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‘This is just trailer, movie is still left’, prosecutor reveals what Sharjeel Imam said during Shaheen Bagh protests, opposes bail plea

OpIndia Staff
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‘This is just trailer, movie is still left’, prosecutor reveals what Sharjeel Imam said during Shaheen Bagh protests, opposes bail plea

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, while opposing the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam’s bail plea, told the Delhi court on Thursday that Imam has specifically said: “Ye toh trailer hai, picture abhi baaqi hai” (this is just the trailer, the picture is still left) when Shaheen Bagh protests took place. “I have to give names of witnesses who gave statements under Section 164,” he said. The Delhi court Thursday, continued to hear the bail plea of riots accused Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five other accused in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

SPP Prasad presented specific chats between Sharjeel Imam and his brother Muzammil. He explained how in the chats Sharjeel Imam had discussed: “hum dono hi mastermind hain” (we two are the masterminds), of Shaheen Bagh and what is to follow.

When Imam’s counsel stated before a bench of Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat that the arrest of Imam is not for conspiracy in the case but for seditious speech that happened prior to arrest, Prasad said: “Arrest of Sharjeel Imam not for conspiracy. It is for seditious speech. To say he was arrested for conspiracy, is a misdirected argument. Conspiracy in itself can be investigated independently even if Sharjeel was arrested pursuant to seditious speeches.”

Borrowing an example from the game of cricket to argue why Imam was roped in for the conspiracy case, SPP stated: “When a cricket team plays, every player has its own importance. In the sequence of openers, assuming one wicket is lost, that doesn’t mean the intend to win the game is lost.”

“Merely because Imam is removed from the team by the event of his arrest (for giving inflammatory speeches), doesn’t mean the entire conspiracy is abandoned,” the SPP submitted.

The Government counsel read from the chargesheet that Sharjeel Imam’s position is that the conspirators wanted to overthrow a lawfully elected government and inflict sectarian violence. The plan was to overthrow the government and throw the country into complete anarchy.

“I have already shown what instructions were given by Umar Khalid to Sharjeel Imam to Gulfisha. Conspiracy is evident in the instructions given at the meeting”, said SPP, adding that WhatsApp groups like ‘Khidmat’, “Save constitution” were created and the chats, which were later deleted, shows involvement at the local level.

“The Chat groups ‘Khidmat’ and ‘Save Constitution’ were created for mobilisation at Chand Bagh”, said SPP Prasad.

Further opposing the bail application of the Delhi riots accused, SPP Prasad, claimed that Sharjeel Imam sent a message about a gathering at the basement of the Jangpura extension and also encouraged ‘MSJ’ members to attend. MSG’s core members were asked to attend. Sharjeel Imam met with the MSJ core committee at a dhaba in JNU on the morning of December 15, 2019, to discuss their future plans. They enlisted the help of PFI, Jamaat e Islami Hind, and other groups.

Minutes of the meeting of this committee meeting have been recovered from Sharjeel imam’s phone. (the chargesheet contains the minutes of the meeting in writing which contains the agenda including marshal Jaloos etc., said Prasad.

In response to Sharjeel Imam’s counsel advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir argument that Imam cannot be targeted for the same speeches several times, the SPP used the example of a robber who steals a pistol and a car and shoots at a guard while feeling nervous, only to be involved in an accident later. “Would that indicate that only because he committed robbery, the robbery FIR should be continued alone?” “It can’t be stated that just because he was prosecuted (for making inflammatory remarks), he can’t be charged in FIR 59 (UAPA case),” the SPP said.

After hearing the arguments of both sides, the Court reserved its order in the issue of bail to 2020 Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam.

It may be recalled that earlier, SPP Prasad had provided WhatsApp chats as evidence to also oppose the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

‘Our women won’t remove hijab, you (Hindus) go and stop women who enter temples wearing Chaddis: Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Kalburgi

OpIndia Staff
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‘Our women won’t remove hijab, you (Hindus) go and stop women who enter temples wearing Chaddis: Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Kalburgi

Congress leader from Kalburgi Dr Ahmed Patel has made crass misogynist comments against Hindu women. The objectification came from the Municipal Council member who was seen speaking at a protest by people who want hijabs to be worn inside the college and school classrooms in violation of dress codes.

