On 2nd November, a video of a tribal woman from Dindori, Madhya Pradesh went viral over social media platforms in which she could be seen wiping the blood of her husband after his death at a government hospital. The video garnered the attention of the activists who used it to stoke further divisions in society. They claimed that the woman, who was 5 months pregnant was made to clean the blood by the hospital staff as she belonged to the tribal community.
The incident happened in the Gadasarai Health Centre in Lalpur village in the tribal-dominated Dindori district. As per the reports, the husband of the woman identified as Shivraj had died after being shot over a land dispute. Four men, a father, and his three kids were shot in Lalpur village due to a long-standing land dispute. While the father and one of the sons died on the spot, two others, Shivraj and Ramraj, were taken to the Gadasarai Health Centre for treatment.
The video of the woman went viral over social media claiming that she was asked to clean the blood of her husband from the hospital bed after his death. The woman in the video could be seen wiping the blood with tissue while holding a blood-soaked cloth in another hand. She also could be seen crying in pain over her husband’s death.
The husband of a 5-month pregnant woman had died some time ago. After her husband's death, the government hospital administration forced her to clean the bed. The incident took place in Dindori, Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/WtASJ8JpV8
Notably, the hospital staff stated that the woman was never asked to clean the blood but she herself did saying that she wanted the soaked blood cloth for evidence. Dr Chandrashekhar Tekam, a doctor at the Gadasarai Health Centre clarified while talking to the media saying that staff was present at the hospital when the woman was cleaning the blood.
“The men were shot at during a land dispute on Thursday and two of them were brought to our facility. The wife of the man who died asked us to let her wipe the blood from the bed with a cloth so she could use it as evidence of the extent of the bleeding. She was not asked to clean the bed. I have not received any complaint from the woman or her family,” he said. However, action by the state was taken against the doctor and the nurses seen in the video.
Meanwhile, on social media, people shared the video to claim that the woman was made to clean the hospital bed just because she belonged to the backward community. “It’s all part of a larger sinister plan of abusing the marginalized and voiceless communities. It’s nothing short of Salvery and bonded labour. Medieval era rules MP,” said one of the users while the other one said that caste discrimination was on the rise in Madhya Pradesh.
Another user further specifically added that people were just extending sympathy because the woman in the video was in grief or was pregnant, but the very primary reason why the hospital staff probably asked the woman to clean the blood was because of her lower caste.
One of the users meanwhile called for genocide against the upper caste people saying that if this continues, every Dalit would want to have a right to straight away kill at least 100 people belonging to the upper caste.
Another user meanwhile stated that the backward class people not only needed to educate themselves but also increase their physical power to protect themselves from the discrimination allegedly spread by the upper caste. He said that discrimination would continue against children belonging to the tribal and backward community unless they made themselves physically and mentally stronger.
With this, the users of social media seem to be wrongly propagating the video to spread the fake caste narrative that leads to genocidal hatred against general category people, who hardly have anything to do with the incident.
It is crucial to note that several workers at the hospital where the woman was seen cleaning the blood of her husband also belong to the tribal community. Not only that, but the doctor at the hospital, Dr Chandrashekhar Tekam who clarified that the woman was never asked to clean the blood also allegedly belongs to the Gond tribe or Kamar tribe, listed as a Scheduled Tribe. This issue was raised by an activist named Neha Das who raised her voice against fake caste-narrative leading to genocidal hatred against general category people.
“The Doctor on duty was also from the Gond tribe. In the later news reports, he stated that the woman was not asked to clean the but she had asked to collect the blood-soaked clothes as evidence. Now both stakeholders here are tribals–where is the caste angle here?” she questioned.
Note that the Doctor on duty was also from Gond tribe. In the later news reports, he stated that the woman was not asked to clean the but she herself had asked to collect the blood-soaked clothes as evidence. Now both stakeholders here are tribals–where is the caste angle here? pic.twitter.com/NHVOzdoqiv
Notably, action has been taken against the attending doctor and two nurses after the video of the woman went viral over the internet. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (Dindori) issued orders to transfer the attending doctor and suspend the two nurses.
“In the viral video on social media dated 31.10.2024, it has been found that the deceased’s wife was made to clean the hospital bed at the Primary Health Center Gadasarai, Community Health Center. Despite arrangements for hospital cleaning being made through outsourcing in this and other health facilities of the district, it is unfortunate that the deceased’s wife was made to clean the hospital bed,” the official letter noted.
The leftist media ecosystem has long been romanticising and glorifying Islamic terrorists, and now this propaganda machinery is romanticising Khalistani terrorists as well. Days after OpIndia reported about leftist propaganda outlet TheWire’s reportage reeking of its limerence for Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the US-based newspaper cum Islamo-leftist propaganda factory The New York Times (NYT) recently published an article titled “Sikh Activists See It as Freedom. India Calls It Terrorism, authored by a brown sepoy, given that NYT has no shortage of them.
The NYT article presents facts as per the convenience of its agenda of downplaying Khalistani terrorism and painting the Modi government as somewhat of a villain deliberately fanning the Khalistani extremism for political gains. The propaganda piece laments how the Indian government sternly deems the Khalistani secessionism and criminal activities as a terrorist threat to India’s national security.
Speaking to NYT, Gunisha Kaur, a medical director of the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights said “The threat of terrorism is used to exploit fear and justify the suppression and silencing of minorities.”
Kaur, however, failed to elaborate on how the Modi government is ‘exploiting fear’ and silencing’ Sikh minorities. Is the concern that extremist and separatist elements in Punjab are gaining ground and poisoning the minds of Sikhs against their own country and ever-supportive Hindu community wrong?
Khalistani separatists like Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, used the processes of the same Indian democracy they oppose, rights granted by the same constitution they ‘reject’, to fight the Lok Sabha election and emerge victorious with massive margins, but India should not be concerned?
Going by the NYT and Gunisha Kaur’s logic, while Khalistani separatists are winning elections from the votes of their radicalised supporters in Punjab, Hindu temples are vandalised by extremists, they use Canadian soil to conduct ‘referendums’, conduct anti-India and anti-Hindu protests, the Indian government should believe that the secessionist idea of Khalistan is a chimera and is not an actual threat to India’s national security.
Kaur further claimed that Sikhs in India have been targeted with ‘impunity’ which in turn gave rise to some demanding a separate Sikh nation.
This, however, is far from reality and a rather conjecture, as despite the fact that Khalistani secessionists yearn to carve out a separate nation for Sikh community governed by the Sikh religious laws, peddle hatred against the Hindus even as Hindus are in minority in Punjab, the Indian people, particularly, the Hindus do not loathe the entire Sikh community but rather only the Khalistani terrorists who want to sever the historical ties between Hindus and Sikhs. The Indian people and the government do not condemn the entire Indian Sikh community as ‘anti-national’ or extremists, in fact, the Indian Sikh community actively contributes to India’s growth and enjoy all the freedom any other community has.
There is no ‘singular approach’, the approach is to call out and take measures to end any effort to challenge and harm the territorial integrity of India, those belonging to any religious grouping driven by religious, political motives or a blend of both, would not be tolerated. This, however, applies only to the anti-India elements, be it the Khalistani terrorists who want to break away Punjab from India to form a Sikh nation, Islamic terrorists who to separate Kashmir to either merge into a hub of Islamic terror Pakistan or those attempting to carve out a separate Christian nation in the Northeast, not those loyal to India.
Shooting its gun off the shoulders of ‘analysts’, The New York Times insinuated that somehow the Khalistani terrorism is not a national security matter and is only being projected as one by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “burnish his image as a strongman protecting his country — or, more precisely, a Hindu nationalist leader protecting the Hindu majority.”
