A Hindu man belonging to the Dalit community was assaulted by members of the Muslim community in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, while he was returning from Maa Durga’s idol immersion function on Wednesday, October 6. Not only that, but these miscreants also hurled casteist slurs and insults at him, snatched his money, and threatened to kill him if he reported them to the police.
Ankur Kumar, a resident of Nagla Jhamman of Linepar in the Thana Tundla area of Firozabad district, stated in his police complaint that on 6 October 2022 (Wednesday), while returning home after Goddess Durga immersion, Naeem, son of Laik, a resident of Nagla Masjid, his two brothers, and five-six other aides accosted him.
They then abused him with casteist insults. When Ankur objected, the miscreants beat him up and stole the money from his pocket in broad daylight. Not only that, but the accused threatened the victim with death if she reported him to the police.
प्रभारी निरीक्षक टूण्डला को आवश्यक विधिक कार्यवाही करने हेतु निर्देशित कर दिया गया है ।
The accused threatened Ankur and claimed that anyone who came to speak on Ankur’s behalf would be killed. Ankur has filed a complaint with the Tundla police station, citing the threat to his life. According to the UP Police, legal action is being taken in this matter.
This year too, Islamists in various parts of the country attacked the recently concluded celebration of the feminine divine during Durga Puja/Navratri besides attacking Hindu festivals such as Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, and Saraswati Puja. Several such cases have come to the fore where Islamists have either forcefully or by concealing their identity entered the Navratri Garba event and created a ruckus. Even incidents of stone pelting and violence at Garba venues have been reported from many parts of the country.
OpIndia tried to chronicle the wanton attacks carried out by Islamists during the year’s Navratri festival. This year, the annual nine-day festival of Navratri, wherein Hindus across the world celebrate and worship the Hindu goddess Durga, commenced on September 26 and ended on October 5.
On Friday, the Chhattisgarh Police arrested Youth Congress leader named Mohammed Shahnawaz and 3 others from Mahendragarh district for abducting a 16-year-old girl and gang-raping her at a hotel in Bilaspur. The accused have been booked under sections 363, and 366A of IPC and relevant sections of the POCSO Act.
According to the reports, the incident is said to have happened in the Chirmiri area of Mahendragadh district four months ago. The girl was abducted by Mohammed Shahanawaz and 5 other persons and was taken to a hotel in Bilaspur. The girl was then brutally gang-raped by the accused including the Congress leader. The minor girl had no courage back then to file a complaint against the six accused.
However, recently the girl went to the Chirmiri police station with her mother and alleged that the six men took her to a hotel in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur and raped her. She filed a police complaint and demanded justice. The Police investigated the matter and arrested Youth Congress leader Mohammed Shahnawaz and three others in the case. The Police have also launched a manhunt to nab the other two accused who are absconding at present.
The Chirmiri police have registered a case against the accused under sections 363 (punishment for kidnapping), 366A (procuration of minor girl), and relevant sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
Earlier on March 25 this year, another similar case was registered by a married woman of Rajnandgaon who said that she was raped by the secretary of the city Congress Committee, Vikas Gajbhiye. The woman stayed in the neighborhood of the accused and stated in the complaint that the accused had threatened to kill her husband. The accused, the secretary of the city Congress Committee, Vikas Gajbhiye was arrested by the Police.
On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached assets worth Rs 1.54 crore of a charitable trust linked to dubious NGO Amnesty International India under the anti-money laundering law for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. “A provisional order for attachment has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). With this attachment, the total attachment now stands at Rs 21.08 crores”, the ED said.
According to the reports, the order has been issued against the so-called NGO trust named Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT), in connection with a case involving an alleged breach of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The ED issued a statement that the organization carried out NGO activities in the guise of services export and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to escape the FCRA laws.
ED has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 1.54 crores in bank accounts of Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) under PMLA, 2002. With this attachment, the total attachment now stands at Rs 21.08 crores, says the agency.
The CBI has already charged IAIT with similar allegations. When the government denied FCRA permission to Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) to receive foreign contributions, the UK-based parent organization formed Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL) and Indians Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) to avoid the FCRA regulations in 2013-14 and 2012-13, respectively.
