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I&B Ministry’s WaveX platform announces the launch of 7 new incubation centres to support Media, Entertainment and AVGC-XR Sector Startups

OpIndia Staff
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I&B Ministry’s WaveX platform announces the launch of 7 new incubation centres to support Media, Entertainment and AVGC-XR Sector Startups

WaveX, the dedicated startup accelerator platform under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES initiative, has announced the launch of seven new incubation centers across India, in addition to the existing facility at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai. This marks the first time that a dedicated accelerator-cum-incubator program has been rolled out specifically for startups in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) and XR (Extended Reality) domains.

The newly announced centers will be established at the following institutions:

  1. Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi
  2. IIMC, Jammu
  3. IIMC, Dhenkanal, Odisha
  4. IIMC, Kottayam, Kerala
  5. IIMC, Amravati, Maharashtra
  6. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, Maharashtra
  7. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, West Bengal

With launch of these incubation networks, startups will gain access to advanced facilities for film production, game development, editing, and testing through IICT, FTII, SRFTI, and other partner incubators. The flagship IICT Incubator, Mumbai is equipped with world-class infrastructure such as an 8K Red Raptor Vista Vision camera, a 4K HDR preview theatre with Dolby Atmos, high-performance Alienware workstations, a state-of-the-art virtual production stage with LED walls, photogrammetry systems, professional sound and color-mix theatres, 4K HDR edit suites, VR testing kits, and the latest gaming consoles.

These facilities enable startups to design, develop, and validate content in film, gaming, and immersive media at global standards. Startups under WaveX will be able to access these resources both on-site and through digital platforms. The participating startups will also gain opportunities for international exposure at prestigious global startup events such as VivaTech (Paris) and Game Developers Conference (USA).

Facilities and Support:

The selected startups will get access to Incubation facilities, Industry Connect, Government connect both central and state, Funding support, Sales and Marketing mentorship etc. The new centers will provide the same infrastructure and incubation facilities as the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, ensuring uniform access to high-quality incubation, infrastructure and mentorship nationwide.

The participating startups at each incubation center will be provided with:

  • Co-working spaces, AV/Digital labs, and studios (green rooms, photo/video production facilities)
  • High-speed LAN/Wi-Fi, hosting servers, cloud credits (AWS/Google), and India AI compute services
  • Sandbox testing opportunities in OTT, VFX, VR, gaming, animation, publishing, and post-production
  • Structured mentorship and advisory support from global leaders and industry experts
  • Masterclasses, focused bootcamps, policy clinics, and investor connect sessions

Further, partnerships with IITs, T-Hub, and other established incubators are being developed to provide expanded learning opportunities and access to wider innovation ecosystems. Startups incubating under WaveX will also gain opportunities to work closely with media units under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting such as Doordarshan, All India Radio, Film and Television Institute of India, Press Information Bureau, Publications Division, New Media Wing, and Electronic Media Monitoring Centre. Selected startups may also be given priority in projects outsourced by these media units.

Application Process

Applications for the upcoming cohort are now open. Interested startups may apply by visiting wavex.wavesbazaar.com, navigating to the dashboard,  selecting the apply for incubation option and providing the preferred incubation center.

15 will be selected for the first batch at each location. Monthly Fee is ₹8,500 + GST per startup. Startups in the Media-Entertainment and AVGC-XR sectors will be given preference.

About WaveX

WaveX is the startup accelerator platform under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES initiative, created to nurture innovation in media, entertainment, and creative technologies. Through its network of incubators, WaveX provides infrastructure, mentorship, and global market access to empower India’s next-generation creators and entrepreneurs.

WaveX’s incubation model operates in two phases:

Active Phase: Intensive support in business modelling, product development, branding, fundraising, and media regulations.

Passive Phase: Lighter mentorship with global showcasing opportunities through Waves Bazaar and ongoing investor/industry engagement.

WaveX aims to create a thriving ecosystem for disruptive media innovations and differs from traditional incubators and accelerators in that, it brings unreal into reality by supporting early age ventures based on potential and not just existing products as in AVGC sector products are often at unreal stage. WaveX has been designed to nurture next-gen entrepreneurs in gaming, OTT, AI driven content creation and immersive technologies (AR/VR/XR) by providing them with industry mentorship, strategic funding access and cutting-edge infrastructure.

Three Naxalites killed in Gumla, two in Abujhmad, and 71 CRPF companies from J&K to be deployed for anti-Naxal ops: India’s war on Naxalism nears endgame

OpIndia Staff
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Three Naxalites killed in Gumla, two in Abujhmad, and 71 CRPF companies from J&K to be deployed for anti-Naxal ops: India’s war on Naxalism nears endgame

India’s war on Naxalism is in its final leg. The security forces are conducting operations in the region affected by Maoist terrorists. In a major success in this direction, Gumla Police along Jharkhand Jaguars eliminated three left wing terrorists belonging to the Jharkhand Janmukti Parishad in an encounter in in Ragdi Toli, Kechki, under the Bishanpur police station area of Gumla district.

The slain terrorists have been identified as Lalu Lohara, Chhotu Oraon, and Sujit Oraon. Gumla SP Haris Bin Zaman confirmed this. Lalu Lohara and Chhotu Oraon, both carrying a reward of five lakh rupees, made this police action even more significant.

Among the slain Naxalites, Lalu Lohara was a resident of Lohardaga and was the sub-zonal commander of the JJMP. An AK-47 was also recovered from him. The second Naxalite, Chhotu Oraon, was a resident of Latehar and was also a sub-zonal commander. A reward of Rs 5 lakh each was announced on both of them. The third slain Naxalite, Sujit Oraon, was a resident of Lohardaga and was working as a cadre. Police also recovered three weapons from the scene.  

In another operation on 22nd September, two Central Committee Member Naxal leaders, Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadri Satyanarayan Reddy, were eliminated by security forces in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border. Bastar IG P Sundarraj said that the security forces have continued their operation following intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the area.

The senior police officer said that during the search of the area, the bodies of two Maoists, along with an AK 47 and INSAS rifle and other weapons and ammunition, were recovered.

