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‘Madras Music Academy President should resign and make way for non-Brahmins’: Ranjani-Gayatri respond to The Hindu’s N Ram for calling them ‘casteist bigots’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Madras Music Academy President should resign and make way for non-Brahmins’: Ranjani-Gayatri respond to The Hindu’s N Ram for calling them ‘casteist bigots’

On Monday (25th March), Carnatic musician sisters Ranjani-Gayatri lambasted the Madras Music Academy President N Murali for his controversial letter targeting them. In response to his earlier letter, they hit back against the “bigoted and casteist” jibe hurled at them. In the letter, the duo stated that the senior management of the Music Academy is filled only with Brahmins and Royals. Consequently, they urged its President and Executive Committee to tender resignations and make way for non-Brahmins in the management. 

Notably, Academy President Murali had responded to their letter dated 20th March after they withdrew from the Music Academy conference to be held later this year under the Presidency of TM Krishna. The sisters had accused Krishna of glorifying Periyar and vilifying the Carnatic music community.  

On 25th March, Ranjani-Gayatri shared their reply to the Madras Music Academy Chief on X. In the letter, they accused him of acting as a Spokesperson for the controversial awardee TM Krishna rather than a senior official of the Music Academy.  

In the letter, the sisters duo stated, “We were a bit surprised as to why your response reads like a release on behalf of the awardee (TM Krishna), erasing the distinction between him and the Music Academy.” 

The 20th March letter was not to seek permission but rather to inform about our decision: Ranjani-Gayatri

Taking a swipe at the Academy President for his “unwarranted letter”, the sister duo said, “We’d like to clarify that our letter to you (Murali) was only a notification of our withdrawal without any request for your decisions or actions. We did not post the letter on social media but merely informed our fans on the same subject. Now we realise, this didn’t help you manage the optics and we are sorry about it.”

They clarified that their decision was not to question the perogative of the Music academy to select an awardee rather it was their conscious choice not to be “apologists for genocide mongers and filthy discourse”, referring to their criticism about TM Krishna. 

They also slammed Murali for trying to twist the narrative and trying to cast aspersions on them. 

The letter read, “With your verbose answer to questions we never raised, you are trying to build a convenient narrative and cast aspersions on us. Your statements to the press in this regard are immoral and dishonest.” 

Lead by example, make way for non-Brahmins, Brahmins in the management of the Music Academy should tender their resignation: Ranjani-Gayatri

The duo also launched a scathing attack on The Hindu’s N Ram who according to them “joined as an undeclared spokesperson” and started a smear campaign branding them as a “bigoted, casteist coterie”.

In reply to the “bigoted and casteist” jibe made by N Ram, Ranjani-Gayatri requested the management of the Music Academy to lead by example and not merely resort to lip service for non-Brahmin communities. 

Voicing support for inclusivity and representation of all communities, they stated, “We immensely respect this hallowed institution and it will be the happiest day for us and for millions of people to see star performers emerge from underprivileged communities and dominate this stage. We want to see the day when the TTK auditorium is filled up with a diverse inclusive crowd from all communities and religious minorities.” 

However, the sister duo argued that it may take some time for artists to emerge from all communities as it is a long journey to acquire musical prowess. However, they stated that as an “instant” and simple solution, the management should tender their resignation to walk their talk.  

The letter states, “This transformation should begin at the top. Kindly start with the entrenched Executive Committee consisting of only Brahmins and royalty you have been heading for 2 decades. Unlike serious hardwork and the long journey it takes for artists to excel, this transformation is achievable instantly with a simple resolution and a bunch of resignations.”

“Please consider leading by example, lest the world call it mere lip service and start branding you as a  ‘bigoted, casteist coterie’,” the letter further stated.

The Controversy explained in brief

The Music Academy, Madras annually bestows the ‘Sangeetha Kalanidhi’ award, the highest award in the Carnatic music industry. This year, the Academy announced to conferring the award on TM Krishna. However, following the decision, Ranjani-Gayatri announced their withdrawal while several other artists also joined them in withdrawing from the event under Krishna’s Presidency. Soon after many other musicians like the Trichur Brothers, N Ravikiran, etc also joined in, condemning the move to promote TM Krishna.

Following their announcement, Music Academy President Murali had targeted the duo in a strongly-worded letter that drew condemnation from three-time Grammy Award winner Indian music composer Ricky Kej and others.

Apart from artists from the Carnatic music industry, several usual suspects including N Ram joined in to hurl “casteist” jibes at the sister which prompted them to hit back at the Former MD and Editor in Chief of The Hindu. 

The controversy also took a political turn when Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin extended support to TM Krishna. 

The fresh letter by Ranjini-Gayatri hitting back at the Music Academy President for his letter targeting them and the duo urging him to resign could escalate the row further. 

