Around 156 youths were allegedly cheated of about Rs 5 lakh while trying to buy passes for “garba night” by famous singer and dandiya dancer Falguni Pathak in Mumbai when a man claiming to be an authorised dealer for the event failed to deliver the discounted tickets, city police officials said on Sunday.
According to the Mumbai Police, the youth have filed a complaint with them.
The police further said that the accused Vishal Shah, who claimed to be an authorised dealer of Falguni Pathak’s event in Borivali (West), was selling passes for Rs 3,300, which is lower than the actual price of Rs 4,500.
The complainant, a Kandivali resident who runs a painting business, decided to buy the passes along with two of his friends.
Later, more than 153 persons they knew also expressed interest in buying the passes.
The youth and his two friends collected cash from the others and on Thursday they informed Shah that they were ready to buy 156 passes.
According to the FIR, filed by the victims, Shah asked them to reach a place on New Link Road, Borivali (West) from where a man would collect the money and also said that he himself would hand over the passes to them later.
Later, Shah gave them an address in Yogi Nagar and asked them to collect the passes from there.
On reaching the spot, the trio were unable find anything there and also found that Shah’s phone was switched off. The youths then filed a complaint at MHB Colony police station.
On Friday, the police registered a case against accused Vishal Shah and others under sections 406,420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and started searching for the accused.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
As Israel continues military operations against Hamas in Gaza, tensions at the Israel-Lebanon border have also intensified as Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Shtula in Israel. The missile attack on the farming community resulted in the death of a civilian. Three others were reported injured.
As per Times of Israel, at least five anti-tank guided missiles were launched into Israel by Hezbollah. One civilian was killed and three others were injured in the first missile attack on Sunday morning, when a missile hit a construction site in the northern town of Shtula. A second missile targeted a nearby military post, while the third one was targeted at a group of troops on the Lebanon border. The next two missiles also targeted other military posts. IDF has not provided details of the consequences of the 4 missile attacks on its forces.
IDF said that apart from the missiles, nine rockets were also launched from Lebanon at northern Israel, setting off sirens in Nahariya and several nearby towns. The Iron Dome air defence system intercepted five of them, while the other four were not headed towards populated areas. There were no injuries in these rocket attacks.
In retaliation, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched strikes in Lebanon and declared a 4 KM zone along the Lebanese border off-limits to the general public. Furthermore, IDF has said it was shelling the sources of the missile fire and carrying strikes at Hezbollah locations.
People living within 2 km of the Lebanon border were asked to remain near bomb shelters until further notice. IDF also said that it is jamming GPS services along the northern and southern borders, and it may affect navigation applications.
In parallel to the operations along the Gaza border, Israeli forces have also been exchanging fire with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border on the north since the Hamas terror attack on 7 October. At least four Israeli soldiers, four Hezbollah terrorists, and five Palestinian terrorists have been killed in the exchanges. Both Hezbollah and Palestinian groups such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have been targeting Israel in the north, using rockets, missiles, mortars, and even sending gunmen into Israel.
The tensions between Israel and Hamas further intensified as IDF furthered the attack on the terrorist locations with “greater force”. Residents of northern Gaza were issued a three-hour evacuation deadline, instructing them to move to the southern region for their own safety. IDF has accused Hamas of physically barring the Gaza residents from evacuating, saying they were “more useful dead than alive for Hamas”.
Israeli forces have announced they successfully eliminated the top commander of Hamas’s elite military wing, Nukhba force, during air strikes in Gaza. The commander was identified as Billal al-Qedra. Earlier, IDF announced that they were preparing for a coordinated assault in the Gaza Strip via air, ground and naval pathways.
Meanwhile, Iran has warned of “far-reaching consequences” if IDF does not cease bombardment at Hamas locations in Gaza. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Iran’s foreign minister reportedly met in Qatar to discuss the ongoing war and to reaffirm their commitment to cooperating in pursuing their shared goals.