“Investigation by ED found that upon cancellation of FCRA Licence of AIIFT, a new method was adopted by Amnesty entities to receive money from abroad and Amnesty International UK sent Rs 51.72 crore to AIIPL in the guise of export of services and foreign direct investment”, the statement mentioned.
The Amnesty organisations used a new approach to acquire funds from outside. However, the ED stated that there was no documented proof of the purported export, such as invoices and copies of the agreement, produced during the enquiry. According to ED, a UK-based parent organization appears to have invested in Amnesty International India Pvt. Ltd (AIIPL) using compulsory convertible debentures. Following that, another Indian business, IAIT was issued an overdraft facility for Rs 14.25 crore, using AIIPL’s Rs 10 crore FD as security.
“The overdraft facility was used by IAIT for Amnesty India’s NGO activities including salary and administrative and operational expenses. Therefore, the FDI received by AIIPL was being used by the IAIT, Bengaluru to carry out its NGO activities and it is seen that there is a layering of remittances received by AIIPL, a company, into IAIT, which is a charitable trust”, the ED was quoted.
The charge sheet was filed by ED on July 9 against Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL), Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT), and former AIIPL CEOs G Ananthapadmanabhan and Aakar Patel, accusing them of money laundering. The ED in its prosecution complaint had alleged that the parent organization had routed more than Rs 51 crore to Amnesty India in violation of FCRA to ‘fund anti-national activities in the guise of export of services’.
As per the agency, there were 47 projects taken by the NGO. Out of these, 12 projects that AIIPL did for Amnesty International were marked as ‘Technical Services’. Apart from those, six were linked to Kashmir, two were linked to the 1984 Sikh Massacre, six were linked to the coal section, three to women-related matters, two related to migrants issues, eight were linked to human rights awareness, three to ‘ready to report’ and four linked to undertrial matters.
On several occasions, Amnesty International and its Indian chapter have been found to be involved in anti-India activities. In a report published in OpIndia in 2019, the connections between Amnesty International India, the British government, and radical Islamists were exposed. The organisation has a history of meddling with the internal affairs of India. It has constantly been trying to falsely project India as a violator of human rights and the ‘oppressor’ of Muslims.
On several occasions, Amnesty India and its former head Aakar Patel kept peddling blatant lies and fake news to portray India negatively. It also campaigned for the arrested Urban Naxals in the Bhima Koregaon violence case. Therefore, its actions are clearly tantamount to foreign interference in the domestic issues of India, and it is only appropriate that strict action is taken against it.
As the protest in Iran is gaining support and solidarity across the world, the women’s rights movement reached India as Mandana Karimi, an Iranian-born Bollywood actress recently staged a solo protest in Mumbai. The actress was seen dressed in black attire holding a placard in her hands in solidarity with women of her native country. Karimi, however, has expressed her disappointment over the weird excuses her Bollywood colleagues made to not join her in the protest.
In a conversation with the Times of India, Mandana Karimi talked about what motivated her to stage a protest. “The past three weeks have felt like months and years. I’ve been reliving everything that’s happening to my people in Iran. I make sure I speak to my mum and brothers every day. My first waking thought is – what if something happened to them? Buying groceries could land you in jail or worse. The past three weeks have also been a time to unite, making new friends with amazing people from around the world and trying to make a difference. Everyone must have witnessed the bravery of Iranian women by now. The world heard us roar”.
She said, On October 1, people across the world organized a Pan Global Protest Day to stand in solidarity with the women of Iran, battling against Sharia police and the compulsory hijab.
“150 cities worldwide stood in protest but I couldn’t find India on that list. So, I decided to organize one in the city. The responses I received from people were disappointing. They ranged from ‘I have to speak to my PR team’, to ‘we are just two of us, what can we do?’, ‘It’s better to post online about what’s happening back home, and give interviews”, ‘I have family commitments, ‘I don’t care, I don’t live in Iran anymore’, ‘I will put a story for you’. These were just some of the words that left me hollow and broken”, she added.
She continued by saying that as a result, she made the decision to do a solo protest. “I was reminded of Mahsa Amini. She was also alone. She didn’t know anyone in Tehran and she is the reason for this movement. Saturday was important to show our people back home in Iran that we are with you. So, I went out alone, held Mahsa’s name, played Sherveen’s song, and explained to the few who gathered about the current situation in my country. Although it was overwhelming, I felt like I was a part of something bigger,” she added.
