Highlighting the paradigm shift in the government’s approach towards the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the Narendra Modi government has changed the image of the region in the last nine years from “disturbed region” to an area contributing to the nation’s progress.
The Home Minister said that the disputes and extremism in the region are at a diminishing stage and there is peace and development in the region.
“Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi’s ‘Look East’ policy, the Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the progress of the country,” Shah said while launching ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Arunachal’s Kibithoo.
“Due to the laziness of the leaders in Delhi at some point, this area was disputed. There was no peace, development and connectivity. Today, the disputes are coming to an end, extremism is coming to an end. There is a new dawn of development and peace,” he added.
The Home Minister laid down the statistics in comparison to 2014 and said that there has been a significant reduction in violent incidents in the northeast today.
“Over 8,000 extremists have surrendered in the nine years. In comparison to 2014, there is a fall of 67 per cent in violent incidents in 2022. There has been a decrease of 60 per cent in the injuries of the security forces and an 83 per cent fall in the deaths of the citizens,” Shah said.
“Under the ‘Vibrant Village Programme’, 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts along the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development,” he added.
Shah said that there will be no village in the border areas of the country without electricity, internet and road facilities. “Along with this, employment facilities will also be made available in every village,” he said.
Stating that the security of the border is the security of the nation, Shah said that the Modi government is continuously working on increasing the infrastructure on the border.
Shah is on a two-day visit to the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Friday (April 7), the American newspaper The New York Times (NYT) published a contentious piece, arguing that it is in the best interests of everyone to not know the truth about the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
The article, authored by a journalist named Erika Solomon, claimed, “Naming a culprit could set off unintended consequences.” She went on to suggest that ‘naming’ Russia could lead to demands for a ‘response’ from the Western allies.
“Claiming Russia was behind the attack would mean it had successfully sabotaged major critical infrastructure in Western Europe’s backyard and could spark demands for a response,” Solomon wrote.
Screengrab of the article by The New York Times
“Blaming Ukrainian operatives could stoke internal debate in Europe about support for their eastern neighbour. And naming a Western nation or operatives could trigger deep mistrust when the West is struggling to maintain a united front,” she further added.
Erika Solomon managed to find a ‘military expert’ named Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen to back her contentious proposition. “There are strategic reasons for not revealing who did it. As long as they don’t come out with anything substantial, then we are left in the dark on all this — as it should be,” he suggested.
The sudden change in the stance of The New York Times comes two days after Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh called out the American daily for parroting the CIA (US intelligence agency)’s version of the underwater bombing of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.
Screengrab of the Substack newsletter of Seymour Hersh
It must be mentioned that the American journalist had earlier accused the US Navy of blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines in an explosive piece in February this year.
In a Substack newsletter published on Wednesday (April 5), Seymour Hersh stated, “Within weeks of my report that Joe Biden ordered the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, the agency produced a cover story and found willing takers in the New York Times and two major German publications.”
He lambasted the American newspaper for peddling the story, concocted by the Central Investigation Agency, to shield the role of the US government in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
The Background of the Controversy
On March 7 this year, The New York Timespublished an article wherein it cited new Intelligence to claim the role of Russian/ Ukrainian nationals in the sabotage.
“Officials who have reviewed the intelligence said they believed the saboteurs were most likely Ukrainian or Russian nationals, or some combination of the two. US officials said no American or British nationals were involved,” it stated.
Citing officials, NYT further added, “The explosives were most likely planted with the help of experienced divers who did not appear to be working for military or intelligence services, U.S. officials who have reviewed the new intelligence said.”
Screengrab of the article by The New York Times
German law enforcement officials had initially claimed that a 6-member Ukranian group forged passports and chartered a 15-metre yacht named ‘Andromeda’ to carry out the destruction of Nord pipelines. However, they backtracked from this theory earlier this month.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh slammed the likes of The New York Times for failing to question the ‘dubious’ Andromeda story and blindly relying on Intelligence inputs. He said that the story was fed by the CIA to both the US and German media as well as the latter’s Intelligence service.
“By creating a story of deep sea divers and a crew who did not exist, the agency was following protocol, and the story would have been part of the first days of secret planning to destroy the pipelines…The cover story was shared with and supported by the BND, Germany’s federal intelligence service,” Hersh noted.
Under fire from the veteran American journalist, The New York Times was forced to make quick amends and come up with an intriguing piece that neither discredits their original CIA cover story nor encourages an in-depth investigation into the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
Journalist Erika Solomon found the solution to the fix – Don’t name the culprit!!!