While addressing a group of people gathered, Patel commented, “Khidmat-e-Millat had protested against the ban on students who wear Hijab. No dogs from the BJP have given their lives for the sake of the nation. We belong to this country, we did not come from anywhere.” Speaking about the Hijab controversy that has erupted, he said, “Our women won’t remove Hijab, this is decided in our religion. We will die, but we will not remove Hijab.”

Ahmed Patel while targeting Hindus over women entering temples said, “You people go and stop your ladies who are entering Mandirs wearing Chaddis and shorts. Do not provoke us,” The Hinduphobic and misogynistic remarks came the leader was addressing a group of Burqa-clad women gathered in a protest.

Crass sexually derogatory comments against women added with open Hindu hatred is not new to the Indian political discourse.

Journalist Tunku Varadarajan roots for the secession of southern states from India, spews hate on ‘cowbelt’

OpIndia Staff
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Journalist Tunku Varadarajan roots for the secession of southern states from India, spews hate on ‘cowbelt’

While Karnataka grapples with the hijab issue, which has recently devolved into violence, British author and journalist Tunku Varadarajan has gone on to inflame the situation by lobbying for the secession of Southern states. However, he added that now he has decided that Karnataka is no longer eligible to join the independent ‘Dravidian’ nation. He continued to spew hatred on India, referring to it as the “benighted cowbelt” and advocating for the country’s secession.

In his anti-national Tweet posted on Wednesday (February 9), the ex-author of WSJ, the foreign media outlet famous for its anti-BJP bias reportage, claimed: “I have decided that Karnataka is no longer eligible to be a part of my Republic of Dravidistan, which I hope to see one day break away from the benighted cowbelt and form an enlightened republic of its own. TN, Kerala, AP & Telangana will go it alone.

The Tweet by the British author, who had recently tried to tarnish the image of India’s iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose by comparing him to Hitler, is problematic for more than one reason. To begin, Tunku stated that Karnataka is no longer qualified to be a part of ‘his’ Republic of Dravidian (Dravidian separatists have long sought for the construction of an independent nation made up of five South Indian states), which he intends to see separated from the country one day and “form an enlightened republic of its own”.

So, in essence, he pushes for India’s secession by campaigning for the separation of all of South India from the rest of the country, and although excluding Karnataka from his Dravidian Republic, he still wants the state to split from the ‘cow belt’, which he refers to India as.

Islamists and their apologists often mock Indians, particularly Hindus, with these cow jibes, especially after PM Narendra Modi became the elected head of government in India in 2014. Moreover, Cow belts are usually referred to Hindu belts like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh where cows are revered and considered sacred due to both economic value and religious beliefs. The author, however, attempts to mock the Modi regime for transforming the entire country into a Hindu Rashtra by referring to India as a cow belt.

As expected, Tunku’s drew flak for his anti-national Tweet, calling for the secession of India. Tagging Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the current Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India, social media users demanded that the British author be charged with sedition for conspiring to break India.

One opined that the government should get Twitter to close such anti-national accounts or else close Twitter operations in India for providing a platform to such people to spew hate against India.

Another miffed user opined that such an anti-Indian should be “expedited to India and taught a lesson which he should never forget for life.”

It may be recalled that in January this year, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary, British author and journalist Tunku Varadarajan tried to tarnish the image of India’s iconic freedom fighter.

He had claimed, “The statue of a man who was pals with Hitler is going to sully India Gate in New Delhi.” Tunku Varadarajan insinuated that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was somehow ‘friends’ with Hitler and supposedly embodied his vicious ideology of Nazism. He suggested that the statue of such a man at India Gate would undermine the sanctity of the historical site.

