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Will TNM Question The DMK For Receiving “Donation” From Lottery Martin And Try To Establish ‘Quid Pro Quo’?

By
The Commune
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When the details of the Electoral Bond purchases were made public by the Election Commission a few days ago, the entire internet went ballistic claiming the BJP being the biggest “beneficiary” was scamming and hoodwinking the public.

As more details are unveiled, it becomes clearer as to who donated what and to whom. Among those who went on a hyperbole to try and link the biggest donor Lottery Martin/Santiago Martin with the BJP was the leftist news portal The News Minute.

TNM’s Shabbir Ahmed was trying to prove that it was indeed the BJP that received money from Lottery Martin’s company Future Gaming. Any news that came out that seemed to “suppress” the electoral bonds issue, he would call “Diversion Alert”.

TNM even wrote an elaborate piece on “Top buyers of electoral bonds” – this was a collaborative effort by 3 entities – Newslaundry, TNM, and Scroll!

Shabbir published videos on the electoral bonds – all the while trying to establish it as a scam. They tried to create the image that Lottery Martin was donating to the BJP. He kept calling it a scam.

They even brought in a “Reliance/Ambani” connection to prove electoral bonds are a scam.

He tried to whitewash it further saying BJP was saying things to confuse people.

They tried to connect Martin’s son with the BJP and Martin’s wife to NDA ally IJK.

Till 17 March 2024, the narrative was only about BJP and there was literally no mention of the DMK or any other party. It was made to look as if the “scam” was committed by the BJP when in fact as Union Home Minister Amit Shah pointed out that if the BJP had received approximately ₹6000 crores as claimed, the remaining ₹14000 crores went to the other parties! Amit Shah criticized opposition parties for their scrutiny of the BJP’s electoral bond receipts, highlighting what he deemed disproportionate amounts received by various parties relative to their seats in the Lok Sabha. He cited examples, noting that the Trinamool Congress encashed bonds amounting to ₹1,600 crore, Congress received ₹1,400 crore, Bharat Rashtra Samithi received ₹1,200 crore, BJD received ₹775 crore, and DMK received ₹649 crore. He also added, “I assure you that when the accounts are opened, these people will not be able to face you.” And that is seems to be what is happening.

When the details of the donations to each party came out, Shabbir took a 360-degree shift in his language usage. The word “scam” became “donation” because Martin had donated over 500 crores to the DMK!

The News Minute probably forgot that they had published an article in 2019 that spoke about a defamation suit filed by Stalin on Vikatan connecting Lottery Martin and his donations to the DMK.

The article details the case and if we connect the dots, it seems as if Stalin has committed perjury by denying his connection to Martin or having received any donation from his company.

It is noteworthy that in May 2012, Santiago Martin’s wife and close family members filed a complaint at the city police commissionerate accusing two lottery agents, one of whom was associated with former Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s Bangalore-based daughter, Selvi, of attempting to implicate Martin in a fabricated lottery case. Additionally, they claimed to have been subjected to ongoing threats from these individuals following Martin’s release on bail the same month.

Outlets like The News Minute are too quick to establish “quid pro quo” when it comes to connecting the BJP to any IT or ED raids that the “donor”/purchase of electoral bonds faced. However, they have not made a single attempt to question the DMK on the money received through electoral bonds. There are several agencies that are under the control of the state government. We have the DVAC, the State Police for example under the control of the state government. So are the raids and checks conducted by these agencies not considered “extortion” and the money received “extortion money” for The News Minute when it comes to state governments, especially the DMK?

 

With so much proof in hand, TNM has not yet spoken about the 2019 case and questioned the DMK so far. It is highly likely that they won’t and will continue to peddle the narrative of the electoral bonds being a “scam”.

Does TNM which claims to be an ostensibly impartial media outlet actually prefer clandestine exchanges of money, conducted in the shadows of secrecy, despite their professed commitment to “truth and transparency”? They claim to question those in power – will they question the DMK which is in power in Tamil Nadu over the allegations of perjury?

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“Scam for BJP, Donation for DMK”: TNM’s Double Standards Exposed By Netizens

By
The Commune
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Following the Supreme Court ruling on 11 February 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) disclosed comprehensive details regarding the purchases of electoral bonds, including information on donors, donated amounts, and recipients. On 15 March 2024, this information was uploaded onto the ECI’s website. Consequently, a wave of commotion has erupted, with political parties pointing fingers at each other regarding who has benefited more, and netizens engaging in spirited exchanges, often mocking the parties and their supporters.

Against this backdrop, the initial release on 15 March 2024 revealed that BJP, ruling over 18 states, had received a total of ₹6986.5 crores. This stirred significant controversy, especially in Tamil Nadu, where news outlets and journalists, such as TNM, labelled it a scam. Then, on 17 March 2024, the second phase of disclosures highlighted the ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu, which had received ₹656.5 crores over four years of governance in one state. Immediately the same journalists labeled it as donations. This portrayal has ignited additional curiosity and amusement among netizens on social media, leading them to begin criticizing news media and journalists.

