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Maharashtra Cabinet expansion: Sanjay Raut upset over brother Sunil Raut’s exclusion from the cabinet

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra Cabinet expansion: Sanjay Raut upset over brother Sunil Raut’s exclusion from the cabinet

The motormouth spokesperson of the Shiv Sen, Sanjay Raut is reportedly miffed with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra for the exclusion of his brother Sunil Raut, who is a Shiv Sena MLA from Vikhroli, from the expanded Maharashtra Cabinet.

Raut, who is allegedly the chief architect of stitching an alliance between parties from two ideologically opposite spectrum, was reputedly unhappy with the Maharashtra state cabinet expansion as his brother did not make the cut into the list of politicians who will be sworn-in as ministers.

Almost one month after the formation of the government in Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in the state announced the list of ministers selected to be inducted in the expanded cabinet. NCP’s Ajit Pawar took oath as the state’s deputy chief minister while Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray was also included the cabinet.

Read: Maharashtra: Cracks in Maha Vikas Aghadi emerge as NCP, Congress upset over Shiv Sena taking credit for farm loan waiver

About 34 ministers sworn-in as ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet expansion today. Other prominent leaders who are included in the cabinet are- Dhananjay Munde, Anil Deshmukh, Hassan Mushrif, Ashok Chavan, Jitendra Awhad, and Amit Deshmukh.

After an imbroglio of about a month, Shiv Sena joined hands with the NCP and the Congress party to form a government at the state. Uddhav Thackeray was decided as the chief minister of the state while it was agreed upon that the NCP will get the deputy chief minister post and the Congress will get the speaker post. The Congress party appointed Nana Parole as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly while with this cabinet expansion, Ajit Pawar, an NCP MLA, has become the deputy chief minister of the state.

Sanjay Raut was one of the Shiv Sena leaders, besides Uddhav Thackeray, who had launched a scathing attack on the former ally BJP after the two broke out over the disagreement with regards to the chief ministerial post. The Shiv Sena claimed that the BJP had agreed to a pre-poll promise of having a rotational chief ministerial post while the BJP repudiated such claims saying no such agreement was reached with the Shiv Sena.

Raveena Tandon, Farah Khan and Bharti Singh tender unconditional apology to Cardinal Oswald Gracias for mocking ‘Hallelujah’

OpIndia Staff
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Raveena Tandon, Farah Khan and Bharti Singh tender unconditional apology to Cardinal Oswald Gracias for mocking ‘Hallelujah’

Actor Raveena Tandon and choreographer Farah Khan, along with comedian Bharti Singh, who were booked for hurting the religious sentiments of the Christian community by allegedly mocking ‘Hallelujah’, met the Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Oswald Gracias to tender their apologies to him.

Choreographer Farah Khan released a statement in which she stated that she along with actor Raveena Tandon visited Gracias and offered their unconditional apology to him. Farah also sought forgiveness from the Cardinal on behalf of the entire team of the Flipkart Video Original’s quiz show “Backbenchers”, on which she is a host. In addition, she also said that the concerned episode has been taken off by Flipkart Video.

In an apology letter by Farah Khan that was uploaded by a Facebook page called ‘persecutionrelief.org’, Farah apologises profusely and promises to never hurt the Christian community again.

Letter of Apology by Farah Khan

Earlier, two FIRs had been registered against the actor and the choreographer on account of a video clip from the show “Backbenchers“ in which the duo along with Bharti Singh can be seen having difficulty vocalizing the word ‘hallelujah’. A complaint, which was registered in Amritsar accused the celebrities of trivializing the word and hurting the sentiments of the Christian community.

“His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias met us. We apologised and asked him to forgive our mistake and he very graciously accepted our apology. He also issued a statement on our behalf to end this matter,” Farah said.

Farah tweeted, “To err is human to forgive divine. Thank you, Your Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias for meeting us and accepting our heartfelt apologies and putting this unfortunate matter to rest.”


