Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University were arrested by New York Police Department (NYPD) officials, as they entered the premises on Tuesday night, according to The New York Times, escalating the tensions further that have gripped the varsities across the US currently.
The arrests took place hours after protesters had caught hold of a campus building.
The protesters had stormed and occupied a building on Columbia University’s main campus overnight, flying a Palestinian flag from Hamilton Hall.
The officers burst through a second-floor window to enter Hamilton Hall, then led demonstrators in zip ties into law enforcement buses parked near campus. In a statement, the university stated that the facility had been “vandalised and blockaded,” leaving the administration with “no choice” except to summon police to campus for the second time in less than two weeks.
According to the New York Times, the student protesters were taken by NYPD (New York Police Department) officers off Columbia University’s campus, one by one, and their hands were tied at the back with zip ties.
Students were seen, chanting as they walked out, “Free, free Palestine,” as per NYT.
A cluster of police officers, continue to remain at the university campus, especially outside the entrance of Hamilton Hall, the report said.
The NYPD cops arrived at Columbia University just after 9 pm (local time) on Tuesday and began dispersing the encampment. Special police teams used a big vehicle and a ramp to enter Hamilton Hall through a window, where the demonstrators flew a massive Palestinian flag in place of the US flag on Monday.
Majorly, Columbia University, which has turned into the epicentre of protests, at least 200 students barricaded the University’s entrance to Hamilton Hall.
Hamilton Hall is one of the buildings occupied during 1968 student protests erupted over institutional apparatus supporting the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.
The university, according to NBC News has notably asked the NYPD to remain on campus until at least May 17, two days after the scheduled graduation, according to NBC News.
Earlier, students at Columbia had voted to defy the order to vacate the encampment, which has been a focal point of pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The action to suspend students at Columbia University comes amid a wave of arrests and tensions at universities across the United States, with demonstrations in support of Palestinians drawing attention and, in some cases, police intervention.
While these recent arrests have garnered significant attention, colleges across the US have been employing law enforcement measures, along with academic penalties such as suspensions and, in some cases, expulsion, to manage student protests since Hamas’ October attack on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has filed an 8000-page chargesheet against NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, exposing his ties with the banned Islamic terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
As per reports, Purkasyastha was also involved in providing funds to LeT terrorists. “Active association with terrorists, ie, LeT. Also gave financial assistance to them,” the chargesheet read.
According to the Delhi police, the NewsClick founder was at the helm of a disinformation campaign under the pretext of protesting against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The chargesheet stated that Prabhir Purkayastha was using the employees and partners of his propaganda news outlet to hand over money to rioters, some of whom are now in judicial custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
These rioters include those who created mayhem in Shaheen Bagh and Chand Bagh during the anti-CAA protests and the so-called farmers who protested against the three progressive farm laws in the National Capital.
The NewsClick founder also conspired with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) member Neville Roy Singham to defame the Indian government and its efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and cast aspersions about the efficacy of Indian vaccine ‘Covaxin’ developed by Bharat Biotech.
“Prabir Purkayastha in furtherance of common conspiracy with businessman Neville Roy Singham and others during the Covid-19 time had criticized noble efforts of the Indian government to control Covid-19 and also published his articles against the vaccine manufactured by the Indian pharmaceutical companies with the intention of causing disaffection against India,” the chargesheet read.
As per the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, witnesses testified that NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and ‘urban naxal’ Gautam Navlakha gave money to Naxals to carry out violence. At the same time, NewsClick received 91 crores, later routed to fund terror activities.
The 8000-page chargesheet noted that the propaganda news outlet run by Prabir Purkayastha deliberately distorted the map of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to show that these territories belong to China.
Delhi police says newsclick founder Prabir purkayastha had links with banned terror organisations – now how soon will this be called a witch hunt ? And why the silence ? https://t.co/CxRGTnjEt2
It emphasised, “Five of the protected witnesses are associated with the Newsclick, and three with the case. Police have also recorded the statement of Amit Chakraborty, who turned approver…He has been granted pardon by the Hon’ble Court… He is now a witness in the case and, therefore, he is not being chargesheeted.“
Testimonies of witnesses who worked with Prabir Purkayastha
The Delhi police included the testimonies of several protected witnesses, named ‘Gama’, ‘Gama2’ and ‘Gama3’ in its chargesheet.
It quoted ‘Gama’ as saying, “During the CAA protest, Purkayastha used to send the employees to take part and incite the Muslim community to do violent acts and rioting. He also used to give cash to employees to distribute among rioters…Prabir, Chakraborty and other members had extreme Marxist and Maoist ideologies… I came to know that these people were being funded by the Chinese Communist Party.”
Another witness ‘Gama2’ said that the NewsClick founder sent a man to Shaheen Bagh to give money to Islamic extremist Sharjeel Imam, currently behind bars for his role in anti-Hindu Delhi riots. “From this money, they should purchase weapons and other equipment to incite violence and rioting,” he added. ‘Gama2’ also testified that money was later routed to Naxals in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to spark violence.
“Articles and videos which showed the vaccine developed by India in a poor light and Chinese vaccines to be better,” he further added. One witness, ‘Gama3’ informed, “Funds (received by NewsClick) were used in funding CAA/NRC protest, farmers’ agitation, supporting Kashmiri separatists against abrogation of Article 370 and Maoists groups”.”