Shabbir Ahmed, a journalist from The News Minute was very actively reporting about the “scam” ever since the publication of details on EC website. In fact, he went over and above to “expose” the so-called scam that was brought in 2018 under the Modi administration.

In another post, he sarcastically remarked that , “This is not corruption it seems”, accompanied by hashtags referencing Modi and electoral bond “scandals”.

In another post, he shared a video likening electoral bonds to widespread corruption on a grand scale, with the Supreme Court “warning” the BJP about it.

In another post, he mocked the BJP’s reaction to the Electoral bonds issue, suggesting that their stance boiled down to “More MPs mean more money, and fewer MPs mean less money” with laughter emojis, insinuating his intention to confuse the public. Essentially, he pointed out that the Modi government introduced a scheme that facilitated corruption, benefiting both the BJP and corporate entities through this unconstitutional initiative.

Even the main X handle of TNM disseminated the false information that Home Minister Amit Shah had cited inaccurate data to downplay the BJP’s involvement in electoral bonds. You can read about what HM Amit Shah had said about the electoral bonds here.

All this time, the alleged fact-checkers and various leftist news portals kept trying to link the largest purchaser of bonds, Lottery Martin’s Future Gaming to the BJP. However, when the second phase of electoral bond data was released by the Election Commission of India on 17 March 2024, it was noted that the ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu amassed ₹656.5 crores in total. Shabbir Ahmed, who had been vehemently denouncing the electoral bond scheme as corrupt and a massive scam for the past two days, suddenly backtracked. Instead of referring to it as a scam, he shifted his language to describe it as donations and posted, “Biggest donor of #DMK is Lottery King Santiago Martin’s company Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt Ltd. Martin has donated more than ₹500 cr to DMK through #ElectoralBonds”

Netizens came across this and mocked Shabbir for his sudden shift in language especially after it came to light that the DMK had been Martin’s biggest beneficiary.

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2024’s Great Indian Election Juggernaut: A Clash Of Socio-Economic-Cultural Ideologies

By
Shivani
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The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are poised to be one of the most predictable in the last three decades yet also one of the most edgy, bitterly contested ones – it is a battle of two very different ideologies. The BJP is expected to win by a comfortable majority, a conclusion that even international leaders and foreign media have taken for granted.

While the Congress-Left-supposedly-secular parties continue to cry foul and childishly blame factors like communal polarisation, “unfair” electoral practices, or alleged misuse of government agencies like the ED (Enforcement Directorate), the BJP continues its winning streak, election after election. What the Congress-Left-supposedly-secular-combine fails to understand or refuses to acknowledge, is that the past two national elections (2014, 2019) and the upcoming 2024 one, were and are, primarily a promotion of one Economic-Social-Aspirational-Cultural ideology over the other.

A win for one ideology over the other in 2024, would be a clear indication of what young and middle-aged Indian citizens, continue to desire, in terms of their socio-economic and financial goals over the next decade, while continuing to take pride in their unique culture and identity. A majoritarian vote in favour of one ideology over the other will also emphasise the desires and goals of the nation’s citizens across the economic divide of poor, rich, and middle-class, each striving to either better their status or maintain it.

The BJP’s ideology, endeavours to appeal to the citizens with promises of a new, modern India proritising capitalist ideals where individual talent, enterprise, ambitions, hard work, and moderate risk-taking are appropriately rewarded. This ideological approach favours India’s growth fuelled by private enterprise, job creation, and technology-driven innovation, to fast-track India’s growth story and stay competitive in the world market. While the BJP understands the need for some public-sector/ government oversight as well as socially uplifting schemes and addresses such needs appropriately, it also strives to enable private enterprise to drive the bulk of the economy in a competitive world rather than run the nation with too much
government interference in almost every sector.

The BJP’s economy-based, market-driven, capital/investment-favoured approach, seeks to cut back on larger-than-necessary government control of the nation’s economic factors while seeking to nominally preserve and fund government initiatives to reach social goals such as poverty reduction and food, shelter, education, fuel subsidies for the economically-disadvantaged sections of society.

Cutting back on government expenditure and interference, except where it is truly needed, allows this ideological approach to set aside the much-needed funds for national security, research and development, international negotiations, and clout, which in turn, gives the nation a better chance at faster growth and global competitiveness. While aggressively pursuing its economic agenda for the country, the BJP does not neglect the cultural and spiritual aspects of its core ideology, instilling a sense of pride in being “Indian”.

The other ideology promulgated by the Congress party and their Left allies, continues to focus on the socialist-communist ideals of the Congress parties and all the Left/Socialist parties, emphasising substantial government control over a majority of economic factors, such as a large government stake in and oversight of certain industries, agriculture, transportation, telecom services and the financial sector among others. This approach aims to expand government control over important aspects of economic growth while continuing to expand a communist-socialist culture dependent on heavily subsidised goods and services and promises of “free” goodies.