The president of the Indian Christian Voice, Dr Abraham Mathai said that the Christian community accepted the apology proffered by Farah, Raveena and Bharti Singh. “We appreciate Flipkart video and Walmart CEO for removing the episode off air. The Christian community appreciates the Flipkart video and Mr Doug McMillon, the global CEO of Walmart for having considered our demands and sentiments,” he said.

“This evening Farah Khan and Raveena Tandon went in person to His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias to tender a written and unconditional apology, which the Cardinal graciously accepted. I request the Christian community of this nation who are infuriated by this whole saga to accept the apologies tendered by the celebrities in the true spirit of Christ,” Mathai said in a statement.

Following is the letter of apology submitted by Raveena Tandon. In the letter, Raveena Tandon asked for forgiveness from the Cardinal, the Christian community and the “Lord God”.

Letter by Raveena Tandon

Bharti Singh also posted a tweet seeking forgiveness and proffering apologies for hurting the sentiments of the Christian community. Bharti tweeted, “From the bottom of my heart I would like to say Sorry to my Christian brothers and sisters for hurting their sentiments. Thank you Your Eminence Cardinal Oswald for personally hearing my apology in the voice note (as I’m not in the country) and forgiving me.”

Letter by Bharati Singh

Earlier, actor Raveena had posted a tweet seeking apology from those who were aggrieved by the video. Raveena posted a clip of the show asking her followers to watch the video.


She wrote, “Please do watch this link. I haven’t said a word that can be interpreted as an insult to any religion. The three of us (Farah Khan, Bharti Singh and I) never intended to offend anyone, but in case we did, my most sincere apologies to those who were hurt.”

Muslims to claim possession of the ruins of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya

OpIndia Staff
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Muslims to claim possession of the ruins of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya

After losing the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case in the apex court, the Muslims parties have decided to lay claim to the remnants of the Babri Masjid along with its foundation, demolished and left behind by a frenzied group of Karsevaks on December 6, 1992.

The Hindu parties in contention have expressed no objection to the Muslim parties’ claim to the ruins of the demolished Babri mosque. Ram Lalla’s “Best Friend”, Triloki Nath Pandey said that he has no opposition to the Muslim parties laying claim to the Babri ruins. “They can take the ruins of the Babri Masjid as it belongs to them. We have no problems with that. This will be a message of brotherhood and communal harmony,” he said.

The general secretary of the All-India Milli Council, Khaliq Ahmed Khan said, “We will claim debris and foundation of the Babri Masjid as the structure belonged to Muslims. The Supreme Court has admitted that for more than 3 centuries Muslims offered prayers at the mosque.”

On being asked if the debris of the mosque will be shifted to the 5-acre land allotted by the apex court in lieu of the Babri Masjid land, SQR Ilyas said that they will not accept the land offered by the Supreme Court and the issue of where the debris should be shifted will be discussed in the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Meeting.

The decision to lay claim to the ruins of the Babri Masjid came after the protracted Ayodhya drew to an end by the Supreme Court verdict that ordered the contentious land in favour of the Hindu litigants to build a temple at the site. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report corroborated the claim made by the Hindu litigants that there existed a temple beneath the Babri structure. The top court offered a 5-acres land to the Muslim parties elsewhere as a compensation.

On December 6, 1992, manic crowds of Karsevaks belonging to various Hindu organizations such as Viswa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and the erstwhile Shiv Sena gathered at the Babri site in Ayodhya and brought down the mosque which they considered was illegally built upon the Hindu temple.

2019 anti-CAA protests: 9 visuals that prove they were motivated by deep seated anti-Hindu bigotry and Islamic extremism

Editorial Desk
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2019 anti-CAA protests: 9 visuals that prove they were motivated by deep seated anti-Hindu bigotry and Islamic extremism

The anti-CAA protests in 2019 brought out into the open the ugly hatred that has been festering in the hearts of liberals and Islamic extremists against Hindus. It was obvious from the very beginning that the protests had nothing to do with ‘Secularism’ but was limited to Radical Islam and anti-Hindu bigotry with active support from the liberal community. In this article, we look back at some placards and videos during which the anti-Hindu bigotry and Islamic Extremism became most prominent.