This is absolutely delusional, Narendra Modi is not a newbie in politics or someone who required relaunches after relaunches to become Prime Minister or let’s say burnish his image as a strongman. PM Modi is a seasoned politician, he was picked as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in 2014, because of his strongman image and was bestowed with a thumping victory in the 2014 General Elections, because the people of India were sick and tired of a weak government that does literally nothing to ramp up national security even after Mumbai 26/11 attacks, did nothing even as Pakistan continued to repeatedly carry out designs to “bleed India with a thousand cuts”. The people wanted a strong leader who would not dismiss threats to national security as non-existent just to appease any particular religious group.
Also, while the BJP has historically been the only political party in India that has been supportive of Hindus, the Hindu community understands very well that no politician alone can protect them or the nation against the Islamic or Khalistani threat rather it requires collective efforts of the government, the armed forces, the security agencies and the citizens, with first and foremost being acknowledging that even while it may not seem too big, the anti-India and anti-Hindu activities, be it those of Khalistanis or Islamists, are very much a real threat to national security. In addition, India should not wait for these elements to grow more and more stronger and then act against them, just because NYT cannot stop romanticising Khalistani terrorists.
Moving the NYT lamented that the Indian government allegedly launched a campaign to ‘harass’ and kill “Sikh separatists” in Canada. It further discussed how the Trudeau government told The Washington Post that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered the campaign against Khalistani terrorists in Canada, even though they did not provide any evidence for the same. It must be noted here that days after Trudeau accused Indian diplomats of involvement in ‘criminal activities’ in Canada, he himself admitted to having not a shred of evidentiary proof confirming the same. Also, the seriousness of Canada’s claims can be deciphered from the fact that it chose a US-based leftist propaganda outlet to train its gun against the Indian government which the foreign media generally projects as a Hindu nationalist, fascist, anti-minority and whatnot regime.
The NYT further attempts to villainise the Indian government by suggesting that the Indian government is comparatively quieter on an Indian national’s arrest in the US over his role in an alleged foiled assassination attempt against Khalistani extremist and Sikhs for Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The same Pannun who regularly threatens to attack India and even threatens to blow up Air India flights. While the US government and leftist propaganda outlets are targeting the Indian government over an alleged attempt to eliminate Pannun, no one had a problem when the same US carried out arbitrary bombings in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, including the operation authorised by the then PM Barack Obama-led administration, to take down Al Qaeda terrorist Osama Bin Laden, who was hiding in a safe house in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The US operations destroyed nations like Iraq but no one opposed the US, the same Canada granting a safe haven to Khalistani terrorists had backed the US when Laden was hunted down in Pakistan. When the US eliminates terrorists, it is ensuring its national security, but when India allegedly does the same, all hell breaks loose.
The NYT, however, would not understand the threat India faces from Khalistani terrorists, whom it calls Khalistan ‘supporters’, ‘extremists’ and ‘separatists’ but not what they actually are—terrorists. While in a recent incident in Brampton, Khalistani terrorists attacked Hindus outside a temple, and have regularly been vandalising Hindu temples in Canada but India should wait for a Kanishka Bombing redux and killing of 329 or more Hindu and Sikh people to see the Khalistan problem a threat to national security.
Speaking to NYT, Canada’s ambassador to India, Cameron MacKay said that Canada was “not in a position to arrest people simply because they support a separatist movement in a foreign country,” citing its expansive protections for freedom of speech.” It is amusing, how conveniently, the Canadian ambassador and the Trudeau government invoke freedom of speech and the right to protest to let Khalistani carry out anti-India and anti-Hindu activities including violence with absolute impunity given Khalistani are a significant votebank for the Liberal Party. MacKay, however, should jog his memory and recall how Canadian truckers were denied their freedom of speech and right to protest back in 2022 with their protests violently crushed, hundreds of truckers arrested with many threatened with arrests upon failing to leave protest sites. Where was freedom of speech then?
The NYT report itself mentions that the Indian government has designated several Khalistanis including Lakhbir Singh Sandhu as “terrorists” and also has uncovered a terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, however, it wants the Indian government to not even see the Khalistani secessionism and linked crimes as a threat to national security let alone countering it. Interestingly, NYT has a knack for romanticising terrorists and those accused of masterminding anti-Hindu riots.
Towards the end of it, the NYT article says that ‘Sikh separatism’ is a sensitive issue given Pakistan’s backing to the Khalistanis. After downplaying the Khalistani threat, NYT tries to balance it out saying that there are concerns about the radicalisation of Punjabi youths. Instead of questioning the Canadian government as to why it has been sheltering those designated as terrorists by the Indian government, why the Trudeau administration allows Khalistani elements to challenge India’s sovereignty on a regular basis, why it allows Khalistanis terrorists to attack Hindus and their temples, why does it call slain Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist a Canadian citizen even as there is no clarity on whether he was even a legal citizen of Canada and destroys ties with India when elections are only a few months away, NYT wants Indian government to turn oblivious to the Khalistani threat.
While vulnerability arising from lack of jobs and drugs abuse among the Punjabi youth is a cause of concern, the spread of Khalistani secessionism and terrorism cannot be curbed by providing jobs and preventing drugs abuse, rather, complete deradicalization of those influenced by Khalistani ideology as well as total destruction of Khalistani terror nexus will save Sikh youths and preserve India’s territorial integrity.
The Sikh community in Canada now exceeds 770,000 people. Sikhs started immigrating to Canada in the late 19th century and early 20th century when they were part of the British Armed Forces.
However, in recent decades, their population has grown dramatically in the country. Most of the Sikh community is primarily concentrated in British Columbia and Ontario, specifically in cities like Brampton, Surrey, and Vancouver. Over time, Sikhs have made significant contributions in Canada, notably in sectors such as real estate, trucking, and construction. Interestingly, their economic success in the country quickly and effectively translated into political influence. However, it gave path to entry of Khalistani extremism in Canada.
Sikhs have strong representation in the political landscape of Canada, especially within the Liberal Party, which has historically garnered support from the community due to its pro-immigration policies. Sikh leaders and political figures hold key roles in the country and influence both provincial and federal policy decisions.
Notably, their influence is not limited to political representation alone. Through donations and advocacy, the community has left a strong footprint in all sectors and policies. iPolitics, in one of its reports, revealed that Sikh donors have consistently favoured the Liberal Party over the past decade, which has encouraged Liberal politicians to adopt positions that align with the interests of the Sikh community, including controversial issues tied to Khalistan, a separate Sikh nation that a handful of pro-Khalistani Sikhs seek to establish by carving out Punjab and parts of other states from India. While the economic and political ascent of Canadian Sikhs is worth celebrating for the country, it has also opened doors for extremists to gain influence.
The emergence of Khalistani influence in Canada – From legitimate advocacy to extremist footholds
The Khalistani movement originated in India as a separatist push demanding an independent Sikh nation. In the 1980s, the movement took a violent turn, and the Government of India responded with an iron fist, initiating crackdowns on Khalistani terrorists and organisations involved in terrorism. As a result, several pro-Khalistani Sikhs fled India to seek refuge in other countries where obtaining asylum was easier due to lenient policies and straightforward immigration processes, including in Canada.
In Canada, Khalistani terrorists who posed as separatist leaders were welcomed by a sympathetic political and social environment. They used “human rights” and “self-determination” narratives to advance their agenda in the country. India attempted to extradite several dangerous Khalistani terrorists from Canada; however, irrespective of the party in power, Canada has never fulfilled these extradition requests. Notably, the then-Government of India, under PM Indira Gandhi, requested the extradition of Khalistani terrorist Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India bombing (Kanishka bombing), but the then-Canadian government under Pierre Trudeau rejected the request.
