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‘Don’t peddle your political agendas here’: How TheWire’s Arfa Khanum was shown the mirror by Hindu women in Noida’s Sector 15A

Shraddha Pandey
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‘Don’t peddle your political agendas here’: How TheWire’s Arfa Khanum was shown the mirror by Hindu women in Noida’s Sector 15A

The Islamo-leftist cabal has a penchant for inserting its ideological agenda into any issue that concerns Hindus. As several Hindu residents of Noida’s Sector 15A demanded the construction of a temple in a part of a park, Arfa Khanum Sherwani of the leftist propaganda outlet The Wire arrived at the spot to peddle her usual ‘Hindu majoritarianism’ bogey. However, she was shown the mirror by local Hindu women.

Arfa asked local women, “If it is assumed that other than the 90 per cent Hindus, there are at least 10 per cent non-Hindus, may Muslims, Christians, or atheists, don’t they have the right to have their places of worship, like a small mosque or something?”

In response to this, a Hindu woman said, “First, let us think about the 90 per cent ones (Hindus).”

Arfa had also asked whether elected governments should construct religious sites, and if so, then should mosques and churches also be constructed.

Responding to this, the Hindu woman said, “Yes, according to the needs of a particular area. But here, we only need a temple.”

Arfa quickly labelled the Hindu woman’s response as ‘majoritarianism’, saying that in political science, this mindset is called majoritarianism or the rule of the majority.

However, Arfa’s attempt at guilt-tripping Hindus fell flat, as a woman stated that The Wire propagandist was trying to portray Hindus as criminals for merely wanting a temple.

“By using words like ‘majoritarianism’, you (Arfa) are trying to bully us. We are getting the feeling that there is an attempt to make us feel like criminals for taking God’s name. Also, this land was designated for a temple 40 years ago in Noida’s master plan,” a Hindu woman said, further emphasising why a temple is needed in the area.

Further dismissing Arfa Khanum Sherwani’s ‘majoritarianism’ propaganda, the Hindu woman said, “There is no majoritarianism. Rather, despite being the majority community, we are giving clarifications. The situation is such that even the media is coming and portraying things as if we are committing a crime.”

In conversation with an elderly Hindu woman, Arfa tried to suggest that if she managed to worship without a temple in the locality for so many years, what is the sudden need to have a temple constructed and visit there. She directly asked, “Don’t you have a temple at your home?”

It was hypocritically audacious for Arfa to ask such a question because she is the same person who often justifies Muslim offering namaz on roads due to the supposed lack of space in mosques on Jummah and otherwise.

Arfa was strictly called out when she tried use the case of an elderly Muslim woman resident and say that even she is unable to walk to a masjid to offer namaz, so should a small mosque also be built.

Basically, Arfa has a problem with the construction of a Hindu temple, and the ‘trees would be felled’ is only a convenient excuse. It would have been absolutely fine with her if the Hindus agreed to the construction of a mosque as well.

Also, Arfa Khanum Sherwani’s use of a Muslim elderly lady’s inability to visit a mosque and offer namaz is ridiculous because in Islam, offering namaz at home is deemed superior and more rewarding for women, because most mosques do not allow the entry of women. In addition, they are also exempt from the obligation of congregational namaz that men have.

While The Wire’s propagandist attempted to invoke ‘democracy’ and ‘referendum for temple construction’ agenda, the local Hindus strongly objected, saying that this is a local issue that concerns the residents of the area and that Arfa Khanum should refrain from using the issue to run her political agenda.

“Don’t bring democracy into this. This is an issue of the temple. Let it stay like that. We very well know you are very much biased towards one side. Don’t impose it here. You are gradually taking the issue in that (Hindu-Muslim) direction.

Counter-protest and the background of the issue

While a significant section of local residents demands a temple, there is also a group of people opposing it, citing environmental concerns. On Sunday, a counter-protest was held against the “Scheme for Setting up Religious Places/ Sites” launched by the Noida Authority on 5th February 2026.

A petition has also been filed in the Allahabad High Court on behalf of  Sector 15A 59 locals.

Notably, the scheme to set up religious places was launched after some residents of two sectors – 15A and 93 requested temples on a plot in each of these sectors. In Sector 15A, the land is a 300-sq-m plot numbered 226B/1, worth Rs 2.77 crore. Meanwhile, the land in Sector 93 measures 600 sq m, with an estimated value of Rs 4.18 crore.

“The selected entity shall get the land for a lease of 90 years on an interview basis after the applications have been scrutinised by the screening committee of the Noida Authority. The date of the interviews is still awaited,” the scheme’s document states.

While those opposed to the scheme say that it is a ‘ploy’ to construct a temple on the parkland, the CEO of Noida Authority, Krishna Karunesh, said that the land in question is a “facility land” which can be used for various purposes, including community centres or religious sites.

“It is facility land. We have facility plots in nearly all sectors in Noida. These lands can be used for any facility, including an electric substation, a community centre, a skill development centre or a religious site. It can be anything – a temple, a mosque, a church or a gurdwara,” the Noida Authority CEO said, adding that temple construction was approved because residents demanded it; if they would oppose it now, the plan would be cancelled.

Supreme Court bans NCERT textbook over chapter on judicial corruption: Read how the serious issues plaguing Indian courts are not allowed to be discussed

Rukma Rathore
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Supreme Court bans NCERT textbook over chapter on judicial corruption: Read how the serious issues plaguing Indian courts are not allowed to be discussed

On 24th February (Tuesday), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) released “Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2, First Edition),” a class 8 textbook that featured updated chapters addressing challenges encountered by the judiciary, including corruption and the accumulation of pending cases.  

The move did not sit well with the Supreme Court as it announced a complete ban on the publication on 26th February (Thursday). It remarked that the inclusion of such material in a textbook intended for high school pupils was a deliberate attempt to discredit and undermine the judiciary’s dignity and pronounced that the scandalisation of the institution seemed to be tantamount to criminal contempt.

NCERT and Ministry of Education under fire

A three-judge panel, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and consisting of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, referred to the new release as criminal contempt of court. Furthermore, the NCERT Director, the Ministry of Education and the Secretary of School Education were also served with a contempt notice, which required them to explain why they should not be charged with contempt of court.

The NCERT Director was also told to provide the identities of those who prepared the controversial chapter. The original meeting minutes from the section where the same was discussed and decided upon must be presented on the following hearing date in accordance with the direction.

“It shall be the personal responsibility of the NCERT Director and the principal of every school where the book has reached to effectuate immediate seizure and sealing of all copies of the book in their premises, and submit a compliance report. Ensure that no instruction is imparted based on the subject book. Principal Secretaries of all states are to comply. Compliance to be sent within 2 weeks,” the justices declared.

They added, “Any attempt to circumvent this order through electronic means or altered titles shall be seen as direct interference, willful breach and defiance of directions.” The court also directed that people who authored and defended the chapter will not be associated with the NCERT or any other ministry in future and stated, “Thats very little consequence. They fired a gunshot, the judiciary is bleeding today.”

Heads must roll: CJI’s furious reaction

According to Kant, the judiciary’s distinguished past and its contributions to the preservation of legal help, access to justice, the basic structural doctrine and constitutional morality have been ignored. He mentioned that the book opted not to explore the court’s revolutionary efforts and actions. He stressed that exposing impressionable young minds to such a biased narrative could result in long-lasting misconceptions and added that the book is going to reach not only students but also teachers, parents and the next generation.

The chief justice wanted heads to roll because the book was a part of a long-running, carefully planned plot to discredit the court but insisted that the goal was to preserve the integrity of the national curriculum and the institution’s reputation, not to quell valid criticism.

The apex court forbade the book from being published, reprinted or distributed digitally in any manner. It also warned that any attempt to get around the directive by using electronic means or changing the title would be viewed as a wilful violation and direct interference with the administration of justice.

Additionally, it mandated that all existing physical and digital copies, including those in storage, retail stores and educational institutions, be immediately confiscated and removed from public access.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the centre, issued an unqualified apology on the part of the government and NCERT. He promised that individuals in charge of the chapter would not be connected to the Ministry of Education or NCERT in the future and promised to release an even more unequivocal public apology. He disclosed that just 32 physical copies had been distributed and would be retrieved.

The root of the row

A dearth of judges, extensive case backlogs and judicial corruption were touted as the three main issues facing the judiciary in Chapter 4, “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.” It outlined hundreds of complaints brought against judges and even mentioned the statement by a former Chief Justice of India to highlight that even the judiciary had admitted the structural corruption.

“Sadly, there have been instances of corruption and misconduct that have surfaced even within the judiciary. Such occurrences inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence, potentially eroding faith in the integrity of the system as a whole,” the book cited B R Gavai’s last July’s remark. 

He had further conveyed, “However, the path to rebuilding this trust lies in the swift, decisive and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues. Any erosion of this confidence risks weakening the judiciary’s constitutional role as the ultimate arbiter of rights. Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues.”

