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Guardian makes a brain-dead ‘documentary’ about Indian elections where they talk to other brain-dead people, spreads misinformation, lies and hate against Hindus and India

Raju Das
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Guardian makes a brain-dead ‘documentary’ about Indian elections where they talk to other brain-dead people, spreads misinformation, lies and hate against Hindus and India

With only the last of 7-phase Lok Sabha elections remaining, British media house Guardian has come up with a documentary to attack PM Modi. The video titled The fake news divide: how Modi’s rule is fracturing India was released on YouTube on 30 May, ahead of the last phase of polls on 2nd June, and it alleges that PM Modi’s regime has resulted in an increase in hate speech in India, a familiar accusation of the left-liberals against the BJP government.

The documentary is based on Guardian journalist Hannah Ellis-Petersen talking to the general public in India at various places, along with some known anti-BJP voices.

At the beginning of the 17-minute-long documentary, Hannah comments that ‘public places in India are so male-dominated’, saying not many women are seen. It is not sure which places in India were visited by Hahhah to come to this conclusion, but this shows how little she knows about the country. She may have seen fewer women at a place at a time, but it is definitely not the case for the whole country to claim that Indian public places are male-dominated. She herself talked to several women in the video.

While most people she talked to on the streets gave pro-Modi comments, the Guardian journalist turned to ‘influencers’ to get the responses she was expecting to get. She visits YouTuber Akash Banerjee in his studio, claiming he is ‘one of the few voices who still dare to criticise the Modi government’. Akash claims that the Modi govt is pushing hate regularly, and YouTube channels like his may be banned before or after the elections.

He claimed critics of the govt will be buried in paperwork after the elections, and just one slip by them will put them in jail. Despite these claims, critics of the Modi government thrive in India, getting millions of views on their YouTube channels and other platforms. On the other hand, it is the supporters of the BJP who are facing brutal govt action in non-NDA-ruled states.

Several such people have been put in jails in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra (during the Uddhav Thackeray govt) etc. In 2022, Tamil Nadu police arrested YouTuber Karthik Gopinath for collecting funds for a temple. Earlier this month police in DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu arrested YouTuber Felix Gerald, only because he had interviewed another YouTuber Savukku Shankar who was earlier arrested for allegedly speaking against senior police officers. BJP leader and YouTuber Manish Kashyap was arrested by Tamil Nadu police over a video but was acquitted by the court.

Police in Congress-ruled Karnataka arrested ? user MumbaichaDon aka Bhiku Mhatre earlier this month for his comments against the Congress party’s election manifesto. West Bengal police have been arresting people for just sharing memes and cartoons featuring CM Mamata Banerjee. Action against journalists had reached dangerous levels in the MVA govt of Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP, with the most prominent case being the arrest of Arnab Goswami, and the fake TRP case filed against the Republic network.

The documentary also claimed that YouTubers and social media influencers who are ‘more sympathetic to Modi’ were personally rewarded by the prime minister. The Guardian was citing the first-ever National Creators Awards handed over by PM Modi in March this year. Guardian claimed, “Some of these influencers have pushed BJP’s agenda, used inflammatory language, and in some cases spread misinformation”. But the documentary didn’t name which of the winners were accused of doing this.

The claim that awards were given to pro-BJP influencers is completely baseless and false, as most of the influencers who were awarded are working in various non-political fields, and most of them are not known for their political views.

The categories under which the awards were given included celebrity creator, storyteller, green champion, cultural ambassador, agriculture, international, travel, fashion, gaming, food, education, health & fitness, tech, cleanliness etc. Most of these categories are non-political, and therefore the claim that only pro-BJP influencers were awarded is completely false.

Many of the winners are already well-known names on social media, like Aman Gupta as a celebrity creator and Kabita Singh for food, and it was no surprise that they own the awards in the respective categories.

Hannah Ellis-Petersen then talks to propagandist and Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha and other employees of the portal. The Guardian journalist claimed that Alt News faces relentless trolling from Right Wing for carrying out fact checks. Pratik Sinha claimed that mainstream media is pro-government and therefore it is easy to spread misinformation. He claimed that they have to be careful and the right wing makes it about them personally.

But the fact is, it is Alt News and its founders who have been targeting people personally. Pratik’s colleague Md Zubair caused nationwide riots and was responsible for the killing of several persons by Islamists after he targeted former BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her comments in a TV debate. Hindu activist Kajal Hindusthani received Sar Tan Se Juda threats from Islamists after Zubair launched an attack against her. The people associated with Alt News are also constantly targeting OpIndia, especially editor Nupur J Sharma.

After talking to the Alt News team, The Guardian moves to North East Delhi to talk about the 2020 riots. As expected, the documentary repeated lies about the riots and its background. It claimed that protests broke out after the Modi government proposed a citizenship law that excluded Muslims and that BJP leaders incited violence against the Muslims in response to the protests. It further claims that Hindu mobs targeted Muslims as a result of fake news on social media.

The fact is, it is the Islamists who have been accused of inciting the anti-Hindu riots, and several Islamist leaders are in jail with courts denying them bail repeatedly for the gravity of the crimes. The Hindus booked in the riots are only accused of carrying out retaliatory attacks, while Islamists are accused of planning and conspiring to carry the attack on Hindus.

Videos of Muslims attacking Hindus from the roof of the house of AAP leader Tahir Hussain went viral, petrol bombs and stones were found on the roof, and a court had found that he had instigated mobs to attack ‘kafirs’, but Guardian claims it was Hindus who attacked Muslims.

Guardian journalist Hannah Ellis-Petersen claimed that she tried to talk to Kajal Hindustani, but she stopped responding after initially agreeing to an interview. Hannah claimed Kajal refused the interview after OpIndia’s Nupur J Sharma tweeted about the Guardian interviewing people from the right wing to divide Hindus. But the fact is, right-wingers know the agenda of leftist anti-India media houses like the Guardian.

Hannah also claimed OpIndia editor Nupur J Sharma refused to talk to her after she contacted Sharma for an interview following an article on the Guardian team trying to interview Kajal Hindustani published on OpIndia. But this claim is incorrect, as the OpIndia editor had told her she could come on a podcast, but Hannah had declined this offer.