1. Muslim man threatens to burn the country if CAA is implemented

In the video that went viral on social media, a Muslim man is heard threatening that he will set the entire country on fire. He says the Muslim community will stage a coup and destroy the country.

2. ‘No God but Allah’

Anti-CAA protesters raised slogans of La ilaha illallah, the Islamic Shahada which means “There is no god but Allah”. The chant is often followed by muḥammadun rasulu llah, which means “Muhammad is the messenger of God”.

The religious chant represents the central philosophy of Islam, that Allah is the only god, and there is no other god. When senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor warned against Islamic Extremism after the clip went viral, Islamic Extremists on social media slammed him and accused him of ‘soft bigotry’.

3. Contempt towards Narendra Modi’s humble beginnings

The anti-CAA protesters appear to hold a severe disdain towards the Prime Minister’s humble roots. There were several placards mocking Narendra Modi for being a Chaiwaala in his childhood to support his family.

One particular placard that was remarkably idiotic tells Narendra Modi to make tea instead of laws. One wonders if the protesters believe the Parliament should not make laws, who according to them has the authority? Delinquents, who loiter around such protests?

Placard at anti-CAA protest that says, ‘Make Tea, not Laws’.
Placard at anti-CAA protest that says ‘Chai’ has destroyed the country

4. Hinduon Se Azadi

The most obvious bit bigotry from the protests was the chants of ‘Hinduon se Azadi’ that were raised in Jamia Nagar, Delhi. Liberals realized that it was indefensible and therefore, they made an attempt to call the video footage ‘fake’.

Read: BoomLive wrongly ‘fact-checks’ OpIndia on ‘Hinduon se azaadi’ slogan video. Watch the Jamia Nagar protests where communal slogans were raised

However, the video was authentic and the so-called peaceful protesters at Jamia Nagar were raising these slogans.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLcFy0QkO5E]

5. F**k Hindutva poster with the Om portrayed as the Nazi symbol

This was another blatant bit of anti-Hindu bigotry. Not even the liberals attempted to defend this one. The only ones defending it were Islamic Extremists and Leftists.

Blatantly anti-Hindu poster at anti-CAA ‘protest’

6. Hanuman Temple Desecrated

During the anti-CAA riots in Bihar, Muslim rioters attacked and desecrated a Hanuman Temple in Patna.

Read: “Hinduon ke saath khilwad kiya gaya hai”: Watch as Muslim mob vandalises a Hanuman temple during anti-CAA riots in Bihar

The visuals did make for a very disturbing view and it was further evidence of the fact that the hatred that was festering in the heart of Indi could no longer be ignored.

7. Faiz’s anti-idolatry verses

A video emerged from IIT-Kanpur where anti-CAA protesters were chanting “When All Idols Will Be Removed… Only Allah’s Name Will Remain”.

Read: Idols will be removed, thrones will vanish, only Allah’s name will remain: Complaint against IIT-K’s Jamia solidarity event

Liberals tried to whitewash the bigotry inherent in the verses claiming that it was from one of Faiz’s poems but, as we have said before, slogans that speak of the demolition of Murthis have absolutely no place in the land of idol-worshippers.

8. Tiranga Wielding Namazi Rioters

A narrative was carefully constructed by the mainstream media that the anti-CAA protesters were waving the Tiranga while the pro-CAA demonstrations were only waving the Saffron Flag. It was an insinuation that the anti-CAA protests were secular while the pro-CAA demonstrations were communal. But as we can see in this video, the Tiranga was merely an attempt to mask their true intentions.

9. Hindustan Ka Maalik moment

If there could be any doubt remaining about the anti-Hindu nature of the anti-CAA protests, the placard below quite clears it. The placard held by the Muslim says, “Modi, don’t ask for too old documents. Who knows? We might emerge as the owners of India.” This, quite clearly, shows that the anti-CAA protesters are still drunk on the delusions of Islamic Imperialism.