It must be mentioned that the NewsClick founder was arrested on 3rd October, 2023, along with the company’s HR Head Amit Chakraborty for receiving illegal funds from China via the United States.
On 30th April, Congress leader Manish Tewari admitted to the wealth redistribution plan of Congress and openly claimed on social media “India will become great only when wealth is distributed evenly”. In an X post, he said, “Absolutely we will not allow chaebols and oligarchies to flourish. We will not allow 1% of Indians to hold 77% of India’s wealth. Jab Paisa bate Ek Samman Tabhi Hoga Bharat Mahan.”
Paisa bate ek saman means “when money is distributed equally’. Essentially, Congress believes that the solution to poverty is not wealth creation and job creation, but snatching the wealth of wealth creators and job creators and ‘distributing’ it equally among the poor, thus making everyone equally poor.
For those who are unaware, the “Tharoor-style” words Chaebol and Oligarchies refer to a small group of people that controls a country. In South Korea, Chaebol means a ‘large family-owned business conglomerate’. Oligarchies means a ‘small group of people having control of a country or organisation’. Though he hid the sinister plan behind the shades of “taking money from the wealthy”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly warned during election rallies that Congress is eyeing on the wealth of all citizens including poor.
Absolutely we will not allow chaebol’s and oligarchies to flourish .
We will not allow 1% of Indians to hold 77% of India’s wealth.
Tewari was replying to a question posed by political commentator Tushar Gupta where he sought an explanation on a specific point mentioned in Congress’s Manifesto. On Page 28 of Congress’s Manifesto for Lok Sabha Elections 2024, there is a point 21 that reads, “We will address the growing inequality of wealth and income through suitable changes in policies”.
Interestingly, if we go by their definitions and what Congress has planned, Tewari himself would fall under the category of the “1%” the grand old party claims own 77% of the country’s wealth. As per affidavit submitted by Manish Tewari for Lok Sabha Elections 2019, he owns assets worth Rs 15 crores. It was pointed out by Gupta as well.
But sir, you are amongst the 1% of the Indians, and I won't say you 'hold' that wealth. Some you have inherited, most you have earned, so you deserve to keep it without guilt or state interference. Why are you against that idea? https://t.co/hrbWuxnPgbpic.twitter.com/bixYP6EoS9
Speaking to OpIndia, political commentator Tushar Gupta said, “If the interpretation of point 21 on page number 28 of the Congress Manifesto is that everyone should have equal amount of money, even if it means snatching wealth from those who have earned it or inherited it, then we must prepare ourselves for a country that would be pushed towards communism by Rahul Gandhi’s Congress.”
PM Modi warned Congress is coming for the wealth of Indians to redistribute it to illegal immigrants for its appeasement policies
On 21st April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an attack on the Congress party and pointed out Congress’s plans to do an economic survey to find out who owns how much wealth and asserted it will be redistributed to illegal immigrants that the Congress is so keen to settle in India. He warned that the Congress Party plans to take away the wealth of poor families and would not even leave the mangalsutra of married women.
Congress termed PM Modi’s statement as “fearmongering” and claimed they never talked about wealth redistribution in their manifesto. It was indeed true that they directly did not say it but several aspects of the manifesto hints towards the sinister plan.
Under the Section Equity on page 5 of the manifesto, the first point reads, “Congress will conduct a nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions. Based on the data, we will strengthen the agenda for affirmative action.” This is the first, open “hint” that Congress is all set to find out who owns how much wealth.
Notably, Congress never mentioned how it would work. Rahul Gandhi simply said in his statement that it would be redistributed among those who do not have wealth. Interestingly, Gandhi or Congress did not explain what would be counted as wealth. Is the gold that families own would be counted? What about the family jewellery? What about the inherited property of the middle class the lower middle class or the poor families? There is always someone poorer in the society. What would Congress take away and to what extent?
Gandhi in his statement on wealth redistribution simply said “It will be redistributed”. However, he did not explain the process or anything related to it leaving a major loophole in the system they are planning to bring.
Now coming to the section “Religious And Linguistic Minorities”, sub-section 5 reads, “The economic empowerment of minorities is a necessary step for India to realise its full potential. We will ensure that banks will provide institutional credit to minorities without discrimination.”
Refuting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim of not inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya because of her tribal origin, Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Tuesday (30th April) said that the allegations of the Wayanad MP are “absolutely false, baseless, and misleading”.
Asserting that the President of India was invited to the event held in January this year, Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust said that he has “serious objection” to the allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi.
श्री राहुल गांधी का यह भाषण कि “श्री राम जन्मभूमि मंदिर के प्राण प्रतिष्ठा आयोजन में भारत की माननीय राष्ट्रपति महोदया को आदिवासी होने के कारण आमंत्रित नहीं किया गया”, पूर्णतः असत्य, निराधार व भ्रामक है। pic.twitter.com/r0fdvwcHEL
“In a meeting in Gujarat, Rahul ji has said that the President Droupadi Murmu was not invited to the occasion of Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya because she is a tribal. As the General Secretary and Trustee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, I have serious objection to these statements of Rahul ji. These statements are absolutely false, baseless, and misleading,” he said.