The head of the freshly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine(OCU) declared on Sunday that prayers at Kyiv’s famed Pechersk Lavra should now be offered in Ukrainian. Up until recently, canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) monks lived in the mediaeval monastery and offered prayers primarily in the Russian language.
On the eve of Orthodox Easter the following Sunday, prayers would be held in the monastery, Metropolitan Epiphany, the head of the OCU, announced to the Ukrainian media. On December 2, 2022, President Vladimir Zelensky outlawed all religious groups “affiliated” with Russia from operating in Ukraine, Kyiv officially certified the Lavra as an OCU monastery.
Up until recently, the UOC monks kept residing in the monastery. Kyiv cancelled a lease agreement with the UOC in late March, which had let the monks to reside in the Lavra. The monks objected to being asked to leave and complained, appealing the ruling to a Kyiv court. Their case will now be heard later in April.
? Congratulations to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on gaining control of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Kyiv Monastery of the Caves)
It’s Ukraine’s holiest site and was founded in 1051
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) that was evicted is controlled by the Russian… pic.twitter.com/FjOzlSOqTw
The ban is seen as a divisive move that could further deepen existing tensions and divisions within Ukrainian society. Ukraine has a sizable population of Russian speakers, particularly in the eastern regions, and the ban may be viewed as discriminatory towards this minority.
Percentage of Ukrainians who speak the Russian language.
Image Source: Wiki
The OCU does not want to “evict the monks,” Epiphany told the Ukrainian media. “We want the spirit of the ‘Russian world’ to no longer reign here,” he added while insisting that “the Lavra should be Ukrainian; prayers in Ukrainian and for Ukraine should always be held there.”
Back in November 2022, when the Ukrainian security service (SBU) started a criminal case over chants honouring Russia in the Lavra amid the conflict, tensions between the monastery and the Ukrainian authorities grew. Moscow and Kyiv are still at odds. The SBU has been raiding UOC churches, apparently looking for a weapon cache and proof of treason, the UOC has historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church and was accused of being a security danger by the Ukrainian authorities during the wartime confrontation with Russia.
Metropolitan Pavel, a senior bishop of the UOC and the head of the monks in the Lavra, was taken into custody by Ukrainian law enforcement in late March. He was charged by SBU with promoting religious animosity as well as “defending and denying Russian military aggression.”
Russo-Ukraine war
The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing international conflict between Russia, alongside Russian-backed separatists, and Ukraine, which began in February 2014. Following the violence at Euromaidan and the subsequent coup that ousted the elected government of Yanukovich, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian military in the Donbas War. The first eight years of conflict also included naval incidents, cyberwarfare, and heightened political tensions. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine after declaring the Donbas region as Russian territory.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Monday (April 10) condemned the arbitrary action taken by Gujarat police against Hindu activist Kajal Hindustani and demanded her immediate release. In a press release dated April 10, the Hindu organisation also demanded that the FIR filed against the Hindu activist be quashed with immediate effect.
— Vishva Hindu Parishad – Saurashtra (@vhpsaurashtra) April 10, 2023
The press release was made public a day after Gujarat’s Una police arrested the Hindu activist for an alleged ‘hate speech’.
In the press release by VHP in Gujarati is translated as follows:
“Kajal Hindustani, the symbol of women empowerment, who has been continuously working for the majority Hindu society, was arrested recently in a programme held in Una by the government, who considered some of her advice regarding the system and related problems of the society and the country to be controversial.”
“Instead of strengthening women’s power in the state, as exemplified by women like Kajal Hindustani, who enlightened and counselled society on relevant issues, the system has fractured the spirit of woman power, which is terrible.”
Press note released by VHP demanding the release of Kajal Hindustani
“The Vishwa Hindu Parishad demands that the complaint against Kajal ben be dropped and that she be granted bail immediately,” the statement read.
Kajal Hindustani arrested for an alleged ‘hate’ speech
On Sunday, April 9, Hindu activist Kajal Hindustani was reportedly arrested by Gujarat’s Una police. This comes after a case was registered against her for an alleged ‘hate speech’. According to local media reports, Kajal Hindustani has been sent to Junagadh jail following an appearance in front of the Magistrate at his residence.
On March 30, the Ram Navami procession (Shobhayatra) was taken out in Una of district Gir Somnath, Gujarat. Following the procession, an event was organized where Hindu activist Kajal Hindustani was one of the speakers. The Dharmasabha took place at Raavanvadi near Trikon Bagh.