Fast forward to 1985, Talwinder Singh Parmar, founder of the terror outfit Babbar Khalsa, orchestrated the deadliest aviation terrorist attack at that time, killing 329 people, primarily Canadians. The aim was to pressure India into conceding to the demand for Khalistan. Canadian authorities faced criticism from all directions for failing to prevent the bombing, and to this day, the families of victims feel justice remains unfulfilled. The Kanishka bombing is the most prominent example of how Canada has been lenient towards Khalistani terrorism, allowing it to flourish into a persistent diplomatic and security issue.
In recent times, figures like the slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar have become a thorn in the Canadian authorities’ side—something they neither can cast off nor swallow. Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, moved to Canada in the late 1990s when he was being hunted by Punjab Police for his involvement in Khalistani terrorist activities. He moved to Canada under a false Hindu name and sought asylum. His request was rejected due to discrepancies in his application, but he continued to live in Canada. He tried to naturalise in Canada by marrying a Canadian Punjabi woman, but the request was again rejected.
Around 2015, he was granted Canadian citizenship despite multiple requests from India to extradite him. Nijjar was involved in several terrorist activities, including the formation of the Khalistani organisation Khalistan Tiger Force, running training camps to train pro-Khalistani Sikh youth in firearm usage, visiting Pakistan to meet with Khalistani terrorists, and orchestrating murders in India. He was on Canada’s no-fly list and later on the US no-fly list, yet he still obtained citizenship.
When Nijjar was assassinated in June 2023, no one would have predicted that his death would create deep diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. The incident escalated relations between the two nations to the point where Canada accused India of involvement in the murder. India firmly denied the allegations, but the episode exposed Canada’s continued tolerance for individuals openly hostile to India.
Similar cases, including those linked to the Khalistani terrorist organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), illustrate how Canada’s policies categorically empower those with extremist leanings, making the country a hub for anti-India sentiments. The Nijjar episode prompted top Indian officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to call out Canada for being a safe haven for terrorists, criminals, and gangsters.
Political patronage and the growth of Khalistani extremism in Canada
The Canadian political landscape has, at many times, indirectly nurtured extremism through its response—or lack thereof—to the activities of pro-Khalistani elements. The recent attack on Hindus at the Hindu Sabha Temple and continuous threats to the Hindu community in Canada by Khalistani terrorist and SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun are prime examples of how Canada has nurtured Khalistanis. Notably, Nijjar was a close associate of Pannun.
The Liberal Party’s longstanding support from the Sikh community has led some politicians to remain silent on or even tacitly support individuals and groups aligned with Khalistani ideals. In 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited India. Shockingly, convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal made an appearance at a Canadian diplomatic event, igniting controversy. Although Trudeau distanced himself from the incident following criticism, it signalled the presence of sympathisers within Canada’s political circles.
At that time, voices against Canadian support for Khalistani elements were not as strong. However, times have changed, and even Canadians, who were mostly oblivious to the dangers of nurturing Khalistani sympathisers, are now expressing concerns, especially since the attack on the Hindu Sabha Temple.
Politicians, particularly those representing Sikh-majority districts, have been hesitant to address Khalistani issues directly, fearing backlash from a significant voter base. In the end, it is all about the votes. This political accommodation has extended to allowing organisations like SFJ to hold referendums and public rallies advocating for Punjab’s secession from India. During rallies, it is common for pro-Khalistani elements to raise anti-India slogans and proudly proclaim how they killed a sitting Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, on 31 October 1984.
Canada’s freedom of speech laws provide cover, enabling these groups to operate with minimal restraint. Khalistani rhetoric, often wrapped in the language of “human rights” and “self-determination,” is thus normalised, with Canadian authorities taking little action against public displays of anti-India sentiments.
Visa frauds, drug trafficking, and other criminal concerns tied to immigration
Canada’s immigration policies are designed to be inclusive and progressive. However, the lenient approach of Canadian policies has strained the system due to fraud, exploitation, and criminal activities linked to Indian-origin criminals and intermediaries. Criminals, terrorists, and gangsters in India find it safer to flee to Canada and run their enterprises from there. The most recent example is Gaganpreet Randhawa, who was arrested by police following the largest drug bust in Surrey. The lab operated by Randhawa contained enough lethal doses of drugs to kill every Canadian twice.
Furthermore, dubious immigration agencies and agents have exploited the system so well that there have been reports of IELTS exams being taken by proxies for Canadian and the US immigration aspirants. Many agencies have been raided and closed down by Indian authorities who promised visas to unqualified applicants and engaged in immigration fraud. Deportations have become more common from Canada and other countries due to such fraudulent activities.
In many cases, individuals who went to Canada on student visas have been found to become involved in criminal enterprises. One recent example is Abjeet Kingra, who went to Canada on a student visa and was arrested in connection with a shooting incident at singer and rapper AP Dhillon’s house in September 2024. Once in Canada, many individuals find themselves exploited, while others have been implicated in drug trafficking and gang-related violence.
Canada’s internal struggles – housing, healthcare, and affordability crises
Extremism is not the only concern that Canada is facing. Moreover, extremism is something Canada brought upon itself and was completely avoidable, if only Canadian leadership had shown the courage to control it. Apart from extremism, the housing market in Canada is under immense strain, and affordability is at an all-time low.
High immigration rates have placed additional pressure on the housing market, which already had a short supply, leading to a sharp rise in property values and rental rates. The government has introduced multiple housing initiatives, but the overall impact has been insufficient to accommodate the influx of new residents and address affordability. This situation in the real estate market has created a vicious circle for Canadians, who are now unable to find affordable housing.
The Canadian healthcare system was once a model of excellence. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has grappled with long wait times, staff shortages, and declining service quality. The problems existed before the pandemic but were largely pushed under the rug and, overall, under the control of the administration. However, the pandemic exposed cracks in the system, and the subsequent increase in demand due to immigration has only worsened the issues.
Hospitals in Canada are struggling to meet the needs of a growing population, leading some critics to argue that immigration rates should be adjusted to reflect the healthcare capacity of the country.
India-Canada diplomatic tensions and the challenge of Khalistani extremism
The tolerance for Khalistani extremism has caused Canada to lose a good friend, namely India. The chain of events over the past five years has severely impacted the relationship between India and Canada, with significant diplomatic repercussions. India has repeatedly raised concerns about Canada providing sanctuary to criminals, gangsters, and terrorists. However, Canada has failed to address these concerns, which has soured relations between the two countries.
This tension has resulted in a freeze on trade discussions and a re-evaluation of bilateral partnerships. The Nijjar case became the latest flashpoint, with Canada accusing India of involvement and naming Home Minister Amit Shah in the case—accusations that India has categorically denied and warned of severe consequences.
Canada’s hesitancy to act against pro-Khalistani groups under the guise of upholding freedom of speech has international consequences. India has expressed frustration over the lack of action, with Indian officials pointing out that Canada’s policies directly threaten India’s security. Canada’s recent immigration policy review, aimed at slowing the rate of incoming immigrants, has added to this complex situation, as India remains one of Canada’s largest sources of new residents.
Where does Canada go from here?
Canada has a multicultural identity and progressive policies. However, both the identity of the country and its policies have come under a new level of scrutiny. While multiculturalism has brought diversity and enrichment to the country, it has also opened doors to extremism and criminal activities that threaten national security and strain international relationships.
Khalistani extremism, operating under the guise of community advocacy, has leveraged Canada’s liberal values and protections, placing Canadian leaders in a difficult position: uphold freedoms or address growing extremism.