He said Rahul’s baseless charge about the event that took place three months ago could create divisions in the society. “These parts of the speech are seriously objectionable for us,” he added.
Today an article has been published in the Delhi edition of The Times of India. The article mentions the speech of Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi, delivered in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
In his speech, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the Hon’ble President of Bharat was not invited to… pic.twitter.com/cX6UKnmibj
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) April 30, 2024
He also said that both President Murmu and former President Ram Nath Kovind were invited to the Pran Pratishtha. “People from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and the extremely poor were invited and they came. Also, the shramiks involved in the construction of the mandir were also present in the Prana Pratishtha ceremony. Even during the Prana Pratishtha rituals, many families belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward castes were given the opportunity to worship in the “Goodh Mandap” of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir,” Rai added. Notably, President Droupadi Murmu will visit Ayodhya and have the darshan of Ram Lalla on Wednesday.
According to the Rashtrapati Bhavan press release, President Murmu will also perform the Saryu pujan and aarti. “During her stay in Ayodhya, the President will make darshan and aarti at Shri Hanuman Garhi Temple, Prabhu Shri Ram Temple, and Kuber Teela. She will also do the Saryu pujan and aarti,” the release stated.
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s historic temple was held on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the Vedic rituals, led by a group of priests. The ceremony was attended by representatives of all major spiritual and religious sects in the country. People from all walks of life, including representatives of various tribal communities, will also attend the ceremony.
Notably, Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly been lying about President Droupadi Murmu not being invited to Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony. On 13th April, he claimed that President Draupadi Murmu was not invited to the Pran Prathistha ceremony of Ram Mandir for virtue of being an Adivasi. “They had told her not to come for the Pran Prathistha of the Ram Mandir. Why? Because she is an Adivasi. This is the only reason,” he claimed.
The truth is that President Murmu was formally invited by a delegation representing the Ram Temple Trust to attend the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
The invitation was extended on 12th January this year by a delegation comprising Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Ram Lal, and Ram Mandir construction committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra.
In a late-night violent protest on Monday, April 29, (US local time), a mob of masked pro-Palestine University ‘students’ smashed their way into an academic building at Columbia University. Later, the rioters announced that they had taken over the building and draped it with a Palestinian flag. They also renamed the Iconic “Hamilton Hall” as ‘Hind’s Hall’. The building was previously named in honour of founding father Alexander Hamilton. Notably, it has a historic significance as demonstrators had taken it over during anti-Vietnam War protests in 1968.
(Rioting Pro-Palestine students have renamed ‘Hamilton Hall’ as “Hind’s Hall’ after violently taking over the academic building, Image Source – BBC)
Once inside the Hamilton Hall, Pro-Palestine rioters quickly covered security cameras with tape and black trash bags, according to the student-led Columbia Daily Spectator. Reportedly, the protesters also clashed with other students and briefly held some of the staff as hostages as well.
(Pro-Palestine rioters have taken control over the Hamilton Hall, locking entries, Image Source – New York Post)
Regarding the recent violent protests, a statement posted by students’ groups said that protesters have “taken matters into their own hands.” They warned that the students will remain in Hamilton Hall until Columbia (University) divests financially from Israel, that is, the University drops financial ties with its Jewish backers. The group has also shared videos of the “protest” in which rows of students could be seen entering the building and carrying barricades.
As per reports, after the rioting students unraveled the banners, demonstrators raised chants of “Free Palestine,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” – a war cry calling for Genocide of Jewish people – and “Columbia, you will see – Palestine is almost free.”
Shocking videos, in which the ‘Students’ of the “Ivy League” could be seen indulging in violent acts have surfaced on social media. In one of these videos, a hammer-wielding rioter can be seen smashing through a glass-paneled door and placing a bike lock around its handles.
(‘Students’ stormed their entry into the academic building in support of Palestinian war against Israel, Image Source – New York Post)
An INTIFADA flag is hung from Hamilton Hall, Columbia University
Intifada is an armed terrorist uprising fyi. America take back control of your universities and arrest their asses. And stop the radicalisation of your youth! pic.twitter.com/pYGqdWcZoT
In another clip, the mob is seen beating up University staffers who had tried to block the rioting students from getting inside the building. As per reports, the rioters have also brandished “Intifada” signs. A large Intifada flag has been hung from Hamilton Hall, Columbia University. Pertinent to note that Intifada is Palestine’s armed action (involving terrorist acts as well) against Israel.
(University Staffer trying to prevent rioters from entering the Academic building, Image Source – New York Post)
.@Columbia University — Organized rioters dressed in black bloc broke and entered into a campus building in Manhattan. Hamilton Hall had had been smashed up and occupied by masked far-left extremists saying they're doing it for Palestine. pic.twitter.com/ffBXmPCKxa
אירוע מטורף בדקות האלה באוניברסיטת קולומביה: פרו פלסטינים מנפצים שמשות ומשתלטים על בניין המילטון בקמפוס. אמרתי בשידורים בשבוע האחרון שהאירוע יצא משליטה. צפו ותבינו למה התכוונתי. השעה 1:30 בלילה במנהטן. מתרחשת כאן נקודת מפנה. pic.twitter.com/6DYLKpLzDf
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters have also swarmed outside the campus building, with some linking arms to form a human chain blocking the entrance. They demanded that they would not leave until Columbia University met each one of their demands.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the scenes an “utter disgrace” and called on the University’s president to step down. Likewise, one student described the campus as “lawless, utter anarchy”, with demonstrators breaking the building’s windows to enter, before blocking the doors with furniture.