The Guardian documentary is a classic example of how an echo chamber works. Hannah talked to a few known Modi haters like Akash Banerjee and Pratik Sinha to claim that misinformation and hate speech have increased during the Modi government, without giving any proof of the claims. Interestingly, almost all common people that Hannah talked to said that the Modi govt is working for all, not just Hindus, but the voices of the common men were ignored by the documentary.

The Guardian repeats claims made by a handful of Islamist left liberals while ignoring the comments made by members of the public. The title claims to show how “Modi’s rule is fracturing India”, but apart from the interview of a few Modi haters like Pratik Sinha, the video has nothing to substantiate its claims. On the other hand, fake news is indeed a problem, but the video does not do justice to the issue at all, only repeating the false allegations that only RW spreads fake news.

Elections in Mexico: Over 200 people including 30 candidates killed in the deadliest campaign ahead of June 2 polls, dozens of others face threats and violence

OpIndia Staff
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Elections in Mexico: Over 200 people including 30 candidates killed in the deadliest campaign ahead of June 2 polls, dozens of others face threats and violence

A mayoral candidate has been shot dead at a campaign rally in Mexico’s southern Guerrero state, the latest in a string of attacks ahead of the 2nd June elections. On 29th May, Alfredo Cabrera was killed in the town of Coyuca de Benitez. An individual was seen approaching him at the campaign event and shooting him multiple times at close range in a video that was released by the local media. Two other candidates were shot the day before the latest attack. The final campaign rallies of the front-runners in Mexico’s presidential race were marred by widespread violence.

Alfredo Cabrera (Source: Billie Parker Noticias)

As per reports, at least 30 candidates contesting the elections have been killed since September 2023, although the official sources put the number at 22.

At least sixteen people have died as a result of attacks on mayoral candidates and their entourages in Chiapas this month. Among them were Lucero Esmeralda López Maza, a 28-year-old who was running for mayor of the town of La Concordia, and her sister. According to officials, three more mayoral candidates from municipalities throughout Chiapas suffered injuries in three separate attacks. On 12th May, in the village of Chicomuselo, some 20 miles from the Guatemalan border, 11 people—mostly members of one family—were massacred.

Nine people lost their lives in two attacks against mayoral candidates in the southern state of Chiapas just last week. Both of the contenders made it through. Six individuals, including Lucero Lopez, a mayoral candidate, and a kid, were slain in an ambush that occurred earlier this month following a campaign event in the nearby municipality of La Concordia. A mayoral candidate was fatally shot last month, shortly after she started her campaign.

Relatives of mayoral candidate Bertha Gisela Gaytán mourn during her funeral in Celaya, Mexico, on 3rd April. (Source: Mario Armas/Getty Images)

With around 200 public employees, lawmakers, and candidates killed so far in this campaign, it has been the most brutal election in the country’s history. As organized crime groups compete for power in government, hundreds more have left or requested protection, further undermining Mexican democracy. At least thirty mayoral candidates have been murdered since September 2023 as the country gears up to vote as criminal gangs seek expanded control in states where cartels already wreak havoc.

Over 20,000 positions are up for grabs in the poll and a high-profile race that will most likely see Mexico elect its first female president, the nation’s largest vote ever has resulted in one of the most dangerous election cycles in recent memory. The citizens also expressed that they are most concerned about public safety.

The Latin American nation is going to decide between Xóchitl Gálvez, a former senator for the major centre-right party or Claudia Sheinbaum, a close associate of left-wing incumbent Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The front-runner, Sheinbaum, declared to the assembled supporters in Zócalo Square, the heart of Mexico City, that the country has “changed profoundly for the better” since President Obrador was elected in 2018 while Gálvez has slammed President Obrador for the nation’s high level of organized crime.

Violence has impacted politicians from all political parties, but it has particularly harmed municipal officials and candidates. It is the state’s least protected stratum as well as the place where criminal organizations look to make agreements with law enforcement to bolster their hold on the surrounding area and its companies. After accounting for threats, kidnappings, disappearances and other acts of intimidation against not only candidates but also current and former public officials and “collateral” victims like family members, the Mexican consulting firm Integralia has declared that the current campaign season is the bloodiest in recent Mexican history.

A member of the Mexican National Guard stands at the perimeter of a crime scene where a passenger was shot dead inside a bus in Celaya, Mexico, in February. (Source: Fernando Llano/Associated Press)

As of 1st May, Integralia had reported 560 victims of political violence, up from 389 during the 2017–18 campaign and 299 during the 2020–21 midterm elections. As of a 28th May revised report, it listed 316 attacks or threats against candidates. Similar to previous election cycles, this one too has not seen violence directed towards well-known contenders for high-profile positions like governorships or the presidency, however, those vying for city government positions are caught in the crossfire.

Gangs try to fund their own candidates and then threaten or even kill those who oppose them. Criminals striving for control over smuggling routes, extortion targets, municipal finances, and other opportunities in their territory, or plazas, might be aided by corrupt police officers and other incentives from crooked mayors. Local politicians are susceptible to pressure from cartels more so than governors and other senior legislators.

One of the largest industrial cities in the state of Guanajuato, Celaya has a population of 500,000 and is the target of conflict between several factions. About one homicide has occurred in Celaya for every thousand residents annually since 2020. It is the most dangerous city in Mexico to work as a police officer as at least 34 cops have died there in the last three years.

When it comes to illegal attempts to influence elections and infiltrate the state, attacks on politicians are merely “the tip of the iceberg.” Violence affects a larger spectrum of actors and goes beyond the campaign trail. Attacks of this nature have increased over the past several years, remaining unaddressed by any political party. It is increasingly difficult to maintain that free and fair elections are being held in various parts of Mexico due to the stronghold that crime has established there.

Lessons from Indian democracy

The largest election festival in the world, held in India every five years, contrasts sharply with Mexico’s historically deadly elections. More than 96.88 crore voters nationwide registered to vote in the general election of 2024. “The conduct of our election, our election management is such that it can be a learning process for other democracies. Big universities of the world should carry out a case study on the Indian elections. This year, almost 64 countries in the world are going to the polls. There should be a comparison of elections between India and other countries. This year’s festival of democracy is not only in India but around the world,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated after casting his vote in Gujarat.