The Congress-Left ideology does not actively promote private enterprise, job creation, and large-scale citizen investments that would naturally occur in a market-driven economy with fewer government controls. This approach continues to talk of social upliftment via subsidies, free goods, and continued dependence on government handouts instead of providing the tools and economic as well as financial conditions, to enable people to take charge of their lives and reduce their dependence on government handouts and political influence/ interference. A focus on subsidising essential goods and services beyond what the national economy can afford, depletes the nation of much-needed funds for national security, growing the economy, and staying competitive in an increasingly competitive world.

The BJP’s ideology proactively promotes its socio-economic goals for the nation, yet does not ignore the cultural aspects of an ancient, unique civilisation. It continues to encourage Indian citizens and people of Indian origin living around the globe, to take pride in their culture, history, heritage, and spiritual lineage. In contrast, the Congress-Left combine discourages cultural and civilisational pride among Indian people, while actively and openly promoting a communist-socialist agenda that seeks to dilute cultural and religious identities, in favour of a worldwide socio-economic identity.

The current mood of the nation appears to be in favour of what the BJP stands for – National security, Economic prosperity based on private enterprise and job creation, International clout and bargaining power, and Cultural and civilisational pride. If a majority of pre-poll survey predictions do come true, it would speak highly of the BJP’s success story after a decade in power and counting. A strong BJP will continue to steer the nation through challenging times under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his top-notch team of ministers, advisors, and diplomats.

Shivani is a freelance writer from Vijayawada.

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Debunking The Deshbhakt Akash Banerjee’s Half-Truths On The Election Commission

By
The Commune
-

In recent times, social media platforms have become breeding grounds for misinformation and propaganda, often peddled under the guise of activism or journalism. One such instance is the blatant propaganda spread by “The Deshbhakt” YouTube channel’s Akash Banerjee. In his latest video on the recent resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, Banerjee pretends to “speak the truth” but he only shows one side of the story. Let’s dissect each claim made by Banerjee and bust his claims with facts. 

Claim 1: Allegations of Bias Among The Recent Election Commissioners

Banerjee alleges that past Election Commissioners (ECs) and Chief Election Commissioners (CECs) have displayed bias by affiliating with political parties. What he doesn’t tell the audience is that former CECs like TN Seshan and M.S. Gill had political affiliations especially, the fact that they joined the Congress after their tenures. TN Seshan fought in LS polls on a Congress ticket while MS Gill was selected by Congress as their candidate for the Rajya Sabha election from Punjab. Following a cabinet reshuffle in 2008, Gill was appointed as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

It is also alleged that Navin Chawla was closely associated with the Congress. The then-CEC N Gopalaswami had cited 12 instances to conclude that Chawla has not remained impartial in his role as Election Commissioner.

It seems Banerjee has not peeped into the past and only focused on the Modi years to make his video.

Claim 2: Allegations of Unfair Appointments of ECs and CECs

Banerjee alleges that the new law passed by the Modi government which gives the power of appointment of ECs and CECs to the Prime Minister compromises the independence and fairness of the electoral process. However, this assertion fails to acknowledge the established process and criteria for appointing ECs and CECs.

All 25 Chief Election Commissioners appointed since independence have been directly appointed by the Prime Minister of India. Approximately 20 out of the 25 were appointed by Prime Ministers belonging to the Congress party. It is not accurate to say that all elections held since 1950 were not free and fair. One can take the case of Navin Chawla himself and his alleged close links with the Congress that could have enabled him to be appointed as CEC. 

Banerjee did not mention that the appointment of ECs and CECs is governed by constitutional provisions and established norms, ensuring transparency and accountability in the selection process.

Before the enactment of the new law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, the President appointed the commissioners based on the government’s recommendation. It was customary for the most senior commissioner to be appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner. But Akash will not tell you that.

Banerjee goes ballistic at this point as if it is time for an apocalypse. He said, “Around 14-15 March, a high-level panel meeting will be held under the leadership of PM Modi. And you will get the names of two new election commissioners. This work has become easier for the government. The power is now with the Prime Minister that he should head that selection committee which will appoint a new election commissioner. Two other members are there in this committee One leader of the opposition, or the leader of the largest party, and a union cabinet minister. Meaning, that the PM and minister can decide and vote for their choice of election commissioner with a 2:1 majority. Supreme Court suggested a way to balance the appointment of election commissioner because free and fair elections should be conducted

The suggestion was a three-member committee – PM, CJI, and leader of the opposition or largest party But this suggestion was put in the dustbin And the Chief Justice of India was removed from the selection committee. Basically, the election that will decide the fate of any prime minister the person overseeing the elections will be chosen by PM Pro-level Fakiri is going on here.”

Claim 3: Allegations of Interference in EC Appointments by the Government

Banerjee alleges that recent changes in the appointment process for ECs undermine the independence of the Election Commission. However, a closer examination reveals a different picture.

The current law as mentioned above involves the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and a Union Cabinet Minister in the appointment process aims to ensure representation and consensus across political parties. In its order, the Supreme Court instructed the government to include the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the Appointment Panel for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) until a new law is enacted by Parliament.