The art of avoiding accountability, responding with hostility to the barest reference of severe issues that blemish the judiciary

The judiciary, which purports to be the “protector of democracy,” simultaneously defends itself aggressively against even the slightest attempts at scrutiny and accountability. It claims to welcome criticism but reacts defensively when asked to confront the longstanding issues that have plagued it for decades and even pointed out by its own members, such as Gavai.

The latest NCERT edition sought to educate the students about the genuine challenges encountered by one of the key constitutional institutions. However, this was perceived as contempt of court which essentially suggested that the judiciary is infallible, and anyone, including the elected government, who dares to shed light on the legitimate concerns will be brought to heel.

Critique, opposition and backlash are part and parcel of a democratic nation like India which is directed at everyone, from the most powerful politicians to local politicians, media personalities, doctors, actors and individuals from various other fields. It is regarded as the true spirit of freedom of expression.

However, the Indian courts which pride themselves as the guardians of fundamental rights and the Constitution cannot be subjected to the same liberties, as any disagreement or dissent could be classified as their “contempt,” delivering a tight slap to the ideals they assert to uphold.

The judiciary has created a distinct set of regulations that enable them to function in line their preferences, safeguard their own interests and intervene in dieffrent matters. However, it remains immune to any examination as even the most innocuous conversations about its corruption is abruptly silenced without a moment’s pause.

The judiciary appears to operate beyond the reach of all laws and even the Constitution, where all are answerable to its jurisdiction but it bares no such obligation towards anyone. Can such a country truly be called a democracy when one institution possesses unrestrained power while others must remain in fear of when and how the authority might be wielded against them?

Judge Yashwant Varma’s cash scandal

On 14th March 2025, a significant sum of unaccounted money was found during a fire at Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence on Holi. Videos of partially burnt notes appeared online, resulting in inquiries over the surfacing of such a large amount at the place of a sitting judge. The controversy continued to intensify forcing then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjeev Khanna to launch a 3-member committee for an internal probe.

Varma’s judicial duties were suspended while the investigation was conducted and he was repatriated to the Allahabad High Court. The panel presented its findings which prima facie marked him guilty. Khanna submitted the report to the president and the prime minister for further action after Varma refused his request to resign.

The judge was just transferred to a different court and instructed to vacate his position, which he blatantly rejected. Moreover, the matter is currently under investigation while he lives a life of ease. Importantly, no judge has ever been impeached in independent India, even after grave allegations of corruption made by individuals like Gavai and proceedings started against multiple names.

The initial judge who was targetted with an impeachment motion was Justice V Ramaswami who would have been the first to be dismissed if the opposition’s resolution had been accepted by the Lok Sabha. The proposal failed when 205 members of Congress and a few members of other parties abstained. Ramaswami later rose to join the Supreme Court, despite a controversial career.

Likewise, the first person to be declared guilty by the Rajya Sabha was Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court. However, he resigned before the resolution reached the Lok Sabha, avoiding official impeachment. The most extreme penalties for guilty judges seem to involve transfer, retirement or resignation.

Does a common individual possess the same privilege in the eyes of the law? Would he or she also have been spared with a similar reprimand without facing any real-life consequences? What else could this be but a flagrant misuse of authority and power to shield even the most compromised elements of the judiciary, while the lives of ordinary citizens can be shattered for minor infractions, and in some cases, even innocents have to spend decades in prison.

No public asset declaration for the judiciary

It is not possible to address Varma’s case independently without considering the repeated Supreme Court verdicts observing that public disclosure of the assets owned by judges is not required and is optional owing to the 1997 verdict. They unveil their possessions but to the chief justice and the details can be accessible to public only voluntarily. This implies that a judge has the option to decide whether or not to reveal their holdings to the Indian public.

The court’s emphasis on privacy under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 reflects the fact that the revelation is not compulsory. The position has also been maintained in a number of cruicial decisions, such as the one rendered in 2019, which supported disclosure only after the illustration of a greater public interest.

The apex court has admitted that judges are public servants but its decisions such as Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan’s 2008 ruling and Lokpal’s conclusion on 3rd January 2025 affirmed otherwise. It is important to note that declaring assets is critical for all other public servants, including MPs and MLAs. It is mandatory for candidates before running for office and legal actions transpire if the statement is regarded suspicious.

This conveys that only judges are not legally required to share the data about their properties, unlike politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers or ordinary persons, serving as a major reminder of the inequality that exists inside the country. Does this not position judges above all other citizens and also create a potential loophole for them to engage in dubious activities and accumulate vast wealth with impunity?

The repeated judgements act as insulated armour against any charges irrespective of the merits providing undue advantage. Thus, how can the claims of impartiality, honesty and justice be accepted as truthful when the evidence points to the contrary?

The alarming admission of bench fixing

Anti-Hindu Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid’s father, SQR Ilyas, a former member of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), acknowledged that their lawyer, Kapil Sibal, was attempting to bench fix during the hearings, in an article of “The Indian Express.” OpIndia had reported the same which was also verified by former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.

“In normal practice, if a hearing is postponed in the Supreme Court, the case is reassigned to a new bench. Yet, in Khalid’s case, the matter repeatedly appeared before the same judge for six consecutive hearings. Faced with this, his lawyers eventually withdrew the plea, resolving to try their luck again in the lower courts. Since bench allocation is determined by the Chief Justice, it is evident that this repeated assignment was not a coincidence. Now, following the high court’s latest rejection, the only option once again is to approach the Supreme Court,” he wrote in his piece “India needs a people’s movement against UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).”  

Umar Khalid and his attorney Kapil Sibal took 7 of the 14 adjournments because the accused did not want the case to be heard by Justice Bela Trivedi, which is a typical case of bench-fixing, prompting these adjournments. They even went so far as to urge the chief justice to personally hear the case but he rejected their attempt at forum shopping. Hence, similar to Ilyas in the column, Sibal withdrew the appeal from the Supreme Court alleging delay.

It is easy to comprehend that the corrupt practice of “bench fixing,” “bench hunting,” or “forum shopping,” which aims to have case sassigned to certain judges or court for a beneficial decision is also prevalent in India. What could more profoundly impact the objectivity of the legal system than verdicts pronounced with the client or counsel in mind rather than the veracity of the arguments or the evidence? What does this entail for an ordinary citizen who struggles within the legal system, while the influential and privileged not only secure the judge they desire but also massively enhance their chances of a favourable ruling?

The collegium system

The collegium system, which allows a collective of senior judges to suggest appointments and transfers to India’s higher judiciary is a primary example of how the judiciary operates as a network of interconnected and tightly-knit group who meticulously protect their system and all its members. The system does not have a clear basis in the Constitution or its amendments.

A collaborative approach between the executive and judiciary is implied by Articles 124(2) and 217(1), which require the president to select judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts after consulting with the Chief Justice of India and other specified judicial leaders. However, this consultation was changed into acquiescence by judicial interpretations, particularly the Second Judges Case (1993) and the Third Judges Case (1998), which gave the judiciary precedence and reduced the role of the executives.

The Chief Justice of India and the four most senior Supreme Court justices form the collegium, which was established by the Memorandum of Procedure in 1947 and developed over many years. With rare exceptions, their recommendations have almost a binding force.

The Modi government wanted to rectify this opaque system with the pivotal National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act. It was a 6-member constitutional body tasked with supervising the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts, including the Chief Justice of India, two senior judges, the Law Minister and two distinguished individuals.

The intention was to establish a more open, inclusive, and responsible system for selecting judges. However, the act was struck down by the apex court and the development was dubbed as “tyranny of the unelected” by late Arun Jaitley in 2015. Clearly, even a minimal attempt at accountability and transparency is rejected by the judiciary, which espouses these virtues but when it applies to others.

Conclusion

The aforementioned instances do not even scratch the surface of the deep-seated problems within the Indian judiciary. The current controversy regarding the NCERT textbook is a continuation of its decades-old conduct, which demands accountability from others yet becomes furious at the mere reference to the issues that afflict it and already been addressed by other judges. It exhibits an uncanny tendency to not only protect its own interests but also to project a pristine image even while its actions are ridden with shocking hypocrisy and double standards.


 

Varsha Gandikota declares PM Modi an ‘anti-national’ for visiting Israel: Inside her organisation Progressive International and the Newsclick connection

Shraddha Pandey
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Varsha Gandikota declares PM Modi an ‘anti-national’ for visiting Israel: Inside her organisation Progressive International and the Newsclick connection

The historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel has attracted global attention. While India and Israel are bolstering their partnership in various sectors, from trade to defence, the ‘Free Palestine’ Islamo-leftist cabal is irked. From Islamists, pretentious ‘secular’ politicians, leftist propaganda outlets, and the wider leftist ‘intelligentsia’, all are mindlessly condemning PM Modi for visiting Israel and addressing the Knesset. In this vein, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, the Co-General Coordinator at Progressive International, labelled PM Modi ‘anti-national’ for signing the Israeli Knesset’s guests’ book.