The world’s largest elections are effectively organized and concluded by a nation that is more diverse than any other place on Earth. On the other hand, the countries which can’t even fathom handling such challenges and diversity find it difficult to hold elections without a violent cloud hanging over them. This demonstrates not only the effectiveness of India’s electoral system but also the people’s confidence and faith in the country’s democracy.

Conversion to Christianity under garb of relief work: What is ADRA, org run by a Church that is to get Rs 2.26 crores of EU’s ‘humanitarian aid’ for Manipur

Anurag
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Conversion to Christianity under garb of relief work: What is ADRA, org run by a Church that is to get Rs 2.26 crores of EU’s ‘humanitarian aid’ for Manipur

On 30th May, the Government of Manipur categorically refused to accept aid announced by the European Union for the families which suffered from hailstorms and heavy rain earlier this month. EU had claimed that aid worth €250,000 (over 22.6 million Indian rupees) was made for the state of Manipur via humanitarian partner ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), which is a ‘humanitarian agency’ operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In a post, the EU specified that the amount will benefit “1500 most vulnerable families” in Manipur.

Source: X

Rejecting the donation, the Chief Secretary of Manipur stated, “A news report has been circulating in the media and different social network platforms about the EU providing 250,000 euros to (Rs. 2.25 crore) assist victims of a severe storm in Manipur. This is false and untrue and as far as the State Government is concerned all financial requirements in connection with the recent storm are being met from the available National Disaster Response Fund and the State Disaster Response Fund.” Furthermore, it was highlighted that the state government has been collaborating with the relevant Deputy Commissioners, security personnel, and public volunteers to carry out necessary relief efforts related to the storm and the humanitarian work has not been handed to any Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or civil society organizations. The press release added, “A sum of Rs.30 crore has already been sanctioned by the State Government to the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts.”

What is Adventist Development and Relief Agency or ADRA?

ADRA is the worldwide humanitarian branch of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Interestingly, it is present not only in India but also in 100+ other countries including Nepal and Bhutan. The organisation uses humanitarian projects related to relief, healthcare and education networks around the world. Interestingly, there is evidence that the organisation, which is run by a church, uses these activities to convert vulnerable people to Christianity.

On its website, ADRA India flaunts that it is a 20-million strong community and deliver “relief and development assistance to people in 107 countries “regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation, gender, or religious association.” It read, “In India, we have been implementing humanitarian and development projects that help the most vulnerable in India for close to thirty years. Registered in 1992 as a Society, ADRA India focuses on key developmental aspects like public healthcare, education, livelihood generation, humanitarian and emergency response, and protection of vulnerable groups. By partnering with local communities, organizations, and governments, we are able to deliver culturally relevant programs and build local capability for sustainable change.”

Conversion activities via humanitarian work via ADRA and other orgs under Seventh-day Adventist Church in India and neighbouring countries

Now coming to evangelist activities by the organisation, Ezras Lakra, who is the president of Northern Indian Union of Seventh-day Adventists since November 2010, said in a statement during the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s 13 world divisions during the second of three Spring Meeting sessions in 2016 that direct evangelism is not possible in countries like Nepal and Bhutan as proselytizing is forbidden in these countries. Furthmore, he pointed out that in India, centres of influence focus on public service and health program was drawing a positive response to their evangelist activities. “Bible study cards are offered, and the availability of prayer at the centers attracts even non-Christians.” he said.

In September 2022, Adventist Review published a detailed article on how Maranatha Volunteers International’s India crew were constructing churches along with schools and water wells. In 2022 itself, the group built 25 out of 30 planned churches by September and four were in progress. Some of them were built in Manipur as well. Special dorms for boys and girls were built in the schools so that the students could live on the premises. Inaugurating one of such dorms at the Pola Adventist School in Jharkhand, Lakra praised the group and said, “Maranatha has set a benchmark for us in how to work for the Lord. We need to proceed in the same way in India.” The report noted that several water wells were being drilled in several states across India including in Manipur, a project that was started in 2019. Notably, Maranatha has constructed more than 2,400 structures in India, the report suggested. Maranatha Volunteers International is a supporting ministry of Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their main aim is to built churches and schools in developing nations. These structures are used for evangelism by the organisation.

Seventh-day Adventist Church has strengthened its presence in Nepal, India’s neighbouring country that has been facing the issue of conversions for years. In 2016, Ezras Lakra and others went to Nepal and inaugurated six new churches mainly rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake. During the inauguration, they converted 14 people. In another village bordering China, they reportedly converted eight people in a similar ceremony. These events illustrated how the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been involved in conversion activities in Nepal for years in the guise of humanitarian activities.

Notably, in 2015, when the earthquake struck, members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church rushed to humanitarian work. At that time, there were over 8,000 active members of the Church spread over 106 congregations. Ted NC Wilson, president of the Adventist world church saw it as a signal of “Christ’s return”. He said, “The human suffering breaks our hearts and moves us with deep sympathy for the thousands of families who have experienced loss. May this be an opportunity to show Christ’s ministry of love and compassion in all that we do as we see more of this disaster happening signaling the nearness of Christ’s return.” During that time, a hospital built by the Church was extensively used to treat patients. It is obvious that after getting saved by a missionary hospital, a soft corner is built in the hearts of the locals. It gets much easier to brainwash them to convert.

A March 2024 report suggested how Seventh-day Adventist Church has been strengthening its presence in Nepal. Several church leaders Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church reportedly added “new territories” to Nepal, which was added to NSD in late 2023. Reportedly, they found Nepal to be one of the challenging nations to convert people but their leader Yo Han Kim said, “But with God’s wisdom and guidance, we shall fulfil together the task He has given us.” OpIndia has extensively covered the issue of conversions in Nepal that can be checked here.