The Modi government however has expanded the appointment panel to include the Leader of the Opposition (LOP). In previous appointments, no input or suggestion was sought from any member of the opposition. But Banerjee will not tell you this. 

Claim 4: EC Ashok Lavasa & Family Harassed

Banerjee claimed that the former Election Commissioner (EC) Ashok Lavasa and his family faced harassment through repeated notices and income tax raids. However, what Banerjee did not tell you is why notices from the Income Tax Department were issued to Lavasa’s family – namely his wife and son. 

Lavasa’s wife Novel, came under scrutiny for alleged inconsistencies in her income tax returns related to her directorship in ten companies. 

Additionally, his son Abir Lavasa’s company, Nourish Organics, faced investigation over investments originating from Mauritius. Reports suggest allegations of favouritism towards certain private companies during Lavasa’s tenure in senior government positions between 2014 and 2017.

Banerjee towards the latter part of the video parrots Congress’s line – One Nation One Election One Election Commissioner. He says, “Actually, three election commissioners were appointed for this reason. Because the post of CEC is very powerful and the process of removing the Chief Election Commissioner is like removing a senior judge. It is very difficult and virtually impossible. That is why we need three Election Commissioners to keep the balance. But now we are back to one nation, one leader, one CEC, one election. One result will also come.”

Banerjee is probably not updated himself that news reports suggest that there will be 2 ECs and he mentions above that there will be one CEC, yes there has been only 1 CEC and two ECs in the past. Maybe he was not aware? News reports mention that by 15 March 2024, two ECs will be appointed.

On top of all this, Banerjee claims that Electoral Bonds is a scam and just a small part of the issue called Election Commission that has “weakened” over the past few years. Setting a negative narrative and how!

We hope Banerjee will read this and learn to speak the truth and not hoodwink his unsuspecting followers. 

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#ArrestZubair Trends As Alleged Fact-Checker Peddles Half-Truths On Gujarat University Clash, Video Shows Afghan Student Hitting Hindu Youth

By
The Commune
-

Once again, self-styled fact-checker Mohammed Zubair has been exposed for spreading a false narrative, seizing the chance to stoke tensions between Muslims and Hindus.

On the night of 16 March 2024, international students from various countries such as Africa, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, who are enrolled at Gujarat University, reported incidents of physical assault, stone-throwing, and vandalism. These attacks occurred while the students were observing Ramazan Taraweeh prayers in a designated area within their hostel, A-Block.

The students were offering Namaz in an open area when questioned by around 25 Hindu students about the location’s suitability. This led to an altercation, escalating into a clash where stones were thrown, and rooms vandalized, causing injuries. Some students sustained injuries and are presently receiving treatment at SVP Hospital.

Two foreign students, one from Sri Lanka and the other from Kazakhstan, reportedly sustained injuries. The City Police Commissioner reported swift police response and ongoing scrutiny of videos capturing the incident.

Reports say that foreign students had been using a wall and stage as an open mosque, where Arabic script was displayed. Congress and AIMIM expressed support for the foreign Muslim students involved, with AIMIM sharing videos from their perspective, escalating communal tensions. Authorities including the Vice Chancellor and investigative teams are addressing the situation, with a state-level meeting convened to further address the matter.

As is his custom, he manipulated the incident to suit his agenda, altering the video to craft a biased portrayal suggesting Hindu students attacked Muslim students during prayers.

This post rapidly disseminated, causing individuals, news media and political figures to accept its validity and propagate it through their social media accounts.

However, contrary to the fabricated narrative, the true sequence of events unfolded on 16th March 2024 at the Gujarat University hostel, where a confrontation erupted between local and foreign students. This altercation resulted in the destruction of property, including laptops, AC units, and other belongings in room number 23 of the ‘A’ block, as well as damage to vehicles parked outside. The incident transpired around 10 PM, leading to the filing of a police report at 12:45 AM, following a complaint from the hostel’s security personnel.

The Gujarat University hostel houses approximately 300 foreign students from countries such as Afghanistan, various African nations, Sri Lanka, and others. Among these, 75 students reside in the ‘A’ block. On the 16th of March, some of these students were engaged in offering Namaz in an open area within the hostel grounds. However, a group of approximately 25 Hindu students raised objections to their choice of location, arguing that the ground was a public space and not designated as a mosque or madrasa. In response, an Afghan student named Harun Afghani approached and slapped a Hindu youth, sparking the initial altercation which rapidly escalated into a clash. During the confrontation, stones were thrown, and rooms were vandalized, resulting in property damage and injuries to several students.

The City Police Commissioner stated that law enforcement reached the scene within ten minutes of the incident. Additionally, he noted that several videos depicting the confrontation, including a significant slap, are currently being examined closely. Investigations have unveiled that foreign students recently misused a wall and stage, converting them into an unauthorized mosque. The wall bore Arabic script stating ‘Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim’ (In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), serving as a place where groups of foreign students gathered for Namaz prayers five times a day.

