Ghaziabad: Satyam Pandit, the Chief of the Hindu right-wing organization Hindu Veer Sena, has been arrested by the Ghaziabad police after a video of him delivering a hate speech went viral on social media. In the video, Pandit is seen inciting violence against Muslims and calling for the expulsion of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis from India within 72 hours. He also threatened to cut off the beards of Muslims and beat them with sticks.

The arrest took place on Sunday, and Pandit was subsequently produced in court, where he was remanded to judicial custody. The video, which allegedly responded to purported atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, shows Pandit confronting police officers and using abusive language.

In a peculiar incident, Pandit's associates recorded a video of him being taken to the magistrate's court in a private car without handcuffs, showcasing his influence despite being in police custody.

In a related incident, Bhupendra Chowdhury alias Pinki, associated with the Hindu Raksha Dal, and his supporter Badal alias Hariom were ordered to 14 days of judicial custody for allegedly assaulting residents near a railway station and destroying their shanties, claiming they were Bangladeshi infiltrators. The attack took place on Friday near the Guldhar railway police station, under the jurisdiction of Madhuban Bapudham police station.

Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra stated that efforts are underway to identify and arrest more individuals involved in the attacks.

An FIR has been filed against Chowdhury and 20 others for rioting, inciting religious hatred, and other offences. Some residents were reportedly injured in the attack, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

 

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday that Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, as the state Congress president, naturally aspires to become chief minister. However, he added that the final decision rests with the party's high command.

Amid ongoing speculation about a leadership change within the ruling Congress, he wished Shivakumar "good luck".

"I have always wished him so. There is nothing else; we are good friends. He is the PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) president, and naturally, he has an aspiration to become the chief minister. Nobody can object to it. But it all depends on what the high command decides,” Parameshwara said in response to a question regarding Shivakumar’s aspiration for the CM post.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “Don’t always go back to the CM issue. Please understand there is nothing that I can tell you about it. If I were part of the decision-making body or inside the decision-making body, I could definitely provide information.”

Supporters of Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with chief minister Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections. Some have even claimed that "sweet news" is expected by May 15, which is Shivakumar’s birthday.

Speculation has been circulating within the Congress and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results of the Assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.

However, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that there is no CM change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.

On Friday, he said no date has been fixed yet to discuss a possible leadership change, while maintaining that any decision in this regard would be taken collectively by the party high command after due consultation.

Meanwhile, Parameshwara met senior Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad and Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan over dinner on Friday. Hariprasad had met Siddaramaiah earlier in the day.

Responding to a question about discussions at the dinner, as his name is also being mentioned for the chief minister post amid calls for a "Dalit CM", the home minister said there was no discussion about the chief minister issue.

“Hariprasad told me that he met the CM, but he did not disclose what was discussed between them. Hariprasad, Zameer Ahmed Khan, and I met over dinner, and we discussed the elections held in four states and one union territory. We analysed the national-level political situation and naturally discussed the state’s political developments,” he said.

When asked if he would travel to New Delhi to meet the party high command, Parameshwara said, “I will definitely go to Delhi. Nobody can stop me from going there. I will go when it is required.”