Tag: India

  • Army announces tea for opposition if it marches to Rawalpindi

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that leaders of the opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), will be offered tea and snacks and looked after if they decide to stage a long march towards Rawalpindi.

    “I don’t see a reason for [them] to come to Pindi. And if at all they want to come, we will offer them chai paani [refreshments] and look after them. What more can I say?” the military spokesperson said while responding to a journalist’s question regarding PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a wide-ranging press briefing.

    Maulana had indicated that the opposition could turn the direction of its anti-government movement towards the army leadership, saying that the opposition alliance’s movement would no longer be directed only at the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led government but also “his backers”, hinting that its possible long march to the capital “could also be to Rawalpindi”.

    Earlier, Maj Gen Babar spoke on a broad range of issues, including the border situation and to present an analysis of the security challenges of the past decade.

    The army’s spokesperson said the last 10 years were a challenging time in every aspect for Pakistan, but in 2020 alone the coronavirus pandemic and locust attack had put the country’s food security and economy in severe danger. He said while banned organisations were also being facilitated on the western border, the state, institutions, the armed forces and intelligence agencies, and most importantly the people of Pakistan were facing all challenges with a united front.

    Saying that along with restoring peace in the tribal districts on the western border, socio-economic projects were also launched in this period; he added that concrete steps were taken to strengthen Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan and Iran. “The security situation improved considerably as a result of successful operations against terrorism.”

    Maj Gen Babar further said that whether it was India’s condemnable designs or the application of hybrid warfare against Pakistan, internal threats or external challenges, the country not only identified the threats and presented facts, but also combatted them successfully.

    “The world is recognising this [Pakistan’s position] because truth always prevails,” he maintained.

  • India to hold ‘cow exam’ next month

    India to hold ‘cow exam’ next month

    India will hold a mass nationwide online “cow science” exam next month, in the latest push by the Hindu nationalist government to promote and protect the sacred animal, officials said Wednesday.

    The hour-long test on February 25, open to children and adults as well as foreigners, comprises 100 multiple-choice questions in Hindi, English, and 12 regional languages.

    The aim is to assess the public’s knowledge and “sensitise and educate” them, according to the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) cow protection agency created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

    “Certificates will be given to all. Successful meritorious candidates will be given prizes and certificates,” the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said.

    “The cow is full of science and economics. People are not aware of the true economic and scientific value of the animal,” said RKA chief Vallabhbhai Kathiria.

    Accompanying study material released by the RKA includes information on different breeds of cows as well as the theory that slaughtering animals causes earthquakes.

    Many from India’s overwhelming Hindu majority consider cows sacred but under Modi’s rule, the animal has increasingly become a political and sectarian flashpoint.

    His government has made cows a top priority and invested millions of dollars in programmes to protect the animal and research the uses for bovine dung and urine.

    Cow slaughter and eating beef has become illegal in many parts of the culturally diverse and officially secular country, while sentences elsewhere have increased. There have been a string of attacks by vigilante Hindu groups on Muslims and low-caste Hindus who have traditionally eaten beef and disposed of cow carcasses.

    On Tuesday, the southern state of Karnataka amended its cow protection law to give police increased powers to search and arrest anyone without a warrant suspected of cow slaughter.

    The state government, controlled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), enhanced jail terms to seven years and fines to one million rupees ($13,700) for offenders.

  • Diljit Dosanjh shares proof of Indian citizenship, requests people not to spread hate

    Diljit Dosanjh shares proof of Indian citizenship, requests people not to spread hate

    Diljit Dosanjh has been in the news ever since he joined and voiced his support for the ongoing farmers’ protests in India. The singer-turned-actor has been actively campaigning for the farmers, urging authorities to hear their appeals.

    Dosanjh also donated one crore Indian rupees to farmers after which reports emerged that the income tax department had initiated a probe into the actor’s finances. Several social media users accused him of income tax fraud and also questioned his citizenship.

    To shut down rumours, Dosanjh shared the income tax certificates of gratitude that were given to him by the Indian Ministry of Finance.

    “We appreciate the taxpayer, in the Platinum category, in recognition of the contribution towards building this great Nation,” the certificate reads.