Israel-Hamas war
On 7th October, hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel through various means, overwhelming the Iron Dome with 5,000 rockets in a matter of few minutes. They also abducted hostages and took them to Gaza. In a counterattack on Hamas by Israeli forces, more than 1,500 Hamas terrorists have been reportedly killed in the Israel-Hamas war. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas attack has now surpassed 1,300, with over 3,300 injured, primarily civilians. Israel launched a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza, restricting power and water supply and blocking essential goods from entering the region. Over 400,000 Gaza residents have been evacuated so far. Meanwhile, India has launched Operation Ajay to evacuate Indians from Israel. Two batches of Indians have already been rescued, with over 200 people in each back.
On 15th October, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha (MP) Nishikant Dubey levelled serious allegations against Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, saying she took cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask specific questions in the Parliament. MP Dubey has submitted a formal complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking an inquiry against Moitra and urged the Speaker for her immediate suspension.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey writes a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding to constitute an inquiry committee against TMC MP Mahua Moitra and her 'immediate suspension' from the House alleging that 'bribes were exchanged between her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask… pic.twitter.com/pbqlMgbCvD
In his letter, he raised alarming allegations of corruption and misconduct against Moitra. He pointed out alleged bribery between Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani, where cash and gifts were purportedly exchanged for asking questions in Parliament that favoured Hiranandani’s business interests. Dubey raised the allegations based on a letter written to him by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai.
BIG BREAKING: Massive accusations surface against TMC MP Mahua Moitra in a complaint by three-time senior MP @nishikant_dubey , according to which 50 out of her 61 questions raised in the Parliament are around a businessman Darshan Hiranandani while raising huge concerns if they… pic.twitter.com/RNuDTgvEJu
He added that 50 out of 61 questions raised by Moitra were allegedly aimed to protect and promote Hiranandani’s company that, often focused on rival business conglomerates like the Adani Group. He contended that the alleged conspiracy went unnoticed as Moitra, an opposition leader, openly criticised the government, linking it to business houses while covertly serving her agenda.
He added that the alleged misconduct of Moitra in the Parliament was similar to the infamous “cash for query” episode of December 2005. He further contended the alleged actions of Moitra were to be considered a breach of privilege, contempt of the House and a violation of Section 120-A of the Indian Penal Code.
Dubey stated that Mahua Moitra‘s quid pro quo arrangement with a businessman, which was recently disclosed, revealed her public image of morality to be a deceptive facade. He described it as a “Machiavellian Camouflage” that she used to conceal her criminal activities while projecting the persona of a “firebrand Member of Parliament.”
Retaliating to the allegations, Moitra said she would welcome ED and CBI for enquiry into her alleged money laundering “right after they finish investigating Adani’s offshore money trail, over invocing, benami accounts”. She urged ED to first file FIR against Adani and raised allegations of coal scam against Adani group.
Darshan Hiranandani is the CEO of real estate giant Hiranandani Group based in Mumbai. The group has diversified into health, education, energy, hospitality, data centres, and has recently started a technology-led consumer services business under Tez Platforms.
On 14th October (Saturday), Israeli officials stated that Military forensic teams in Israel have examined the bodies of victims of last week’s Hamas terror attack on communities around the Gaza Strip. During the forensic analysis, they found multiple signs of torture, rape, and other atrocities, Reuters reported on 15th October (Sunday).
As per media reports, around 1,300 bodies were brought to an army base in Ramla in central Israel. At the army base, forensic analysis was carried out by specialist teams to determine the identity of the deceased victims and the circumstances of their deaths.
Rabbi Israel Weiss, former army chief rabbi is one of the officials who are overseeing the identification of the dead. He said around 90% of the military dead have been identified and teams are halfway through identifying civilians. He added that many bodies showed signs of torture as well as rape.
Speaking to reporters, a reserve warrant officer identified only by her first name of Avigayil said, “We’ve seen dismembered bodies with their arms and feet chopped off, people that were beheaded, a child that was beheaded.”
She noted that multiple cases of rape were found by forensic examination of the bodies. These bodies have been stored in refrigerated containers.
A military dentist, identified as Captain Maayan said, “We do the identification with all the means that we have. We see them in severe stages of abuse. We see gunshots and we see signs that are purely torture.”