White House condemns violent protests and takeover of the Hamilton Hall
After rioters took over Hamilton Hall in an overnight attack, the White House said that taking over campus buildings is wrong.
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said, “President Biden respects the right to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful. Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful — it is wrong. And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America.”
Bates added, “President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life. He condemns the use of the term ‘intifada,’ as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days.”
US rocked by violent protests across various Ivy League Universities
It is pertinent to note that violent Pro-Palestine protests have created anarchic scenes on campuses across the US in recent weeks. As per reports, the recent incident of rioting was sparked after New York police cleared an earlier encampment at Columbia University.
So far, hundreds of protestors have been arrested across the country, including dozens of protesters at the University of Texas at Austin on Monday (29th April). Officials there said protesters had ignored directions to take down their tents and that “baseball-size rocks” had been found in the encampment.
“Continuing criminal activity”: Universities urge genuine students to stay indoors
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, a small college in Northern California, issued a shelter-in-place order for students living on campus, due to “continuing criminal activity” early Tuesday morning, according to the university’s website.
Some of the Universities have caved into violent protests and rioting by Pro-Palestinian “Students” and agreed to a settlement. As per reports, there has been a rare agreement reached in Evanston, Illinois, between Northwestern University and protesters who have camped out for days in solidarity with the Palestinians. Under the deal, the university said it would permit “peaceful demonstrations”, provided the encampment was limited to a single tent.
The epicenter of these pro-Palestinian protests, Columbia University, also advised “members of the University community” to stay away from its main Morningside Heights campus as protesters barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall.
Meanwhile, as per US media reports, the University officials haven’t publicly said how they plan to address the latest wave of violence. It also wasn’t immediately clear if the NYPD would be called in to clear out the rioters.
Earlier, the University adopted a stern approach and it went on a mass suspension spree. It suspended Pro-Palestine students who defied Monday’s deadline to leave their two-week encampment nearby.
However, after the deadline passed, dozens of rioting students rallied at the site. The current violent demonstrations are led by two main protest groups – Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD).
After breaching the deadline, SJP vowed to defy the order in a post on X, and called on activists to “protect the encampment”. Later, the group announced the takeover of Hamilton Hall. CUAD said it had “reclaimed” the building in honour of Hind Rajab, a six-year girl who died in Gaza earlier this year.
For those unversed, Columbia University is an elite Ivy League University in Upper Manhattan, USA. Its annual tuition fees is around $90,000 (£72,000) for undergraduates, making it one of the most expensive universities in the US.
The Amethi unit of the Congress, weary of the prolonged wait for a candidate announcement, is holding a sit-in protest in the long-standing VIP constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Today, outside the party office, Congress workers voiced their demands with chants of “Amethi demands the Gandhi family.”
With just four days remaining until the nomination deadline for the upcoming elections on May 20th, tension mounts as the Congress has yet to name contenders for the prestigious seats of Amethi and Raebareli. These constituencies, once held by Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi and previously by Sanjay Gandhi, hold significant historical weight.
“Enough time has been spent dilly-dallying. We are running out of patience. They should just hurry up and announce the names,” one of the Congress party workers was quoted as saying to NDTV.
With the uncertainty looming over whether the Gandhis would be able to mount a successful campaign against BJP leaders, especially Smriti Irani, who had defeated Rahul Gandhi last time, the Congress high command is predictably keeping its cards close to its chest, not revealing its future course of action. The reluctance is also compounded by the fact that Gandhi, who had fought from Wayanad in Kerala, has been accused by his opponents of betraying his constituents in the south Indian district should he choose to fight from any other constituency.
In the previous election, Rahul Gandhi, a three-time MP from Amethi, lost the seat to BJP’s Union Minister Smriti Irani, who filed her nomination yesterday, expressing optimism for a second consecutive term.
However, the Congress remains in limbo regarding candidate selection. Despite Rahul Gandhi’s contest in Kerala’s Wayanad in 2019, the party has yet to finalize its choices for Amethi and Raebareli.
While hopes were pinned on a decision post-Kerala elections, progress has been sluggish over the past four days. Party insiders suggest a decision may be forthcoming in another day or two.
On Monday (29th April), the Financial Times announced a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind the viral chatbot, ChatGPT. With the collaboration, OpenAI wants to enhance ChatGPT and improve the usefulness of its AI models by incorporating articles or excerpts from the Financial Times. On its part, the FT seeks to develop new AI products and features for its readers.
JUST IN: The Financial Times and OpenAI sign deal that will allow artificial intelligence models to be trained on the newspaper's archived content
After the implementation, ChatGPT users will show summaries and quotes from FT articles, along with links to these articles, in response to their queries. OpenAI will compensate the publisher for using its content to enhance OpenAI’s generative AI capabilities. However, the financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
The Chief Executive of the Financial Times Group, John Ridding said, “This is an important agreement that recognises the value of our award-winning journalism and will give us early insights into how content is surfaced through AI.”
