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Imran Khan is an ‘International Beggar’: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq says changing govt is the only solution

OpIndia Staff
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Imran Khan is an ‘International Beggar’: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq says changing govt is the only solution

Addressing a crowd in Lahore in connection with the preparations for local body elections, Jamaat-e-Islami head Sirajul Haq stated on Sunday that Imran Khan’s departure is the only answer to Pakistan’s crisis.

Sirajul Haq added that Imran Khan has become an “international beggar” as a result of Pakistan’s arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while the current government, which he described as a “combination of different parties,” is unable to control the country, reported Geo News Pakistan.

Haq said, “There is no space left for pluses or minuses from politics in this country, as Imran Khan’s departure is the only solution to all the problems. The government has increased petroleum prices again and the inflation in the country has badly affected people’s condition”.

Siraj ul Haq criticising the Imran Khan govt, image via Twitter

It’s worth noting that Pakistan is presently suffering severe financial difficulties, with the country’s trade deficit widening, inflation growing, and the government is obliged to enact a mini-budget to hike taxes in order to fulfil IMF demands. In order to satisfy the IMF’s demands, Khan’s PTI-led government recently enacted the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 and the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2021. The bill’s introduction was required in order to obtain $1 billion in help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Haq went on to remark that the PTI-led government used to boast about being the “champion of the economy,” but that nothing has changed since “old components are being put in new machines.”

Doom in Pakistan Economy

The economy of Pakistan, in particular, is in catastrophic trouble. Inflation is at an all-time high in the country, forcing up the cost of basic necessities. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has had Pakistan on its grey list for a long time, urging it to do more to investigate and prosecute senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terrorist groups who are involved in terror financing.

In order to lure huge investments from rich Afghanis, Chinese, and American Sikhs, the Pakistani government is planning to introduce policies that grant permanent resident status to international investors.

Shabbar Zaidi, the former chairman of Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), recently stated that Pakistan is currently penniless and not in a position of ‘going concern.’ Continuing his criticism of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s economic policies, the former FBR chief stated that Pakistan has approached bankruptcy and that proper actions must be taken.

Pakistan is tormented by a slew of issues. From the country’s dire economic situation to soaring food prices, political mobilization by the opposition to the government’s eroding legitimacy, the Imran Khan administration is confronted with an unprecedented crisis.

‘Drag that c#am@r b!tch out of the room’: When ‘Samajwadi’ goons had assaulted Mayawati, it was a Sanghi who saved her

Gopal Tiwari
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‘Drag that c#am@r b!tch out of the room’: When ‘Samajwadi’ goons had assaulted Mayawati, it was a Sanghi who saved her

It is a famous saying that politics is the last resort for scoundrels. Indian polity post-independence has witnessed many such occasions in which these words were manifested as they are. Staunch opponents have become close friends. These close friends have become partners in both crime and power. Then such partners have been separated again to become opponents, only to join hands together in an existential threat by some yet bigger common opponent.

With regional parties emerging as a force in the seventies and eighties, this became the political norm. The decade of the nineties was a decade of churn which raised the bargaining power of such regional parties and hence the escalation of political drama in the same decade. Pre-poll and post-poll alliances of staunch opponents kept the surprise element alive while occasional mayhems between party workers or even leaders became a new normal. With the advent of electronic media, in the next decade, the documentation of such events became yet easier but that is not exactly what we are focussing on in this case. Basically, it has been 27 years since an incident in the history of Uttar Pradesh’s politics that has gone ahead to define the course of political twists and turns in the years that followed the incident.

We are talking about the ‘guest house scandal‘ that took place on 2nd of June 1995 in room number 1 of the state guest house situated on the Meerabai road of Lucknow, when some goons of the Samajwadi Party including a few elected representatives had assaulted BSP leader Mayawati for withdrawing support from the then SP-BSP joint state government of the Uttar Pradesh headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav, founder, and president of Samajwadi Party.

It was as recent as April 2019 when the people of Uttar Pradesh had seen Mayawati and Mulayam Singh praising each other in a public meeting at Mainpuri for the campaign of the then general elections which they had fought together against BJP. Therefore it is essential to recap the history of the political relations between SP and BSP which keep shuttling between the opposite poles of ‘affectionate’ partnership and opportunistic hatred. Because even if the leaders call it a past to forget, people of Uttar Pradesh can still remember the incident as it happened.

What was the ‘guest house scandal’?

It was the decade of the nineties. Ram Mandir Andolan, for the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, was at its peak. Mandal commission had ensured that cast-centric political parties get more mileage than the OBCs get equal opportunities. One such beneficiary of the scheme was Mulaymsingh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party. Uttar Pradesh already had a political party that claimed to be the representative of the backward casts. And with BJP being in power at the time of the Babri Mosque demolition incident aka Karseva that took place on 6th December 1992, it had become the urge of the so-called secular politics to join hands to resist the tide that could possibly hit them the most.

Eventually, in 1993, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s SP and Kanshi Ram’s BSP formed an alliance to stop the BJP. The natural slogan for the alliance was ‘Mile Mulayam Kanshi Ram, Hawa me ud gaye Jay Shri Ram’ which means as Mulayam and Kanshi Ram are together now, those who say ‘Jai Shriram’ are bound to lose. And notably, it was not Uttar Pradesh as we see it today. It was Uttar Pradesh plus Uttarakhand. It was an assembly of 422 seats.