The actress also spoke about how the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, protests following the incident and the violent crackdown on the protestors made her feel like the last three weeks have passed like months and years.
In a series of tweets, Mandana Karimi clarified that her protest was not against hijab or Islam but for basic human rights. “I wasn’t protesting against the hijab!! I was out to support my people, who are fighting For human rights! basic human rights! Like having the choice to wear a scarf or not, getting a dog, having the right to divorce, getting their child’s custody, being able to hold hands…,” read her first tweet in the series.
I wasn’t protesting against the hijab!! I was out to support my people, who are fighting For human rights! basic human rights! Like having the choice to wear a scarf or not, getting a dog, having the right to divorce, getting their child’s custody, being able to hold hands…
Mahsa Amini, Womens Rights Movement and anti-hijab revolution in Iran
Protests erupted in Iran with Iranian women publicly taking off their hijabs, and chopping their hair after the death of a 22-year-old girl Mahsa Amini who was detained by Iran’s ‘Morality Police’ for wearing the hijab in an ‘improper manner’. She was assaulted in the police van and eventually succumbed to her injuries. The enraged women protesters were seen chopping their hair and burning hijabs in a bid to resist the mandatory veiling of women. The women have come together to seek their fundamental rights in opposition to what they claim is a regime of gender apartheid.
Recently, Oscar-winning actresses Marion Cotillard, Juliette Binoche, and several others chopped their hair as a mark of solidarity with Iranian women protestors. Sharing the video of the same, Arsen Ostrovsky, an international human rights lawyer, tweeted, Deeply moving and powerful! Oscar-winning actors Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche, as well as several other French cinemas and music stars, have filmed themselves cutting hair in solidarity with women in #Iran.”
Deeply moving and powerful! Oscar-winning actors Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche, as well as several other French cinema and music stars have filmed themselves cutting hair in solidarity with women in #Iran.#IranProtests#MahsaAmini#No2Hijabpic.twitter.com/0xaedIv2TP
Niloofar Hamedi, a woman journalist who broke the news of Mahsa Amini’s death on September 22, was reportedly detained by Iranian authorities. Her social media accounts were suspended as well. Several women protestors like Mahsa Mogoi and Hadis Najafi were reportedly shot dead by the oppressive regime.
On October 4, thousands of schoolgirls joined in to demand freedom from the mandatory hijab laws in the Islamic country. Girls in schools are removing their headscarves and showing their hair as a mark of protest.
“Zan, Zendegi, Azadi (Women, Life, Freedom)”, they yelled often throwing away or burning their hijabs in remarkable scenes. Protests by schoolgirls were reported in Karaj, Tehran, and the north-western cities of Saqez and Sanandaj.
Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, taking off the hijab is a criminal offence there. Women are required to cover their hair and neck with a hijab in accordance with this mandated dress code, which is applicable to people of all nationalities and religions, not just Iranian Muslims. Women have frequently demonstrated against the regressive law in public spaces and on social media.
On Friday (October 7), Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha took to Twitter to lash out at those who have been questioning the dubious claim of his Nobel Peace Prize nomination and wish for dangerous foreign interference in India, branding his detractors as ‘war criminals’. Sinha made these comments after the truth of the PR piece peddled to promote him by TIME magazine came out.
The so-called ‘fact checker’ wished that his detractors be punished in a Nuremberg-type trial. “Some folks have been suffering from a severe heartburn for the past 48 hours,” he tweeted.
Sinha further added, “Don’t be so disappointed. You all will also be featured in a list. That one that is made for the Indian version of Nuremberg trials”. The archived version of the tweet can be accessed here.
Screengrab of the tweet by Pratik Sinha
The Nuremberg trials refer to the indictment and trial of Nazi leaders by the International Military Tribunal between 1945-1946 for the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. A total of 216 court sessions were conducted and 19 Nazi leaders were charged. Three of them received life sentences while four Nazi leaders were sentenced to a period of 10-20 years of imprisonment. A total of 12 Nazis were sentenced to death.