ADRA’s humanitarian activities give shield to evangelism

During our research into ADRA’s activities, we found an interesting article written by Jay Edison who is a retired ADRA International director of Health from Ossupee, New Hampshire, US. In the article, he discussed how some of his friends were perplexed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s significant investment in humanitarian activities through the ADRA without any evangelistic components. He highlighted that the humanitarian efforts by ADRA easily managed to skip the scrutiny that came with traditional Adventist health evangelism. He emphasised that ADRA’s activities such as providing safe drinking water embody the church’s philosophy of healthful living, which in large helps to spread the word of “Jesus” without getting noticed by the authorities. He gave examples of several countries like Russia and Kyrgystan where ADRA’s humanitarian efforts helped in spreading the word about Christianity without overt proselytizing.

Controversies around Seventh-day Adventist Church

There have been several controversies around the Seventh-day Adventist Church in India. In April 2024, 57 year old pastor Reverend May Wald was accused of sexual harrassment by a 17-year-old Nepali girl. he was arrested and booked under POCSO Act. May Wald served at “The Seventh-day Adventist Church” in the Mathigiri neighbourhood. The victim and her family have been living in the same region. The subsequent action was taken after she complained to the officials of the Krishnagiri District Child Protection Committee which resulted in a formal complaint being lodged at the Hosur All Women Police Station. A comprehensive inquiry that followed verified the accuracy of the accusations made against Reverend May Wald.

Furthermore, in February 2023, members of Southeast India Union of Seventh-day Adventists in Vandulur, Chennai, accused the church administration of misappropriation of funds, offensive remarks, sexual abuse and more. They staged protests outside the church to voice their complaints. The Seventh Day Adventist Church near Iraniyamman Temple, which owns twenty-seven schools and properties valued at crores came under investigation amid grave charges of dubious fundraising practices.

A sit-in protest was organized by some members of the community against the administration, asserting that they were using dishonest tactics in connection with building projects including schools and churches. Protesters, who declared they had a right to inquire of the administration on years of embezzlement and deception amounting to crores of rupees, were angry that the church would not answer their questions and had locked the gate to prevent them from entering.

Additionally, a woman accused the church of sexual abuse and uttering disparaging comments regarding caste. She unveiled that despite other women departing earlier, she was made to stay until six o’clock in the evening, given extra work to complete, and received 500 rupees from White David, the manager, for no apparent reason. She further disclosed that White David along with another person, Daniel Devadoss harassed her over her eight years of employment as a cleaner by spewing crude comments and inquiring about her personal life. She was fired from her work after things became extremely ugly and they accused her of stealing.

Seventh Day Adventist Church under Home Ministry’s radar

In 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licences of four Christian associations this year. It is mandatory to have FCRA clearance from the Home Ministry for any organisation to receive foreign funds. Besides, two Christian donors, namely, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Baptist Church are also under the watch of the Ministry. Both of them are US-based. As per The Hindu report, an official said that as the probe was on, concerns were raised regarding the impact of U.S.-based evangelical donors including the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

I.N.D.I. Alliance leader Azam Khan sent to jail for 10 years for assault and criminal conspiracy by Rampur MP-MLA Court, fined Rupees 14 Lakhs

OpIndia Staff
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I.N.D.I. Alliance leader Azam Khan sent to jail for 10 years for assault and criminal conspiracy by Rampur MP-MLA Court, fined Rupees 14 Lakhs

I.N.D.I. Alliance member Samajwadi Party’s leader Azam Khan has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the MP-MLA court of Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The decision against Azam Khan has come in the case of assault and criminal conspiracy in Dungarpur Basti. The second accused in the case, Barkat Ali, has been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment with ₹6 Lakhs fine.

The matter pertains to Dungarpur Basti, and the complainant Abrar had lodged a case of forcible entry into his house in 2019. He also said there was loot, issue of life threats, and demolition of his house using bulldozer.

In 2019, people living in Dungurpur Basti filed 12 cases against the veteran Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in the Ganj police station on charges of looting, theft, assault, among other sections. Out of these 12 cases, the decision has come in 3 cases. The Samajwadi Party leader has been acquitted in two cases, while in one case he has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Azam Khan is currently lodged in Sitapur jail in Uttar Pradesh. In the current case, the court has found Azam Khan and contractor Barkat Ali guilty, and both were sentenced on Thursday, May 30..

During the hearing in the case, the veteran Samajwadi Party leader was connected from Sitapur jail via video conferencing. Notably, 108 cases have been registered against Azam Khan, out of which 80 cases are currently under trial. Azam Khan has been sentenced in six separate cases during the past 17 months.

On October 18, 2017, the Samajwadi Party leader’s son Abdullah Azam and wife Tanzeen Fatima were sentenced to seven years at Rampur MP/MLA court for using a fraudulent birth certificate. On July 14, 2023, Khan was convicted by a Rampur court for hate speech during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On February 14, last year, a Moradabad court sentenced Azam Khan and his son Abdullah to two years in a 15-year-old case for traffic obstruction. On October 28, 2022, Khan was sentenced to three years in prison by a Rampur court for hate speech from 2019.

Meet LN Danwade, non-judicial member of Juvenile Justice Board who asked Pune Porsche road rash accused teen to write an essay as bail condition

OpIndia Staff
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Meet LN Danwade, non-judicial member of Juvenile Justice Board who asked Pune Porsche road rash accused teen to write an essay as bail condition

In the high-profile Pune Porsche hit-and-run case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will investigate the conduct of the Juvenile Justice Board members to examine whether the norms were followed in granting bail and imposing conditions for the same. Dr LN Danwade, a non-judicial member of JJB, has come into focus as he had issued bail orders for the accused teenager, prompting the government to constitute the SIT.

It was LN Danwade who asked the 17-year-old accused to write a 300-word essay on road safety as a bail condition. This absurd bail condition and celerity in granting bail to the teen, who on 19th May allegedly killed two people with his high-speed Porsche car, brought the case to the focal point in the media and soon it sparked a nationwide discussion. The JJB’s apathy towards the deceased victims outraged the nation into pondering if it was the time for crucial judicial reforms. The leniency demonstrated in punishing the accused shocked even the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis.

As the case snowballed, the Juvenile Board on 22nd May heard the case again and after hearing arguments from both sides, decided to cancel bail and sent the accused to observation home till 5th of June.