Additionally Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik said, “Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block (Hostel). Yesterday, at around 10:30 pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here & should instead read it in the Masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalized by the people who came from outside…Police took swift action & FIR has been registered against 20-25 people…Action will be taken against those involved in this…One person has been identified. Law & order situation is under control now…Two students from Sri Lanka & Tajikistan are admitted to the hospital”

As online users grew increasingly upset with Mohammed Zubair, a fact-checker known for promoting biased narratives, his reports were accused of fueling communal tension and quickly became a top trending in India topic under #ArrestZubair. It’s worth mentioning that Zubair has previously faced criticism for his role in sparking tensions and advocating for the arrest of Nupur Sharma through provocative propaganda.

(With Inputs From OpIndia)

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‘Minjur’ Saleem Arrested For Social Media Posts Critical Of DMK, Annamalai Slams Stalin Govt For Using Police To Target Dissenting Social Media Voices Instead Of Anti-Social Elements

By
The Commune
-

The police department under the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has been on an arrest spree targeting those critical of the DMK on social media.

Minjur Saleem, a pro-BJP activist found himself detained and later arrested for his dissenting views regarding the DMK Party’s governance, which he expressed on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Authorities accused him of spreading rumors and inciting hatred against minority groups, leading to his unlawful detention and subsequent arrest.

On four separate occasions (8 November 2022; 1 January 2024; 2 January 2024; and 27 January 2024), Saleem voiced his concerns about the DMK Government’s perceived biased treatment towards Hindu and Muslim communities. According to sources, the Cyber Crime Police Chennai alerted X regarding the potentially unlawful content under India’s Information Technology Act. However, X informed Saleem that no action had been taken against his posts yet.

After receiving these notifications, Minjur Saleem took the precaution of promptly deleting the mentioned contents. However, even after the deletion, law enforcement officials were able to locate and issue a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Saleem, without informing him of the charges or providing a copy of the FIR. Saleem, a who resides in the United States with his family, was blindsided by this development.

On 14 March 2024, Minjur Saleem and his family traveled to India to celebrate Ramadan with relatives. However, upon their arrival at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru at 6 AM, the Tamil Nadu Police Department detained Saleem in front of his young children and wife, according to his lawyers.

He was taken to a nearby police station in Bengaluru, where his wife was expelled from the premises when she sought information about his detention. The following day, on 15 March 2024, at 7:20 AM, Saleem was transported to the Office of Commissionerate, CCB, Vepery, Chennai. To his astonishment, Saleem was detained without being provided any explanation for his arrest. He was later informed that four First Information Reports had been filed against him, yet he had not received any notices under Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code for the respective crimes, nor had he been given copies of the FIRs lodged against him.

Lawyers of Minjur Saleem note that he endured over 24 hours of detention at the CCB Police Station, during which the Police Department declined to furnish the crime numbers and legal provisions under which he was charged to his legal representatives. Subsequently, the Police Department sought to remand Saleem to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on charges under Sections 153, 153A(1)(a), and 505(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code. However, objections were raised against the remand petition citing the failure to issue a Section 41A notice, refusal to provide a copy of the FIR, and violations of Supreme Court guidelines established in cases such as Arnesh Kumar, Satender Kumar Antil, and Youth Bar Association v. U.O.I and Anr.

Despite these objections, the Police Department argued for remand, asserting a ‘national security threat’ and suggesting Saleem might be a ‘fringe element’ requiring investigation. The court ultimately granted the remand petition, though it noted the absence of publicly available FIRs registered under the Cyber Crime Department on the department’s website.

Tamil Nadu’s BJP President, K Annamalai, strongly criticized the DMK government’s actions regarding the arrest of Minjur Saleem through his official X platform that, “Brother @Minjursaleem, who has been exposing DMK’s double role and separatist politics on social media, has been arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police reaching Bengaluru airport. We strongly condemn the corrupt DMK government for continuing to suppress the fundamental right of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. DMK, which gives party status to those who sell drugs, ganja and counterfeit liquor, It is a routine to search and arrest those who criticize the DMK on social media, even in other states.”

“The Tamil Nadu Police, equivalent to the Scottish Police, under the DMK regime, is used only to silence the voices of social media, leaving aside all anti-social elements, which is regrettable and tarnishes the dignity of the police. I urge the DMK to stop using the police as their propaganda department.”

This comes as yet another incident that highlights the concerning trend of Tamil Nadu Police prioritizing the prosecution of individuals expressing dissenting views online over addressing more serious crimes such as drug peddling, rape, and murder.

Below are the list of past actions of the DMK government, which involved stifling the expression of dissenting opinions, led to a crackdown on freedom of speech.