“Signing our beautiful country’s name in the blood-stained Knesset is the singlemost anti-national thing one could do,” Nellutla wrote on X on 25th February.

Notably, on 25th February, PM Modi addressed the Israeli Knesset, wherein he strongly reaffirmed India’s support for Israel, underlining the deep friendship between the two countries, their shared stand against terrorism, and growing cooperation in defence, trade and technology.

The Prime Minister minced no words and explicitly named and condemned the Palestinian Islamic terror group, Hamas’s October 7 (2023) massacre of over 1200 Israeli civilians during a local festival.

“We feel your pain; we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction in this moment and beyond. No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism,” PM Modi said.

At the end of Modi’s speech, the Knesset awarded him the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal,” which is the highest award given by the Knesset, in recognition of his efforts in enhancing the strategic relationship between the two countries. 

Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Progressive International and the NewsClick connection

Varsha Gandikota serves as the Co-coordinator General at the Progressive International (PI), an international organisation that mobilises leftist activists and groups globally. “The Progressive International launched in May 2020 with a mission to unite, organise and mobilise the world’s progressive forces,” PI’s website states.

Varsha leads the PI’s “Blue Print” policy work and The Hague Group. The Progressive International is a hardcore Israel-hater and actively indulges in pro-Palestine advocacy, even if that means supporting or downplaying Hamas’s Islamic terrorism.

Upon checking Progressive International’s website, we came across numerous propaganda articles and statements peddling the insidious Muslim victimhood narrative to slander the Modi government. In one of its statements issued in 2023, the PI portrayed bulldozer action against houses of Muslim rioters after the anti-Hindu violence in Haryana’s Nuh as ‘demolition of India’s democracy’. The statement was signed by Islamists like British Labour MP Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn.

The Progressive International hosts a dozen anti-India, particularly anti-Hindu propaganda pieces. In one such briefing titled “Naked Hindu Supremacism”, PI vilified Hindus to peddle the Muslim victimhood bogey.

The PI has constantly been vilifying Hindus, Hindutva, BJP-RSS and the Modi government. In one such article on the Manipur crisis, Progressive International blamed ‘Hindu nationalists’, accusing them of waging a  ‘supremacy war’.

The Progressive International has the likes of Harsh Mander as its council member. Mander had written several articles slandering Hindutva and, by extension, Hindus. In one such article headlined, Is India Lurching Into a Genocide?, Mander cited Gregory Stanton to falsely suggest that a “genocide of Muslims in India could take place”.

Notably, Harsh Mander had worked in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for almost two decades and quit the service in protest against the ‘state-sponsored riots’ in Gujarat in 2002. After quitting as an IAS, Mander later worked in Sonia Gandhi’s National Advisory Council (NAC) that drafted the anti-Hindu Communal Violence Bill.

Mander has also served as the Director of the Centre for Equity Studies (CES), which received funds from Christian Evangelical Organizations and he has openly batted for religious conversions in the past. 

Harsh Mander’s article, designed to fuel the victimhood complex among Muslims, was shared by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. He had written in the article published in 2018, “Muslims are today’s castaways, political orphans with no home, for virtually every political party. This is despite India being home to a tenth of the world’s Muslims, around 180 million people, making it the largest Muslim country after Indonesia and Pakistan. There has never been a harder time to be a Muslim in India, not since the stormy months that followed India’s Partition.”

Harsh Mander is also a known Ishrat apologist, the female LeT operative who was killed in an encounter along with three others by Crime Branch Officials in Gujarat.

Harsh Mander was also one of the forty ‘activists’ who had filed a review petition in the Court against the Ayodhya Verdict that paved the way for a Bhavya Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. He is also part of the coterie and has filed a petition against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Mander had also incited Muslims to riot during anti-CAA protests.

The Progressive International also has former JNU professor and Islamic terrorist Afzal Guru’s fan, Jayati Ghosh, as its council member.  Back in 2016, Ghosh criticised the Modi government for suppressing protests organised to commemorate the death sentence of terrorist Afzal Guru. In addition, Ghosh has also been named alongside Sitaram Yechury and Yogendra Yadav in the supplementary chargesheet of the 2020 Delhi Riots case.

In its “Cabinet”, the executive body, the Progressive International has Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of the UK’s Labour Party. Corbyn is a man of controversy. Back in 2023, he refused to call Hamas a terror organisation during an interview with Piers Morgan. In 2009, Jeremy Corbyn invited terrorists belonging to the radical Islamic outfits, Hezbollah and Hamas, to the UK Parliament. Previously, Corbyn had supported the “Free Riaz and Qayyum Campaign”, which sought to get Mohammed Riaz and Abdul Quayyam Raja, convicted of kidnapping and murdering an Indian diplomat, Ravindra Mhatre, on British soil, released from prison.

In 2022, Corbyn was photographed with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the latter’s controversial UK visit. A massive row had erupted over Gandhi meeting Corbyn as the former Labour leader has a history of supporting Kashmiri separatist narratives, echoing Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, and endorsing calls for international intervention in India’s internal affairs.

Notably, the PI’s “emeritus” advisory members comprise of the likes of Noam Chomsky and NewsClick-linked Marxist journalist Vijay Prashad.

Interestingly, the Progressive International formerly had Vijay Prashad as its council member. He was a part of the founding interim council of the Progressive International. Vijay Prashad is central to the Neville Roy Singham-funded leftist network. Prashad, who is the director of Tricontinental, is reported to have received funding from Singham for Tricontinental. Singham also poured millions into various pro-China and anti-India propaganda outlets, including People’s Dispatch, where Vijay Prashad has contributed propaganda articles.

People’s Dispatch, a media portal that touts itself to be an “international media project with the mission of bringing to the world voices from people’s movements and organisations across the globe.” In one of the articles from January 2020, Prashad has sympathised with the JNU protesters and inveighed against the Modi government.

Among Indians introduced by Neville Roy Singham to his larger team, who worked with Tricontinental, one of the nonprofits that the New York Times said was involved in pushing Chinese talking points, were Prabir Purkayastha, Srujana, Prasanth, and Vijay Prashad. 

 Prashad also has close ties with Urban Naxal P Sainath, whose propaganda portal PARI recently removed references to Singham after his connection with the Chinese propaganda arm had come to light.

Newsclick’s anti-Hindu bias is not hidden. Moreover, Newsclick is also under scrutiny for its alleged connections with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In 2023, an investigation by the New York Times uncovered an ecosystem of activist organisations, non-profits, shell corporations, and their intimate ties to China and Chinese propaganda, with Neville Roy Singham at its helm. A Delhi Police chargesheet filed in 2024 called the Chinese state the “ultimate paymaster”, with funds routed to stoke anti-India narratives, especially regarding Kashmir, and farmers’ protests. The case is ongoing in the court.

In 2021, OpIndia conducted a detailed investigation into the links of NewsClick and uncovered how it was linked to several individuals who regularly spew venom against India, from Urban Naxals to those like Teesta Setalvad, Abhisar Sharma and several others. That investigation by OpIndia can be read here.

Progressive International’s Tides Foundation connection

As per the Progressive International’s website, it has over 70 organisations as its members. These include the pro-Hamas group Arab Resource and Organising Centre, which is sponsored by the Tides Foundation.

Interestingly, OpIndia earlier traced the links between the Tides Foundation and Newsclick. Tides Foundation is notorious for funding several anti-Hindu, anti-India organisations and elements. The Foundation gave grants to Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), which has links to Islamists and Khalistanis, and was formed in 2019 by two Islamist advocacy groups, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) athe nd Organisation for Minorities of India (OFMI).

Tides also funded AMAN Public Charitable Trust (AMAN). This trust is connected to the NewsClick-China funding scandal, where it is alleged that Chinese entities funded NewsClick to disrupt Indian sovereignty.

Varsha Gandakoti’s anti-Hindutva and pro-Hamas viewpoints

Using the excuse that Hamas is a non-state actor, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla has continuously been defending the Palestinian Islamic terror group that has essentially declared Israel a Waqf property in its Charter, and vowed to fight until the last of the Jews are killed.

Interestingly, as per one of the posts by Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Bhima Koregaon violence accused Varavara Rao is her uncle. Sharing an article she wrote for the Boston Review, Varsha posted, “I write about my uncle, Varavara Rao, the revolutionary poet in prison.”

Varavara Rao was accused of alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave that was held in Pune in December 2017. The Police arrested Rao because his speech on 31st December 2017 was one of the reasons that triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of Pune. The Police also alleged that the organisers of the event have Maoist links. NIA was handed over the investigation in the matter.

On August 28, 2018, Rao was arrested at his Hyderabad residence. FIR against him was lodged by Pune Police on January 8, 2018, under several Sections of the IPC and UAPA. He was later granted bail.