During her speech, Kajal raised several issues, including Love Jihad and Land Jihad. The local Muslims deemed her speech controversial and took out a protest march. There were reports of stone pelting at various places, and the city was on the edge for two days. In addition to this, the infamous Sar Tan Se Juda slogans were also raised against her.
On Monday, April 10, Delhi High Court discharged filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri in a 2018 Contempt-of-Court case. The decision came after Agnihotri appeared in person and tendered an unconditional apology and reiterated his remorse over his remark made condemning S Justice S Muralidhar for granting bail to Urban Naxal Gautam Navlakha.
Notably, on December 6 2022, the court asked the filmmaker to “show remorse in person” after he tendered an unconditional apology through an affidavit.
During the hearing on Monday, Vivek Agnihotri appeared physically before a division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Vikas Mahajan to tender his ‘unconditional apology and remorse.’
“Vivek Agnihotri, the alleged contemnor is present in the court in person and reiterates his remorse. He also tenders an unconditional apology for the allegedly offensive statement on Twitter,” read the order discharging the filmmaker.
“The affidavit also reflects the remorse expressed by him. For the sake of completeness, the relevant are extracted. In view of the foregoing and in the circumstances that Mr Agnihhotri states that he has the utmost respect for the judiciary and he did not intend to wilfully offend the sensibilities of the court; the notice show cause issued as to why contempt should not be initiated against his is hereby recalled. He accordingly stand discharged,” Justice Siddharth Mridul as the bench accepted Agnihotri’s apology and cautioned him to remain careful in the future.
J Mridul: The affidavit also reflects the remorse expressed by him. For the sake of completeness, the relevant are extracted. in view of the foregoing and in the circumstances that Mr Agnihhotri states that he has utmost respect for the judiciary and he did not intend to wilfully…
Meanwhile, scientist and political commentator Anand Ranganathan, who was also made a party in the contempt case against Gurumurthy and Vivek Agnihotri, agreed to appear in person before the bench during the next hearing which has been fixed for May 24.
Taking to Twitter, Ranganathan wrote, “In the matter of criminal contempt against me, the hon’ble judge today ordered that I appear personally before the bench on the date of the next hearing, May 24, 2023. I will do so. Grateful to @jsaideepak for representing me in court. Thank you, Sai.”
In the matter of criminal contempt against me, the hon’ble judge today ordered that I appear personally before the bench on the date of the next hearing, May 24, 2023. I will do so. Grateful to @jsaideepak for representing me in court. Thank you, Sai.
The tweet came after the court told Advocate J Sai Deepak, appearing for Anand Ranganathan, to make sure the latter physically appeared before the court in the next hearing. The remark came after J Sai Deepak stated before the court that Ranganathan was not directed to appear before the court in person and that he had moved an application because he had already been proceeded ex-parte, so the application was to recall.
Notably, a day after Vivek Agnihotri tendered a written apology in the Delhi High Court on December 6, 2022, Anand Ranganathan had refused to apologise for supporting remarks made by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and S Gurumurthy condemning Justice S Muralidhar.
Last year, in May, the Delhi High Court sent fresh notices to filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, scientist and political commentator Anand Ranganathan and Swarajya Magazine in a 2018 Contempt-of-Court case. In October 2018, The Delhi High Court initiated contempt proceedings against Economist S Gurumurthy over his article on Justice S Muralidhar, where he had questioned S Muralidhar’s credibility as the High Court judge in connection with granting bail to Gautam Navlakha, one of the accused in the Koregaon Bhima violence case. Agnihotri and Ranganathan, who had tweeted about the issue on similar lines, were slapped with charges of contempt later.
It all started when Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao wrote a letter to then Chief Justice Rajendra Menon,about an article written by S Gurumurthy alleging bias on the part of Justice Muralidhar for granting bail to Urban Naxal Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon case. Gurumurthy penned the article “Why has Delhi High Court Justice Muralidhar’s relationship with Gautam Navlakha not been disclosed?” on Desh Kapur’s blog ‘Dhristikone’. The article was retweeted by Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri in a tweet, following which a contempt of court notice was sent to him as well.
Anand Ranganathan, who is a free speech absolutist, allegedly condemned this action by the High Court in a couple of Tweets. It was later known that the same charges had been levied against Dr Ranganathan as well.
However, Gurumurthy was dropped as a respondent in the matter after he offered to retweet an unconditional apology tendered by the blog host Kapoor on his Twitter handle.
Nevertheless, the proceedings against Agnihotri, Ranganathan and several others continued in the case.
