Controversial statements by Islamist Maulanas in India are not over yet. After Maulana Madani compared Om with Allah and Manu with Adam, Maulana Sajid Rashidi has come up with a new claim in which he said that the first human Hazrat Adam was a Muslim and that he was a messenger of God. Maulana Sajid Rashidi said that this so-called first human worshipped Allah. He further claimed that Manu and Hazrat Adam are the same and all the gods and goddesses including Shri Ram are descendants of this so-called Hazrat Adam.
While speaking to the news agency ANI, Maulana Sajid Rashidi was giving an explanation of the controversial statements given by Maulana Madani. During this, he said, “I am telling the things as per my faith. Because the constitution allows us to believe in our faith, practice it, and preach it. So, according to our faith, we believe that Hazrat Adam was the first human. He was also a messenger of god. When Akhand Bharat existed, at that time, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, etc. all were united. At that time, he came to Sri Lanka which is Hindustan. He was a messenger of god. we call him Hazrat Adam and he is mentioned many times in Quran.”
Maulana Sajid Rashidi added, “So, he (Maulana Madani) meant to say that the first human was a messenger of god and that he was a Muslim. It is only after him that the rest of the world was created. This means that Hazrat Adam came as the first human and everything else was created after that. He meant that Hazrat Adam too believed in Allah. We call Hazrat Adam to the one whom you call Manu. Therefore, he worshipped Allah and it is properly mentioned in Quran a number of times in various chapters. Quran tells about why Hazrat Adam came to this world, why he was sent here, how did he have kids here in this world, how many times he married, and all. So, all he (Maulana Madani) meant to say was that everything is mentioned there. “
Maulana Sajid Rashidi continued, “Quran says that Hazrat Adam also believed in Allah. Because he was the first human. All humans were born only after him. Be it Shri Ram or you take an example of any god or goddess. Every one of them is a descendant of Hazrat Adam. This was the motive behind his (Maulana Madani’s) statement. And this is my faith.”
Maulana Sajid Rashidi said, “I can express my faith anywhere. I can say it among people like me or among others because the constitution gives me the right to do so. There was no need to make a controversy out of this. Those who have created a controversy have done so in an unnecessary way. If Jain Dharmagurus or Hindu Dharmagurus start to talk according to their faiths then what happens? Nowadays, there are talks about Ramayan (Ramcharitmanas) that some of the Chaupais are incorrect. Ram Ji left Seeta Ji, or he went to the jungles as per the orders of his father, we never talk about this. Because it is your faith. We talk about our faith. Making controversy on these things is a mindset that prevents Hindus and Muslims from uniting together. This controversy is purposely created so that the hatred between Hindus and Muslims grows more.”
Maulana Sajid Rashidi further said, “Jain Dharmaguru Lokesh is connected to me on WhatsApp. We have a word almost daily, or after every 1 or 2 days. If he sits in front of me, I will prove this to him. Let him come with his scriptures, I will take along my scriptures. If he proves that the first human to come into this world was a Jain or a Hindu, then I will accept it. We are proving things. Our religious book Quran says that the first human who came into this world was a Muslim who believed in Allah and worshipped Allah. All other humans came into existence only after that first human. All are his descendants.”
Maulana Sajid Rashidi recently whitewashed Mahmud Ghazni
On Thursday, February 9, Gujarat Police said that an FIR was lodged against Maulana Sajid Rashidi, the chairman of the All India Imam Association for his remarks that the Islamic tyrant Mahmud of Ghazni did not destroy Somnath Temple due to his hatred towards infidels (Kafirs) but to stop the alleged ‘wrongdoings’ that were taking place inside the temple.
The complaint against the Hinduphobic maulana was filed by Somnath Temple Trust General Manager Vijaysinh Chavda on the basis of which a case has been registered by the police. Following the FIR, Maulana Sajid Rashidi issued a half-hearted apology to Somnath Trust saying it was not his intention to hurt anyone. He also stated that his claims were based on Romila Thapar’s writings. he also added that during their 800-year rule, Muslim rulers in India had donated lands for temples and invested money to beautify those temples.
Banned organization Popular Front of India’s (PFI) political wing Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has announced that it will field Shafi Bellare in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections which are scheduled to take place later year. Shafi Bellare is one of the accused in Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Praveen Nettaru’s murder case.