The slain Maoist terrorists were identified as Central Committee Members Raju Dada alias Katta Ramachandra Reddy (aged 63 years) and Kosa Dada alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (aged 67 years), both carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh each in Chhattisgarh state. Both were residents of Karimnagar, Telangana.

Weeks earlier, the Central Committee of Maoists reportedly wrote a letter to the Central government, seeking dialogue and a one-month ‘ceasefire’.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that out of the 85 CRPF companies (8,500 personnel) deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, 71 have been ordered to withdraw. All these companies have been asked to return to their original sectors. Only 14 companies will remain deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. These troops are likely to be deployed for a major campaign against Naxalites may soon be launched in Naxal-affected states like Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Jharkhand. 

These companies have been ordered to be withdrawn to 10 sectors, including Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar. While 14 companies from four sectors have been asked to remain deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi government’s war on Naxalism intensified in its final phase

It must be recalled that Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, has repeatedly said that by 31st March 2026, left-wing terrorism/Maoism/Naxalism will be completely eradicated from India. To achieve this goal, the security forces have been undertaking operations in the Naxal-infected Dandakaranya region spanning multiple states.

Recently, 3 Naxalites, carrying a combined bounty of Rs 1.35 crore, were neutralised in the Pati Piri Forest of Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district. Sahdev Soren alias Parvesh, a member of the Central Committee, carried a reward of Rs 1 crore. Raghunath Hembram, was a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh. Meanwhile Birsen Ganjhu alias Ramkhelavan, member of the regional committee carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh.

Earlier on September 7 in Chaibasa, a prominent leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), Aaptan, was killed during a gunfight. Recently, a major anti-Naxal operation in the Gariyaband district in Chhattisgarh, the security forces eliminated 10 Naxal terrorists, including senior Naxal leader Modem Balkrishna alias Manoj, who had a bounty of ₹1 crore on him.

In pursuance of its zero-tolerance policy towards Naxalim, the Modi government launched Operation Kagar in January 2024. It is a multi-pronged strategy combining aggressive military operations, enhanced coordination between Central and State forces, and development efforts to address the root causes of Naxalism. Under this operation, around 1 lakh para-military troops, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite CoBRA units, District Reserve Guards DRG), and state police, have been deployed in the left-wing terrorism affected areas. These security personnel are equipped with modern technology like drones for information gathering, AI for intelligence gathering, and satellite imagery, among others.

As of 2015, approximately 106 districts across 10 states were classified as Naxal-affected. This number was reduced to 38 by 2024 and further to 18. Out of these, 12 were considered the most impacted by Naxal activities, yet this figure has now fallen to just 6.

While the security forces are eliminating intransigent Maoists, they are allowing safe return and all-round support to those who surrender. The Central and state governments are providing rehabilitation benefits to surrendered Naxals and also facilitating their return to the Indian mainstream.

Escalator suddenly halted, teleprompter stopped during speech, Donald Trump’s UNGA address marred with incidents, probe launched

OpIndia Staff
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Escalator suddenly halted, teleprompter stopped during speech, Donald Trump’s UNGA address marred with incidents, probe launched

US President Donald Trump’s visit to the United Nations headquarters to deliver his address was surrounded by bizarre ‘technical mishaps’, which prompted the White House to demand an investigation. Trump was on his way to deliver his UN address on Tuesday (23rd September), accompanied by the First Lady, Melania, when the escalator he used suffered an abrupt halt as soon as he and the First Lady stepped on it.

As a result, Trump and Melania had to climb the steps of the dysfunctional escalator. As per latest reports, the Secret Service has launched a probe into the escalator malfunction at the UN headquarters.

Another ‘technical glitch’ happened during Trump’s address at the UN when a teleprompter he was using suddenly stopped working. Commenting on the escalator mishap, Trump said, “…on the way up, stopped right in the middle. If the First Lady weren’t in great shape, she would have fallen, but she’s in great shape. We’re both in good shape.” On the teleprompter malfunction, the Trump jokingly remarked, “Whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble”.

“I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations. All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle,” said the US President, taking a dig at the United Nations.

Trump, however, continued his address without the teleprompter’s help and made it a point to mention it.

White House flagged concerns of a possible conspiracy

While Trump brushed off the two incidents with humour, the White House has taken a serious note of the incidents, particularly after The Times reported that the UN staffers had previously joked about cutting off escalators and the elevators when Trump arrived, saying they would tell him the organisation had “run out of money”.

Flagging concerns of a possible security breah, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the incident “unacceptable” and suggested it may not have been an innocent glitch. “If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately,” Leavitt wrote on X.

Claiming that the audio level during Trump’s speech was lower compared to the previous speaker, Leavitt linked the incidents to a possible conspiracy. “The audio inside the room was much lower and different for the president of the United States than for the previous speaker. So when you put all of this together, it doesn’t look like a coincidence to me.  And I know that we have people, including the United States Secret Service, who are looking into this to try to get to the bottom of it,” Leavitt told Fox News.

UN blames Trump’s videographer for the escalator mishap

Hours after the video of Trump and Melania climbing the stopped escalator went viral on social media, the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric issued a statement, rejecting the claims of a conspiracy. Dujarric clarified that the escalator stopped “after a built-in safety mechanism on the comb step was triggered at the top of the escalator”. Dujarric’s clarification was reportedly based on the data from the escalator’s central processing unit.

She said that Trump’s videographer might have accidentally activated the safety function of the escalator while climbing backwards up the escalator to capture the visuals of the arrival of the US President and the First Lady. “The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing,” Dujarric was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Trump supporters, in the meanwhile, have been posting that the escalator malfunction was a major security breach that could have harmed the President, the First Lady, or both.

Punjab’s anti-migrant row: Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatens migrant workers to leave the state or face consequences, warns against celebrating Diwali

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab’s anti-migrant row: Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatens migrant workers to leave the state or face consequences, warns against celebrating Diwali

The Khalistani terrorist group “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) has once again disseminated a provocative video, declaring that only individuals who refrain from celebrating Diwali and exclusively engage in Deepmala on Bandi Chhor Divas will continue to reside in Punjab. The chief of the organization, designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, threatened individuals from other states to vacate Punjab by 19th October.. He warned that not adhering to this demand would lead to severe repercussions.