With this, the Financial Times has become the latest major news organisation to strike a content licensing agreement with OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed startup. Over the past few months, OpenAI has signed similar deals with the Associated Press, global news publisher Axel Springer, France’s Le Monde, and Spain-based Prisa Media.
For those unversed, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence-driven chatbot that was launched in late 2022. It kick-started the Generative AI boom worldwide and remains one of the leading players in the AI chatbot field. It can mimic human conversation and perform tasks such as creating summaries of long text based on users’ prompts (commands/queries).
However, it is pertinent to note that several AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, have been exposed for their anti-India biases and being riddled with wokeism. In our 2023 article titled, ChatGPT – The buzz around it, the inherent biases of the algorithm, its jokes on Hinduism, and more – The basics of the AI-based platform, OpIndia comprehensibly explained the inherent bias of these platforms, which can be traced back to the acute biases of the sources on which they rely.
Conspicuously, FT, which will be the latest source to train OpenAI’s AI model, heaped praises for its “award-winning journalism” while announcing the strategic partnership. However, the publisher has been notorious for peddling lies, anti-India propaganda, fanning unsubstantiated allegations, baseless rhetoric of Muslim victimhood, conspiracy theories to discredit India’s success story, and unwarranted trespasses in India’s Internal affairs.
Financial Times publishes shredded Indian Tricolour in its anti-Modi article, disrespecting the Indian flag
In November 2019, the Financial Times published an article where they had shown the Indian national flag in tatters. The FT article by Gideon Rachman showed the Ashok Chakra in the Indian flag broken into pieces. The disrespectful image that undermined the sovereign nation’s dignity and symbols drew widespread condemnation in India.
(FT published an image of Ashoka Chakra in tatters, disrespecting the Indian National flag)
Looking down on India: FT peddled lies claiming PM Modi may have ‘secretly’ taken a foreign dose during the COVID pandemic, had also discredited Indian vaccines
In a bid to mock and discredit India’s success story in vaccinating its large population, Amy Kazmin – the Chief of the Financial Times’ South Asia bureau, had resorted to weaving conspiracy theories around Prime Minister Modi. She had concocted a story saying that PM Modi might have already been vaccinated with a ‘foreign vaccine in secret’ as he did not trust the two Indian-made vaccines.
A report written by Ami Kazmin was published in FT on 26th January 2021, which raised doubts not only over India’s vaccine program, but also claimed that PM Modi had already been vaccinated with a foreign vaccine, but the information was kept secret.
(Like its Western media peers, FT came out publicly to lead a smear campaign against Indian vaccines, alluding that ‘poor Indians’ should take Western vaccines which would save their lives)
The report also spread false propaganda against the Bharat Biotech-manufactured vaccine saying top ‘Indian scientists’ have questioned the decision to use Covaxin.
The conspiracy theories of Amy Kazmin were busted after Prime Minister Modi took his first dose of the Indian-made Covaxin vaccine on 1st March, 2021, during the second phase of the centre’s vaccination drive, when the drive was started for senior citizens.
The Financial Times bats for terrorists, tries to pin blame on India over Nijjar assassination row
After Justin Trudeau strained diplomatic ties with India over the Nijjar assassination allegation against New Delhi, Financial Times tried to pin the blame on India. Like most of the other Western publications, the Financial Times had shifted the burden of proving India’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar from Ontario to New Delhi. It blamed India for being responsible for not denying the allegations convincingly enough for the West’s liking and Trudeau’s failure to furnish evidence that buttressed his claims.
In November 2023, FT published an article sympathising with Khalistani terrorist Pannun over the alleged assassination plot against the SFJ terrorist. Instead of pondering on why the US has been harbouring terrorists, it claimed that the US govt was worried that ‘India-backed unknown gunmen’ might kill be on a killing spree.
Financial Times blatantly tried to prove India the ‘weakest link’ in the Quad, despite the quoted experts stating otherwise
In another anti-India diatribe, the UK-based news outlet Financial Times had once declared India as the “weakest link” in the Quad alliance, an informal strategic alliance of four democracies – United States, India, Australia, and Japan to take on China.
(Western media published articles predicting doom and gloom for India during and post-COVID phase, India proved all their unfound negative assertions wrong)
The piece written by Amy Kazmin and Demetri Sevastopulo claims that the coronavirus crisis that stuck India this year and the subsequent vaccine export ban imposed by the Indian government in response to the pandemic has overshadowed Quad’s intentions to be an alternative to China in the region. Instead, India’s failure has created an opportunity that China is exploiting, claims the report.
‘They were small satellites’: FT had ridiculed ISRO’s achievement of launching a record 104 satellites in one go
When launched 104 satellites into orbit in a single mission, instead of lauding India’s achievements, FT and other Western media outlets chose to snidely point out that many of the satellites were in fact of “smaller size”. The FT had tweeted, “Some of the satellites, owned by the US company Planet, were just 30cm in length and weighed under 5kg.”
