On the 26th of July, the US House Oversight Committee will hold a historic open hearing regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). In the hearing, three witnesses will share their experiences with UFOs. The House’s Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs will conduct the hearing. The live streaming of the hearing will start at 7:30 PM (IST) on GOP Oversight’s Youtube channel. You can watch the live stream by clicking here.
People MURDERED To 'Protect' UFO Secret Programs, David Grusch Prepared To Testify
New interview with Ross Coulthart on The Hill. Ross says that David Grusch wants to tell us everything he can during the UAP hearing tomorrow morning at 10am EST.#ufotwitter#ufoX#uap#ufos… pic.twitter.com/pMOeQBiSdM
According to a January report by the Director of National Intelligence, the federal government recorded around 510 UFO sightings since 2004. The government stated that it has closed a majority of the sighting after the objects were determined as airborne trash, drones, or Chinese surveillance devices. However, around 171 sightings were marked “uncharacterized and unattributed.”
Interestingly, the number of “close encounters” reported has increased in recent years with around 366 sightings of UAPs reported since March 2021. As per procedure, the hearing will start with opening statements and it will be followed by questions from members of Congress.
The conservatives will lead the hearing
The Republican Congressman from Tennessee, Tim Burchett will be co-heading the probe while Republican Congresswoman from Florida Anna Paulina Luna will be the co-investigator.
In a briefing held last week, Burchett claimed that the federal officials had been stonewalling them ever since they tried to dive into the mystery.
He said, “We’ve had a heck of a lot of pushback about this hearing. There are a lot of people who don’t want this to come to light.”
According to Burchett, the US holds proof of mind-boggling technology that defies the laws of physics known to mankind. However, he assured everyone that they will unravel the truth as they are fed up with cover-ups.
He said, “We’re gonna get to the bottom of it. Whatever the truth may be. We’re done with the cover-up.”
Similarly, the Representative from Florida, Luna stated that the status quo on the part of the U.S. government has been to leave the American public in the dark regarding information about UAPs. They have refused to answer questions posed by whistleblowers and avoided the concerns Americans have about the possible threats UAPs pose to US national security and public safety.
Claiming that the issue impacts the transparency and accountability of the government, they will bring this topic to light.
Three witnesses will share their experiences with the committee
Three witnesses who will share their testimonies before the committee include –
David Grusch – He is a former Air Force veteran and ex-member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He worked in a special unit to study UFOs.
Former Navy pilot Ryan Graves – He has first-hand accounts of UFO encounters.
Former U.S. Navy commander David Fravor – He is known for his close encounter with a Tic Tac-shaped craft that was captured in a viral video.
In a June article in the Debrief, Grusch claimed that the US government had recovered partially or fully intact UFOs of “exotic origin” for decades.
In an exclusive NewsNation interview, Grusch alleged the U.S. government has a “secret alien spacecraft retrieval program”. He has been further claiming that he received extensive classified information about deeply covert programs.
The committee will like to examine Grusch’s claim whether the Pentagon allegedly possesses ‘intact and partially intact’ alien UFOs or craft of non-human origin.
Chris Mellon was the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for intelligence under President Bill Clinton’s and President George W. Bush’s administrations. He has been backing Grusch’s claims and asserts that the U.S. had recovered alien technology.
While speaking to NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Mellon said, “I’ve been told that we have recovered technology that did not originate on this earth by officials in the Department of Defense and by former intelligence officials.”
Before the hearing, Former Navy pilot Graves wrote, “UAPs are in our airspace, but they are grossly underreported. These sightings are not rare or isolated; they are routine.”
Similarly, Retired Navy Commander David Fravor previously described an incident near San Diego on “60 Minutes.” He recounted a strange encounter during a 2004 training exercise. According to him, he was accompanied by another pilot and they observed a white Tic-Tac-like object above a region of roiling whitewater.
He added that the object had no markings, wings, or exhaust plumes. It performed swift manoeuvres, mirroring Fravor’s F/A-18F as he approached for a closer inspection.
Timeline – How the issue came into mainstream
Here is a timeline of how the issue which was once taboo started coming openly in the public and now an open hearing is being held on UFO sightings.
In December 2017, the New York Times report revealed that the Department of Defense had conducted a secretive UFO research program. It was called ‘the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program’. It was done at the behest of Democratic Senator from Nevada, Herry Reid.
According to the report, he had attended a series of clandestine meetings with a group of high-powered businessmen, scientists, and engineers. This happened a decade earlier and the group discussed ways to explore the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
In May 2019, the Times reported that Navy pilots had encountered flying objects in 2014 and 2015 off the Atlantic Ocean coast. These objects displayed no visible engine or exhaust plumes, intruding on Navy aircraft formations and flying at “hypersonic speeds.” The encounters prompted the Navy to establish new guidelines for reporting UFOs.
Following this incident, in June 2019, a series of classified congressional briefings on UFOs were held. This prompted members of Congress to speak publicly about their interest in the Pentagon’s knowledge of sightings. Democratic Senator Mark Warner (Virginia) and then Republican Senator Mark Walker (North Carolina) after receiving the briefings expressed their concerns. They claimed that the Department of Defense was stifling reports of UFO sightings by Navy and Air Force members.
In April 2020, the Pentagon declassified several videos showing Navy pilots witnessing UFOs in three distinct incidents from 2004 and 2015. While intelligence officials stated that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial activity connected to these objects, they did not completely dismiss the possibility.
Later, in June 2020, Republican Senator Marco Rubio led Senate Intelligence Committee ordered the Defense Department to commission a report cataloging UFO sightings.
As of December 2021, Congress established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office through the National Intelligence Agency and the Defense Department. The purpose of this office is to investigate UFOs, and it was included in the annual defense spending bill. The office is mandated to provide Congress with regular updates on UFO sightings and their analysis of these objects.
In May 2022, Congress held its first hearing on UFOs in more than 50 years.
In July 2023, Republican Senator Mike Rounds (South Dakota) and Democratic Senator from New York Chuck Schumer introduced legislation to report all UFO sightings. The bill mandated the US government to report all UFO sightings to a review board that would have the authority to declassify the information.
The same month, in June 2023, Congress announced that the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on UFOs on the 26th of July.
Various videos from different parts of the world have emerged, capturing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) navigating through the skies. These include a triangular craft observed hovering over a military base in California and an unidentified object swiftly moving across the sky in the Middle East. The committee will like to find answers for these mysterious sightings.