The balance between safeguarding freedom and confronting extremism will define Canada’s international reputation and domestic stability. Without decisive action, Canada risks becoming a centre of Khalistani extremism, a reputation that could have far-reaching consequences for its diplomatic relations and societal harmony. Not to forget, one type of extremism could invite other forms, including Islamic extremism in the country, sooner rather than later. The path forward will require a reassessment of immigration policies, stricter enforcement of laws against extremist groups, and a recalibration of Canada’s diplomatic relations with allies like India.
On Tuesday (5th November), the Modi government sent a notice to Wikipedia pointing out the biased and inaccurate information published by the ‘free encyclopedia.’
The notice was issued by the Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry. It highlighted the hegemony of a small group of editors and their control over its content.
The Modi government has asked Wikipedia why it shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary. It is important to mention that OpIndia highlighted the same issue in its 187-page dossier published on 9th September 2024.
Govt of India puts Wikipedia on notice. Govt writes to Wikipedia pointing out many complaints of bias and inaccuracies in Wikipedia, points out a small group having editorial control and asks why Wikipedia shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary: Sources
“Government of India puts Wikipedia on notice. Government writes to Wikipedia pointing out many complaints of bias and inaccuracies in Wikipedia, points out a small group having editorial control and asks why Wikipedia shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary,” news agency ANI reported citing sources.
Wikipedia, which is owned by Wikimedia Foundation, is currently in the midst of legal cases in India for its inaccurate and defamatory targeting of various organisations including ANI.
The news agency had accused Wikipedia of tarnishing its reputation and discrediting its goodwill. The news agency also sought ₹2 crore in damages from Wikipedia.
During the course of preparing the dossier, OpIndia discovered 6 disturbing things about the ‘free encyclopedia’
1. Wikipedia is not neutral
Wikipedia in all its communication purports that it is a free-for-all online encyclopaedia which depends on the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ to general ‘free knowledge’ for the entire world. They essentially claim that Wikipedia is a free, fair and ‘neutral’ platform.
Wikipedia’s pronounced ideological bias has been carefully and structurally cultivated. There is existing research, including the analysis of Wikipedia’s co-founder Larry Sengar, which has detailed how Wikipedia is not neutral.
The research cites three prior researches to bolster its case. Research by the Manhattan Institute published in June 2024 by David Rozado concluded that Wikipedia heavily leans towards the Left.
The Critic Research focuses on two internet policies of Wikipedia – Neutral Point of View and Reliability. The research concludes that it is the editors who decide which sources are reliable to be cited and which are not.
Those considered reliable lean Left and Right-leaning are blacklisted. Therefore, a Neutral Point of View merely means that ‘reliable sources’ are represented thoroughly. Not that all points of view would be represented.
Third is Larry Sengar who has widely criticized Wikipedia for being Left-leaning, unreliable and biased.
2. Wikipedia is tightly controlled
While Wikipedia claims that everyone is free to edit, the truth is that there are only a handful of people who have the ultimate say in what content is added and what isn’t.
It is also a handful of people who have the power to ban edits, ban editors, decide disputes, delete pages, lock pages, override content etc.
There are merely 435 active administrators across the world who have sweeping powers. There are only 10 active members of ArbCom.
It is also true that there are many editors and administrators who are actively paid by the Wikimedia Foundation under the ‘editor retention program’.
Further, the Wikimedia Foundation pays many of them in the name of ‘grants for projects’. Wikipedia indeed has a solid hierarchy just as any other publishing house with strict editorial control and editorial lines that the editors and administrators toe.
3. ‘Anonymised’ funding and its use by Wikimedia Foundation
The Tides Foundation and Wikimedia Foundation give money to each other, but chart it as ‘anonymous’ donations because they are not obligated to reveal details when it’s a donor-directed fund.
The Wikimedia Foundation has enough money to keep Wikipedia alive and running for decades, even if does not earn another penny either from donations or donations from corporations.
The fact that the Wikimedia Foundation continues to get donations and grants much beyond what it needs to run Wikipedia, in the name of Wikipedia, points to a few things.
Firstly, the Wikimedia Foundation is spending millions in grants to further its own business interests. Second, it is extending grants to Left organisations with the money it collects in the name of keeping Wikipedia alive and claiming that without these donations, Wikipedia would cease to exist (a lie).
All of this happens behind the garb of keeping ‘knowledge free’ and Wikimedia uses this trope to skirt the law of the land, especially in India, as would be demonstrated further in this paper.
According to the Wikimedia Endowment Fund page current, here are some notable patrons of the Tide Foundation run endowment fund which is noteworthy:
Amazon – $5 million+
Google.org – $2 million +
George Soros – $2 million +
Musk Foundation – $2 million+
Facebook – $1 million+
The Rothschild Foundation – $50,000+
4. Wikipedia supports anti-India, anti-Hindu organisations
The Tides Foundation and the Wikimedia Foundation provide donations and grants to several anti-Hindu, anti-India organisations and elements.
They have given grants to Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) which has links to Islamists and Khalistanis and was formed in 2019 by two Islamist advocacy groups, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI).
The Tides Foundation has disbursed grants to the Association for India’s Development (AID) which has campaigned for Naxal Binayak Sen, funded Arvind Kejriwal’s NGO and also has connection to separatists.
Further, Tides has funded AMAN Public Charitable Trust (AMAN) – The trust lists several prominent organizations as partners, including the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Tides Foundation, Ford Foundation, Oxfam, European Commission for Humanitarian Organisations, and others.
Aman has received funding from the Tides Foundation, which has been linked to various organizations that promote left-leaning agendas, including anti-Hindu and anti-India narratives. Aman Public Charitable Trust is connected to the NewsClick-China funding scandal, where it is alleged that Chinese entities funded NewsClick to disrupt Indian sovereignty.
NewsClick’s founder, Prabir Purkayastha, was arrested on charges of receiving more than ₹80 crore from Chinese companies. Dilip Simeon, the Chairman of Aman Public Charitable Trust, was named in the NewsClick FIR by Delhi Police for his involvement in attempts to sabotage India’s 2019 General Elections.
Tides Foundation also has worked with Alliance India, which is chaired by DY Qureshi. Links have also emerged in the research with the OCCRP, George Soros and the Adani Attack.
Wikimedia Foundation funds Arts+Feminism which spread fake news about CAA in India, leading to violence. It also funds Whose Knowledge, which in turn is connected with Equality Labs and Black Lunch Table.
It also funds Black Lunch Table separately. It is pertinent to note that Whose Knowledge, funded by the Wikimedia Foundation partners with Art+Feminism, Equality Labs and CIS – all of which receive funds from the Wikimedia Foundation among others.
It also partners with ‘Black Lunch Table’ – which is also funded by the Wikimedia Foundation. Wikimedia Foundation also funds Access Now. On the Board of Access Now is Seema Chisti.
Seema Chisti, who is the wife of Communist Sitaram Yechury and editor of TheWire, is also an advisor at National Foundation for India – which funds AMAN along with Tides Foundation, Ford Foundation and others.
Other advisors include Dhanya Rajendran of The News Minute and P Sainath. Interestingly, Dhanya Rajendran and P Sainath, both have featured prominently in the NewsClick-China funding case.
Apart from funding through CIS-India, we also found that Wikimedia pays individuals like ‘ArtWhoring’ for collaborations in promoting programs like ‘Know The Wiki’.
5. Wikipedia does not submit to Indian laws
Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia, has no presence in India. It has declared in the BBC documentary controversy that it is a foreign entity and therefore, Indian courts have no jurisdiction over it.
Despite having no presence in India, it has consistently funded entities and individuals to further its own business and ideological interests in India.
Wikimedia Foundation regularly solicits donations from India. That donation, since it comes from individuals, it not against the law. However, Wikimedia not only takes donations from India, it spends millions of dollars in India as well.
