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Inspired by ‘The Fountainhead’, SS Rajamouli says ‘religion is essentially a kind of exploitation’: Here is what the RRR, Bahubali Director said

OpIndia Staff
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Inspired by ‘The Fountainhead’, SS Rajamouli says ‘religion is essentially a kind of exploitation’: Here is what the RRR, Bahubali Director said

Indian film director SS Rajamouli recently gave an interview with the New Yorker. In this interview, SS Rajamouli expressed his views about films, his sources of inspiration, his choices regarding faith, and other things. However, the interview published on 16th February is being discussed for his one statement in which he said that religion is essentially a kind of exploitation.

The director of blockbuster films like Bahubali and RRR was asked in this interview how his films are influenced by Ramayana and Mahabharata. He answered, “I’ve read these stories since I was a child, and in the beginning, they were just nice, engaging stories. As I started growing up, I read different versions of the text, and the story started evolving into something much bigger for me. I could see the characters, the conflicts within the characters, and their motivating emotions. And I started understanding and loving these texts even more. Anything that comes out of me is somehow influenced by these texts. Those texts are like oceans: every time I visit them, I find something new.”

In the next question, the interviewer asked SS Rajamouli, when he first identified himself as an atheist. SS Rajamouli answered, “We have a giant family, and everyone—my father and mother, cousins and aunts, and everyone else—is deeply religious. I remember, as a young kid, I had doubts after reading stories about the Hindu gods. I used to think, This doesn’t seem real. Then I got caught up in my family’s religious fervour. I started reading religious texts, going on pilgrimages, wearing saffron cloth, and living like a sannyasi [ascetic] for a few years. Then I caught onto Christianity, thanks to some friends. I’d read the Bible, go to church, and do all kinds of stuff. Gradually, all these things somehow made me feel that religion is essentially a kind of exploitation.”

SS Rajamouli added, “I worked under a cousin of mine [the Telugu writer Gunnam Gangaraju] for a few months. He introduced me to Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. I read those novels and was greatly inspired by them. I didn’t understand a lot of her philosophy, but I understood the basics of it. It was around that time that I slowly started moving away from religion. Even at that time, my love for stories like the Mahabharata or the Ramayana never diminished. I did start pushing away from those texts’ religious aspects, but what stayed with me was the complexity and the greatness of their drama and storytelling.”

SS Rajamouli said that he respects people’s feelings about God. He said, “They (family) feel very sad for me because I am going away from the path of religion. I don’t say bad things about God, I never do that. I respect people’s feelings because I know a lot of people depend on God a lot. Still, my father used to get angry when I used to say that I don’t believe in religious rituals or that kind of stuff. Now he’s made peace with it and respects my way of life.”

SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus ‘RRR’ bagged the Best Original song trophy for its song ‘Naatu Naatu’ at the 2023 Golden Globes2023 Golden Globes. ‘RRR’ received two nominations at the prestigious award ceremony under the categories Best Non-English Language Film and Best Original Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’. This was Rajamouli’s first project after the 2017 blockbuster ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, which was released across the globe in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam simultaneously early this year. The film received a huge response in several countries, including the US and Japan.

Modi govt takes back 123 properties, gifted by the Congress govt to the Waqf Board before the 2014 elections, Amanatullah Khan cries foul

OpIndia Staff
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Modi govt takes back 123 properties, gifted by the Congress govt to the Waqf Board before the 2014 elections, Amanatullah Khan cries foul

On Friday (February 17), the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs posted notices outside 123 properties in Delhi, stating that they are no longer considered properties of the Delhi Waqf Board.

The said properties include mosques, dargahs, and a cemetery. Prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, these properties were given to the Delhi Waqf Board by the Congress-led UPA government. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad raised concerns about the prominent locations of these properties and approached the court.

Two committees were formed to hear from the affected parties, including a 1-member committee and a 2-member committee comprising a former judge of the Delhi High Court and a retired SDM.

The 2-member committee’s report stated that the Delhi Waqf Board had been given the opportunity to present its case but had not done so within the prescribed time. As a result, the Board was absolved of all matters relating to the 123 properties.

The committee also recommended a physical inspection of the said 123 properties. Following the development, AAP leader Amanatullah Khan tweeted, “We have already raised our voice in the court on 123 Waqf Properties, our Writ Petition No.1961/2022 is pending in the High Court. Some people are spreading lies about it, the proof of this is in front of all of you.”

He further added, “We will not allow any kind of encroachment on the properties of the Waqf Board.” The Delhi Waqf Board has written an official letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and has challenged the formation of the 2-member committee.

The timeline of the case: Congress handed 123 properties to Delhi Waqf Board

In 2014, the Central government exercised its powers under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 to denotify 123 properties from the land acquisition process. The said properties were to be handed over to the Delhi Waqf Board.

The government notification was subsequently challenged by the Indraprastha Vishwa Hindu Parishad. In the same year, a Delhi court passed an order asking the Centre to listen to the grievances of the stakeholders and make a decision.

Two years later in 2016, a one-member committee was constituted by the Centre to decide on the issue. In 2017, the one-member committee submitted its report. The Delhi High Court had observed on February 10 this year that the Qabristan Qadeem was undisputedly handed over to the ITBP in 2017.