‘They called him Sadak ka Gunda, now seeking votes in his name’: PM Modi slams Congress for using CDS Bipin Rawat’s name in Uttarakhand polls

OpIndia Staff
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‘They called him Sadak ka Gunda, now seeking votes in his name’: PM Modi slams Congress for using CDS Bipin Rawat’s name in Uttarakhand polls

On Thursday, PM Narendra Modi slammed the Congress Party for seeking votes by displaying posters and cutouts of late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat ahead of the Uttarakhand State Assembly elections. “Congress is using late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat’s name to gather votes today. It had played politics over his name during his appointment as the first CDS, and is now using his name for votes”, said PM Modi while addressing a public meeting at Srinagar, Uttarakhand.

He recalled that one of the Congress leaders had labelled the then Army Chief Bipin Rawat as ‘Sadak Ka Goonda’ and said that Congress has never had trust in the Indian Army. “When the Indian Army gave a befitting reply to the terrorist attacks, Congress blatantly had questioned the courage and valour of our soldiers. They had asked for evidence of the attack, showing complete mistrust on the Indian Army”, he stated.

This is a week after Uttarakhand’s former Chief Minister Harish Rawat had informed that Congress will have photos of first CDS General Bipin Rawat, General Bipin Chandra Joshi, and other regional freedom fighters in their poll office. The Congress leader had stated that the late CDS General Bipin Rawat and General Bipin Chandra Joshi were the pride of Uttarakhand and therefore their photos would be displayed on the walls of the Congress office.

Remembering late CDS Rawat, PM Modi said that the people of Uttarakhand have always protected the country like a vigilant watchdog. “Today, memories of our brave son of Pauri Garhwal, General Bipin Rawat ji are making me emotional. He showed the country that the people of Uttarakhand do not only have courage like mountains but also have high thinking like the Himalayas,” PM Modi said in Srinagar, Uttarakhand.

It is important to note that Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen dancing and enjoying tribal dance in Goa, when the emotionally chocked nation was crying and paying heartfelt condolence to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. Showing severe disrespect towards the martyrs, Vadra had been to Goa to kick off the campaign for Goa Assembly Election.

Also, Ashlin Mathew, editor of the Congress mouthpiece National Herald had termed the incident of helicopter crash in which CDS Rawat breathed last as ‘divine intervention’. She had then deleted the tweet saying that it had nothing to do with the news of the chopper crash and CDS Rawat’s death.

Earlier in year 2017, the Congress’ former MP Sandeep Dixit had made controversial remarks against Late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. Referring to one of his statements, he had said that the (then) army chief shouldn’t make statements like a ‘sadak ka gunda’. However, Dikshit had to withdraw his comments apologize as the Congress dissociated itself from his remark.

Legislative Assembly elections will be held in Uttarakhand on February 14 to elect 70 members of the State Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on March 10 this year.

‘When BJP started receiving support from Muslim women, the Thekedars of their votes got scared’: PM Modi in Saharanpur, UP

OpIndia Staff
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‘When BJP started receiving support from Muslim women, the Thekedars of their votes got scared’: PM Modi in Saharanpur, UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Saharanpur, UP has asserted that Muslim women are appreciating the BJP government’s intention of acknowledging female participation in the development process. PM Modi on Thursday emphasised the move by his government to ban the practice of triple talaq in 2019.

PM Modi in his speech said, “Our Principle of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas is the key to UP’s development. Ensuring the participation of women in the process of development is of primary concern to the BJP. While every sector is being opened for them, Muslim Women are appreciating our efforts in this,”

While talking about the Triple talaq issue, he said, “We have liberated Muslim women from the vices of Triple Talaq. The law that was passed protected them from the regressive practice. The women understand that it is our party which stands for their rights and equality.”

He later added, “However, when Muslim women started openly supporting the BJP, when they started being appreciative of the move, the self-appointed authorities of their votes (Thekedars) got restless.”