FT journalist lied about being ‘kicked out’ of an India-Russia event for its crusade against Adani Group, later admitted that all journalists were asked to leave from ‘close door’ meeting
Last year, FT’s American journalist John Reed claimed that he was thrown out of an India-Russia event on 17th April 2023 over “security concerns”. The event in question was organised by FICCI at Delhi’s The Leela Hotel. It was titled ‘India Russia Business Conclave’, and had Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov as chief guests.
Soon, his supposed expulsion was presented as a crackdown on the media outlet, FT, for its reports against the Adani group and its refusal to take down its article on the Adani Group, even after the latter had pointed out that the allegations were “misleading” and “malicious”.
Incidentally, Reed informed on Twitter that he was asked to leave by a Russian and not an Indian.
In a further embarrassment, hours later, many social media users pointed out his fallacy, which forced him to reveal that all the journalists were asked to leave the event as it was converted to a closed-door event four minutes before it started. Simply put, it was a closed-door meeting between the two leaders, and all media persons were asked to leave, the FT scribe cried hoarse claiming that their outlet was being singled out for its “Award-winning journalism”.
Nefarious agenda of “Interfering in India’s Internal matters” and “Impacting the outcome of Indian elections”
Marching shoulder to shoulder with its Western peers, FT has been furthering the falsehood of India’s democratic backsliding, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and curbing media freedoms among others. It has been trying to meddle with the Indian election and politics, and acting as if it is also a political player. This includes unwarranted commentary on ongoing legal cases and carrying hit pieces on Indian businessmen and politicians that are perceived as supporters of the Modi government.
The tainted and anti-India reportage of FT and ilks has prompted users to express concerns about the possible fragmentation of the internet into several camps. The development can force nations to come up with their indigenous alternative to make them immune from the extreme biases and nefarious agendas like wokeism of these platforms.
Says a lot about the future of disinformation emanating from the Anglosphere. The internet will get fragmented with walled gardens. Major powers choosing not to submit to Western hegemony will build AI models, train them on local content, and protect them with digital firewalls. https://t.co/ov3nohM8rI
Incidentally, Google was once forced to apologise after its AI chatbot, Gemini AI refused to acknowledge the existence of ‘White’ people and generated only images of black persons. It drew massive flakes for its wokeist agenda.
After attacking two civilians and two police officers on Tuesday (30th April), a 36-year-old man brandishing a sword was arrested in Hainault, in the northeast region of London. The police do not see the incident as a terror attack. The Metropolitan Police was alerted at around 7 am.
?BREAKING Video of the attacker in Hainault this morning. He allegedly waited outside houses and attacked random residents. pic.twitter.com/VmaNvU1VOZ
The sword-wielding accused man smashed a vehicle into a house in Thurlow Gardens, before stabbing several people. Following the incident, the Hainault Tube station in Ilford has been closed by the police. The police have not disclosed the identity of the attacker yet.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: Police and emergency services are in Hainault at a serious incident in which a man with a sword has been arrested. We were called shortly before 07:00hrs to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area. There were reports people had been stabbed. At this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers. We are awaiting an update on the condition of those injured. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and he is in custody.”
Police and emergency services are in Hainault at a serious incident in which a man with a sword has been arrested.
Read and share our latest update below.
We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community – this incident does not appear to be terror-related. pic.twitter.com/M2ljxeBu32
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned. I know the wider community will be feeling shocked and alarmed. People will want to know what has happened and will we provide more information as soon as we can. We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community. We are not looking for more suspects. This incident does not appear to be terror-related.”
Several ambulances, along with fire and rescue personnel, were also dispatched to the spot Five injured people were treated at the site by London Ambulance Service, and all five were taken to a hospital.
According to a witness to the Hainault incident, at approximately 7:00 BST, he heard screaming and then saw a man in a yellow sweatshirt jump over some fences. “I heard shouting, I heard shrieking…I thought ‘who would be shrieking at this time in the morning? The shrieking sounded like the police – you know when they are ordering someone to stop or to get on their knees or something…it was like that,” the witness said.
“I looked out the back window because the noise was coming from back there, I saw a bloke dressed in yellow jumping over some fences…then he went down an alley like he was going back onto the street again. I saw a policeman and policewoman…normal cops with the short-sleeved shirts… who chased after him and they were shouting for him to put it down,” he added.
A picture of a large grey van with damage on the right side of its bumper has emerged from the attack site. The doors at the back of the vehicle are also open.
Damaged van at the attack site (Source: SkyNews)
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the attack “shocking” and said that there is no place for such violence on the streets of Britain.
This is a shocking incident. My thoughts are with those affected and their families.
I'd like to thank the emergency services for their ongoing response, and pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery shown by police on the scene.
“This is a shocking incident. My thoughts are with those affected and their families. I’d like to thank the emergency services for their ongoing response, and pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery shown by police on the scene. Such violence has no place on our streets,” PM Sunak posted.
Notably, there has been a significant surge in street crimes in London in recent times. Just last month, former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen took to X to voice his concerns about the staggering rate at which street crimes in London are rising. Resharing a post by @CrimeLdn, which had posted a video of a recent knife attack on a train in London, the cricketer labelled London as “a disgrace of a place”.
