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Bharatanatyam performed for amusement of kings: Sri Lankan Islamic preacher equates the classical dance with prostitution, Muslim body apologises after Hindus protest

OpIndia Staff
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Bharatanatyam performed for amusement of kings: Sri Lankan Islamic preacher equates the classical dance with prostitution, Muslim body apologises after Hindus protest

A controversy has erupted in Sri Lanka after an Islamic preacher named Moulavi Abdul Hameed Sharaee made derogatory comments about Bharatanatyam and claimed that performers were courtesans trying to woo the king in one of his online sermons on the Tamil Dawah Media YouTube channel. The statement was made in response to a Bharatanatyam performance by males during Teachers Day festivities at one of the Islamic institutions. Following protests by Hindus after the comments, a Muslim body in the country has issued an apology and assured that action will be taken against the cleric.

Responding to the Bharatnatyam performance on teachers’ day, Moulavi Abdul Hameed Sharaee said, “It is regrettable that men performed Bharatanatyam, a dance generally associated with Parathis, in front of students in a way that made them look like women. In the past, courtesans were referred to as ‘Parathis.’ Bharatanatyam was once performed for the amusement of kings, with the implication that prostitutes would dance to create a sensual atmosphere for the kings.”

The cultural and artistic communities have been especially outraged by the shocking remarks which critics claim insult a highly esteemed art form and reinforce antiquated prejudices. Men and women alike perform the sacred and traditional dance known as Bharatanatyam, which has its roots in South India and carries great cultural and religious significance.

The remarks sparked a fierce outcry among Sri Lankan Hindus. Students from Batticaloa’s Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies held demonstrations and pupils carried signs asking the religious leader to retract and apologise for his repulsive words.

Human rights lawyer and civil society leader Thamotharam Pratheevan of Sri Lanka issued a statement denouncing the comments and calling on the Moulavi to issue an immediate apology. Furthermore, he demanded that the latter face harsh consequences from the authorities for his derogatory comments on Hindu culture. Hindus in the country posted messages on social media expressing their fury.

Activist Thamotharam Pratheevan’s statement condemning the remark made by the Islamist preacher. (Source: Organiser)

Vaitheesvaran Eswaran Kurukkal, a renowned Hindu leader registered his protest on Facebook and wrote, “The online distribution of a video featuring remarks by a religious leader has caused great distress to the Hindu community. We wrote to the All Sri Lanka Andolan Ulama Council on behalf of the Hindu Gurumar Sangathan to communicate our disapproval and worry. During a press conference today, the Ulama Council voiced its concerns and severely denounced the statement.”

Meanwhile, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama apologised and slammed the insensitive and bigoted statement of the preacher. A press release issued by them noted that a video posted on 9 November by a Muslim preacher regarding the Bharatanatyam dance and later another footage in which he apologised for his remarks was seen on social media. Commenting on religious and cultural values in this manner is contrary to Islamic guidance and reprehensible. It requested all the Mulsim clerics and common Muslims to refrain from making similar comments.

The Jamiyyathul Ulama Council general secretary Asheik M Arkam Nooramidh asserted, “We strongly condemn the Moulavi remark, which has hurt the sentiments of Hindus. Making speeches against other religions cultures and traditions is against Islam and we strongly condemn the statement.” A press conference on the matter was addressed at their group’s head office in Maligawatta which was also attended by significant Hindu religious leaders.

Shazna Zawahir, a Muslim social media personality released a clip in which she criticized Abdul Hameed Sharaee for what he said. The influencer also discussed how in the name of bayan (Islamic preaching) some Moulavi’s often make videos in which they abuse and denigrate Muslim women.

Following backlash on social media, Abdul Hameed Sharaee uploaded a video on the Tamil Dawah Media channel. He clarified that the purpose of his opinion was to reference Hindu experts about Bharatanatyam and not to upset the followers of the religion. He also showed regret if his utterances offended Hindus.

‘I respect Modi Sahab, will vote for him’: Artist Piyush Mishra says, and mentions that all communists eventually become dictators

OpIndia Staff
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‘I respect Modi Sahab, will vote for him’: Artist Piyush Mishra says, and mentions that all communists eventually become dictators

On Saturday (November 25), Bollywood actor, theatre artist, and distinguished poet Piyush Mishra said that his vote would go to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) as he is an admirer and follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Piyush Mishra asserted that what happened in the country from the year 2014 to 2023 is ‘miraculous’.