However, the Reuters report added that they didn’t get to see forensic evidence in the form of pictures or medical records.
It is pertinent to note that the Israeli government including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has compared Hamas to Islamic State – the terrorist group which gained worldwide notoriety for public beheadings in countries like Syria and Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war has entered its ninth day with Israeli constantly pounding the terror infrastructure of Hamas for the 7th October terrorist attacks and ground invasion killing more than 1,300 Israeli citizens and over 3,300 severely injured.
On 14th October, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it was completing preparations for “significant ground operations” in the Gaza Strip. According to IDF, they are preparing to “expand the offensive” by putting in place a “wide range of offensive operational plans” that would include “joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land,” reported Times of Israel.
IDF International Spokesperson Lt Col Richard Hecht issued a video statement urging civilians in the Northern Gaza Strip to evacuate immediately and go southwards. He emphasised that the objective of IDF is to protect the people of Israel from the ongoing attacks of the terrorist organisation Hamas, which had initiated the war with a brutal massacre.
Israel Hamas war
On 7th October, hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel through various means, overwhelming the Iron Dome with 5,000 rockets in a matter of few minutes. They also abducted hostages and took them to Gaza. In a counterattack on Hamas by Israeli forces, more than 1,500 Hamas terrorists have been reportedly killed in the Israel-Hamas war.
Under the Operation Swords of Iron, Israel launched a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza, restricting power and water supply and blocking essential goods from entering the region. Over 400,000 Gaza residents have been evacuated so far. Meanwhile, India has launched Operation Ajay to evacuate Indians from Israel. Two batches of Indians have already been rescued, with over 200 people in each back.
While a humanitarian corridor has been opened to enable civilians to move out of the war-torn Gaza Strip into Egypt, the Hamas terrorists were actively preventing Palestinians from evacuating to the south in order to protect themselves, the Israel Defence forces stated on Sunday.
In a telephonic conversation released by IDF, between an Israel’s Intelligence Officer and a resident of Jabalya in Gaza, the resident allegedly claimed that the Hamas confiscated personal belongings and car keys from the people taking shelter.
Listen to this phone call.
A Gaza resident trying to evacuate southward tells an IDF Intelligence Officer about how Hamas is not letting them leave. pic.twitter.com/R9purqIZhs
Amid Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has, so far, claimed 2,329 lives and left over 9,000 injured, an agreement has been reached for Israel to allow foreigners to leave the war-torn Gaza, Times of Israel reported on Saturday.
Egypt, Israel and the United States have agreed to allow foreigners residing in Gaza to pass through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, with the Israeli forces agreeing to refrain from striking areas the foreigners would pass through on their way out of the Hamas-controlled territory.
The Israeli publication added in its report that Qatar was involved in the negotiations and the participants received approval from the Palestinian terror groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
However, the agreement has nothing on the release of Israelis being currently held hostage by Hamas terrorists, the report added.
A second official at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing point said they received “instructions” to reopen it on Saturday afternoon for foreigners coming from Gaza, according to the Times of Israel.
Additionally, thousands more living in areas that have come under heavy rocket fire are believed to be displaced, and are moving to parts of the country that are quieter, the daily reported.
The IDF relayed a message to residents of northern Gaza that an evacuation corridor is in place from 10 am until 1 pm (local time).
“The IDF will not carry out any operations along this route,” the IDF clarified.
Further, according to The Times of Israel, the military advised residents to move to the south of the Strip ahead of an expected ground operation.
“Be assured, Hamas leaders have already ensured their safety and that of their families,” the IDF stated.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed and another 9,042 injured in the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Strip, The Times of Israel reported.
The Israel Defense Forces said it has killed about 1,500 Palestinian terrorists in Israeli territory after they breached the border fence and went on a murderous rampage in southern Israel, killing over 1,300 people, mostly civilians.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
India is a wonderful country where all occasions and festivals are observed with grandeur. Diverse folk traditions are seen from different regions in this colourful country. The sophisticated and magnificent culture of affluent India is formed through the fusion of many indigenous customs. Sanatana Dharma’s core principle is that we are able to gain fresh knowledge throughout our festivities which offer a rational perspective as well and Navratri is one such event which falls on 15 October of this year. Let us tell you about Navratri’s cultural, religious and scientific significance and explain why it is known as the celebration of women’s power.