SP fielded its candidates on 256 seats, while BSP got its share of 164 seats. The alliance clinched the victory and agreed to share the CM post for two and half years each. SP being the bigger party, claimed its right the first and Mulayam Singh Yadav became the chief minister of the largest state which was also known as the mini parliament. SP got 109 seats and BSP got 67 seats in the assembly. Due to estrangement, on June 2, 1995, BSP announced the withdrawal of support and the Mulayam Singh Yadav government fell flat on its face.

Room No. 1 of the State Guest House at Meerabai Marg, Lucknow was Mayawati’s residence at that time. SP MLAs were angry as their government became a minority in the house. Enraged SP MLAs along with their supporters and goons reached Mayawati’s place of stay. Mayawati, who was sitting in the room with her MLAs, was first surrounded and then assaulted by the goons. By three o’clock in the afternoon, the leaders of the Samajwadi Party had taken full control of that room.

The leaders of the Samajwadi Party were shouting and abusing Mayawati. When the BSP MLAs tried to stop them, they started lashing out at them. 5 BSP MLAs were dragged to the Chief Minister’s residence by car. After beating, many of the BSP MLAs were made to sign on blank paper. They were kept captive throughout the night. Senior BSP leader RK Chaudhary was assaulted. Somehow he got locked safe in a room. Barring a few policemen, the entire police and administration were with the SP.

The electricity and water supply of the guest house was cut and the then Lucknow SSP was smoking cigarettes comfortably. There was a threat cum warning of the Chief Minister’s Office that force should not be used. When the District Magistrate opposed it, he was transferred in the middle of the night. This was the incident that made Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav each other’s enemies. The matter was settled only after the intervention of the BJP and the Central Government. Mayawati and her fellow leaders were not ready to leave the room, in such a situation, they had to be assured again and again that the danger was averted.

BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi: The Sanghi who saved Mayawati

Today, to oppose the BJP, Samajwadi Party talked a lot about Dalits and their welfare. What it comfortably forgets is that in 1995 it was a Dalit woman leader with whom its MLAs and goons ha had assaulted and terrorised. SP goons had beaten up Mayawati and even torn her clothes. A woman was openly molested in broad daylight right in front of dozens of SP leaders. Mayawati was kept locked in a room.

One must not forget that Samajwadi Party’s prime voter base was Yadavs and Muslims. Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav have iterated many times that they are the descendants of Lord Shri Krishna. It was Shri Krishna who saved Draupadi’s dignity in the royal court of Kurus. His self-proclaimed descendants seem to have forgotten that MLAs of their very own party along with their goons molested a prominent woman politician in the government guest house of the state capital.

The BJP MLA from the Farrukhabad constituency, Brahmadutt Dwivedi reached the guest house, barged into the place surrounded by SP goons and had saved Mayawati’s life. Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, with the image of a domineering leader, forced the leaders and workers of SP to retreat. After this incident, Mayawati started considering him as her brother and BSP never fielded its candidates against him.

Brahm Dutt Dwivedi was a Swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and he was very well trained in lathi at Sangh shakhas. He was also a well-trained fighter which is why he directly took on the goons and saved Mayawati. He used his fighting skills at the proper time to save the dignity of the woman leader. It must be noted that Mayawati used to rally against BJP, but it was Brahm Dutt Dwivedi for whom she even campaigned. “Tilak Taraju aur Talwar, Inko Maaro Jute Char” was her party’s slogan which meant that Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas must be beaten up with one’s shoes. But Brahm Dutt Dwivedi was a Brahmin she considered her brother and remained thankful to.

Brahm Dutt Dwivedi was assassinated on February 10, 1997. The name of gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari and former SP MLA Vijay Singh was revealed in this murder case. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the matter is now pending in the Supreme Court. Mayawati wept bitterly after this assassination. Brahm Dutt Dwivedi had exceptional leadership qualities. He had been an elected MLA from the Farrrukhabad constituency in 1977 and 1985. After that, he had made a winning hattrick from the same seat in 1991, 1993, and 1996. In 1997, he and his guard Brijkishor Tiwari, both were killed.

After his murder, the BJP gave the ticket of his constituency to his wife Prabha Dwivedi. Mayawati rallied and campaigned for Prabha Dwivedi and appealed to people to vote for her, she called Brahm Dutt Dwivedi a ‘martyr’. In 2017, the BJP gave the ticket of Farrukhabad constituency to Brahm Dutt Dwivedi’s son Major Sunil Dwivedi. Winning from this seat, he became an MLA. Brahm Dutt Dwivedi who was very active in the Ram Janm Bhumi Andolan had entered into electoral politics in 1971 when he was elected as a corporator from ward number six of Farrukhabad municipality. It was the bravery that he had shown while saving Mayawati from the SP goons that turned into a political revenge game that took a toll on his life.