A Muslim girl married a Hindu man in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district and is converting her religion to Hinduism. Farzana wed Virendra Kashyap in a temple in accordance with Vedic rituals on 25 July and adopted a new name, Saraswati. Furthermore, she has also started the legal procedure to convert to Hinduism officially. In addition, she has requested the administration to ensure the safety of both her and her husband.
The couple was in a relationship for three long years. She is originally a resident of Bareilly’s Gahluiya hamlet, which is a part of the Shergarh police station district whereas the man belongs to the nearby village of Madhopur. He is an exorcist by profession.
Her father had taken her to him for treatment and the two fell in love with each other during the period. They each made an effort to convince their respective families. However, her family members continued to object to their union and restrictions were imposed on her. She was not allowed to meet with her partner.
Virendra Kashyap then went somewhere from his village with Farzana on 22 July. Her father registered a First Information Report against the former and referred to her as a minor.
A case has been filed by the police under sections 363 (punishment for kidnapping) and 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her for marriage etc.) of the Indian Penal Code. An FIR copy is available with OpIndia. Meanwhile, the lovers tied the knot in a temple in Bareilly.
She identified herself as an adult in the marriage affidavit. She has attached her Aadhaar card and stated that she is 23 years old. The Aadhaar card listed her birth year as 2000. She confirmed that there is no coercion or greed in her marriage to her 32-year-old partner.
There were attendees from Hindu organisations at the wedding and she urged them to call her Saraswati from now onwards. Later, she recorded a video in which she called for protection for both herself and her spouse.
In the wake of massive public outrage over the secret filming of the video in Netra Jyothi College, the Udupi district police have filed two cases: one against 3 Muslim female students and the college administration for deletion of the video, and another one over the uploading of the hidden camera video on YouTube channels.
Allegations arose that topless videos of Hindu girls were being recorded in the women’s washroom of Netrajyoti College in Udupi and subsequently shared with Muslim groups. The college management conducted an inquiry into the matter and concluded that the video had been deleted, closing the case. However, the case assumed massive proportions after several social media users, including Rashmi Samant and Shefali Vaidya, raised the matter and demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter.
Following the public outrage, two suo moto cases have been registered at the Malpe Police Station in the Udupi district.
A case has been filed against three Muslim students named Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz, and Alia, who were responsible for creating the video, as well as against the management board of Netrajyoti College. They are charged with evidence destruction. The police have registered multiple cases under sections 509, 204, 175, and 34. The other case pertains to a video uploaded on the YouTube channel of One India Kannada.
The FIR comes in the wake of outrage that swept the country after several prominent personalities and social media users, including Rashmi Samant and Shefali Vaidya, raised their voices over the lack of severity and seriousness in dealing with the Udupi restroom video case.
Interestingly, many propagandists such as AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair and Anusha Sood had then accused critics of communalising the incident and spreading misinformation.
Zubair, who is known for dog-whistling against Nupur Sharma and selectively fact-checking news items that suit his agenda, rushed to accuse Rashmi and others who talked about the incident of spreading misinformation and giving the incident a communal angle. However, like in the Nupur Sharma case where Zubair has so far refrained from fact-checking the veracity of her remarks on Prophet Muhammad, the Alt News co-founder did not mention what the misinformation Shefali, Rashmi, and others shared in connection with the Udupi case.
On similar lines, Anusha Sood of The South First, a left-wing portal that claims itself to be a media organisation but more often than not acts as a mouthpiece of the Congress party, shared an article whitewashing the criminal act of the three Muslim girls in Udupi as a mere ‘prank’ and blamed those demanding action against the culprits of adding communal colour to the incident.
The News Minute published a report where it quoted college authorities as saying that the incident was meant to be a ‘prank’. The report quoted the chairman of the college, who said the accused female students said that it was meant to be a prank, and they deleted the video in front of the victim.
How Mohammed Zubair and Southfirst’s Anusha Sood tried covering up for their fiasco in Udupi restroom video case after FIR was filed against Muslim students and for destruction of evidence
With the Udupi police registering a suo moto case in the matter, Zubair and Anusha have emphasized only those parts that aid them in cementing their positions. Instead of reporting that Udupi police had filed an FIR against three Muslim female students for filming private videos of Hindu girls, Zubair goes on to dog whistle against ANI, days after he had led a similar attack on ANI chief Smita Prakash. Zubair accused ANI of misinformation, adding that the Second FIR is linked to an old Tamil Nadu video on a hidden camera which was being circulated with doctored audio, and it was shared to give an impression that the incident was related to the Udupi incident.
In fact, it is also pertinent to note that Mohammad Zubair did not mention that the FIR had also been filed for the destruction of evidence, which is to say that a case was being built against the university management and students for deleting the offending video of Hindu girls topless, filmed secretly by the Muslim students and also failing to provide pertinent information and documents.
However, ANI simply summarised the police statement on the second FIR. ANI chief Smita Prakash tweeted that ANI tweet mentions nothing other than the Karnataka police press which does not mention any Tamil Nadu video.
The ANI tweet has added nothing other than the Karnataka police press release which does not mention any Tamil Nadu video. ANI tweet is just a summary of the Udupi police press release. https://t.co/gRerllzHco
It is pertinent to note that the police statement had no mention of the ‘fake news’ FIR being for an old or unrelated case and it did not mention Tamil Nadu anywhere. The ANI tweet merely summarised the police statement which was issued. Yet, Mohammad Zubair, who has made a career out of dog-whistling against Hindu women, sent his abusive followers against Smita Prakash in an attempt to not only whitewash the FIRs filed in the Udupi case but also settle scores and direct abuse at Smita Prakash, which he only did a few days ago as well.
Interestingly, Zubair was blaming ANI for peddling ‘misinformation’ while doing exactly the same himself. While ANI merely summarised the police statement, Zubair seems to have deliberately left out crucial information about the deletion of evidence in the case.
After Zubair tweeted selective information and claimed that ANI was spreading fake news, when they were not, Smita Prakash tweeted that as soon as the “dog whistler” signals, she starts getting a barrage of abusive tweets from his followers. While she did not mention Zubair by name, it was evident that she was talking about the co-founder of AltNews.