Shafi Bellare is one among the probable three to run for the Puttur constituency in the Dakshina Kannada district from SDPI, according to an announcement made by SDPI state president Abdul Majeed. Notably, the NIA has detained Shafi Bellare in connection with the murder of Praveen Nettaru. A recce of Praveen Nettaru’s home and information about the victim’s activities were both given by Shafi, the NIA’s chargesheet states.
SDPI Karnataka’s state general secretary and election in-charge said while speaking to Times Now, “Look, our state secretary Shafi Bellare is wrongfully fixed in the Praveen Nettaru murder case. He has done nothing wrong. He is politically trapped and sent to jail, in this case. His name is there in our first list of probable candidates. Though the names are not fixed yet, we can confirm the name in the second list. There are two-three more candidates in consideration for that seat but we will confirm the name in the second list. He is one of the proposed candidates. We will release the second list in February’s last week.”
He added, “The day Shafi Bellare was arrested, we took a press conference and said that he is framed in this case under a political conspiracy. He has nothing to do with the murder case. We will fight the legal battle in court. Right now he is just an accused and nothing is proven so far.
According to a report by Republic World, BJP leader S Prakash said, “It is disgusting that a murder accused is announced as the candidate for assembly poll. The SDPI and PFI are terror and murderous organizations. The blatant support of the murder accused who is behind the bar, the SDPI has proved that their colour has not changed and they remain an anti-social element.”
SDPI is likely to field murder accused, Shafi Bellare, in the upcoming Karnataka election from the Puttur assembly constituency.@sdpikarnataka makes stark comments in an Exclusive conversation with Imran.@KeypadGuerilla shares more intrinsic details with @dekameghnapic.twitter.com/rJfCQAOLf3
He added, “Merely announcing the candidature does not make him the MLA. It’s the people’s will that is essential. People will give a befitting reply to the SDPI.”
On July 26, 2022, a Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha (BJYM) worker Praveen Nettaru was hacked to death by unidentified assailants. Late evening, the killers came on a bike to Bellari, Dakshina Kannada of Karnataka, and attacked Nettaru with sharp weapons. Praveen Nettaru, who ran a poultry business, was returning home when the attack happened. The assailants escaped after the attack. The Hindu leader was rushed to the hospital, but he could not be saved.
Following Nettaru’s murder, unrest broke out in the Dakshina Kannada district in a number of locations. Soon after, state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai turned over the Praveen Nettaru murder case to the NIA. In January 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 20 members of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) for murdering Karnataka BJYM leader Praveen Nettaru. The NIA informed a special court that Nettaru was murdered by a killer squad of the PFI as part of its plan to instil terror into a “specific community” (Hindus) and further their agenda of “Islamic rule in India by 2047.”
The chargesheet was submitted by the anti-terror organization before a Bengaluru special court under sections 120B, 153A, 302, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as sections 16, 18, and 20 of the 1967 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act.
Delhi police on Monday arrested a man in connection to last year’s riots that broke out in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area.
“The arrested accused has been identified as Salman alias Suleman”, officials said. According to the Delhi police, the arrested accused, Saman, was wanted in connection to the Jahangirpuri riots that happened last year.
He was absconding since then, and a reward of Rs 25,000 was also announced in his name, officials said.
The Special Staff Team of North West District arrested Salman.
On April 16, 2022 during a procession on Hanuman Jayanti, a group of people allegedly instigated the public and pelted stones, glass bottles upon the opposite party and police staff deployed on duty.
According to police, clashes broke out between two communities during the procession and stones were pelted in the area.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Islamic organization Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind and its chief Maulana Arshad Mahmood Madani are in the middle of a fresh controversy. Maulana Madani, who had earlier called India the motherland of Muslims, has now described Manu and Adam, and Om and Allah as one and the same. Jain Acharya Muni Lokesh left the stage, criticizing Madani. However, Acharya Chidanand has said that one has to remain connected to one’s roots and culture after Madani’s contentious remarks stirred a furore.
According to reports, Swami Chidanand of Parmarth Niketan has said, “There is no point of agreement or disagreement with Madani’s statement. I expressed my views in my own way. He has expressed his views in his own way. Whoever wants to listen will listen. I don’t know what Lokesh Muni ji had in his mind and what he understood, or in what sense he has taken it.”