All of this, while refusing to submit to Indian laws. While it continues to toe a rigid editorial line on Wikipedia, it insists that it is an intermediary and not a publisher.
6. Wikipedia is not an ‘intermediary’ but a publisher
By definition, an intermediary is not supposed to follow a specific editorial line. It is meant to merely be a platform for the public to air their own views. However, that is not the case with Wikipedia.
Firstly, not everybody can air their views on Wikipedia. Secondly, only a small group of editors and administrators have the final say on the nature of content that is added in any articles, making the articles one-sided, biased, and toeing a specific ideological line.
Thirdly, several of these so-called ‘volunteers’ are paid by the Wikimedia Foundation to further their ideological and business interests.
The sources that are allowed to be quoted in Wikipedia articles also suffer the same bias, often injected by editors and administrators who are directly paid by Wikimedia Foundation.
With all of these realities, Wikipedia does not fall under the intermediary category, but the publisher category – additionally – a publisher that is actively undermine the interest of India without following the law of India – financially or editorially.
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, made headlines during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif, who was suspected to be a biological man by many, won a gold medal in the women’s 66-kilogram category even though many people questioned her eligibility for the sport. Now, a new scandal broke out months after the Paris Games concluded when a leaked medical report revealed that Khelif is, in fact, a man.
French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia obtained the report, which revealed that the 25-year-old has internal testicles and an XY chromosome composition, which could imply a hereditary disorder called 5-alpha reductase deficiency. This disorder affects sexual development and frequently leads to limited secondary masculine traits and ambiguous genitalia. Khelif’s anatomy, including the lack of a uterus and the existence of what was characterized as a micro-penis, was described in the report.
The report was prepared in June 2023 by medical experts from Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in Algiers and Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital in Paris. Additionally, it suggested hormone therapy and surgical correction to match Khelif’s physical characteristics to her self-perceived gender identity.
Harbhajan Singh, the former Indian cricketer and World Cup winner, also responded to the development by tagging the Olympics on social media and asking them to take back the gold medal.
British journalist Piers Morgan also shared the report and added, “Confirmation of what some of us said at the time: Khelif is a biological man.” He demanded that the gold medal should be taken away and given to the “best actual” woman.
Confirmation of what some of us said at the time: Khelif is a biological man. The gold medal should now be stripped and awarded to the best actual woman. https://t.co/iqVlqQhrwr
“Remember the man who won an Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing,” asked the United States swimmer Riley Gains and highlighted that Khelif has XY chromosomes, male testosterone levels, testicles, and a micropenis. “But that never mattered, they believe that words & feelings make you a woman, not biology,” she accused.
Remember the man who won an Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing?
His medical reports show he has XY chromosomes, male testosterone levels, testicles, & a micropenis.
But that never mattered—they believe that words & feelings make you woman, not biology.https://t.co/Ip8KLvEt6S
The Algerian’s involvement in women’s sports has put her in the public eye. She was not permitted to compete in the 2023 World Championship gold medal bout in New Delhi by the International Boxing Association (IBA) which sparked a lot of heated debate around the issue. It gained more attention at the Olympics in Paris, where prominent public figures voiced their opinions and demanded that Khelif’s eligibility be reviewed.
Donald Trump also used her example in an advertisement criticizing the Biden-Harris administration’s gender-ad athletics policy. When asked about their stance on transgender issues, Republican leaders, including Vivek Ramaswamy and vice presidential candidate JD Vance, similarly stated that they would not permit men to participate in female-only sports.
“I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified,” Imane Khelif claimed while responding to the row. Notably, J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk, among others were named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities in August over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against the Algerian boxer, according to her attorney Nabil Boudi. The development transpired after people expressed that “only women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.” The legal action was also initiated against X (formerly Twitter).
Interestingly, Imane Khelif had won her first Olympic boxing match after Italian opponent Angela Carini quit the bout after 46 seconds. The Italian boxer, while in tears, said, “I have always honoured my country with loyalty. This time, I didn’t win because I couldn’t fight anymore. So I ended the match. I’m used to suffering. I’ve never taken a punch like that, it’s impossible to continue. I’m nobody to say it’s illegal. I have never been hit so hard in my life. It’s up to the IOC to judge.”
Eight Hindu girls including seven underage have reportedly gone missing in two months in Faridabad, Haryana. The shocking occurrences have enraged their families and Hindu organisations who went to the Police Commissioner’s office and demanded appropriate action against the culprits. They have accused Muslim men of engaging in love jihad and trapping their daughters. However, the authorities have refuted their charges. More importantly, they have not been able to recover any girl or identify the perpetrators.
The complainants handed over a memorandum to the Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP) Central Vishnu Prasad and asked for the arrest of the accused. He listened to the workers of the Hindu groups who accompanied the aggrieved families and called the concerned police station in charges regarding all the incidents. He directed them to act promptly and rescue the girls as well as capture the offenders.
Hindu activists charged that Muslim youths have lured and took the girls with them. They urged the authorities to safely retrieve the girls and apprehend the offenders as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a girl’s mother and aunt unveiled that they had regularly asked the cops for assistance but had never received an adequate response. They added that the family members are tired of repeatedly visiting police stations. They revealed that the police didn’t even question anyone after the mother told them about the people she ssuspected. The cops allegedly asked her to bring a car if she wanted them to search for her daughter.
The Hindu outfits and families hoped that their concerns would now be given due consideration after meeting with the ACP. A Hindu activist named Sushil conveyed that all eight instances are from Faridabad and are lodged at various police stations in the area. One girl is an adult while the other seven are juveniles. He accused that the Muslim young men have tricked them into love jihad which led to their disappearance. He wanted them to be arrested as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, a police spokesperson claimed that love jihad has not yet been verified in any case, however, an investigation is ongoing. He added that the adult girl had voluntarily married a Hindu man.
Days after OpIndia released its dossier detailing how Wikipedia is not a free, editorial intervention-free encyclopaedia, the Central government has issued a notice to Wikipedia. On Tuesday (5th November), the Modi government wrote to Wikipedia, citing multiple complaints about bias and inaccuracies on their platform. The government pointed out that a select editorial group has control over the platform and also questioned why Wikipedia should not be treated as a publisher, a demand OpIndia raised recently.
“Government of India puts Wikipedia on notice. Government writes to Wikipedia pointing out many complaints of bias and inaccuracies in Wikipedia, points out a small group having editorial control and asks why Wikipedia shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary,” news agency ANI reported citing sources.
Govt of India puts Wikipedia on notice. Govt writes to Wikipedia pointing out many complaints of bias and inaccuracies in Wikipedia, points out a small group having editorial control and asks why Wikipedia shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary: Sources
Notably, Wikipedia is embroiled in a legal battle with ANI as the news agency filed a defamation case against Wikipedia for adverse comments made on its Wiki page. The agency objected to the comment saying that ANI “has been criticized for having served as a propaganda tool for the incumbent central government, distributing materials from a vast network of fake news websites, and misreporting events.”
ANI accused Wikipedia of publishing false and defamatory content with malicious intent of tarnishing the news agency’s reputation and discrediting its goodwill. The news agency also sought Rs 2 crore in damages from Wikipedia.
Is Wikipedia an unbiased intermediary or a biased publisher? What OpIndia research found
OpIndia’s research paper revealed that the structure of Wikipedia itself gives unmitigated power to a handful of individuals who are called ‘administrators’. There are only 435 active administrators in the entire world who have the power to ban editors, blacklist sources, ban contributors and decide the edits that should be made or reverted on articles.
Soon after OpIndia released the dossier, Facebook, another Left-leaning platform that has been accused of election interference in the USA and many such instances of furthering the political interest of a certain ideology, banned the dossier to restrict its viewership.