Blatantly anti-Hindu poster at anti-CAA protest, Source: Twitter

The year 2019 saw big-bang decisions from the Modi government. From the abrogation of Article 370 to going all guns blazing against Pakistan sponsored terrorism. With such decisions, some amount of backlash from the Hindu hating Islamists of India was expected. However, with the year ending with the anti-CAA protests, that sentiment has never been clearer and the fact that the Media has played Nero’s guest while the country was being burnt by Islamists only goes to show that these posters were not aberrations, but the venom being displayed in the open.

Maharashtra: Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh who opposed Yakub Memon’s hanging is now minister in Uddhav Thackeray cabinet

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh who opposed Yakub Memon’s hanging is now minister in Uddhav Thackeray cabinet

Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh who had written a letter to the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee appealing for mercy for 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts convict Yakub Memon’s hanging will now be a minister in Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government. Shaikh today swore in as a cabinet minister.

Aslam Shaikh letter to Pranab Mukherjee who was the then President of India (image: @sureshnakhua on Twitter)

on 28th July, 2015, Shaikh along with other colleagues of his had written to Mukherjee to consider giving mercy to Yakub Memon for his role in 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

Along with Shaikh, Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, Vijay Vadettiwar, Varsha Gaikwad, Sunil Kedar, Amit Deshmukh, Yashomati Thakur, Aslam Shaikh, KC Padvi also swore in. NCP leaders Dilip Wales Patil, Dhananjay Munde, Anil Deshmukh, Hassan Mushrif, Rajendra Shingne, Nawab Malik, Rajesh Tope, Balasaheb Patil, Jitendra Awhad too took an oath as ministers while Ajit Pawar swore in as Deputy Chief Minister.

Read: Jharkhand: Month after snubbing Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi attends Hemant Soren’s swearing in ceremony

Shiv Sena leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, Uday Samant, Sanjay Rathod, Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse, Sandipan Bhumre too swore in as cabinet ministers.

Despite Priyanka Gandhi Vadra breaching security protocol, appropriate security cover was provided: CRPF calls out the Congress scion

OpIndia Staff
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Despite Priyanka Gandhi Vadra breaching security protocol, appropriate security cover was provided: CRPF calls out the Congress scion

Two days after the drama Congress created over “security breach” of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during her visit to Lucknow, the CRPF on Monday said there was no breach in the Congress leader’s security and blamed her for violations for travelling as a pillion rider on a scooter.

The CRPF, which provides armed commandos under the ‘Z+’ category of security cover to Gandhi, said due to her unscheduled movement without intimation, the advance security liaison (ASL) protocol could not be conducted.

The CRPF IG in his statement released on Monday said: “During travelling, the protectee (Priyanka) used a non-BR civil vehicle without PSO. The protectee took a lift in scooty as a pillion rider. Despite these security constraints, appropriate security cover was provided by CRPF during the visit. Such security lapses are communicated to the protectee and advised for ensuring proper security arrangements.”

Read: Congress releases video to show how police manhandled Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, proves it was her goons that heckled lady police officer

Responding to the charges, the CRPF said in a statement: “On December 28, the only programme indicated was a visit to PCC office for attending Congress foundation function, for which an advance security liaison (ASL) protocol had been conducted. On December 28, Abhay Mishra, CO Hazratganj, at around 8 am visited the place of stay to enquire about the detailed programme of the day of the protectee which was not communicated by the personal staff. There was no breach in security by the official.”

CRPF has also said that there were 10 security personnel in close proximity of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The statement released by CRPF

On Saturday, Gandhi’s office had written to CRPF VIP security in-charge, alleging that circle officer of Hazratganj, Abhay Mishra, issued threats to her security personnel and warned of restricting her movements. Her office also demanded appropriate action against the officer.

Mishra shouted at them and demanded information of the protectee’s schedule which had been provided to the authorities on Friday, the letter said.