“After watching the videos of Muslim Women (supporting the Tripple Talaq Bill), the thekedars thought of controlling their lives. The leaders thought, if the girls started supporting Modi, they would start ruling the house. And hence new ways to stifle the voices of these women and to discourage their progress are being invented. These people are influencing Muslim women to ensure that they remain disempowered and away from their rights.”

While finishing his comments, PM Modi assured that his government stands with every Muslim woman who has been a victim of oppression. In 2019, The PM-Modi led NDA government passed the ‘Triple Talaq Law’ that has outlawed the practice of ‘instant divorce’ by Muslim men, ensuring criminal punishment for such cases.

Saharanpur, a district in western Uttar Pradesh holds a considerable Muslim voter base with a population of over 42%. The district goes on assembly polls in the second phase on February 14, 2021.

Nobody can stand against Hindus, those who tried to destroy Hindus are fighting amongst themselves: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

OpIndia Staff
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Nobody can stand against Hindus, those who tried to destroy Hindus are fighting amongst themselves: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

On February 9, 2022, RSS president Mohan Bhagwat asserted that Hindus are so strong that no one can stand against them, emphasising how the Hindu society is not hateful towards anyone. The RSS chief was addressing a gathering after attending the 11th-century saint Sri Ramanujacharya’s millennium birth anniversary celebrations in Hyderabad.

It’s them who have been finished, our 5000-year-old Sanatan Dharma is intact: RSS chief

“Samarthya hamare paas aisa hai ki hamare saamane khade rahne ki takat kisi ki nahi hain (Hindus are so competent that nobody has the strength to stand against us),” Bhagwat said, adding that the Hindu society is not antagonistic towards anyone.

“They tried a lot to destroy us but to no avail…If we had to be finished it would have happened in the last 1000 years. It’s them who have… Our 5000-year-old Sanatan Dharma is intact”, opined the RSS chief.

Those who spent 1,000 years trying to exterminate Hindus are now battling amongst themselves all over the world. “We have sustained and thrived for centuries,” he said, furthering that the only reason some individuals are afraid is because they have forgotten who they are.

“They tried to eliminate us but it did not happen… Even today ‘Sanatan’ Dharmik life of Bharat can be seen here as it is. Despite so many atrocities, we have ‘Matra Bhoomi’ with us. We have plenty of resources, then why we are afraid? Because we forget ourselves. The reason for apparent weakness is that we have forgotten our holistic view towards life,” Bhagwat added.

Hindu interest aka National interest should be the first priority: Mohan Bhagwat

Bhagwat further said, “In our country, despite after facing attacks and withstanding brute tyranny, we (Hindus) are still 80 per cent today. Those who are ruling the country and running political parties, most of them are Hindus. It is our country and even today our temples are there and temples are being built. What our traditions taught us is permanent.”

He maintained that the Hindu interest that is akin to national interest should take precedence above the interests of one’s self, family, creed, caste, language, and other identities.

“‘Hindu hit yane rashtra hit’ (Hindu interest aka National interest) should be the first priority and that is the way we will be a strong and competent nation and then will shun any idea of weakness,” Bhagwat said, adding that, “We will not engage in anything that instigates to fight within…We will live with dignity”.

According to Bhagwat, the world began to discourse about equality after the French revolution, but equality has been preached in India for thousands of years.

PM Narendra Modi unveiled a 216-foot statue of Sri Ramanujacharya at the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy Ashram in Muchintal just days before Bhagwat spoke at the birth anniversary festivities of the 11th-century saint. The ‘statue of equality,’ as it is known, is said to promote equality and oneness throughout the country.

Nobody questions when girls attend colleges ‘topless’, why question the dress code of Islam: Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Karnataka hijab row

OpIndia Staff
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Nobody questions when girls attend colleges ‘topless’, why question the dress code of Islam: Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Karnataka hijab row

Adding to the ongoing burqa and hijab controversy in Karnataka colleges, Maulana Sajid Rashidi, the President of All India Imam Association, on February 10 affirmed that the hijab is the dress code of Islam and that the women should stay in purdah to keep themselves safe and protected in society. He appealed to all the Muslim women to continue to wear burqa and also asked the Muslim men to adopt the traditional Muslim attire including the kurta and the skull cap.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi accused the educational institutions in Karnataka of not following the Indian Constitution. He said that following religion (Islam) is the fundamental right of Muslims and wearing hijab is an ‘integral practice of Islam’.