Wikipedia claims to be an intermediary which depends on the wisdom of the crowd without content intervention and editorial line, based on ‘reliable sources’ and maintaining and neutral point of view. This, however, is far from the truth, as evidenced in OpIndia research. Wikipedia meets all the standards of publishers. They collate information on current events and historical events, they pay their editors and administrators and they are easily accessible by the people at large on the internet.
Given that Wikipedia has an editorial stand based on the personal opinions and biases of its editors and administrators, the evidence cited in the OpIndia dossier suggests that they are no longer eligible to be considered an intermediary. OpIndia recommended that once declared a publisher, Wikimedia would have to have their offices in India, set up a grievance redressal system and submit to Indian laws about illegal content which undermines the sovereignty of India or creates disaffection.
Notably, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 applies to Digital Media which includes ‘intermediaries’ and publishers of news or publishers of online curated content. Wikipedia, even as itself claims to be an ‘intermediary’ is qualified to be treated as a publisher given that despite not having any physical presence in India, it not only has a specific editorial line controlled by a small group of administrators and editors but also pays many of them through the Wikimedia Foundation.
Excerpt from the OpIndia dossier on Wikipedia
It is pertinent to recall that Wikipedia had during the controversy around the BBC propaganda documentary against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declared that it is a foreign entity and thus, the Indian courts have no jurisdiction over it. The findings of the research paper prepared by OpIndia Editor-in-Chief Nupur J Sharma, reveal that despite not having offices or presence in India, Wikipedia has been funding entities and individuals with anti-India ideology and even links to Islamists and Khalistanis, to further its own business and ideological interests in the country. Wikipedia not only collects funds from India in the form of donations but also spends millions of dollars in India and toes an absolutely biased and rigid editorial line, all while claiming to be an intermediary and not a publisher to escape any accountability before the Indian law.
Besides, declaring Wikipedia as a publisher, OpIndia also recommended that Wikipedia’s financial transactions be scrutinised. The OpIndia dossier titled Wikipedia’s War on India can be read here.
In the Siddharth Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, stones were allegedly pelted on the Maa Lakshmi idol immersion procession, resulting in damage to an idol and injury to some participants of the procession. The incident reportedly unfolded in the Mali Manaiha area in Dumariyaganj, after which the outraged Hindus staged a protest demanding action against stone pelters and blocked the road. As per a News18 report, two female participants of the procession also sustained injuries in the stone pelting allegedly carried out when the Hindu procession was passing near a mosque.
Upon receiving the information about the alleged stone pelting, the local police swung into action. Inspector In-charge Ramesh Kumar Yadav, SDM Dr Sanjeev Dixit, and CO Satish Chandra Pandey rushed to the spot. The officers somehow managed to persuade the protesting Hindu devotees to lift the blockade. Following this, the procession proceeded to immerse the idols. The police have detained one person over alleged involvement in stone pelting and are questioning him.
According to a Live Hindustanreport, DM Dr Raja Ganapati R said that someone threw a stone during the immersion of the idol. Angered by this, people tried to block the road. SDM and CO pacified them and later, the idols were immersed. One person has been detained and a case will be registered.
However, the Siddharth Nagar Police has said that no stones were hurled at the Hindu procession and a false rumour was spread about the same. ASP Siddharthnagar said that the police are investigating how the rumour was spread and who is behind it. Based on the findings of the investigation, the necessary action will be taken. The officer added that at present, the situation is calm and under control in the Mali Manaiha area.
The voting for the assembly elections in the state of Maharashtra is just 15 days away and all the major political parties involved like the Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance led by the Congress party and the Mahayuti Alliance led by the BJP are giving thought fight. Amid this, an old letter portraying Congress’ alleged support to the terrorists has come to the fore. An old letter that looks like a mercy petition for terrorist Yakub Memon, dated 28th July 2015, signed by a Congress candidate from Mira Bhayandar seat of Mumbai, Syed Muzaffar Hussain is making rounds on social media. Memon played a crucial role in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.
Among the crucial signatories is former legislator Muzaffar Hussain, who recently bagged the Congress ticket from the Mira Bhayandar (145) assembly segment. The other authorities who signed the letter are ex-Minister Arif Naseem Khan, Amin Patel, Aslam Sheikh, Sheik Asif Sheikh Rashid, Husnabano Khulife, Yusuf Abrahani, and Javed Juneja.
“We wish to appeal to Your Excellency for clemency towards the conviction of Yakub Memon. Several eminent personalities like filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, Actor Nasiruddin Shah, Activist Tushar Gandhi, CPI’s Sitaram Yechury, BJP’s Shatrughan Sinha, Lawyer Vrinda Grover, and 290 others had signed the mercy petition for Memon. We request Your Excellency to grant clemency under article 72 of the Indian Constitution and commute his death sentence into life imprisonment,” the letter read.
Meet Congress candidate from the Mira-Bhayandar seat (Maharashtra) Muzaffar Hussain. He's also the working president of Maharashtra Congress.
He had signed a mercy petition for terrorist Yakub Memon.
MVA led by Congress earlier beautified the grave of Memon, attempted to convert it into Mazar
Yakub Memon was convicted for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts and was sentenced to death. In 2015, the death sentence was carried out after his mercy petition was rejected. He was buried on July 30, 2015, at Bada Cemetery in South Mumbai. Notably, Yakub was the only convict awarded the death penalty.
The Congress, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have been allegedly extending support to terrorist Memon. This is clear as Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh who had written the letter to then President Pranab Mukherjee seeking mercy for Memon’s execution, was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Not only that but during the MVA alliance’s rule, the grave of terrorist Memon was also being beautified. An attempt was being made to turn Yakub’s grave into a tomb, giving it VIP treatment. The grave was covered with white marble and LED lights were put on to beautify it. It was also guarded 24 hours a day. The Qabrastan authorities when contacted, denied special treatment and stated that the marble slabs and LED lights were part of a general beautification drive and are not specific to the grave of Yakub Memon. However, the scene was exposed only after BJP leader Ram Kadam shared the images of beautification specifically done at the grave of the terrorist, alleging that it had been converted into a Mazar.
He also slammed the Congress, NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray for glorifying the convicted terrorist like this. After this, the LED lights surrounding Memon’s grave were taken down.
Maharashtra | Lighting arrangements that were put up at the grave of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon are now being removed. Latest visuals from Bada Qabrastan in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/i3rOi2VgVl
Notably, BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha’s name was also dragged in the mercy petition signed by Islamists and its supporters, however, he had denied the accusations saying that he never signed any petition concerning Yakub Memon.
Muzzafar Hussain declared INC candidate from Mira Bhayandar
On 24th October, the former legislator Muzaffar Hussain was declared as the candidate from the Mira Bhayander (145) by the Congress party. Hussain’s name appeared in the first list of 48 candidates announced by the Congress party, alongside prominent senior leaders like Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan, Vijay Wadettiwar, and Balasaheb Thorat.
Muzaffar Hussain began his political journey as a Youth Congress worker. He was first elected to the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation in 1991 and later served as the State Youth Congress president for an extended period. He is also a builder by profession. In 2004, he was elected to the Legislative Council, where he served until 2009, and has since sought re-nomination to the council. Hussain faced a significant political setback in 2009 when his stronghold, the Mira-Bhayander Assembly constituency, was allocated to the NCP as part of a seat-sharing arrangement, preventing him from contesting the assembly election. Later that year, he ran in a by-election for the Bhiwandi seat vacated by SP leader Abu Azmi but was defeated by a Shiv Sena (then united) candidate.
A dedicated Congress loyalist, Hussain belonging to the Muslim community, has earned widespread popularity among people from all communities, giving a probable tough fight to his contenders including BJP’s Narendra Mehta this time.