He then accused the CRPF personnel of withholding information since they had readied their fleet as is their standard protocol every morning, it said. He further threatened the CRPF personnel that he will not provide any security cover to the protectee and will not allow the protectee to take even two steps out of the premises, the letter said.

Read: Uttar Pradesh: Congress worker who drove Priyanka Gandhi Vadra without wearing helmet challaned for Rs 6100

To which Abhay Mishra responded today saying that there was no breach in security by the officials alleging that the protectee (Priyanka Gandhi) used a non-BR civil vehicle without PSO. However, despite security constraints, appropriate security cover was provided by CRPF during the visit, the officer claimed.

On Saturday, Gandhi-scion Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was in Uttar Pradesh in order to meet the family of an “anti-CAA activist” who was arrested by UP police. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had alleged that the UP police had roughed her up and manhandled her. However, video evidence proves that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was, as usual, spreading fake news.

After Lucknow Police stopped Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the way to meet ‘anti-CAA activist’ ex-IPS officer SR Darapuri’s family, she hopped on to a two-wheeler which was being driven by a Congress worker and whizzed past.

Read: UP police officer Dr Archana Singh rejects Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s manhandling allegations, says her car had diverted from scheduled route

After Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra misled the public by making false claims that she was manhandled by police personnel on her way to the residence of a former IPS officer held for anti-CAA protests, the Uttar Pradesh lady police officer Dr Archana Singh said the allegations were false.

Describing the sequence of events, Archana Singh refuted allegations that she manhandled Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, claiming it to be baseless.

India Today publishes report with misleading headline implying that UP govt took blankets back after distribution by CM: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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India Today publishes report with misleading headline implying that UP govt took blankets back after distribution by CM: Read details

On December 29, India Today published a news story with a completely misleading headline which shows that Yogi Adityanath government of the Uttar Pradesh in very poor light. The headline of the story is “Homeless people asked to return blankets given by CM Yogi Adityanath, case filed against accused”.  The text used by India Today to share the report on Twitter was even more misleading, as it said, “Soon after the CM Yogi Adityanath left, destitute people were asked to return the blankets given to them.”


The headline and tweet give the impression that the blankets were taken by the government after they were distributed by the CM, implying that it was done only for photographs. Moreover, the headline is also unclear about who is the accused, and people may assume that the case is filed against the homeless people.

As expected, people started attacking the UP government based on this report.


Even the Senior Associate Editor of the Print also shared the India Today tweet.


But contrary to what the India Today headline and tweet are implying, the UP government didn’t take the blankets back after distribution. It was some unknown person who did it, and now the administration has filed a case against those officials.

According to reports, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had visited government hospitals and shelters for homeless on December 26, and distributed blankets to the poor people. But about one hour after the CM left, few people had taken the blankets back. It is not known whether those persons were govt officials or some other people. After the news of the blankets being taken was published by a few local newspapers on 28th, the administration took note of the same and a case was registered against unknown persons.

FIR filed against unknown people in the case

The administration has said that they have not taken the blankets back. The FIR filed in the case also mentions that the blankets were not taken back by the administration, and it was done by some unknown people.

Therefore, the India Today report, particularly the headline and the tweet, is completely misleading.

Iranian national arrested in Bihar for living in India as Buddhist monk for 11 years without visa

OpIndia Staff
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Iranian national arrested in Bihar for living in India as Buddhist monk for 11 years without visa

An Iranian national was arrested by security forces in Bihar after he was caught to living in India for 11 years in the garb of a Buddhist monk without a visa. The person was arrested when he was attempting to cross over to Nepal without valid documents at the India-Nepal border in the East Champaran district in Bihar.

The man has been identified as 38 years old Hamed Akbari, and he is a resident of Rajakan area of the Iranian capital Tehran.

An Iranian passport and a UNHCR card were recovered from Akbari by the immigration officials at the border. According to officials, he had reached Raxaul onboard a Bharat Nepal Maitri bus service from Bodh Gaya. He was wearing robes of a Buddhist monk, and he was caught during a routine search of the bus on Saturday night at around 10 PM.