As reported earlier, the Met Police data showed that London saw a 32% increase in crime in the year ending in April compared to the same period in 2022 with theft being the most common offence. Data shows that throughout the same period, stealing increased by 66% and robbery by 34%. In comparison to 2021, knife crime increased by 25% in 2022 and 12% from March to April of 2023, the data revealed.
On Thursday (25th April), the police arrested four Hindu priests for keeping donations (dakshina) left by devotees on puja thalis. The incident took place in Mettupalayam town Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
As per reports, the four people were identified as L Saravanan, S Vishnukumar, R Ragupathi and S Thandapani. They work as priests at the Vanabadrakaliamman Temple.
Their only ‘crime’ involves taking home dakshina, left by devotees on Puja plates. Unlike most parts of India where a particular temple administration lays down its own rules of conduct, the Hindu places of worship in Tamil Nadu are managed by the State government.
The DMK govt has begun enforcing a law mandating temple priests to deposit even thali donations they get towards hundi collection. The High court has gone ahead and endorsed this. Now four priests have been arrested for taking thali donations home.
The administrative control is established through the implementation of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act of 1959, legislation [pdf] that was supposed to ensure ‘smooth administration’ and ‘proper management’ of Hindu temples and mutts.
According to the HR&CE ‘rules’, Hindu priests are not allowed to take dakshinas left by devotees on puja thalis. They have been directed to submit all donations to the temple hundis, a diktat that has reportedly received the approval of India’s Judiciary.
Assistant Commissioner of HR&CE, U S Kailasamurthy remarked, “There is a government order to this effect. The Madras High Court too has backed the practice and ordered to consider the entire donations, including the collections on the plate, as a temple’s revenue. The four were not following the practice.”
Data furnished by the HR&CE Department of the Tamil Nadu govt in 2022
As a result, the four priests of the Vanabadrakaliamman Temple were arrested for flouting rules made by the Tamil Nadu government and were sent to judicial remand.
This form of governmental interference in the management of Hindu places of worship is not just limited to Vanabadrakaliamman Temple. This is the case for over 38,658 temples and mutts in Tamil Nadu as per the publicly available data.
History behind the controversial legislation
To understand how these centres of Faith fell into the hands of the Executive, we need to dive into the history [pdf] of the State. The temples in present-day Tamil Nadu flourished during the rule of the Pallavas, Cholas, Cheras, Pandiyas and Nayakars.
Following the fall of the majestic Hindu empires and the rise of the East India Company, the temples came under the control of private persons and their families.
There were accusations that the new ‘owners’ of the temple were involved in the appropriation, misuse, and unauthorised sale of properties. The devotees demanded proper management of the Hindu places of worship.
In the year 1817, regulations were issued for the supervision and endowment of temples by the East India Company. To this effect, the Madras Endowments and Escheats Regulation No. VII was introduced and the Board of Revenue was empowered to supervise the temples.
Local agents were appointed to examine the expenditure of temples. About 46 years later in 1863, the Religious Endowments Act was enacted by the then-British government. It made way for local committees, whose members were appointed for life, to oversee the administration of temples.
Over the following decades, several laws were passed under the pretext of enhancing ‘transparency’ in the management of Hindu places of worship.
In 1927, the anti-Brahmin ‘Justice Party’ oversaw the enactment of the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act and the constitution of the ‘Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Board.’ For the first time, Executive Officers were appointed to the temples.
Various amendments were made to the legislation in the years 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1944, 1946 and 1947.
Following complaints to the Indian Law Commission about the supposed ‘misuse’ of temple funds and properties, the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act was enacted in 1951.
This established further control of the government on temples in Madras through the formation of a dedicated Department called ‘Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.’
The position of the Commissioner was created and powers were vested in him to regulate the functioning of the temples. Besides, a plethora of officers with varying hierarchies were appointed to regulate ‘secular affairs of Hindu temples and Mutts.’
Despite the interference of the Madras government in the management of Hindu places of worship, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Act in the infamous Shirur Mutt case of 1954.
Five years later in 1959, the government enacted the ‘Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.’ A Hindu Religious Endowments Commission was also formed between 1960-1962.
Tamil Nadu govt controls appointments and finances of temples
Through the ‘Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act’, the State government exercises unprecedented control over the administration, functioning and management of Hindu temples and mutts.
The government appoints the Commissioner, the Joint Commissioner, and the Assistant Commissioner of the HR&CE Department. It also appoints the Board of Trustees of each religious institution (temples and mutts with annual income of more than ₹10 lakhs).
The Commissioner is entrusted to appoint Executive Officers as well as the Board of Trustees for temples and mutts with annual income between ₹2 lakhs -₹10 lakhs.
Similarly, the Assistant Commissioner appoints Board of Trustees for Hindu places of worship with annual incomes less than ₹10000 while the Joint Commissioner does the same for temples and mutts with annual incomes between ₹10000- ₹2 lakhs.
As such, it becomes crystal clear that the Tamil Nadu government directly and indirectly appoints the Board of Trustees of each religious institution under the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.
The government is also in charge of the assets of the temples and mutts (both movable and immovable), and controls the finances in the name of ‘improving viability’ and ‘sustained development.’
Moreover, it solicits money from the same temples and mutts to the range of 1.5%-4% under the garb of annual income audit.
