gaps between Nepal and India in crucial border points like Krishnanagar. According to a Kathmandu Post report, smugglers are increasingly using the Krishnanagar border to smuggle drugs and small guns.

Unaccounted cash seized

On the 21st of October, Nepal Police confiscated Rs 2.05 million in undeclared money at Krishnanagar’s main border gate. The security personnel did not detain the high-profile Indian politician, but instead detained her aides and sent the recovered money and detainees to Butwal for further investigation.

Citing sources, the report claimed that the Minister for Women and Child Development in the Maharashtra government, Aditi Sunil Tatkare, brought the undeclared money.

Krishnanagar Police first reported that six persons, including a woman, were held in the case. The following day, authorities reported that two Indian nationals were arrested in connection with the money.

Nepali officials blame lack of modern tools and device

Over the previous 2-3 years, security failures at this checkpoint have often occurred, indicating a disturbing trend.

There are six security checkpoints along a 10-kilometer route from Bahadurgunj to Krishnanagar, with five manned by Nepal Police and one by customs authorities. However, the report said security and customs authorities appeared oblivious to both instances.

Speaking about the alleged security lapses, Nepali officials say that the lack of modern tools and devices is a major factor. “We don’t have modern tools and equipment at our security check posts.

So we have to conduct checks manually, which can lead to occasional oversights,” Suraj Khatri, the inspector at the Area Police Office in Krishnanagar told Kathmandu Post.

Extremists vandalise two Hindu temples in Australia, break Shivling and loot donation boxes: Read about the past 5 attacks by Khalistanis

OpIndia Staff
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Extremists vandalise two Hindu temples in Australia, break Shivling and loot donation boxes: Read about the past 5 attacks by Khalistanis

On Saturday (26th October) afternoon, masked extremists broke into two Hindu temples in Canberra city of Australia and carried out vandalism and theft.

According to a report by The Australia Today, a total of 4 men crashed their black Honda van into the front door of the Hindu temple & Cultural Centre in Florey. They swiftly stole 4 donation boxes, one weighing 200kg and containing thousands of dollars.

The attack, which lasted about 15 minutes, coincided with the annual Diwali Mela held at the Albert Hall in Australia’s capital city.

CCTV footage showing extremists entering the Hindu temple in Florey, image via Australia Today

While speaking to The Australia Today, the Vice President of the Hindu temple Tarun Agasti stated, “We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the recent act of vandalism and theft that occurred at our temple over the weekend.”

“This senseless act of disrespect towards our place of worship and our community is disheartening. We want to assure our community that we are working closely with the local authorities to investigate this incident and bring those responsible to justice,” he added.

Tarun Agasti called for immediate action against the extremists for vandalising and looting the temple. “This act of vandalism not only affects our Hindu community but also undermines the values of respect, tolerance, and inclusivity that our diverse Canberra community holds dear,” he pointed out.

Vandalism at the Vishnu Shiva Temple, image via The Australia Today

According to The Australia Today, the extremists thereafter drove to the Shri Vishnu Shiva Mandir in Canberra at about 2 pm. At that time, the caretaker and the priest of the Hindu temple had gone for lunch.

The 4 men broke open the front door using a crowbar and vandalised the reception area of the Mandir. They destroyed the Hundis (donation boxes) embedded in concrete using a sledgehammer. The extremists ran away with two safes containing cash.

They also breached the sanctum sanctorum of the Hindu place of worship, damaged cupboards containing clothing for deities and broke the Vasant Mandaoan. A Shivling was also destroyed by the same extremists.

Destruction at the Vishnu Shiva Temple, image via The Australia Today

While speaking to The Australia Today, President Thamo Sritharan, stated, “I would like to urge the newly elected government to provide the support needed to ensure the protection of our temples and community.”

The Honda van used by the 4 extremists, who vandalised the two Hindu temples, bore the number plate of Victoria. It remains unknown whether the number plate or the van were stolen. The Canberra police are now investigating both cases.

Temple vandalism in Australia

This is not the first time that a Hindu temple has come under attack in the country. In 2023, OpIndia reported 5 instances of attacks on Hindu temples in Australia. Khalistanis stormed the Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane and left hateful graffiti on the temple’s perimeter. 

‘Hindustan Murdabad’ was written on the walls of the ISCKON temple in Melbourne’s Albert Park. The Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs (Victoria) was vandalised while anti-Indian graffiti was painted on the Swaminarayan Temple in Melbourne.

The BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Sydney was also defaced with “Declare Modi Terrorist (BBC)” graffiti. Khalistanis had also threatened Kali Mata Mandir in Melbourne against conducting bhajan program featuring ‘staunch Hindu’ singer Kanhiya Mittal

“We should stop buying German equipment”: Piyush Goyal confronts German Vice Chancellor over China blocking sale of German tunnel boring machines to India

OpIndia Staff
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“We should stop buying German equipment”: Piyush Goyal confronts German Vice Chancellor over China blocking sale of German tunnel boring machines to India

Union Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday confronted German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck over China blocking sale of German Tunnel Borring Machines to India. Goyal said that India will stop buying from Germany if such problems occur. The confrontation took place on a Delhi Metro train, video of which has gone viral.