Pannun claimed that Punjab is not a part of India and raids would be carried out at Batala railway station by the specified date. As expected, he also expressed hostility towards Hindutva, asserting that those promoting the ideology must depart and failure to heed the ultimatum could result in serious consequences.

Furthermore, Pannun presented footage of the Batala railway station and boasted that Khalistani slogans had been inscribed there. He stated that these slogans were displayed on the signboards of the station and on the electricity boxes. Pannun also referred to the Achaleshwar Dham temple. He even issued a warning to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, threatening to “destroy” the Mann government.

Anti-migrant sentiment in Punjab

The death of a 5-year-old allegedly at the hands of a migrant worker in Hoshiarpur has ignited a strong anti-migration sentiment in Punjab, driven by vested interests, anti-India factions, and pro-separatist groups. The primary focus of this animosity is directed towards individuals from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

More than 25 panchayats in Hoshiarpur and the surrounding districts approved resolutions condemning migrant workers in the days after the tragedy. Although the orders differed, they all restricted the right of residence for anybody without Punjab-issued documentation. Within a week, some villages mandated that migrants without adequate paperwork leave the state. Large-scale migrant labour departures from the state have reportedly occurred out of fear of the blowback.

Meanwhile, vigilante threats have been reported in Bathinda and Ludhiana. Social internet videos show vigilantes advocating for the mass departure of migrant labour. There is a warning for street vendors from other states to depart.

On the other hand, an urgent red flag has been raised by Punjabi industry associations. Migrant workers represent the “backbone of Punjab’s industries, farms, shops, and households,” according to a recent letter to the chief minister from Badish Jindal, an industrialist from Ludhiana and president of the World MSME Forum.

unjab’s industry and supply systems will collapse if antagonistic forces drive them out, he pointed out, hurting not only state companies but also exports that pass through other states. He urged the government to prevent anti-migrant rhetoric and to protect worker safety, calling this hostility “a conspiracy to destroy Punjab.”

Surat: Garba event organisers apologise, cancel contract after Bajrang Dal flags inclusion of non-Hindu orchestra staff

OpIndia Staff
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Surat: Garba event organisers apologise, cancel contract after Bajrang Dal flags inclusion of non-Hindu orchestra staff

The festival of Navratri has begun, and with it, Hindu organizations across Gujarat have become active. Checking is being carried out at various places to ensure that there is no disturbance during the Hindu festival. In this process, during inspections in Surat, it was found by workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal that some Muslim individuals had been included in the orchestra for an event named Suvarna Navratri. Once this came to light, a team of Hindu activists reached the venue and explained the matter to the organizers. The organizers later apologized and accepted the demands of the organization.

According to information received by OpIndia, the VHP learned that some of the dholak players in the orchestra at the Suvarna Navratri event in Surat were Muslims. Following this, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers gathered in large numbers at the pandal. Bajrang Dal activists argued that Navratri is a festival of worship dedicated to the Goddess, and therefore there is no need for non-Hindus to be involved. They stressed that the festival is not just for entertainment but holds deep religious significance, and so entry should be restricted to Hindus only, with non-Hindus not being allowed. Since it is a religious festival, they said, it should be observed exclusively by Hindus.

The activists further stated that Navratri is not meant for entertainment. If the organizers had arranged such a program on other days purely for amusement, the organization would have had no objection. However, these are sacred days of Navratri, dedicated to the worship of the Goddess, and hence non-Hindus should not be involved.

As a result of the Bajrang Dal’s protest, the organizers issued an apology and gave assurances that such a mistake would not happen again. They said that for the past three to four years they had been organizing Garba events during Navratri, and until now no Muslims had ever been included. They also clarified that Muslims are not given entry to the Garba either. This time, however, the inclusion of a few non-Hindu drummers was their mistake.

The organizers assured that they will be mindful of this issue in the future and that no non-Hindus will be included in the orchestra either. They further clarified that the orchestra’s contract for this year had already been canceled, and from next year onward, every aspect, including security and such arrangements, will be strictly taken care of to ensure no such lapse occurs again.

Institutional Hinduphobia on the rise in US: Republican leader’s ‘false God’ remark for Lord Hanuman exposes dangerous normalisation of anti-Hindu hostility in America

Shraddha Pandey
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Institutional Hinduphobia on the rise in US: Republican leader’s ‘false God’ remark for Lord Hanuman exposes dangerous normalisation of anti-Hindu hostility in America

There is an insane level of normalisation of Hinduphobia going on in the US. Mocking Hindu gods, Hindus and their Indian roots has become increasingly a new cool among the American socio-political discourse. In a fresh instance of growing anti-Hindu bias, Alexander Duncan, the Republican Senate candidate for Texas, called Lord Hanuman a ‘false god’ and objected to the construction of his statue in the US, saying that America is a ‘Christian’ nation.

In an X post published on 20th September, Duncan shared a video showcasing the 90-foot-tall statue of Lord Hanuman installed in the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in the town of Sugar Land, Texas, and wrote, “Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation!”

Further justifying his Hinduphobia, Alexander Duncan published posts quoting Biblical verses that essentially direct Bible followers not to indulge in idol worship and assert that worship of God by means of idol is an inappropriate practice.

“I’m just calling it what it is, an IDOL. ‘You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.’ Exodus 20:3-4,” Duncan posted.

“’They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.’ Romans 1:25.” he added.

Duncan, whose other X posts struggle to garner much attention, received over 43,000 likes on his anti-Hindu post, reflecting the growing support for Hinduphobia. The Republican leader declares that America is a Christian nation, however, the American constitution does not say so. The American constitution separates church from the state. It states the US is a secular nation. Perhaps, Alexander Duncan should ask Donald Trump to amend the constitution, declare the US officially a Christian nation. If today Duncan suggests that the so-called ‘false statues’ of ‘false gods’ should not be allowed in the ‘Christian nation’ of the United States, tomorrow he would demand that all the followers of ‘false gods’ should be expelled from the US.