Affirmative action over Hindu customs
Since 2006, the Tamil Nadu government has been using Hindu places of worship as its laboratory for affirmative action and social justice, in complete contrast to the age-old traditions of individual Hindu temples and mutts.
Every community (sampradaya) within the Hindu fold has its unique customs and ritualistic way of worship. The community decides the pujaris and the management of the temple.
The Tamil Nadu government overrides this Hindu practice in the name of social equality and appoints archakas of its liking under the HR&CE Act.
To make matters worse, a total of 11 Mutts have lost their character under the supervision of the same Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. As such, total Mutts in Tamil Nadu have decreased from 56 to 45 as of 2022.
Use of temples for politics
All thanks to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act of 1959, the State government has a free licence to use temples and mutts for its political propaganda.
For instance, the DMK government under MK Stalin introduced the ‘Kalaignar Sacred Tree Sapling Planting Scheme’ in memory of party oligarch M. Karunanidhi. The temples across the state were directed to plant one lakh sacred tree saplings under the ‘political scheme.’
In January this year, the Tamil daily Dinamalarpublished a report stating that the DMK-led-Tamil Nadu government had given ‘unofficial verbal directive’ to temples against conducting special prayers and offering Annadanam (free food) on the occasion of Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha.
TN govt has banned watching live telecast of #AyodhaRamMandir programmes of 22 Jan 24. In TN there are over 200 temples for Shri Ram. In HR&CE managed temples no puja/bhajan/prasadam/annadanam in the name of Shri Ram is allowed. Police are stopping privately held temples also… pic.twitter.com/G3tNuO97xS
— Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) January 21, 2024
The report pointed out that the government has verbally warned temple administrators against organising special programmes on behalf of the devotees.
Several BJP leaders including Tamil Nadu State President K Annamalai had criticised the decision of the Tamil Nadu government, an allegation that it continues to deny in public.
Conclusion
It is thus clear that the Tamil Nadu government had weaponised the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act of 1959 (with amendments from time to time) to influence, control and even interfere in the religious affairs and practices of the Hindu community.
The controversial legislation traces its roots to the East India Company and the British Empire in India. Instead of doing away with it after Independence, the law was further strengthened to control the appointment of officers, trustees, and even priests of Hindu temples and mutts.
It also gave access to the government to the finances of the Hindu places of worship. The unjustified interference, emboldened by the activism of the Judiciary, has now reached its zenith.
The Tamil Nadu government now gets to decide whether the Hindu pujari can take home the donation (dakshina) left by devotees on the puja thali.
Such is the state of high-handedness of the government in a State that boasts of the maximum number of Hindu temples in India.
On Monday (29th April), Zia Ur Rahman Barq, the Samajwadi Party candidate for the Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency was booked for making incendiary statements about deceased gangster-turned-politicians Atiq Ahmad and Mukhtar Ansari. Other than Zia Ur Rahman, five other unidentified persons have also been named as the accused in the case lodged at Kotwali Police Station.
While meeting with residents at the Chaman Sarai locality in Sambhal, Zia ur Rehman, the grandson of the late former MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq, on Sunday, April 28, sought votes in the name of the “Qurbani” [sacrifice] of gangster-turned-politicians Mohammad Shahabuddin, Mukhtar Ansari, and Atiq Ahmed.
In the said speech, the Kundarki MLA said: “Jo Qurbani. Jo Pareshani BJP key time par hui hai. Wo apko zyada bataney ki zarurat nahi hai. Chahey Azam khan ko jail mai dal kar, unke pure pariwar ko jail mai dal kar kiya gaya hai. Chahe hamare Sahabuddin Sahab ho, Atiq Ahmed Sahab ho, Mukhtar Ansari sahab ho, jo unke saath hua hai, who koi bhul nahi sakta. Meri guzarish hai aap sab logon se, kasam hai aap logon ko, ki unki Qurbani ko zaya mat hone dein. Is Bharatiya Janata Party ka supda saaf ho kar rahega. [There is no need to remind you of the sacrifices and challenges faced during the BJP’s rule. Putting Azam Khan Sahab and his family in jail. No one can forget what happened to Shahabuddin Sahab, Atiq Ahmad Sahab, or Mukhtar Ansari Sahab. I urge everyone to vow not to let their sacrifices be forgotten. The BJP must be defeated in the elections].”
“They [the BJP] are trying to instil fear in us by displaying bulldozers but they don’t know that we fear no one except Allah,” he added.
Speaking about the case registered against Zia Ur Rehman Barq, Shrish Chandra, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sambhal), stated that they are reviewing video footage of Zia Ur Rehman’s speech. According to a police officer, the suspects were charged under IPC sections 171-C (undue influence during elections), 153-A (promoting hatred between various groups on the basis of religion and race), and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant).
The police stated that Zia Ur Rehman characterised “heinous criminals who belong to a particular religion as heroes” in his address, thereby inciting a breakdown of public order.
Notably, Atiq Ahmed was shot dead in police custody in Prayagraj last year, and Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest in a Banda hospital last month. Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Azam Khan is presently in Sitapur jail after being convicted in multiple cases.
Reacting to the case registered against him, Zia Ur Rehman Barq said: “When BJP violates the rules, then no action is taken while when I gave a speech, a case is registered. We will not forget this one-sided action…Our time will also come.”