VHP organises Shri Ram Rath Yatra across US, Canada; aims to connect Hindu temples

ANI
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VHP organises Shri Ram Rath Yatra across US, Canada; aims to connect Hindu temples

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, along with its chapter in Canada, came together to organise the Shri Ram Rath Yatra, aiming to forge connections in over a thousand Hindu temples across the US and Canada.

Spanning approximately 60 days, the yatra will weave through the expansive territories of both nations, making stops at over 850 temples in the US and 150 in Canada, covering a distance of over 16,000 miles, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Canada said in a press release.

The aim of the yatra is to unify the various Hindu worship centres spread across these vast lands, encompassing a wide array of traditions (Sampradayas) within Hindu Dharma. Further, the Yatra seeks to disseminate the sacred Akshat, Prasad, and blessings from Ram Lalla’s grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, which was conducted in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on January 22.

In a press release, the American and Canadian chapters of Vishwa Hindu Parishad stated, “The Rath (chariot), actually Rath-s (plural), involves three distinct vehicles, each adorned with the Shri Ram Lalla motif. There’s one Rath designated for the US and two for Canada. Each Rath carries the murtis of Hindu deities, featuring Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman, and Lord Hanuman, and, of course, the sacred Akshat and Prasad from the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya.”

The American segment of the Yatra began at the VHPA headquarters located in Sugar Grove, a suburb of Chicago on March 23. The launch was marked by traditional rituals, including the Shankh Naad (conch shell blowing) and puja ceremonies, the press release added.

On its inaugural day, the yatra visited temples, covering a distance of more than 500 miles. The temples visited on March 23 are: Bala Ji Mandir, Jagannath Mandir, and Shiv Durga Hindu Mandir in Illnois’ Aurora, Iskcon Mandir in Illnois’ Naperville, Hindu Rama Mandir in Illnois Lemont, Chinmaya Mission in Illnois’ Willowbrook, Swami Narayan Gurukul Samiyu in Illnois’ Springfield, Hindu Mandir Peoria in Illnois’ Peoria and Hindu Mandir in Illnois’ Bloomington.

The Hindu community is buzzing with excitement to connect with the Rath Yatra and receive the blessings of Lord Ram. At every temple, the Rath stopped by, it was received warmly by the temple trustees, pujaris (priests), and crowds of eager devotees. The number of devotees welcoming the Yatra participants were more than 300 in several locations.

Amitabh Mittal, VHPA general secretary and one of the key figures in this initiative, said, “The Ram Rath Yatra has ignited an unprecedented wave of spiritual unity among Hindus across North America.” He added, “It’s a historic pilgrimage that brings the essence of our traditions and the blessings of Shri Ram Lalla directly to our doorsteps.”

The Canadian team sent good wishes to the US team for the auspicious start of the yatra as they get ready for their own journey starting Monday, March 25th.

Each visit, lasting less than 30 minutes, follows a strict protocol. During each stop, the statue of Ram Lalla is ceremoniously installed for the duration of the visit. The puja, following the exact guidelines set by the Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi Trustees in Bharat, is performed meticulously.

Further, as per the press release, akshat and prasad are then shared with the temple for distribution among its devotees. In recognition of their involvement in these significant celebrations, each temple receives an official certificate and a 2’X3′ portrait of Ram Lalla. Soon after, the journey promptly continues towards the next destination.

The Canadian segment of the Yatra is scheduled to begin in Toronto on March 25. Over the next several weeks, it will cover the extensive network of Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area before splitting into two directions: one branch heading east towards Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and the other moving westward towards British Columbia, visiting other provinces en route, the release added.

The Canadian contingent plans to visit over 150 temples nationwide, covering more than 13,000 kilometers from coast to coast. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint platforms man who had made genocidal calls against upper castes, The News Minute had earlier tried to rehabilitate the bigot

Jinit Jain
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Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint platforms man who had made genocidal calls against upper castes, The News Minute had earlier tried to rehabilitate the bigot

Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint recently platformed a pathological bigot who had made genocidal calls against upper castes, made derogatory remarks against the Indian Army and floated the idea of granting permission to Muslims to carry weapons to tackle resistance from gau-rakshaks to cow smuggling.

Nilakantan RS or @puram_politics as he is known on X, formerly known as Twitter, recently authored an article titled ‘Vote in the Lok Sabha elections, but know it’s just a symbolic gesture. Voice matters more’ for Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint.

ThePrint published an opinion piece authored by Hinduphobic bigot Nilakantan RS

While the article penned by Nilakantan RS is replete with hoary platitudes and cliched arguments about why people should not only vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but also raise their voice, what stirred up a row was the fact that The Print relied on a Hinduphobic bigot with a chequered history of abusing and dehumanising upper caste to sermonise its readers on the benefits of voting.