Islamo-leftists have long been maligning Hindutva. Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla had also previously equated Hindutva with Zionism. While the ilk of Varsha, Zionism is a genocidal ideology, she never really explained that if Hindutva is a twin of Zionism, which genocide have the ‘Hindu nationalists’ ever committed.

Unsurprisingly, Varsha, who supports Palestine and the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, was upset with India attacking Islamic terror establishments in Pakistan in May 2025 after the Pahalgam attack. “Disturbing to not see a single anti-war political leader in India today. With zero space for anything other than jingoism in the public media, the drums of war beat across the political spectrum,” she wrote.

Varsha’s social media and work at Progressive International largely revolve around the Israel-Palestine conflict and the supposed ‘genocide’ in Gaza. She, however, never raised her voice for Hindus being persecuted in Pakistan and Bangladesh by Islamic fanatics.

Varsha also contributes to leftist propaganda portal The Wire.

“Innovation goes to die in bureaucracy”: How Sweden’s migration system forced an Indian Founder to sell his Startup and leave the country

Shraddha Pandey
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“Innovation goes to die in bureaucracy”: How Sweden’s migration system forced an Indian Founder to sell his Startup and leave the country

Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya, an Indian entrepreneur based in Sweden, has announced that he is stepping down as founder and CEO of his startup Hydro Space Sweden AB, a microgreens company in the Swedish city of Skellefteå. Abhijit blamed Sweden’s “hostile” and “dysfunctional” immigration process for his decision.

In a LinkedIn post published on 21st February, Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya gave a detailed account of what forced him to sell his microgreens company in Sweden and return to India.

In the post titled, Sweden: Where Innovation Goes to Die in Bureaucracy, Abhijit said that he is “officially stepping down as Founder and CEO of Hydro Space Sweden AB.” He added that this exit is not by choice, but rather forced.

“I have sold the company as I am being forced to leave the country by the end of this month. This isn’t an exit by choice. It is an eviction by an incompetent and increasingly hostile state apparatus,” he said.

The Indian entrepreneur said that while his company was making progress, Migrationsverket was busy “dismantling” is life. Abhijit Nag Subramanya further stated that his experience with the Swedish immigration authorities was not just a bureaucratic hurdle, but also “a masterclass in systemic dysfunction and unprofessionalism.”

“While our first harvest was being celebrated at ICA Kvantum and welcomed by the people of Skellefteå, Migrationsverket was busy dismantling my life. My experience with the Swedish Migration Agency wasn’t just a bureaucratic hurdle; it was a masterclass in systemic dysfunction and unprofessionalism,” Balasubramanya said.

He went on to warn potential investors and international founders that Sweden’s “startup-friendly” image is a “façade”.

Gross incompetence, procedural cowardice, goalpost moving strategy and systemic hostility: How Indian entrepreneur Abhijit Nag Subramanya described Sweden’s Migration authorities

Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya described the Swedish Migration Agency as being characterised by gross incompetence, procedural cowardice, a moving goalpost strategy, and systemic hostility.

“To potential investors and international founders: Consider this a final warning. The reality of the Swedish “startup-friendly” image is a facade. Behind it lies a Migration Agency characterized by: Gross Incompetence: I was handled by case officers with zero business acumen, incapable of understanding the financial structures or operational realities of a scaling startup. Procedural Cowardice: My officer ignored repeated emails and explicitly refused to provide guidance on required documentation—only to mock my situation when the decision was finalized,” the Indian entrepreneur wrote.

“A “Moving Goalpost” Strategy: The agency cited one reason for rejection in preliminary correspondence, only to switch to an entirely different, contradictory reason in the final decree. This isn’t oversight; it’s bad faith. Systemic Hostility: The current political climate has empowered a culture within these offices that treats international talent with open contempt rather than as a value-add to the economy,” he added.

Built a company within six months to help make North Sweden food secure, got “absence of human decency” from Migrationsverket in return: Indian entrepreneur’s worrying experience with Swedish migration agency

Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya further stated that while he delivered a fully functional company within six months, it not only generated local jobs but also helped tackle Northern Sweden’s food security issue. However, in return, Sweden’s migration agency Migrationsverket offered him nothing but “a lack of transparency and a total absence of human decency.”

He also called the Swedish migration system “broken” and “xenophobic”.

“I built a fully operational company within 6 months that provided local jobs and fresh produce that aids towards making the North of Sweden food secure. In return, I was met with a lack of transparency and a total absence of human decency from Migrationsverket. I do not have the energy—or the desire—to spend my capital fighting a legal battle against a system that is fundamentally broken and seemingly xenophobic,” Subramanya wrote.

 “Swedish migration agency destroyed my mental health”: Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya says he will return to India after Swedish authorities destroyed his livelihood and mental health

Devastated with the alleged disturbing experience he had with Swedish migration agency officials, Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya said that he will move back to his home country, India. He said that the Swedish migration authorities may destroyed his mental health, his dream company, but not his entrepreneurial passion.

“Instead, I have decided to take a break and move back to my home country to work on my mental health that was destroyed by the Swedish migration agency. The Swedish migration agency might have destroyed my life and my dream company but my entrepreneurial passion towards sustainability will never fade. I will come back strong and use my expertise at a place it is valued.  To the incompetent and arrogant case officer who took pride in destroying my livelihood: You haven’t just failed me; you are failing Sweden’s future to be food secure,” he wrote.

As Abhijit Balasubramanya‘s story goes viral, people share their experiences of racism and discrimination in Sweden

Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya’s LinkedIn post elicited over 165 comments. Several people from diverse national and racial backgrounds shared their disappointing experiences of discrimination or racism-like treatment with the Swedish migration authorities.

One Tuba Nordangård commented, “I have had a similar experience with the Migrationsverket and have witnessed what felt like unfair treatment and subtle discrimination. Although this may sound difficult to believe, based on my past experiences I have come to the conclusion that the system does not genuinely prioritize welcoming qualified-workers. The system seems to favor those who come to the country with the intention of exploiting it, such as relying on unemployment benefits or engaging in criminal activity, while those who carefully follow all the rules often feel pushed out by the system.”

Another one, named Amanda Herzog, also shared her story and commented under Abhijit’s post that one of the officials at the Swedish migration agency allegedly levelled false accusations against her to get her deported. She added that the same officer had harassed 10 to 15 other individuals in a similar manner.

 “Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya I went through a similar experience from a case officer who made false accusations against me and tried to deport me, it if wasn’t for a special (and rare) document I could provide. I further discovered this same case officer has done something similar to 10-15 other individuals. “We” are considering taking action against this individual for discrimination and false decisions.
May I mention this officer accused me of lying, implied I didn’t meet a deadline that was never given to me, and wrote a very nasty and condescending letter in tone…”

Another LinkedIn user, Lana Coletti, corroborated Abhijit’s allegations against the Swedish migration agency and wrote, “I went through a similar experience and can validate much of what you’re describing — the lack of clarity, shifting requirements, and absence of accountability take a real toll, especially when you’re building something tangible and contributing locally. That experience isn’t just frustrating; it’s professionally and personally destabilizing…”

One Jennie Ly said that she could totally relate to Abhijit’s ordeal as she had a similar experience with the Swedish migration authorities that took a serious toll on her mental health.

“I can totally relate to you — I was forced to uproot and leave a year ago after the court rejected my appeal through a lawyer, without providing any justification against my lawyer’s arguments. I admire you for having the courage to speak up; I just stayed quiet and left. My mental health was also deeply affected by this, but after leaving Sweden, I travelled to India twice during that year, explored its beautiful nature, meditated with monks, and recovered a bit. I have to say that my mental health was much better when I was back in Asia than here in Sweden, where I was dealing with migration uncertainty and bureaucracy — a system that often feels based on the discretion of case officers rather than the transparency of the law,” she wrote.

There are many such comments under Abhijit Nag Balasubramanya’s original LinkedIn post, indicating that the allegations he levelled against Migrationsverket may not be an isolated case, but a larger problem.

It must be noted that Sweden has a serious racism and xenophobia problem. In 2022, the police recorded 2,695 hate crimes, with 53% classified as racist or xenophobic.

Indian freedom fighter Veer Savarkar supported Jewish nationhood decades before India recognised Israel: Revisiting history on his death anniversary

Dhruv Mishra
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Indian freedom fighter Veer Savarkar supported Jewish nationhood decades before India recognised Israel: Revisiting history on his death anniversary

26th February marks the death anniversary of Veer Savarkar, one of Bharat’s most formidable revolutionaries, whose life and legacy remain deeply intertwined with the nation’s struggle for freedom and civilisational self-assertion. Today, the event is even more important, as Prime Minister Modi is visiting Israel to strengthen a partnership that has become India’s most crucial strategic ally.