Cultural and religious significance of Navratri
Navratri has a special significance across the country, especially in Gujarat. The worshippers of Goddess Shakti observe a nine-day fast and play Garba during the nights. Many consider Garba as a form of entertainment which is performed for fun, however, that is not the case. Navratri has a special significance in spiritualism and is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Parashakti. It is not for enjoying and doing Garba and Dandiya only.
Garba is but one method of worshipping Goddess Shakti and growing closer to her. The importance of dance has been described in the ancient Vedic tradition. There are numerous paths that lead to God and Garba is one of them. Therefore, it is first and foremost important to understand and accept that the Ras-Garba on Navratri is not just for leisure, but a vital component of our religious and cultural history.
Religious history states that a demon by the name of Mahishasura once sat to perform penance for Lord Brahma. He demanded to be immortal after the latter was pleased and told him to ask for a blessing. However, he was directed to seek another one because immortality was against the law of nature. Afterwards, he requested a boon that neither a god nor a demon or a human could kill him and only a woman would be able to end his life which was granted.
Mahishasura rose to power over time and eventually began waging war against the gods who fought unitedly against him but were unable to put a halt to his reign of terror after which Lord Shiv and Lord Vishnu were pleaded for assistance. However, it was not possible to defeat the demon because of the boon bestowed upon him. As a result, all of them including Lord Vishnu began to call upon Goddess Adishakti and a heavenly light that emanated from their bodies gave her a physical form.
Mahishasura and Goddess Shakti engaged in combat despite the fact that he was destined to die at her hands. The war lasted for nine days and she defeated him on the tenth day and the festival of Navaratri came into existence ever since. Vijayadashami is commemorated after the conclusion of the auspicious nine days to mark the day the ferocious demon was eliminated. Notably, the day is also celebrated as Dussehra because Lord Ram killed demon king Ravan on the same day. Vijayadashami is an observance of the triumph of Dharma over evil.
Scientific Relevance
The scientific value of Navratri is linked to both its religious and cultural significance. The festival coincides with the intersection of two seasons which has scientific merit. There is a sandhikaal (end of one season and beginning of another) during both Navratris of the year. The body’s adjustment to speech, phlegm and bile generally goes through phases of improvement and decline during this time which affects the immune system. This is the reason that nine days are dedicated to chanting, fasting, purification of the body, cleaning, meditation, havan and other practices to prevent multiple illnesses and have a clean environment.
Economic Importance
Another very significant aspect of Navratri is its fiscal impact. Hindu events also have a substantial economic component. The income of those who create garba and diyas (clay Lamps) begins to rise at the start of Navratri. Garba is a celebration of the festival of goddess that is participated in by all devotees and it provides employment to the people who make earthen pots and lamps.
Moreover, the way people dress traditionally during Navratri is also crucial and benefits those who create the outfits. Several people find work through both little and large purchases. People who produce or sell snacks, sweets, fruits and religious items, for instance, have considerable possibilities for work during Navratri. Therefore, it is equally important to take into account the financial implications of the festival.
Importance of ‘Women Power’
The significance of women power outweighs the religious, cultural and monetary worth of Navratri by multiple factors. Adishakti pervades the atom and governs the whole universe. Feminity or power of women is also a component of the goddess. A person’s strength is their potential and no work is possible without shakti (power) which is of unique importance in the entire world. Hence, it is worshipped in different places in various ways. It’s recognised as power energy by science.
It is known as Shakti or even divine energy in the ancient Vedic faith. According to the Rig Veda, the universe in its entirety originated with a singular power and per science the universe is composed of one energy. The power of women brought prominence to the world just as the universe has emerged from the primal power. Therefore, women power is regarded as an expression of Adishakti.