He usually is seen wearing a secular cap and expressing intent to combine different communities. Recently, during the election campaign during Diwali, he visited a temple in the Mira Bhayander region and said that he wanted to break the barriers between the different communities. Also during Ramadan this year, he who is also the managing trustee of the Jama Masjid Al Shams Mosque, had extended an invitation to visit the mosque to worshippers of all faiths and castes. However, maximum of the population residing in the Mira-Bhayander region today is Muslims, who dominate Hindus, harass them, and eventually force them to shift to other regions of Mumbai and Thane. OpIndia has reported several incidents from Mira Bhayander where Hindus complain that their daughters and sisters are trapped in love jihad incidents, Hindu businesses are deliberately targeted and minors are influenced to follow Islam. These reports can be read here.
Expressing gratitude to his party leadership for the opportunity, Hussain on 24th October remarked, “In areas like healthcare, water supply, housing, transportation, and infrastructure, the current administration and elected officials have failed entirely over the past decade. Residents have received nothing but empty promises. Much remains to be done.”
In the 2019 assembly elections, Hussain contested unsuccessfully, losing to independent candidate Geeta Jain, who garnered 79,575 votes and defeated her BJP opponent Narendra Mehta too by a margin of 15,526 votes. Hussain received 55,939 votes, capturing nearly 27% of the total vote share.
However, sources on the ground indicate that while Hussain holds a ‘secularist’ image, he has assiduously cultivated his vote bank, 90% of which is composed of the Muslim population.
Hussain’s father, Syed Nazar Hussain was one of the founders of Nayanagar, where Hindus are hardly allowed today
It is further crucial to note that Syed Muzaffar Hussain’s father, Syed Nazar Hussain who recently lost their life due to old age at 90, was one of the founders of the Nayanagar area in Mira-Bhayandar region where today Hindus are hardly allowed as alleged by the Sakal Hindu Samaj. As per the reports, for the foundation of the Nayanagar township, Syed Nazar Hussain had extended an invitation to Hindutva leader Balasaheb Thackeray and Indian Union Muslim League leader G M Banatwala together, attempting to sow the seeds of ‘secularism’.
Today, Nayanagar, Mira Road, and the Bhayander area in the Mumbai district have appeared in the news for all the wrong reasons, especially in the recent past. Several incidents of love jihad and assault on Hindus in the region have been exposed. OpIndia in February this year reported 15 cases of forced conversion, rape, assault, and torture from the last 1 year exposing the criminal den of Islamists in Nayanagar and Mira Bhayander region.
The Islamists deliberately target Hindu women in relationships and then, indulge in conversion – often violently. They believe that India is Dar-ul-Harb which must be changed to Da-ul-Islam and they see the conversion of Hindus to Islam as one of the crucial ways towards fulfilling their dreams. The Islamists are also encouraged by their religious heads to trap Hindus, especially women in relationships and convert their religion to Islam. There is evidence to suggest that Islamists are also provided with financial aid to trap Hindus, especially women, and convert their religion to Islam.
Mumbai’s Mira Road and Bhayander area which has a majority Muslim population has become a hub of ‘Grooming Jihad’ and religious conversion. The Sakal Hindu Samaj members in an exclusive conversation earlier had informed OpIndia that the Mira Road region in Mumbai is dominated by the Muslim majority population and that the community which claims to be a minority and oppressed is moving to become a problem for the other communities.
Explaining the changing demography of the region, Kishor Sant (name changed for security reasons) of the Sakal Hindu Samaj was quoted as saying, “Earlier this Mira Bhayander region, Nayanagar area was dominated by the Hindu population. In the past few years, several Muslims from the Mumbra region or even from different cities migrated to this area claiming their dominance. Later in the Nayanagar and Mira road region these people began deliberately harassing Hindus. They began harassing their daughters, disturbing them in their businesses and even there are many cases where these people have demanded ransom money from Hindus. As a result of this, several Hindus began migrating to other regions of Mumbai and Thane.”
“At present, in the Nayanagar area, no Hindus are allowed. It has now become a Muslim locality. Recently, Hindu devotees were badly assaulted during the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony that happened in Ayodhya. The Hindus in the Nayanagar area were abused, also derogatory comments were made against Lord Rama. The videos of the incident had gone viral over the internet. This is a growing problem,” he added.
Earlier Mira Road controversies and acts of violence reported by OpIndia
Though Hussain in his election campaigns claims that Hindus and Muslims have always been united and that it is the BJP that has created communal hatred, media reports, and legal pieces of evidence have another story to tell. On 29th October, communal tensions erupted in the Mira Bhayander region as Muslims attacked Hindus for bursting firecrackers while celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali. The accused persons allegedly attacked around 10-12 Hindus with sharp weapons resulting in serious injuries.
Pls contact to Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar police commissionerate control room for further action. You can contact them on 022-29452135 Whatsapp no 8657936942 this helpline no. regarding this.
— Thane City Police -ठाणे शहर पोलीस (@ThaneCityPolice) October 29, 2024
As per the Hindu victims, the accused persons used ice-breaker weapons and glass bottles to attack them. Around 5 victims had to be immediately shifted to the hospital and were released after proper treatment. Meanwhile, several Hindus gathered at the spot and at the Navghar Police Station to protest against the incident. The Hindus raised slogans and demanded strict punishment against the accused persons. A complaint in the case was later filed.
In June 2024, the Mumbai Police arrested an individual identified as Amir Chaudhari Sayed Chaudhari after he trapped a Hindu minor girl into a love affair and molested her twice. The incident happened in the JP North society in Mumbai’s Mira Road region. The accused aged 18 was booked and arrested by the Navghar Police Station under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO, 2012.
The accused used to call the girl and also initiate chats with her on social media platforms. He also used to frequently call her to meet her. In March this year, the accused called the girl to meet him near the Max Pro gym where he tried to forcefully kiss her. He pulled her closer without her will and attempted to molest her. The girl pushed him away and escaped to reach home. Recently, on 24th June, the accused again called the girl to meet in the garden close to Seven Square. He again tried to molest the girl by forcefully kissing her. The girl then managed to call her mother who came to rescue. The duo then reached the police station and filed a police complaint.
On June 17th, the Kashigaon Police Station in Mumbai’s Mira Road region booked an individual named Vajud, a resident of Hill Galaxy Apartment, for insulting and threatening Hindus and abusing the religion saying, “Hinduo ke m** ki ch**”. The incident happened on 16th June and was exclusively reported by OpIndia. The Muslim residents residing in the Hill Galaxy Apartment and JP North Celeste Society on Mira Road initially got goats inside the society premises for illegal slaughter ahead of the Bakrid festival. The Hindus then protested against the incident and called the police. However, the police allowed the goats saying that there was no livestock policy within the society.
Amid this, the Hindus launched massive protests and objected to the slaughter on the society’s premises. However, the Muslim residents argued with the Hindus and claimed that they would slaughter the goats on the society’s premises. As reported earlier, Vajud and his associates insulted Hindus. They threatened the Hindus saying they (Muslims) would slaughter the goats within the society premises, come what may. “Do whatever you can. We will slaughter animals here only, within the society premises. Hinduo ke m** ki ch**,” Vajud was quoted as saying as per the FIR.
The Muslims also insulted Lord Ganesh hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. “You people celebrate the Ganesh festival. Do we say anything then? We feel enraged and puking when we see your Lord Ganesha. We will see how you celebrate your Ganesh festival here,” Vajud said as he threatened the Hindus. The FIR was then filed under sections 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Residents claim that illegal Masjid has also been constructed at Galaxy Hills by Builder Sheikh. People from other societies come here to offer prayers making Hindus uncomfortable. 'There's almost daily ruckus on this issue', residents say.
