On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, a special court in Gujarat acquitted 28 of the 77 accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blast case. 49 accused were convicted.
Out of the 28 acquitted, 16 were given a benefit of the doubt, while 12 were pronounced innocent due to lack of evidence.
#UPDATE | A total of 49 accused convicted and 28 acquitted in 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blast case.#Gujarat
After a protracted trial that lasted almost 13 years in the 2008 serial blasts case in which Ahmedabad was rocked by explosions killing 56 people and leaving 220 injured, the trial of these 77 accused came to an end in September last year.
Special judge AR Patel fixed Tuesday (February 8) as the date for judgment. Earlier, the case was notified twice for pronouncement of judgment but was adjourned.
Gujarat Police has discovered a nationwide network of radical elements who were involved in carrying out serial bombings in the city after the serial blasts. According to the authorities, the attacks were carried out by members of the proscribed terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM), a subgroup of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
The trial in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb case had commenced after as many as 35 cases were merged and consolidated into one case. The FIRs were filed in Ahmedabad, where the explosions occurred, and in Surat, where police discovered bombs in various locations.
The accused were charged with murder, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy, as well as the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
For security considerations, the trial in this high-profile and sensitive case began inside the Sabarmati central jail, and the proceedings were thereafter primarily conducted via video-conferencing.
2008 Ahmedabad bomb blast
Back in July 2008, 21 bomb blasts shook Ahmedabad city within 70 minutes. 56 people had lost their lives, and over 200 were injured. Since then, the intelligence agencies have been keeping the city under constant monitoring.
In fact, last year, Ahmedabad Police had issued a high alert in the city based on the intelligence agency inputs. Important establishments, including Sardar Sarovar dam, Statue of Unity and Somnath Temple got additional security and other crowded places across the state got additional security.
Three days after the post by Hyundai celebrating ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ in Pakistan, The automobile company has been at the receiving end of wide condemnation and boycott calls in India. After a patronizing, unapologetic statement issued on February 07, Hyundai has issued a second statement on the controversy on Tuesday morning.
After messing up the cover-up for the post by its Pakistani handle in its first statement, Hyundai India in a second statement has distanced itself from the post saying that its distributor in Pakistan had misused Hyundai’s brand identity. The company has assured that its distributor in Pakistan has been made aware of the ‘inappropriateness of the action’. The statement released by Hyundai India Twitter handle read, “As a business policy, Hyundai Motor Company does not comment on political or religious issues in any specific region. Therefore, it is clearly against Hyundai Motor’s policy that the independently-owned distributor in Pakistan made unauthorized Kashmir-related social media posts from their own accounts.”
With the removal of the posts from Pakistani handles, Hyundai has attempted to assure that it rejects the Pakistani distributor’s ‘unauthorized non-business related social media activity.’
While acknowledging the fact that the post related to Kashmir was inappropriate, Hyundai is seen playing with words again while tendering an apology. “We deeply regret any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity.” says the statement. Social media handles are still expecting a ‘sorry’ from the automobile giant, while the PR has done away with solely regrating the offence so caused.
Social media users have pointed out that the ‘regret’ still sounds insincere and reminded them that after their Pakistani distributor’s post was highlighted by Indians, the Hyundai India official handle had gone on a blocking spree, blocking anyone who asked them questions.
Though whatever you’re saying about operations in Pakistan is factually wrong, Let’s more forward.
I’ve given you three point solution. Two done, third pending:
1. Apology: ✔️ 2. Unblock every India: ✔️ 2. Now admit that Kashmir is Indian.https://t.co/IibMinbKrQ
The apology should be from Hyundai Global, which operates in India as well as Pak. Offence has been caused to India not “any offence caused”. This effort of distancing from Distributor in Pak means one hand earns in India and the other hand slaps India ??
Earlier, Hyundai India had posted a similar official statement on its Twitter handle stating the social media post ‘unsolicited’. In the previous post, the company was seen glorifying its position in the Indian automobile sector in order to brush up its commitment towards India. Indian Twitter was harsher on Hyundai this time, for playing word games instead of clarifying its position in the controversy.
On Saturday, February 05, Pakistani handles of Hyundai, Kia and junk food company KFC among others were seen sharing posts in support of the Pakistan sponsored violence in Kashmir which is celebrated as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ every year on the 5th of February. The companies have faced a huge backlash and large scale calls for boycotts in India after which many were seen falling in line.
The Hijab controversy in Karnataka has received a lot of attention in recent weeks. On January 1, this year, some female Muslim students at a Pre-University College (PUC) in Udupi attempted to enter their class while wearing a Hijab. The headmaster forbade the girls from attending classes because they were dressed in Islamic robes. He pointed out that there had never been a problem, and that it rendered the concept of uniform superfluous.