Navratri also serves as a celebration of female empowerment. Navratri is also considered dedicated to women power. Girls are worshipped on the day of Durgashtami and Mahanavami on the occasion of Navratri as they are considered to be the form of Goddess Durga. There is a custom of worshipping one to nine girls between the ages of 2 years to 10 years during the festival.
The entire cosmos could not have been created without Goddess Durga who is nature and divinity. She is oxygen and completes Lord Shiva. Shiva and Shakti come together to form Ardhanarishvar (lord who is half feminine). Since Navratri is dedicated to women power and respects them. The fast and Durga Puja would be futile if one offends his mother, sister, wife, daughter or another female during this festival. Hence, Navratri imparts the essential message of honouring all women.
Significance of Garba
The word Garba is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Garbhdeep’. The popularity of playing garba among young people has elevated significantly in recent times. The popularity of playing garba among young people has elevated tremendously in recent times. If we look at the intriguing background of this well-known and fascinating folk dance, we discover that doing Garba was formerly only a tradition in Rajasthan and Gujarat (notably Saurashtra and Kutch). However, it gained popularity and spread to other parts of India. Now, people take part in Garba all around the country.
Garba programs are organised in temples and houses. Nine holes are punched into Garba and it is placed in the centre and everyone plays Raas-Garba around it. Nowadays, large Garba festivals are hosted by various organisations in which people participate.
The holes represent the shape of the human body while the lamp therein symbolises the flame form of the soul. The former indicates the nine doors of the human body which include the two eyes, two ears, two noses (nostrils), mouth, anus and genitalia. A person’s soul exits their body through any of these openings when they die. A lamp is continuously lit for nine days with the conviction that the self-flame is perpetually ignited.
Apart from this, 27 holes are made in Garba in many places, however, the mystery of it is unknown. Garba is viewed as a representation of the universe and the 27 pores (9 in 3 lines) are interpreted as a depiction of the 27 constellations and each of them has 4 phases through which the number 27 X 4 = 108 is obtained. Therefore, it is believed that rotating the Garbi 108 times by placing the Garba in the middle is equal to the virtue of circumambulating the universe.
Method and tradition of worship
Nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped during Navratri. Each day is dedicated to the worship of a different form. The nine manifestations of the goddess are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.
Goddess Durga along with her family, based on religious beliefs, rode her Vahan (carrier/vehicle) from Kailash to Earth on the first day of Navratri. It is crucial to invoke the goddess during the Navratri fast. Invocation means inviting the deity into the house for a specific goal or accomplishment.
The installation of the Kumbhasthapana or Kalash comes first in the procedure of worshipping Goddess Shakti. It must be installed if one fast for nine days during Navratri and should do the same even on the first or the day of Ashtami. According to the Devi Purana, it is very important to establish a Kalash in the house before worshipping Goddess Bhagavati. It is erected during worship as an image of the goddess’s strength and as a site of pilgrimage. The Kalash is viewed as a representation of wealth, joy and elegance. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and the heavenly mother force all reside in it.
The worship of Goddess Shakti can take place in multiple ways and there are numerous methods to do it which comprise yajna-yagya (ritual done in front of a sacred fire), havan (sacred purification ritual), vrat (fast), japa (meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name), tapa (asceticism, spiritual discipline) and dhyana (meditation) among other things are performed.
Chandipath, BhavanyaShtakam and Shakradaya Stuti have a very special significance in Navratri. Yajna is carried out during Navratri at any divine religious place. It is a method in the Vedic tradition that displays a profound mysticism and the culmination of spiritual power.
On 15th September, the New Yorker published an extensive report titled Hasan Minhaj’s “Emotional Truths”, revealing how the Indian-origin stand-up comic Hasan Minhaj had made up stories of racial harassment to peddle false narratives of victimisation. The report highlighted that Hasan Minhaj had, on multiple occasions, recounted harrowing experiences he claimed to have faced as an Asian/Muslim American.
The news magazine, through extensive research and first-hand experience with the involved stakeholders, added that the majority of these stories never actually happened to Hasan Minhaj, including the infamous ‘Anthrax scare’ story involving his daughter; his prom night saga story; meeting with Saudis on the same day when Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Saudi Embassy and others such stories of victimisation were fabricated. In fact, Minhaj himself confessed that he fabricated/twisted stories after he was confronted by the New Yorker Journalist about the authenticity of his stories.