“The Waqf Board earlier told the court that they learnt about the transfer of property only in 2017 in a different case. Its application sought stay on any activity at the graveyard,” reported The Indian Express.

Thereafter in August 2018, the Centre constituted a 2-member committee to decide on the fate of the 123 properties. The Delhi Waqf Board had alleged that the one-member committee report was never made public and that the Union government arbitrarily appointed a 2-member committee to re-examine the properties’ status.

The Centre in its defence told the Delhi High Court that the report of the one-man committee was inconclusive and therefore a 2-member committee was constituted. It, however, refused to share the said report with the Delhi Waqf Board.

In November 2021, a public notice was issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), seeking public representation with respect to the disputed properties.

In March 2022, the Delhi High Court refused to provide relief to the Delhi Waqf Board, which had filed a petition against the delisting of its 123 alleged properties by the Centre.

Vice president of George Soros founded Open Society Foundation was part of Bharat Jodo Yatra, anti-CAA protests and farmer protests: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Vice president of George Soros founded Open Society Foundation was part of Bharat Jodo Yatra, anti-CAA protests and farmer protests: Read details

Earlier today, Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros made certain comments which proved what was already being speculated by many in India, his hand behind short-seller Hindenburg’s report on the Adani group that resulted in the stocks of the group crashing in the market. Soros, who has openly declared his intention to remove nationalist governments from power, including the Narendra Modi government in India, said that while PM Modi is silent on the issue, he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and the parliament.

“This will significantly weaken Modi’s stranglehold on India’s federal government and open the door to push for much-needed institutional reforms. I may be naive, but I expect a democratic revival in India,” George Soros said reading from a prepared statement in the video.

He also made a bizarre claim that the Adani group tried to raise funds in the stock market, but failed. The fact is that the ₹20,000 crore follow-on public offering (FPO) of Adani Enterprises was fully subscribed, but the company chose to withdraw the offer and refund the money to the investors after the controversy around the Hindenburg report. Therefore, Adani group had successfully raised funds in the stock market, and it chose to return that money.

Soros also said that while India is a democracy, PM Narendra Modi is not a democrat, and he expects a democratic revival in India. With this, he made it clear that he wants to see a regime change India. While Narendra Modi has come back to power winning an election, Soros does not consider Modi to be a democratically elected PM because Modi does not subscribe to his leftist ideology.

This stand of George Soros has strange similarities with the claims by the opposition in India, particularly the Congress party. Congress has been claiming that PM Modi has been assaulting on democracy and destroying institutions. George Soros made exactly the same claims in his comments.

However, it does not end here, the ties between Congress and Soros go deeper, who is widely known for his anti-India views. On 31 October 2022, a person named Salil Shetty joined Rahul Gandhi in his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Harthikote in Karnataka. Salil Shetty is the global vice president of Open Society Foundations founded by George Soros. In its regular update on the Yatra on its website, Congress wrote, “Yatris commenced their journey from Harthikote this morning. Walking alongside Shri Gandhi, among others, were two social and human rights activists. Salil Shetty, previous Secretary General of Amnesty International. Also, Nikhil Dey of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, an organisation known for its work in helping bring about the ‘Right to Information Act’.”

Visuals of Salil Shetty with Rahul Gandhi during the yatra were shared by BJP leaders and netizens after the Congress party sought to distance itself from the comments of Soros.

Before becoming VP of Open Society Foundation, Shetty was secretary general of Amnesty International, another left-wing organisation known for its anti-India activities. Shetty’s involvement in India does not end with Bharat Jodo Yatra, earlier he was seen in several events against the Modi government.

Popular Twitter account @BefittingFacts has unearthed that from anti-CAA protests to farmer protests, Shetty was at the forefront everywhere.

In 2020, Salik Shetty was actively involved in the anti-CAA protests various places across the country, including Bengaluru and Delhi. He had posted several tweets from his Twitter account, showing him participating and addressing various protest events against the CAA.

Privileged to speak with the brave and inspirational women @BilalBaghBnglur. Every Indian who believes in our constitution and #Gandhi & #Ambedkar stands with the hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors against #CAA_NRC_NPR across the country. pic.twitter.com/Y4fxrTldy9

— Salil Shetty (@SalilShetty) March 10, 2020

He also regularly tweeted against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and when the CAA was notified by govt of India, he had said, “We will never allow #India to be divided by the Hindutva fundamentalists. We will unmask them.”

Just to prove that #ModiShah don’t care a damn about the protests and the international outcry, #CitizenshipAmendmentAct comes into force! We will never allow #India to be divided by the #Hindutva fundamentalists. We will unmask them #JNUKaSachUnmasked #IndiaAgainst_CAA_NRC_NPR pic.twitter.com/zkDpw1or58

— Salil Shetty (@SalilShetty) January 10, 2020

Salil Shetty was seen addressing the protesters at the infamous Shaheen Bagh protest site, where the anti-CAA protesters had blocked a major road in Delhi for several months, which eventually led to the anti-Hindu riots in the national capital in 2020.

After anti-CAA protests, came the farmer protests at the borders of Delhi, and Salil Shetty was seen there also. On 7 February 2021, he posted video of his joining the protests against the three farm laws at the Singhu border. He had tweeted, “Honoured to convey our solidarity to #FarmersProtests in #Singu border, #India. Truly inspired by the determination & sacrifice of the farmers – they are not alone.”