Mayawati and Mulayam came together after 24 years of the guest house scandal

The guesthouse scandal is still considered as one of the worst episodes of law and order situation in the state. In this case, 3 cases were registered against Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shivpal Singh Yadav, senior SP leader Dhaniram Verma, Mohammad Azam Khan, and Beni Prasad Verma at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow. Many photographs were presented as evidence. CBI and CID both the agencies inquired and investigated the case. Governments kept on changing and this case kept on getting longer. But, in 2019, when both the leaders came together to stop the ‘Modi wave’, Mayawati withdrew these cases.

Did this help in any way to either of the parties? Not exactly as expected. BSP had zero seats in the 2014 general elections. In 2019, it reached a mark of 10. SP remained on the same number of seats as earlier that is five. Despite their alliance, BJP took away 62 seats. As a result, the SP-BSP alliance, which was popularly called as Bua Babua alliance, was broken. In October 2020, Babua Akhilesh Yadav betrayed Bua Mayawati and got 7 BSP MLAs into his party.

The guest house is also remembered for the way anti-Dalit slogans were raised amidst the ruckus at the guest house. The Charmakar caste was abused by the SP goons while attacking her and her MLAs. The goons kept saying that the Charmakars have gone mad and they ‘must be taught a lesson’. ‘Drag that c#a$@r b!tch out of the room’ were the exact words they used to abuse Mayawati. After this, Mayawati’s government was formed with the support of the BJP. It formed a committee and entrusted it with the investigation. Charge sheets were also filed against 74 people.

But this is politics. When it comes to fighting a common enemy who is an existential threat to both the parties, even the enemies become friends, though with expected benefits. Likewise in 2019, the two parties came together and as a result, Mayawati withdrew the cases. What remains intact in the public memory, on this backdrop of opportunistic politics by both the aggressor and the victim is the values and bravery of a ‘Sanghi’ Brahm Dutt Dwivedi and his courage.

He went on to make rivals to save a woman leader who opposed his party BJP then and still continue to do so. Political opportunism and prioritisation of desire for power may have made Mayawati team up with the same people who had assaulted her, but the guest house incident is a story that remains etched in the memory of UP’s public.

Texas: FBI identifies synagogue hostage-taker as British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, had demanded release of ‘Lady Al Qaeda’ Aafia Siddiqui

OpIndia Staff
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Texas: FBI identifies synagogue hostage-taker as British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, had demanded release of ‘Lady Al Qaeda’ Aafia Siddiqui

On January 16 (local time), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified Synagogue hostage-taker as 44-year-old British citizen Malik Faisal Akram. As per reports, he had come to the US two weeks ago. Akram’s brother alleged he was suffering from mental health issues.

He had demanded the release of scientist-turned terrorist of Pakistani origin, Aafia Siddiqui, aka lady al-Qaeda who is serving an 87-year sentence in prison near the Synagogue where the incident took place. Earlier, Akram was heard asking to speak to her “sister”, which led to speculations he could be Muhammad Siddiqui, Aafia’s brother. However, Aafia’s lawyer and her actual brother refuted the claims.

FBI’s statement on Texas hostage crisis

FBI Dallas issued a statement in the matter revealing the hostage-taker’s identity. In the statement, they said, “Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Office confirmed today the identity of the Colley, Texas hostage-taker as British Citizen, Malik Faisal Akram, 44.” The statement further added that the Evidence Response Team (ERT) would continue to process evidence at the Synagogue.

It further said preliminary evidence did not indicate the involvement of any other person. “The FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force (NTJUF), which includes member agencies from across the region, will continue to follow investigative leads. An FBI Shooting Incident Review Team (SIRT) will conduct a thorough, factual, and objective investigation of the events,” it added.

Akram’s ‘devastated’ brother Gulbar Akram shared a message on social media in which he revealed he had been working with the FBI and ‘liaising’ with his sibling throughout the stand-off. He apologised and blamed ‘mental health issues’ for Malik’s actions.

Two teenagers detained in Manchester

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement they had detained two teenagers from South Manchester in connection to the hostage incident.

They said, “As a part of the ongoing investigation into the attack that took place at a Synagogue in Texas on January 15 2022, Officers from Counter Terror Policing North West have made two arrests in relation to the incident. Two teenagers were detained in South Manchester this evening. They remain in custody for questioning.” The identity of the detained teenagers was not revealed.

Akram’s brother blamed ‘mental health issues’ for the incident

Akram’s brother Gulbar said in an online post that his family was devastated by the incident. He said, “We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologise wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident.”

He said though his brother was suffering from mental health issues, he was confident Akram would not harm the hostages. “There was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender. Obviously, our priority will be to get him back to the UK for his funeral prayers, although we have been warned it could take weeks.”

He also questioned how his brother was allowed to enter the US despite having a criminal record.

Blackburn Muslim Community ‘prayed’ for ‘highest rank of paradise’ for Akram

After learning about the identity of the hostage-taker, Blackburn Muslim Community issued a statement on its Facebook page in which they prayed for the “highest rank of paradise” for Akram. In the now-deleted post, they said, “Faisal Akram has sadly departed from this temporary world and returned to his creator. He was son of Mohammad Malik Akram and the brother of Gulbar, Malik, Nasar, Yassar and Late Gulzameer Akram.”

It further added, “May the almighty forgive all his sins and bless him with the highest ranks of Paradise.”