    The actor also requested his followers not to spread hate while sharing the picture of the certificate.

    Dosanjh was earlier involved in a Twitter feud with Kangana Ranaut over the farmer’s protests. But it appears that the argument did not end there because Kangana has launched a fresh attack on him.

    Responding to Dosanjh’s vacation pictures, Kangana tweeted: “Amazing, brother! After inciting farmers and applauding their decision to protest in this biting cold, you are having quite the time vacationing abroad.”

    “This is what I mean when I talk about a ‘Local Revolutionary’,” she added.

    Dosanjh immediately hit back at Kangana saying: “Farmers are not that naïve. They cannot be swayed or influenced by what people like you or me have to say on this issue. They have a mind of their own. And you cannot seem to stop staring at my social media posts…Punjabis are waiting for your answer. Don’t think we have forgotten about you.”

  • Surgeon removes 9-inch toothbrush from patient’s stomach

    Surgeon removes 9-inch toothbrush from patient’s stomach

    An Indian surgeon removed a nine-inch long toothbrush from a patient’s stomach after a surgery.

    According to reports, doctors at the Medical College and Hospital (Ghati Hospital) in Aurangabad removed the toothbrush under the supervision of Muslim surgeon Junaid M. Sheikh.

    Rajesh Jadho, 33, had swallowed a toothbrush by mistake. After his ultrasound and MRI were conducted, Dr Junaid, after consulting with other doctors, recommended him to get an operation done immediately.

    Sheikh told Indian media that Rajesh was brought to Ghati Hospital on December 26 at 11 am. The surgeon said that if the brush had not been removed from the abdomen on time, it could have resulted in  an internal rapture. 

    The rupture could have been life threatening, he said. 

  • ‘Angry’ over a family dispute, farmer wills half his property to pet dog

    A 50-year-old farmer in India, Om Narayan Verma has named his second wife Champa Bai and pet dog Jacky as the heirs of the ancestral property after his death as he was troubled by a sustained family dispute.

    The farmer’s will states that he loves Champa Bai and Jacky as they are the only ones who take care of him.

     The will adds that whoever takes care of Jacky will be permitted to use the pet dog’s share in the property to ensure the dog’s well-being and the whoever takes care of Jacky will get the pet’s share of the property after his demise.

    According to details, Verma was angry over a family feud when he made the will but the problems were later resolved.

    “The notarised will not only includes my dog’s name but also my wife Champa Bai’s name. I gave a share of my inheritance to my dog’s to ensure my family takes Jacky’s care even after my death. But, the entire matter has been resolved now,” stated Mr Verma, a former chief of the village.

    Verma owns around 21 acres land and has two wives. While he has two daughters and a son from the first marriage, he has two daughters from the second wife – the one who takes care of him.

  • Man gifts land on Moon to wife on wedding anniversary

    According to media reports, Dharmendra Anija a resident of India’s Ajmer city gifted his wife three acres of land on the Moon on their wedding anniversary.

    Talking to an International media news outlet he said, “It was our wedding anniversary on December 24. I wanted to do something special for her. Everyone gifts earthly possessions like cars and jewellery, but I wanted to do something different. Therefore, I purchased land on the Moon for her.”

    Dharmendra further added that he is happy over the fact that he is the first man in Rajasthan to buy a land on the moon.

    The land was bought from the Luna Society International and the whole process took about a year to complete.

    Dharmendra’s wife Sapna expressed her happiness over receiving an “out of the world” gift from her husband. “I’m extremely happy. I never expected he would gift me something so special. The party was organised by professional event organisers, and the setting was surreal. It felt like we are literally on the moon, said Sapna. The husband gifted a framed certificate of the property document to his wife.

    Earlier this year, a man from Rawalpindi bought a one-acre plot of land on the moon as a wedding gift for his wife. The land was bought for $45 from the International Lunar Lands Registry.

  • Indian police arrest Muslim teen under ‘love jihad’ for walking home with Hindu friend

    Indian police arrest Muslim teen under ‘love jihad’ for walking home with Hindu friend

    The Indian police in Uttar Pradesh arrested a Muslim teenager for walking home with his former classmate, a Dalit girl, from a birthday party after a case was registered for ‘love jihad’ under the state’s new ‘anti-conversion’ law. The boy has been in the custody for a week. 