  • The Commune and its directors faced legal action for reporting on the confrontation between Podu Deekshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and HR&CE officials.
  • BJP IT Wing and Social Media State Secretary Trichy Pugal Machendran was arrested for an alleged provocative Facebook post celebrating the death of the terrorist Palani Baba on his death anniversary. The post referred to Palani Baba as a “poisonous influence.”
  • TN BJP Functionary Pravin Raj was arrested in the wee hours of 1 October 2023 for his posts targeting the ruling party and the Congress.
  • The Tamil Nadu police even went up to Noida to try to arrest journalist Abhijit Majumder for his article on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s eradicate Sanathana Dharma remarks. 
  • Critic of the DMK, Badri Seshadri, was arrested for his comments in an interview on a YouTube channel regarding the Manipur issue, during which he made remarks about the Chief Justice of India.
  • Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah was taken into custody under non-bailable sections for his comments regarding Madurai CPI-M MP Su Venkatesan concerning a sanitation worker’s tragic death during drain cleaning in Pennadam town, Cuddalore district.
  • An AIADMK IT wing member was apprehended under non-bailable sections for sharing a video meme that humorously referenced MK Stalin’s video statement on Senthilbalaji’s arrest. The meme did not contain derogatory content.
  • A Pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • A Pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar, was arrested for criticizing DMK Minister Senthilbalaji.
  • The admin of Voice of Savukku Shankar X handle was arrested for a video meme targeting CM MK Stalin and DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan regarding the “eligible household” clause in the monthly assistance scheme for women.
  • The DMK government traveled to Gujarat to arrest BJP cadre John Ravi, who had made satirical social media posts about CM MK Stalin and his late father, Karunanidhi.
  • N Muthuramalingam, the State Propaganda Secretary of South India Forward Bloc, was arrested for expressing his views on Facebook regarding the release of terrorists convicted in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case. Muthuramalingam had criticized Dravidian parties for considering the release of 36 prisoners, including those convicted for life in the Coimbatore terror attack, leading to his arrest.

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‘All Set For A Third Term’: Rahul Shivshankar’s Book Launch Event In Chennai Echoes The Mood Of The Nation

By
The Commune
-

The launch event of “Modi & India: 2024 and the Battle for Bharat” book by SMaRT concluded successfully on 16 March 2024, in Alwarpet, Chennai. The event featured distinguished personalities such as S Gurumurthy, Chief Editor of Thuglaq, as the chief guest, and Dr. Anand Ranganathan, a renowned orator, scientist, and author, as the special guest.

During the launch, Gurumurthy, Chief Editor of Thuglaq, who unveiled the book, emphasized the significant role of the RSS in safeguarding India’s culture and tradition over the past century, culminating in the success of Prime Minister Modi’s leadership over the last decade. He expressed confidence in Modi’s ability to secure a third term as Prime Minister, citing his widespread appeal among the Indian populace.

Rahul Shivshankar, the author of  Modi & India: 2024 and the Battle for Bharat, highlighted the relentless efforts of leftist and liberal factions to undermine Modi’s leadership, emphasizing Modi’s emergence as a celebrated leader who has transformed India’s landscape through his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequently as Prime Minister. Further commenting he said “Prime Minister Modi is sure to win the Lok Sabha elections for the third time and achieve a ‘hat-trick’ record,”

Anand Ranganathan, scientist, and author, underscored Prime Minister Modi’s achievements over the past decade, including initiatives such as universal toilet access, free cooking gas connections for millions of families, and the Ayushman Bharat medical insurance scheme. Ranganathan expressed certainty in Modi’s electoral victory for a third consecutive term, foreseeing a historic “hat-trick” record.

(With Inputs From Dinamalar)

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Alleged Fact-Checker Zubair Peddles Half-Truths; Links EB Purchase By Hetero Drugs To IT Raids Even As Its Chairman Was Given Rajya Sabha Seat By TRS (Now BRS)

By
The Commune
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As the details of the Electoral Bonds were made public, alleged fact-checkers like Mohammed Zubair started setting a narrative that it was the BJP that benefitted the most and that there was a link between the purchase of bonds to ED or IT raids on the donors. 

In this instance, Zubair connected Hetero Drugs and Hetero Labs to the IT raids. He wrote, “Hetero Drugs and Hetero Labs donated ₹60 crore via Electoral Bonds to Political Parties. In 2021, There was an IT raid on Hetero Drugs & Hetero Labs offices at Sanath Nagar, the IT department said 550 cr unaccounted income was detected.”

However, netizens were quick to disprove Zubair. It is noteworthy that the Chairman of Hetero Labs, Bandi Parthasaradhi Reddy was among 3 candidates for consideration for Rajya Sabha MP for KCR’s BRS party. He was ultimately selected for the post. 

It is noteworthy that Hetero Labs purchased bonds in April 2022 and in May 2022, the names for the RS MP seats were announced. 

 

Netizens questioned the logic behind suggesting how a TRS MP could have bought bonds from the BJP when they actually benefitted from the TRS. 

 

Despite being shown the mirror, Zubair has not deleted the said post. 

In another instance, Zubair peddled wrong data on the BJP’s electoral money and deleted it after a sizeable number of people had seen it. This data was picked up by the DMK IT Wing and they still have not deleted the false information. Zubair had claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party received ₹11562 crores through electoral bonds. 

He deleted this post stating, “There were a few double entries. Will share it again with corrections.”

And followed it up with this post where he claimed “Update: BREAKING! BJP RECEIVED ₹6061 (47.46%) CRORE! Electoral bonds data received from SBI, Here is the summary of the amount received by the political parties. Also included top donors.”