In December 2020, he had said that the farmers protest is a mother of all protests and “abhi to party shuru hui hai” (the party has just begun), celebrating that people were protesting against Modi govt for trying to bring reforms to the farm sector.

Salil Shetty of Open Society Foundation does not limit himself to participating in anti-BJP govt protests only, he also claimed that India’s vaccination drive against Covid-19 was a failure.

Just like other liberals, he had also batted for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, despite their high cost, after criticising the pricing of India made vaccines at private hospitals. He had called the Indian government’s stand that foreign vaccines must undergo trials in India as “foolish arrogance from the regime in a crisis.”

When Arvind Kejriwal had falsely claimed that Pfizer and Moderna agreed to sell their vaccines directly to Delhi govt, Shetty called it a mess and suggested that the Modi govt should not get away scot free for not allowing the American vaccines in India.

He also didn’t stop attacking the Modi government alleging that the govt is ‘anti-democracy’ even during the pandemic. Talking to CNN, he had said, “There are two viruses in this country – one is a coronavirus and the other is an anti-democracy virus. There is vaccine only for one.”

The Twitter timeline of Salil Shetty is filled with anti-Narendra Modi and anti-BJP tweets, making his political stand clear. And such such a person is the vice president of the primary organisation George Soros.

India was never a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and never will be, Islam is the only true religion: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq

OpIndia Staff
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India was never a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and never will be, Islam is the only true religion: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq

Shafiqur Rahman Barq, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and member of parliament (MP) from the Sambhal Lok Sabha seat, has made yet another provocative statement. He asserted that India has never been and would never be a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ while emphasizing that Islam is the only true religion.

The MP was furious with Juna Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Yatindranand Giri’s declaration that India is a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

Barq in response pronounced that nobody in India will ever agree to a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. He further advised Giri to read Quran and said that Giri has no right to discuss Islam if he hasn’t read the Quran and isn’t a Muslim. While commenting on Hindu saints, Barq said that saints have no business making pronouncements about Islam or issuing fatwas.

Barq declared, “Muslims in this country will not put up with the remarks expressed by the CM, as well as those of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.”

He contended that Islam, which was founded by Allah, is the only true religion in the world and the rest are all cults formed later. Quran, as per the senior SP leader, “is a divine scripture, and it serves as an incentive for millions of individuals to flourish in life. This book cannot be changed.” He threatened, that anybody who attempts to do so will be subject to severe consequences.

Mahamandaleswar Yatindra Nand Giri of the Juna Akhara has responded to Barq’s remarks saying that people like Barq can only issue controversial statements and nothing else.

Meanwhile, Manoj Tiwari, BJP leader from Delhi, who was attending a Literary Festival in Khajuraho Hotel, proclaimed, “India is already fundamentally a Hindu Rashtra. There is no need to emphasize this viewpoint, even though it may be shared by many.” He added, that we adhere to and use the constitution as a guide.

Barq may be the latest, but he is by no means the first to make such problematic statements. Earlier, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Mahmood Asad Madani had declared India as the primary homeland of Muslims.

Maulana Arshad Madani, another senior Jamiat leader, had equated Om with Allah, while speaking at Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind’s recently concluded convention in Delhi, earning the ire of religious leaders of other faiths, who walked off the stage in protest.

Instead of Muslim stone pelters, Police hound Hindus who were preparing for Mahashivratri, manhandle Hindu women, locals say: Ground report from Palamu

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Instead of Muslim stone pelters, Police hound Hindus who were preparing for Mahashivratri, manhandle Hindu women, locals say: Ground report from Palamu

On 15th February 2023, a Muslim mob indulged in violence over the installation of welcome gates by Hindus ahead of Mahashivaratri in Palamu of Jharkhand. It was opposed by Muslims who said the welcome gates could not be installed in front of the mosque. The Muslim mob not only pelted stones from the mosques but committed arson. The Hindus have now come up to reveal how the state administration and police are targetting and hounding them instead of taking action against the Muslims, who are the actual culprits in this case.

Hindus in Palamu are so afraid of the police administration’s unilateral action that they refuse to disclose their identity. On the condition of anonymity, a local Hindu told OpIndia that male officers are forcibly storming homes, manhandling, assaulting, and abusing Hindus. They are also unrelenting in their treatment towards Hindu women.

Some allege that the police are breaking into the homes of Hindus who are not opening their doors out of fear. In addition to that, police are severely beating up Hindus whom they are arbitrarily arresting. These people include those who have nothing to do with the violence and were not even present at the time of the incident.

Speaking to OpIndia, a local Hindu named Surendra Singh (note that we changed the Hindu man’s name to safeguard him) described what happened leading up to the February 13th violence in Palamu, Jharkhand, and how Hindus have been singled out and targeted following the incident.

He alleged that the Jharkhand police had been protecting members of the Muslim community who engaged in stone pelting and arson while pursuing Hindus, the victims in this case. He further stated that the majority of Hindu youths in the area have deserted their houses, fearful that the authorities may take unilateral action against them. While many Hindus have fled their houses, others have been forced to hide here and there by turning off their phones, among other things.