In the aftermath of violent clashes that occurred on Sunday in Jamshedpur, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has alleged that a masked mob came out of an Iftar party to target a temple. The Iftar party has been claimed to be organized by Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Section 144 has been imposed in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, following the violence and mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended.
Reportedly, a violent mob targeted a temple and engaged in acts of arson and stone pelting against two nearby shops. Additionally, an autorickshaw was set ablaze. The police have detained several individuals, and a significant police presence has been deployed to the area. Some Hindu organizations have accused the administration of taking one-sided action.
Jharkhand | Stone pelting broke out between 2 groups in Jamshedpur
The situation is under control. Those who had gathered have been sent home. The force has been deployed in the entire area, a company of RAF is deployed. Some people have also been detained: Prabhat Kumar, SSP… pic.twitter.com/Cz6L7YGUk3
According to media reports, the incident is from Shastri Nagar in Jamshedpur. Religious slogans were shouted during the attack on the Hindus. The controversy started on Saturday when a piece of meat was tied to a Hindu religious flag. Hindu organisations protested alleging that the flag was desecrated and demanded strict action against the accused. As soon as the information about the protests of Hindu organisations came, the people on the other side also started mobilising, triggering clashes between the two groups.
#WATCH | Security forces conduct flag march in Jamshedpur’s Kadma police station area following an incident of stone pelting and arson, in Jharkhand
Section 144 CrPc is enforced in the area and mobile internet is temporarily banned. pic.twitter.com/NhPnWtkQhR
The Internet has been shut down in the Kadma area, which is said to be most affected by Sunday’s violence. Section 144 has been imposed in some areas. Jamshedpur’s SSP Prabhat Kumar has informed us that some people have been taken into custody and the situation is under control. Jamshedpur’s DC has appealed not to share any kind of misleading and provocative things on social media.
सभी शहर वासियों से तथा जिलावासियों से अपील है कि कुछ असामाजिक तत्व द्वारा सांप्रदायिक सौहार्द बिगड़ने की कोशिश की जा रही है । इस आलोक में पुलिस बल, मजिस्ट्रेट, QRT, RAF, Anti Riot resouces तैनात की गई है । प्रशासन स्थिति पर नजर रखे हुए है एवं किसी भी प्रकार की असामाजिक हरकत pic.twitter.com/rrZMj9qSrL
— DC East Singhbhum (@DCEastSinghbhum) April 9, 2023
Stone pelters came out of JMM’s Iftar party
VHP’s Jamshedpur District Officer Sanjeev Kumar told OpIndia that on March 9, two JMM leaders Pawan Kumar and Babban Rai had organized an iftar party in the locality adjacent to the temple that was targeted during the violence. He claims that the crowd that came out of this Iftar party, wearing masks on their faces, first pelted stones at the temple and later set fire to the nearby shops.
Speaking to OpIndia, Sanjeev Kumar accused the administration of one-sided action. He said that the district administration had warned Hindus not to play DJ etc. on Ram Navami. DJ units were also seized. On Saturday, the meat bag was hung on the flag of the temple.
Sanjeev Kumar told, “The administration is hesitating to take action against the people of the other side because of the coming of Eid. Around 10 people have been arrested from the Hindu side, including VHP campaign chief Uttam Das and Bajrang Dal city convenor. Raids are going on to arrest many other Hindu leaders. Hindus are the easy target here.”
On April 9, Aam Aadmi Party started the “Show Your Degree” campaign in an attempt to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The step by AAP came after a judgment by Gujarat High Court where AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, was slapped with a Rs 25,000 fine for misusing the RTI act. Since then, AAP has been trying to project as if PM Modi is hiding his education qualification despite his degrees being in the public domain.
During a press statement, Delhi education minister Atishi showed her graduation and post-graduation degrees and boasted about her qualifications. She also claimed that one AAP leader would show his or her degree every day as part of the campaign. If going by the number of AAP MLAs in the Delhi Assembly, the campaign should run for 62 days as there are 62 lawmakers from AAP in the house. However, at least for Delhi MLAs, the campaign is expected to end in 33 days as 29 of the AAP MLAs do not have a degree.
OpIndia went through the affidavits submitted by AAP leaders for the Delhi Assembly elections 2020 to find out their highest education. As per the regulations, it is a must for a candidate to mention the highest education he or she has gotten in the election affidavit.
A complete list of AAP MLAs and their educational qualification are listed below.