In an exclusive conversation with activist Amber Jaidi, Rashidi said, ‘women go topless to colleges, schools and nobody questions them, why girls wearing hijab, burqa are being targeted’. “Wearing jeans, going topless to schools is not considered decent in Islam. Women must maintain purdah and keep safe distance from men. She should not wear tight clothes and expose her body parts to men in the society”, the controversial Islamic cleric added.

When Amber Jaidi asked who goes to schools and colleges topless, Rashidi replied that lots of girls do so. He asked her to visit colleges to see girls roaming around topless and indecent clothes, jeans. He said that if students have the fundamental right to wear jeans in colleges, they also have the fundamental right to wear the burqa.

Maulana based all his opinions on the Quran. He clearly pointed out that Islam draws its principles from the Quran, Hadith in its entirety and women who do not wear hijab or burqa are assumed to not be following Islam as their religion.

‘RSS is attacking Islam by not allowing hijab’, Maulana-

In a sharp blatant criticism to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said that the ‘RSS goons’ are trying to attack on Islam by first banning triple talaq and now not allowing hijab. “These people (RSS) want to make India a Hindu rashtra. They want to practice hooliganism in the entire country. They don’t even respect the tricolor. They consider only saffron flag”, he blatantly accused. (video pause 17:13).

He also dragged the Karnataka institutions into the debate and said that the colleges had just begun walking on the paths of the RSS. “The boys who protested against the Muslim women wearing hijab were styled in saffron scarfs. Who are these people? What kind of example are they setting up? They (RSS) want to divide this nation on the basis of religion”, he alleged, conveniently forgetting that the Karnataka hijab row was first initiated by eight Muslim girls who denied to follow the college rules regarding the same uniform dress code.

Muslims shall practice their ‘majhab’ where ever they go-

He went on to argue with interviewer, activist Amber Jaidi, who is also a Muslim, on the context of constitutional rights. He accused her of not following Islam and said that ‘freedom does not mean Muslim women forget their culture, tradition and the way of life mentioned in Quran’. He charged her for adopting free thoughts and called it ‘haram’.

Adamant on his opinion that ‘Muslim women should maintain veils (pardah) and should wear hijab’, he said that Muslims shall practice their ‘majhab’ where ever they go. “The community which I belong to believes in following Islam in colleges, markets and the entire society. Nobody can stop us from doing so”, he reaffirmed. (video pause 16:40)

Maulana Rashidi’s warning Hindus in past-

Maulana Sajid Rashidi is known for his ‘scholarly’ opinions that mostly are anti-hindu and difficult for the civic society to acknowledge. On January 8, he had passed several warnings that Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir might be demolished by some Mohammad Bin Qasim in future. He tried to articulate mythical fantasy that leftists in India continue to peddle in order to whitewash the crimes of tyrannical Muslim rulers who invaded India.

Rashidi had said that Muslim kings who ruled India in the past were benevolent and secular rulers, who not only built mosques for their Muslim subjects but also built temples and generously donated for the upkeep of existing Hindu religious places. He had made similar controversial remarks during the Bhumi pujan of the Ram Temple in August 2020. He had then said that a mosque will be rebuilt after demolishing the Ram Mandir. He also had claimed that Prime Minister Modi had ‘violated the constitution’ by visiting the Ayodhya temple event.

A complaint was later filed against the Islamic cleric for making provocative statements against Hindus and for issuing threats to demolish the under-construction Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

Hijab controversy supported by Islamic fundamentalists-

While the High Court is yet to rule it’s judgement over the hijab row, the ‘left-liberals’ and the Islamic fundamentalists from various countries are seen supporting and openly instigating the Muslim girls to violate the established rules on uniform dress code.