All day long, these zero follower/new accounts, begin sending these ‘tawaif’, ‘kotha’ tweets as soon as dog whistler signals them to do so. pic.twitter.com/ZoPxjsvuwH
Anusha too briefly mentioned that one FIR is filed against the three students and the college administration for the act, while the second FIR was filed for spreading misinformation. She expediently omitted to mention that 3 Muslim students and the college administration were booked not just for the act but for defaming the dignity of a woman, failing to present information and documents, and deletion of the video of a student in the toilet as well.
After the fake allegations of fake news, Smita Prakash started getting a barrage of abusive tweets. Here are some abuses that she has been getting ever since Zubair decided to hound her.
Teri maa ne sabko Twitter per block karke rakha hai… kyu wo such soon nahi sakti… kitne paise mein bikey ho tum log? BJPee kitna paisa deti hai tumhari randi media ko ye sab jhoot spread karne ke liye?
— Suvardarshan News ☀️? (@SuvardarshanTV) July 22, 2023
Open debate wahi wala rand@ nach jo roj hota hai tv studio mein?? Lagta hai suresh ke image ko badhiyaa dhakka pahucha hai isiliye ye tadap??
@smitaprakash's a sanghi bitch. Despite being called out for her communal agenda multiple times where this worm helps gobar beetles like @amitmalviya and @TajinderBagga helping spread propaganda against Muslims, she continues to thrive. She definitely will face justice one day. https://t.co/tlLwMdCbMp
Dhanya Rajendran, the Editor-in-chief of The News Minute, also defended themselves after publishing a report that sought to trivialise the sufferings of the victims. In a tweet, Rajendran said that the college chairman and three accused women said it was a ‘prank’ and that the TNM simply reported their defence. She further added keeping a camera to record in a bathroom amounts to bullying and harassment.
As the Udupi police finally filed an FIR against the three Muslim female students and the college administration for filming a private video of their fellow students, defaming the dignity of a woman, failing to present information and documents, and deletion of the video of a student in the toilet—which in itself is a vindication of the assertions made by the likes of Shefali Vaidya, Rashmi Samant, and other outspoken critics, the usual suspects are back to selectively highlighting only those developments that further their agenda and salvaging themselves for downplaying the nature of the crime committed by the accused.
On Wednesday, July 25, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested three persons identified as Shakir, Alam and Pappu for gang-raping a girl and physically assaulting her. The accused persons also shot a video of the incident and used it to blackmail the girl and her family.
According to the reports, the incident took place in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. The primary accused in the case Shakir first trapped the girl in a love affair and promised her marriage. Later he abused the girl and assaulted her physically.
The accused along with his friends then took the girl to a jungle where he raped her and also allowed his friends to rape her. The accused also shot a video of the incident and used the video to blackmail her and rape her again. Later he uploaded the video and it became viral.
In the viral video, the girl can be heard crying for help. “Brother please let me wear my clothes back, please brother give me my clothes back,” she can be heard saying. One of the accused meanwhile can be heard asking the other one to hurry up and then the girl can be heard being brutally assaulted.
— Neha Singh Rathore || नेहा सिंह राठौड़ (@imrowdy_rathore) July 26, 2023
The incident first came to fore after the accused person sent the video to the brother of the victim girl. As per the complaint filed by the girl, the accused and his friends threatened the girl, drugged her and raped her for 2 years.
The Meerut Police took cognizance of the event and confirmed that the girl was gang raped and that the three accused have been arrested in the case. The police also said that the video which is making rounds on the social media is three months old. “Investigations are underway based on the statement given by the victim and her medical examination. The rest of the accused will soon be arrested,” the Police said.
Reports mention that the Police have booked a total of eight persons in the case who are said to have assaulted and raped the girl. However, the police has only arrested three persons identified as Shakir, Alam and Pappu. All the accused have been booked under the relevant sections of the law. Further investigations in the case are underway.
Recently, a similar dreadful case was reported from the state of Manipur where the violence is said to have erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The violence attracted massive attention after the horrifying viral video of women being paraded naked surfaced from Manipur. The video sent shock waves across the country attracting demands of strict punishment against such heinous crime. The perpetrators were later arrested by the state police.
Also, on July 22, a disturbing video went viral on social media wherein two women were seen being stripped naked and thrashed by a frenzied mob in Malda, West Bengal. According to the news outlet, the two women were allegedly caught on suspicion of pickpocketing. They were then surrounded by a mob of angry locals who thrashed the duo black and blue.
On 26th July, a video of a rally organised by the Muslim Youth League, which is part of the Indian Union Muslim League, surfaced on social media, where its members were heard raising anti-India slogans. The video was from Kanhangad in Kasargod district.
The rally was organised in the backdrop of the clash between the Kuki and Meitei ethnic groups in Manipur’s. IUML is part of the newly formed ‘I.N.D.I.A.’ alliance of the opposition parties.
Several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders criticised the video. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said, “Youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, an ally of the Congress, held a rally in Kerala’s Kasargode, and raised vile anti-Hindu slogans, threatening to hang them (Hindus) in front of Temples and burn them alive… They wouldn’t have dared to go this far had the Pinarayi Govt not been supporting them. Are Hindus and Christians now safe in Kerala? Not so long ago, at another rally, a 7-year-old boy, perched on his father’s shoulder, had raised slogans, asking Hindus and Christians to keep rice, flowers and camphor ready for their last rites. Kerala is now the new pit of rabid radicalisation…”
Youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, an ally of the Congress, held a rally in Kerala’s Kasargode, and raised vile anti-Hindu slogans, threatening to hang them (Hindus) in front of Temples and burn them alive…
Malviya pointed out that a few months back, a video from Kerala surfaced about a young child raising anti-Hindu slogans. In May 2022, a video went viral on social media of a Popular Front of India (PFI) rally. The Kerala High Court noted the matter which instructed the police to take strict action. The child’s father and several other PFI members were arrested.
In the video, a young child was seen raising anti-Hindu slogans. He said, “Be ready for your death rituals if you won’t live in our land quietly. Be ready with rice flakes to fill your mouth if you won’t live quietly (For Hindus ). Be ready to burn amber in your home if you won’t live quietly ( For Christians). Because we are coming, we are your death. We won’t go to Pakistan or Bangladesh, you have to live here as we say, or else we know how to make you live quietly; we will kill you even if we are attacked. We take pride in being a martyr; we salute them. If you don’t live quietly, we know how to ask for ‘Azadi’. Be prepared for your death.”