Surendra Singh first recalled how it all began before moving on to how the state administration pursued retaliatory measures against Hindus rather than the actual perpetrators, Muslims.

On the day of the violence, he alleged, Hindus were digging trenches to install the ‘toran dwar’ (welcome gates) when a shopkeeper called Karim opposed. Surendra Singh added that he and other organisers tried to explain to Karim that it was only a four-day festival and that he should not complain because Hindus had never opposed any Muslim-organized event. Karim, on the other hand, was adamant. He threatened that Hindus may attempt all they wanted, but he would not allow them to install the welcome gate.

This enraged the Hindu organisers, but they tried again to explain to Karim that the road where the gateway was being placed was not anyone’s personal property, but government land and no one could stop them from proceeding with the installation.

“As the altercation heated up, Karim proceeded to a neighbouring mosque with one Mehboob Alam. Within no time, a mob of Islamists congregated at the mosque. They urged us to relocate the toran dwar, but we were adamant about installing it in its original place. Meanwhile, I shared a post on social media soliciting assistance from the Hindu community to install the welcome gates. The Muslims in the area enquired about the post I had written. I stated to them that I was only seeking Hindu support to erect the gate. I informed them that I do not intend to fight and that I wish to carry out the event peacefully. But, furious Muslims hauled out sticks and batons from the mosque and attacked us. When I intervened, I was hit on the head. The scuffle progressed into a full-fledged clash and stone-pelting,” recalled Surendra Singh (name changed).

Police arbitrarily started hurling lathis at Hindus, a local Hindu accuses Jharkhand police of being biased towards Muslims

He continued to explain how the Jharkhand police, acting at the behest of the Hemant Soren government, handled the entire incident in a completely biased manner. After receiving information about the clash, police teams led by SP and DSP arrived on the scene. He claimed that the police, without even assessing the situation, began hurling lathis at Hindus.

We encouraged the cops to first put a halt to the stone pelting from the mosque. We tried to convey to them that it was not the Hindus’ fault. But, the cops ignored our request and continued to lathi-charge the Hindus.

“We begged the cops to first stop the Muslims from hurling stones from the mosque. We tried to convey to them that it was not the Hindus who were at fault. But, the cops ignored our request and continued to lathi-charge the Hindus,” Surendra Singh bemoaned, adding that the Muslim community’s arrogance is attributed to the blind support they are getting from the state administration.

The police had also beaten up a TV journalist. He is alleged to have been assaulted so badly that he is now having problems breathing. Meanwhile, the cops have been accused of breaking into a teacher’s home and abusing him.

Atrocities against Hindus being carried out with assistance from local Congress MLA

Surendra Singh (name changed) also informed OpIndia that the atrocities committed against Hindus, both by the state administration and members of the Muslim community, are being carried out with the assistance of a local Congress MLA. He claimed that the police detained 5 to 6 Muslims solely for the purpose of documenting, but their primary targets are only Hindus.

The local Hindu voiced surprise that, despite the fact that police personnel were also injured in the stone-pelting by Muslims, they are protecting them and instead pursuing action against Hindus.

He also remarked that, despite the fact that Hindus are being targeted, Muslims, who are the actual criminals in the case, are busy playing the victim.

Muslims play the victim

Notably, on February 15th, 2023, the Muslim mob not only pelted stones from the mosques but committed arson. After indulging in violence against Hindus, Muslims started playing the victim.

After the violence against Hindus, Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi proceeded to dog whistle and paint the perpetrators as the victims. “Stones were hurled at the mosque and two houses and some vehicles were burnt”, he said. However, in reality, it was a Hindu who was first hit in the head and then stone pelting took place from the mosque.

Asaduddin Owaisi didn’t stop here. He said that the welcome gate should not have been built in front of the mosque. He blamed the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for it, saying the rioters and the Sangh Parivar won. Interestingly, while the blamed the victims, the Hindus, he also justified the violence by the Muslim mob by saying that the Mahashivratri celebrations should not have taken place in front of the mosque.

Muslims dominate as people living here are Dalits

According to locals, the neighbourhood is only home to the backward and Dalit groups. That is why Muslims frequently harass them. The area of upper caste people is said to be 5-6 kilometres away. The Muslims would not have dominated them as much if the upper-caste people had lived here.

36 loudspeakers placed in mosques still Muslims object to bhajan and aartis in Mandir

Locals say a loudspeaker was placed at the temple around a month ago to play bhajans. People associated with the mosque were outraged at this. The mosque committee began protesting and complaining to the local police about it. The temple’s loudspeaker was eventually removed, but Azaan continued to blare from loudspeakers that are installed in the mosque.

According to locals, 36 loudspeakers have been installed at the mosque, and Azaan is offered five times at full volume. Under the condition of anonymity, a person stated that the noise of the loudspeakers during namaz makes it difficult to even talk to customers in the shop, but no one has the audacity to raise any objections.

Muslims arbitrarily renamed Bhagat Singh Chowk as Masjid Chowk

Bhagat Singh Chowk is the name given to the site where the violence over the archway occurred. There is also a statue of Bhagat Singh installed there. However, Muslims arbitrarily began to refer to it as Masjid Chowk, said local Hindus.