Earlier today, Taliban extended its support to the Muslim women and them for defending the Islamic values. “The struggle of Indian Muslim girls for hijab shows that hijab is not an Arab, Iranian, Egyptian or Pakistani culture, but an Islamic value for which Muslim girls around the world”, tweeted Inamullah Samangani, Deputy Central Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Pakistan ministers also commented on the issue espousing free choice and condemning the bar on burqa-clad students inside the classroom. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it is a grave violation of fundamental human rights. “The world must realize this is part of Indian state plan of ghettoisation of Muslims,” the minister stated.

The hijab controversy in Karnataka gained momentum since the first week of January after eight Muslim girls were denied entry to classes in a Udupi college because they were wearing hijab. The college authorities had informed that the hijab was not a part of the uniform dress code suggested to the students. The Muslim women, adamant on wearing hijab, then filed a petition in High Court seeking permission to attend classes with hijab. They stated that wearing hijab was their ‘fundamental right’ granted under Article 14 and 25 of the Indian Constitution and ‘integral practice of Islam’.

The controversy spiraled as Hindu students in Karnataka styled with saffron scarves around their necks, protested against Muslim girls continuing to wear Hijab to the college. Tensions also prevailed at some educational institutions in Udupi, Shivamogga, Bagalkote and other parts as incidents of stone-pelting and violence were reported from various parts of the state.

RTI reveals Congress has not paid rent for Lutyens Delhi bungalows for almost a decade, rent worth crores pending

OpIndia Staff
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RTI reveals Congress has not paid rent for Lutyens Delhi bungalows for almost a decade, rent worth crores pending

Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party have not paid rent dues for the properties held by them in Lutyens’ Delhi since 2013, a reply to an RTI application has revealed.

According to the response to the RTI application by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), The Congress party has failed to pay the dues for three bungalows including Bungalow no. 26, Akbar Road (office of the Congress frontal wing Seva Dal), Bungalow no. C-II/109, Chanakyapuri and the 10, Janpath bungalow which is the residence of Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi.

The RTI response says that while the dues for 10, Janpath were last paid in September 2020 the monthly rent accounted for the same is Rs. 4610/- only. For the 26, Akbar Road bungalow which is a type VIII property next to Congress’ headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, the monthly rent for which is more than Rs. 12 lakh has not been cleared since December 2012. The Bungalow in Chanakyapuri which is used as a residence has been in possession of the Congress Party with a monthly rent of Rs. 5,07,911/-. Dues for the same has not been deposited since August 2013.

The RTI application was filed by Surjit Patel from Mithapur, Gujarat while a response to the same was given by the concerned MoHUA, Govt. of India on February 07, 2021.

Earlier in 2015, The Urban Development Ministry had asked the All India Congress Committee to vacate the possession of 26, Akbar Road, C-II/109, Chanakyapuri and two other properties. Letter to the General Secretary, AICC said that the allotments for the above properties were already cancelled in June 2013 after allowing a concessional period of three years.

Spread across 5,181 square meters in New Delhi, 10 Janpath has remained the private residence of Sonia Gandhi since the time of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991. Reportedly, the property is bigger than 7, Lok Kalyan Marg which is the official residence of the Prime Minister of India. The current Congress headquarters of the Congress party – 24, Akbar Road lies right behind this property possessed by Sonia Gandhi.

‘Hijab is Allah’s order for women, they have to obey’: Javed Akhtar says he doesn’t support burqa, gets attacked by Islamists

OpIndia Staff
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‘Hijab is Allah’s order for women, they have to obey’: Javed Akhtar says he doesn’t support burqa, gets attacked by Islamists

Controversial lyricist Javed Akhtar has once again attracted criticism after expressing his views about the hijab or burqa on Twitter on 10the February 2022. This time he is being taught the basics of Islam by Islamists.