Screenshots from 2015 of his tweet are circulating, in which he implied that killing individuals from the Upper castes is a service to society.

The individual has also made derogatory comments about the Indian Army, alleging that it is ‘very proficient at raping women.’

He had also expressed a desire for India to suffer a military defeat by China to halt the growing wave of nationalism in the country.


The individual was also observed indulging in fantasies about the assassination of Narendra Modi on Twitter.

The person had also called for Muslims to get a license to carry a gun and carry them to ward off gaurakshaks who resist attempts at smuggling bovine, animals that hold religious significance for Hindus.

While Nilakantan RS has been spewing venom against India in general, his ire against the upper caste is particularly acute. He has been targeting upper caste members on X, using dehumanising and abusive references to characterise them.

Here are some of his tweets that demonstrate his rabid bigotry against upper castes:

It is worth noting that The News Minute, a left-leaning propaganda outlet, was at the receiving end of online backlash, much like ThePrint is currently facing after it had tried to rehabilitate the anti-Hindu bigot. In 2018, The News Minute started a new podcast featuring Nilakantan, ‘Puram’, where he engaged in conversation with politicians and policymakers on their vision for society among other things.

Six years later, ThePrint is trying to mainstream the hatemonger. OpIndia wrote to ThePrint founder Shekhar Gupta seeking his response on the platforming of a controversial individual known for his genocidal calls against Hindus, most notably upper castes. We are yet to receive a reply from him. The article will be updated when we hear from Mr Gupta on his views on platforming a Hinduphobic bigot.

Bengal: BJP fields Rajmata Amrita Roy from Krishna Nagar, to contest against cash-for-query scam accused TMC’s Mahua Moitra

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal: BJP fields Rajmata Amrita Roy from Krishna Nagar, to contest against cash-for-query scam accused TMC’s Mahua Moitra

Late on Sunday (24th March), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released the names of 111 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. In a major poll battle, the party has fielded Amrita Roy, Rajmata of Krishna Nagar Raj bari (Bengali term for Royal Palace) from the Krishna Nagar Lok Sabha constituency. She will be contesting against TMC’s candidate Mahua Moitra.

Last year in December, Moitra was expelled from Lok Sabha on the recommendations of the Ethics Committee on charges of corruption and bribery in the cash-for-query scam case. 

Rajmata Amrita Roy joined the party on 20th March in the presence of Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

After joining BJP, Amrita Roy said, ‘When I was asked to join BJP, the first thing that came to my mind was to bring about a change in the current situation in Bengal which is much needed. From education to health, from Sandeshkhali to Garden Reach, there is illegality and corruption everywhere. This has become a normal phenomenon in the state, which is not appropriate.” 

Regarding her entry, Suvendu Adhikari said, “I am confident that Amrita Roy’s joining BJP will help in regaining the lost glory of Krishnanagar.”

Who is Rajmata Amrita Roy?

Amrita Roy hails from the Nadia Royal family based in Krishna Nagar. She is the wife of Soumish Chandra Roy, the 39th scion of the Nadia Royal family of Maharaja Rudra Chandra Roy and Krishnachandra Roy. Soumish is a retired employee of an airline company. Her son Manish practices in Calcutta High Court.

Rajmata Amrita Roy did her primary education at La Martiniere School and completed higher education at Loreto College. She is a fashion consultant by profession. 

According to her, none of the three members of her family had any previous connection with politics. She said, “But, my family has supported me in my decision to enter politics.”

Raja Krishnachandra was born in 1710 and lived till 1783. During his lifetime he was the king and landlord of Nadia from 1728 to 1782. He belonged to the Nadia Raj family and Shakta Hindu tradition. The Royal family had been renowned for opposing and fighting against the oppressions of the Mughal rule.

He had transformed the Nadia royal family’s Durga Puja into a ‘public’ celebration since its inception in 1683, and because of this, the family enjoys a special prestige in Bengal even today. 

A prominent figure in Indian history, particularly in Bengal, Krishna Chandra was renowned for his visionary governance during the 18th century. He inherited the throne at the age of 18 and ruled for 55 years. His legacy of administrative reforms, promotion of the arts, and Bengali culture is still cherished in the state. 

Rajmata’s inclusion to boost BJP’s poll prospect in the area

Poll experts predict that Rajmata Amrita Roy’s candidature will boost the BJP, and will also help the party in its poll fight against Trinamool Congress’s Mahua Moitra.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mahua Moitra won the Krishnanagar constituency against BJP’s Kalyan Chaubey by 63,218 votes. While she secured 6,14,872 votes, BJP’s pick Chaubey got 5,51,654 votes amid allegations of fear and intimidation by the incumbent state government led by Mamata Banerjee.