Now, several clips of a recent podcast based on Hasan Minhaj’s “Emotional Truth” have begun to surface online. In the podcast, American comedians, including Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh (son of Indian immigrant parents) revealed that comedian Hasan Minhaj had also lied to them in real life, even in private conservations, to peddle “political agenda” and false stories of ‘victimisation’ to present himself as ‘hero’.
American comic Andrew Schulz began the podcast by taking a jibe on Hasan Minhaj for defending his fabricated stories and claiming that they had 70% emotional truth. Based on that, Schulz sarcastically said how do we even know Hasan Minhaj is ‘Minhaj’ adding that he thinks that Hasan Minhaj’s name is 70% emotionally true referring to what Hasan Minhaj said about his work.
Schulz then pointed out that there is this New Yorker article revealing that Hasan Minhaj may have been fabricating some things in his Netflix specials. He added that the report highlighted that based on his so-called ‘emotional truth’, Minhaj had been lying in his specials and selling those fabricated stories as his own real-life happenings. Schulz sarcastically added that Minhaj should also appropriate and sell stories of rowing in a boat with a tiger (shown in the movie Life of Pie) and how he made his money (as shown in Slumdog Millionaire) as his own experiences.
However, on a serious note, Schulz noted that Comedians do makeup stories all the time, but added that they usually do it to make things funnier, not to make things more racist and sad or emotional.
Schulz added, “It is not that in his stories, he (Minhaj) was using these exaggerations or hyperboles as punch lines, he was using them to kind of make the audience feel worse about him and then it turns out that these things didn’t actually happen.”
Adding to that, Akaash noted that Minhaj had made life worse for other people in real life citing the example of the prom night story which Minhaj had used repeatedly to claim that he faced racism for his Indian roots.
Akaash said, “Basically the homecoming story is based on the story that he (Minhaj) was supposed to be prom with a white girl. Then he went to her door, where she was putting a corsage on another guy, a white guy because her parents didn’t like the fact that Hasan was Indian and that’s a terrible story.”
However, Akaash noted that the lady later revealed that Minhaj’s story was false adding that he had asked her a few days before the prom to take her daughter but she said no. She also emphasised that the charge of being a racist against her and discriminating against Hasan Minhaj for being an India doesn’t stand as she had been married to an Indian.
Hitting out an Minhaj for the same, Andrew Schulz asserted, “I need that level of confidence bro where if you don’t like me you are racist, the only way you couldn’t like me, objectively is that the other side has a problem, that they are racist.”
Akaash continued further saying, “Why say I went to the door, he didn’t go to the door, this was crazy, he told me that story a few years ago.”
Apart from his sarcastic interjections, Andrew on a serious note asked Akaash whether Hasan Minhaj told him that story in real life as well? To which Akaash responded affirmatively.
Narrating the incident, Akaash said, “I am talking about 2012 when he and I used to be friends. I didn’t know this was a lie. We were sitting at a diner and he told me this story as a trauma story, I was dead serious. I believed the story the whole time…we were eating, why did he had to lie to me.”
He added, “I felt like saying to him that your family would have said the same thing that you two are not a good fit, you two do not come from the same country, not the same race, not the same faith, you are not good fit.”
Andrew again reiterated that comedians do change or twist some parts of their stories, and exaggerate things citing one of his own examples of doing the same. But he asserted that its a different thing to do it to make jokes funnier and totally different to make when you are lying about victimisation.
A little tweak or exaggeration should be done to make jokes funnier, not to push political agenda, Akaash noted
Schulz added, “What he (Minhaj) is doing is not comic, he is not lying about funny parts.” He then goes on to highlight Minhaj’s Antrax and his daughter’s story in which he had claimed that someone had sent a letter to his home which was filled with “white powder”.
However, New Yorker’s research found that neither the New York Police Department, responsible for investigating possible Bacillus anthracis incidents (the bacteria that causes Anthrax), nor local hospitals have any record of an incident matching Minhaj’s description.