Name
Constituency
Education Qualification
Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi
B.Tech, Mechanical Engineering
A Dhanwati Chandela A
Rajouri Garden
10th
Abdul Rehman
Seelampur
8th
Ajay Dutt
Ambedkar Nagar
MBA
Ajesh Yadav
Badli
BA
Akhilesh Pati Tripathi
Model Town
MA Ancient History
Amanatullah Khan
Okhla
12th
Atishi
Kalkaji
MSc
BS Joon
Bijwasan
BSc LLB
Bandana Kumari
Shalimar Bagh
BA
Bhavna Gaur
Palam
BA BEd
Dharampal Lakra
Mundka
Certificate Course Diesel Mechanic
Dilip Kumar Pandey
Timarpur
MCA
Dinesh Mohaniya
Sangam Vihar
BBA
Durgesh Kumar
Rajender Nagar
MA English Lit
Girish Soni
Madipur
National Trade Certificate Course in Refrigeration and
Air Conditioning
Gopal Rai
Babarpur
MA Sociology
Gulab Singh
Matiala
12th
Haji Yunus
Mustafabad
AALIM Urdi and Arbi
Imran Hussain
Ballimaran
Bachelor of Business Studies
Jai Bhagwan
Bawana
12th
Jarnail Singh
Tilak Nagar
12th
Kailash Gahlot
Najafgarh
LLM
Kartar Singh Tanwar
Chhatarpur
Diploma in Civil Engineering
Kuldeep Kumar
Kondli
College dropout BA 2nd Year
Madan Lal
Kasturba Nagar
MA LLB
Mahinder Yadav
Vikaspuri
10th
Manish Sisodia
Patparganj
Diploma in Journalism
Mohinder Goyal
Rithala
10th
Mukesh Ahlawat
Sultanpur Majra
12th
Naresh Balyan
Uttam Nagar
9th
Naresh Yadav
Mehrauli
LLB
Parlad Singh Sawhney
Chandni Chowk
College dropout BA
Pawan Sharma
Adarsh Nagar
12th
Prakash Jarwal
Deoli
MCOM
Pramila Dhiraj Tokas
R K Puram
12th
Praveen Kumar
Jangpura
MBA
Preeti Jitender Tomar
Tri Nagar
MSc/BEd
Raaj Kumar Anand
Patel Nagar
MA Political Science
Raghuvinder Shokeen
Nangloi Jat
BSc
Raj Kumari Dhillon
Hari Nagar
BA
Rajendra Pal Gautam
Seema Puri
LLB
Rajesh Gupta
Wazirpur
12th
Rajesh Rishi
Janakpuri
BSc
Rakhi Birla
Mangol Puri
MA Mass Communication
Ram Niwas Goel
Shahdara
BA
Rituraj Govind
Kirari
Advanced diploma in Hotel Management
Rohit Kumar
Trilokpuri
Sangeet Prabhakar Degree Course
S. K. Bagga
Krishna Nagar
MCom LLB
Sahi Ram
Tughlakabad
11th
Sanjeev Jha
Burari
BA Hons
Satyendar Jain
Shakur Basti
Associate Membership (Equivalent to B Arch)
Saurabh Bharadwaj
Greater Kailash
B Tech/LLB
Sharad Kumar Chauhan
Narela
10th
Shiv Charan Goel
Moti Nagar
12th
Shoaib Iqbal
Matia Mahal
10th
Som Dutt
Sadar Bazar
BA
Somnath Bharti
Malviya Nagar
MSc (Maths)/LLB
Surendra Kumar
Gokalpur
10th
Vinay Mishra
Dwarka
MBA
Virender Singh Kadian
Delhi Cantt
Masters of Law
Vishesh Ravi
Karol Bagh
10th
Our research found that seven AAP MLAs have completed education till the 10th grade. These MLAs are A Dhanwati Chandela A (Rajouri Garden), Mahinder Yadav (Vikaspuri), Mohinder Goyal (Rithala), Sharad Kumar Chauhan (Narela), Surendra Kumar (Gokalpur), Vishesh Ravi (Karol Bagh) and Shoaib Iqbal (Matia Mahal).
Eight of the 62 AAP MLAs have completed education till 12th grade. These MLAs are Gulab Singh (Matiala), Jai Bhagwan (Bawana), Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar), Mukesh Ahlawat (Sultanpur Majra), Pawan Sharma (Adarsh Nagar), Pramila Dhiraj Tokas (R K Puram), Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur) and Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar).
Two of the MLAs did not complete 10th grade. Abdul Rehman (Seelampur) studied till the 8th class, and Naresh Balyan (Uttam Nagar) studied till the 9th class.