In this article, we’ll go over some relevant information to analyze this whole discussion and show how the premises on which the conclusions are based are without merit and contradict the same principles that they claim to defend.
The Islamic idea of Hijab
This whole Hijab debate is not a new one, since there have been countless terrible occurrences linked to it all across the world. Hijab is an Islamic idea that Muslim women cannot show their faces and must remain under the veil. The argument that it is a ‘choice’ is a joke. Countless women in Islamic countries have been murdered or jailed for it. ‘Liberal’ feminists argue often that it is a choice, but they will never speak about the brutal murders and honour killings of women who try not to remain under the veil.
Heartbreaking. Today in Iran; This man is holding his 17 yr old wife’s head after beheading her. She had fled to Turkey to be safe but was forced back. In Iran, a father who beheaded his 14 yr old daughter got 8 yr prison but a woman who removed her hijab got 24 years.#LetUsTalkpic.twitter.com/oPy5gIY2Gn
Hijab is not clearly defined in the Islamic sacred book, the Quran, despite its deep roots in Islamic history. It is frequently a cultural and personal idea rather than a theological one. Chapter 24, verses 30 and 31; Chapter 33, verses 32 and 33; and Chapter 33, verses 53 and 54 of the Quran provide insight on the veil and essential themes regarding modesty, respect, privacy, and humility.
The struggle of Muslim women and protest against Hijab
Muslim women throughout the globe have been opposing the Hijab as a veil to cover their bodies. Afghan women have been opposing the Taliban’s new Hijab requirement since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan and enforced it on women. The wearing of a hijab in public has been a very contentious subject for a long.
The atrocities that Muslim women face whether due to Hijab or Triple Talaq are not hidden to anyone. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian lady, was detained by morality police at the age of 19 for not wearing a Hijab, held in prison without trial, and finally told by a court that it had enough evidence to have her executed. Another Iranian lady, Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been held since June 2018 and convicted to a total of 38 years in prison on nine accusations, including “encouraging prostitution,” in connection with her work defending women arrested for peacefully opposing obligatory Hijab.
Global viewpoint of Muslim women scholars
Several Muslim women from various socioeconomic backgrounds have spoken out against the Hijab compulsion. According to Asra Q. Nomani, a former Georgetown professor, and Hala Arafa, a retired program review analyst at the International Bureau of Broadcasting, these justifications for Hijab and modesty are part of conservative Muslims’ well-funded effort to dominate modern societies.
“This modern-day movement spreads an ideology of political Islam, called “Islamism,” enlisting well-intentioned interfaith do-gooders and the media into promoting the idea that “hijab” is a virtual “sixth pillar” of Islam, after the traditional “five pillars” of the shahada (or proclamation of faith), prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.” they wrote in an opinion piece in TWP.
Liberal apologists’ not-so-liberal viewpoints
The support that this row has received from self-proclaimed ‘liberals’ is alarming. Their endorsement of the current controversy is nothing but an effort to incite hatred and target the government, for stating that the uniform and dress codes mandated by educational institutions must be obeyed. It’s worth mentioning that these liberal feminists routinely turn a blind eye to the open intolerance and hatred peddled against non-Muslims in India and across the world, but rush to shout at any incident which involves the Hindu culture. They keep seeking ways to enforce the Islamist views and practices in liberal democracies have never joined feminist developments in Iran, Saudi. The women struggling for their basic rights in Islamic countries never get any support from these self-proclaimed ‘liberals’.
Hijab in educational institutions
Schools and colleges are spaces that are designed and designated to impart education in the best way possible. They are a sort of consecrated place with some pre-requisites for both learners and the teachers. If one has to keep learning, one has to adhere to the rules and regulations set up by the institution.
The wearing of school uniforms is an integral aspect of the educational process. Wearing a school uniform also gives each student a sense of belonging to the institution. As studies suggest, students who wear school uniforms develop an appreciation for and respect for the tradition, as well as a desire to preserve its sanctity. By fostering a sense of belonging to their school, school uniforms also help to bring students together. Insisting on wearing something other than the standard uniform is not only demeaning, but it also demonstrates the audacity to disobey the institution’s regulations.
This obstinate insistence on wearing a hijab in a state-funded institution holds no merit. A state that seeks the welfare of all without discrimination is not obligated to endorse any individual’s or group’s personal beliefs.
The imposition of beliefs
Girls fighting for the right to wear a hijab in schools and universities is not something to be taken lightly. It must be emphasized that it is an attempt to impose one’s beliefs on others. No one disputes the right to wear a hijab or a burqa at a Madrassa, but wearing them in a public school, where pupils from various socioeconomic backgrounds and religions study in the same room, is not justifiable.