Robert Habeck, who is also the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs of Germany, is on a visit to India to attend the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations. He took a ride with Piyush Goyal on the Delhi metro to reach the YashoBhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, Delhi.

During the ride, Piyush Goyal told Robert Habeck that India is buying Tunnel Boring Machines from a German company named Herrenknecht, which makes the machines in China. He informed the German minister that China is now blocking the sale of the TBMs to India, indicating how this has effected vital infrastructure projects in India.

The video of the incident was shared by an X user with the user name ‘Lord Bebo’, who criticised how the way Habeck responded to Goyal. In the video, Goyal can be heard telling Habeck, “See your German company is supplying us some tunnel boring machines which they make in China. But China is not allowing them to sell them to me”.

When Goyal said that the name of the company is Herrenknecht, Robert Habeck displayed ignorance about the name. He asked, “They are producing in China?” to which Piyush Goyal replied yes. The Indian minister then added, “We should stop buying German equipment now”.

While Piyush Goyal was standing, Habeck was sitting during this conversation. After Goyal talked about stopping to buy German equipment, he stood up and said, “I think I should listen to you”.

Tunnel Boring Machines of Herrenknecht have been used in several projects in India, including metro projects of Delhi, Bangalore Chennai, Kolkata, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.

Bangladesh: Children dance to song mentioning Sheikh Hasina’s name at cultural event, furious DC orders arrest of five people, case registered to investigate

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Children dance to song mentioning Sheikh Hasina’s name at cultural event, furious DC orders arrest of five people, case registered to investigate

Five people were arrested in Bangladesh for the crime of playing a song mentioning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s name in an event organised by them. Reportedly, the name of an IT Park which was named after Hasina was mentioned in a song to which some children danced at a cultural program.

The program was held at Jashore Gymnasium during the opening ceremony of the ‘Fifth International Open Karate Competition’ in Jashore. Jayati Society, a women’s organization in Jessore, supported the event. Children associated with a cultural organisation danced to the ‘offensive’ song, and now officials of all three organisations along with a journalist have been arrested and booked in a case.

The five people have been identified as Bangladesh Karate Organization Jessore President Humayun Kabir, General Secretary Rafiqul Islam, Jayati Society Executive Director Archana Biswas, General Secretary of cultural organisation Shekhar Jashore Raushan Ara, and photojournalist of daily Spandan Imran Hasan.

The opening ceremony was held on Saturday where some children of the cultural organisation Shekhar Jashore danced to a song known as the theme song of Jashore. The song mentions various traditions and establishments related to Jashore, including the Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park. After hearing the name, the DC who was present there asked them to stop the song.

DC Azharul Islam was furious after hearing the name in the song and asked how Sheikh Hasina’s name appeared in the song. The organisers apologised to the DC for the oversight, but he didn’t relent. He said that everyone associated with the event will be taken into police custody and the matter will be investigated.

Accordingly, the five men associated with the event were arrested on the DC’s order and they were taken to the police station. However, they were released later in the day on bail bond. The organisers said that after a lor of pleading, the DC allowed the competition to go ahead.

Notably, the song ‘Khejurer Gur Phule Mela, Nakshikanthar Jessore Zila’ was composed around 5-6 years ago. The Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park was renamed to Jashore Software Technology Park after the fall of Sheikh Hasina govt on 5th August.

Talking to media, the DC said that the song was selected and rehearsal of the dance was done, asking how anyone could miss the name of the former PM in it. He said that a probe is needed to find out if the song was used to embarrass the interim govt of Bangladesh. He also said that the political affiliation of the persons involved will be checked.

A General Diary entry has been made at the police station, and the matter will be investigated.

Jamia Milia Islamia: Differently abled Hindu student forced to convert to Islam, intimidated to wear Hijab to bring ‘Noor’ and not get raped

OpIndia Staff
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Jamia Milia Islamia: Differently abled Hindu student forced to convert to Islam, intimidated to wear Hijab to bring ‘Noor’ and not get raped

A differently-abled (Divyang) Hindu student, studying at the Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI), has filed a complaint with the Delhi police on 19th October this year.

The victim narrated how she was forced to convert to Islam, wear a Hijab and renounce her Hindu faith at the central government-funded institute.

According to a report by Organiser, the female student is pursuing a journalism course at JMI and has been subjected to harassment since July 2023.

The victim, who suffers from dyslexia, has reportedly been told by Muslim students to wear hijab to avoid being raped and preserve ‘noor’. “Don’t you remember the Kolkata rape case? Those who refuse to wear the hijab face the same fate,” she was told at the varsity.