A degree of transparency and clarity that was not always apparent in India’s foreign policy during its early decades as an independent nation is reflected in the current India-Israel relationship, which is based on defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, and technology partnership.

Often, people remember Veer Savarkar primarily through the lens of political controversy, but he was a thinker who was profoundly interested in issues of nationhood, civilisational identity, and geopolitical realism. In early 1923, Veer Savarkar had publicly supported the Jewish people’s right to regain their ancestral country. This was more than two decades before Israel was established in 1948. Savarkar’s stance demonstrated a steadfast confidence in national self-determination grounded in historical and civilisational continuity at a time when the Jewish question was still open and political opinion around the world was divided.

However, Savarkar has always been portrayed by the left lobby as a sympathiser of Nazi Germany despite his proven support for Jewish nationhood, an allegation that tries to shape public perception without sufficient analysis of the historical background or his real works. To distinguish between historical reality and political narrative, it is vital to review Savarkar’s documented views on Jews, Zionism, and the geopolitical circumstances of his day as India intensifies its strategic engagement with Israel.

Veer Savarkar: Revolutionary, scholar, and uncompromising nationalist

On 28th May 1883, Veer Savarkar was born to Shrimati Radha and Shri Damodhar Savarkar in Bhagur, a village of Nashik district. From a young age, he loved to read and was skilled at poetry writing. He emerged as one of the first and most steadfast supporters of complete independence from British rule at a time when the concept of Purna Swaraj had not yet gained popularity in Indian political discourse. From an early age, Savarkar demonstrated extraordinary intellectual ability, showing a strong interest in history, literature, and political ideas. His scholastic prowess was matched by an equally fervent commitment to national liberation, which quickly turned into structured revolutionary activity.

In 1904, Savarkar established the Abhinav Bharat Society as a covert revolutionary organisation dedicated to overthrowing British rule through armed resistance. When he arrived in London, where he assumed a prominent role at India House, a centre of the Indian nationalist movement, his efforts went beyond India’s borders. Through his writings, lectures, and organisational efforts, Savarkar encouraged a generation of young Indians to see independence as an urgent goal rather than a far-off dream. By portraying the 1857 rebellion as a cohesive national insurrection rather than a simple mutiny, his groundbreaking book The Indian War of Independence, 1857, questioned British colonial narratives.

Savarkar’s revolutionary activities came at a high personal cost. When the British arrested him in 1910, he was placed in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the worst prisons run by the colonial government, and given a life sentence of transportation. He endured years of solitary confinement, forced labour, and harsh treatment. Even under such oppressive conditions, he remained intellectually and politically active. His imprisonment came to represent colonial oppression as well as the unwavering spirit of defiance that characterised India’s liberation movement.

In addition to his revolutionary work, Savarkar was a prolific writer who developed a holistic conception of national identity based on political sovereignty, cultural unity, and the continuation of civilisation. His opinions on world affairs, particularly his early and unwavering support for the Jewish people’s right to regain their ancient homeland, were shaped by this broader conceptual framework.

Savarkar’s early and unequivocal support for Jews and the Jewish homeland

Veer Savarkar had publicly stated his support for the Jewish people’s right to reclaim their ancestral country before even the establishment of Israel in 1948 and decades before India officially recognised the Jewish state.  Savarkar was one of the first Indian political figures to acknowledge the legitimacy of Jewish national aspirations during a period when the nations were hesitant to endorse the Zionist movement. His stance was based on his broader conviction that nations are characterised by cultural identity, historical ties, and civilizational continuity, as well as by political arrangements.

In his work Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? In which was published in 1923, he clearly supported Zionism. He stated that “If the Zionists’ dreams are ever realised—if Palestine becomes a Jewish State—it will gladden us almost as much as our Jewish friends.” This statement came at a time when the creation of a Jewish state was far from certain, which actuallyreflects Savarkar’s clear and principled support for Jewish self-determination. He acknowledged Palestine as the Jewish people’s historical and cultural birthplace and saw their attempts to reestablish a national home as right and lawful.

Savarkar’s understanding of the past suffering and dislocation of the Jewish people also influenced his sympathy for the cause.  He continuously praised the Jewish people’s tenacity in maintaining their national identity and culture in the face of centuries of persecution and exile. In the Indian context, Savarkar held Indian Jews in high regard, noting that they had lived in India for centuries without causing political or social conflict and had integrated peacefully into the broader fabric of Indian society.

Today, as India and Israel continue to deepen their strategic partnership through defence, intelligence, agriculture, and technological innovation, Savarkar’s early support for Jewish nationhood appears remarkably prescient. PM Modi ‘s visit to Israel reflects the full maturation of a relationship built on mutual respect and shared strategic interests. During the visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised PM Modi, calling him not only a friend but also a brother.  He also thanked India for its years-long friendship, saying that India is the only civilisation where Jews were welcomed and not persecuted. It also shows that a partnership whose moral and civilisational foundations had found recognition in Savarkar’s writings decades before it became formal state policy.

The Nazi myth: Understanding Savarkar’s position in its historical context

Even with his document support for Jewish nationhood and the sympathy for the Jewish people, Veer Savarkar has frequently portrayed as a sympathiser of Nazi Germany by the leftist gang. This assertion is mostly based on a few quotes from his August 1, 1938, presidential speech in Pune, in which he said that Germany had the right to embrace Nazism, just as other countries had done to adopt governmental structures appropriate to their own circumstances. A more thorough analysis of his speech, however, shows that Savarkar’s position was grounded in geopolitical realism rather than in ideological support.
 
The central point of Veer Savarkar was that India’;s foreign policy should be based on its own national interests rather than emotional or ideological alignment with any particular political system abroad. He maintained that every country chooses its form of governance based on its unique historical and political circumstances, and it was neither practical nor strategically sound for India to dictate or interfere in those choices. Let’s understand his remark with proper historical context. In 1938,  Nazi Germany’s authoritarian character and anti-Jewish policies were known, but the full extent of the Holocaust, the systematic extermination of millions of Jews, had not yet unfolded. The industrial  genocide that later came to define Nazi Germany began during World War II and became fully known to the world only after Allied forces liberated concentration camps in 1945.
 
Notably, Savarkar’s own writings explicitly rejected the core radical ideology that underpinned Nazism. In his work, Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?, he stated that “There is but one race—the human race,” which actually rejects the idea of racial purity and superiority that formed the foundation of Nazi doctrine. This philosophical position stood in direct contrast to the racial exclusivism propagated by Hitler’s regime.

When considered collectively, Savarkar’s writings, actions and larger intellectual framework paint a far more nuanced and complex picture than the oversimplified accusation of Nazi sympathies implies. His opinions were influenced more by geopolitical realism and civilizational thinking than by ideological affinities with Nazism, as evidenced by his early support for Jewish nationhood, rejection of racial purity beliefs, and strategic emphasis on national interest.

Nehru’s hesitation and India’s delayed embrace of Israel

 While Savarkar advocated Jewish national restoration as early as the 1920s, India’s official posture toward Israel became significantly more cautious under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. When the United Nations voted in 1947 on the Partition Plan, which suggested establishing a Jewish state in Palestine, India voted against it. The Indian leadership at the time lobbied for a federal or unified arrangement.

This decision was influenced by numerous geopolitical reasons. Nehru was highly committed to placing India among the leaders of newly decolonised nations and strove to preserve close ties with Arab countries.  There were also domestic factors, such as resentment from the country’s Muslim population. In that context, India’s foreign policy was crafted with caution toward issues that could potentially inflame internal or regional tensions.

India formally recognised Israel in September 1950. However, full diplomatic relations were not established for decades. In 1992, India and Israel opened embassies in each other’s capitals and normalised ties at a comprehensive diplomatic level. For over four decades after independence, the relationship remained limited and largely low-profile.

The contrast is notable. Savarkar had openly supported the idea of a Jewish homeland decades before Israel became a reality. Yet independent India, guided by greed to be happy to a particular community or fear of being offended, moved to embrace the Jewish state. Today, as India and Israel share a robust partnership spanning defence cooperation, intelligence collaboration, agriculture, and technology, the trajectory of this relationship reflects a strategic clarity that took time to mature within India’s official foreign policy framework.

Conclusion: Savarkar’s foresight and the evolution of India–Israel relations

On his death anniversary, Veer Savarkar remains one of the most crucial figures in the Indian freedom movement.  His life was marked by an uncompromising dedication to national sovereignty and the preservation of civilisation, combining revolutionary courage with strategic thinking. Savarkar had publicly acknowledged the validity of Jewish national aspirations and backed their right to regain their ancestral country decades before Israel became a contemporary nation-state. His opinions aligned with a broader philosophy that holds that nations have an inalienable right to political self-determination because they are united by a common history and culture. Examining Savarkar’s opinions in the appropriate historical context is equally crucial. Geopolitical realism served as the foundation for his remarks on international political systems, which emphasised that national interest, rather than ideological alignment, should guide India’s foreign policy. His rejection of racial purity ideas further demonstrates that his main focus was on India’s strategic strength rather than loyalty to foreign ideological frameworks.