What is interesting to note here is that Pratik Sinha, in his tweet, is essentially calling for foreign interference in India to prosecute those who politically disagree with him. The Nuremberg trials were held by the Allies against representatives of defeated Nazi Germany, for plotting and carrying out invasions of other countries, and other crimes, in World War II.
Essentially, Pratik Sinha was branding India as a nation run by fascists, and his detractors as those committing war crimes, hoping that other nations interfere in the democratic functioning of India to prosecute those whose opinions and political choices he disagrees with. His assertions not only demonise and dehumanise political opponents but also insults India, saying that other nations need to interfere in its internal functioning.
Pratik Sinha here was basically hoping that India gets invaded as the only method of a regime change operation where the Modi government can be overthrown, their supporters be prosecuted by foreign entities and they can install a government of their liking.
This is not the first time that those who belong to the Left-Islamist nexus have called for foreign interference in India and even celebrated aggression against the nation as a means of regime change. Rahul Gandhi, in 2021, had batted for US interference in India as a means of overthrowing the democratically elected Modi govt. Rahul Gandhi made the comments during an online interaction with Ambassador Nicholas Burns of the Harvard Kennedy School. The Gandhi scion was invited by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics to talk about challenges and opportunities in India and reflections on politics and public service.
Rahul Gandhi asked for American interference in India towards the end of the program after host Nicholas Burns had delivered his concluding remarks. After Burns concluded the session, Rahul Gandhi asks if he can make a quick ending comment. He then proceeds to say, “I don’t hear anything from the US establishment about what is happening in India. If you are saying partnership in democracy is, I mean, what’s your view on what is happening here?” Burns was visibly shocked after hearing this open offer from Rahul Gandhi for asking for America to comment on India’s internal matters.
When the Chinese aggression at Galwan took place, TheQuint hailed PLA soldiers as “martyrs”, trying to eulogise the aggression in India. In fact, even AltNews had cleaned up the mess for China by peddling motivated “fact-checks” to peddle the Chinese narrative. The usual suspects were also seen asking for foreign interference when the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed and during the farmers’ protest. Every statement by a foreign nation against India, which was based on the fake narrative peddled by the Left media, was hailed by these individuals because they saw it as an opportunity for regime change.
Pratik Sinha receives overwhelming support from his coterie
The dubious claims of being a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and the eventual tryst with reality did not dent his support from the close-knitted cabal of leftists and liberals. After Pratik Sinha called for an invasion of India so political detractors can be tried as war criminals, he received support from the usual suspects.
“More power to you Mohammed Zubair and Pratik Sinha. May you keep giving them reasons for new heartburns,” wrote Reuters journalist Tresa Sherin Morera.
“We feel such pride in knowing that the important work you and Mohammed Zubair and those in your team are doing has been recognised! More power to you! Congratulations!” tweeted climate journalist Aesha Datta.
We feel such pride in knowing that the important work you and @zoo_bear and those in your team are doing has been recognised! More power to you! Congratulations!
“Yes they will be. And hopefully, that list will be drawn up soon enough. More power to you and AltNews,” ‘journalist’ Aarish Chhabra remarked imagining himself presiding over trials of people he doesn’t like.
Yes they will be. And hopefully that list will be drawn up soon enough. More power to you and @AltNewshttps://t.co/ZvgBIiytnR
Netizens question the dangerous trope peddled by Alt News co-founder, threatening detractors with Nuremberg trials
Pratik Sinha, who has been bitter ever since the Nobel Peace Prize results were announced, compared the Nazi leaders to his detractors on social media and asserted that they deserved public trial (for simply pointing out that he never had a chance of winning the coveted prize).
Social media users challenged the so-called fact checker for his lack of understanding of history. “Wait, are you threatening a large section of Indians with a Nuremberg type trial?” asked one Rajeev.
Wait,r u threatening a large section of Indians with Nuremberg type trial,, https://t.co/ZYPq2r3UrB
“One thought you were well educated. But alas. Nuremberg trials were the result of a holocaust, a military defeat against a coalition force. In India there is no holocaust. Only islamic terrorism killing Hindus in Kashmir & rest of India. No war waged by any body. Nuremberg!” wrote one Avinder Singh Kapoor.