Kerala BJP also condemned the incident and demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi be held accountable for the party’s actions that he had deemed “secular”. They wrote, “We strongly condemn the shocking footage from the Kanhangad protest. The chants of “We will hang you in temples” and “We will burn you alive” by the Muslim League, aimed at Hindus, are utterly reprehensible and cannot be justified. Rahul Gandhi must be held accountable for the actions of the party he calls ‘secular’. This instance is a worrying indicator of the Congress and its allies targeting Hindu society.”
We strongly condemn the shocking footage from the Kanhangad protest. The chants of "We will hang you in temples" and "We will burn you alive" by the Muslim League, aimed at Hindus, are utterly reprehensible and cannot be justified. @RahulGandhi must be held accountable for the… pic.twitter.com/KIZPakreyo
In the under 30-second video that has gone viral on social media, slogans like ‘Ambalathil Ketti Thooki’ (We will hang you in the temple) and ‘Pachakkittu Kathikkum’ (We will burn you alive) were raised. The complete slogan was “Without reciting the Ramayana, Will be hanged in Temple, will be burnt unto death”. The slogan meant without allowing to recite Ramayana, Hindus will be hanged in front of Sanctum Santorum. They will be burnt there unto death. Other slogans included ‘Youth League Zindabad’ and ‘Muslim League Zindabad’.
Party leaders confirmed that anti-Hindu slogans were raised
Speaking to Republic, IUML State Secretary PK Firoz confirmed that the person raising the slogans was a party member. He added that an internal inquiry had been initiated into the matter as the party “does not approve such slogans”. He claimed that pre-decided slogans were already given to the participants, and the slogans mentioned in the video were not part of it.
No action by Kerala police so far
Notably, no case has been registered by the Kerala police in the matter. So far, no investigation has taken place, and no persons involved in provocative sloganeering have been arrested.
Not to forget, rioters raised similar slogans during the Malabar Hindu Genocide in 1921. Variyam Kunnath Ahmed Haji, the leader of the rebels, said that the Islamic kingdom of “Al-Daula” was established and centered in the Malappuram district in Malabar. Later, when the Gurkha army came, Variyam Kunnath, who ran away, was captured and killed by the army.
Furthermore, CPIM leaders are also known for giving anti-Hindu speeches. Recently, during a school event, Ernakulam district Assembly speaker and communist leader AN Shamseer called Lord Ganesha a myth.
Rahul Gandhi called IUML ‘secular’
On 1st June, when Rahul Gandhi was in the United States, he made a bizarre assertion that the Muslim League, a Muslim political party in India which played a vital role in the partition of India on religious lines, was “completely secular”. The interviewer asked him, “You talked about secularism and democracy while opposing the Hindu party BJP, however, the Congress in Kerala has been in alliance with the Muslim party, the Muslim League in Kerala, the state from which you were an MP”. To this, Rahul Gandhi said, “Muslim League is a completely secular party, there is nothing non-secular about the Muslim League. I think the person has not studied the Muslim League”.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which claims to be born after Indian Independence in 1948, is actually an off-shoot of Pakistan founder and Islamist Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s All India Muslim League (AIML). The All India Muslim League was succeeded by the Muslim League in Pakistan and the Indian Union Muslim League in India. On its website, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) claims that its motto is secularism and communal harmony but has often openly indulged in carrying out those objectives which are contrary to its own motto. More details about IUML can be read here. Our complete coverage of IUML can be checked here.
On Saturday, 22nd July 2023, an FIR was registered against Mukesh Machkar – editor of Marathi Cartoon Weekly Marmik – for inciting hatred and violence against Brahmin women over the recent Manipur issue. Mukesh Machkar said in his Facebook post that he would contribute money to those who pack the women with surnames Bhide, Gadgil, and Nadkarni in a sack and send them to Manipur. He also added that he will sponsor a half-litre of petrol if anyone wishes to do “something else” with them.
The FIR was filed in the Cyber Police branch of Pune City at the Alankar police station in the Erandwana area of Pune and it is based on the complaint filed by noted Marathi writer Ashwini Kulkarni. While Mukesh Machkar represents the so-called “moral compass” of the progressive ideology of Maharashtra, it is necessary to first understand the history behind such attacks on Brahmins which constitute 5 to 6 per cent population of the Marathi state.
Why Brahmin bashing is considered cool in Maharashtra?
For the past 200 years, Maharashtra has been a torch-bearer region in the social renaissance of the country. Activists like Jyotirao Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, and Dr BR Ambedkar are often glorified here as a stepwise legacy of social reforms mainly revolving around fighting caste discrimination and gender discrimination. The root causes of these social problems are often attributed to Hindu Dharmik beliefs.
Brahmins by nature of the inheritance they have and by the definition of that particular caste are known for being the traditional custodians of Dharmik know-how and are held responsible for the whole mess with the onus kept immune to time and space. This surrounds Brahmins of the pre-renaissance period with malicious claims legitimised as authentic history and puts Brahmins of the post-renaissance period into a perpetual vulnerability to public violence for no reason despite adherence to the moral compass set by the progressive movement.
Mukesh Machkar wrote in his Facebook post, “I will give a contribution of rupees one thousand to pack Bhide, Gadgil, and Nadkarni women in a sack and send them to Manipur. Also, will give half a litre of petrol if there is any other plan!” Notably, Bhide, Gadgil, and Nadkarni are the surnames commonly found in the Marathi Brahmin Community. Peshwas of the Maratha empire, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Veer Savarkar, and many other eminent Marathi personalities belong to this community. Nathuram Godse who shot MK Gandhi dead also comes from this community. What Mukesh Machkar incited is nothing but a genocide of this community like the one witnessed by Maharashtra in 1948 after MK Gandhi’s assassination.
It started with the genocide of Chitpavan Brahmins in 1948
The genocide of Marathi Chitpavan Brahmins took place in Maharashtra in 1948 after MK Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse – a Chitpavan Brahmin. It was the Gandhian Ahimsa-Vadis themselves who resorted to mass violence as a tool to avenge his murder. The Congress leaders who took part in the genocidal violence continued to keep their strongholds in parts of the newly formed state, with their actual heirs and political successors holding ministerial ranks in the state cabinet.
The local politics continued to propel the narrative of a ‘progressive Maharashtra’ lead by the ideals of ‘Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar’ while leaving no space for leaders from the Brahmin community. The aftermath of the violence also explains the plight of the Brahmins from the villages and their rapid migration into the cities, as many families succumbed to threats during the 1960s. Even today, the Maharashtrian Brahmins as a minority community do not hold much say in the politics of the state dominated by the Marathas and the Kunbis. Maratha-centric scholarships were slowly brought ahead to replace the perceived hegemony of Brahmins in academics and intelligentsia as well.