Violence was pre-planned, two tractors full of bricks and stones were brought and placed on the roof of the mosque

Under the condition of anonymity, a local stated that Nehal Ansari, the former head of Panki Paschim Panchayat, had ordered two tractors of bricks and stones a day before the rioting, which Aftab Miyan and Mehboob had stored on the roof of the mosque. The tractor used to bring the bricks and stone belonged to one Haroon Miyan, the local added.

Radical Islamist from Kerala apprehended from the mosque

According to reports, one Rajiullah, a native of Balrampur in Chhattisgarh, has also been arrested in connection with this violence. According to a local, a Muslim from Kerala visited the mosque’s madarsa around a year ago. He was brainwashing people in the Madarsa. The authorities arrested him after receiving a complaint from the local Hindus.

Adani-Hindenburg row: Supreme Court rejects centre’s sealed cover suggestions over expert panel, says the matter demands full transparency

OpIndia Staff
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Adani-Hindenburg row: Supreme Court rejects centre’s sealed cover suggestions over expert panel, says the matter demands full transparency

On Friday, February 17, the Supreme Court turned down the Centre’s suggestion in a ‘sealed cover’ regarding a proposed panel of experts recommending steps to tighten regulatory measures in order to minimise any loss to Indian investors due to market volatility, as witnessed during the Adani-Hindenburg row.

A bench comprising of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), DY Chandrachud, and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala decided against accepting the government’s sealed cover proposal stating that since the issue demands ‘full transparency’, doing so may give the impression that the committee was appointed by the government and the matter was kept away from the other side.

CJI Chandrachud remarked, “We will not accept the sealed cover suggestion by you because we want to maintain full transparency. Also, if we take recommendations in a sealed cover, it will appear as though we have kept them secret because the people will assume that it is a government-appointed committee.” The SC bench stated that if the suggestions made by the Centre are accepted they must be disclosed to the other side in order to maintain transparency.

“We will appoint the committee and its members on our own,” the bench said. Additionally, the Court made it clear that it would not name a sitting judge to the committee to look into the matter. The Central Government’s argument that the report’s impact on the market was negligible was also dismissed by the Court.

Four petitions regarding a report written by short-seller Hindenburg Research, alleging conglomerate fraud that cost the Adani Group losses of over $100 billion in market value, were being heard by the court.

Nathan Anderson, the founder of Hindenburg Research, and his associates in India were the subject of a FIR filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma with the SEBI and the Union Home Ministry. Sharma also submitted an application for a gag order to restrict media coverage about publicly traded firms unless they are first submitted to and approved by the SEBI.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari requested that a commission led by a former judge of the highest court conduct an investigation of the Hindenburg report. Moreover, Tiwari has sought the formation of a special committee to monitor a procedure for approving loans worth more than 500 crores.

Congress leader Jaya Thakur in her petition questioned the decisions of the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to purchase Adani shares at allegedly inflated rates and called for the prosecution of the Adani group of companies under relevant laws.

Thakur further requested that a judge on the Supreme Court conduct the investigation. A plea filed by one Anamika Jaiswal was also heard today.

Notably, on Monday, the Centre had agreed to the top court’s recommendation to form a panel of experts to look into strengthening the regulatory procedures for the stock market in the wake of the share price drop in the Adani Group stocks, which was precipitated by a report by Hindenburg Group over claims of “stock manipulation”. Nonetheless, the Adani group has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Tushar Mehta, presenting on behalf of the Centre and SEBI, stated that the market regulator and other statutory authorities are prepared to address the current situation caused by the Hindenburg report.

“The government has no objection to forming a committee. Yet we can make suggestions on the committee’s mandate. Mehta The law enforcement officer stated, “We can provide names in a sealed cover.”

Mehta added that any “unintentional” message during the panel’s setup could have a detrimental impact on the flow of money.

As George Soros reveals his role in the Adani fiasco, here is all you need to know about his ‘Colour Revolution’ in India

Dibakar Dutta
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As George Soros reveals his role in the Adani fiasco, here is all you need to know about his ‘Colour Revolution’ in India

India has been fighting a ‘perception war’ on all fronts since the start of 2023. On January 17 this year, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a 2-part documentary series attacking PM Narendra Modi. One of the nefarious objectives behind the documentary was to cast aspersions on the role of Islamists in the Godhra train carnage and insinuate the complicity of PM Modi in the 2002 riots.

The national broadcaster of the United Kingdom also attempted to create an atmosphere of communal unrest in the country by disputing well-established facts.

A week later on January 24, a US-based short-selling firm, Hindenburg Research published a ‘malicious’ report targeting Indian conglomerate Adani Group and wiped out over ₹10 lakh crores of investors in the process.

The entry of George Soros in the ‘perception war’

While Indian markets had begun to recover from the sudden jolt to the business community, Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros emerged from the shadows to make insinuations about possible collusion between the Modi government and the Adani group.

On February 16, he claimed, “Modi and business tycoon Adani are close allies. Their fate is intertwined…Adani Enterprises tried to raise funds in the stock market, but he failed. Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stock collapsed like a house of cards”

Soros accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of crony capitalism. “Modi is silent on the subject, but he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and in parliament,” he added.