President Biden called the incident ‘an act of terror’

While responding to the incident, US President Joe Biden called it “an act of terror”. While talking to the reporters in Philadelphia, he said, “This was an act of terror. This was an act of terror. And it not only was related to someone who had been arrested, but I might also add, 15 years ago and been in jail for ten years — the idea that it was something new.”

He further added he talked to the Attorney General and told him that he would want to tell the places of worship that such incidents would not be tolerated. “We have this capacity to deal with the assaults on particularly the anti-Semitism that has grown up,” he said.

When asked why the hostage-taker targeted the specific Synagogue, US President said, “Well, no, I don’t. I don’t think there is sufficient information to know about why he targeted that Synagogue or why he insisted on the release of someone who’s been in prison for over ten years, why he was engaged — why he was using anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli comments. We just don’t have enough facts.”

He further said the weapons Akram used in the hostage incident were bought after entering the US. He said, “He purchased them when he landed, and it turns out there apparently were no bombs that we know of. Apparently, he spent the first night in a homeless shelter. I don’t have all the details yet, so I’m reluctant to go into much more detail.”

Rabbi’s statement

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was one of the hostages, issued a statement via a spokesperson. He said, “Over the years, my congregation and I have participated in multiple security courses from the Colleyville Police Department, the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League, and Secure Community Network. We are alive today because of that education. I encourage all Jewish congregations, religious groups, schools, and others to participate in active-shooter and security courses.”

He further added, “In the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening,” Cytron-Walker added. “Without the instruction we received, we would not have been prepared to act and flee when the situation presented itself.”

Cytron-Walker said there was no question it was a traumatic experience. He thanked everyone for the love, prayers and support. “We are grateful for the outcome. We are resilient, and we will recover,” he added.

In a Facebook post, Cytron-Walker said he was grateful to be alive.

While Punjab, Maharashtra, and Bengal leaders try to woo Elon Musk, here is their not-so-great history with industrialists

OpIndia Staff
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While Punjab, Maharashtra, and Bengal leaders try to woo Elon Musk, here is their not-so-great history with industrialists

As India celebrated the National Start-up Day on 16th January 2022, no better reason to discuss the inspirer of many start-ups Elon Musk’s opinion about India and how leaders from various Indian states are trying to woo him in response overlooking their poor records in the past when these states had to deal with industrialists. Elon Musk was recently asked by one of his followers on Twitter as to when is his company Tesla launching its vehicle in India. In response to this, Musk has tweeted that “Still working through a lot of challenges with the government.”

In July 2021, OpIndia had reported that Musk was seeking temporary relief in import tariffs. Earlier in April 2021, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had said that American electric car major Tesla has a golden opportunity to set up its manufacturing facility in India given the country’s thrust on e-vehicles. However, Indian government has been urging to manufacture cars in India and discourage imports by relatively high import duty to encourage the make-in-India initiative.

Essentially, when Musk said he has a lot of challenges to work through with the government, it was most likely related to import duty, something which only the central government can take a call on.

Soon after Musk shared this tweet, incandescent Indian leaders from various states came forward to woo him with what they probably think as an offer he cannot deny. These leaders include Navjyot Singh Sidhu (Congress) from Punjab, Mohammed Ghulam Rabbani(TMC) from West Bengal, Jayant Patil (NCP) from Maharashtra, and KTR Rao (TRS) of Telangana.

Sidhu invites Musk to Punjab

President of Punjab State Congress, cricketer turned politician Navjyot Singh Sidhu invited Elon Musk to Punjab. He tweeted that “I invite Elon Musk to Punjab. Punjab Model will create Ludhiana as a hub for the Electric Vehicles & Battery industry with time-bound single window clearance for investment that brings new technology to Punjab, create green jobs, walking path of environment preservation & sustainable development.”

But is Punjab indeed a safe place for industrialists? Forget Elon Musk, is it even safe for any Indian industry given that in the recent past, amidst the agitation against historic farm laws, ‘protesting farmers’ in Punjab were seen stealing generators connected to Reliance Jio telecom towers, and ‘donating’ it to a Gurudwara. The ‘protestors’ were targeting Reliance Jio towers because Congress politicians have been spreading rumors and misinformation that “Ambani and Adani are about to exploit farmers”.

The Great ‘Vasooli’ offer

Similarly, Jayant Patil, NCP leader from Maharashtra, has tweeted that “Elon Musk, Maharashtra is one of the most progressive states in India. We will provide you with all the necessary help from Maharashtra for you to get established in India. We invite you to establish your manufacturing plant in Maharashtra.” Jayant Patil is a seven-time MLA from Islampur in Maharashtra. He is one of the senior-most cabinet ministers in Uddhav Thackrey’s government in Maharashtra.

Another NCP leader Rohit Pawar, too, invited Tesla to Maharashtra.

Seemingly they both seem to have forgotten that it was in the very capital of the state that the biggest industrialist of the country was unsafe. The Antilia bomb case had revealed that Mumbai Police itself was involved in planting explosives near the residence of Mukesh Ambani. After this, Sachin Vaze had revealed how the then-home minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh of the NCP was involved in the extortion racket where he deployed various police officers to complete the monthly collection targets of 100 Cr from the various bar and restaurant owners in Mumbai.