In her police complaint, the Hindu woman stated that one Ibnay Saud had circulated her phone number in Jamia Nagar. “Since then, perverted calls have become a constant intrusion, stripping away my privacy and leaving me exposed,” she added.

The victim began receiving inappropriate calls. She was constantly mocked for her Hindu beliefs and was forced to renounce her Faith and convert to Islam.

“A steady stream of derogatory comments about Hinduism and the Ram Mandir became routine. It soon became clear that these incidents were part of a larger effort to belittle me based on my faith,” the victim recounted.

Screengrab of the police complaint as accessed by Organiser

In August 2023, two Muslim men named Danish Iqbal and Mir Kasim spread rumours to isolate the victim socially. The duo reportedly detained her and other students for an academic year.

The victim accused the varsity of sabotaging her academic progress and not making special accommodations after one exam clashed with a pre-scheduled viva. She informed that her attendance was omitted from the attendance sheet despite meeting the requirement.

“Letters citing noncompliance were sent to my home, even though I had met the attendance criteria,” the Hindu student said, adding that she was forced to pay an illegal fee.

Ibnay Saud, who had reportedly circulated her number in public, began stalking her from July 26 onwards this year. “He would appear suddenly in the canteen, near the old studio, or on his bike outside the premises, creating a terrifying atmosphere,” the victim said.

Following her repeated complaints, the victim was summoned to the Proctor’s Office and asked to withdraw her complaints. According to the Organiser, Jamia Milia Islamia officials also contacted her family and tried to intimidate them.

On 12th October this year, the Hindu student was told to wear a Hijab and follow Islamic practices to avoid severe consequences. Forced by circumstances, she filed a complaint with the Delhi police.

“The harassment was not limited to psychological manipulation. It included sexual intimidation, relentless remarks meant to degrade my beliefs, and attempts to destroy my identity as a Hindu woman. The impact on my mental and emotional health has been profound,” she said.

Jamia Milia Islamia’s counsel sent her a legal notice on Saturday (26th October) and told the victim to retract her complaint, which he alleged were ‘false’ and ‘groundless.’ The Hindu student was also threatened with a defamation lawsuit for failing to comply.

Rift in MVA Alliance? Unhappy with Seat Sharing, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP to Contest 20 Seats in Maharashtra

OpIndia Staff
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Rift in MVA Alliance? Unhappy with Seat Sharing, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP to Contest 20 Seats in Maharashtra

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance appears to be in trouble once again ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, as a rift has reportedly emerged within the member parties. According to media reports, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is not happy with the seat-sharing arrangement by MVA in Maharashtra. The state president of SP, Abu Azmi, requested five seats in the upcoming Maharashtra state elections. However, alliance leaders from Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) have not provided a clear response on seat sharing to SP.

Abu Azmi has hinted that there is discontent among the alliance partners due to the lack of assurance on seat allocation. There are 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra. So far, the three major parties in MVA have been allocated 85 seats each. Only 33 seats remain for negotiations with the smaller allies, including SP.

SP has already issued AB forms to its candidates for the constituencies of Dhule City, Malegaon Central, Bhiwandi East, Bhiwandi West, and Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. Azmi is a sitting MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, while Riyaz Shaikh is the MLA from Bhiwandi East. There is significant minority voter influence in these seats, which makes SP confident that it will win them.

Recently, Akhilesh Yadav held several rallies in Dhule City and Malegaon Outer, urging MVA leaders to engage with SP’s requests. As there has been no specific response from Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (UBT), Azmi is reportedly becoming frustrated. He has noted that SP has already reduced its seat demand from 12 to five. However, as MVA leadership is not responding to the request, SP is planning to contest on 20 seats in Maharashtra, Azmi noted.

On the other hand, Congress sources told Live Hindustan that discussions on seat sharing are underway and that some seats, such as Dhule City, are under contention, as Shiv Sena has a stronghold in the area.

Earlier, media reported that there was a widening rift between the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance partners. Shiv Sena UBT has reportedly refused to hold seat-sharing discussions with Congress state president Nana Patole, an indication that things are not well for the MVA alliance ahead of Maharashtra state elections.

A day after the Maha Vikas Alliance (MVA), comprising of Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena UBT, claimed that a consensus had been reached on 260 of the 288 Assembly constituencies, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut refuted it by saying that agreement had reached only on 200 seats and took a swipe at the Congress leader Nana Patole, without naming him, stating that Congress leaders in Maharashtra were incapable of taking decisions.

On Sunday, Samajwadi Party leader and actor Swara Bhaskar’s husband Fahad Ahmad joined the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar). He has been given a ticket from from the Anushakti Nagar seat against Sana Malik of NCP (Ajit Pawar).

Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Voting for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections is scheduled for 20th November 2024, with results set to be announced on 23rd November 2024, alongside the results of the Jharkhand Assembly Elections.

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