The Hungarian American billionaire also said that the ‘shakedown’ caused to the Indian markets due to the Hindenburg Research report will result in ‘much needed institutional reforms’ and ‘democratic revival’. 

Setting the stage for a colour revolution

George Soros inadvertently revealed what we have known for a long time – the billionaire is eyeing a ‘colour revolution’ in India. The term ‘colour revolutions’ originated from a series of popular uprisings in the early 2000s in Eastern Europe, following the fall of communism.

It has since been used to describe similar movements in the Middle East and Asia. The protests often involve mass demonstrations calling for free and fair elections, or for the removal of authoritarian leaders. These types of uprisings have been criticised as foreign-instigated attempts to destabilise regimes for the benefit of Western powers.

George Soros and his vicious ecosystem of NGOs, activists and journalists had been trying to prove PM Modi as an ‘electoral autocrat’ who needed to be ousted for the ‘greater good’ of this country. And it has been a work in progress for a long time.

In January 2020, the American billionaire committed $1 billion to start a global university to “fight nationalists” and climate change, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of our civilization.

While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros pledged to fund a university project to battle the erosion of civil society in a world increasingly ruled by “would-be and actual dictators” and climate change.

Soros also claimed that the “biggest and most frightening setback” was in India, as he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “creating a Hindu nationalist state.”

Attempts to overthrow the Modi government

The Hungarian-American billionaire has several intellectuals on his payroll, including the former PM Manmohan Singh’s daughter Amrita Singh. Not to forget the curious case of ‘author’ and ‘social activist’ Harsh Mander who had been at the forefront of creating civil unrest during the Anti-CAA protests.

He and his NGO Karwan-e-Mohabbat had been very active in the demonstrations held at Shaheen Bagh. “From now on, the decision will not come from the Supreme Court or Parliament. We saw what the Supreme Court did in Ayodhya, NRC and Kashmir matters,” he was heard saying in a viral video.

Harsh Mander had threatened, “The SC has failed to honour secularism, equality and humanity. We will try fighting there too, but, the decision will not happen in the Supreme court nor Parliament, it has to be made in the streets.”

At one point, he had even vowed to register himself as a Muslim if the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed. Harsh Mander had also sought the arrest of BJP leader Kapil Mishra.

It may be recalled Shaheen Bagh was masterminded by Sharjeel Imam, an Islamist who urged Indian Muslims to cut off North East India from the rest of the country.

In 2018, George Soros-funded NGO, Sherpa, had attempted to thwart India’s defence deal with France and stall the delivery of Rafale fighter jets.

Moreover, Open Society Foundations (OSF) run by the billionaire had funded the Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC), which had been active in seeking the repeal of the sedition law currently used against anti-India elements.

In September 2019, George Soros also met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan shortly after US President Donald Trump attended Narendra Modi’s ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston, Texas.

Interestingly, he is also friends with prominent Congressman Shashi Tharoor, who also happens to have a Pakistani connection. In 2021, there was a hullabaloo in India over allegations of snooping by the Modi government through the use of Israeli spyware, Pegasus.

These allegations stemmed from a report by the leftist-propaganda news outlet, The Wire, which in turn was fed the story by ‘Forbidden Stories (FS). Coincidentally, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) happens to be one of the donors of the organisation.

George Soros had been unabashed in his attempt to fuel a dangerous anti-India narrative through media and ‘civil society. Organisations funded by him played a key role in creating chaos and unrest under the pretext of anti-farm law protests.

In 1999, the Open Society Foundation began activities in India by providing scholarships and fellowships to pursue studies and research at Indian colleges. Through the OSF, George Soros made significant contributions towards the spread of instability in India.

The Hungarian-American billionaire has also tried to use international institutions, which are funded by him, including Freedom House and  V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute to tarnish the image of India at a global level.

When PM Modi warned about threats to Indian nationalism

In February 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned his countrymen about threats to the Indian spirit of nationalism. He had said, “Our democracy is not a western institution. It’s a human institution. India’s history is filled with examples of democratic institutions.”

“We find mention of 81 democracies in ancient India. Today it’s essential to warn citizens about the attacks on India’s nationalism. India’s nationalism is neither narrow now selfish and not even aggressive,” PM Modi emphasised.

He further added, “This is inspired by the values of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. This quotation was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.” PM Modi’s words were a veiled message to organisations that are trying to brand India as undemocratic and violent.

George Soros-funded group impacted the outcome of the 2020 US elections

George Soros had been following a pattern to subvert democracy, bring about regime changes and interfere in the free decision-making process of voters.

In a tranche of internal documents released in the aftermath of Twitter’s takeover by Elon Musk, it came to light that a group (First Draft News) funded by the Open Society Foundations (OSF) of the Hungarian-American billionaire helped in suppressing the infamous Hunter Biden story.

This move alone impacted the result of the 2020 US Presidential elections. In May last year, 2 advocacy groups (Free Press and Media Matters for America) funded by OSF wrote to major corporate brands to reconsider their decision to fund ads on Twitter.

The vicious BBC documentary, the Hindenburg Research report and the entry of George Soros in the anti-India campaign are not a coincidence. As shown above, there is more to it than what meets the eye.