Acharya Chidanand has also said, “I have taken Madani’s point in such a way that I respect everyone. For me, everything is equal and I respect everyone. This is also said in the Constitution of our country. However, if one believes in the religion of Islam and describes its specialty, then he must tell. It is natural. He will tell its specialty.”
He has further said that the person who believes in Hinduism will also tell the characteristics of Hinduism. But while explaining the features of one’s own religion, one should stay connected to his origin, values, and roots of culture and values. That’s today’s message.
On the other hand, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha national president Chakrapani Maharaj has also retaliated against Madani’s statement. Chakrapani Maharaj said, “He believes in Manu. Manu followed Sanatana dharma. Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a fish to save him. That is why Maulana Madani becomes a Sanatani Hindu. Now he needs to showcase patriotism, chant Vande Mataram, and chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Because Hindus following Sanatan Dharma are patriots.”
What did Maulana Madani say?
Maulana Madani had said, “I asked great religious figures when there was no one, neither Shri Ram, nor Lord Shiv, nor Brahma, then whom did Manu worship? Some said, he used to worship Lord Shiv, but they are ignorant. Very few people told me that Manu used to pray to OM. I asked them, who is Om? They said that he is one without any form or color. He is everywhere, just like air. He created everything.”
Maulana Madani added, “I said, he is the one we call Allah. Persian people call him Khuda and the ones who speak English refer to him as God. It means that Manu, also known as Adam, worshipped one God, who is Om and our Allah. Hazrat Adam, who was a prophet, was first brought into the land of India. If He wished, He would have landed Adam in Africa, Arabia, and Russia. They also know, we also know that the land of India was chosen to bring Adam to the world.”
Maulana Madani also expressed his views on the statements regarding Ghar Wapasi which were given by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Maulana Madani said, “It is only under the BJP government that we heard that 20 crore Muslims should revert to their home. By this, they meant conversion to Hinduism. These people don’t know anything about India’s history. Islam is not a new religion in India. Rather, Allah brought down Prophet Adam i.e. Manu here, his wife Eve, whom they (Hindus) call Hamvati and he is the ancestor of all prophets, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians.”
Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni reprimanded Maulana Madani and said, “No one agrees with what Madani has said. I request him to talk about love if he wants to talk about connecting us. The story you have told about Om, Allah, Manu, this, and that – I can tell 4 times more stories than that. I invite you to come to Delhi for a discussion with me, or even I can come to visit you in Saharanpur.”
He has denounced Madani’s statement and said, “None of us agree with his statements. We only agree with living in harmony and brotherhood, but all the stories regarding, Om, Allah, and Manu are rubbish. The tales he weaved, I can narrate even better stories than that. He completely spoiled the atmosphere of the session.”
On February 13, 2023, Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade apologised for a in a scene from his 2012 film Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal in which he can be seen placing his foot on the symbol ‘OM’, considered sacred in the Hindu religion.
Taking to Twitter, the actor wrote, “There are too many factors to consider during shooting…including one’s mindset during a sequence, especially action scenes, the director’s requirements, time restrictions, and a variety of other factors. But this is not me defending or excusing what you see in the video; all I can say is that it was absolutely inadvertent and I am deeply sorry for it. I should have noticed it and informed the director. Nonetheless, I would never intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings or do something like this again,” Talpade responded with a folding hand emoji on Twitter.
The actor apologised after the Twitter user ‘Gems of Bollywood fan’ uploaded a segment from his 2012 film Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal. Shreyas, who plays the part of Jhonny in the Bollywood movie, can be seen in the snippet stopping a vehicle with his foot. While doing so, Shreyas Talpade places his foot on an ‘OM’ sticker pasted the vehicle.
The Twitter handle highlighted how Shreyas Talpade, who plays a Christian youth, as evidenced by the cross pendant he wears around his neck, casually placed his slipper on the revered Hindu symbol, in utter disdain towards Hinduism.
‘OM’ is the prime symbol of Hinduism which symbolizes the Universe and the ultimate reality. Om is said to be the essence of all mantras and Vedas, the highest of all mantras or divine words.
Shreyas Talpade had advised Alia Bhatt to stop asking people not to watch her films
Last year, when a boycott trend against Bollywood stormed the internet, Shreyas Talpade advised actress Alia Bhatt, who has been engaged in controversy owing to statements such as “If you don’t like me, don’t watch me,” to respect the audience.