One thought you were well educated. But alas. Nuremberg trials were the result of a holocaust, a military defeat against a coalition force. In India there is no holocaust. Only islamic terrorism killing Hindus in Kashmir & rest of India. No war waged by any body. Nuremberg ! https://t.co/yTgZp9ZfVK
It is pertinent to note that the entire propaganda about AltNews and its founders being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and being “favourites” to win was an elaborate PR campaign that was summarily debunked. Opindia had reported how Sinha and his sidekick, Mohammed Zubair, were never nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2022. The propaganda, that the duo were favorites among shortlisted candidates, was peddled by TIMEmagazine and then further amplified by NDTV in India. We had already dismissed the claim, pointing out how there is no such thing as an official shortlist and that the names cited by TIME Magazine were simply speculations. It is well known that the media organisation’s ideology is anchored in the global left.
Pakistani singer Abdullah Qureshi took to Instagram on the 6th of October 2022 to announce that he had quit the music industry for Islam. He said in his post that he will only take campaigns henceforth that align with his religious values. Siddiqui wrote, “I know I’ve been lost since a long time and I have received a ton of messages in this time asking about where I have been. i was on a break, pressed the pause button for a while and took this time to find who I was, where I’m headed and who do I want to become.”
He commented, “I had a great time making music, playing at concerts for thousands of people, getting loved and appreciated, facing controversies, making some wrong decisions, spreading some positivity, making some amazing friends, working with people who were my idols, learning from the best and doing what I loved doing.” Sharing how he now believes that the actual purpose of his life is “way bigger than all of this”, Qureshi remarked, “We have very little time in this world to make our afterlife better.”
“Alhamdulillah I’, satisfied with this decision and I’m on my way to find the real truth and I pray that Allah makes this new journey easy for me”, he said in his post. He further vowed only to do campaigns that fall within his “religious fold”.
Before leaving the music industry for Islam as a pious Muslim, Abdullah had in the past issued an apology for his “problematic behaviour” and spoken about his “fetishes”.
It was in 2021 that he had posted an apology on his Instagram account.
Source: BolNews
In this apology, the former singer stated that he is sorry to everyone he has hurt or harmed in any way and requested the removal of anything related to ‘this’ because it has affected his career and is likely to affect his daughter.
His apology read, “I apologise to everyone for all this. I won’t blame my drunken state because it was me at the end of the day. But yes, I did have a drinking problem and I do have fetishes. But everyone has fetishes.”
He essentially apologised for messaging random women, behaving in a problematic fashion and for his “fetishes”. A year on, Qureshi decided to turn to Islam and leave the music industry.
Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi abused for suggesting “music is not completely haraam in Islam”
After singer Abdullah Qureshi announced that he would be quitting the music industry for Islam, Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi took to Twitter to wish him well, but also assert that “music is not completely haraam in Islam”.
May God give u the strength & persistence in ur iman, ikhlaaq & deeds brother. Just want to share my discovery that Music is not completely haraam in Islam. If u have time, please watch this 1 program https://t.co/6CTgthWgKe OR this detailed 10 part series https://t.co/PhkHWmLSUcpic.twitter.com/15rtmBcBWE
In his Twitter bio, Abbasi writes that he is an actor and a “student of Islam”, however, his assertions about what is haraam and what is not in Islam did not go down well with other Muslims. Abbasi was then abused and called out for being un-Islamic and discouraging someone who is taking the right step, as ordained by Islam.
One Twitter user wondered what is “totally haraam” and “little haraam” since it is haraam in Islam if it’s even 1% haraam.
I wonder what is incompletely haram? Haram is haram if its even 1% haram.
There were many others who told Abbasi that he was not a Mufti and therefore, he should not pronounce judgements about what is haraam in Islam and what is not.
Image source: Bolnews
Imagesource: Bolnews
Image source: BolNews
Abbasi was also accused of legitimising all “haraam things” by one Momina.
The way this person explains his believes and disbelieves up here is pathetic !!The fact that he call himself the "student of Islam " by tweeting this !? Y'all need to study Islam properly before giving such statements openly to the youth which legit normalize every haram thing ! https://t.co/5mI1JQNtKk
According to website al-Islam.org, Music is haraam in Islam and this position is substantiated by several Quranic verses and Aayats.