Kuldeep Kumar (Kondli) and Parlad Singh Sawhney (Chandni Chowk) are College dropouts.
Former education minister Manish Sisodia (Patparganj), who is currently lodged in jail for his alleged role in a liquor policy scam, has a journalism diploma.
Dharampal Lakra (Mundka) has done a Certificate Course in Diesel Mechanics. Girish Soni (Madipur) has done a National Trade Certificate Course in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Haji Yunus (Mustafabad) had completed AALIM Urdi and Arbi. Kartar Singh Tanwar (Chhatarpur) has done a Diploma in Civil Engineering. Rituraj Govind (Kirari) had done Advanced diploma in Hotel Management. Rohit Kumar (Trilokpuri) has completed Sangeet Prabhakar Degree Course, and Satyendar Jain (Shakur Basti), who is also in jail for his alleged role in a money laundering case, has Associate Membership at the Indian Institute of Architects, which is equivalent to B Arch.
OpIndia has collected the information from publically available affidavits submitted by MLAs as per ECI’s regulations. These affidavits are available on ECI’s website.
A video has gone viral over the internet in which a content creator from a Youtube channel named Dhakad TV, identified as Arun Gautam, was seen abusing Hindu seer Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya, the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth, a religious and social service institution in Chitrakoot named after Saint Tulsidas. The video has garnered widespread attention prompting Netizens to call for the police to take action against the channel owner.
The video, wherein the YouTube channel owner is seen using extremely derogatory, abusive words against the Hindu seer, was released on April 8 and has garnered 20 thousand views since then.
Notably, Rambhadracharya has been blind since his early childhood. In the video, Arun Gautam mocks the disability of the Hindu seer by claiming that he is not only physically but also mentally disabled. He goes on to use snide phrases such as ‘goonda’ (goon), ‘sadak chaap’ (roadside person), ‘aatankvadi’ (terrorists), and so on for the seer who is highly respected and revered by millions of Hindus.
In a video full of derogatory words and expletives, Arun Gautam goes on to slam the government for awarding Swami Rambhadracharya a Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
He went on to label Swami Rambhadracharya a ‘coward’ who feared the late Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. He claimed that while Mulayam Singh Yadav was still alive, the seer lacked the courage to call on his supporters to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and that now that the SP patriarch is no longer alive, he is provoking his followers, who are mostly Dalits and people belonging to the backward class, against the SP leaders. He goes on to accuse the seer of spreading hatred.
The YouTuber goes on to incite the Dalits and the OBCs by claiming that such ‘babas’ thrive on the money of the backward class people and exploit it to provoke them against their political leaders.
The Youtuber Arun Gautam decided to go on this rant against the Hindu seer because he was supposedly ‘annoyed’ by a particular slogan raised by Swami Rambhadracharya recently during a Ram Katha held in Agra’s Kothi Meena Bazar grounds. The seer had said, “Mare Mulayam aur Kashiram, prem se bolo Jai Shri Ram,” by which he meant that Mulayam Singh and Kashiram are no longer there, but ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is resonating even today.
Arun Gautam, conveniently, twisted the slogan raised by Swami Rambhadracharya to suit his narrative and used it to incite the Dalits and the OBCs against the Hindu seer. He blatantly insulted the Tulsi Peeth seer’s scholastic achievements and knowledge of Ramayana, the Sanskrit epic, and other Hindu scriptures, claiming that memorising a text and blabbing it is easy and that anyone could do it.
The Hinduphobic YouTuber not only insulted Swami Rambhadracharya but went on to defame all Hindu seers and saints by calling them worst than Pakistani terrorists. Arun Gautam rebukes the people for supporting such Hindu sheers and warns them against funding and attending sermons by such “aatankis (terrorists) masquerading as sheers.”
After the video went viral, several social media users went on to criticise the act of the YouTuber and called for police action against him for insulting one of the most revered Hindu saints in the country.
Swami Rambhadracharya is the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth, a religious and social service institution in Chitrakoot named after Saint Tulsidas. He is one of four incumbent Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas and has held this title since 1988.
Rambhadracharya is famous across the globe as the foremost authority on Tulsidas and for composing numerous poems, books and papers on Lord Rama despite being visually impaired since the age of 2.
He is also a leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). His organisation runs the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya University for the disabled. In 2015, Rambhadracharya was awarded Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour.
Swami Rambhadracharya was also among the expert witnesses in religious matters in the Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid dispute case in the Allahabad High Court. He testified in July 2003.