However, Duncan has also received massive backlash for the post, reflecting his bigoted and anti-Hindu mindset. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), criticised Duncan’s remarks as “anti-Hindu and inflammatory”. The HAF has officially reported the Republican leader’s remarks to his party and sought an internal review of the matter. The Hindu rights group said that Alexander Duncan is violating the Republican Party’s guidelines against discrimination.

“Hello @TexasGOP, will you be disciplining your senate candidate from your party who openly contravenes your own guidelines against discrimination—displaying some pretty sordid anti-Hindu hate—not to mention disrespect for the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause?” the HAF said.

It must be mentioned that the idol of Lord Hanuman is installed inside the privately held premises of the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple after obtaining proper permissions from the authorities.

The “Statue of Unity”, as it is called, is not built illegally or on encroached government land but on a private religious property. Despite this, peaceful and law-abiding Hindus and their religion are being slandered by the Republican candidate.

Not to forget, Donald Trump, the Republican leader and President of the United States, had during his electoral campaign promised to support and protect Hindu rights; however, after coming to power, his own supportive MAGA faction has unleashed incessant anti-Hindu rhetoric laced in sheer religious and racial hatred for the Hindu community and Indic origins.

Institutionalised Hinduphobia: America finds itself bound in the shackles of hatred for the most peaceful and tolerant religious migrant community—Hindus

It is essential to note that Duncan’s anti-Hindu remarks are not isolated but a part of a pattern of MAGA-driven hatred against the statue of the Hindu deity since its unveiling. The Christian supremacists have been labelling the statue a “demonic” monument to a “foreign deity”.

While Hinduphobic attitudes, prejudices and violence targeting Hindus and Hinduism have long simmered beneath the surface of the so-called pluralistic American society, the US has in recent years witnessed an unprecedented normalisation of Hinduphobia.

In 1910, The Detroit Times published a highly derogatory article vilifying the Hindus. The piece titled “Hindoos (Hindus) Continue to Flock to the US” referred to Hindus and Indians as ‘Oriental scum’.  “The dumping place for the scum of the Orient and India is San Francisco,” the article published in 1910 read.

Fast forward to 2025, it seems that the US is pivoting back to the blatant, bigoted and racist mindset against the Hindus. Earlier this year, White and Christian supremacists ignited the H1-B visas debate after Donald Trump nominated American-born Indian Sriram Krishnan as senior policy advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

What began as an online attack slandering Sriram soon snowballed into a full-fledged campaign against H1-B visas for highly-skilled Indians. This was followed by derision and insults directed at Hindus and Hinduism.

And this anti-Indian and anti-Hindu campaign has paid off well for the bigots who partook in it as Donald Trump has backtracked from his earlier stance supporting H1-B visa and skilled immigration, and imposed a $1,00,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions submitted by aliens outside the US. While this rule applies only to new applications, the MAGA faction saw it as a victory for its anti-Indian and anti-Hindu smear campaign. And victories, small or big, only embolden the bigots.

The American Christian supremacists are unable to tolerate a skilled and affluent minority of Hindu Indian Americans working hard, paying their taxes on time, and contributing significantly to the American economy simply because they are Hindus. Such is the irony that while Islamists are taking over city after city in the US, Christian supremacists view inherently tolerant Hindus as some sort of existential threat.

This lot cannot tolerate a statue of a Hindu deity installed in a temple premises and openly declares the religious beliefs of Hindus as ‘false’ and ‘demonic’, but gloats while sharing information on how Christian missionaries and Pentecostal frauds are converting non-Christians to Christianity in the distant ‘heathen’ lands through deceit, propaganda and coercion.

India is a Hindu-majority country, and yet there are around 30 to 40 thousand churches in the country. Should the Indian government declare Jesus a ‘foreign’ and ‘false’ God and raze down all these churches? The American nationalists would start crying hoarse that religious freedom is dead in India. Christians are not safe, and whatnot, if that happened.

Earlier, Donald Trump’s Trade Adviser, Peter Navarro, who Trump has unleashed as his attack dog to vilify India over its Russian oil purchases, resorted to slandering the Brahmin community. In an interview with Fox News, Navarro invoked caste and accused the Brahmins of India of “profiteering at the expense of the Indian people.”

So, you know, look, Modi’s a great leader… But I don’t understand why he’s getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping…when he’s the leader of the biggest democracy in the world. I would just simply say to the Indian people. Please, understand what’s going on here. You’ve got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop…” Navarro said.

The Anti-Hindu lobby in the US has been actively running a sinister campaign to push a caste discrimination narrative aimed at undermining and villainising the Hindu community in the US, particularly the Brahmins. Many universities, including Harvard University, Colby College, Brown University, and California State University, have even added caste to their non-discrimination policy. In 2023, the California State Senate in the US passed legislation (SB-403) that banned caste-based discrimination in the State, although it was later vetoed. Not to forget the 2019 CISCO caste discrimination case, which was widely used to vilify the Hindu community as casteist and incompatible with American values. This case was dismissed after no wrongdoing was found.

In 2021, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New Jersey was raided by the American authorities after a lawsuit alleging forced labour and caste discrimination was filed. The American legacy media targeted the Hindu temple and its authorities; however, this too turned out to be a case of all propaganda, not facts, intended to malign the reputation of Hindus in America. The US authorities recently closed the investigation in this case as none of the allegations were found to be true.

In 2024, the anti-Hindu lobby opposed House Resolution 113, which condemned Hinduphobia in the US.

In recent years, hate crimes against Indian Americans have also been on the rise. According to the FBI’s 2020 data, hate crimes against Indian Americans are up by 500 per cent.

Besides, politics and social media, even the American media and academia perpetuate anti-Hindu bias through selective outrage and erasure. OpIndia has on numerous occasions reported how newspapers like the New York Times, among others, have also been complicit in spinning and amplifying anti-Hindu narratives.

OpIndia earlier reported how DEI programs have been normalising hatred against Brahmins in the US. In their attempts to foment the same hate Nazis had for Jews, several DEI programs were creating prejudices against Hindus, particularly the so-called “upper-caste” Hindus like Brahmins, who are already at the receiving end of hate campaigns of the anti-Hindu elements.