Furthermore, the parents and mentors of the protesting girls have lost their credibility to support them. Nobody is unaware that Maulvis, who preach Islam to these individuals, have been involved in open plots to assassinate people who have done nothing except insist on practising their faith, and that too in private space! The most recent incident is the murder of Kishan Bharwad in Gujarat.
The girls protesting and justifying their protest are choosing to be ignorant of how this Hijab is a symbol of Islamic fanaticism and female subjugation. It has come up as an effort to justify certain Islamists’ unwillingness to assimilate into mainstream culture and follow the laws of the state.
Such attempts to impose beliefs must be abandoned from the outset. People who advocate allowing such things in educational institutions must understand that education must be provided impartially and without discrimination. As such the government never prevents individual choice of attending a madarsa. If the students prefer Islamic practises over education, they are free to join madarsas, as MP Pratap Simha said recently.
According to reports, the actor has been battling illness and financial difficulties for quite some time. Sobti had made a reputation for himself not just in the acting world but also in sporting events.
The news of his passing comes just a day after the demise of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on February 6.
Sobti began his career as a sportsperson because of his height and physical strength. Then he turned on to Hindi movies. Only a few people are aware that Praveen Kumar’s acting career included collaborations with celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Jitendra.
Sobti had previously excelled in the hammer and disc throw. Being a former BSF Deputy Commandant, he has won several medals for India at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, including a gold medal at the Asian Games in Hong Kong. He also represented India at the Olympics twice. He rose to prominence in athletics during the 1960s and 1970s.
After getting into the acting profession, he appeared in almost 30 films before meeting BR Chopra, who handed him Mahabharat. He played villains in a number of films, but his most famous part was that of Bheem in the Mahabharat. The rest, as they say, is history.
His performance as Mukhtaar Singh in Amitabh Bachchan’s cult blockbuster Shahenshah was one of his most unforgettable. Karishma Kudrat Kaa, Yudh, Zabardast, Singhasan, Khudgarz, Loha, Mohabbat Ke Dushman, Ilaaka, and others are among the films he has worked in.
Praveen Kumar Sobti entered politics in 2013. On the Aam Aadmi Party’s ticket, he ran for Wazirpur in Delhi but lost the elections. He then left the AAP and joined the BJP.
Mahabharat during Covid lockdown
Notably, Doordarshan televised both Ramayan and Mahabharat TV serials while the whole country of India was quarantined due to the coronavirus outbreak. While India was put on lockdown for 21 days to combat the spread of the deadly Wuhan Coronavirus back in 2020, Doordarshan chose to keep the country engaged by airing the two major epics of Hindu civilization, Mahabharat and Ramayan. BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, a 1988 television series, is widely regarded as a landmark in Indian television.
Days after several automotive manufacturers were found endorsing Pakistani propaganda and supporting secessionism in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) condemned their actions on social media. FADA is the apex national body of the automobile Retail Industry in the country.
In a statement, FADA stated, “We strictly condemn the act of Hyundai Pakistan & Kia Pakistan for the tweets on Kashmir. We remain committed to our motherland and have written to both the companies in India to clear their stand on the same. We also urge the Ministry of Heavy Industries & SIAM India to seek clarifications. Kashmir is India’s integral part & will continue to remain so till eternity. Jai Hind!”
The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) also condemned Suzuki Motocycle Pakistan, Honda Cars Pakistan, Honda Motorcycle, and Isuzu Pakistan for their pro-terrorist stance on the occasion of ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’. This day is observed annually on February 5 by Pakistan to extend their support to Islamic terrorists and Kashmiri separatists, operating from Indian soil.
Honda, Suzuki, Isuzu support pro-Pakistani propaganda on Kashmir
On February 5 this year, Atlas Honda Limited posted on Facebook, “We stand in solidarity with Kashmir.”
Screengrab of the Facebook post by Atlas Honda Limited
A similar post was uploaded by Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited, promoting Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorism on Indian soil.
Screengrab of the Facebook post by Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited
The Pakistani dealership of Japanese vehicle manufacturer Isuzu also called for the secession of Jammu and Kashmir. “75 years is a long time to realise the importance of freedom and stand up against the struggle of innocent people in Kashmir,” it posted on Facebook.
At the time of writing, the contentious Facebook post by Isuzu stood deleted.
Screengrab of the Facebook post by Isuzu
Earlier in 2021, Japanese multinational company Suzuki also posted on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day. While insinuating that Kashmiris in India are not free, it said, “To be free is a basic human right.”