On the other hand, after independence, India’s formal relationship with Israel gradually changed. India recognised Israel in 1950, but it took decades for diplomatic ties to fully develop. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel today represents a clear turn towards a more practical, interest-driven foreign policy, as it strengthens cooperation across military, technology, and shared strategic interests.

PM Modi calls defence ties an ‘important pillar’: Read about military equipment that may be included in new India-Israel defence deal

Shriti Sagar
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PM Modi calls defence ties an ‘important pillar’: Read about military equipment that may be included in new India-Israel defence deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday, 25th February, marking a significant moment in India-Israel relations. This is his first visit to Israel in nine years, and it comes at a time when both countries are looking to deepen cooperation in defence, trade and counter-terrorism.

During the visit, India and Israel are expected to move closer to signing a landmark defence agreement that could take their security partnership to the next level. Unlike previous deals that focused mainly on buying weapons, this time the emphasis is believed to be on the transfer of advanced military technologies. These are systems that Israel has reportedly not shared with any other country so far.

“A strong defence partnership is of vital importance”

Addressing the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, PM Modi underlined how central defence ties are to the relationship between the two nations. He described defence cooperation as an “important pillar” of India–Israel ties.

“In today’s uncertain world, a strong defence partnership between trusted partners like India and Israel is of vital importance,” he said.

He also said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are committed to expanding trade, increasing investment flows and encouraging joint infrastructure development. According to Modi, last year’s ceasefire in the Gaza war has opened up new opportunities for closer cooperation.

His message was clear: India and Israel see each other as reliable partners in a world facing growing security threats.

What the expected defence deal may include

According to officials familiar with the discussions, PM Modi is expected to finalise a major order for Israeli-made missile systems during this visit. While the finer details are unlikely to be made public, the broad understanding is that the cooperation will have two main parts, defensive systems and offensive weapons.

In the defensive category, talks are believed to be centred around some of Israel’s most advanced air defence systems. These include systems developed by companies such as Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Elbit Systems.

On the offensive side, discussions are likely to include advanced precision and long-range strike systems. These may involve Rafael’s SPICE 1000 guidance kits, Elbit Systems’ Rampage air-to-ground missiles, Ice Breaker naval cruise missiles, and IAI’s supersonic Air LORA missiles.

However, the Indian government’s interest in acquiring these systems is not merely for purchase but also for technology transfer. The plan is to produce these systems in India through the ‘Make in India’ program and use them in a future multi-layered missile defence system project called “Sudarshan Chakra,” which is expected to be completed by 2035.

Iron Dome and its combat record

One system that stands out in these discussions is Israel’s Iron Dome. Some of the systems being discussed include the Arrow missile defence system, David’s Sling, which has the capability of destroying medium-range missiles and drones up to 300 km, which has the capability of destroying short-range rockets between 4 and 70 km. These systems gained global attention for its performance during repeated conflicts with Hamas. During rocket attacks from Gaza, the Iron Dome system successfully destroyed thousands of incoming rockets targeting Israeli cities, thereby reducing civilian casualties and damage to a great extent.

Iron dome has quick detection and destruction capabilities for short-range rockets have made it one of the most tested air defense systems in the world. For a country like India, which has long borders and a long coastline, such a system is of immense use.

In addition to Iron Dome, India has shown a strong interest in Israel’s newer Iron Beam system. It is a laser-based platform regarded as a cost-effective, “light-speed” response to low-cost aerial threats.

The suggested partnership seeks to enhance the protection of Indian cities and critical infrastructure with a highly effective defense shield that would work in synergy with long-range systems like the S-400.

The broader objective is to create what officials describe as an “impregnable” national security canopy by 2030.

Strengthening India’s missile shield

India’s renewed push for advanced missile defence systems also comes after lessons learned from recent tensions with Pakistan. Last May, Islamabad reportedly used Turkish drones and Chinese PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles in attempts to target Indian military and civilian assets.

India already operates Russia’s S-400 missile defence system, Israeli-developed Barak systems and the indigenous Akash system. However, officials believe that additional layers, such as Iron Dome and Iron Beam, would make the country’s air defence network stronger and more difficult to penetrate.

With a land border stretching over 15,000 kilometres and a coastline of more than 7,500 kilometres, India sees the need for a more comprehensive and integrated shield. The idea is to create a pan-India, multi-layered defence system capable of handling threats ranging from short-range rockets and drones to long-range missiles.

Possible talks on advanced strike systems

There could also be discussions on acquiring Golden Horizon, believed to be a successor to the Sparrow target missile family. This is a unique class of missile designed to be launched from aircraft. It could potentially be integrated with the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30MKI jets.

With a strike range estimated between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres and speeds reaching up to Mach 5, the system is designed to penetrate hardened military targets, including underground bunkers. At such high speeds, intercepting it becomes extremely difficult. For comparison, India’s BrahMos cruise missile travels at around Mach 3 and is widely regarded as one of the fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles in the world.

Beyond weapons: A broader security vision

Another major development could be the announcement of a broader security alliance. Prime Minister Netanyahu recently spoke about forming what he called a “hexagon of alliances” around the Middle East. This grouping, he suggested, could include India along with Arab nations, African countries, Mediterranean states, Greece, Cyprus and other Asian partners.

The idea, according to him, is to unite against what he described as “radical axes” in the region.

For India and Israel, the relationship has evolved over decades. Israel has long been one of India’s key arms suppliers. Today, the partnership goes beyond simple buyer-seller dynamics, with joint manufacturing of equipment such as drones and missile systems.

PM Modi’s visit signals that this relationship is entering a new phase, one that combines advanced defence cooperation, technology sharing and a broader strategic vision in an increasingly uncertain world.

Ottawa says India no longer linked to violent crimes: Ahead of Mark Carney’s India visit, Canada pivots to boosting trade and strategic partnership amid shifting geopolitics

Jinit Jain
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Ottawa says India no longer linked to violent crimes: Ahead of Mark Carney’s India visit, Canada pivots to boosting trade and strategic partnership amid shifting geopolitics

As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for his first official visit to India, Ottawa and New Delhi appear poised to turn a difficult page in their bilateral relationship. The trip comes after years of strain following the diplomatic fallout over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023 and the sharp public exchanges that followed under former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

Recent briefings by senior Canadian officials suggest a notable change in tone. Ottawa now says it is confident that India is no longer linked to violent crimes in Canada and points to renewed security dialogue and cooperation between the two sides. This shift has helped create the political space for re-engagement at the highest level, even as both governments continue to stress the importance of law enforcement cooperation and respect for due process.

The message is clear: whatever suspicions and tensions dominated the Trudeau years, the current government believes those concerns are no longer active or ongoing. It is a notable recalibration from the confrontational rhetoric of 2023 and suggests that both sides have quietly worked to stabilise a relationship that had veered into open diplomatic hostility.

This shift, however, also raises uncomfortable questions about the trajectory of the earlier dispute. If Ottawa now believes such activities are not continuing, it underscores the gap between the political drama that followed the Nijjar killing and the slower, more cautious grind of legal and security processes. Rather than a dramatic vindication of either side, the present stance reflects a more pragmatic recognition that managing security concerns and rebuilding diplomatic and economic ties do not have to be mutually exclusive. In effect, Canada appears to be drawing a line between past allegations still working their way through the courts and the strategic reality that a prolonged standoff with India is neither sustainable nor in its broader national interest.

Carney’s visit is therefore being framed not as a dramatic breakthrough, but as a pragmatic reset, one that acknowledges unresolved issues while recognising the strategic and economic logic of rebuilding ties with the world’s most populous country and one of its fastest-growing major economies.

Trade and strategic diversification

The timing of the outreach is significant. Canada’s relationship with its southern neighbour, the United States, has grown more complicated amid trade frictions, political uncertainty, and concerns in Ottawa about overdependence on a single market. In this context, India represents both an economic opportunity and a strategic hedge.

With a population of over 1.4 billion and an expanding middle class, India offers scope for deeper cooperation in sectors ranging from energy and critical minerals to technology, artificial intelligence, and education. Canadian officials accompanying Carney have spoken about exploring new commercial partnerships, including in oil and gas exports and advanced technologies.

While a comprehensive trade deal is unlikely to be concluded immediately, the visit is expected to revive momentum toward broader economic engagement, something both sides have intermittently pursued over the past decade but struggled to sustain amid political headwinds.

The Nijjar case and ongoing sensitivities

At the same time, the shadow of the Nijjar case has not disappeared. Canada’s justice department has recently moved the Federal Court to seek permission to withhold certain sensitive national security information in ongoing proceedings, citing concerns about international relations and security. The case remains under a publication ban and in a pretrial stage, underscoring how legally and diplomatically complex the matter remains.