When asked what would he wish from Lord Ganpati this year, Shreyas Talpade answered, “I would wish from Lord Ganesha to give wisdom to Bollywood celebrities giving arrogant statements over ‘boycott Bollywood trend’. Right now, I don’t appreciate the statements coming from the Bollywood industry regarding the boycott calls.“ Shreyas on Alia Bhatt’s ‘If you don’t like me, don’t watch me’ statement said, “It is very wrong to say that if you do not like me just do not watch my movies. This way you will end up alienating yourself from the audience. An actor exists only till the audience likes him.”
At the Aero India Show 2023, which began on Monday, 13th February 2023 in Bangalore, 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’.
According to a report by News Drum, HAL said, at this time, that HLFT-42 is the ‘Next Generation Supersonic Trainer’ that will play a critical role in modern combat aircraft training with state-of-the-art avionics like Active Electronically Scanned Array, Electronic Warfare Suite, Infrared Search and Track with Fly by Wire control system.
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.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is showcasing the full-scale model of supersonic trainer aircraft named HLFT-42 at Aero India show in Bengaluru. The model aircraft with Lord Hanuman on its tail is planned to be developed and offered as a modern combat trainer aircraft. pic.twitter.com/FTAgvniuBd
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.
Aero India Show
On Monday, February 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Asia’s largest aero show, Aero India 2023, at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru. This year’s edition of the biennial event will highlight India as a developing centre for the production of military aircraft, helicopters, equipment, and cutting-edge avionics.
At the exhibition, local technology and equipment will be on show in an effort to create partnerships with global firms. In addition, the PM unveiled commemorative stamps to celebrate the 14th iteration of the five-day event. The aero show has already begun with breathtaking aerobatics and exciting air displays for the spectators. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, was also seen in action during the significant event. He was leading the Gurukul formation during the flypast.
Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), and BEML Limited (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited) are among the major exhibitors at Aero India 2023.
HAL’s participation in the show
The Bengaluru-based company will display an “Aatmanirbhar Formation” flight of 15 helicopters as part of the five-day aerospace and defence show at the Air Force Station Yelahanka. The formation will consist of all variations of the Advanced Light Helicopter, “Prachand” Light Combat Helicopter, and Light Utility Helicopter.
In a statement, HAL said that it will demonstrate its whole range of training skills as well as its variety of products and technologies under the theme of “Innovate. Collaborate. Lead.” The scale models of the next-generation HLFT-42, the LCA Mk 2, the Hindustan Turbo-shaft Engine-1200, the RUAV, the LCA Trainer, and the Hindustan-228 will be the main draws at the HAL’s indoor pavilion.
In addition to signing agreements and contracts with its business partners for various projects, the HAL stated that it will promote indigenously-built platforms to visit defence delegations and arrange business meetings with original equipment manufacturers and customers.
Pathai Khan, son of Mathina Khan, from Barmer, Rajasthan, had filed a complaint against Baba Ramdev accusing him of stirring up religious feelings. Khan is now saying that the attorney has cheated and misused his name. He asserted that he is unaware of the entire matter and is being implicated in it.
Pathai Khan reportedly stated that he has not initiated any FIR against Baba Ramdev. He alleged that he had spoken with a lawyer about a land dispute, for which the attorney had obtained his signature on some documents. He asserted that his sign was used to file the aforementioned FIR and accused the attorney of cheating. Expressing apprehension that he lawyer may implicate him, he declared he doesn’t want any action taken in the issue.
At the Chohtan police station in Rajasthan’s Barmer district on Sunday, an FIR was lodged against Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev on grounds of fanning religious sentiments, on 5 February. Apparently, at a gathering of prominent Hindu religious figures on Thursday in Barmer, Baba Ramdev charged Muslims with kidnapping Hindu women and using terror. He added that Muslims have reduced Islam to just Namaz (prayer) as the cause of this.
Bhutaram, a police officer in Chohtan, reported that Pathai Khan, a local citizen, had submitted a complaint against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev for instigating religious feelings, on Sunday. According to the officer, an inquiry is being conducted based on the allegation, and a case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections 153(A), 295(A), and 298.