Maharashtra houses the economic capital of the country yet the biggest industry owner was under life threat from the police itself.

West Bengal, ‘No’ to Tata, ‘Yes’ to Tesla

Mohammed Ghulam Rabbani is a TMC leader from West Bengal. He is the minister in charge of the minority affairs and madrasah education ministry in the West Bengal state government. He has tweeted that “Drop here, we in West Bengal have the best infra & our leader Mamata Banerjee has got the vision. Bengal means Business …”

Mamata Banerjee’s vision is well known. It was only her who led the historic Singur protest. Tata Motors was about to set a factory in Singur to produce its iconic Tata Nano car. Owing to these protests led by Mamata Banerjee, Ratan Tata was forced to leave this option. the Tata Nano plant was moved out of Singur to Gujarat’s Sanand. Years later, however, locals who took part in the protests, expressed regret regarding the same. If at all Elon Musk comes to West Bengal he must make sure that there is no protest to his factory.

The woman who drove away Indian conglomerate out of her state is now wooing a foreigner.

The Telangana offer

KTR Rao is the working president of TRS. He is also the minister for municipal administration, urban development, industries and commerce, and information technology and communication in the state government. He has tweeted that “Hey Elon, I am the Industry & Commerce Minister of Telangana state in India Will be happy to partner Tesla in working through the challenges to set shop in India/Telangana Our state is a champion in sustainability initiatives & a top-notch business destination in India”

Telangana under TRS rule has not made any remarkable development in the industrial sector. Whatever corporates it has attracted so far is the outcome of the IT growth in Hyderabad. This too is often attributed to the earlier governments especially that of Chandrababu Naidu when he used to be the chief minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. A Twitter user has written in his post as a reply to the Telangana Minister’s offer that “They did not bring any major manufacturer to state since 2014. Not even one. The only place where there is development is IT, which is the legacy of previous Govts. They even ruined public transport in the state. This guy gives build-up on Twitter but nothing really happens on the ground.” Certainly not even eligible to invite Tesla.

Amusingly, the states which invited Tesla are currently run by parties which are in opposition at Centre and least likely to have any bearing on the actual issue of import duties and such which Tesla is facing while coming to India.

Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away at 83

OpIndia Staff
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Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away at 83

Legendary Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away at his residence on Sunday (January 16) night at the age of 83. The cause of death has been attributed to a heart attack.

While speaking about the matter, his granddaughter Ragini Maharaj informed, “He was under treatment for the past month. He had sudden breathlessness at around 12:15-12:30 am last night; we brought him to the hospital within 10 mins, but he passed away.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a message of condolence on Twitter. He wrote, “Deeply saddened by the demise of Pandit Birju Maharaj ji, who gave Indian dance art a special recognition across the world. His passing is an irreparable loss to the entire art world. My condolences to his family and fans in this hour of grief. om Shanti!”

Pandit Birju Maharaj was born on February 4, 1937, in the Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh to a prominent Kathak dancing family. He started out as a child performer alongside his father and became a Maharaj in his teenage years. The noted Kathak dancer performed in the Rampur Nawab’s durbar.

He received several awards during his lifetime for his contribution to the field of performing arts. At the age of 28, he was bestowed with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Pandit Birju Maharaj was also the recipient of the 2nd highest Indian civilian award of Padma Vibhushan in 1984.

He was sent by the Indian government to perform in several countries including the UK, Russia, USA and Japan.

He also worked as a poet, choreographer painter and vocalist. Pandit Birju Maharaj will always be remembered for his unique rhythm and expressive face, which became iconic along with his style of dance.

Five things to look forward to in the 2022 Republic Day Parade

OpIndia Staff
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Five things to look forward to in the 2022 Republic Day Parade

The Republic Day parade is one of the few things we look out to watch on the Television, if not in-person every year. While the day is primarily about celebrating our democratic ethos and faith in constitutional values as a nation-state, The significance of R-Day celebrations is echoed in more ways than one. Be it the display of discipline by the army battalions to the colourful tableau from the states followed by the breathtaking formations of military aircraft, the Rajpath speaks high of Indian guts, grit and glory on January 26 every year.

Since the Covid-19 Pandemic hit us, the annual celebrations have been curtailed in scale owing to the regulations. Last year, a moment of national shame groped the excitement, as the ceremony was followed by a ruckus at the Red Fort stormed by protestors. However, as the nation awaits completion of the Central Vista project to mark 75 years of Indian Independence, The Republic Day celebrations despite the alarming Covid-19 situation have some exciting things to offer. Here are five things to look out for at the R-Day Parade on 26 January this year.

The New Central Vista

Artist’s Impression of the New Central Vista Avenue to be completed before January 26, 2022. Courtesy: MoHUA

Stretching from the India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the nation is all set to host its Republic Day Parade on the new refurbished Rajpath. As confirmed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the final work at the Rajpath is progressing fast for the project to be completed before 26 January since the parade takes place on the Rajpath. The Ambitious project was launched as a part of redeveloping the Central Vista, which also includes building a new Parliament before 2023 and the Central Secretariat buildings. The 3-km long stretch will include renewed amenities like increased tree-cover and improvised landscape, permanent bridges over water canals, walkways with increased widths, illumination and toilet facilities, etc.

Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations

The year 2022-23 marks the commencement of Platinum-Jubilee celebrations of India’s Independence from the British. Projects and Activities under the ‘The Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative will add new colours to the annual celebrations. Winners of the Vande Bharatam Nritya Utsav will be seen performing on the Rajpath. The competition was hosted under the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ banner to promote top dancing talent from across the country.

An ode to Netaji

The Central Government has taken a decision to include Subhash Chandra Bose’s birthday which falls on January 23 in the annual Republic Day celebrations. Hence, Republic Day celebrations from this year will start on January 23 instead of January 24 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Last year, the PM had declared January 23 as ‘Parakram Divas’ to highlight the importance of Netaji’s leadership in the Freedom struggle.

Painted Scrolls depicting Freedom Struggle

Artists painting stories of valour to be displayed at the Rajpath. Courtesy: Hindustan Times

To mark the 75 years of Indian Independence, the National Gallery of Modern Art will display 750-metre-long scrolls depicting stories of valour in the Freedom Struggle on the Rajpath. The giant artwork under the theme of ‘Ek Bharat-Sreshth Bharat’ will reflect local artforms of Pattachitra, Talapatra Chitra, Manjusha, Madhubani and Jadu Patua to name a few. ”Ten Gigantic scrolls of nearly 750 m will be an integral part of the Republic day celebrations 2022″ tweeted The Press Information Bureau informing about the Initiative.

Nari-Shakti on display

BSF’s Women Personnel displaying their skills at Rajpath, last year. Courtesy: DNA

The women contingent of the Border Security Force (BSF) will be a part of the defence march past on the Rajpath. The all-women biker team known as ‘Seema Bhawani’ which is set to showcase daredevil formations, is sure to skip our breaths away. According to ANI, more than 100 female troops across different military ranks will be part of the performances this year.

Research by IIT Kharagpur suggests that tectonic activity was behind the collapse of the Shikhara of Konark Surya Mandir

OpIndia Staff
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Research by IIT Kharagpur suggests that tectonic activity was behind the collapse of the Shikhara of Konark Surya Mandir

A team of geologists from IIT Kharagpur has recently suggested that the collapse of the Shikhara of the famous Sun temple at Konark might have a possibility of neotectonic activity behind it. The findings that have been published in the Journal of Earth Science System, hint at significant slow movements on basement faults as a result of the northward movement of the Indian plate. 

A four-member team of Professors Saibal Gupta, William Kumar Mohanty, Subhamoy Jana and Prakash Kumar from The Department of Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur was tasked to study at length the geological aspects at the archaeological site of Sun temple in Konark. Concluding the study, the researchers have claimed that this was the first time a conclusive study on a scientific basis has been done to find out the nature of the collapse of the temple. It was in the 13th century when the Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I built a massive temple dedicated to Hindu God Surya (Sun) between 1243 and 1255. What remains of the temple today is the Jagamohana/Mandapa or the assembly hall. The main spire or Shikhara of the temple under which the main shrine (Garbhagriha) lies has been collapsed.

Photographed by Archaeological Survey of India, the South-West View of the collapsed Shikhara and Standing Mandapa from 1890. Source: British Library

By far, many Historians and researchers have been sighting the collapse of the shikhara as a cause of heavy thunderstorms. But talking about the new study, Prof. William Kumar Mohanty says, “There are many theories and speculations about how the main temple collapsed. But none could be proved scientifically. Our study looks at this old historic problem from a geological perspective. The findings reveal that neotectonic activity may have been responsible for the collapse of the earlier temple structure”

The tectonic activities in coastal Odisha can be seen at the Mahanadi delta through the new formations of creeks in the region. The research indicates that these tectonic movements were likely to have disrupted the flow of existing water bodies which led to the drying of many active water bodies. The ancient Chandrabhaga River passing north of the Konark temple could have dried up due to these tectonic developments, the researchers suggest.

Subhash Kak ☀️ on Twitter: "I ask for a public campaign in India to seek reconstruction of the collapsed shikhara of the Konark Sun Temple. (The white part in the figure is
Illustration of Konark Surya Mandir with the Shikhara

Saibal Gupta, professor of Department Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur while speaking to Hindustan Times said, “Low to moderate magnitude earthquakes in this region, which lies in seismic zones II and III, indicate significant slow movement on basement faults (tectonic creeps) most likely as a result of the northward movement of the Indian plate. The collapse of the Konark Sun Temple is likely linked to neotectonic activity in this region” 

The exact dating of the fall of the temple still remains in mystery. Here is a sketch from 1820, depicting the ruins of the site which once stood as a magnificent Sun Temple.

North View of the Sun temple titled ‘Black Pagoda’ dated 13 September 1820. Source: British Library

Over the years, researchers have made different claims over the origins and collapse of the temple. Some researchers have contradicted the new findings questioning that other temples contemporary to the Konark Temple would have also been affected if the tectonic activity would have happened. “… the Chaurasi Varahi temple and the Gangeswari temple are smaller temples lying close to the Sun temple. Both are contemporary to the Konark temple and are still intact and well preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. Had there been a tectonic movement they all would have been affected,” said Anam Behera, assistant professor of ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology at Utkal University in Odisha.