Read- West Bengal: Days after Mamata’s cabinet minister Siddiqullah threatened Amit Shah, Bangladesh Govt denies Mamata’s Minister Visa

Akbari claimed to be a Buddhist monk, and said that he is living in India since 2008 and currently staying at Bodh Gaya. He refused to say more about himself, saying his Guru has ordered him to not talk about his past.

A K Pankaj, DSP immigration posted at Raxaul, said, “The manner in which he was staying in India since the last 11 years without any visa and had procured UNHRC Card and was giving statements clearly incongruent in nature, it only leads to suspicion of sorts.” The Iranian national was found violating section 14B of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and was handed over to local police at Raxaul for further action.

The Judiciary in 2019: Six significant verdicts that either created a storm or brought an end to one

Editorial Desk
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The Judiciary in 2019: Six significant verdicts that either created a storm or brought an end to one

The government took many historic decisions in 2019. The Judiciary, too, issued quite a few historic verdicts on various matters of import in 2019. Some verdicts were indeed of great commendation while others left plenty to be desired. In this article, we shall go through a list of verdicts delivered by the Judiciary that either created a storm or brought an end to one.

1. The Ram Mandir verdict

The Supreme Court, on the 9th of November, brought to an end one of the greatest historic struggles for the Hindu Community. With its landmark judgment, the Supreme Court paved the way for a Bhavya Ram Mandir at Ram Janmabhoomi. The Court verdict also awarded five acres of alternate land to the Muslim community.

Read: The comprehensive legal History of Ram Janmabhoomi case: A case that will have its relevance for generations to come

In its verdict, the Court took into account historical facts about Ram Janmabhoomi and accepted that a Hindu Temple did stand at the site of the disputed structure. Liberals and Muslims were definitely not happy with the verdict but everyone saw it as an inevitability given the overbundance of evidence in favour of the Hindu community. Later, review petitions were also filed by the Muslim petitioners but they were rejected by the Supreme Court.

2. The Rafale Verdict

The Supreme Court in November dismissed the review petitions against the December 14th judgement of the SC which declined to order a probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets by the Modi government from Dassault Aviation. The review petitions were filed by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha.

Read: Here is a compilation of the lies spread by Rahul Gandhi about the Rafale Deal in the run up to 2019 Lok Sabha Elections

It is pertinent to mention here that the documents leaked by The Hindu were cropped and digitally manipulated to conceal evidence that can go against the Rafale case that Modi detractors were trying to build to help Congress and Rahul Gandhi in the run-up to 2019 elections.

Read: Rafale Saga: A sinister attempt to undermine Democracy by the liberal media-political establishment has been crushed

The Supreme Court has held that the plea on charges of perjury against the officials is also not fair. While the judgement did cast a shadow on the integrity of Rahul Gandhi who furthered this lie repeatedly, it also indicted The Hindu that published cropped documents in order to further this lie.

3. The Sabarimala Review Petition Verdict

The Supreme Court led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi could not come to a conclusive decision in Sabarimala review petitions and have referred the case to a larger bench by a 3:2 majority. The Supreme Court said that the issue of women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple is not just limited to Sabarimala. It involves the entry of women into Mosques as well. The Supreme Court referenced to larger Bench of issues arising in case of entry of Muslim women into a mosque, female genital mutilation cannot be ruled out.

Read: Amit Shah stands by Sabarimala devotees, says SC should not interfere in religious customs: Read details

CJI, justices- Khanvilkar and Malhotra viewed to refer the matter to a larger bench. Justices Chandrachur and Nariman gave dissent view on Sabrimala review pleas. The Supreme Court could not reach a consensus on the review petitions and this, the Sabarimala matter referred to a larger bench by 3:2 J Chandrachud and Nariman dissent Review petitions being kept pending.