The vandalism of Hindu temples in the US has become a new normal in the US. In September 2024, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was desecrated with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti. This act of vandalism came just days after a similar incident occurred at the BAPS Mandir on Long Island, New York. While Khalistani terrorists have been the frequent perpetrators of these anti-Hindu crimes, now the Christian supremacists are also intensifying opposition to Hindu symbols, statues and temples.

It was reported last year that in California, anti-Hindu incidents ranked second only to antisemitism, with 23.3% of religious hate calls tied to Hinduphobia. In July 2025, a video of a White American berating an Indian man with “Why are you in my country? I don’t like you guys here. There are too many of you guys here. Indians! You guys are flooding all the white countries. I am tired of it. Americans are sick of this sh**. I want you to go back to India…”

There has been a rising tide of racism and religious hatred against the Hindus in the US. While not all crimes against Indian Americans are driven by religious hatred, the online hate against Hindus has also contributed to this. It must not be forgotten that even the H1-B visas debate began with ‘Indians are taking over our jobs’, but soon turned into blatant Hinduphobia.

Today’s calls for ‘sending back’ Hindus to India, and removing Hindu idols and temples, will eventually descend to calling for the killing, even genocide, of Hindus. It must be remembered that dehumanising rhetoric always precedes genocides. Even though Jews were not dumped into concentration camps overnight, the hate was propagated gradually; what was initially a minuscule fringe soon became a mainstream thought and eventually a policy of expulsions, segregation, and then the Holocaust. It may sound like an exaggeration, however, from the H1-B visa issue coming down to Hindu hate in the US to Bangladesh’s anti-government ‘student protests’ ending in killings and rape of Hindus and destruction of Hindu temples.

From Rome to Genoa, Italy under siege: Leftist–Islamist mobs unleash deadly pro-Palestine violence over Gaza war

OpIndia Staff
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From Rome to Genoa, Italy under siege: Leftist–Islamist mobs unleash deadly pro-Palestine violence over Gaza war

Tens of thousands of leftist and Islamist protesters took to streets in dozens of Italian cities, blocking roads, ports and schools to agitate against Israel. This is one of the biggest nationwide demonstrations in Europe. 22nd September saw clashes after thousands participated in a day of solidarity with Palestinians organised by trade unions in towns and cities throughout the nation.

The largest crowds were in Milan and Rome and tensions erupted near the former’s central station where over 60 police officers were reportedly injured and 10 accused were arrested. Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, called the events “shameful.” She has criticized Israel but has not gone as far as France in publicly recognising a Palestinian state termed as a “necessity” by President Emmanuel Macron.

France has officially accepted Palestine as an independent nation as announced by Macron, at a United Nations meeting on the Middle East peace process on 22nd September. Almost 80% of the UN General Assembly’s member states have recognised the Palestinian statehood including Portugal, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Monaco among many others.

However, the government of Giorgia Meloni has stated that acknowledging a nonexistent state could be “counter-productive.” Meanwhile, public transit was severely disrupted, major ports in Livorno and Genoa were closed, a vital metro line in Milan was shut down and university students in Turin and Bologna barred entrance to lecture halls.

The USB union called for the government to sever ties with Israel in support of the Palestinian people by organising a 24-hour nationwide “Let’s Block Everything” strike. The people carrying playcards with multiple slogans including “Free Palestine” and “Let’s Block Everything” joined additional demonstrations in Florence, Bari, Naples, Campania and Palermo, Sicily.

At least 20,000 protesters gathered at the capital’s Termini station, one of the largest gatherings ever recorded near major rail hubs in Rome and Milan. Violence broke out outside Milan Central Station after demonstrators demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and set fire to a United States flag.

According to organisers, 50,000 people showed up in Milan whereas Bologna police estimated that number to be around 10,000. The main entrance of the train station was attempted to be smashed by dozens of agitators with batons which caused tensions to rise throughout the city. The riotets started hurling metal girders, smoke bombs, bottles and stones at police as they attempted to enter the station. Police used pepper spray in response to the attack.

The main ring road in Bologna was cut off and protesters were dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannon. According to Italian media, dock workers blocked port entrances in Genoa and Livorno. Rome’s metro system and local buses were interrupted, and national rail companies issued cancellation and delay alerts.

The attacks on cops sparked fury from senior ministers. According to Meloni it was “violence and destruction that have nothing to do with solidarity and that will not change a single thing in the lives of people in Gaza, but will have concrete consequences for Italian citizens.” Matteo Salvini, the minister of transport, praised those who had gone to work and referred to the protests as the “political mobilisation of far-left unionists.”

The recent developments transpired as the United States backed Israel continues to expand its settlements in the West Bank and wage war against Hamas in Gaza.

From Gyanvapi to Haldwani, Tauqeer Raza has fueled violence, now he incites unrest over ‘I Love Muhammad’: Muslim cleric who has given UP govt a one-week ultimatum

OpIndia Staff
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From Gyanvapi to Haldwani, Tauqeer Raza has fueled violence, now he incites unrest over ‘I Love Muhammad’: Muslim cleric who has given UP govt a one-week ultimatum

As the violent ‘I love Muhammad’ protests by Muslims have spread across various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, the name of radical Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan has emerged in connection with the protests. Maulana Tauqeer Raza, head of a politico-religious organisation, Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), has made provocative remarks regarding the protests.

Tauqeer Raza, who is notorious for making inflammatory statements, issued a threat to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the ‘I Love Muhammad’ issue. Giving an ultimatum to the district administration, Tauqeer Raza said that the state government has a week to take action, after that, the Muslims will hit the streets. Continuing his threatening tones, Tauqeer Raza claimed that India has more Muslims than the combined population of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, and if they take to the streets, the government will be forced to concede to their demands.

Who is Tauqeer Raza Khan

Tauqeer Raza Khan is a Muslim leader and cleric from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. He is the great-grandson of Ahmed Raza Khan, the founder of the Barelvi movement. He has a long history of making provocative remarks. Last year in March, the Additional Session’s Judge Court in Uttar Pradesh declared him as the mastermind behind the 2010 anti-Hindu Bareilly riots.