Two of the verses that are quoted by the website are as follows:
“So abstain from the pollution of the idols and abstain from false vain words.” (22:30).
The Arabic word “Zoor” has several meanings which include falsehood and the musical expressions. According to Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.s.) “pollution of the idols” means Chess and “Vain words” means music. See how ‘Music’ has been joined in this Ayat with the pollution of idols”, only then you can appreciate the seriousness of the sin of Music.
“And of the people there is he who buys a ‘vain talk’ so that he may lead others astray from the path of Allah without (real) knowledge and takes it (the revelation of Allah) for a mockery for these shall be a disgracing chastisement (punishment).” (31:6).
‘Lahw’ means any thing which diverts the mind from serious thinking. “Vain talk” has been interpreted by the Imam as some talk, sound or thing which diverts the attention of man from the ultimate aim of his creation; in other words makes him forget Allah and His commands. For example fictions romantic stories and such useless talks. “It includes ‘Music’, intoxicants and all such diversions.”1
Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: Music is among the things for which Allah has promised the Fire (of Hell). Then he recited the above Aya
In yet another attack on Hindus in Bangladesh, a Kali temple in Dautiya village in Bangladesh’s Jhenaidah district was attacked on Friday, October 7. The Kali idol was found smashed into pieces, with the head of the idol discovered around half a kilometer away from the temple premises. The incident came to the fore just a day after the conclusion of the 10-day-long Durga Puja festival, the biggest celebration for Hindus in Bengal.
The perpetrators behind the attack have not been identified yet, and authorities have launched a manhunt to identify and arrest the suspects. The temple, which has been frequented by Maa Kali devotees since British times, is located in the western part of Bangladesh. General Secretary of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council, Chandanath Poddar said that the attack took place at the temple during the night, and authorities discovered the shattered idol on Friday morning.
Amit Kumar Burman, assistant superintendent of Jhenaidah police said, “A case has been registered and the suspects are being traced. Barring this incident, this year Durga Puja festival was celebrated peacefully across Bangladesh.”
It is notable that last year, in 2021, Durga Puja celebrations faced a wave of attacks by Islamists. Temples in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali, Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj, and Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua were brutally attacked with the Hindu devotees being thrashed. At least six people were killed and hundreds were injured as Islamists openly targeted Hindus in the country.
Not the first attack on a Hindu temple in Bangladesh in recent months
This is not the first case of a Hindu temple coming under attack in Bangladesh in recent months. Ahead of Durga Puja in September, unknown vandals smashed the idols at the Kashipur Sarbajanin Durga Temple in Mehendiganj Upazila in Barisal.
Earlier in August, three madrasa students were detained by authorities on August 6 for allegedly damaging Hindu deity statues at the Kainmari temple in Mongla Upazila in Bangladesh. The incident happened after several Muslim youngsters from the madrasa were requested by the temple management to stop playing football on the field next to the temple.
On July 16, it was reported that a Muslim mob vandalized a temple, a grocery shop, and many Hindu homes in the Sahapara region of Lohagara, Narail, merely over a Facebook post.
On Thursday 6th October 2022, Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that over 50% construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya has been completed. According to the temple trust, the Lord Ram idol is likely to be enshrined in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum on Mankar Sankranti Day in 2024, and the temple’s construction, which began in 2020, is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2024. Yogi Adityanath said this while he was speaking at a function organized by Shri Panchkhand Peeth in Jaipur.
Yogi Adityanath said, “I believe in the philosophy of ‘Karmanyevadhikaraste, Maa Phaleshu Kadachana’ (perform your duty but do not have any expectation of the fruits) propounded by Lord Krishna. Dedicated efforts were made to realize the dream of Ram Mandir for which a movement started in 1949. Now, because of these efforts, over 50% of the work of the temple has been completed.”
पूज्य आचार्य स्वामी धर्मेंद्र जी महाराज के श्री चरणों में नमन!
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath underlined the role of the Shri Panchkhand Peeth in social and religious movements and offered tributes to its former head seer Acharya Dharmendra who passed away recently. He said Acharya Ji always dreamt of a temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi. Yogi Adityanath said, “Mahatma Ramchandra Veer Ji Maharaj and Swami Acharya Dharmendra Ji Maharaj were the ones who contributed selflessly towards the country. The ‘Peeth’ also played a crucial role in ensuring public participation in various campaigns led by the saints for the welfare of the country.”
