Intel sniffs China's anti-India app in NE, Centre mulls ban
NEW DELHI: Giving a new dimension to information warfare, intelligence agencies have found that China is resorting to plot against India's northeast by using a mobile app - REDNOTE - which lures users with money and other benefits to share and spread anti-national contents, sources said on Sunday.
They said that following a report from the intelligence agencies, the government is considering a ban on the online application, as the residents of multiple north-eastern states, including those from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam are seen to be targeted.
The intelligence sources said the REDNOTE appeared to be an ordinary app, but a closer analysis revealed that the same was filled with fake RAW documents, disputed maps of India, doctored videos and a few pro-Pakistan contents.
They said that the agencies have also found that REDNOTE has deliberately entered the mobile application market with the aim of creating mistrust among youth towards India, posting messages like 'Delhi is far away'. It posts messages with remarks like 'China is closer', which is beneficial for people living in the northeast.
The intelligence sources suspect that psychological operations experts from China and Pakistan have put out the app to influence the people of the northeastern states.
A senior security officer said, 'Given the geopolitical importance of India's northeast in terms of the country's security, China is applying the same strategy it used earlier in Africa, Taiwan and Hong Kong to create instability.'
Now that the ill intent of China has come to light, the government has initiated the necessary procedure to ban it, as India had done earlier against popular Chinese apps like TikTok, ShareIt, and UC Browser, on the pretext of national security, the sources said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Santa Ono rejected for University of Florida presidency amid conservative backlash
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Longtime academic Santa Ono was rejected Tuesday for the University of Florida presidency by the state university system board amid sharp criticism from political conservatives about his past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs and other initiatives they view as unacceptable liberal ideology. The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's universities, voted 10-6 against Ono, who was most recently president of the University of Michigan. The University of Florida Board of Trustees had voted unanimously in May to approve Ono as the school's 14th president, and it is unprecedented for the governors to reverse such an action. Ono's proposed contract included a number of ideological requirements, such as how well he stopped programs that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. He was to cooperate with Gov. Ron DeSantis' Office of Government Efficiency — similar to the office created by President Donald Trump — and appoint other university officials and deans who are 'firmly aligned' with Florida's approach. Several prominent conservatives raised questions about Ono before the vote over pro-Palestinian protests, climate change efforts, gender ideology and DEI programs at the University of Michigan and his previous academic positions. These actions, Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said on the X social platform, show 'he is willing to appease and prioritize far-left activists over ensuring students are protected and receive a quality education.' Others raising objections include Donald Trump Jr. and Florida GOP U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, Greg Steube and Jimmy Patronis. Donalds is a Republican candidate for governor. Writing in Inside Higher Ed, Ono said he supported DEI initiatives at first because they aim was 'equal opportunity and fairness for every student.' 'But over time, I saw how DEI became something else — more about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success,' Ono wrote, adding that he eventually limited DEI offices at Michigan. 'I believe in Florida's vision for higher education.' DeSantis, a Republican who has pushed reforms in higher education to eliminate what he calls 'woke' policies such as DEI, did not take a public stand on Ono but did say at a recent news conference that some of his statements made the governor 'cringe.' Ono faced similar pointed questions at Tuesday's meeting — especially from former Republican state House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva — leading board member Charles Lydecker to object to the procedure. 'We have never used this as a forum to interrogate. This is not a court of law. Candidly, this process does not seem fair to me," Lydecker said. Oliva, however, questioned how to square Ono's many past statements about hot-button cultural issues with his more conservative stance now that he sought the Florida job. 'Now we are told to believe you are now abandoning an entire ideological architecture," Oliva said. 'We are asking someone to lead our flagship university. I don't understand how it becomes unfair.' Ono was to replace Kent Fuchs, who became the school's temporary, interim president last summer after ex-U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse stepped down. Sasse left the U.S. Senate, where he had represented Nebraska, to become the university's president in 2023. Sasse announced in July he was leaving the job after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy. Later reports surfaced that Sasse gave six former staffers and two former Republican officials jobs with salaries that outstripped comparable positions and spent over $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football tailgates and extravagant social functions in his first year on the job. Ono is also former president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. i.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Who's in charge--Democracy or Generals?": UK MP tears into Pakistan, urges world to stand with India