After the Supreme Court allowed Hindus to offer prayers at the Gyanvapi disputed structure last year, Tauqeer Raza announced a “Fill the Jails” movement. Following Tauqeer Raza’s call, a large mob of Muslims took to the streets after Friday prayers in Bareilly, leading to violence. During the protest, Muslims pelted stones at police, and some people were assaulted.

He also made inflammatory statements following the violence in Haldwani over encroachment removal. Accusing the court of not protecting the Muslims, he said that Muslims had the right to defend themselves, and they even had the right to kill anyone who targeted them. Triggered by the demands of declaring India a Hindu Rashtra, Tauqeer Raza, in May 2023, said that if no action is taken against those demanding a Hindu nation, Muslims will demand an Islamic nation.

After Tauqeer Raza’s provocative remarks, Muslim mobs in Kanpur, Kashipur, and Unnao staged violent protests. Police personnel were attacked, vehicles were vandalised, and hateful slogans like ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ (Separate from the head and body) were shouted by the Muslim mob.

Tauqeer Raza Khan’s Congress connection

Despite Tauqeer Raza Khan’s radical stance, the Congress Party entered into an alliance with his organisation, IMC. In 2009, the Congress Party announced that the All India Ittihad-e-Millat Council agreed to support Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, and in return, the council would have a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress in the 2012 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The radical Islamic cleric belongs to the Barelvi sect, which is reportedly close to the Congress Party.

‘I Love Muhammad’ processsions by Muslims

A controversy erupted in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on 4th September, after the Muslim community set up an “I Love Muhammad” light board for the Barawafat program in front of Zafar Wali Gali within the Syed Nagar area of the Rawatpur police station for an event. Barawafat denotes the observance of both the birth and the death of the Prophet Muhammad, which occurs in the third month of the Islamic calendar.

Locals expressed their discontent with the light boards, which was a new tradition and had never happened before, for Barawafat. This led to a minor confrontation between the opposing sides. The cops intervened by removing the board and relocating it to a different site. The issue was resolved. The FIR explicitly mentioned that the board remained in place when the resolution was reached. However, the next day, on 5th September, a conflict happened after certain unidentified Muslim youths who were in a vehicle participating in the event, intentionally used sticks to destroy the religious posters belonging to the Hindu community, placed along the road in the Hindu locality of the Rawatpur village, to create communal disturbance. A case by registered by the Uttar Pradesh police against 25 youths.

After receiving support of Muslim clerics and Muslim leaders like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, “I Love Muhammad” processions were carried out by Muslims in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttarakhand. After receiving support of Muslim clerics and Muslim leaders like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, “I Love Muhammad” processions were carried out by Muslims in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttarakhand. Incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism, and even assaults happened in the processions and slogans of ‘Sar Tan se Juda’ were shouted.

 

In the court of fantasy – how not to read UAPA: Umar Khalid’s father spreads propaganda, plays victim even as he admits Kapil Sibal was trying to bench fix

Nupur J Sharma
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In the court of fantasy – how not to read UAPA: Umar Khalid’s father spreads propaganda, plays victim even as he admits Kapil Sibal was trying to bench fix

The Delhi anti-Hindu Riots conspiracy case, in which several are accused including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, has proven to be one of the most high profile cases of recent years. It has everything – high profile accused, high profile lawyers representing the high profile accused, attempts at bench fixing, hollow rhetoric to exonerate terrorists and a global media twisting facts to suit their insidious narrative. In India, the mainstream media almost in its entirety has, since 2020, has been pushing fantastical tales, seemingly, in an attempt to influence the judicial process, in the favour of the accused.

The Indian Express recently carried a column by S.Q.R. Ilyas titled “India needs a people’s movement against UAPA”. Supreme Court benches change like musical chairs, accused prove innocence at bail, and delay is always the State’s fault – in Ilyas’s imagination, at least.

Before we proceed to debunk the misrepresentations made by Ilyas in his Indian Express article, it becomes important to do a cursory audit of his antecedents. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas is a former member of the banned Islamic Terrorist organization, SIMI. He had left it in 1985. In the year 2019, he also contested the Lok Sabha Elections from West Bengal on a ticket from the Welfare Party of India (WPI) from the Jangipur constituency, a Muslim-dominated seat in the Murshidabad district. The former SIMI member is now a member of the Central Advisory Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and AIMPLB.

In 2016, when Umar Khalid was arrested for his seditious speech, Ilyas had questioned whether his son was being prosecuted because of his SIMI past. Speaking to Indian Express (again), he had said, “I left SIMI in 1985, before my son Umar Khalid was born, and when there was not a single case against any individual in SIMI or the organisation. SIMI was banned in 2001″. Apart from the usual victim playing, back then, Ilyas was essentially trying to not only say that Umar Khalid was innocent, but also, claim innocence himself. He hinted that when he was associated with SIMI, there were no criminal cases against them and therefore, he had done nothing wrong. That, however, is far from the truth. First and foremost, no organisation turns into a terror organisation overnight. It was obviously established on extremist ideology – yes, they were prosecuted for it later, but that does not mean that prior to being banned as a terror organisation, they were a saintly charitable organisation.

Secondly, in 2012, 11 years after SIMI was banned, SQR Ilyas had vociferously advocated for the ban to be lifted. The conference in 2012 was convened by Ilyas where he proclaimed that government was unjustified in banning SIMI. This would mean that Ilyas, while trying to play the victim and exonerate himself, believed and continues to believe that SIMI was not a terrorist organisation and their activity was justified.

Now that we know the who SQY Ilyas is and how he plays victim, it is important to understand how he is trying to whitewash his son, Umar Khalid, who was one of the main conspirators of the Delhi anti-Hindu riots.

On the surface, the Indian Express article by Ilyas reads like a plea for liberty. Scratch a little deeper, and it collapses into a political pamphlet, one that bends facts, distorts law, and hides inconvenient truths about his son’s case. 

If India is to debate the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), let it be an honest debate. Ilyas’s column, however, begins with distortions and ends in propaganda.

His central lament is that Umar Khalid and others (his cohorts like Sharjeel Imam, who infamously suggested that the Northeast be cut off from India because Muslims are in a majority in the “chicken neck” region) are denied bail despite so called “delays”.