India has consistently maintained that no concrete evidence linking it to the killing has been shared through formal channels and has denied any role in the incident, while stating it is open to cooperation if proper legal processes are followed. Canadian officials, for their part, say they take threats on their soil seriously and will continue to combat transnational repression and organised crime.

The current approach in Ottawa appears to be one of compartmentalisation: keeping law enforcement and judicial processes on their own track, while allowing diplomatic and economic engagement with India to move forward in parallel.

Domestic and political pressures

Carney’s India visit is not without controversy at home. Some Sikh activist groups, including those associated with the Khalistan movement, have criticised the re-engagement, arguing that it overlooks their security concerns and the unresolved questions surrounding Nijjar’s death. Others within Canada’s policy establishment caution that any reset must be incremental and grounded in transparency and legal cooperation.

On the Indian side, there remains longstanding frustration over what New Delhi sees as Canada’s tolerance of extremist elements operating under the banner of political activism. These concerns, rooted in past incidents such as the 1985 Air India bombing, continue to shape India’s expectations of stronger action against separatist violence and criminal networks.

A pragmatic, if cautious, path forward

Ultimately, Carney’s trip signals a recognition in Ottawa that a prolonged freeze with India is neither economically desirable nor strategically sustainable, especially at a time when Canada is seeking to diversify its partnerships amid a more uncertain relationship with the United States.

Rather than a clean slate, the visit is better understood as a managed reset: an effort to stabilise ties, reopen channels of communication, and explore trade and investment opportunities, while accepting that sensitive security and legal issues will take longer to resolve.

If successful, the engagement could lay the groundwork for a more functional, if still cautious, partnership, one that reflects both countries’ interests in economic cooperation and regional stability, even as they continue to navigate the complexities and mistrust left by recent disputes.

Supreme Court ends more than 100-year-old old legal battle, upholds hereditary pujari right at Amogasidda temple in Karnataka: Here is what you should know about the case

Rukma Rathore
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Supreme Court ends more than 100-year-old old legal battle, upholds hereditary pujari right at Amogasidda temple in Karnataka: Here is what you should know about the case

On 25th February (Wednesday), the Supreme Court eventually resolved a century-long legal dispute regarding ancestral wahiwatdar pujari rights at a temple in Karnataka. A bench consisting of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and K Vinod Chandran dismissed the appellants’ petitions and upheld the Karnataka High Court’s October 2012 judgement.

The order read, “It is neither novel nor uncertain that this court in catena of judgments has held that the jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of India should be used sparingly. More particularly, when dealing with concurrent findings of fact. Unless and until the findings rendered by the courts below are manifestly perverse, this court should be reluctant to intervene in the same.”

“In the present lis before us, both, the high court as well as the First Appellate Court, have rendered concurrent findings on the aspect of the pujari rights over the subject temple and held in favour of the respondents or plaintiffs,” it added.

The issue pertained to a long-running dispute that lasted more than a century, in which the appellants or defendants (Ogeppa, deceased) and the respondents or plaintiffs (Sahebgouda, deceased) made opposing assertions with regard to the ancestral pujari rights and the authority to carry out worship of Amogasidda, a saint who died 600 years ago. His samadhi was constructed in the Mamatti Gudda temple at Jalgeri, Arkeri of Karnataka.

The main point of contention revolved around which of these rival families had the hereditary wahiwatdar pujari with the right to perform religious rites, accept contributions from followers and host the temple’s yearly Jatra celebrations.

The court’s significant observations

According to the court, the appellants outlined that since their predecessor had a ruling favourable to him in the initial suit (287/1901), they were entitled to the pujarki rights of the temple. When dealing with this specific situation, the First Appellate Court and the high court determined that, they appear to be “conspicuously silent” about the fact that they started the case (88/1944) for possession and the rights in the first place, despite their insistence.

The justices mentioned, “Though the Trial Court in this suit has decreed against them, the considerable factor is that the suit was filed for possession of the temple. On the one hand, they claimed that the previous suit instituted by their predecessor was in their favour and they have been granted the possession of the temple and pujariki rights and on the other, they filed a suit seeking the same relief in 1944.”

“If the appellants or defendants had a decree of possession in their favour, the question arises as to how and when they lost possession of the subject premises. This fact has been considered by both the courts and it also manifests that the written statement of the appellants or defendants is silent on this aspect,” they noted.

The court stated that the First Appellate Court rightly spotted that there was no plausible reason for their predecessor to have filed the first suit for the temple’s control and an injunction if the appellants were in fact doing their duties as wahiwatdar pujaries and had a continuous and uninterrupted hold over it.

It charged, “A party in settled possession does not sue for possession. The very institution of that suit is a categorical admission by the predecessor of the appellants or defendants that the possession was not with them at the relevant point in time. This inference drawn by both, the First Appellate Court and the high court, is legally sound.”

No action by the appellants for a duration exceeding a decade

The court emphasised that the predecessor raised a civil appeal after losing the litigation on merits before the Trial Court in 1945 and a motion was brought for the claim to be dropped with the ability to bring a new suit rather than continuing the same. The order permitting it was issued on 15th June 1946 and no new suit was opened for more than three and a half decades after that.

It further chastised, “The appellants or defendants have offered no explanation, either in their pleadings or in their evidence, as to what transpired during this long interregnum. As the high court correctly observed, when a party obtains liberty to file a fresh suit and consciously refrains from doing so for thirty-six years, the inevitable inference is that it had reconciled itself to the factual reality on the ground. This conduct speaks louder than any decree of 1901 that the appellants or defendants seek to wave before this court.”

The court stated that the high court extensively reviewed the documentary material after remand. The names of the ancestors of the plantiffs in relation to the lands awarded by the British government at the time in exchange for service to the Amogasidda temple are listed in the Record of Rights (RTC). However, these revenue records make absolutely no reference to the identities of appellants.

It underlined that they and their forebears have been engaged in legal disputes over this very temple for more than a century and cannot pretend that they are unaware of the revenue records or assert that they are not supported by any proof in these situations.

The court points to Ogeppa’s statement, poses relevant inquiries

The justices mentioned that the admission that was taken from Defendant Witness 1 (Ogeppa) during cross-examination is quite important. The witness denied that the government had handed over land to the Amogasidda temple in Mammatigudda and offered that it was in reference to the Amogasidda temple in Jalageri village which is the subject of the contention between the two sides. He even acknowledged that the plaintiffs were cultivating the property. This confession from the witness of appellants settled the issue concerning the grant and its ties to the plaintiffs.

They expressed, “We also find ourselves in agreement with the observations made by the high court as regards the written statement filed by the appellants or defendants. A party setting up a competing claim to hereditary pujari rights is obligated to plead specifically – when they came into possession of the suit temple, when they commenced performing puja, when and how the respondents or plaintiffs began obstructing them and what steps, if any, they took to vindicate their rights during the long intervening period.”

The court outlined that the written declaration of appellants is reluctant on all of these important details and they defend themselves by citing the 1901 edict along with a simple denial which was termed as completely inadequate. It declared that the oral testimony of the witness trying to bridge these gaps must inevitably be ignored in the absence of any underlying plea. Oral testimony cannot be used in place of pleadings, and evidence cannot be used to build a case that is not presented in the same.

The decision is pronounced

The bench conveyed that it had become clear that the plaintiffs have consistently substantiated their claim through revenue records, consistent documentary evidence, the admission of the witness of the appellants and the testimony of independent witnesses, including devotees who informed that they were performing puja at the temple as hereditary wahiwatdar pujaries.

“The appellants or defendants, on the other hand, rest their claim almost entirely on a century-old decree, the effect of which was demonstrably undone by their own predecessor’s subsequent conduct in instituting a suit for possession in 1944. The concurrent findings of the First Appellate Court and the high court reflect a correct and careful ppreciation of this entire factual matrix,” the court highlighted.

It concluded, “Hence, we find no perversity in the impugned judgment of the high court dated 04.10.2012. Accordingly, the Civil Appeals are sans merit and are dismissed. No orders as to costs.”

Background of the matter

This ancient dispute began in 1944 when the predecessor-in-interest, the late Ogeppa Biradar alongside others lodged an original suit for possession of the temple and other properties. They charged that the plaintiffs had taken over the religious site against their will and had claimed the right to perform puja. However, their plea was dismissed by the Trial Court after which a First Appeal was initiated in 1945.

The appeallants introduced as application to withdraw the case with liberty to launch a new suit while their prayer was pending and the plaintiffs agreed to it. As a result, the Appellate Court granted approval and overturned the verdict, a year later. Afterwards, the the plantiffs 1967 stated that the appeallants began to interfere with the worship at the temple, leading to a lawsuit.

It sought a perpetual injunction prohibiting the latter from interfering with their peaceful ownership and enjoyment of the assets as well as pujariki and pujaries rights. They were given an ex-parte decree but it was later dismissed for lack of prosecution.