Jharkhand govt tells High Court that section 144 imposed in Deoghar will not affect Shivaratri, court tells govt to give full information to public

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand govt tells High Court that section 144 imposed in Deoghar will not affect Shivaratri, court tells govt to give full information to public

A plea filed challenging the imposition of Section 144 in Deoghar and Shiv Baraat was heard today, February 17, in the Jharkhand High Court. In a reply filed at a bench comprising acting Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Judge Deepak Roshan, the state government assured that the Section 144 imposed would not pose any problem to the devotees ahead of Mahashivratri. In the hearing, the court instructed the Deoghar administration to provide the public with comprehensive information based on the reply submitted during the hearing.

The petition was filed by MP Nishikant Dubey, challenging the implementation of Section 144 by the Deoghar district administration and the change in the route of Shiv Baraat. It was argued in the petition that the district administration arbitrarily changed the route of Shiv Baraat. by doing so, they are playing with the faith of the devotees, therefore he court should intervene in this matter, Dubey pleaded with the court.

During the hearing, the state government filed a sealed report in the court, where the govt said that the enforcement of section 144 was merely for routine purposes and wouldn’t pose any issues for the devotees. Regarding to the route of Shiv Baraat sought by the committee, the state govt stated that there is a possibility of obstruction in the said route of Shiv Baraat. “Intelligence’s input also points in this direction. That’s why the old route has been chosen for the Shiva procession,” the submission stated.

The news was confirmed by Godda’s BJP MP Nishikant Dubey who said, “Jharkhand Government gave an affidavit in the Hon’ble Court, ending 144 for the worship of Baba Baidyanath ji and the devotees coming to Shiv Baraat.” He also invited BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and actresses Akshara Singh and Bhagyashree to attend the procession.

After hearing the response, the court ordered the Deoghar DC to employ the media and loudspeakers to provide the public with all relevant information. The petition in the case was filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against the imposition of Section 144 in Deoghar and the change in the route of Shiv Baraat ahead of the Mahashivratri festival.

As reported earlier, section 144 was imposed in the region after the violence erupted in the Palamu district of Jharkhand ahead of Mahashivratri celebrations. Stones were pelted at devotees preparing to worship at the mosque square of the district. Some vehicles were also set on fire. Petrol bombs were also used in the attack. So far, about a dozen people are said to be injured, including 6 policemen. A heavy police force has been deployed to take care of the situation and also the internet has been closed as a precautionary measure.

Dubey in the petition stated that the district administration had arbitrarily decided to change the route without the consent of the Shivratri Festival Committee formed to organize the procession. He also added that the route decided by the district administration was narrow and there would be difficulty in taking out the Shiva procession. “This is a dictatorial attitude. The faith of the devotees is being played with. This hurts religious sentiments of devotees,” the petition read as it asked the Court to intervene in the matter.

The PIL was filed by Dubey and Abhishek Anand Jha, the chairman of the Shivratri Festival Committee. The duo stated that they would stage a protest if the Jharkhand government fails to change its attitude. However, the Court ordered on February 17 ordered that section 144 would not pose any problem to the devotees ahead of Mahashivratri.

Election Commission rules that Eknath Shinde heads the real Shiv Sena, allots name ‘Shiv Sena’ and ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol to his faction

ANI
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Election Commission rules that Eknath Shinde heads the real Shiv Sena, allots name ‘Shiv Sena’ and ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol to his faction

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced that the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” will be retained by the Eknath Shinde faction.

Notably, both factions of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) have been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde (present Maharashtra Chief Minister) revolted against Thackeray last year. The Commission observed that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic. It has been mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all. Such party structures fail to inspire confidence.

In a landmark decision with far-reaching implications on political parties and their conduct, ECI advised all political parties to reflect democratic ethos and principles of inner party democracy and regularly disclose on their respective websites aspects of their inner party functioning, such as organisational details, holding of elections, the copy of Constitution and list of office bearers.

“The constitution of political parties ought to provide for free, fair and transparent elections to the posts of office bearers and a further free and fair procedure for the resolution of internal disputes. These procedures ought to be difficult to amend and should be amendable only after ensuring larger support of the organisational members for the same,” the ECI said.

“The Constitution of SS amended in 2018 is not given to ECI. Amendments had undone the act of introducing democratic norms in the Party Constitution of 1999, brought by the Late Balasaheb Thackeray at the insistence of the Commission,” the ECI added.

The ECI observed that the undemocratic norms of the original Constitution of Shiv Sena, which was not accepted by the Commission in 1999 have been brought back in a surreptitious manner further making the party akin to a fiefdom.

The Rashtriya Karyakarini is a body which is ‘elected’ by a largely ‘appointed’ Pratinidhi Sabha. The Commission conveyed to Shiv Sena in the year 1999 on the draft amendments when Bala Saheb was made leader of Sena for life: “To put in a nutshell, the party Constitution envisages the President nominating the Electoral College that is to elect him. Therefore, any reliance on the ‘”Test of Party Constitution”‘ for determining the present dispute case will be undemocratic and catalytic in spreading such practices across parties.

The ECI said that the 2018 Constitution of SS, by way of its plain reading on the vital axis of remedy/modality of dissent, stifles all options of the rival group(s) in its very formulation. It confers widespread powers of making various organisational appointments on a single person.