The other side-effect of this intellectual and political boycott can be seen in the quasi-socialist narrative set by Congress during the 1970s and 1980s. The same thread was taken ahead by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP when it was in power from 1999 to 2014. “A progressive Maharashtra of Phule Shahu and Ambedkar” became a common jargon of any public meet so much so that even the BJP cannot refuse to exclusively adhere to it now.
Discrediting of the historic contribution
This approach wiped out many Brahmin social reformers and thinkers from Marathi social discourse. Lok Hitwadi Gopal Hari Deshmukh is forgotten because he is Brahmin. Gopal Ganesh Agarkar is comfortably ignored despite his thought-provoking writing on social reforms. Lokmanya Tilak who was earlier seen as the manifestation of the Indian dissent against British rule and a mass leader across caste barriers is feared to remain as just another political leader from the Brahmin community. Defaming Veer Savarkar and getting away with it is not new to the Marathi state now.
These Marathi stalwarts are purposefully presented as Brahmin-limited persons by the left-leaning and Islamoapologetic progressive liberal seculars of the state. The thought behind this is essentially that Hinduism is the root cause of social evil and Brahmins are presented as representatives of it and others who followed the same Dharma for centuries are given an alternate history to fight against each other within Hinduism.
It is quite fashionable to peddle that Brahmins are Eurasians, and Bahujans are the Mool Niwasis and Adivasis can not be called Hindus. Very few people take cognizance of the fact that the Aryan Invasion theory is already proven wrong. Marathi writer Shahu Patole wrote an article on the Manipur issue for the same Marmik edited by Mukesh Machkar where he categorically said that Adivasis are not Hindus. Therefore, after creating so many rifts in the Hindu community along caste lines, while criticising any so-called social evil it is made a norm in Maharashtra to either criticise Brahmins or to keep them at a distance or at least keep taunting them.
Impact on history told and the politics
While Brahmins were gradually losing their political representation as the so-called progressive movement started spreading its roots deeper, the community made sure that their later generations stick to their core competencies including knowledge and education. The genocide of Brahmins in 1948 was not limited to Chitpavan Brahmins. Many other Brahmins were persecuted and forced to leave their properties in villages – especially in the Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha region – never to return and they settled in cities like Pune, Thane, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Nashik.
History writing was also seen through casteist lenses and the glorious story of the Maratha empire was also given different perspectives based on the caste of the narrator. After a well-identified gap between Savarnas and Dalits, dedicated attempts were made to sow the seeds of hatred between Brahmins and Marathas through perverted versions of medieval history. In an attempt to separate Brahmins from Marathas, these enthusiastic historians and academicians exerted to pull Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj away from Hindu Dharma. The two streams in history achieved nothing but a widening rift in Marathi people on casteist lines. History defines one’s identity and issues one takes pride in. The social divide in Maharashtra cleverly utilised history as a tool to make people hate each other.
There are two popular streams of Maratha historical discourse in Maharashtra. One of them is led by the likes of Babasaheb Purandare who gave his whole life the research about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, his Swarajya, and its further development. Followers of this thought line see Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as the kings who reestablished a Hindu state in the nation amidst the tyranny of the Moghuls in the north and various Shahis in the Deccan.
The others, however, try to separate both the Chhatrapati from Dharmic notions and try to portray the Swarajya to be like any so-called secular, progressive, liberal state in the contemporary era which Swarajya was not. The ‘Sambhaji Brigade’ is one such organization propagating this view in which the great kings are seen from the point of view that would seem to be ‘politically correct’ in contemporary times. Shiv Sena (UBT) is in a political alliance with the ‘Sambhaji Brigade’.
More about ‘Sambhaji Brigade’
The Sambhaji Brigade vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune on 5th January 2004. The Institute had hosted and helped American author James Laine in researching his book ‘Shivaji: A Hindu King in Islamic India’. Sambhaji Brigade claims that some passages in the book are insulting to the Hindu king. All miscreants were acquitted by the Pune sessions court in 2017 due to a lack of evidence. The reason for the attack was that Laine reported outright hearsay on page number 93: “Maharashtrians tell jokes naughtily suggesting that his guardian Dadaji Konddev was his biological father”! This claim by James Laine is baseless insinuation and further criticism of this unsubstantiated claim can be read here.
In Lal Mahal where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj spent his childhood years, there was a statue of Dadoji Konddev – who is considered as a tutor of the young Shivaji. Dadoji Konddev was a Brahmin administrator appointed by Shahajiraje in his Pune Jagir to assist Rajmata Jijabai while Shahajiraje was engaged in warfare in Karnataka. In December 2010, the statue was removed by the Pune Municipal Corporation then ruled by Congress-NCP. This decision was taken after the Sambhaji Brigade made an aggressive demand for it. A committee of historians was appointed by the state government to conclude that Dadoji Konddev was not a Guru or Tutor of Shivaji Maharaj in his childhood.
On 2nd January 2017, Sambhaji Brigade members removed the statue of eminent Marathi playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari from the Sambhaji Garden in Pune. They threw it in the Mula River. It was removed citing that his play Raj Sannyas portrays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a bad light. It is notable that Ram Ganesh Gadkari was a Brahmin. The references which he supposedly used to write the play in 1910 were proved to be false much after the writer died in 1919. Moreover, the play was not even being presented on the stage in contemporary times and Gadkari is credited with many literary milestones other than this play. But hatred does not register anything except hatred.
It is Sambhaji Brigade that discredited Samarth Ramdas – a Brahmin by birth – and propagated that he was neither a guide nor an inspiration to the Hindu King Shivaji Maharaj. Instead, a Muslim ‘saint’ Hajrat Yakub Baba is now presented as his Guru in the progressive Maharashtra of Phule Shahu and Ambedkar. Discrediting a Brahmin seer is progressive. Entitling a Muslim ‘saint’ the guideship of a Hindu king is secular. It is the same Sambhaji Brigade that is credited to peddle a popular lie or myth in common public discourse that Shivaji Maharaj’s army and administration included a considerable percentage of Muslims – even in officer ranks – which reduces the Hindavi Swarajya to just Swarajya. This is done to impose contemporary secular notions on the medieval Hindu king. It is done to burden Shivaji Maharaj’s staunch followers to be on good terms with present-day Islamists and ignore whatever trouble they create in the state. Historian Gajanan Mehendale has dismissed this claim and credibly proved that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not employ more than 7 or 8 Muslims as administrative officers in his life. He categorically mentions that there was no revenue officer in his kingdom after 10th March 1657. All other popular secular misconceptions are dismissed in the attached video.