As per reports, three assembly constituencies namely Chopra, Palashipara, and Kaliganj assemblies had a huge turnout in favour of Mahua Moitra, resulting in her victory in the 2019 polls. 

However, in the last five years, the BJP has strengthened its organisational structure in Kaliganj Assembly. Additionally, experts suggest that allegations of rampant corruption, misgovernance, and infighting in the ruling party have weakened Trinamool Congress’s organisational strengths have weakened in the past few months in the region. 

Moreover, by nominating ‘Ranima’ Amrita Roy, a well-known and influential figure within the local community, the party can effectively expand its lead in the voting margin and attract support in Krishnanagar.

Healthcare transformation in India: From focus on preventive healthcare, infrastructure development to innovative technology integration

Debraj B
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Healthcare transformation in India: From focus on preventive healthcare, infrastructure development to innovative technology integration

“Strength lies not in unrestrained behaviour but in well-regulated action”, said Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916-1968). The co-founder of the Bhartiya Jana Sangh (BJS) and a prominent thinker of RSS had famously espoused the idea of ‘Antyodaya’, or upliftment of the last man in the queue. Drawing inspiration from the same philosophy, the present-day Indian Government has taken noteworthy strides in the realm of healthcare. “Health for All” has been the guiding mantra behind the transformation the Indian healthcare sector has witnessed over the past 10 years.  

The tenets behind revamping Indian healthcare have been three-fold: 

  • Focus on preventive healthcare 
  • Robust health infrastructure development 
  • New and innovative technology integration 

Preventive healthcare

To alleviate out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for economically backward sections, key measures have been taken around enhancing insurance coverage and other benefits. 

Ayushman Bharat

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): This flagship insurance scheme of GoI was launched in 2018 to provide more than 100 million families with an insurance cover of up to INR 5 Lakhs per family per year. As of 23 Dec 2022, a total of 21.24 Cr Ayushman cards had been issued, and total hospitalizations stood at 4.22 Cr.

National Health Mission 

The prime drivers of this initiative are health system strengthening in rural and urban areas, Reproductive-Maternal-Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) and Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases. This is broadly subdivided into the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). The services envisaged under these missions are facilitated by a network of social health centres and other schemes, like:

  1. ASHA – More than 9.15 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) are in place to facilitate and mobilize community healthcare. 
  2. Rogi Kalyan Samiti/Hospital Management Society – Members of this registered society act as trustees to manage and improve facilities at hospitals. 31,763 Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) have been set up involving almost all District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centers, and Primary Health Centers.
  3. The Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) – This is a major tool for community empowerment at the grassroots level. VHSNC membership includes ASHA and other frontline workers, as well as Panchayati Raj representatives. To date, around 5.01 lakh VHSNCs have been set up across the country. 
  4. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) – This flagship program aims to reduce maternal mortality among pregnant women by encouraging them to deliver in Gov health facilities. Ever since NHRM was set up, more than 8.55 Cr women have benefited from this program. One key outcome that has been witnessed is a sharp decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), from 130/lakh in 2014 to 97/lakh in 2020.
  5. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): JSSK entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to free and no-expense delivery, including the Caesarian section. Free drugs and consumables, free diet, free provisions of blood, and free to-and-fro transportation from home to health institution and back – are features of this scheme.    

Robust health infrastructure development: 

This can broadly be divided into 2 areas:

Expanding healthcare facilities, including hospital beds: As per Rural Health Statistics (RHS) 2020, as on 31.03.2020, public health facilities in India were – 

  • 1,57,921 Sub Centres (SCs)
  • 30,813 Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
  • 5,649 Community Health Centres (CHCs)
  • 1193 Sub-divisional Hospitals (SDHs) & 810 Districts Hospitals (DH)

To improve quality in over 31,000 public facilities, a National Quality Assurance Framework for Health facilities was introduced soon after this government assumed power in 2014. A notable initiative called Kayakalp was introduced, where public healthcare facilities would be appraised and evaluated around cleanliness, hygiene, etc, and exceptional centres would be rewarded. 

Newborn Care Corners (NBCCs) were established to provide essential newborn care at points of delivery, while for sick newborns, Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) were started across the country. 

To promote the usage of generic drugs at affordable price points, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was introduced, which covers 1965 drugs and 293 surgical equipment to be sold at retail shops 50% to 90% cheaper than branded medicines. Since 2014, the number of Janaushadhi Kendras has shot up around 100 times, from 80 to 10,000 now. 