Screengrab of the post by Suzuki
Every year on 5th February, Pakistan tries to reinforce its propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir by observing ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, under the guise of which it continues to extend support to the Kashmiri separatist movement that is funded and supported by the Pakistan state. It was launched by Nawaz Sharif as the Pakistani Prime Minister in 1991.
Similar tweets supporting Islamic terrorism in Kashmir were posted by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors on their official social media platforms, following which they received overwhelming flak from netizens.
Kairana, which rose to national prominence as a result of the Hindu migration, was formerly the terror of Furkan, Mukim Kala, and Sabir Jandheri. Even now, hushed tones reveal how the police administration failed in the face of Nahid Hasan’s family supremacy under Akhilesh Yadav’s SP government. How the gangsters were let out of jail. Businessmen were murdered in broad daylight in their own stores for failing to pay the extortion. The law-and-order situation in Kairana is considered to be fine today. In the election debates, there are stories of Ajaypal Sharma, Ajay Kumar, Sukirti Madhav, and Prem Veer Singh Rana.
On February 10, 2022, voters in Uttar Pradesh will vote on 58 seats in 11 districts in the first round of the election. It also includes Kairana. Mriganka Singh of the BJP is contesting against Nahid Hasan of the SP in Kairana.
Ajaypal, Sukirti, and Prem Veer are not party candidates. They are not affiliated with any of them, nor are they involved in strategy development or sloganeering. During the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government’s mandate, these were the Uttar Pradesh police officers who were responsible for restoring peace and order. Criminals were not only imprisoned and confrontations were held, but Havans were also performed at the police station to calm Hindus’ fears of the system. Local merchants have gained confidence in the administration thanks to these individuals, who have fought to restore locals’ faith in the system.
This isn’t only the situation in Kairana. People are sharing stories of bureaucrats like Dinesh Kumar P, Vidyasagar Mishra, Akash Tomar, and Krishna Kumar Gurjar with zeal in other regions of western Uttar Pradesh as well.
Improving law and order everywhere
The improvement in law and order provides the BJP an advantage over its opponents in all of western Uttar Pradesh’s seats, including Kairana. Other issues pale in comparison to the work done on this front by the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government. The paper equations appear to be falling to the ground.
The owner of Amit Sweets of Kairana says, “If you live in peace, you will be able to fight inflation. Will fight the disease. While there’s life there’s hope.” Trilochan Singh of Dhari village in Gangoh assembly constituency says, “The BJP is on our side. Hooliganism is over in this government. Earlier there was hooliganism. Animals got stolen every now and then. They also used to beat up in the night by entering the house. People used to take out the motor from the field. The hooliganism is over now.” Murtaza Qureshi of Muslim-dominated Deoband says, “Law-and-order is the best in this government. BJP MLAs don’t discriminate between Hindu and Muslim.”
SP government’s “Gangsterism“
Some occurrences in Kairana provide insight into the level of hooliganism that existed under the previous SP government’s tenure. Hindus were compelled to move as a result of these events. Furkan shot and killed businessman Vinod Singhal in broad daylight on August 16, 2014. Rajendra alias Raju and Shankar, business brothers, were killed at their store in Bhare Bazaar on August 24, 2014. This shop’s shutters are still down. Only a few meters separate the circle police officer’s office and police station from where his store stood in Kairana. The shop of Vinod is located at Kairana Main Market. Varun Singhal, his brother, is now working in this store.
Kairana is no longer afraid of Akhilesh Raj
“The two miscreants here were renowned,” Anil Kumar Gupta, head of Kairana Vyapar Mandal, told OpIndia. “Furkan is one, while Mukeem Kala is the other. Three shopkeepers were slained within a week for refusing to pay the extortion. A murder took place just 5-7 stores ahead of here. The situation has now improved, and the migrants have returned,” he said.
Vinod Singhal’s shop in Kairana Main Market, the shop of the businessmen brothers who were killed (on the right)
“When we used to go to complain, the officials used to say we’ll see,” Gupta recalls when asked if the government listened to the traders at the time. “However, nothing actually happened. We used to believe that nothing was changing since the SP government was sitting on the throne above us. The police and administration are still the same. Why is it now working? There hasn’t been an extortion incidence for a long time. Nobody disturbs anyone anymore. Everyone seems to be in positive spirits. Previously, when traders closed their shops, there were occurrences of snatching their bags, which included their money and accounts. Such occurrences are no longer common. Many villages were reluctant to venture out at night earlier. People are no longer afraid to come. The traders were so terrified at the moment that they all wanted to close the business as quickly as possible and get home safely. There is no longer any worry, and we are able to close our stores on time.” he added.