In June 2023, a massive controversy erupted after one of the Muslim families living in a society on Mira Road, Mumbai brought two goats a day ahead of Bakrid (Bakra-eid, Eid-Ul-Adha). The society members happened to refuse the Muslim family to get the goats inside the society premises for slaughter and said that they wouldn’t allow any kind of slaughtering activity within the society premises.
The residents of the society on Mira Road protested and opposed the slaughtering of the goats within the society premises on Bakrid and also chanted Hanuman Chalisa. Some of the people also raised the slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’, the videos of which had gone viral in the media.
But the couple took the goats to the apartment after which the police were informed. The police who reached the spot immediately tried to maintain peace and communal harmony and assured the other residents in the society that no slaughtering would take place within the society premises.
The Police also allowed the goats saying that there was no such rule or law against a man getting goats or animals into his house. However, the authorities said that the concerned family would face arrest if they slaughtered animals in his apartment or within the society premises. The detailed report on this case can be read here and here.
In the second crucial incident that was reported recently in January 2024, the Islamists attacked Hindus with stones, iron rods, sticks, and bamboo, leaving over a dozen people who participated in rallies to commemorate the return of Lord Ram in Ayodhya injured.
In the incident reported from Mira Road, Mumbai, Islamists also disrespected the Hindu religion and hurt the Hindu religious sentiments by tearing flags bearing images of Lord Hanuman. Islamists are also said to have vomited over the flags causing disrespect to the Hindu faith. OpIndia contacted the Police to know the details of the incident. The police confirmed that around 13 persons had been arrested in the case, however, IO Dilip Rakh revealed no information about the accused persons given the sensitivity of the case.
The videos of the incident had gone viral over the internet in which the Islamists could be heard raising the slogans of ‘Allah-hu-Akhbar’ while attacking the cars. They could be seen using iron rods and sticks to attack the Hindus. Even the videos of women being attacked made rounds on social media.
Islamists raised slogans of 'Allah-hu-Akhbar' after cars on #miraroad attacked. They puked on Hindu flags. I have zero courage to share disheartening videos showing Hindu flags dipped in puke. It hurts to see #Hindus disrespected @NiteshNRane's rally is scheduled today. pic.twitter.com/am8vmVkksl
Later the Police and the local administration took cognizance of the event and bulldozed the illegal properties of the Islamists staying on the Mira road who were involved in the stone pelting. As per reports, the illegal construction of the accused persons involved in the Mira Road clash was razed to the ground in the presence of Maharashtra Security Force and Mumbai Police.
This year in February, OpIndia reported 15 cases in which Hindu girls were deliberately trapped by Muslims in the Mira Road region and then raped, and converted to Islam. Hindu activists while talking about the incident had said that the cases of Love Jihad had been on the rise in the region but were allegedly being ignored by the administration. Detailed reports in this case can be read here.
Conclusion
Syed Muzaffar Hussain, the current Congress candidate from the Mira Bhayander region, who often blames the ruling party for allegedly spreading communal hatred in the society, who wears the cap of ‘secularism’ and who believes in the so-called community building in the region should also answer some basic questions during his campaigns like- why Hindus are often allegedly assaulted for practising their religion in Mira Bhayander and Nayanagar area by Islamists? Why do Hindu women continue to fall prey to incidents of love jihad at the hands of Islamists? Why are Hindus today hardly allowed in the Nayanagar region (as alleged by Sakal Hindu Samaj) which was founded by his father, Syed Nazar Hussain?
It is easy to allegedly make fake promises assuring development, communal harmony, and social development, but facing the ground reality seems tough, all thanks to the local administration. Islamists in the Mira Road, Nayanagar region allegedly target Hindu communities for celebrating Hindu festivals, they target Hindu women, and force them to convert to Islam, and this all is not a hoax. Enough evidence, like FIRs, testimonies, videos, police records, etc have time to time been presented by OpIndia to highlight the problems faced by Hindus in the region. Notably, these incidents occurred during the decade when the BJP was in power in the region. If Congress, known for its history of close association with minorities for votes, were to take power, what more might happen?
As per the activists on the ground, several Hindu businesses in the region are also deliberately targeted by the Islamists. “They install hawkers in the areas which are literally ‘no-hawkers’ zones and indirectly block the customers from reaching into the Hindu shops. Then they slowly start trapping the daughters of the Hindu shopkeepers leading to the incidents of Love Jihad,” Pratap Deokate (name changed for security reasons), one of the Hindu activists said earlier in February while talking to OpIndia.
If Muzzafar Hussain, wearing the cap of ‘secularism’ really wants communal harmony to reside in the region, he needs to look into all such cases and provide justice to Hindus, especially women who are often trapped in Love Jihad incidents at the hands of Islamists. He must make sure that the local administration pays serious attention to such cases, allowing no alleged free pass to accused Islamists. Congress and its supporters often consider Love Jihad as a hoax, but no such reason for disbelief in this conspiracy should exist anymore. In April 2024, one Neha Hiremath was murdered by her former classmate Fayaz in Hubbali, Karnataka for refusing to convert to Islam. Notably, Neha’s father Niranjan Hiremath was a Congress leader who had confirmed that his daughter was a victim of love jihad and that this ‘conspiracy’ exists.
Muzzafar Hussain so far holds a radiant image in the minds of voters today, all thanks to his ‘secular’ approach, clean image, and relentless social service activities. This profile gives a potentially tough fight this time to BJP’s Narendra Mehta given Geeta Jain missing from the picture. As per the sources, Hussain is expected to garner a maximum of the Muslim votes given his association with the Congress and also the community.
A general assembly election is scheduled to be held in Maharashtra on 20th November to elect the 288 members of the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the counting and the results of which will be declared on 23rd November.
In the latest instance of Islamists spreading lies, laying claim to victimhood and maligning Hindus, the ‘ecosystem’ widely circulated a video showing a group of people surrounding a person and asking him to raise Jai Shri Ram slogans, with the claim that the person being ‘hounded’ by Hindu ‘extremists’ was a Muslim and was being harassed for no reason but his religious identity.
In this vein, one X user Mohammed Yousufuddin shared the video and said, “Forcebly Asking Muslim to chant JSR in Andhra Pradesh Bheemavaram.”
One Mubashir Khurram tagged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and claimed that the Muslim man was forced to chant Jai Shri Ram slogan and was assaulted. “Dear @ncbn @PawanKalyan @naralokesh it’s happened in #Bheemavaram, #Andhra Pradesh Muslim man was beaten & forcibly made to chant jai shri ram. Hope you will take action & protect the right of minorities in #AndhraPradesh,” Khurram posted.
Another one named Saba Khan shared the said video and claimed, “A Muslim man was beaten and forcibly made to chant jai shri ram by a group of people including woman in Andhra pradesh’s Bheemavaram. A cop can also be seen in the video.”
One X handle “Documenting Oppression Against Muslims” shared the said video claiming that the ‘Hindutva mob’ attacked the Muslims.
While the Islamists are portraying the ‘Muslim’ man cornered by Hindus in the video as an innocent victim, none of them cared to question what was he doing inside the Hindu temple. The Islamists are circulating the video in question without giving proper context of the incident.
It has been reported that the man was allegedly attempting to desecrate the Hindu temple in Bheemavaram and was thus caught by the Hindus who cornered him. The accused then began chanting the Jai Shri Ram slogan. He was also paraded by locals on the accusations of desecrating religious places in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh. Thus, contrary to the insinuation that the man was attacked because of his religious identity or that he was innocent is false as he was allegedly involved in desecrating the Hindu temple.