Interestingly, during his interaction with the author of the New Yorker article, Clare Malone, Minhaj admitted that his daughter had never been exposed to a “white powder” and that she hadn’t been hospitalised.
Regarding Minhaj’s antrax and his daughter story, Schulz emphasised why would he (Minhaj) write that and think something like that.
During the podcast, Schulz further added that Minhaj’s story around the White House correspondence dinner was full of lies.
Highlighting Minhaj’s fabrication around the Saudi meeting story, Schulz stated, “He (Minhaj) conflated the timelines to make what he went through a little more serious. He was having a meeting with Saudis to schedule an interview with Crown Prince MBS. After the meeting, everybody left and later they were freaked out because he said that the same day Jamal Khashoggi was chopped up at the Saudi embassy in Turkey.”
Responding to it, Akaash noted that the lie was not to make it funny, it was to make him appear as a hero and then a lot of other lies were to push “political agenda”.
He, however, added that certain stories even if fabricated do no harm but it should not be done to push political agenda. He asserted that Minhaj’s fabrication was a big deal because the woman’s life (mother in the prom night story) really became hard, and her family received death threats.
On 14th October, former Pakistani Cricketer Wasim Akram lashed out at Babar Azam for requesting a jersey from Virat Kohli after the World Cup game against India. During a television show on A Sports, a Pakistani channel, Akram agreed with a Pakistani cricket fan that if Azam wanted Kohli’s jersey, he should have asked in the dressing room.
In an electrifying ICC World Cup match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets, finishing the match with 19.3 overs remaining. Leading from the front, the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team, Rohit Sharma, made 86 out of just 63 balls. India comfortably achieved the target of 192 runs that Pakistan made with great difficulty. Initially, Pakistan played well, but its middle order fell apart like a house of cards.
Following the humiliating defeat, Babar Azam sought Kohli’s signed jersey, which created controversy in Pakistan. Cricket fans in the neighbouring country believed that he could have asked for the jersey in the dressing room, given the margin of defeat.
Wasim Akram was part of a panel discussion on the match on A Sports when a fan raised the issue. Akram agreed with him and said, “That is what I exactly said when I saw the picture”. He added, “Today was not the day to do this. If you want to do it – Agar chacha ke puttar ne kaha hai ki t-shirt chahiye Kohli ki, toh match ke baad dressing room me maango. (If your uncle’s son has asked you to get Kohli’s shirt, do it after the game in the dressing room)”.
This was the eighth time in a row that India defeated Pakistan in the ODI World Cup. Pakistan will face Australia on the 20th October, while India will face Bangladesh on the 17th October. India is leading the leaderboard in the World Cup with New Zealand in second place.
A massive protest was held in Mississauga, Canada, in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war, where hundreds of people joined on Saturday. However, the protest took an interesting turn when someone decided to join waving a Taliban flag. Several Palestine supporters argued with the Taliban supporters, and asked them to leave, saying they won’t be allowed to join the protests.
A video has gone viral on social media, where several people are seen arguing with two persons in a GMC truck, both holding Taliban flags sticking out of the open windows. When they arrived at the protest march at Celebration Square in Mississauga, Ontario, they were surrounded by several pro-Palestine supporters, who told them that Taliban supporters wouldn’t be allowed at the pro-Palestine protest.
— Caryma Sa'd – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) October 14, 2023
One person told them, ‘You are not in Afghanistan, you must understand this’. While the Palestine supporters were arguing and asking them to leave, the Taliban supporters revved the engine, in an apparent attempt to drown their voices. When they tried to drive ahead, one woman carrying a Palestine flag stood before the massive truck, blocking them.
When the person recording the video asked the Taliban supporters for their comments, they refused to make any comment. The person on the driving seat said, ‘I don’t know what to say’.
During the whole confrontation, the two persons were holding the Taliban flags high out of the windows of the vehicle.
Canadians, many of Palestine origin, filled the Celebration Square in the protest, chanting “Free, free Palestine” slogans. It is was one of the many such protests held across North America against Israel for its military action against the horrific terror attack by Hamas on 7 October.