A confrontation of opposing assertions and arguments

On 24th March 1982, the current plaintiffs brought forth the original suit before the Court of the Principal Munsiff in Bijapur, requesting a permanent injunction and a declaration that they are the ancestral wahiwatdar pujargi with the jurisdiction to worship at the temple. They emphasised that they were ancestral wahiwatdar pujaries who have the privilege to perform puja of the deity. The number 1 plaintiff had eight annas of these rights while the others shared the remaining rights and exercised them alternately.

They reported to have performed regular services during the year-round puja and annual jatra at Chaity Amavasya and received donations from devotees. The plaintiffs expressed that the appellants with police assistance had blocked the daily ceremony, tried forced night entry and removed puja articles since since 20th March 1982.

They had to file a trespass complaint and a lawsuit to have their rights as temple pujaris recognised. The plaintiffs demanded to register the temple as a public trust with the Assistant Charity Commissioner of Belgaum.

The appellants cited the original litigation in which their ancestors gained a ruling granting the rights to Gurappa son of Manigeppa Poojari, rejecting the submissions of the plaintiffs. They explained that the current plaintiffs are the offspring of the defendants in the case whereas they are the plaintiff’s successors.

The appellants insisted that they continuously performed jatra celebrations, accepted tributes from the devotees and exercised their pujarki responsibilities as wahiwatdars. It was also remarked that they were the owners of the temple and the associated religious structures.

The matter was partially decreed by the Trial Court in its judgement and order dated 18th November 1986. It pornounced that the appellants and the plaintiffs are both pujargies of the temple and must offer puja and jatra in a certain proportion and rejected the call for injuction.

The appellants then launched a regular appeal before the Additional Civil Judge on 10th December 1986 and the plaintiffs also followed suit on 12th December. On 5th July 1990, the First Appellate Court junked the former’s motion while upheld the other, observing that the plantiffs were the temple’s ancestral pujari.

The conflict reaches the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court

The appellants preferred regular two second appeals with the Karnataka High Court which approved them, reversing the decree in their favour and setting aside the earlier verdict on 24th July 1992. It concluded that the Additional Civil Judge, Bijapur did not have the judicial power to consider the regular appeal filed by the plaintiffs because the Civil Court’s jurisdiction is prohibited by section 80 of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.

The plaintiffs presented special leave applications with the Supreme Court in opposition to the ruling which were subsequently transformed into civil appeals. On 28th March 2003, the court sustained the same and remanded the case to the high court. It further highlighted that the restriction implied by section 80 of the act was not relevant and the contest needed to be decided on its merits.

The high court again heard the objection voiced by the appellants and dismissed it, supporting the plantiffs on 4th October 2012. Afterwards, the apex court was approached via civil appeals against the outcome.

Who should create an ABHA Card (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) and when it makes sense

OpIndia Staff
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Who should create an ABHA Card (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) and when it makes sense

India​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is rapidly digitising its healthcare system with e-health records and interconnected services. In such a scenario, many people learn about making an ABHA card, but they remain confused about whether it is meant for them and when it would actually be of use. An ABHA Card, unlike an insurance or a benefit scheme, is simply a digital health ID that helps organise your medical information in one place. 

Understanding the purpose of an ABHA Card

An ABHA Card is a unique 14-digit digital health identity. Its primary function is to enable a person to store and access their medical records, such as prescriptions, lab reports, and hospital summaries, in a digitally secure format. Such records, upon the user’s consent, could be shared with doctors, hospitals, or diagnostic centres, thereby lessening the need for paper files.

Who should consider creating an ABHA Card

An ABHA Card especially benefits those who regularly interact with the healthcare system or see several different providers for their care.

Patients, particularly those dealing with chronic or long-term illnesses, can benefit greatly from having their health details saved in one single place. When getting treated at different hospitals or clinics, an ABHA-linked record helps doctors quickly understand previous treatments, without having to start all over again.

Those who engage in telemedicine or digital health platforms benefit from it, too. An ABHA ID can significantly facilitate online consultations as it allows doctors to access the necessary medical information in a secure and verified manner, leading to better healthcare ​‍​‌‍​‍‌advice.

Deciding whether to create one

Creating an ABHA Card is a personal choice. It is often appreciated by those who prefer keeping their health records organised, digitally accessible, and well-maintained. For others, it may simply serve as a useful option to have on hand during health emergencies.

For those who decide to create one, the ABHA Card download process is easy and straightforward. Since it is completely digital, it can be completed anytime and from anywhere.

How the ABHA Card relates to the Ayushman Card

The Ayushman Card and the ABHA Card are often mistaken for the same, but in reality, they have different functions. The Ayushman Card is tied to a government health insurance scheme so that the hospitalisation costs of eligible families can be covered. The ABHA Card, however, is a tool for the efficient management of health records.

Many individuals may be using both. Making an ABHA Card by itself doesn’t mean you are enrolled in the Ayushman scheme, and you don’t need an ABHA ID to have an Ayushman Card either. Once this difference is clear, it becomes much easier to know which card to use and when, without any confusion.

Situations where an ABHA Card may not be essential

An ABHA Card may feel less relevant for those who usually visit the same family doctor, have a limited medical history, and prefer keeping their records on paper. Since access to healthcare does not depend on having an ABHA Card, choosing not to create one does not restrict treatment options.

That said, situations can change over time. Health needs evolve, and something that may not seem useful today could turn out to be helpful later.

Conclusion

An ABHA Card isn’t an insurance policy. It’s simply a digital way to keep your health records organised in one place. It can be especially useful if you have ongoing health needs, consult more than one doctor, or prefer using online health services. Used with the right understanding, it works quietly in the background to make healthcare smoother, while schemes like the Ayushman Card continue to take care of the financial side separately.

Uttar Pradesh: Bulandshahr police book Village Head Moin and 63 others for attacking Dalit Hindus during Kuaan Poojan and Jagran over DJ music, 12 arrested – Read what FIR says

Anurag
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Uttar Pradesh: Bulandshahr police book Village Head Moin and 63 others for attacking Dalit Hindus during Kuaan Poojan and Jagran over DJ music, 12 arrested – Read what FIR says

On 24th February, Bulandshahr police arrested 12 individuals from the Muslim community for attacking Dalit Hindus during a Kuaan Poojan and Devi Jagran programme. According to media reports, members of the Muslim community attacked Dalit Hindus over DJ music during the programme.

A case has been registered on the complaint of one of the victims, Akash Kumar, against 64 individuals, including 15 named and 50 unnamed persons, under the BNS and the SC/ST Act. The incident took place on the night of 23rd February. OpIndia accessed the FIR registered in the matter.

How the dispute escalated

According to the police, the incident took place on Monday evening when a Kuaan Poojan ceremony was being held at the residence of Akash Kumar, a member of the Dalit community. A Devi Jagran was also scheduled later that night. Family members and relatives were dancing to music played on a DJ system.

During the programme, members of the Muslim community objected to the music, claiming it was the time of namaz, and asked that the DJ be switched off. The complainant’s side complied and stopped the music.

However, after the namaz concluded, the DJ was restarted. It was then that the dispute flared up. Both sides got into a heated argument, leading to physical assault on Dalit Hindus. Videos of the altercation went viral on social media.

Allegations of house trespass and caste abuse

In his complaint, Akash said that dozens of Muslim men entered his house, assaulted those present, and used caste based slurs. Furthermore, Akash accused the attackers of misbehaving with women present in the house during the incident.

Media reports suggest that bricks were thrown, resulting in one youth getting injured and one woman being hit in the eye.

Police officials told the media that the situation is under control. SP City Shankar Prasad said that adequate police force has been deployed in the village. Station House Officer, SHO, Neeraj Kumar Malik confirmed that a case has been registered and legal action is underway.

What the FIR says

The FIR has been registered on the complaint of Akash Kumar under Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190 and 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, BNS, and Sections 3(1)(s) and 3(1)(w) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Prevention of Atrocities Act, SC ST Act, against Gram Pradhan Moin, Matlub, Adil, Akram, Qasim, Firoz, Babar, Shamshad, Salman, Adil son of Jamal, Fardeen, Arbaz, Asif, Gulfam and about fifty unidentified persons.

Source: UP police

In his written complaint, Akash stated that a Kuaan Poojan and Jagran programme was being held at his residence where DJ music was being played. Members of the Muslim community first got the DJ switched off during namaz and, after it resumed, returned with lathis and sticks, and assaulted those present.

Source: UP police

He further stated in his complaint that casteist abuses were used, including threats directed at members of the SC community. He added that the entire incident was recorded on a mobile phone video showing women being assaulted.

Police action and arrests

Twelve accused have been arrested so far. Police are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining accused. Senior officers are monitoring the situation. Officials have said that strict action will be taken against anyone found disturbing law and order.

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