“The 40 MLAs, supporting the Shinde faction, garnered 36,57327 votes out of a total of 47,82440 votes i.e ~76 per cent of votes polled in favour of 55 winning MLAs in the GA to the LA 19. This contrasts with 11,25113 votes garnered by 15 MLAs whose support is claimed by the Uddhav Thakre faction i.e ~ 23.5 per cent of votes polled in favour of winning 55 MLAs,” it said.

Further, as against 90,49,789, total votes polled by Shiv Sena in the General election to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra in 2019 (including the losing candidates), votes polled by 40 MLAs supporting the Shinde faction come to ~40 per cent whereas votes polled by 15 MLAs supporting the Uddhav Thakre faction come to ~12 per cent of total votes, the Commission said.

“The 13 MPs supporting the Shinde faction garnered 74,88,634 votes out of a total of 1,02,45143 votes i.e ~73 per cent of votes polled in favour of 18 MPs in the general election to the Lok Sabha, 2019. This contrasts with 27,56,509 votes garnered by 5 MPs supporting Uddhav Thakre faction (although claimed 6 and affidavits filed by only 4) i.e ~ 27 per cent of votes polled in favour of 18 MPs,” the Commission further stated.

Further, as against 1,25,89064, the total votes polled by Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha election, 2019 (including the losing candidates), votes polled by 13 MPs supporting the Shinde faction come to ~59 per cent whereas votes polled by 5 MPs (claimed 6 whereas affidavits of only 4) supporting the Uddhav Thakre faction comes to ~22 per cent, the Commission added.

Last month, both the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena submitted their written statements in support of their claims of control over the party name and symbol to the Election Commission.

The ECI had frozen the bow and arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena and had allotted the ‘Two Swords and Shield symbol’ to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal) election symbol was allotted to the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the bypoll in Andheri East assembly constituency in November last year.

In November last year, Uddhav Thackeray had moved a writ plea in the Delhi High Court against the ECI decision to freeze Election Symbol of Bow and Arrow. However, the plea was dismissed by the court.

Notably, EC passed the interim order saying in Andheri East bypolls, neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol “Bow and Arrow”, reserved for “Shiv Sena”.

The Commission’s ruling had come amid the ongoing symbol war between the Uddhav Thackeray camp and rival Eknath Shinde camp. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

“The storm is coming’: Image of Hanuman reappears on the full-scale model of HAL’s HLFT-42 aircraft on the last day of Aero India 2023

OpIndia Staff
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“The storm is coming’: Image of Hanuman reappears on the full-scale model of HAL’s HLFT-42 aircraft on the last day of Aero India 2023

In the latest development at Aero India 2023 being held at Bangalore in Karnataka, the picture of Bajrang Bali Hanuman reappeared on the full-scale model of HLFT-42 (Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer) made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). On 14th February 2023, the picture of Lord Hanuman was removed from the tail of the fighter aircraft in order to ensure that the program runs through successfully without getting into any controversy. But the image reappeared on the aircraft on the last of the Aero India 2023 on 17 February, where the HLFT-42 full-scale model was displayed.

The Aero India show 2023 was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 13th February 2023, Monday, in Bangalore. At the expo, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) revealed a scale model of the Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42). The image of Bajrang Bali Hanuman embossed on the tail of this fighter aircraft has become one of the key attractions. The image of the Sanatan deity symbolizing power and devotion toward one’s duty comes with a declaration mentioned near the image that reads ‘The storm is coming’.

On 14th February 2023, the picture was removed from the model of the plane. In a statement, CMD of HAL CB Ananthakrishnan said, “It is not with any intention that it has been put, and it has not been with any intention that it has been removed. It is just to see that the program runs through successfully without getting into any [controversy].”

In another statement, Ananthakrishnan said, “We put up Lord Hanuman’s image only to showcase the plane’s strength. However, we decided to remove it after the controversy. The idea was to establish a link with our trainer aircraft, Marut. However, we saw controversy erupting around it. The project is at its first stage. We only want to concentrate on it.”

However, the removal of the image created another controversy, and there was a backlash against HAL for the removal. The public sector company was accused of bowing to the pressure of anti-Hindu elements.

Following the outrage, the Hanuman sticker with the ‘The storm is coming’ text has been put back on the vertical stabiliser of the model of the aircraft on the last day of Aero India 2023 on Friday. In the image, Hanuman is seen in battle mode carrying his mace.

Significance Bajrang Bali Hanuman

The HLFT-42’s forceful Lord Hanuman design on the tail establishes the connection between the new aircraft and the HLFT-24 Marut. HLFT-24 Marut was the first Indian-developed fighter aircraft. It was developed by HAL in 1961.

According to Hindu scriptures, Marut means the Pavan Dev which is the lord of air and wind. Pavan Dev is Lord Hanuman’s heavenly father. He bestowed many superpowers to Bajrang Bali Lord Hanuman including the one of flying at great speeds anywhere in space. Therefore, Bajrang Bali Hanuman is also called Maruti, that is, the son of Marut.

HLFT-42 with a picture of Bajrang Bali Lord Hanuman on its tail is thus seen as the successor of the fighter aircraft HLFT-24 Marut that helped Indian forces destroy many tanks of the Pakistani army in the battle of Longewala during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

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