While responding to Prof. Bahera’s claims, the IIT team said that two faults located within 30 km from the surface of the earth intersect close to the Konark Temple. The soil deposits of then flowing Chandrabhaga river below these temples would pacify the tectonic movement around these faults, and hence they were protected.

European Archecologists with a dog exploring the vastness of the Konark Temple ruins in 1812. Painting by William George Stephan currently with British Library

The exploration and musings of researchers, historians, archaeologists over the Konark Temple of Sun have been of great churn since the discovery of the monument by ASI in the 19th century. The UNESCO World Heritage site in Odisha continues to spark interest while sitting as a ruin frozen in time.

Job in Paytm is haram, mobile recharging halal, talking on phone allowed but not taking photos: More answers to modern questions by Darul Uloom

OpIndia Staff
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Job in Paytm is haram, mobile recharging halal, talking on phone allowed but not taking photos: More answers to modern questions by Darul Uloom

On the website of Darul Uloom in Deoband, a slew of inquiries seeks solutions from Deobandi school to some of the world’s most pressing Islamic concerns. These questions cover a wide range of topics, from working for Paytm to wearing a Kurta with a Bar Code. These questions are premised on the Shariah principles of Haram and Halal, which respectively mean Illegitimate and Legitimate. Here are a few of the most common questions.

Job’s salary is halal or not?

Someone inquired whether his income is Halal or Haram because he works in the oil and gas department at Paytm. According to the response, Paytm appropriates interest money from the RBI, and one should not accept money that is obtained from some interest as per Sharia. Darul Uloom advised the person to find a different job and quit Paytm.

Regarding fake attendance signature

An engineering student inquired about the legality of proxy attendance in college. The reply said that according to Shariah, it is not permissible to mark phony attendance or have it done by someone else. This is clearly a fraud and cheating, and both the person who marks bogus attendance and the one who gets it done is a sinner.

Prize bond money redemption

A perplexed person from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, inquired regarding the redemption of reward money. He was told that Prize is a form of gambling and that he should avoid it.

Do angels enter a house having I card?

A totally different dilemma arose with Angels, namely if they arrive at a residence with Identity cards containing photographs. Surprisingly, even though Sharia prohibits photography, the answer stated that Identity cards are required, therefore angels will enter a house even if it has identity cards, however, they will not enter houses with photographs.

Create fake email ID to download software

An IT employee wanted his concerns to be addressed about utilizing bogus email accounts to improve the ranking of his company’s software. He was admonished that deceit is a sin that must not be committed under any circumstances.

Stealing filtered drinking water from office!

A parent asked whether he may transport purified water from his office to his house for his child. The answer was not entirely in his favor, as it said that carrying water is only legal if the corporation offers it to the staff.

Is Camera phone allowed

One person asked if it is allowed to use a phone with a camera to take photos or videos. Darul Uloom replied that using phone is allowed as it is only a communication device. However, Muslims are not allowed to use the camera in the phone as photography of living beings is not allowed in Islam. They said that therefore taking photo or video of living beings is not allowed.

Mobile recharging and commission on it

One person wanted to know if mobile recharging haram or halal, because the company gives 2 or 3% commission on recharging someone’s mobile. The reply was that mobile recharging is allowed, and taking the commission on it is also allowed.

There are a plethora of such questions on the website. Darul Uloom Deoband, India owns this website, which is dedicated to Islamic questions and fatwas.

About Darul Uloom Deoband

Darul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic seminary (Darul Uloom) in India that is the birthplace of the Sunni Deobandi Islamic movement. It is situated in Deoband, a town in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district. Deoband is famous for issuing controversial Fatwas for a long. In May 2010, clerics from a Deobandi school issued a fatwa declaring that men and women cannot work in public offices together unless the ladies are appropriately clad.

Deobandi Islam is said to be the most popular type of teaching in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and numerous major Afghan and Pakistani Taliban commanders are said to have studied at Deobandi seminaries. According to some estimates, 15 to 25% of Pakistani Sunnis identify as Deobandi. Terrorist organizations in Pakistan, such as the TTP, SSP, and LeJ, take their inspiration from the Deobandi doctrine. Furthermore, the Deobandi Islamic movement is supported by the vast majority of Bangladeshi Sunni Muslims.

The Taliban Connection of Deoband and Darul Uloom

It is worth mentioning that the Taliban, which has lately come to prominence and effectively controls Afghanistan, is inspired by the Deobandi movement. The Taliban is described in Wikipedia as a Deobandi Islamist movement and a military group in Afghanistan involved in waging jihad within the country.

Not just Wikipedia, but an article published in the New York Times in 2002 underlined the Taliban’s relationship with the UP town of Deoband. The article “Indian town’s seed grew into the Taliban code” explored how extreme Islamist doctrine that sprouted in a town in Uttar Pradesh went on to inspire the jihadist movement on the other side of the Durand Line, which separates Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Though the questions on the website appear to be amusing and frivolous, the seminary’s past convinces us that they are not trivial and may have severe implications. The Taliban connection of Darul Uloom and the subscription of their beliefs among key terrorist groups in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region should not be underestimated, since atrocities by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Islamic terror attacks like 26/11 will never be forgotten.