Notably, LN Danwade passed the controversial order since the Principal Magistrate and the second non-judicial member were not present due to a holiday. A Juvenile Justice Board consists of a judicial member, a Principal Magistrate, and two non-judicially appointed members who are social workers.

LN Danwade had served as superintendent at Balagram ‘SOS’ Children’s Village in Raigad before joining the Juvenile Justice Board. During his tenure, a minor girl allegedly committed suicide resulting in his suspension. He then moved to Pune and joined the Pune Bal Kalyan Samiti. The recommendation was made by a senior official from the Women and Child Development Commissionerate. He was appointed to the Juvenile Justice Board after working for the Pune Bal Kalyan Samiti for three years.

It has been reported that LN Danwade flouted the rules and unilaterally granted bail to the accused within half an hour without consulting the JJB’s supervisory officer. Danwade heard the bail plea alone even as the board members are required to be present during the hearing. In addition to this, LN Danwade did not, reportedly, take inputs from Chief Magistrate Manasi Pardeshi and second-appointed member KT Thorat.

While media has been trying to talk to LN Danwade over the matter, he has been avoiding them. Videos have surfaced showing him running away from reporters. Notably, in one of the videos, he is seen riding a scooter without a helmet. This suggests that he has no high regard for traffic laws.

When Times Now reporter Abhishek Awasthi managed to confront him, he said that the ‘everything is judicial’ and he does not want to say anything.

As reported earlier, on the 19th of May, the 17-year-old son of a rich builder killed two young motorcycle-borne engineers Aneesh Awadhia and Ashwini Koshta while driving his swanky Porsche car under the influence of alcohol. The accused tried to flee after hitting the deceased victims, however, locals caught hold of him, and thrashed him before turning him over to the police. While two innocent people lost their lives, the accused teenager who is the son of builder, Vishal Agarwal of Brahma Realty and Infrastructure, got bail within 15 hours of his arrest.

The Juvenile Justice Board asked him to work with a traffic police official for 2 weeks and attend psychiatric counselling sessions. The teen was also asked to write a 300-word essay on road accidents and create traffic awareness boards.

The Maharashtra government has now formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the conduct of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) members. The role of the police also have also come into question in the case, and two cops have been suspended for dereliction of duty. Police Inspector Rahul Jagdale and Assistant Police Inspector Vishwanath Todkari mishandled the investigation and failed to inform the wireless control room about the incident in time, as per Pune police. Two doctors of a Pune hospital along with a hospital staff also have been arrested for swapping the blood sample of the accused, to prove that he was not drunk. The doctors used the blood of the teen’s mother to perform the tests, and discarded the blood sample of the accused.

Canadian University Faculty Association passes Hinduphobic motion against ‘caste system’ even after Toronto District School Board could not show one instance of discrimination

Shraddha Pandey
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Canadian University Faculty Association passes Hinduphobic motion against ‘caste system’ even after Toronto District School Board could not show one instance of discrimination

On the 28th of May, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association (OCUFA) passed a Hinduphobic resolution titled “Caste Discrimination” to ‘condemn’ the caste system, caste-based ‘discrimination’ and ‘colorism’. OCUFA also directed its member organisations to include caste discrimination in their anti-discrimination policies.

“Whereas the Caste system is rooted in classism and was reinforced through colonial practices and promotes discrimination against people born to lower castes, especially Dalit or ‘untouchables’. Whereas the Caste system, while rooted in India, has travelled with the Indian diaspora and its effects are felt throughout the diasporic community in Canada including direct impacts on our own members who come from lower Castes,” the resolution read.

“In keeping with OHRC’s policy position on caste-based discrimination dated October 26, 2023, BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCUFA condemns the Caste system, Caste-based discrimination and colorism and calls on our member organizations to include Caste-based discrimination in their respective anti-discrimination policies and collective agreements,” the resolution added. 

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has said that the Canadian Hindus were not consulted before passing this motion. Notably, the OCUFA resolution is yet another attempt at weaponizing caste to gaslight Hindus and slander Hinduism.

“Shocking to see the flawed colonial trope of “caste” pushed again in Canada–this time by @OCUFA with no input from #CanadianHindus of course. CoHNA has repeatedly raised concerns about such motions that selectively single out and profile #Hinduism and create #Hinduphobia. CoHNA has raised concerns on the weaponization of #caste for years now. Reminder- there’s NO data showing systemic caste discrimination in Canada or US. Much of the “proof” used to create the initial narrative has fallen apart-e.g. #EqualityLabs Survey or Cisco Lawsuit,” CoHNA said.

The Hindu advocacy organisation further suspected the influence of Professor Chinaiah Jangam of Carleton University. Jangam’s social media activities indicate his support for urban naxals like Rona Wilson, the 2020 Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots “mastermind” Umar Khalid and pro-Congress leanings.

“We suspect the influence of privileged academics like Prof Jangam, @Carleton_U who spread false information that a regular person can easily identify castes by last names. Such biased narratives create a presumption of guilt for all #CanadianHindus,” CoHNA added.

TDSB adopted a resolution recognising the existence of caste discrimination in Toronto schools, fails to provide a single case of caste oppression

The OCUFA motion came even as the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) failed to show a single evidence indicating systematic caste-based discrimination in Canada last year. It is pertinent to recall that in March 2023, the TDSB passed a resolution recognising the ‘existence’ of caste discrimination in the city’s schools. TDSB had acknowledged its lack of expertise on caste-related issues. The resolution was passed with six trustees voting in favour and five voting against it. The resolution was proposed by the South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network of Canada (SADAN).

Interestingly, SADAN’s founder and TDSB’s trustee, Yalini Rajkulsingam had back then said that the hypothesis is tested and available data is analysed before. “In Seattle, 4% of the community identify as South Asian. At the TDSB, we are at 22%, she said. However, despite the significant presence of South Asian residents in Canada, not a single documented case of caste oppression/discrimination was provided. Probably that is why most of the trustees who voted in favour of this resolution gave the justification “Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it is not there.”