At Bhubaneswar’s Utkal University, a seminar by JNU professor Surajit Mazumdar was disrupted by student leaders on Sunday, February 13. The ABVP student leaders have stated that some Leftists from JNU were trying to spread anti-India activities on the Utkal University campus and have asked why the campus facility was being used by an organisation named ‘Citizen Forum’ on a Sunday.
Videos of the event have gone viral where ABVP leaders and some seminar organisers were seen engaged in a verbal scuffle that soon escalated into a fight.
Odisha: CPIM strongly condemns attack by ABVP goons in #UtkalUniversity A discussion circle on the Indian Constitution & education system, conducted at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar was attacked by RSS backed goons. pic.twitter.com/62qngPpYbC
As per reports, on Sunday, 13 February, ‘Citizen Forum’ organised a seminar with the title ‘Indian Constitution and Education System’ in the PG Council hall of Utkal University. A student leader from ABVP has stated to the media that they had gone to the seminar to listen to the professor’s talk.
“During the talk, Professor Mazumdar made many anti-India statements that made false claims regarding the current Indian political scene and India’s constitution. He even tried to stoke casteist sentiments by making incorrect claims,” the student leader stated. He added that when the ABVP tried to confront the Leftists from JNU over the inflammatory and anti-India statements being made, they were assaulted by some people present there which led to a ruckus.
Protesting the ‘anti-India’ seminar, the ABVP on Sunday evening organised a protest asking the University administration to clarify why was permission given to some private entity to hold a seminar inside the University campus on a Sunday.
Another ABVP leader, speaking to Kanak News, stated that the person who was making the anti-India statements deserved to be slapped more. He even added that the ABVP won’t tolerate anti-India activities anywhere and will keep confronting antinational elements.
Members of the ‘Citizen Forum’ have demanded the arrest of the ABVP leaders.
On Monday, a student was reportedly injured while the police tried to arrest 2 ABVP student leaders from the campus. The ABVP leaders have accused the administration and the police of bias and have stated that ignoring their complaints, the police tried to target ABVP students.
Earlier yesterday, outrage swept the microblogging platform Twitter after several social media users objected to the inclusion of usual suspects such as Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Hussain Haidry, and others as speakers at a Harvard event sponsored by Indian business conglomerates and the Indian government.
The social media users, outraged and livid over the lack of due diligence by the Indian government’s Incredible India, Uday Kotak, and the Godrej Group to bankroll an event having speakers infamous for their anti-India and divisive rhetorics, tagged the relevant minister and the Ministry’s Twitter handle to highlight the blunder and make amends to it.
The pictures shared by them were of a Harvard event titled ‘India Conference at Harvard’, with Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Hussain Haidry, Aman Wadud, and Raqib Naik listed as panellists to speak on ‘Being Muslim in Contemporary India’. The event was scheduled for February 15th, from 3:45 PM to 4:40 PM.
Source: Twitter
Except the pictures were from a panel discussion that took place in 2020. Moreover, the Indian government cancelled the sponsorship of the event after being abreast of the kind of speakers that were to participate in the event.
I am sure @MrSinha_ will take cognizance of the facts and delete his tweet and tweet the fact that : 1. This Conference sponsorship was cancelled after @LegalLro reported it to concerned ministry. They cud have outraged as well but helped correct the mistake of one Deptt instead! https://t.co/e4gEMqFbTXpic.twitter.com/fGg5sXH7ER
Though the contentious speakers were not a part of the Harvard Conference 2023, there were other problematic speakers who participated in the event that took place on February 11 and 12, 2023. The speakers that Harvard platformed often indulged in inflaming tensions through their social media accounts, peddled the usual tropes of breaking the unity of India and furthered the same vicious rhetorics against Hindus and other Vedic faiths that perfectly jibed with the nefarious objectives of extremist organisations such as PFI.
Here are some of the problematic speakers who participated at the India Conference at Harvard 2023
Satyendra Kumar
Satyendra Kumar, the co-founder and Director of the Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI) and National Youth Equity Forum (NYEF). A quick look at his Twitter profile would reveal which side of the fence he sits on.
ना तो हम CAA-NPR-NRC आने देंगे, ना ही मोदी को ज़िम्मेदारी से भागने देंगे ! https://t.co/KHfzH448tG
Days before the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots broke out, which were specifically aimed to “teach Kafirs a lesson”, Kumar had tweeted that they will not let the govt implement CAA.