Marathi Actor Kiran Mane removed from ‘Mulgi Zali Ho’ for abusive behaviour, not for criticising Modi, clarifies TV channel, producer and co-actors

OpIndia Staff
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Marathi Actor Kiran Mane removed from ‘Mulgi Zali Ho’ for abusive behaviour, not for criticising Modi, clarifies TV channel, producer and co-actors

Das after Marathi actor Kiran Mane was removed from TV Serial ‘Mulgi Zali Ho’ on Star Pravah, other artists from the show have accused the actor of misbehaviour, targeting and use of abusive language towards them on the set. Earlier on January 15, Mane had claimed that he was expelled from the serial because he had criticised PM Modi and other BJP leaders on social media.

Moreover, in a statement issued by channel ‘Star Pravah’ which airs the show, the channel has refuted claims of Mane and has called them ‘Imaginary and Fabricated’. Clearing the air around the controversy the channel has said that Mane has been expelled from the serial for his abuse towards co-actors, especially female heroines of the show. Earlier the producer of the show had also denied Mane’s allegations and had said that he was removed due to ‘professional reasons’.

The Kiran Mane controversy had erupted with the actor claiming that he was expelled from the show over his open political expression on social media platforms. In the disguise of upholding ‘progressive thought’ as he calls it, the actor was regularly seen abusing political leaders – especially PM Narendra Modi and opposition leader of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis. The controversy had stormed media circles in Maharashtra and after a meeting with NCP Leader Sharad Pawar, Mane gained support from NCP and many actors and directors from the film industry.

In a turn of events on Sunday, lead actors from the serial ‘Mulgi Zali Ho’ have come forward to take stands against the claims by Mane. While talking to TV9 Marathi, actress Shravani Pillai said, “The whole controversy created by Mane around his removal from the serial is baseless. Nothing of this sort has happened on the sets. It is because of the abusive behaviour that he has been removed from the serial by the production house. In fact, he was warned of the same by the heads earlier three times. After that, the call was taken to finally remove him.”

Talking about Mane’s behaviour on the set, veteran actress Savita Malpekar said, “He always used to speak with us with a tone of arrogance. He had even threatened many artists on the set of expulsion from the serial. There’s clearly no political angle involved here”. Divya Pugaonkar, the lead actress who played Mane’s daughter in the serial has alleged him of targeting, making crass comments, and passing off judgements over her weight.

Taking cognizance of the complaints flagged by many artists on the show, Kiran Mane was removed by the Channel authorities. In a statement in response to his allegations of ‘cultural terrorism’, the channel said, “The allegations by Mane are fabricated and Imaginary. He was removed from the show over many allegations of inappropriate behaviour by him against many female artists. Many of his co-artists, directors and unit staff members had complained about his arrogance earlier. In spite of warnings given to him, he continued with his behaviour which violated our operation protocols.” The channel further clarified, “We respect everyone’s right to have an opinion and that to express it. But, safeguarding the safety of our women and environment on the set remains our utmost priority.”

The Producer of the show, Suzana Ghai while talking to OpIndia about the incident said, “Nothing about his removal from the set is related to politics or the BJP. The development was such that we didn’t even expect. There is no political intent behind his removal”. After this serious turn of events, the claims of Kiran Mane and his supporters over allegations of so-called ‘curtailment of freedom of expression’ have fallen flat now.

Taliban sets musical instrument on fire, musician seen crying in a viral video

OpIndia Staff
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Taliban sets musical instrument on fire, musician seen crying in a viral video

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has intensified its crackdown on musicians in the country. On Saturday (January 15), Afghan journalist Abdulhaq Omeri informed that the Islamist outfit Taliban burnt down the musical instrument of a local musician in the Zazai Arub district in the Paktia province in Afghanistan.

In a video shared by Omeri, the musician could be seen weeping at the sight of his burnt music instrument. A Talib, standing in the vicinity, could be seen laughing and mocking the misery of the musician. Another Islamist remained fixated on capturing the video of the man.

Last month, Islamists associated with the Taliban were seen destroying harmonium and other musical instruments. The video was shared by Pakistani journalist Hamza Azhar Salam. He cited the example of Maulvis in Pakistan, who were initially against TV, radio and other modes of entertainment but later started using them to spread their propaganda. Hamza opined that it could also be a possibility with the Talibs.

In another video, shared by Natiq Malikzada from Afghanistan, Talibs were seen forcing a man to take an oath to never watch TV again in future. Later, they sentenced the TV to death and carried out the execution by smashing it. When the TV was destroyed, everyone in the crowd cheered in unison. Since they took over Afghanistan, one of their main objectives have been the destruction of all modes of entertainment.

In a recent order, the Taliban regime has banned live music at weddings and has ordered men and women to celebrate in separate halls at weddings. The group had earlier banned music in vehicles.

Recently the Taliban had also ordered the beheading of mannequins used by garment stores. They had said that the mannequins are “sinful idols” and violate Sharia laws, therefore they should be beheaded.

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