“Terror had intensified in Kairana,” Gupta replies when asked about other electoral topics. “People in this town used to argue that even if everyone had to eat at the same time, law and order should be better. It’s gotten better. People want the last vestige of bullying to be eradicated. Even now, the most critical concern for the people here is law and order.” he added.
The careless SP Government
The Yogi government has received accolades from both merchants and ordinary Kairana residents for improving the law-and-order situation. “The crucial thing that has happened here is that the thefts, dacoities, and scams that used to happen have diminished a lot today,” says Qasim Ali of Fatehpur village. “Anyone can now come and go at any time during the night. In this government, there were no issues. It had grown impossible to simply leave the house here under previous regimes. There was no one to hear. When the individual attempted to meet an officer, he was unable to do so,” adds Ali. “Law and order is the biggest concern here,” Dharampal states when asked what other issues are significant here besides law-and-order.
Why is Mriganka Singh evaluated strong?
Mriganka Singh has tried her hand at politics twice, but both times she has come up short. After defeating her in the 2017 assembly elections, SP’s Nahid Hasan was elected MLA. However, Mriganka’s position this time is thought to be stronger than both prior times due to the Yogi government’s work on the law-and-order front.
“The situation in Kairana has been great since 2017,” Mriganka Singh told OpIndia. “Yogi ji’s zero-tolerance approach on crime has enthralled the locals.” Yogi Raj, according to her, is Ram Raj. Mriganka is the daughter of Hukum Singh, a well-known local personality who passed away recently. As a member of Parliament, he has raised the issue of Hindu exodus.
Nahid Hasan on the mercy of Muslim votes
In the region, Samajwadi Party’s Nahid Hassan’s family has political influence. There are also a slew of severe claims leveled against them. After submitting election papers, Nahid Hasan, who was charged under the Gangster Act, was sentenced to prison. They’ve played it into a propaganda problem for them. In his absence, his sister Iqra, who is in charge of the election campaign, is constantly attempting to transmit the notion that her family is being targeted because they are Muslims. She hopes to avert the divide in Muslim voters by doing so.
BJP is winning Kairana?
The Kairana assembly seat has a total of 318294 voters. Around 1.37 lakh of them are Muslims. The essence of SP’s politics revolves around it. However, as the law-and-order situation improves, this vote bank appears to be disintegrating. This is why, this time, the mathematics is stacked in favor of Mriganka Singh. However, it is also true that Nahid’s imprisonment is a subject of discussion among Muslims. As a result, the outcome will be determined by whether Nahid Hasan can rally individuals who have been left out of his conventional vote bank right before the poll.
Note: This report was originally published in Hindi. You can read it here.
The narrative of ‘dara hua Musalman’ or ‘scared Muslim’ has become common for the so-called ‘secular-liberals’ of the country. However, the peddling of Muslim victimhood has a stark political intention and it often ignores the actual victims.
Ahsan Rao, a youth from Deoband, Uttar Pradesh is being abused and being called ‘su*r’, dog, h**ami ka bacha and more. He is being threatened with questions like ‘what will happen to you when Bhaiya comes, and Yogi will go to the Math’?”
Notably, the results of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be announced on March 10, 2022. In the first phase of the elections, voting will take place on 58 seats in 11 districts, including the Deoband seat of district Saharanpur, on February 10. Out of a total of 3.5 lakh voters, there are 1.25 lakh Muslim voters on that seat.
Who is threatening Ahsan Rao?
According to Ahsan, he is getting threats from streets, villages and abroad. He gets abused whenever he leaves the house or posts anything on social media. The reason behind the continuous abuse is that he raised slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ during a rally in Saharanpur in December 2021. Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had addressed the rally.
Speaking to OpIndia, Ahsan said, “After the video of raising slogans went viral, I started receiving calls including from Pakistan, Dubai and Qatar. They told me to become Wasim Rizvi or apologize. What should I apologize for?”
“In my village, some people started protesting against me. Now I got security, but as soon as I leave the house, people start shouting, ‘this is the same pig, dog and bastard who raised the slogans of Jai Shri Ram’.” When asked who these people were, Ahsan said, “They are people from our society. Wherever I go, they abuse me. Everyone is waiting for Bhaiya (Akhilesh Yadav) to come back in power. If the government changes, they will take revenge. They are also trying to mislead my father, family members, relatives and everyone associated with me. Is it wrong to praise the country where I live?”