It is notable that Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj has referred to his grandfather Shahaji as ‘Haindav-Dharma-Jeernoddharaka’ (हैंदवधर्मजीर्णोद्धारक) – the one who has restored the Hindu Dharma. On his father Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the second Chhatrapati of the Hindu kingdom unapologetically bestows the titles of ‘Mleccha-kshaya-dixita’ (म्लेंच्छक्षयदीक्षित) – the one who is spiritually initiated to kill Islamists and has mastered the killing of Islamic invaders and ‘Gau-brahman-pratipalaka’ (गोब्राह्मणप्रतिपालक) – The protector of cows and Brahmins.
This secular portrayal of the Hindu kings also calls the first stream of historians to be a pervert. Moreover, NCP and Sharad Pawar are repeatedly accused of setting up a dispute between two influential caste groups in Maharashtra viz. Brahmins and Marathas. NCP leader Jitendra Awhad is known for the first history stream mentioned above. He has repeatedly insulted people like Babasaheb Purandare and his works. Awhad has also said that Aurangzeb was not a Hindu hater. Amol Mitkari is another NCP leader who is known as the one who made fun of Hindu rituals and Brahmins who perform rituals to solemnise marriages of Hindus.
The political impact of reverse casteism is neutralised by Devendra Fadnavis
Uddhav Thackeray often says that his Hindutva has nothing to do with Shikha, Janeu, and Ghanta. To appear a progressive liberal, bashing Brahmins is essential in contemporary Maharashtra. This is why, the BJP bringing Devendra Fadnavis as the CM face in 2014 when the demands of Maratha reservations were on a historic high was seen as a strong political message. BJP’s move was to challenge popular opinions. Likewise, a non-Jat ML Khattar was made CM in Haryana in the same year 2014 and is still the CM there.
Devendra Fadnavis is a Brahmin. His tenure as the CM saw social turbulence in Maharashtra like never before with 59 rallies of the Maratha community across the state demanding reservations. When the Fadnavis government decided to provide reservations to Marathas, the opposition incited farmers to walk to Mumbai for various demands to destabilise the government.
Devendra Fadnavis’ political intents were repeatedly questioned by Sharad Pawar either by clearly mentioning or by indicating his caste in public. Despite this, Fadnavis became the first CM of the state to complete the term of five years after Vasantrao Naik who completed the term in 1967-1972. Taking multiple caste groups and leaders from various factions and political parties together, Fadnavis made BJP the most successful political party in Maharashtra and today stands as the most popular leader in the state disproving the equations and arithmetics of caste-based politics.
Mukesh Machkar was brought to Marmik during the MVA government
In 2019, Maharashtra witnessed an ‘end of all ideologies’ situation when Uddhav Thackeray joined hands with Congress and NCP breaking the Hindutva alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. It was during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government that Uddhav Thackeray’s Hindutva overtly became anti-Hindu with every passing day. Marmik which once used to be Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece is now published by the Prabodhan Prakashan. It is led by Rashmi Uddhav Thackeray. Mukesh Machkar – a left-leaning so-called progressive liberal writer in Marathi was brought on board as an executive editor during the MVA period only. With the given history of ‘social reforms’ and political scenarios, Mukesh Machkar’s liberal credentials were a perfect match for the changed stance of Shiv Sena (UBT), and the same has been the reason for seeding anti-Brahmin hatred in his mind. His Facebook post is just an expression of that.
Mukesh Machkar was backed by many perverts in the comments section
It was not only the post by Mukesh Machkar that represented the hatred towards Brahmins sowed by the progressive movement in Maharashtra. There were scores of other social media users who commented on the post and showcased their mentality. Someone wrote, ‘I contribute 251’. Someone else wrote ‘Add 500 from my side’. An open auctioneer for participating in the genocide call given by Mukesh Machkar started in the comments section of his post. A video screengrab of the same is attached below.
Mukesh Machkar received similar support in the comments section of his meaningless apology. People suggested he should not apologise. Some of them even copy pasted his original post. The Facebook users commenting on Mukesh Machkar’s post against Brahmins include common people following Mukesh Machkar as well as some distinguished individuals identified in the society. One of them is a manager in Daily Newspaper Sakal. Sakal is headed by Sharad Pawar’s sibling Prataprao Pawar. The list also includes a former deputy director of the finance department of the government of Maharashtra and a teacher who claims to have received the award of the best primary school teacher from the President of India.
While police action on Mukesh Machkar is still awaited, Marathi people have a long way to go before getting rid of the regressive politicians creating a divide in the community for political gains and progressive ideologies portraying Brahmins as essential villains to uproot Hindu Dharma from the land where its restoration in the later Mughal period was initiated for never to diminish again.
The Delhi Police’s Crime branch arrested two men from Bharatpur in Rajasthan for making a sextortion call to Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, and Jal Shakti. The arrested accused were identified as Mohammad Vakil and Mohammad Sahib from Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
However, the police informed that the main accused, Sabir, is still absconding.
A Delhi Police officer stated that Patel’s personal secretary, Alok Mohan reported the incident in the last week of June. The Police registered a case under Sections 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Afterward, they arrested both the accused.
The officer said, “On behalf of Patel, his Personal Secretary, Alok Mohan, contacted Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and filed a complaint with the Crime Branch. An FIR was registered under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 419 (impersonation), and police started their investigations.”
According to the complaint, the accused targeted Union Minister Prahlad Patel through Whatsapp. They made a video call to his number and during the call, they played a pornographic video with the intention of blackmailing him. However, the Minister immediately disconnected the call. Later, he received a call in which the accused threatened to release his video clip on social media, police officer said.
The Minister than promptly reported the Delhi Police Commissioner about getting a sextortion call following which the Police started the investigation that led to two arrests from Rajasthan’s Bharatpur.
According to a police officer, a “sextortion” call typically involves blackmail, wherein the caller threatens the receiver to release a phone/video call of sexual nature to the public.
An officer stated that with the help of local police informers, they laid a trap and arrested two accused. They recovered one of the phones that were used for making the call to the Union Minister and sent it for forensic examination.