Read: Today’s judgement by Supreme Court has effectively dislodged the 2018 verdict in Sabarimala case: Advocate J Sai Deepak

Later, the Supreme Court declined to pass an order on the plea to allow the entry of two women into the Sabarimala temple, which meant there was effectively a stay on its 2018 verdict that permitted the desecration of the Sabarimala Temple.

4. The Pashubali Verdict

In the last week of September, the Tripura High Court in an atrocious judgment banned Pashubali (animal sacrifice) at the Maa Tripureswari Mandir in Udaipur and other Hindu temples in Tripura. Tripureswari temple, also known as Tripura Sundari Temple, is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths, and Pashubali is an integral custom of the temple. Kamaleswari Kali temple, located beside the India-Bangladesh border in Kasba village in west Tripura, is another important temple in the state where Pasbhubali is performed.

Read: Read details of the bizarre Tripura High Court judgement banning animal sacrifice at Shakti temples in Tripura

However, for a while even after the ban, Pashubali continued at the Temple as the administration was hesitant to implement the order. Ultimately, the Supreme Court, nearly two months later, issued an interim order that permitted the resumption of the sacred ritual at the Temple.

5. The Quran Distribution Verdict

A Ranchi court in July granted bail to a woman who was arrested for allegedly hurting ‘religious sentiments’ by writing about Tabrez Ansari’s death on her Facebook account. However, while granting the bail, the court put up a condition that she should distribute copies of Quran to various Islamic organisations.

Read: Ranchi Bar Association boycotts the judge who had ordered Ranchi girl to distribute Quran as bail condition

Magistrate Manish Singh had ordered Richa Bharti to distribute a copy of Quran to Anjuman Islamia in presence of the administration and take an acknowledgement receipt. She was supposed to donate four other copies of the Quran to other schools and colleges. Bharti could take help of local police administration in this. She was ordered to collect receipts and submit them to the court in 15 days. Over and above this, she was also asked to deposit two bonds of Rs 7,000 each.

Read: Richa Bharti case: Ranchi Court takes back order to distribute Quran after state govt and investigating officer’s request

The verdict created a huge furore across the country and people were outraged by what they considered a clear attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. Ultimately, the Court was forced to take back its crazy order and things returned to normalcy.

6. The Madras High Court’s Richa Bharti Moment

The Madras High Court ordered a youth in October charged with posting objectionable content on Facebook to pay Rs 25,000 each to a trust run by the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) and an orphanage run by a Christian organisation in Mayiladuthirai (Mayavaram) in Nagapattinam district as a condition for his anticipatory bail.

Read: Madras HC orders youth to pay Rs. 25,000 each to Islamist and a Christian organisation to receive anticipatory bail for a Facebook post

The TMMK is an Islamic Fundamentalist organization that has a history of its members engaging in radical activities. However, despite numerous objections by the petitioner, the Madras High Court issued the highly controversial order.

Tamil Nadu: Dalit villagers deny media reports of converting to Islam after wall collapse incident which left 17 dead

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Dalit villagers deny media reports of converting to Islam after wall collapse incident which left 17 dead

Days after media had reported that 3,000 Dalits in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, converted to Islam, the villagers have denied these reports. Last week it was reported that the villagers had converted to Islam because of alleged caste discrimination following death of 17 people due to wall collapse.

The villagers say that they are Hindus and worship Lord Ram and that no Muslim organisation had approached them for religious conversion. Tamil Puligal Katchi, a Tamil outfit had claimed that they chose to embrace Islam because of lack of empathy. In Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, a 20-ft wall had collapsed earlier this month due to incessant rains. The wall was built 5 years ago to keep the Dalits away from the upper caste neighbours. The wall collapse claimed lives of 17 people.

Read: The Wire and IndiaSpend’s Factchecker journalist caught trying to manipulate Dalit victims who were attacked by local Muslims to prove ‘no hate crime’

Kin of the deceased have also expressed their intentions to not convert to Islam. Police officer, on condition of anonymity reportedly told Hindustan Times that it is the political outfit which took the ‘decision’ of conversion to Islam and that villagers don’t really want to give up their religious beliefs.

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