COVID-19 was a testing ground around how swiftly India can adapt to providing facilities and vaccinations to its enormous population. From 2020 to Nov 2022, 3388 Testing laboratories were made operational at a breakneck pace. The largest vaccination drive in the world commenced on 16th January 2021, and as it turns out, this has been a stellar success story for the present-day Government. As of 6th January 2023, more than 220 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered, with 97% of eligible beneficiaries already receiving at least one dose, and around 90% receiving both doses. This involved training more than 2.6 lakh vaccinators, and 4.8 lakh other vaccination team members, outreach to the masses and logistics around storing and transporting vaccines involving 29,000 cold chain points. The digital platform Co-WIN was a big enabler to the vaccination program. Under the Vaccine Maitri program, vaccines and other medical assistance were provided to over 150 nations. 

  • Expansion of medical education: To cater to the increasing demand for quality healthcare, GoI over the last 9 years has expanded the number of medical colleges and MBBS seats at a staggering pace. From a mere 387 medical colleges in 2014 to 689 in 2023, the number has increased by around 78%. The number of AIIMS has also shot up from 7 to 22 over the same time-period.

Not just medical colleges, number of MBBS seats has gone up by 105%, from 51,300 in 2014 to 1,05,383 in 2023. The Number of PG seats over the same time-period has zoomed 110%, from 31,185 to 65,335. 

An interesting observation here is, the growth rates (GR) as above for India far outshine those of the USA and Canada, as depicted in the diagram below: 

Source: Sunday Guardian

New and innovative technology integration

  • Digitization of health infrastructure in India has been a key imperative of the present-day government. The introduction of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) and the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) have been key enablers of this journey. The Cornerstone of this digital thrust has been imperative to put patients at the centre of the care delivery system. Aided by growing internet and mobile penetration in India, the digital health sector is expected to clock growth from INR 524.97 BN in 2021 to INR 2528.69 BN by 2027.
  • Telemedicine – Integration of digital platforms, mobile applications, and AI have led to an enhanced reach of medical services to rural and semi-urban areas. In India, 90% of secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities are located far outside of rural areas, where around 68% of population lives. Naturally, telemedicine has proven to break this barrier and make healthcare more pervasive. This includes real-time or synchronous telemedicine, asynchronous, and remote monitoring. Plethora of private firms have been leading the charge, in close conjunction with GoI, in this space. 
  • Kilkari – To raise greater awareness among pregnant women and parents, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) based mobile service called Kilkari was introduced, that delivers messages and advisories directly to their mobile phones. Each call would be for 2 minutes, that provides reminders to what families should do during a woman’s pregnancy. The services are available in regional dialects too. 
  • Mobile Academy – This is an anytime, anywhere audio training course for ASHA workers, which are 240 minutes long, consisting of 11 chapters with 4 lessons each. Purpose is to refresh ASHA and community workers on ways to better provide community health treatment. 

Among all the achievements of the present day Government, healthcare has clearly been a shining star. Be it Mission Indradhanush to expand immunization rates against deadly diseases, Ayushman Bharat to ensure health for all, the successful COVID-19 handling and vaccination, or promoting better lifestyle through occasions like International Yoga Day, India has witnessed phenomenal growth in healthcare over the past few years. 

Owen Arthur famously said – “For he who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” For 1.4 BN Indians, their hopes of a strong healthcare have surely and steadily been realized, courtesy present-day Government. And if the growth trajectory is anything to go by, the best is yet to come! 

Solapur: Muslim students of govt college offer Namaz in classroom without permission, authorities take no action despite complaints, video viral

Siddhi Somani
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Solapur: Muslim students of govt college offer Namaz in classroom without permission, authorities take no action despite complaints, video viral

On Sunday (24th March) a video from Maharashtra’s Solapur district ernt viral online in which several Muslim students could be seen offering Namaz inside the classroom of a government college. The students are said to have offered Namaz at the Polytechnic Government College, Solapur, on the 21st and 22nd of March amid the Islamic month of Ramzan.

The video obtained by OpIndia showed a group of Muslim students gathering in the classroom and offering Namaz. As per the information obtained by OpIndia, the other students complained about the disturbance. However, the college authorities failed to take any action against the students.

As per the sources, the Muslim students had initially sought permission from the college authorities to leave early from the college premises to attend the Ramzan prayers. However, the college had denied permission citing college rules and regulations that universally apply to all the students. The students then chose to offer Namaz in the class itself.

Along with the other students in the college, several Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists raised their voices against the incident. The activists indicated that they would start practicing Hindu religious practices in the classrooms if the Namaz practice wasn’t stopped. However, no action was taken by the authorities.

OpIndia talked to one of the ABVP activists regarding the incident who said that usually there is communal peace in the college, however, now they have started Namaz within the college premises, that too without permission. This is serious.

One of the faculty members also confirmed to OpIndia that the incident happened within the college premises and the authorities failed to take any action against the students for offering Namaz in the college without permission.