TDSB cancelled book event with Yazidi ISIS survivor saying it would ‘offend’ Muslims

While the Toronto District School Board was quick to pass a resolution over caste discrimination without any substantial evidence of the same, back in 2021, it had cancelled a book event by the Yazidi Nobel Prize-winning author Nadia Murad. TDSB’s hypocrisy could be comprehended from the bizarre justification it gave for cancelling the event. The Board said that the ISIS survivor’s book would “promote Islamophobia” and ‘offend’ the Muslim students. Nadia Murad was taken as a sex slave in 2014 by the Islamic State terrorists in Iraq.

Other than Canada, attempts have been made to target the Hindu community putting it under additional legal scrutiny in the USA. In February last year, the Seattle City Council in the USA passed a resolution to establish ‘caste’ as a protected category under the City’s non-discrimination policy.

In California last year, a Hinduphobic bill that ‘banned’ caste discrimination in the state was passed. However, it was rejected by Gov. Gavin Newsom who stated that it was “unnecessary,” noting that caste discrimination was already illegal under existing laws.

T20 World Cup: US Police on high alert after ISIS-Khorasan threatens “Lone Wolf” attack during India-Pakistan match

OpIndia Staff
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T20 World Cup: US Police on high alert after ISIS-Khorasan threatens “Lone Wolf” attack during India-Pakistan match

Every International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament awaits India vs. Pakistan match, and the T20 World Cup 2024 is no exception. On 9th June, the arch-rivals will square off at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. However, security services were placed on high alert prior to the intense match because ISIS-K had threatened to launch a “Lone Wolf” attack during the encounter.

Lone Wolf “is a particular kind of mass murder, committed in a public setting by an individual who plans and commits the act on their own.”

Therefore, during the game, the agencies intend to bolster security surrounding the arena. Security personnel would be keeping a close watch on everything in the area. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman disclosed that 100 extra security guards will be stationed at the event in addition to the regular crew. New York State Police have been “directed to engage in elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance, and thorough screening processes,” according to a statement made by Governor Kathy Hochul on 29th May.

He added, “There is no credible public safety threat at this time. “We continue to monitor the situation closely. My administration has been working for months with federal law enforcement and Nassau County to ensure New Yorkers and visitors are safe.”

At the press conference, Patrick Ryder mentioned that more police would be deployed to the Eisenhower Park cricket stadium. He added, “We will go to every fine detail when it comes to the security and safety of the residents here.” There was some ambiguity on the magnitude of the threat expressed in a chat group by ISIS-Khorasan, the terrorist group that operates out of South and Central Asia as an affiliate of the Islamic State. “We make sure that we are on top of every situation that could potentially arise. Now to that end, we have taken many many precautions,” conveyed Bruce Blakeman while talking to reporters.

He emphasised, “Each and every day, Nassau County, as well as other communities and cities and counties and towns throughout the United States, receive all kinds of threats. We take every threat seriously. To that end, we have taken many, many precautions. As well as making sure that the stadium and the surrounding Eisenhower Park are safe, the parking areas are safe, and the watch areas are safe, we also are adding 100 additional police officers to our normal staffing for the rest of the county, just as a precaution.”

Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder reassured the people of impenetrable security while acknowledging the potential threat posed by a “Lone Wolf” attack. He expressed, “When you’ve got a game and a crowd as big as this, everything is credible. We will go through every fine detail when it comes to the security and safety of the residents here in Nassau County. I can guarantee you this is the largest security we’ve ever had to do in this county’s history, and I can also guarantee you the safest place to be in Nassau County on June 9 will be inside that stadium.”

According to Patrick Ryder, the terror group is “calling for that ‘Lone Wolf’ to act out” in a video that has gone viral. He added that they had been receiving threats from “ISIS-K” since April, “where it was a global and international style threat.” He highlighted, “Then it got a little bit more specific towards the actual game of India versus Pakistan but did not name the place and then yesterday, you all saw the video that went global, and they are calling for that ‘Lone Wolf’ to act out.”

He was alluding to a video that ISIS-K had placed on a British chat site that showed “an image of the cricket stadium at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County with drones flying over it showing the date, “9/6/2024,” when the India-Pakistan match is scheduled to take place.” County officials noted that “they’ve requested the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to make Eisenhower Park a no-fly zone for drones” in response to the drones being shown as attack vehicles.

The spectators were also guaranteed total security for the prominent game, according to the ICC which announced, “The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place. We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event.”

The threat was initially publicized by the British publication Express, which also reported that Wembley Stadium and other sports venues throughout Europe are targets. It asserted that ISIS supporters are being urged to use strategies like drone attacks to target important events, including the Cricket World Cup.

The 30,000-seat World Cup Cricket venue was constructed especially for the championship and will share US matches with the Dallas stadium. The highly anticipated tournament is scheduled to begin on 1st June this year with a warm-up match between India and Bangladesh.

Madhya Pradesh High Court legtimises Sharia, says that marriage of a Muslim man with ‘idolatress’ not valid even if registered under Special Marriage Act, would be ‘fasid’

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh High Court legtimises Sharia, says that marriage of a Muslim man with ‘idolatress’ not valid even if registered under Special Marriage Act, would be ‘fasid’

On Monday, May 27, Madhya Pradesh High Court observed that a marriage between a Muslim boy with a Hindu girl is not a valid marriage according to Mohammedan Law while turning down a plea for police protection to register an inter-faith marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia, who adjudicated the matter, noted that a marriage between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl would be treated as an irregular (or fasid) marriage under Muslim personal law.

The Court noted, “As per Mohammedan law, the marriage of a Muslim boy with a girl, who is an idolatress or a fire-worshiper, is not a valid marriage. Even if the marriage is registered under the Special Marriage Act, the marriage would be no more a valid marriage and it would be an irregular (fasid) marriage.”

The couple, however, wished to marry under the Special Marriage Act. Their counsel told the Court that neither the woman nor the man wished to convert to another religion for the marriage. The woman would continue following the Hindu religion, while the man would continue following Islam after their marriage, their counsel said.

The counsel also asserted that the inter-religious marriage, though prohibited under personal law, would be valid under the Special Marriage Act. The Special Marriage Act would override the personal law, the Counsel highlighted.