    The Love Jihad law in India is an Islamophobic conspiracy theory alleging that Muslim men target women belonging to non-Muslim communities for conversion to Islam by feigning love.

    According to details, the 16-year-old girl has constantly rubbished the allegations of ‘love jihad‘, telling the police that the boy was a friend of hers.

    “I have told this to the magistrate and I will say this again. Those men had a problem with me walking with my friend. They made videos of me and are now calling it love jihad. I did nothing wrong. I went of my own free will.” 

    The complaint was allegedly registered by the girl’s father and stated that the accused “induced the girl to elope with him” with the “intention to marry and convert her”.

    However, the girl’s father has denied filing any complaint.

    “I trust my daughter completely. What wrong did she do? Why must she be made part of politics? Is it unlawful for a boy and a girl to walk together now?”

    As per details, the two were walking home from a friend’s birthday party around 10 pm on December 14 when they were allegedly chased by a group of right-wing Hindu men, beaten with sticks and questioned. When the group came to know that the two belong to different religions, they forced them to go to a police station.

    The Muslim boy works as a welder’s apprentice in Dehradun. The police say he is 18 years old but his family says is 17. They have no documents to prove his age.

    “The accused is in judicial custody. If he is a minor, they will have to produce documents to show that. We have invoked appropriate sections in this case after questioning the girl and based on her father’s complaint,” Station House Officer, Dhampur Arun Kumar told The Indian Express.

  • ‘Dear Mian Sahib’: Modi’s letter to Nawaz emerges

    ‘Dear Mian Sahib’: Modi’s letter to Nawaz emerges

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi wrote a letter to former premier Nawaz Sharif to offer his condolences after the death of the latter’s mother Begum Shamim Akhtar, it has emerged.

    Begum Shamim passed away last month.

    The letter, dated November 27, was delivered to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad last week. Charge d’ Affairs of Indian High Commission Gaurav Ahluwalia asked her to convey the letter to her father Nawaz.

    In the letter itself, Modi shared a personal memory of meeting Sharif’s late mother during his visit to Jati Umra residence back in 2015.

    “I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of your mother Begum Shamim Akhtar on November 22 in London. My heartfelt condolences are with you in this hour of intense grief,” wrote the Indian premier.

    “I recall my interaction with her during my brief visit to Lahore in 2015. Her simplicity and warmth was indeed very touching,” Modi wrote, expressing his personal bond with the Sharif family.

    “In this moment of profound grief, I pray to the Almighty to bestow strength upon you and your family to bear this irreparable loss. May the departed soul rest in peace,” Modi added.

    It may be noted that it was Nawaz who started developing a personal relationship with Modi soon after he was elected PM in 2014 by personally making a visit to his oath-taking. Nawaz also sent a white sari for Modi’s mother, who had gifted a shawl to Nawaz’s mother when he had visited India.

  • Shoaib Akhtar praises Indian artist for making amazing sketches of him

    Shoaib Akhtar recently praised an Indian artist for drawing a hyper-realistic ballpoint sketch of the former cricketer.

    Chitrakar, a freelance artist from New Delhi had posted his art on Instagram. The sketch shows two expressions of the fast bowler, one in black ink and the other in red.

    Taking to Twitter, the cricketer wrote, “I can’t thank you guys enough who make these illustrations by giving so much time & dedication.”

  • Student names Emraan Hashmi, Sunny Leone as parents in admit card

    Student names Emraan Hashmi, Sunny Leone as parents in admit card

    A 20-year-old student in Bihar, India has named Bollywood actors Emraan Hashmi and Sunny Leone as his father and mother respectively.

    The examinee, Kundan Kumar, not only filled the parents column with the Indian film stars, the address he mentioned was even more absurd.

    He noted Chaturbhuj Sthan, the town’s infamous red-light area as his address.

    “We have ordered an inquiry. It is obviously mischief and the student might himself be responsible for the same. Based on the report of the inquiry, further action will be taken,” the university’s registrar Ram Krishna Thakur said.

    The student is being tracked down based on the Aadhaar Card number and mobile number mentioned on the admit card.