“The students had asked verbal permission to leave early from college to attend Ramzan prayers. College hours usually end at 6 pm. They had sought permission to leave 2 hours early. However, the permission was not granted citing the rules and regulations of the college. The students then offered Namaz in the classroom without permission. It happened only for two days. Later, the vacations began. But no action was taken by the college authorities despite several complaints,” one of the teachers confirmed on the condition of anonymity. He also said that the matter has now been settled as students immediately went for the vacation.

The college Principal was called for a comment but the calls remained unanswered. The report will be updated once the comments are obtained.

Recent incidents of Muslims offering Namaz in public places

The issue of Muslims offering namaz in public places has been heavily criticized as the community members tend to disturb the other community members by blocking the roads and occupying public places. Several Islamists in the past have purposefully created chaos in Gurugram, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Mumbai, and Delhi by offering Namaz on the streets. In several states like Uttar Pradesh, the government has imposed a ban on offering namaz in public places.

Recently, a video of several Muslims offering namaz on the road in the Indralok area of Delhi surfaced online. In the video, a cop could be seen arriving at the spot and kicking a man offering namaz hitting another with his hand, and angrily asking the namaz-offering crowd to vacate the rather busy road.

The Delhi Police cop, identified as Manoj Tomar, was then suspended on 8th March after the video went viral. Shortly after, a longer version of the same video surfaced in which it could be seen that the Muslims offering namaz on the road were warned multiple times by the Delhi Police before the said incident took place.

Islamic leaders on offering Namaz in public places

As per several Islamic leaders, offering Namaz in public places without permission is not allowed in Islam. Prominent Muslim cleric and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, had earlier said that Muslims should avoid offering namaz at places where it inconveniences others. “People must adhere to the directions of the local administration when it comes to using public spaces for offering namaz,” he was quoted as saying.

As per the UP Shia Waqf Board chairman, Syed Waseem Rizvi, Muslims must seek permission before using public spaces for prayers. Maulana Shahabuddin, a prominent Barelvi cleric had also said that “offering Namaz is a matter of faith but people should make sure that nobody is disturbed when they practice their religion.”

Russia: Faces swollen with beating, bandaged and battered terrorists of Moscow attack presented in court, remanded to custody till May 22

OpIndia Staff
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Russia: Faces swollen with beating, bandaged and battered terrorists of Moscow attack presented in court, remanded to custody till May 22

Russia suffered a brutal terrorist attack on the night of Friday, 22 March at the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow. Over 130 persons were killed and more than 150 were wounded and the concert hall was blown up with explosives during the attack for which ISIS has taken responsibility.

Soon after the terrorist attack, Russian security forces launched a widespread manhunt for the perpetrators who had managed to escape. Four terrorists were captured alive by Russian forces while trying to flee towards the Ukrainian border.

Nearly 14 hours after the terrorist attack, the Russian security force FSB announced that a total of 11 suspects have been detained, including 4 terrorists who were directly involved in the attacks. The four terrorists were arrested from the Bryansk region close to the Ukrainian border.

“Soldiers of the Akhmat-Russia regiment of the Russian Ministry of Defense, stationed in the Bryansk region, detained the four shooters in the Bryansk region, about 340 km away from Moscow, and just 100 km from the border with Ukraine”, Sputnik reported.

Though not from Russian official or government channels, but videos of the capture soon went viral on social media. The videos showed how the terrorists were captured and treated thereafter by Russian security forces. One video showed a terrorist being brutally beaten and whimpering, while a security officer cuts off his ear and stuffs it in his wailing mouth.

That terrorist, now identified as an immigrant from Tajikistan named Rachabulizod Saidakrami was presented in court with a battered face and heavy bandage over his severed ear.

Screenshot from Tass

Another terrorist named Muhammadsobir Fayzov was presented in court in an unconscious state, probably from the third-degree treatment given to him during interrogation.

Unconfirmed images on social media also showed one of the terrorists, his face turned away, writhing in pain as his genitals were electrocuted using wires from a battery.

Shamsidin Fariduni, Muhammadsobir Fayzov, Dalerdjon Mirzoyev, and Rachabulizod Saidakrami are all immigrants from Tajikistan, some of them living in Moscow illegally. Moscow’s Basmanny Court has now sanctioned their arrest and interrogation till May 22, 2024, Tass reported.

All Tajik immigrants, not a single Russian citizen

As per reports, all 4 terrorists are Tajik immigrants, some possibly illegals, and they stayed in a hostel together in Moscow. They hail from the Yaroslavl, Ivanovo and Samara regions of Tajikistan and can speak only broken Russian, one of them does not speak Russian at all. During initial interrogation, the terrorists had confessed that they were contacted by a person identified as ‘Assistant of the preacher’ who promised them a lot of money if they killed people. Their claims are yet to be corroborated.