The likes of Zubair seem to be intentionally spreading false information, hiding the truth from the public and trying to set a narrative just as the election dates for 2024 Parliamentary polls are set to be announced. 

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Govt Of India Suspends FCRA License Of Jesus Redeems Run By Mohan C Lazarus

By
The Commune
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In a major development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended the FCRA license of controversial Christian missionary outfit Jesus Redeems, run by Mohan C Lazarus.

The action by the Indian government comes following a complaint by Legal Rights Protection Forum, a legal activist group, allegeing serious violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) provisions.

Background

Mohan C Lazarus run a Christian organization named Jesus Redeems through which he does religious proselytization activities. He is known for his notoriety in disturbing communal harmony by making anti-Hindu statements.

Multiple FIRs were registered against him at different police stations of Tamil Nadu state under Sections 153, 153-A(1)(a) & (b), 295-A, 505(1)(b) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code for making statements against Hindu Temples and Hindu Gods during a mass religious gathering.

It is noteworthy that in another case, the Regional Passport officer refused to issue a new passport to Mr Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus because he intentionally suppressed information that he had 4 criminal cases pending against him while submitting the passport application.

In February 2021, the Madras High Court came down heavy and issued a warning to the rabid evangelist pastor for making reckless statements against Hindus and Hindu religion.

However, Lazarus got relief from the High Court through case number W.P.(MD)No.15829 of 2020, asserting his ‘Right to Travel’ as a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. 

The LRPF has pointed out that Mohan C Lazarus and his organization Jesus Redeems attract provisions of the FCRA, 2010 which amounts to suspension/cancellation of the FCRA registration as he has a history of disturbing communal harmony by making provocative speeches and indulging in proselytization activities.

FCRA Violations

‘Jesus Redeems’ is a registered Christian religious organisation operating under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, and holds FCRA registration number 076160018. The founder and signatory authority, Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus, is also the Chief Executive Officer of a US registered Public Charity organization named ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc.’

One of the key allegations revolves around the recent amendments to the FCRA rules, which explicitly state that the Chief Functionary of the recipient Indian organization should not be a part of the donor organization. ‘Jesus Redeems’ allegedly received significant foreign contributions from ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc., (US),’ a major foreign donor.

Foreign Funds From Christian NGO Compassion International

It has been discovered that foreign donations from Compassion International (USA) to Caruna Bal Vikas, an NGO based in Chennai, were funneled to ‘Jesus Redeems.’ Records indicate that Jesus Redeems received ₹1,67,68,189, more than 1.5 Crore, from Caruna Bal Vikas between 2009 and 2015 under the guise of ‘Welfare of Children.’ From 2014 onward, Compassion International started donating directly to the FCRA-designated bank account of Jesus Redeems, totaling ₹1,13,04,681. This clearly indicates that Jesus Redeems is the primary affiliate of Compassion International (US) and Caruna Bal Vikas. The chronological receipt of foreign contributions from Caruna Bal Vikas and Compassion International (US) is detailed in the attached Annexure-7.

In 2017, the Indian government prohibited Compassion International (US) from donating to Indian NGOs due to various controversies involving child conversion and fundraising through child sponsorship schemes globally and in India. Following a complaint by the Director, FCRA Wing, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, the Economic Offenses Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Delhi Zone, registered an FIR (RC2202020E003 dated 20-02-2020) against Chennai-based organizations Caruna Bal Vikas and M/s Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd. The complaint highlighted Caruna Bal Vikas’s stated objective of ‘converting poor children into fulfilled Christian adults,’ engaging in religious activities, including conversions to Christianity, which have the potential to disrupt communal harmony, and therefore, violate FCRA, 2010. The complaint also asserted that Compassion International India funded Caruna Bal Vikas and M/s Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd for conversion activities.

The Chinese Link

The complaint further noted a foreign contribution of ₹6,21,274 from BRO Devakumar VG Edwin, identified as the Managing Director of DANGOTE Group, Nigeria, in 2016. DANGOTE Group, a mining conglomerate in Nigeria, has close ties with Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd, a Chinese state-owned company, raising concerns about potential foreign influence.

This connection with China raises concerns more so because of the recent instances of arrest of Prabir Purkayastha, Founder of the NewsClick website, and Amit Chakravorty, its Head of Human Resources, on charges of conspiracy to disrupt India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The arrests were prompted by an investigative report in The New York Times, which alleged that NewsClick had received funding from a network involved in disseminating Chinese propaganda. The arrests highlight concerns about foreign contributions and their potential impact on national security, aligning with the broader context of efforts to curb external influence in India.