Notably, at the same protest in Mississauga, one woman claimed that Hamas is not a terrorist organisation, and everything they have done is justified. She claimed that the reports of Hamas killing babies are fake. She said, ‘Hamas is a Muslim group, they will never do this’.
In the meanwhile, after a week of bombing Hamas targets in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that it is completing preparations for “significant ground operations” in the Gaza Strip. According to IDF, they are preparing to “expand the offensive” by putting in place a “wide range of offensive operational plans” that would include “joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.”
In the first week of September, a man named Mohammed Hasnain and his son fled to Pakistan seeking asylum on the grounds of religious persecution in India. In a ground report published on 15th October by Swarajya Magazine, authored by Swati Goel Sharma, it came to light that the actions of Hasnain have left his neighbours bewildered. Hasnain was a resident of Gautampuri colony, located 2 km from Seelampur Metro Station in Delhi. He became an instant hit among the Pakistani media over his claims of religious persecution in India.
The Gautampuri colony’s T-block is a predominantly Muslim-populated area in northeast Delhi where the anti-Hindu riots of 2020 took place. Hasnain was a well-known lawyer in the Muslim community in the area. He established a political party named the Qaumi Party of India. He contested in multiple elections, including Lok Sabha elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014, and the Delhi Assembly Polls in 2013. The most number of votes he secured was in 2009 when he got a total of 3,000 votes.
Hasnain also ran “The Media Profile”, a Hindi-Urdu newspaper that ceased publication around seven years ago. He published several controversial editorials in his newspaper. For example, in one of his editorials from 14 August 2015, Hasnain lamented the absence of Muslim rule in India since the British colonial rule ended in 1947. He claimed Muslims were suffering in India as limited land was allocated to them after the independence.
Source: Swarajya
In another editorial, he claimed the future of Indian Muslims was grim. He predicted they would face meat deprivation, mutilation, poisoned food, starving children due to arbitrary curfews, and a ban on the burqa. He even claimed there would be demolition of mosques.
Source: Facebook
According to Swarajya’s ground report, on 5th September, Hasnain informed his neighbours that he and his son Ishaq Ameer would be travelling to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for work. They were expected to return in ten days. However, three weeks later, the police arrived at Hasnain’s house and questioned about his whereabouts. His neighbour Mohammed Azad’s wife, Shabnam, told Swarajya that police visits were distressing for the neighbours.
Azad lived in the same house as Hasnain, occupying different sections. The landlord, Mohammed Bablu, lives in a different block. Hasnain separated from his wife in 1993. Hasnain was originally from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand but lived in Delhi for over five decades. He worked as a private tutor and taught law and English to the local children.
Hasnain’s neighbours claimed they were not in contact with him since he left India. Furthermore, his Indian numbers remained off. Some of the neighbours expressed their dismay over his actions. They said the area is mostly peaceful and lived without threats. They were perplexed by his decision, especially considering that the Hindu residents in the neighbourhood had sold their houses and moved away in recent years.
The report of Hasnain applying for asylum in Pakistan was published in OpIndia on 29th September. They claimed to have faced threats stemming from religious persecution in India. They recounted their journey from Delhi to Pakistan, which included travelling to Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan, and ultimately crossing into Pakistan without proper documentation with the assistance of agents. Upon reaching Karachi, they surrendered to the Sindh police chief’s office, explaining their flight from India. The Sindh police provisionally accepted their story and placed them in a shelter home. Hasnain claimed that Muslims in India were forcibly converted to Hinduism and harassed for their Islamic faith.
According to a neighbour, Mohammed Alam, a student of Hasnain, he had at least two police cases registered against him. One of the cases was related to the protest he had organised for Rohingya Muslims. Furthermore, he said that Hasnain did not register his political party with the government. Hasnain maintained his presence in the community using social gatherings and a Facebook account. Though most of the social media posts on his account were deleted, the description pointed out that the ‘Qaumi Party of India’ is a Muslim-led political party, emphasising its commitment to the Muslim community.