Later, they successfully traced the two phone numbers which were used in the cybercrime to Md Sabir, a Bharatpur resident, and to an address in Assam.
During the investigation, the Crime Branch revealed that the arrested accused were running an organized “sextortion” racket. The officer informed that the investigation team found out that one SIM was used in 36 International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, while the other one was used in 18 IMEI numbers.
Earlier, in December 2021, the Delhi Police had arrested five men for making extortion calls to MoS (Home Affairs) Ajay Kumar Mishra. He had received phone calls in which the accused were trying to extort money from the minister. They claimed that they had some “incriminating” video clips.
Subsequently, an FIR was lodged and four accused were arrested from Noida while another accused was held from Seeraspur in Delhi.
On Thursday, July 20, 2023, the monsoon session of the Parliament commenced amid the usual political ruckus, with various bills being discussed by the members of the Parliament. Despite the formal inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the session is still being held in the old building which was constructed in 1927 during British rule.
The new Parliament building, which has been under construction since December 2020, was expected to host the monsoon session. However, even before the session began, the government announced that it would start in the old building and eventually shift to the new one once the necessary arrangements were completed.
According to a report by The Indian Express, all systems in the new building, including sound, air conditioning, and automated security, were thoroughly tested before the session’s commencement. Additionally, the audio and video systems in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were checked for functionality.
The delay in shifting the session to the new building appears to be due to a combination of ongoing finishing work and the complexity of relocating essential items and offices from the old building to the new one. Such a process requires considerable time and effort, leading to the decision to begin the session in the old Parliament building.
Opposition parties have also seized upon the delay, with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party president and MP Hanuman Beniwal propagating the claim that the new Parliament building was flooded, thus preventing the session from being held there. However, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi dismissed these claims, asserting that they were entirely false and baseless. He emphasised that the decision to hold the session in the old building was made by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
The ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled from 20th July 2023 to 11th August 2023, consists of 17 meetings spread across 23 days. Presently, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are functioning in the old Parliament building. An official announcement from the government regarding the date of the session’s shift to the new building is still awaited.
The new Parliament building, which was inaugurated with chants of Vedic mantras on May 28, 2023, is triangular in shape and located adjacent to the old building. Unlike the old building’s three chambers, the new building has two chambers, one each for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. On occasions when both houses meet together, a joint session will take place in the Lok Sabha room, accommodating 1272 people. The state-of-the-art building cost 800 crores and spans an area of 64,500 square meters.
Despite the delay, the new Parliament building stands ready to serve as a symbol of India’s progress and modernity. As the finishing touches and logistical challenges are addressed, the government will soon transition the session to the new building, marking a new era in India’s parliamentary proceedings.
Illegal immigration has over the years emerged as a major concern in the United Kingdom. There have been reports that several criminal gangs and lawyers work in collusion to draw in illegal immigrants through the English Channel on small boats. According to official statistics, the number of people entering the UK on small boats in 2022 exceeded 45,700, constituting a 60% increase over the 28,500 who came in in 2021.
On Tuesday, July 25, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak alleged that the Labour Party, several lawyers and criminal gangs have teamed up to prop up a “system of exploitation” that profits from getting illegal refugees into the UK. To back his assertion, PM Sunak shared a Daily Mail investigative report about lawyers helping illegal immigrants claim asylum by providing false evidence.
Taking to Twitter, the British Prime Minister posted a long thread wherein he discussed his plan to stop illegal immigrants from entering and seeking asylum in the UK. It is worth noting that PM Sunak in January this year announced his top five priorities which include halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting NHS waiting lists, and to “stop the boats”.
“This is what we’re up against. The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs – they’re all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally. I have a plan to stop it, PM Sunak tweeted.
This is what we’re up against.
The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs – they're all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally.
Notably, the Daily Mail report claims that several lawyers are charging exorbitant amounts to the tune of £10,000 to provide false evidence and cook up a fake but horrific back story to use in the asylum application. “This includes claims of sexual torture, beatings, slave labor, false imprisonment, and death threats that left them suicidal and compelled to flee to the UK,” the report reads.
In the second tweet, Sunak talked about the newly passed Illegal Migration Bill which mandates that only those who enter the UK through safe and legal routes will be allowed to seek asylum in the country.
“First, I recently passed laws that will mean if you come to the UK illegally: You can’t claim asylum. You can’t misuse our modern slavery protections. You can’t make false human rights claims. You can’t stay. These laws go further than any government has gone before,” Sunak tweeted.
First, I recently passed laws that will mean if you come to the UK illegally:
Illegal-Migration Bill mandates that only those who enter the UK through safe and legal routes will be allowed to seek asylum in the country. while the illegal entrants will be sent back to their home country or to another safe country like Rwanda where their asylum claim can be considered. The bill also bars re-entry, settlement, or citizenship bids for people once sent back or removed. The bill further states that an annual cap will be placed on the number of legal immigrants seeking asylum.
According to an official factsheet, the asylum system of the UK is “broken”, stressing what necessitated the Illegal Migration Bill was a sharp increase in the number of illegal infiltrators entering the UK on small boats last year. These illegal immigrants make dangerous journeys with many losing their lives while trying to make their way into the UK through the country’s busiest shipping lane. The British government also deems these small boat journeys unnecessary as many of such asylum seekers come from safe countries like France, where they can claim asylum.
Moreover, these illegal immigrants are ensnared into paying huge amounts of money which is used in committing other crimes.
In terms of the money spent by the UK government on refugees each year, the government claims that more than £3 billion was spent on refugees last year. Furthermore, £6 million is spent each day on hotel accommodations for immigrants awaiting judgment. Interestingly, asylum seekers in the United Kingdom are entitled to free accommodation.
UK-France deal to curb small boat crossings
British Prime Minister Sunak in another tweet mentioned securing the “largest ever” small boats deal with France. Sunak asserted that the said deal will ensure 40 percent more patrols on French beaches adding that the first 60 French reservists will be deployed this week. “This will help us stop the boats at source before they cross the Channel,” Sunak’s tweet reads.
Second, I’ve secured the largest ever small boats deal with France, which will see 40% more patrols on French beaches. The first 60 French reservists were deployed this week.
Notably, in March this year, Britain and France signed a deal worth £500 million. The British government pledged £500 million to France for the latter to build a detention center in Dunkirk to prevent illegal immigrants from leaving France on small boats, doubling the number of patrolling officers to 800, and setting up a joint command center.