At Swami Somendra Sharma’s “Chadarposhi” celebration, Yogi Adityanath remarked that Acharya Dharmendra had been connected to Gorakshapeeth for three generations. Notably, Yogi serves as Gorakshapeeth’s chief priest. He said, “Acharya Ji always had a sense of belonging, my deepest respect to him.”
Yogi Adityanath added, “Today, even when Acharya Ji is not present physically, his values, ideals, and contribution remain alive among us all.” The CM of Uttar Pradesh stated that Acharya Ji was revered by the Hindu community since he used to communicate his ideas in an open, logical manner.
Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya
The construction work on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya began on August 5, 2020, after the foundation stone laying ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJBTK), the authority in charge of Ram Mandir’s operations, is supervising the temple’s construction. Former IAS Nripendra Mishra is the chairman of the construction committee.
Larsen & Toubro is the main contractor for the construction of the temple and the ramparts, while Tata Consulting Engineers has been hired as the project management consultant, while four other engineers four engineers Jagdish Aphale (IIT- Mumbai), Girish Sahastrabhujani (IIT-Mumbai), Jagannathji (from Aurangabad), and Avinash Sangamnerkar (from Nagpur) are also working voluntarily on behalf of the Trust.
The entire project is projected to cost between 900 and 1,000 crores to build and will be spread over 110 acres of land. The temple complex will also include a museum, a research centre, and an archival centre. By December 2023, the temple’s lower floor, which will house the sanctum sanctorum and a Ram Lalla idol, would be ready for worship.
On Friday 7th October 2022, the central bureau of investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former union railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for cases regarding land-for-job scams. A search operation was conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the residences of senior RJD politicians in Bihar last month in relation to the land-for-jobs scam that allegedly occurred when Prasad was the railway minister.
BREAKING: CBI chargesheets former Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for “Land-for-job-scam” cases
The residences of several senior leaders of the RJD, including MLC Sunil Singh, Rajya Sabha MPs Ashfaq Karim, and Faiyaz Ahmed, and former MLC Subodh Rai were raided at that time. The RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and their daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav have all been named by the CBI in the matter. 12 other individuals who received employment in the Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur Railway Zones in 2008-2009 are also named in this case.
The land-for-job scandal
On September 23, 2021, the CBI launched a preliminary investigation into the land-for-jobs scandal. The central investigation agency has opened a preliminary investigation into the claim that numerous people were granted railway employment between 2004 and 2009 in return for land. According to CBI authorities, prominent properties in Patna were reportedly sold or handed to the RJD supremo’s family members. The owners of these properties or their relatives secured a railway job in exchange for these properties.
On May 18, 2022, CBI filed a new case of corruption against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and his daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, accusing them of obtaining land plots as bribes from some people who were recruited in the Railways.
Lalu Prasad Yadav convicted in Fodder scam
The RJD patriarch has been convicted in the infamous Fodder Scam, which was unearthed during the 1990s in united Bihar when Jharkhand was still a part of the state. Lalu Prasad was then the serving Chief Minister.
It was found that excessive withdrawals had been the trend for several years. For example, between the years 1993-96, Rs. 10.5 crores was approved by the government to purchase 5,664 pigs, 40,500 hens, 1,577 goats and 995 sheep. However, the State Department of Animal Husbandry withdrew a whopping Rs 255.33 crore. After factoring in over-expenses, according to the Auditor General’s report, the total fraudulent withdrawals stood at Rs. 409.62 crores.
The Department of Animal Husbandry had allegedly issued fake bills for large disbursements from government treasuries across districts of undivided Bihar. It should be noted that Lalu Prasad had given himself the additional charge of the state’s Minister of Finance during this time.
The Auditor General’s comments while preparing the report on financial irregularities drew the imagery which became synonyms for the fodder scam. He commented, “cattle were transported on scooters, police vans, oil tankers and autos”.
While senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has led the charge against corporate tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, his loyalist and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot invited Gautam Adani to the two-day “Invest Rajasthan Summit”, which began at JECC Campus in Jaipur on Friday and showered praise on the industrialist.