As the Karnataka hijab row rages on media and social media, Javed Akhtar’s old tweets against hijab and burqa were shared on social media by many. On February 10, the lyricist tweeted, “I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time, I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls, and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of ‘MANLINESS’. What a pity!”

Javed Akhtar came on the radar of Islamists within minutes. Every other Islamist was seen schooling him about Islam. A Twitter handle @aamadmi29 said, “Hijab is an order by God for women and they have to obey”.

Another Twitter user called ‘Pakisdani’ has written in his reply to Javed Akhtar “Hijab and Burqa don’t need your approval. It’s a choice, just accept it. It’s a universal right. India Some people in India need more maturity and tolerance. Let others live and don’t impose your ideology on them!”

Amir Sherwani has replied, “This uncle had to come, but he is too late to talk on this. This brand of white and UC Feminism and modernity (colonial) is equally very problematic. What if those women who wear burqa or hijab as their informed decision or choices?”

Aquib Ansari wrote, “Burqa or hijab is the most vital practice in Islam.”

Another Islamist Twitter handle @Zraar640 has posted “Allah aap pr raham kre Muslims ho kr hazrat Muhammad P. B. U. H ke frmaan ka inkaar kr rahe ho” which means “May the Allah be kind to you. You are denying the orders of Hazrat Muhammad peace be upon him.”

Naeem Khan has posted saying, “Some people follow Islam as per their convenience. They want only those things from Quran and Hadis which are beneficial to them. But only he is the true Muslim who follows Islam completely. If you deny even a single thing from Quran or Hadis, you are not a Muslim anymore.”

Aisha Sikander has replied to Javed Akhtar saying “U r a renowned author writer poet and what not …but u fail to read and understand what is written in Quran …irony ….sometimes after acquiring so much knowledge u gain nothing ….wisdom is bestowed not everyone is lucky ….”

M Idris Khatri stated that Javed Akhtar doesn’t know the meaning of Halal and Haram “How can one understand the importance of burqa in Islam when he does not know what is haram and what is halal in the first place?”

Javed Akhtar’s Twitter timeline is flooding with such replies by Islamists in which he is criticized for not supporting the hijab and schooled for ‘lack of his knowledge’ about Islam.

Harvard students get a lesson on Yogi Adityanath, biographer Shantanu Gupta tells them how he’s different from his predecessors

OpIndia Staff
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Harvard students get a lesson on Yogi Adityanath, biographer Shantanu Gupta tells them how he’s different from his predecessors

During the three weeks of the book tour of two bestseller titles on Yogi Adityanath, author Shantanu Gupta had an engaging discussion with the students at Harvard at Harvard Square. Students from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School and Harvard Education School joined the discussion. Scholars and students from other institutes in the Boston area also joined the discussion.

Discussion largely revolved around two prime topics – Nuances of transformation of Uttar Pradesh under UP CM Yogi Adityanath and what value a religious monk can add in the governance quotient of any state.

Professor Balram of Boston Center of Excellence asked about the future of democracies and role of a religious figures in a democracy. Is being a monk a liability or an asset to any democracy, he asked. To this Shantanu replied that though there is enough scholarship and literature around policy making, monitoring policy implementation, political campaigns etc, but democracies around the world are struggling to produce honest and non-corruptible political actors. There is no scholarship and literature around ways of producing honest leaders. Shantanu added that nations around the world need non-corruptible political actors and leaders but there is no established process or factory to produce such leaders.

Shantanu further added that in India ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’ (RSS) and ‘Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’ (HSS) works towards ‘Development of a socially conscious human being’, who focuses on the concept of self-less service to the humanity. Being a saint or a monk also teaches renunciation and sacrifice for the larger humanitarian cause. And that can be a solution across democracies to produce good dedicated self-less leaders.

Yogi Adityanath took sanyas (monkhood) at the age of 22 years and later became member of parliament and then the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Two prime ministers of India from BJP, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi come from rigorous RSS’ training of sacrifice and renunciation and it’s not coincidental that all three of them are known for their non-corruptibility and propriety.