But this omits what the Delhi High Court made explicit in co-accused Tasleem Ahmed bail order, in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case that much of the delay was caused by the accused. The Court recorded how adjournments were being systematically sought, sometimes by those already out on bail, to create artificial delay and then use it as a ground for others still in custody to demand release. In other words, the “delay” was not an accident of the system but a deliberate tactic of defence. To repackage this as “justice denied” is to erase judicial findings and mislead the public.

In fact, in the article, Ilyas so much as admits that the delay tactics were caused by the accused – his son and his lawyer Kapil Sibal. He writes:

“In normal practice, if a hearing is postponed in the Supreme Court, the case is reassigned to a new bench. Yet, in Khalid’s case, the matter repeatedly appeared before the same judge for six consecutive hearings. Faced with this, his lawyers eventually withdrew the plea, resolving to try their luck again in the lower courts. Since bench allocation is determined by the Chief Justice, it is evident that this repeated assignment was not a coincidence. Now, following the High Court’s latest rejection, the only option once again is to approach the Supreme Court“.

Essentially, Ilyas admitted what OpIndia had reported and the then CJI Justice DY Chandrachud had confirmed. Out of 14 adjournments, 7 were taken by Umar Khalid and his lawyer Kapil Sibal. These adjournments were taken, as reported by OpIndia, because the accused did not want the case heard by Justice Bela Trivedi – a classic case of bench fixing. They even approached the CJI, asking him to hear the case himself. When the CJI show down their attempt at forum shopping, Kapil Sibal withdrew the petition from the Supreme Court, while crying about delay – just as Ilyas does in this oped.

The column further proclaims that “bail is the natural right of every accused”. Stirring rhetoric, but legally wrong. 

The principle that “bail is the rule, jail the exception” originates from the words of Justice Krishna Iyer (in 1977) where he laid down a general approach, not an absolute entitlement. Legislatures have consciously raised the threshold for bail in special statutes such as the NDPS Act, PMLA, and UAPA, precisely because they deal with extraordinary crimes. The Supreme Court in case of K.A. Najeeb (2021) recognised that long and unavoidable delays can override UAPA restrictions, but only when the delay is not attributable to the accused. Where the defence itself drags proceedings, as the Delhi High Court found in Tasleem Ahmed, this principle does not apply. To pretend otherwise is to erase decades of settled jurisprudence.

The misrepresentations in Ilyas’s column do not stop there. Perhaps the gravest distortion is the claim that under UAPA, the accused must “prove innocence” at the bail stage, as if a mini-trial were conducted before the real trial. That is simply false. Section 43D(5) of UAPA bars bail if the prosecution’s material shows the accusation is prima facie true. In NIA v. Watali (2019), the Supreme Court made it clear that courts at the bail stage do not conduct elaborate weighing of evidence, cross-examine witnesses, or demand that the accused prove anything. They only check whether the prosecution’s material, taken at face value, supports the charges. The burden of proof does not shift to the accused. To insist otherwise is not a slip of law, it is a calculated distortion designed to recast due process as injustice.

Equally unserious is the caricature of UAPA as a law applied to “minor offences.” The Act is designed to address terrorism, unlawful associations, and threats to sovereignty. Conspiracies and extremist financing produce mountains of evidence. Charge-sheets running into thousands of pages are not “punishment by paperwork” but the natural consequence of complex investigations. If the deeds of conspirators generate massive records, how else can investigators present material except in documentary form? Supplementary charge-sheets too are dismissed in the column as harassment. But new discoveries of evidence must, by law, be placed before court. Should they instead, as Ilyas seems to imply, be ignored simply to give benefit to so-called “poor Muslim” accused facing charges of grave offences? Mocking this as state oppression ignores the reality of terrorism cases, where financial trails, encrypted communications, and multiple actors must be tracked.

Ilyas then invokes history, claiming that TADA and POTA were undone by “people’s movements”. That too is myth-making. TADA (1985–95) lapsed because Parliament declined to renew it after intense debate; POTA (2002–04) was repealed by the incoming UPA government as a political choice. Neither collapsed because of mass protests in the streets. To dress up parliamentary processes as “people’s movements” is historical revisionism, not analysis.

Most striking, however, is the familiar identity card. When faced with scrutiny, Ilyas falls back on the line that his son is being punished for “having a Muslim name”. He has even ignored and dismissed his own SIMI past as irrelevant while insisting that criticism of Umar Khalid amounts to communal branding. But this is selective amnesia: he cannot erase the fact that SIMI was banned precisely for its extremist ideology and anti-national activities. To deny that history while projecting victimhood is to rewrite his own biography in service of a political narrative. This rhetorical shield shifts attention from evidence to identity. But charges are not about names, they are about actions. Multiple charge-sheets in the Delhi riots conspiracy case demonstrate conspiracy, incitement, and terrorism. Those very charge-sheets also highlight a disturbing pattern of forgery, fabrication, organisation, mass violence, and planning of terror. To dismiss them as inventions of the police is not only inaccurate but self-serving, especially when the allegations against his own son include planning and instigation of large-scale killing of innocents.

To reduce such serious allegations to a matter of communal bias trivialises the suffering of riot victims and evades accountability.

And through all of this, the column remains silent about why UAPA exists at all. India faces cross-border terrorism, Maoist insurgencies, and extremist networks with international funding. The subsequent amendments to UAPA were also brought to align India’s counter-terror framework with international obligations under United Nations conventions and recommendations, recognising that terrorism has become a globalised threat. India has suffered repeated terror attacks on its soil, from the 26/11 Mumbai carnage to the Batla House encounter, serial blasts in cities, insurgent strikes, and targeted killings of civilians and security forces, and could hardly afford to remain without a robust legal architecture to respond. Cases like Batla House also exposed the existence of organised radicalisation networks in Indian cities, a pattern disturbingly echoed in the conspiracy alleged in the Delhi riots case. Ordinary criminal laws fall short against such threats. UAPA was designed to plug those gaps.

While a genuine debate would weigh civil liberties against national security, Ilyas erases the latter entirely, reducing the issue to a one-note slogan. That is not scholarly action, it is plainly propaganda.