During the summit, when Adani informed that he had invested over Rs 35,000 crore in the state and an investment of another Rs 50,000 crore is under implementation, Congress senior leader Gehlot lauded the business tycoon and referred to him as ‘bhai’.
“Gautam Bhai was speaking about Gujarat. Gujaratis have always been very capable, even pre-independence. It had industrialisation even before independence. Maharashtra-Gujarat has always been economically well off,” Rajasthan CM said, adding, “I’ll speak about Rajasthan. The state faced drought and famine for centuries. There used to be migration. Gautam Bhai, one should appreciate the courage of Rajasthanis. Your state was in good condition, now we hear Gautam Adani is among the top two richest people in the world.”
Jaipur | Gautam bhai was speaking about Gujarat. Gujaratis have always been very capable,even pre-independence. It had industrialisation even before independence.Maharashtra-Gujarat have always been economically well off: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, at Invest Rajasthan 2022 Summit pic.twitter.com/OoNxRRQ1KX
Given Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Adani, BJP was quick to point out Congress’ hypocrisy, and BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya warned that a rebellion is building inside Gandhi’s ranks.
“In another sign of revolt and brewing discontent against the Gandhis, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot invites Gautam Adani for the investor summit. He is given a seat right next to the CM. This is an open message to Rahul Gandhi, who doesn’t tire berating Adani-Ambani, to back off…,” Tweeted Amit Malviya.
In another sign of revolt and brewing discontent against the Gandhis, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot invites Gautam Adani for the investor summit. He is given a seat right next to the CM. This is an open message to Rahul Gandhi, who doesn’t tire berating Adani-Ambani, to back off… pic.twitter.com/ycdCoBcxi1
‘The country is being run by crony capitalists’: Rahul Gandhi’s persistent tirade against Ambanis and Adanis
In his speeches, Rahul Gandhi has often made Adani-Ambani jibes, alleging that they both run the country. In the run-up to the 2019 general elections, the former Congress president accused PM Modi of helping his ‘two friends’, Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Continuing his tirade against the top industrialist, Rahul Gandhi, last month, during his interaction with the media in Ernakulam in Kerala as part of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra insulted a female journalist from NDTV because the controversial media house is being acquired by the Adani group.
Rahul Gandhi had said that only 2-3-4 big industrialists can do anything they want, like running ports and airports, working on agriculture, building silos, and other people don’t get any help from banks and the government.
Last year in December too, while addressing the gathering during a rally organized by Congress in Jaipur, Rahul Gandhi had said, “Airports, coal mines, supermarkets, wherever you see, only two people are visible. Adani Ji and Ambani Ji.” Interestingly, as reports emerged that the Rajasthan government had given land to Adani Group for the solar plant, Rahul Gandhi’s speeches against Adani started making rounds on social media platforms.
While the Rajasthan-led Congress government has invited Gautam Adani to the investment summit, Rahul Gandhi attacked the Adani group Chairman only last month, asking, “Who gives him money to develop businesses?”
Adani’s investments in Rajasthan
Gautam Adani addressed the “Invest Rajasthan Summit” and in his speech, he informed about the investment by the Adani group in Rajasthan. He said, “It is a privilege to be attending this Summit and have this opportunity to talk about the existing presence and future plans of the Adani Group in this magnificent Land of Kings. Sitting next door in Gujarat, I am privileged to have a ringside view of Rajasthan’s social upliftment and the state’s economic growth.”
“Combining all ongoing and future investments, we anticipate investing an additional Rs 65,000 Cr in Rajasthan over the next 5 to 7 years and creating over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.” – @gautam_adani, Chairman, Adani Group, at the @InvestRajasthan 2022 Summit in Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/JqJ1Clw7hD
Gautam Adani added, “The Adani Group has already invested over Rs 35,000 Cr across multiple industrial sectors in the state of Rajasthan. Combining all ongoing and future investments, we anticipate investing an additional Rs 65,000 Cr in Rajasthan over the next 5 to 7 years and creating over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Adani Group is also making one of the world’s largest bets on Energy Transition. We are betting on green hydrogen, given our ability to generate the most inexpensive solar and wind power.