The Court proceeded to dismiss the couple’s petition after noting that they were neither willing to be in a live-in relationship without being married nor was the girl (Hindu person) willing to convert to the boy’s religion (Islam).

Advocate Dinesh Kumar Upadhyay appeared for the petitioners (inter-faith couple). Government advocates KS Baghel represented the State, while advocate Rahul Mishra represented the woman’s father.

TN Bar Council criticises Sanjeev Sanyal after he questioned long vacations and efficiency of judicial system: Here is what Sanyal said about the ‘fatwa’ issued

OpIndia Staff
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TN Bar Council criticises Sanjeev Sanyal after he questioned long vacations and efficiency of judicial system: Here is what Sanyal said about the ‘fatwa’ issued

Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, has responded to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry condemning his comments on the workings of the judiciary. Advocating for reforms in judiciary, Sanyal in a podcast had criticised the courts for long delay in resolving court cases, saying that long vacations taken by the courts was one of the reasons.

Sanyal has pointed out that the courts take long summer vacations and then Dussehra vacations, saying that they work only for a few hours. “All these old systems will have to be changed, and modernise it. The government can contribute to this to some extent. But in the end, the justice system will have to do it on its own,” he had said.

His comments were rejected by the Supreme Court, with Justice Dipankar Datta saying that the judges ‘burn midnight oil even during vacations’. The court said that the govt should file appeals within prescribed deadlines if it was concerned about judicial delays, blaming the govt for the delays.

Yesterday he Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTN) joined the debate, claiming that judges work for long hours and are burdened with cumbersome tasks which require them to stay in courts beyond regular hours. “Contrary to public perception, weekends and vacations are spent writing and correcting the judgments and orders,” said P S Amalraj, president of BCTN.

Amalraj further claimed that 73% of the pending cases are related to government departments, thereby blaming the government for delay in resolving court cases. Sanyal’s vision of the modern judiciary would be pointless if ‘medieval’ executive governments continue to exhibit tardiness, red tapism and bureaucratic inefficiency which push our citizens to turn to the courts for redressal, he added.

Now, Sanjeev Sanyal has come up with responses to these arguments on ?, formerly Twitter. “Looks like the TN Bar Council has issued a fatwa against me for questioning the efficiency and vacations of the judicial system,” responding to the bar council point by point.

He agreed that the bureaucracy is also very inefficient, and that is why there have efforts to reform the system. Similarly, the judiciary also needs reforms, he argued. “Clearly no one in the bar council has bothered to read anything I write about government systems (or economists for that matter). This is no justification for keeping legal processes inefficient,” Sanyal added.

Responding to argument that judges need long vacations and holidays to write judgements and orders, Sanyal said that even if that is true, it does not require the whole judicial system to be shut down. “Vacations and holidays are evidently spent writing judgements. Very well, the judges are welcome to take leave like everyone else. There is no reason for the whole system to shut down for weeks on end,” he said.

Sanjeev Sanyal added that other members of society also work hard – corporate managers, scientists, politicians, journalists and even civil servants – but they don’t take such long vacations. “We are all participants in building India. No one asks for the system to shut down when they go on vacation,” he said, suggesting that judges who need vacations can take them, but the whole courts should not be shut down for a month for that.

He also countered the argument that 73% of pending cases are related to govt departments, saying there is no data to prove it. He asked the bar council to give definite data to back this claim, “so that we, as a country, can do something about it.”

Sanjeev Sanyal added that he is not the only person to arguing for a reform in the legal system, pointing out an article by Bibek Debroy, where the Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister said that no major country has their top court going on long holidays, neither should the Supreme Court of India. He also posted an article by renowned economist Vijay Kelkar & Pradeep Mehta making the same arguments. Sanyal further posted a research paper by Economist and EAC member Shamika Ravi, which analysed the performance of the Supreme Court.

The matter of Supreme Court holidays has been a hot debate for a time now, with the judiciary rejecting any suggestion to reform the system. This year, the summer vacation started on 20 May and the court will reopen on 8th July, totally 49 days including weekends and holidays. The court than will have 6-day Dusshera holidays, 5-day Diwali holidays and 10-day Christmas & New Year Holidays. This means, the court will be closed for 70 days, apart from other regular holidays and Sundays.

During these vacations, a few judges are available to hear urgent matters, known as ‘vacation benches’.

Those who argue for continuation of this system say that judges and lawyers need the long vacations to read judgements and other references which are crucial in arguing cases and delivering judgements. It is also claimed that lawyers and judges need the vacations for rejuvenation. But those who favour a reform say that individual judges can take similar vacations for such study at different points of time throughout the year, and the entire courts should not be shut down.

Even former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha had suggested a similar system. He had suggested keeping the Supreme Court, High Courts, and trial courts open round the year. CJI Lodha had suggested that schedules of individual judges should be sought at the beginning of the year, and the calendar should be planned accordingly. However, this proposal was not implemented as CJI Lodha’s term didn’t last long.

Notably, former law minister Kiren Rijiju had criticised the current vacation system of the courts several times, before his portfolio was changed.

EU announces 2.26 crore aid to Christian organisation in the name of Manipur disaster relief, state government says ‘No, we don’t need your money’

OpIndia Staff
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EU announces 2.26 crore aid to Christian organisation in the name of Manipur disaster relief, state government says ‘No, we don’t need your money’

The European Union on 29th May announced to donate €250,000 (over 22.6 million Indian rupees) for the state of Manipur which recently suffered from hailstorms and heavy rain earlier this month. Interestingly, the ‘aid’ will be provided by EU humanitarian partner ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), which is a ‘humanitarian agency’ operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In a post the EU specified that the amount will benefit “1500 most vulnerable families” in Manipur.

EU’s post on Manipur

However, the government of the northeastern state has categorically refused to accept the aid and issued an official notification to confirm the same. It also called out the EU for disseminating misinformation.