Two types of Muslims: One believes in APJ Abdul Kalam, other follows Kasab
He told OpIndia, “I have also studied Islam and Quran Sharif from Darul Uloom. I do not know which Islam they have studied. Islam tells you to love the country where you live. One will achieve paradise if he sacrifices his life for the country. Today, there are two types of Muslims. People like me follow Abdul Kalam. The others believe in Kasab. Kalam Sahib (Former President APJ Abdul Kalam) took the country to new heights. Every Indian is proud of him. But some people rejoice over Kasab. These are the same people who made fun of CDS Rawat’s demise. These are the people who oppose me. I believe we should be loyal to our country. This is what Islam says. I am ready to sacrifice my life for my country. “
Ulema Mufti Asad Qasmi of Deoband had threatened Ahsan to remove him from Islam. When OpIndia asked Ahsan about it, he said, “Did Mufti Sahib impose any fatwa on those who chant ‘Jai Bhim’? Only Ahsan is being targeted.” He added after he started receiving threats, local administration and BJP leaders came in his support. Brijesh Singh, outgoing MLA and BJP candidate from Deoband for the upcoming Assembly elections, warned people who were threatening. Ahsan denied getting any such assurance from other parties, Darul Uloom or Madani family that has a deep influence on Muslims in the region.
He claimed, “Madani sahib never come forward in any matter. There are a lot of people like him who are not coming out. However, they trick and mislead people to get their work done. Owaisi was not allowed to come to Darul Uloom, but the nephew of Madani is contesting election from Owaisi’s party. If Ahsan or anyone else had fought from AIMIM, they would have opposed it. But now, as a family member is contesting, they are fine with it. Where is it written in Islam that one can issue a fatwa on others but not on one’s self?”
‘As long as I am alive, I will chant Jai Shri Ram’
Ahsan said those who are opposing him are the same who go to Pakistan via Africa. They get money from abroad. They have been licking the boots of Congress for 70 years. They act on their instructions. He said, “If that was not the case, why Muslims in BSP are okay with Jai Bhim, Muslim leaders with RLD could celebrate Chaudhary Charan Singh, but Muslims with BJP-Sangh are not allowed to chant Jai Shri Ram?”
He said, “The Muslims who are educated, youth and aware for the nation, are with BJP.” When asked he regrets chanting slogans that resulted in his relatives distancing themselves from him, he replied, “I do not regret any such thing. As long as I am alive, I will keep chanting Jai Shri Ram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 7 while speaking in the Lok Sabha replied to the Motion of Thanks for the President’s speech in the budget session. During his one-and-half-hour speech, he launched a scathing attack on the congress alleging that the party is lost in bye-gone ways of 19th century and does not have connect with the ground.
Around 40 minutes into his speech, he emphasized the importance of empowering small-scale farmers and their businesses. “In the pandemic times, India has taken steps to support small-scale farmers.” While categorically asking the people who oppose the process of development he said, “At times I wonder, the people who are cut off from the roots and those who are living in palatial homes for two to four generations, how can they think about conditions of small farmers? These leaders could not look beyond the influential farmers who came in contact with them. I’d want to ask these leaders, why would you hate small farmers so much?” “Why do you bring hindrance in the development of these small farmers?” he asked.
While addressing the Chair, PM Modi said, “If we really want to get rid of poverty and strengthen our rural economy, then we will have to empower our small scale farmers.” If a small farmer succeeds even while holding a small land, he will make sure to employ technological means to keep it – PM Modi said. He ensured that his government has taken measures to empower small farmers in the country. “Those who do not wish to secure them (small farmers), have no right to play politics in the name of farmers,” he added.
PM Modi further underlined the concern that the earlier dispensation was not able to change the mindset of slavery even after 75 years of Independence. “This colonised mindset is very toxic to the progress of any nation. But today I see a cabal of people who live with this mindset of slavery. Even today, they abide by the whims of the 19th century. This lifestyle of the 19th century and the laws of the 20th century cannot fulfil the aspirations of the 21st century.”
Speaking about the reforms his government is carrying out, Narendra Modi added, “Reforms are essential for living in the present times. The rejection of the process of reforms, what did this result in?” For example, the freight corridor was derailed for many years, planning for which was done in 2006. Look at its condition from 2006 to 2014…The work for which accelerated only after 2014.” Here PM Modi was talking about the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor which is a 1,504 km long proposed under-construction broad gauge freight corridor in India. It aims to connect Dadri in Uttar Pradesh with Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
In UP, he added, “The Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana was sketched in the 1970s. The capital for initiating its process was multiplied by 100 times. It was only when we came into power, we completed the scheme.” Also in UP, the Arjun Damn Project which was started in 2009, only one-third of the funds were used until 2017, PM Modi said. He added that when the BJP government came in power in 2017 in the state, the project was completed in a very short time by 2021.