Firing on Kar Sevaks in Ayodhya on orders of Mulayam Yadav
On 2nd November 1990, Hindu saints and thousands of Karsevaks, comprising also of women and elderly people, took their march towards the Ram Janmabhoomi site where the illegal structure called Babri then stood. The security forces, who were instructed to stop the Hindus from reaching the site, lined up on the road to block the way.
Whenever the security personnel tried to impede the Hindu devotees, they would sit there and start chanting the name of Lord Ram and reciting Bhajans (religious songs). They touched the feet of the security personnel, deployed to prevent them from marching ahead. Each time they did this the security personnel would move back and the Karsevaks would move forward. Though unarmed, the Karsevaks remained undeterred.
This kept happening until the IG passed orders and the police personnel sprung into action. Tear gas shells were fired, and lathis were rained at the Karsevaks, but the resolute Ram Bhakts neither counter-attacked nor did they agitate or falter. Suddenly the security personnel started responding by opening fire. Many Hindu devotees were targeted and gunned down. It’s believed that the security personnel hunted and targeted Hindus in every lane and bylane leading to the Ram Janmabhoomi and within no time the streets converted into a war zone.
The incident which occurred in Ayodhya, almost 32 years back, left an ineradicable mark in the history of India. After the brutal massacre, different media houses had come up with different numbers of those killed on November 2, 1990. Though the official report on the incident concluded that 16 people had been killed in the firing, however, the fact remained that the number was potentially far higher.
This action is often seen in connection with Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement from October 1990 in which he said, “Let them try and enter Ayodhya. We will teach them the meaning of the law. No masjid will be broken.” Mulayam Singh Yadav was the chief minister of the state at that time. “Mile Mulayam Kanshi Ram, Hawa Ho Gaye Jai Shri Ram” was the SP-BSP alliance’s campaign slogan for the UP Assembly Elections in 1993, which took place one year after the disputed structure at Ram Janmabhoomi was demolished. Due to his actions, Mulayam Singh Yadav acquired the title “Mullah Mulayam.”
There were no mobile phones or internet then, but some videos of this incident recorded with cameras occasionally come out on social media. One such video is available on Facebook, in which both the brutality of the police and the dedication of Ram bhakts can be seen together.
In this video, the police can also be seen baton-charging at the saints and seers and firing bullets from their guns. A Ram bhakt can be heard saying, “Come, lathi-charge, kill. We won’t go, even if you shoot.” One can find arson at various places and people collecting stones in this video. People are also chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In many places, unconscious people are lying on the ground.
On Monday (April 10), Tesla CEO Elon Musk followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter. Currently, the billionaire businessman follows only 195 accounts on the micro-blogging platform.
Musk has a follower base of 13.43 crores. On the contrary, PM Modi is followed by 8.77 crore handles on Twitter.
Elon Musk follows only 194 across the world.
Screengrab of the Twitter account of Elon Musk
In August 2022, Opindia reported how Elon Musk flagged Twitter’s risky litigation against the Indian government.
“Twitter has terminated its product lead and another key executive, retained a board member whose reelection was rejected by stockholders, instituted a hiring freeze, and disobeyed orders from and initiated risky litigation against the Indian government—thereby placing Twitter’s third largest market at risk,” he had said.
A group of Muslim leaders had approached Una Police station on 31st March 2023 to file a police complaint against Hindu activist Kajal Singhla aka Kajal Hindustani over her Ram Navami speech. The Muslim leaders had alleged that the said speech was inflammatory and anti-Muslim. Subsequently an FIR was filed against Kajal Hindustani on 2nd April, 2023 and she was arrested on 9th April, 2023.
On 31st March, 2023, however, a Muslim mob had taken to streets and chanted ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans calling for beheading of Kajal over alleged blasphemy. Violence also took place in Una over the speech. On 1st April, 2023, the Una Police filed an FIR against more than 250 people from the Muslim mob. Of these about 80 have been identified and arrested.
As per the FIR copy, a copy of which has been accessed by OpIndia, the Muslim mob unleashed violence in Una following the speech of Kajal Hindustani on Ram Navami. “As a response to the speech by Kajal Hindustani, a conspiracy was intentionally hatched and approximately 200 named and unnamed people gathered in a mob. They had armed themselves with bats, iron pipes, swords and other sharp iron objects. An illegal formation of people took place and they suddenly got provoked and started pelting stones and empty soda bottles which were in their hands, thereby causing damage and injury to people and property nearby. Since it was in violation of the anti-weapon law declaration by the Additional District Magistrate of Gir Somnath, a case in this regard was lodged.