The press release issued by the chief secretary of Manipur stated, “A news report has been circulating in the media and in different social network platforms about the EU providing 250,000 euros to (Rs. 2.25 crore) assist victims of a severe storm in Manipur. This is totally false and untrue and as far as the State Government is concerned all financial requirements in connection with the recent storm are being met from the available National Disaster Response Fund and the State Disaster Response Fund.”

Furthermore, the press release highlighted that the state government, collaborating with the relevant Deputy Commissioners, security personnel, and public volunteers, is actively carrying out all relief efforts related to the storm and the humanitarian work has not been handed to any Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or civil society organizations. It added, “A sum of Rs.30 crore has already been sanctioned by the State Government to the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts.”

What is ADRA and its Church connection?

Notably, ADRA’s official website characterizes it as the worldwide humanitarian branch of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a community of 20 million Adventists that has the greatest integrated healthcare and education network globally. It mentions, “We deliver relief and development assistance to individuals in more than 107 countries – regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation, gender, or religious association. In India, we have been implementing humanitarian and development projects that help the most vulnerable in India for close to thirty years.”

The Christian outfit further informs, “Registered in 1992 as a Society, ADRA India focuses on key developmental aspects like public healthcare, education, livelihood generation, humanitarian and emergency response, and protection of vulnerable groups. By partnering with local communities, organizations, and governments, we are able to deliver culturally relevant programs and build local capability for sustainable change.”

Image via ADRA India

Seventh-day Adventist Church’s controversial history

A 17-year-old Nepali girl accused Reverend May Wald, a 57-year-old pastor living near Hosur in the Krishnagiri district in Tamilnadu of sexual harassment in April of this year, after which he was arrested by women police and booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. May Wald served at “The Seventh-day Adventist Church” in the Mathigiri neighbourhood. The victim and her family have been living in the same region. The subsequent action was taken after she complained to the officials of the Krishnagiri District Child Protection Committee which resulted in a formal complaint being lodged at the Hosur All Women Police Station. A comprehensive inquiry that followed verified the accuracy of the accusations made against Reverend May Wald.

Members of the Southeast India Union of Seventh-day Adventists in Vandulur, Chennai, made several accusations against the church administration in February 2024, including widespread misappropriation, offensive remarks, sexual abuse and more. They also demonstrated in front of the church to air their complaints. The Seventh Day Adventist Church near Iraniyamman Temple, which owns twenty-seven schools and properties valued at crores came under investigation amid grave charges of dubious fundraising practices.

A sit-in protest was organized by some members of the community against the administration, asserting that they were using dishonest tactics in connection with building projects including schools and churches. Protesters, who declared they had a right to inquire of the administration on years of embezzlement and deception amounting to crores of rupees, were angry that the church would not answer their questions and had locked the gate to prevent them from entering.

In addition to the financial theft, a woman accused the church of sexual abuse and uttering disparaging comments regarding caste. She unveiled that despite other women departing earlier, she was made to stay until six o’clock in the evening, given extra work to complete, and received 500 rupees from White David, the manager, for no apparent reason. She further disclosed that White David along with another person, Daniel Devadoss harassed her over her eight years of employment as a cleaner by spewing crude comments and inquiring about her personal life. She was fired from her work after things became extremely ugly and they accused her of stealing.

EU Parliament’s meddling in Manipur was strongly rejected by Indian govt

Back in July 2023, Indian MEA had shared a strong rejection of the EU Parliament’s efforts to interfere in the Manipur issue. After the EU Parliament passed a so-called ‘urgency resolution’ on the Manipur violence, the MEA had asked the EU to mind its own business and stop interfering in India’s internal affairs.

The MEA said, “We have seen that the European Parliament held a discussion on developments in Manipur and adopted a so-called Urgency Resolution. Such interference in India’s internal affairs is unacceptable and reflects a colonial mindset.”

The MEA statement further read, “Indian authorities at all levels, including the judiciary, are seized of the situation in Manipur and are taking steps to maintain peace and harmony and law and order. The European Parliament would be advised to utilize its time more productively on its internal issues.”

Kuki-Meitei conflict in Manipur and its ethnoreligious roots

The conflict between Meiteis and Kukis ‘tribals’ which resulted in widespread violence last year is the extension of the hills vs plains conflict that exists in almost all states in the northeast. Meiteis are the majority community in Manipur, comprising around 53% of the population, while tribal communities account for around 40% of the population. The majority of Meiteis are Hindus, with some of them being Muslims and some identifying as animists, while the Kukis are mostly Christians. The Meiteis are limited to only around 10% of the land in the state, as the rest of the state is classified as tribal areas. They live in the small patch of plain area in the state, the Imphal Valley, while the tribals reside in the protected Hill Areas, exclusively reserved for them. Meitei people are not allowed to purchase land in more than 90% of the state since they are categorized as non-tribal.

It is notable that only Meiteis and Nagas have been living in Manipur for thousands of years, and Kukis are relatively new to the region. Kukis migrated from Myanmar in the 18th and 19th centuries for various reasons, including persecution by more powerful groups in Myanmar. However, they were taken into the fold by the Meiteis and then the British given the demands of the situation in those times.

Kukis even argue that the Meiteis have lost their tribal identity. One of their claims is that after the King embraced Hinduism in the 1730s, the Meiteis lost their tribal identity. “If there are Meiteis who remember and identify which sub-tribe they belong to under the Meitei umbrella then they can demand the ST status. But for the entire Meitei community including the Brahmins, who are not indigenous, to demand the status is propaganda. All other castes are flexible, for example, a Kshatriya King can become a Shudra if he loses a battle. But others cannot become Brahmins, everyone knows that. Brahmin Meiteis have all come from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. Their ethnic identity may have been lost but their caste identity is still Brahmin. I don’t see how they can be reverted to tribals,” claimed prominent Kuki leader Wilson L Hangsing.

Hindu activists have charged that it is not a tribal vs non-tribal conflict, but it was actually initiated by the Christian tribals to evict the Meiteis from Christian-majority areas. They alleged that Christian tribals pre-planned the incident, and implemented it on the day Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar visited Manipur. Notably, illegal churches have also come up in the region which were taken down by the government of N. Biren Singh. All of this culminated in the unrest that enveloped the state for months amid protests by tribal groups over the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

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