When Surabhi Hodigere, MPP Candidate and Co-chair of India Caucus at Harvard Kennedy School asked Shantanu about Yogi Adityanath’s foremost quality of leadership that stands out, Shantanu replied that, when he interviewed Yogi Adityanath’s father, late Anand Singh Bisht in 2017 during writing his first book on Yogi Adityanath, Anand Ji said that as a forest officer, he was only able to make a small house in Panchur village and that’s the only asset he earned in his lifetime. But Anand ji added with pride that the biggest earning of his life, the biggest asset of his life is – His Honest Chief Minister son. And Yogi Adityanath’s honesty and non-corruptibility has become the signature element of his governance in the last 5 years.

Abhishek Singh of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) asked Shantanu for quoting some examples of how personal non-corruptibility of a leader like Yogi Adityanath has a bearing on the governance culture of the state. On this, Shantanu quoted couple of examples from his latest book – The Monk Who Transferred Uttar Pradesh for the Harvard students:

Akhilesh & Mayawati ordered luxury cars from taxpayers’ money, Yogi used old car

Shantanu shared with the audience at Harvard Square that, the first file that came to Yogi Adityanath as he assumed office of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was about the purchase of a new luxury vehicle for his movement. His officers explained him that it is the precedent set by previous chief ministers to start their tenures with a new luxury car bought with taxpayers’ money.

Two of his predecessors—SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati—had given the go-ahead for new luxury cars for themselves as soon as they assumed office. The government had acquired a Land Cruiser for Rs 1 crore (the cost at that time) for Mayawati during her 2007-2012 tenure, while Akhilesh ordered two Mercedes Benz for himself worth Rs 6.9 crore of taxpayers’ money.

Yogi Adityanath had outrightly rejected the proposal of the estate department to purchase two Mercedes Benz SUVs for him and his fleet. Yogi cancelled the file at the first go and asked his officers to use the five-year-old vehicle used by his predecessor. He just requested for a small addition to the old vehicle—to add a saffron cover to his seat. For him, saffron denotes renunciation or disinterestedness, which represents his idea of politics—to be indifferent to material gains and completely dedicate himself to his work.

In contrast, Akhilesh Yadav, Yogi’s predecessor in Uttar Pradesh tried to do a life-time personal wealth planning while being the CM of the state. In 2016, Akhilesh Yadav passed a law in Uttar Pradesh’s state assembly for providing lifetime housing to former chief ministers. Fortunately, in 2018, the Supreme Court (SC) struck down the law brought by Akhilesh Yadav and he had to vacate the government residence. Even while vacating the government residence, Akhilesh Yadav brought a disgrace to the position of ex-Chief Minister as he left the government house allotted to him in a mess—with a damaged pool and missing taps.

How Yogi made UP ministers to pay their income tax like any citizen

Shantanu further told the gathering that in 1981, V P Singh, when he was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, enacted a law in UP, that ensures that the state’s chief minister and ministers don’t pay any income tax themselves. As per the 1981 Act, the income tax of all the UP ministers was paid by the UP government, as a perk of being a minister.

When Yogi assumed office in UP, this 40 year practice of not paying taxes was continuing. It is noteworthy that Ex-CM from BSP, Mayawati, is worth Rs 111 crore as per her affidavit for the Rajya Sabha polls in 2012 and Ex-CM from SP Akhilesh Yadav, owns assets worth over Rs 37 crore together with his wife Dimple, according to the affidavit filed for the recent Lok Sabha polls. But neither Akhilesh nor Mayawati, bothered about UP’s government treasury. Yogi Adityanath believed that when common man pays income tax and contributes in the national development, why not the Chief Minister and ministers of UP? Yogi government has decided that ministers will start paying their own income tax, ending a four-decade-old practice of the state exchequer shelling out the amount annually for the UP ministers’ income taxes.

Shantanu concluded that how presence of a saint at the highest office in Uttar Pradesh has brought wide ranging changes in the way Uttar Pradesh has been governed from decades.

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