He had also retweeted Kanhaiya Kumar who had furthered the same trope as PFI and several other Islamists, trying to demonise Hindus.
Chandrabhan Prasad
The other panellist for the talk, Dalit author Chandrabhan Prasad was a veteran of spreading propaganda. In 2018, when a well-funded, organised riot, by the Naxals broke out after the Bhima-Koregaon event, Chandrabhan Prasad blamed the “orange brigade” for it.
The Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case pertains to an event organized at Shaniwar Wada called Elgar Parishad on December 31, 2017. The following day, i.e January 1, 2018, large-scale violence broke out at Bhima Koregaon, where lakhs of Dalits had gathered to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon, won by the British Army—comprising mostly soldiers from the Dalit community—against the Peshwas in 1818.
Thenmozhi Soundararajan
The next problematic panellist was Thenmozhi Soundararajan, the executive director of Equality Labs. Equality Labs is an extremely prominent anti-Brahminism Caste activism group in the United States. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey had once stoked a massive controversy when he held an anti-Brahmin placard that said ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’. Incidentally, that poster was designed by Thenmozhi Soundararajan, the Executive Director of Equality Labs. Equality Labs had collaborated with the Organisation for Minorities in India (OFMI), among other organisations, for a report titled ‘Caste in the United States: A Survey Of Caste Among South Asian Americans’. The OFMI was founded by Bhajan Singh Bhinder, a known ISI operative, and his puppet Pieter Friedrich was part of the organisation too.
Equality Labs holds great influence among the ‘Justice Democrats’ wing of the Democrat Party. They were campaigning hard against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the United States while accusing India of committing genocide with the hashtag ‘Stop Hindu fascism’. Equality Labs also campaigned hard against Amit Jani, who had worked in the Joe Biden campaign, accusing him of supporting ‘Hindu Fascism’.
Further testament to the Equality Labs’ influence among Justice Democrats is that they have worked with Congressman Ro Khanna for a seemingly benign project. Ro Khanna worked with them to introduce a resolution in celebration of the 129th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar.
Yashica Dutt
Dalit author Yashica Dutt was also a panellist at the event. Apart from regularly dog-whistling against Hindus, she also extended support to violent protests against CAA and attempted to shield the Muslim perpetrators.
There is a clear thread emerging:
'Demonize' protestors by characterizing them as exclusively Muslim (instead of Hindus, Sikhs + Christians)✓
Target Muslim-dominated areas + Muslim appearing protestors with brutal violence ✓
Even while Islamists had gone on a rampage against Hindus during the Delhi Riots, she had attempted to paint the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots as a pogrom against Muslims.
This is not all. Another event at the Harvard conference will predictably bash Hindus and whitewash the atrocities being met out to them by Islamists and paint the Muslim community as the victims.
Harsh Mander
The panel titled, “Polarisation in India as it exists and building towards an ecosystem of tolerance as we turn 100” had Harsh Mandar as one of the speakers.
Harsh Mander of the Centre for Equity Studies, a foreign-funded NGO, apart from being associated with George Soros, Harsh Mander was also a member of Sonia Gandhi’s National Advisory Council which drafted the nauseatingly anti-Hindu Communal Violence Bill. He has also been very active in filing petitions in the Court and has found himself in the heart of the violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Harsh Mander is a senior member of the Ara Pacis Initiative, an organization backed by the Italian Foreign Ministry that works in tandem with the Italian Secret Service. In other words, Harsh Mander is a member of an organization that is an arm of the State of Italy’s Foreign Policy. API is a weapon in the arsenal of the Italian State and Harsh Mander is a member of it. Through Radio Rozana, we learned that the API also collaborates with propaganda outlets funded by Western Powers, the purpose of which is to create a narrative in order to benefit the foreign policy objectives of the said power.
In India, Harsh Mander and his NGO the Karwan-e-Mohabbat have been very active in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Harsh Mander spoke on the ‘importance of solidarity’ and “how we can practice civil disobedience in today’s India”. Karwan-e-Mohabbat urged people to join the protests at Shaheen Bagh. He has landed himself in trouble after a video where he can be seen inciting Muslim mobs against the Indian State and judiciary went viral on social media. Details about his dangerous connections can be read here.