FIR lodged against Muslim mob in Una
As per the FIR, R R Galchar, the SI at Una Police station stated that on 1 April 2023, various police personnel were on duty to maintain law and order after the Muslim mob chanted slogans protesting against Kajal Hindustani’s speech on 30 March. At around 7:30 PM, one Praveenaben informed police that mobs have gathered at the Kumbharwada area of Una and are pelting stones at each other. When Police reached the spot, over 200 people had gathered and were holding soda bottles and stones in their hands. The Police official narrated that they officers went to the mob which was busy being violent and pelting stones and throwing soda bottles and asked them by hand gestures to not pelt stones and throw soda bottles. However, despite warnings they continued to do so.
The FIR further states that more police force was called in and eventually the mob dispersed. Of those who were involved in stonepelting, many could be identified by police personnel by their face. Of these, case has been registered against
Yasinbhai Abdullah Sumra
Hasmamiya Haiderali Siraji
Farooqbhai Azizbhai Memon
Rafiqbapu Bashirbapu Saiyad
Mustaqbhai Ahmedbhai Saiyad
Mahmadjunaid Mahmadsafi Saiyad
Ismailsha Bapusha Fakir
Mosin Hajibhai Mulla
Razak Hayatkhan Pathan
Liyaqathussain Dilawarhussain Kadri
Danish Salimbhai Sumra
Hasambhai Jamalbhai Qureshi
Salim Abdulla Sumra
Sabir Hajibhai Munsi
Irfan Abdul Hakim Ansari
Usman Abdulla Shaikh Sumra
Mahmad Anis Kadri
Sahil Yasinbhai Sumra
Nizam Yasin Sumra
Mahamadsafi Saiyad Mahmad Saiyad
Siraj Mahamdiqbal Faizalali Saiyad
Rafiqbhai Saiyadmahmad Saiyad
Mahmadhanif Saiyadmahmad Saiyad
Mahmad Avesh Mahmadhanif Saiyad
Hanifbhai Ismail Shaikh
Majgul Sabir Alibhai Badshah
Mehmoodshah Gulzarshah Fakir
Jafarshah Hussainshah Fakir
Abdul Sattar Badamiyan Siraji
Sabir Ahmed Jafai Arab
Yakub Ismail Shaikh
Maqsood Ismail Shaikh
Garibshah Guljarshah Shahmadar
Gulzarshah Arifshah Fakir
Imtiyaz Hanif Abdul Shaikh
Bhikhu Ahmed Qureshi
Jafai Arbaz Alibhai Arab
Allarakha Karimbhai Shaikh
Mohsin Karimbhai Shaikh
Ismail Bavanbhai Malek
Asifbhai Abdulbhai Belim
Mohmad Irfan Iqbalbhai Memon
Mahmadsabir Gulamhaider Kadri
Wasim Dilawar Chhora
Sirajbhai Majidbhai Modan
Iqbal Muradbhai Baloch
Samir Iqbalbhai Baloch
Abubakr Abutaleb Mundan
Imtiyaz Taiyab Shahamdar
Sarwar Abbas Qureshi
Basir Sidibhai Sumra
Yasinbapu Arabwada
Ismail alias Jumbo Faridbhai
Moin Ghanchi
Shabir Bhuro
Imran Bhuro
Farid Qureshi
Salim KGN
Arif Bhuro
Rais Sumra
Sahil Javidkhan
Saqlain Sattarbhai
Saddam Mulla Munsi
Konenbapu Razakbhai
Salim Fakir
Kayumkhan
Nazim Memon
Saqlain Ghanchi
Raiz Khan
Jonty Khatarawalo
Ismail Qureshi
Anis Sikandar Jhakhrao
Sahil Kadri
Maruk Qureshi
Firoz Musa Bhisti
Farid Bhuro
All above are residents of Una and were found pelting stones, soda bottles and even had iron rods, swords and other weapons on them. This caused injury to a lot of people there.
This violence took place after the speech by Kajal Hindustani. In response to the speech, as part of preplanned conspiracy a mob of about 200 named and unnamed people had gathered with weapons such as soda bottles, iron rods, swords. Damaged was caused to vehicles and homes of local residents. Hence, a complaint has been registered against the mob under IPC section 323, 337, 427, 143, 147, 148, 149, 120 (b) as well as GP Act section 135.
The police is currently undertaking further investigation in the matter.