Demand for the death penalty grows in Russia after Moscow attack

Russia had removed the provision of the death penalty under a moratorium in the 1990s. However, after the brutality of the attack on the Crocus Concert Hall shocked the public, there is reportedly a growing demand among the citizenry to bring back the death penalty.

“It is necessary to bring back the death penalty when it comes to terrorism and murder,” Yury Afonin, deputy head of the State Duma’s security committee, was quoted by The Moscow Times.

Former President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the deputy head of the security council, advocated strongly for the death penalty. “Terrorists only understand retaliatory terror…death for death,” Medvedev posted on social media.

Hyderabad: Namaz offering crowd swells into violent mob, attacks Scheduled Caste Hindu women with sticks for celebrating Holi near mosque

OpIndia Staff
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Hyderabad: Namaz offering crowd swells into violent mob, attacks Scheduled Caste Hindu women with sticks for celebrating Holi near mosque

Tension gripped the area of Chengicherla near Ghatkesar in Hyderabad on Sunday, 24th March, after a Muslim mob brutally attacked the local Hindu community for celebrating the festival of Holi. The incident is said to have taken place in the Medchal-Malkagiri district of Hyderabad.

As per reports, when some local Hindus lit the traditional Holi Bhogi fire and played songs while celebrating the festival of colours, the Muslims who were offering namaz inside a mosque nearby began objecting on the grounds that Holi was being celebrated while they were praying.

The Islamists claimed that their ramzan prayers were getting disturbed due to the Holi celebrations.

Several videos of the attack are doing the rounds on social media. The Islamists can be seen weilding sticks right in the presence of the police with a clear intent to threaten and attack the Hindu community. The Islamists in the video can be seen mercilessly pushing and beating Hindu girls, men and women.

One Hindu girl can be seen lying unconscious with her face and head covered in blood surrounded by her people who can be heard wailing after being attacked by the Islamists.

According to Organiser journalist Shubhi Vishwakarma, the Hindu victims were from the Scheduled Caste community. The women could be heard fighting back bravely and countering the jihadis.

The Islamists claimed that the Hindus played loud music while celebrating Holi near the mosque which allegedly disturbed the namaz prayers amid ramzan.

Reportedly, three Hindus were injured following the incident. The police said that no complaint in the case has been lodged as the situation was controlled after police intervention.

Notably, an Islamist could be seen threatening the Hindu community with a sharp sword-like weapon right in front of the police. The Islamists allegedly attempted to justify the attack saying that the Holi songs played during the namaz prayers disturbed them.

It is crucial to note that several mosques in India use loudspeakers to offer Islamic prayers 5 times a day despite the SC order dated 2005 that bans the use of loudspeakers in mosques.

However, in the given case, ironically, the Islamists chose to justify their attack by claiming that the loudspeakers put up by Hindus during the Holi celebrations disturbed their prayers amid Ramzan.

No complaints in the case have been filed even as the Islamists were seen showing fingers to the police which was trying to control the situation. The mob included Muslim boys too while the men were present with sticks on standby. However, the police has said that the situation is under control now.

TMC goons thrash BJP workers, convoy of MP Jagannath Sarkar attacked, ‘Khela’ of violence continues unabated in West Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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TMC goons thrash BJP workers, convoy of MP Jagannath Sarkar attacked, ‘Khela’ of violence continues unabated in West Bengal

On Saturday (23rd March) night, a group of BJP workers were thrashed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons at Baikuntha More in Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

According to DD Bangla News, the incident occurred when the BJP workers were putting up flags in Sonarpur as part of the election campaign for their party candidate.

At that time, TMC goons attacked the BJP workers. In visuals shared by the news channel, it could be seen that a BJP karyakarta sustained injuries on his neck while the shirt of another karyakarta was torn.

On receiving information about the matter, the police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Later, the BJP workers staged a demonstration against the attacks carried out by miscreants associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress party.

“I was putting up flags at Baikuntha More near Ward no. 14 and then some people from the TMC charged at us. They threatened to remove the flags. When we protested against it, they pushed, shoved and assaulted us. I sustained an injury on my neck,” a BJP worker informed.

“There were 4-5 of us and all of us were beaten. And they removed the flags,” he added. A local BJP leader stated, “They are trying to create an atmosphere of violence even before the start of the elections.”

“This culture of violence was not there in Sonarpur before but they (TMC goons) are now hellbent on creating that culture here,” he concluded.

On Sunday (24th March), one set of TMC goons forcibly stopped BJP MP (Ranaghat constituency) Jagannath Sarkar from attending a Harinam Sankirtan in Chakdaha area in Nadia district of West Bengal

As per reports, his convoy was also attacked by the same miscreants. Sarkar was later rescued by his party workers and security personnel. According to the BJP MP, the TMC workers also robbed the mobile phones and gold chains belonging to a BJP karyakartas.