Rishi Sunak boasts about UK-Albania deal regarding illegal migration
The British Prime Minister further stated that after he negotiated a deal with Albania to deter and deport illegal immigrants and foreign national offenders (FNOs), the UK government has sent back over 2500 such illegal immigrants. Moreover, Sunak asserted that a third of all small boat crossings were Albanians and this is now reduced by 90 percent.
“I’ve negotiated a deal with Albania to make it easier to deport and deter illegal migrants and FNOs. We’ve returned over 2,500. A third of all small boat crossings were Albanian. Now they’re down 90%. This issue requires international collaboration – the UK is leading the way,” PM Sunak tweeted.
I’ve negotiated a deal with Albania to make it easier to deport and deter illegal migrants and FNOs. We’ve returned over 2,500.
A third of all small boats crossings were Albanian. Now they’re down 90%.
It is pertinent to recall that the United Kingdom and Albania signed a “gold-standard” deal in December last year, wherein the two nations agreed on leading a joint fight against illegal immigration and organized crimes. The deal came after over 12000 Albanians arrived in the UK via the English Channel. In June, British Migration Minister Robert Jenrick said that thousands of such Albanian migrants including failed asylum seekers, FNOs, and voluntary returnees have been sent back since the signing of the deal.
Last year, Albanians were reportedly the most prominent nationality seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. In 2022, there were 14,223 applications from Albanian nationals, 9,573 of which came from migrants arriving in boats after crossing the Channel. With 10,011 applications, Afghans were the second most prevalent nationality seeking asylum last year.
50% increase in raids on illegal workers
Sunak said that he increased raids on illegal workers by 50 percent. Sunak also talked about a raid conducted by enforcement officers wherein he joined them to witness a first-hand impact.
“Third, I’ve increased raids by 50% to clamp down on illegal workers. I saw first-hand the impact this will have when I joined Immigration Enforcement officers last month for what was the biggest ever single day of raids,” the British prime minister tweeted.
Third, I’ve increased raids by 50% to clamp down on illegal workers.
I saw first-hand the impact this will have when I joined Immigration Enforcement officers last month for what was the biggest ever single day of raids. pic.twitter.com/9rxUiKoO0p
In June this year, PM Sunak joined the enforcement officials in a raid in Brent, North London wherein over 100 illegal migrants from 20 different nations were arrested.
In addition to increased raids, PM Sunak announced the end of the “farce of illegal migrants being put up hotels by the taxpayer.”
Fourth, I’m ending the farce of illegal migrants being put up in hotels by the taxpayer.
One way we’re doing this is by using barges to house migrants and reduce pressures on local communities. pic.twitter.com/rBL95ousCe
As discussed above, the UK government currently spends £6 million each day on hotel accommodations for immigrants awaiting the decision. Notably, at the end of December last year, more than 132,000 cases pertaining to over 161,000 people were awaiting a decision.
‘Ukrainians welcome while others not allowed’
While the UK government is claiming to take stringent measures to control illegal migration, PM Sunak plans to ensure safe and legal routes for people in ‘genuine need’ like the Ukrainians escaping their war-torn country.
“Fifth, I’m ensuring that the only way to come to the UK for asylum will be through safe and legal routes. And as we get a grip of illegal migration, we’ll create more of those routes so we can continue to help those in genuine need, like we have done for Ukrainians,” Sunak tweeted.
Fifth, I’m ensuring that the only way to come to the UK for asylum will be through safe and legal routes.
And as we get a grip of illegal migration, we’ll create more of those routes so we can continue to help those in genuine need, like we have done for Ukrainians. pic.twitter.com/eAu5PcaPCz
According to the UNHCR data as of July 10, 2023, there are over 2 lakh Ukrainian refugees in the United Kingdom with 1200 applying for asylum or similar protection schemes.
Labour have tried to block every vote to stop the boats. Their plan for immigration is an open door.
But I know stopping the boats is a priority for the British people.
Sudipto Sen, the director of the recent box office success ‘The Kerala Story’ indicated on Wednesday, July 26 that he is not scared to make a film about the ongoing Manipur issue and the violence attached to it. “I have the guts and courage to make films on anything I understand and am convinced with. No threat can stop my work,” he tweeted.
This is after one of the Twitter users poked Sen asking him that would he attempt to make a movie on the Manipur issue as he did on the Kerala issue. “If I can make film on the world’s deadliest terror outfits like ISIS and Maoists, I can make films on Manipur issue also. But the ethnic wars in Northeastern India is very complex. Trying to understand now very keenly,” he added.
Further calling the Manipur issue a bit complex, Sen said that he would take time to understand the ethnic war issue before making the reel. “I researched on Kerala issue or Bastar for years before making the films. The day I shall come up with an authentic and well-researched story – I promise I shall make the film too,” he said.
Yes sir. I have gut and courage to make films on anything I understand and convinced with. No threat can stop my work – be rest assured. If I can make film on world's deadliest terror outfits like ISIS and Maoists, I can make films on Manipur issue also. But the ethnic wars in… https://t.co/UBhIUcR3P0
The movie The Kerala Story which was recently released happened to break the box office records. The movie written and directed by Sudipto Sen, revolves around Shalini Unnikrishnan, played by Adah Sharma, an innocent Hindu woman from Kerala who is brainwashed by her Muslim friend and gets converted to Islam and marries a Muslim man. She later realises that she has been trapped in a huge terrorist web after which she is raped, separated from her only child, and then forced to serve as a sex slave.
Sen also said that he would make a film on the Manipur issue after knowing in detail about the very complex ethnic wars happening in the Northeastern part of the country.
As reported earlier, the ongoing violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
While the tribal groups have been opposing the demand of the Meitei community’s demand for ST status for years, the recent protests and violence were triggered by a Manipur High Court order on 27 March, directing the Manipur state government to submit recommendations to the union government for the inclusion of Meitei in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. The court had issued the order after several petitions filed by Meitei activists seeking the said direction.
The high court also criticized the state government for dragging the issue for over 10 years. The demands by Meities started with a memorandum submitted to the governor in November 2012 by the Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur Valley (STDCM). The committee then met Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in December 2012 with the demand and then met prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh in July 2013 with the demand. However, the PM then asked them to discuss the matter with the state cabinet.
The recent violence however got massive attention after the horrifying viral video of women being paraded naked surfaced from Manipur. The video sent shock waves across the country attracting demands of strict punishment against such heinous crime. The perpetrators were later arrested by the state police.