Dr Aqsa Shaikh
One of the panellists to speak at a discussion during the Harvard Conference 2023 was one of Dr Aqsa Shaikh. A cursory glance at her Twitter profile (@doctorsaheba) reveals her political ideology and religious bigotry, Her pinned tweet is about the imaginary construct ‘Islamophobia’, wherein she dehumanises Hindu doctors and compares them to Nazi doctors.
Source: Twitter
In her Twitter thread, she targets Hindu doctors who raised their voices against Tablighi Jamaat members, responsible for powering the coronavirus spread outbreak in India in 2020.
She also cited a report by Oxfam, a notorious organisation known for whipping up resentment among Indian Muslims, to claim that Muslims are discriminated against on the grounds of religion in hospitals or by healthcare professionals.
Dr Shaikh also seems to have a strange fascination for Hitler, for she has a knack for comparing those she detests with the Fuhrer. In a tweet attacking PM Modi, Dr Shaikh said that just like millions of Germans who supported Nazis were as responsible as Hitler and Co., so are crores of Indians who are supporting PM Modi.
Source: Twitter
Ashish Dikshit
Another panellist with questionable antecedents who attended the India Conference at Harvard 2023 was Ashish Dikshit, the founding editor of BBC Marathi, the Marathi arm of the propaganda news outlet British Broadcasting Corporation.
Source: Twitter
Richa Chadha
Actor Richa Chadha was also a part of one of the events organised during the India Conference at Harvard 2023. The actor was a part of a raging social media storm recently for her disparaging tweet mocking the Indian Army with a ‘Galwan Jibe’ after they said they can take back PoK from Pakistan.
Source: Twitter
However, the actress deleted her tweet after she was lambasted by netizens for her insensitive taunt.
As calls for a boycott grew on social media, with netizens fuming over her insensitive tweet against the Army, the actor issued a half-hearted apology. Richa Chadha took to Twitter to tender her ‘apology’, she tagged her lawyer Saveena Bedi Sachar and attached an apology message. “If the 3 words which are being dragged into controversy have offended or hurt anyone, I apologise and also say that it would sadden me if even unintentionally my words have triggered this feeling in my brothers in the Fauj of which my own Nanaji has been an illustrious part.”
Ali Fazal
Ali Fazal, who has not shied away from extending his support to anti-CAA rabble-rousers, was also a part of an event alongside his wife Richa Chadha. In the wake of the violence, stone pelting, vandalism and incidents of arson reported from many parts of the country following the enactment of the CAA in December 2019, Fazal posted a tweet on the anti-CAA riots saying that he was enjoying it all.
Source: Twitter
Many prominent personalities had come in support of the anti-CAA protests, including the opposition political parties, thereby encouraging the demonstrators to continue their protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The protests continued for several months in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi and eventually culminated in the horrifying Northeast Delhi riots that shook the national capital and led to the death of 53 people.
On February 13, P Nedumaran, President of the World Confederation of Tamils, claimed that LTTE chief V Prabhakaran was alive and would come out soon. He further claimed that Prabhakaran would announce a plan for a “better life for Eelam Tamils”. The statement was made during an interaction with the media persons at Mullivaikkal Memorial in Thanjavur Nedumaran.
Nedumaran claimed that the international situation, combined with the power insurgency by the Sinhalese people that ended the Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka, created the best time for Prabhakaran to come out. He further added that his announcement would put an end to the alleged ‘speculations and doubts’ being spread in a motivated manner.
Calling upon the Tamils worldwide, Nedumaran asked them to stay united and support Prabhakaran. Furthermore, he called upon the Government, political parties, and the public of Tamil Nadu to support Prabhakaran.
Responding to a media query, Nedumaran claimed he is in constant touch with Prabhakaran’s family members, who confirmed the LTTE chief’s well-being. He further claimed that the announcement was being made after Prabhakaran gave a yes for the same.
In response to another question about the whereabouts of Prabhakaran, Nedumaran claimed not to know about it and could not confirm the exact time of his coming out.
Prabhakaran, chief of the Sri Lankan militant organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), allegedly died by suicide in 2009. However, there have been speculations that he is alive and managed to escape the war. Nedumaran’s recent claims have again sparked the debate over LTTE’s chief’s death.