“They want to create an atmosphere of unrest before the elections,” he said.

In a tweet, BJP national spokesperson AMit Malvia said, “Is it a crime to perform Hindu rituals in Bengal? TMC’s Jahangir Vahini attacked devotees, BJP workers, Ranaghat MP Jagannath Sarkar and MLA Bankim Ghosh during a Harinam Sankirtan at Chaduria Malapara More in Chakdah Assembly. TMC hates the Matua community, more so after CAA…”

Violence against BJP in Bengal

On Sunday (24th March), a mob of Trinamool Congress goons attacked several BJP workers in Mather Dighi village in Canning subdivision in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

As per reports, four BJP workers were injured during the attack. Amid the violent clash, three TMC workers were also hurt. All those injured in the attack and counter-attack are now undergoing treatment at the Canning Sub Divisional Hospital.

It has come to light that the TMC goons thrashed the Mandal President of Canning Purba Mandal No 3, and several other karyakartas. According to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the condition of BJP workers Bivas Mondal and Subrata Das remains critical.

Suvendu Adhikari has accused one Hossain Sheikh, who is said to be a close aide of TMC MLA Saokat Molla, of engineering the attack. He has requested the EC to act against Sheikh immediately.

The dead body of a BJP worker, with his hands tied, was discovered in a paddy field near his residence on Saturday (23rd March) morning. The incident took place in Pingla village in Kharagpur subdivision in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. The deceased was identified as Shantanu Ghorai.

His father has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party of orchestrating the murder. While speaking about the matter to ABP Ananda, Shantanu’s father Chittaranjan remarked, “They were angry at him. He used to speak the truth openly. He had to give his life for being involved with the BJP.

He added that the TMC had previously intimidated Shantanu for speaking against TMC and supporting the BJP. The victim’s father continued, “They used to threaten the boy if they ran into him in the market or neighbourhood. They used to warn him about breaking his bones and killing him alive.”

“Shantanu used to put up flags of BJP before elections,” he added. On being asked whether the victim had been deliberately attacked before elections, Chittaranjan said ‘yes.’

OpIndia has recently reported about 5 incidents of attacks on BJP workers, mostly by goons associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress party.

‘Khalistani groups donated $16 million to AAP, Kejriwal offered to release Devinder Singh Bhullar in exchange’: SFJ terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

OpIndia Staff
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‘Khalistani groups donated $16 million to AAP, Kejriwal offered to release Devinder Singh Bhullar in exchange’: SFJ terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

In a recent video, Khalistani terrorist and founder of terror organisation Sikhs For Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, alleged that Khalistani groups gave USD 16 million to Aam Aadmi Party to fund elections. He added that Kejriwal had allegedly offered to release Khalistani terrorist Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar within five hours of formation of government in Delhi.

Pannun said, “Arvind Kejriwal and his associates who call themselves honest Indian Hindus turned out to be more dangerous than the dishonest Indian Hindus. When Kejriwal was not in power in 2014, he came to the US and promised pro-Khalistani groups that he would release Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar within five hours of forming a government. We told them not to trust him at that time. It has been nine years since he came to power.”

He further accused Chief Minister of Punjab and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann of atrocities against those who speak in favour of Khalistan in Punjab. Pannun alleged that Since 2014, pro-Khalistani organisations have funded USD 14 million to AAP for forming governments.

He then warned Kejriwal that Khalistanis, who was lodged in jail, would handle him appropriately. He said they would “seek” answers on the failure of fulfilling the promise to release Bhullar and why the AAP government filed a case against those who were in favour of the Khalistani referendum, including Amritpal Singh.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun accused AAP of using Khalistani funds for elections in 2022

This is not the first time Pannun has accused AAP of using Khalistani funds to fight elections. In March 2022, Sikhs For Justice sent a letter to Chief Minister-designate Bhagwant Mann saying that AAP clearly won the elections by deceptively bagging the votes of pro-Khalistan Sikhs in Punjab who support SFJ’s secessionist referendum for the independence of Punjab from India. In a letter released by the SFJ, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the anti-India outfit, made a sensational allegation that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP treacherously used Khalistan votes and funds to win Punjab.

Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said that it is an open secret that AAP has been heavily funded and supported by pro-Khalistan Sikhs from the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU and Australia. He said that the AAP had tried to win the confidence of the pro-Khalistan votes by falsely claiming that the 2022 elections are significant for Punjab as well as for SFJ because if the AAP comes to power in Punjab, the pro-Khalistanis will get a new hope to strengthen and accomplish their mission.

The letter had gone viral on February 17, two days before the assembly elections in Punjab. Several posts had emerged on social media platforms where AAP supporters thanked SFJ for the support. However, a day later, SFJ claimed that the letter was fake and announced that it was not supporting any political party.

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