He asked, If Congress was in power for so many years, they could have completed the Charm Dham roadways Project. “The whole world understands the importance of waterways. This was neglected by others while we are working towards it now. With older ways, the factories in Gorakhpur used to close down. With our intentions, the fertilizer factory has reopened,” PM Modi added while comparing the contrast of governance between the two regimes.
He further stated, “These are those people for those who give much importance to files and people who approach them with these files. For them, files are important, whereas for us 130 crore people are important. You got engaged with files, whereas we started changing the lives of people.” To accelerate pending projects like these, the government started the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti Masterplan to employ a holistic approach for development projects, he added.
After years of Independence for the first time, he said “the streets in rural interiors are being constructed at an unprecedented scale. Highways and bridges are being built. The country awaits new airports, heliports and waterdoms to be networked together.” Fibre optic cables are being laid in over six lakh villages in the country, he added. In conclusion, he stated that empowering infrastructure projects and investing in them is a way to generate employment in the country. “We are going in this direction,” he assured.
Several state Congress media accounts on Monday evening shared images of party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on their respective Twitter pages, but without any caption or context. The official Twitter account of UP Congress was the first one to share Aiyar’s image, followed by Telangana Congress and Chhattisgarh Congress units who shared different images of the party stalwart.
The development came against the background of PM Modi’s blistering attack against the Congress party during his speech on Motion of Thanks to President in Lok Sabha. Pulling no punches, PM Modi called out the Congress party for its secessionist inclinations and tagged the party as the leader of the ‘Tukde Tukde Gang’. Modi also lambasted the Congress party for inciting migrant workers to breach lockdown curbs and head back to their native places in the midst of the first wave of coronavirus outbreak in India.
While there was no context or caption mentioned in the pictures shared by official Twitter accounts of state Congress units, it is not difficult to interpret what Congress units wanted to convey with those images. By sharing pictures of Aiyar, a controversial leader who is notorious for repeatedly making obnoxious and crass remarks against PM Modi, Congress tried to imply that Modi deserves Aiyar, not in the sense of a political opponent but in the manner he targets Modi with abuses and vicious remarks.
However, in the process, Congress betrayed their inner feeling that translates to ‘an India that votes for PM Modi deserves contemptuous attitude and should be treated with scorn and disdain.’ And what is that attitude that Congress social media accounts are tacitly advocating by sharing images of Mani Shankar Aiyar?
Colonised mindset that continues to see India as a third-world country
For the Congress party, India continues to remain a third-world country that needs to be ‘civilised’. Apparently, this is the same ideology that the Britishers harboured in justifying the morality of their rule over India. Even today, apologists of the British Raj in India claim the two centuries of atrocities and depredations had a salutary effect of uniting disparate groups together and engendering a sense of nation-state in them.
The likes of Aiyar live in an India that has not recovered from its post-colonial hangover. They still firmly believe that they are legitimate inheritors of British rule, a notion that has borne out of their contempt for the ‘unwashed masses’ in India, who they think are not capable of making informed decisions on their own. In a way, Aiyar epitomises these ‘brown sahibs’ who are still looking to rule over the natives, just because they know good English.
A mindset that has no qualms allying with Pakistan to ‘remove Modi’
Congress also does not seem to have any compunction allying with sworn enemies of the country if that can bring them back to the corridors of power, which was reflected in Mani Shankar Aiyar’s famous interview with a Pakistani media channel where he said that Modi had to be removed in order to restore relations between India and Pakistan. The statement was construed by many as soliciting help from Pakistan for defenestrating PM Modi. But as Congress’ endorsement for Mani Shankar Aiyar illustrates, they have no qualms in teaming up with Pakistan to fulfil their political objectives.
Ironically, this is exactly what PM Modi said in the Parliament while attacking the Congress party. He said Congress can go to any extent in their bid to return to power in the Centre. There have been several occasions, especially after PM Modi’s ascension to Centre, that Congress’ stance on many issues has converged with that of Pakistan’s. With Congress state units’ endorsement of Mani Shankar Aiyar, it won’t be a stretch to say that the party won’t mind joining hands with enemies of the nation to dislodge Modi from the Prime Minister’s office.
A mindset that comes up with barbs like chaiwala and neech for people who are born in modest families
The use of Mani Shankar Aiyar’s images also reflects a mindset that comes up with insults like ‘chaiwallah’ and ‘neech’ for people who are not born with a silver spoon and have risen through the ranks on the back of sheer hard work. In the run-up to the 2014 General elections, Mani Shankar had derogatorily referred to PM aspirant Modi as ‘chaiwallah’ to assert that a ‘chaiwallah’ can’t assume the highest office in the country. He was proven catastrophically wrong when the BJP stormed into power with an absolute majority. 5 years, in 2019, Aiyar was proven wrong yet again when the BJP returned with an even thumping majority, bagging a staggering 303 seats on their own.