London [UK], June 3 (ANI): Branding Pakistan as a 'failed state', UK MP Bob Blackman on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at India's neighbour, questioning if either 'democracy or generals' was in charge of Pakistan, referring to the country's unchecked military influence in its governance. Speaking to ANI following a meeting with the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad in London, the UK MP urged the international community to stand with India in its fight against terrorism while blisteringly critiquing Pakistan for its encouragement of terrorism in sovereign Indian territory and its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He further slammed the nation for fostering a breeding ground for terror that undermines regional peace and stability, while calling for the reunification of Jammu and Kashmir under India as intended in 1947. 'Pakistan is a failed state. We don't have democracy in Pakistan. We have the people of parts of Pakistan, who are suffering under Pakistani military rule. So who's in charge? Is it the democracy or the Generals? And it's quite clear that terrorism is encouraged from Pakistan into sovereign India,' Blackman stated. 'And so we've got to make sure we have to call out the message that the illegal occupation of part of India in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan should end. Those troops should leave, and the whole of Jammu and Kashmir should be united as one principal state, as was intended back in 1947. And then we can lead to the eradication of terrorism and make sure that the people of that great state can celebrate the beauty of the valley,' he added. Blackman further raised critical concerns over Pakistan's use of international aid money, questioning whether funds meant for the country's development were being diverted to purchase Chinese weapons for terrorism against India. He also expressed the UK's condolences and support for India's anti-terrorism actions, emphasising India's desire for peace and questioning Pakistan's misuse of aid for military purposes, advocating for its use in health initiatives like polio eradication. 'We had a meeting and it's great to see the delegation from all parts of India... Everyone from the United Kingdom expresses their condolences and support for the people of India who've suffered this terrorist outrage... India wants peace and tranquillity between the two,' Blackman stated. 'The money that's sent to Pakistan, what is it used for? What it shouldn't be used for is buying Chinese weapons that would then enable terrorists to attack India, and I take a very strong view that our international aid money that should go to Pakistan should be going for the eradication of polio and other infectious diseases that benefit the people of Pakistan rather than it being used illicitly for military purposes,' he added. The BJP MP-led all-party delegation earlier held a meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)-India, which Blackman was a member of. During the meeting, the UK MPs affirmed the country's solidarity with India in isolating Pakistan and enhancing security cooperation. Key figures like House of Lords MP Lord Karan Bilimoria and former member of the UK Parliament Shailesh Vara also expressed unanimous cross-party support in the UK for India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, alongside discussions on deepening India-UK ties in trade, security, and education, despite last-minute camera restrictions leading to phone recordings. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Bhagwant Mann was comedian before joining politics": Haryana minister Anil Vij over Punjab CM's statement on Op Sindoor
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Haryana minister Anil Vij on Tuesday slammed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's recent remarks on Operation Sindoor and said that Mann's background as a comedian is evident in his attempt to inject humor into politics. Vij emphasised that certain issues should be treated with seriousness and not mocked. 'The Punjab Chief Minister was a comedian before joining politics. He wants to do comedy in politics, too. Such issues should be taken seriously and should not be mocked,' said Vij. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the Aam Aadmi Party of being pro-Pakistan and questioned their patriotism. Bittu said, 'The statements show how cheap and vile things the Aam Aadmi Party and their Chief Minister can say. The NDA government at the Centre has defeated Pakistan, and you are not able to tolerate it. Will you say anything to show that you stand with Pakistan? ... The country will not forgive you for the words you used against PM Modi today... ?' In a self-made video, Bajwa called Mann's remarks as 'shameful' and said the chief minister is unable to understand the value of his role. 'This is very shameful. Comedians look good on stage, but Bhagwant Mann does not understand the value of the CM's chair. What kind of joke is this? ... I think it is shameful for the CM to joke about such a thing,' Bajwa remarked. Meanwhile, BJP leader Fatehjung Singh Bajwa also criticised Mann's statement, calling it 'shameful.' 'This is very shameful. Comedians look good on stage, but Bhagwant Mann does not understand the value of the CM's chair. What kind of joke is this? ... I think it is shameful for the CM to joke about such a thing,' Bajwa said. Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stirred a controversy after he said that the BJP has turned 'Operation Sindoor' into a joke, asking whether this is a 'One nation, one husband' scheme. 'Did you not see the kind of fun made of Sindoor? What is this - one nation, one husband scheme?' CM Mann said. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. After India's strike on terror infrastructure, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and the International Border, as well as attempted drone attacks targeting civilian areas along the border regions. In response, India neutralised Pakistani air defence apparatus, radar infrastructure, and communication centres, and inflicted heavy damage across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding on the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI)