Publication Activities

Jesus Redeems is also accused of publishing monthly magazines in various languages without providing the necessary details and declarations required by the FCRA Act. The FCRA Act, 2010 mandates that NGOs engaged in publishing activities must provide details and declarations under the Press Registration of Books Act, 1867. Additionally, they need a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers of India confirming that their publication doesn’t fall under the category of newspapers. The complaint filed requested the verification of compliance of Mr. Mohan C. Lazarus regarding these requirements, particularly in relation to the official magazine of ‘Jesus Redeems,’ by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Furthermore, the magazine suggests that ‘Jesus Redeems’ operates in multiple countries, including the United States, Australia, Dubai, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and Sri Lanka. The organisation is reportedly hosting Christian religious events abroad, inviting pastors from various countries, including China. With all the information put together, it looks like Mr. Mohan Lazarus is the editor-in-chief, owner, and publisher of these magazines. 

The complaint also noted from the copy of the FCRA return filed by Jesus Redeems that it had received an amount of ₹3,71,154 from an individual named Mr. Shirly Rohan whose residential address in Bangalore. It requests for the basis of receiving donations into the FCRA account from Indian residents.

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Hypocrisy Much? TNM Which Raised ‘Undisclosed Sum’ From Money Laundering-Accused Raghav Bahl Gives Sermons On Electoral Bonds

By
The Commune
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Ever since the details of Electoral Bonds have been made public, it appears that the detractors of the Bharatiya Janata Party are ensuring that the narrative of a “scam” is somehow set.

Fingers are being pointed out at the BJP alone while conveniently ignoring the fact that the party has the largest number of MPs in the country and is in power in 12 states, with 4 states as coalition partners. 

The Commune analyzed how regional parties had actually received more donations in comparison with the number of MPs they had. Union Minister Amit Shah speaking at the India Today Conclave 2024 refuted all the allegations made by these media houses as well as political parties. 

Despite all this, detractors such as political commentators and leftist-communist news portals are ensuring that the narrative of a “scam” goes mainstream. 

Political commentator Sumanth Raman is convinced (by what measure, it is not clear) that it is a scam.

Despite asking for evidence (and providing proof that it isn’t), such individuals are seemingly agreeing to the fact that donations and corporate donations to political parties are scams. 

Now, The News Minute itching to be a part of the narrative setting jumps into action. The portal has been publishing articles after articles on electoral bonds trying to implicate the BJP while looking the other way on donations received by Congress and other Opposition parties. 

Here’s a sample:

Responding to political observer BR Sreenivasan’s post which questioned how electoral bonds are being seen as a scam, Dhanya Rajendran, the Editor-in-chief wrote, “Simple. Party against corruption aka BJP comes to power. Makes changes in many laws, allows companies to donate as much as they want, removes caps, allows Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies to donate. Also increases action by ED, IT, etc. Who benefits the most? BJP.”

However, it is pertinent to mention that The News Minute received an ‘undisclosed’ amounts as funding from its investor Quintillion Media whose founders Raghav Bahl and Ritu Kapoor have been accused of corruption and money laundering.

Yes, it is true that some start-ups do not disclose the amount raised as capital. However, since The News Minute portrays itself to be a transparency champion and claims itself to be doing journalism for public good asking readers to pay for ‘good journalism’, shouldn’t the ‘undisclosed amount’ of funding it received be disclosed, is a question to be asked. 

Who Is Raghav Bahl?

Raghav Bahl, an Indian businessman and serial entrepreneur, founded Network18 Group in 1993, which grew into a major media conglomerate. After financial challenges, Reliance Industries took over in 2014. Bahl then co-founded Quintillion Media Pvt Ltd and currently promotes Quint Digital Media Limited, controlling Thequint.com. He also collaborated with Bloomberg for BloombergQuint.

The Quint is part of “independent internet-based media platforms” which also includes the likes of The News Minute, Newslaundry, The Wire, Scroll.in, and ScoopWhoop. Wikipedia says that they are “challenging” traditional Indian news outlets. It is noteworthy that The Quint is “certified” by the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network for its WebQoof division. It must be remembered here that in 2017, the Poynter Institute was granted $1.3 million by the Omidyar Network and the Open Society Foundation to “support new projects in three main areas: fact-checking technology, impact tracking, and financial awards through innovation grants and crowdfunding matches.”

In October 2018, the Income Tax Department of India raided The Quint’s offices and Raghav Bahl’s residence as part of an investigation into an alleged case of tax evasion. The raid was officially referred to as a survey by the Income Tax officers.

In 2019, media owner Raghav Bahl (founder of ‘The Quint’) faced money laundering accusations by the Enforcement Directorate for allegedly understating a London property’s investment value by GBP 2.73 lakh (around ₹2.45 crore) and failing to explain the source of funds. Bahl’s properties were raided previously, prompting him to release details. His assets, including a London flat, were declared in income tax filings under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme.

In August 2023, the Delhi High Court temporarily lifted a lookout circular (LOC) against Raghav Bahl and his wife Ritu Kapur, allowing them to travel abroad for business meetings amidst the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering probe. The High Court had earlier dismissed Bahl’s plea to quash the ED’s complaint, deeming it premature, and rejected his request to annul the LOC, granting only conditional travel permissions. Kapur’s plea against the ED probe is pending, asserting her non-involvement under the Black Money Act. The Income Tax Department initiated proceedings against Bahl under the Black Money Act, followed by the ED’s complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

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