However, this does not take away from the fact how Aiyar had belittled and insulted a PM aspirant simply because he belonged from a humble background and was not a product of dynastic nepotism. In addition to this, Aiyar also used casteist slurs against PM Modi, describing him as ‘neech aadmi‘ in December 2017. Years later, Aiyar justified his comment, saying the 2019 general elections would prove what he had said in December 2017. According to Aiyar and Congress, people belonging to modest families have no right to occupy PM’s post because that according to them is only the preserve of the Gandhi family members or loyalists who are subservient to the Gandhi family.
Even as the Congress state units did not include a caption, context or explanation along with the images of Mani Shankar Aiyar, the mindset that prompted them to choose Aiyar as a potent leader counter to Modi shows that they have got absolute and unqualified contempt for the country that is led by a non-Congress government and presided over by a non-Gandhi.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she cannot get land for another airport in Kolkata, three weeks after TMC leader Mohammed Ghulam Rabbani invited American billionaire Elon Musk to invest in the state.
The response came after Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia accused the West Bengal CM of delaying the approval for the project and thereby halting the state’s development.
Lashing out at the centre, Mamata Banerjee questioned the central government over the need to have 1000 acres of land for building an alternative airport for Kolkata. “They need 1000 acres of land for another airport in Kolkata. Can I bulldoze existing houses? We can’t just evict people.” said Mamata clarifying the challenges before land allocation of the airport. Further alleging that the Central Government is doing politics, Mamata Banerjee in reference to the farmer protests said, “I’m not like them who killed farmers”
They need 1000 acres of land for another airport in Kolkata. Can I bulldoze existing houses? We can’t just evict people. The minister (aviation) shouldn’t do politics.I’m not like them who killed farmers:WB CM Banerjee on Centre saying that WB govt not giving land for 2nd airport pic.twitter.com/dfQLZKT11y
The Centre had earlier come up with an idea to build a second airport for the city since the existing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport has reached its capacity. It has been learnt that the Bengal state government, despite many correspondences from the Centre has failed to allocate land for the same and give a suitable response to them regarding the same.
Earlier in the day, Jyotiraditya Scindia had launched a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee for not clearing the land for the airport on time. In a press conference in Kolkata, Scindia said, “We want a new airport to be built in Kolkata. The existing one is at present running at maximum capacity and for several years, letters and views are being exchanged for a new site, but no concrete step has come from the state government” Scindia highlighted the concern for commencement of the work for the new airport since no land has been made available.
According to Scindia, the Central Government has elaborate plans for the development of civil aviation in West Bengal. “We are investing Rs 700 crore for the present (NSCBI) airport. A new technical block cum control tower will be made operational at a cost of Rs 300 crore,” said Scindia. While a new taxiway is being built for Rs 265 crore, Rs 110 crore is being invested for connecting the Metro Railway with the airport terminal building – the minister informed. Scindia has alleged that The central government has written to the state several times for early handing over of land, but there is no reply from the Bengal state officials. “The (state) government is stuck in files” he added while urging the chief minister to work in tandem with the Centre for development of the state.
Bengal Minister’s invitation to Elon Musk
While the state government of Bengal is dilly-dallying with a singular allocation of land for the airport in Kolkata, the challenges in Bengal when it comes to Land allocation are seen far from gone. Ironically, on January 15, Minister-in-Charge for minority affairs and Madrasa education, Mohammed Ghulam Rabbani had invited Tesla maven Elon Musk to set up a manufacturing facility in West Bengal. He tweeted, “Drop here, we in West Bengal have the best infra & our leader Mamata Banerjee has got the vision. Bengal means Business …”. This was in response to Elon Musk’s allegation of having to ‘work through a lot of challenges with the government’ when asked by a fan about the launch of Tesla in India.
Drop here, we in West Bengal have best infra & our leader @MamataOfficial has got the vision.
— Md Ghulam Rabbani (রাব্বানী) (@GhulamRabbani_) January 15, 2022
Speaking about Mamata Banerjee’s vision, the biggest blow to Bengal’s industrial development ever was her infamous protests at Singur. When Ratan Tata’s Tata Motors was about to set up a factory in Singur for the production of its Tata Nano, it was Mamata Benerjee who led the protests following which, Ratan Tata had to shift his facility to Sanand in Gujarat. While her government is ready to invite a foreign conglomerate in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee should keep aside land for an alternative airport in Kolkata as well. Also, before showing a willingness to partner with Musk, a lesson or two in cooperative federalism is a must for Mamata.