His article misleads by inventing court practices that do not exist, misstating the law on bail, exaggerating UAPA’s scope, concealing accused-driven delay, fabricating a history of “people’s movements,” and falling back on the tired victimhood narrative of SIMI past and “Muslim name” branding.

India deserves a serious conversation about UAPA: its safeguards, its scope, and its potential for misuse. But that conversation must begin with facts. What we got instead was a polemic, one that starts with distortions and ends in self-serving victimhood.

‘Sar tan se juda’ slogans, death threats, attack on police, vandalism and more: Muslim mobs wreak havoc across nation over ‘I love Muhammad’ controversy

शिव
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‘Sar tan se juda’ slogans, death threats, attack on police, vandalism and more: Muslim mobs wreak havoc across nation over ‘I love Muhammad’ controversy

Frenzied crowds of Islamists have unleashed terror throughout the nation regarding the row over “I love Muhammad” banner. Violence has broken out during protests in multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat. The controversy originated from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged in Kanpur.

Police were attacked and stones were thrown at them in various cities amid loud slogans of “Sar tan se juda” during the marches. A cleric even a issued death threat to an inspector involved in a similar incident in Bareilly. The authorities and the Muslim community engaged in a confrontation regarding the removal of posters that read “I love Muhammad”. Enraged Dr Nafees Khan, National General Secretary of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), appeared at the location and explicitly threatened the inspector with murder.

A video featuring him circulated widely on social media where he declared, “I will cut off your hands and strip you of your uniform,” to intimidate the official.

How did the controversy erupt in Bareilly

The entire issue commenced on 19th September when posters proclaiming “I love Mohammad” were displayed in various locations throughout the city following Friday prayers. They were erected under the guidance of Moin Khan, an official from “Jamaat Raza-e-Mustafa”, an organization linked to the Dargah Aala Hazrat.

The police removed the posters from the Qila area during the night of 20th September, considering it as a law and order concern. The same posters were reinstalled the following day. When the cops arrived to take action on 21st September, a large number of members from the Muslim community gathered at the scene.

An attempt was made to surround the police and pressure them. They also summoned IMC leader Dr Nafees Khan, who misbehaved with the police team and openly threatened Inspector Subhash Kumar. The video of this incident soon went viral on social media, prompting the administration to take action.

Superintendent of Police (SP) City Manush Pareekh confirmed that a case has been filed against Khan. He emphasized that any efforts to disturb law and order will not be tolerated, and severe measures will be enforced against those responsible.

Extremists attack authorities in Kashipur

Unexpectedly, incidents of stone pelting, violence, and vandalism surfaced during the “I love Mohammad” procession in Kashipur, located in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. Police personnel were chased, assaulted, and verbally abused while government vehicles suffered damage.

Authorities initiated legal proceedings against three identified individuals and approximately 400 to 500 unnamed persons related to this incident. Fifteen individuals have been incarcerated. Furthermore, the administration has demolished and cleared illegal structures from the area where the unrest took place.

Violent scenes unfold in Unnao

A group of radicals caused severe disturbance in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao on 21st September. Hundreds of Muslims initiated a procession without obtaining the necessary permissions and chanted “Sar tan se juda.” They also attacked police personnel. The uniform of Inspector Ajay Kumar Singh, who is in charge of the Gangaghat police station, was ripped. The mob hurled stones when the cops tried to placate them.

The police had to resort to lathi-charge and additional cops were deployed to control the escalating situation. As a result of this occurrence, the Unnao police have filed an FIR against 30 individuals, including eight named suspects. Muslim youths had organized a procession after offering prayers at the Safdarganj Mosque.

Police station vandalized in Godhra

On 19th September, violence broke out in Godhra of Gujarat, amid a protest by Islamists over the “I love Muhammad” controversy. An influencer known for sharing provocative content on social media was called to the Godhra City B Division police station of the Panchmahal district, triggering a throng of rioters to create chaos in an attempt to release him.

The uproar persisted well into the night, resulting in the vandalization of the police station, damage to furniture, windows and police vehicles. The crowd also started throwing stones, wounding many police personnel. The latter employed lathi-charge in response and even discharged tear gas shells to regain control over the unruly assembly.

Muslim leaders add fuel to the raging fire

Many notable Muslim figures, such as All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) supremo and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi, along with IMC president Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, have made public statements regarding the matter. Owaisi took to social media and wrote that “I love Muhammad” does not constitute a crime. He added, “However, if it is so, then every punishment is acceptable.”

“I would sacrifice a hundred lives for you. May the wish of my heart be fulfilled. Why wouldn’t I devote my life from the depths of my heart? Your desires reside in it,” he declared while responding to a post peddling half-truths about the controversy.

Tauqeer Raza provoked Muslims to agitate over the incident. He remarked that expressing “I love Muhammad” has been criminalized. “What will transpire in the nation if Muslims take to the streets? Do not compel us to do so,” he warned menacingly.

Muslims have been wreaking havoc nationwide and the matter has only escalated in the wake of such remarks. Rallies are being organized in multiple cities alongside violent protests. Participants have been misled that a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged in Kanpur for exhibiting an “I love Muhammad” banner. However, the actual situation is quite distinct from what is being illustrated.

“Lies” being spread about the FIR in Kanpur

A dispute arose in Kanpur concerning the exhibition of a banner stating “I love Muhammad.” However, the complete truth extends beyond this. On 4th September, a light board featuring the phrase “I love Muhammad” was set up for decorative purposes in the vicinity of the Rawatpur police station. The board was relocated a short distance away following objections from locals.

On 5th September, young Muslim men damaged a poster associated with the Hindu religion, during the Barawafat procession. “During the procession, certain unidentified Muslim youths who were in a vehicle participating in the event, intentionally used sticks to destroy the religious posters belonging to the Hindu community that had been placed along the road in the Hindu locality of the Rawatpur village with the aim to create communal disturbance,” the FIR read.

The FIR in Kanpur is not exclusively concerned with the “I love Muhammad” banner. It represents merely a fragment of the broader controversy, while the core issue revolves around Muslim youths dismantling Hindu religious posters. However, the community is being incited in the name of banner removal, sparking violence and unrest in the entire country.

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