Piyush Mishra made these remarks on Hindi news channel AajTak’s ‘Sahitya 2023’ program. When asked about his political ideology and if he follows any political leader, Piyush Mishra said, “Main Modi sahab ki badi zabardast izzat karta hun (I respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi ardently). Bahot pasand karta hun (I truly admire him). Whatever has happened in India from 2014 to 2023 is miraculous. Main BJP ka nahin hun, Congress ka nahin hun lekin mera vote kyunki Modi Sahab hain isliye BJP ko jayega, ek vyakti ke taur par main Modiji ki izzat karta hun, Bhakt toh sirf bhagwan ka hun, andhbhakt toh kisi ka bhi nahin hun (My vote, because Modi sahab is there, will go to BJP, I am not a blind devotee of anyone).”

Prior to this, anchor Sudhir Chaudhary talked about Piyush Mishra’s days as a Leftist-Communist asking if he made a mistake, however, Mishra interrupted to say that it was not a mistake, a lot of his work was done during his leftist days but could not be publicised. Talking about his iconic songs like Husna and Ghar, Mishra said that he could muster the courage to bring these songs out only in 2010, and when in 2012 Coke Studio came to India, and when the ‘Gulaal’ movie was released in 2009.

The ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ actor, however, underscored that the communists-leftists are wicked people and that they “drank” his blood. “Badmash hain ye log..bahot badmash hain…arey khoon pi gaye mera..khoon pi gaye mera,” Mishra said.

Piyush Mishra then stated that after hearing his words about them, lefties would grow blood lust for him. He added that this happens, and it also happened earlier this year when he gave an interview to The Lallantop wherein he opened up about his days as a leftist-communist ‘activist’ and how communism “destroyed” his life.

The actor further outlined that the communists start with Karl Marx, Nicolae Ceausescu to Stalin and other communist leaders who end up becoming despots. “They do get thirsty for your blood. They will begin with Karl Marx, Ceausescu, then Stalin…eventually all the communists become dictators,” the actor said.

It is worth recalling that on May 6, 2023, Piyush Mishra in an interview with The Lallantop recounted how Communism left a scarring impact on his life and family. Mishra shared how the leftist ideology ruined his life for over twenty years.

“This communism has turned my life upside down…There was a time when Communists had a hold over me…for 20 years. And this happened in Delhi. They (Communists) teach you that ‘family’ is a bad concept and turn you against your father and mother. They tell you to work for the society. Are parents not part of this society?” the actor said back then.

Soumya Vishwanathan murder case: Delhi court sentences life imprisonment to four convicts

ANI
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Soumya Vishwanathan murder case: Delhi court sentences life imprisonment to four convicts

The Saket Court of Delhi on Saturday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment for killing TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008.

The court sentenced life imprisonment to Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar who were recently convicted under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) provisions for committing organised crime resulting in the death of any person.

The fifth convict, namely Ajay Sethi, has been sentenced to a period of three years of jail term in the case. He was earlier convicted under IPC Section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and MCOCA provisions for conspiring to abetting, aiding in, or knowingly facilitating organised crime and receiving proceeds of organised crime.

Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey while passing judgement in the case, directed that the sentence of the four accused will run consecutively. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 7.25 lakh on convict Ajay Sethi.

The court however set off his sentence as he had already undergone over imprisonment in the case. On October 26, the court called for a pre-sentence report (PSR) before hearing the quantum of the sentence. The principal secretary of the Delhi government was directed to assign to any Probationary Officer (PO) for the task of submitting the PSR.

Additional Sessions Judge Pandey had earlier convicted four accused namely Ravi Kapoor, Ajay Kumar, Baljeet Malik and Amit Shukla for the offence of murder and running a crime syndicate under MCOCA. Another accused, Ajay Sethi was convicted of earning the proceeds of crime. Soumya Vishwanathan, a TV Journalist was shot dead on September 30, 2008, while returning home from work in her car around 3:30 am. Police had claimed robbery was the motive behind her killing.

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

99.2% of all mobiles sold in India are ‘Made In India’ now: Minister Ashwini Vaishnav reviews meteoric growth of phone manufacturing in India

ANI
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99.2% of all mobiles sold in India are ‘Made In India’ now: Minister Ashwini Vaishnav reviews meteoric growth of phone manufacturing in India

Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav, took to social media platform X to announce achievement in the mobile industry.

In a post, he revealed that the Indian mobile industry has experienced exponential growth, expanding by a remarkable factor of 20 in just nine years.

Minister Vaishnav posted on X, “Met Mobile industry to review progress. Industry has grown 20 times in 9 years. 2014: 78 per cent import dependent 2023: 99.2 per cent of all mobiles sold in India are ‘Made in India'”.

Reflecting on the industry’s trajectory, Minister Vaishnav highlighted a significant shift in import dependency. In 2014, a staggering 78 per cent of the mobile market relied on imports.

Fast forward to 2023, and a transformation has occurred – an impressive 99.2 per cent of all mobiles sold in India are now proudly stamped as ‘Made in India.’

The minister met with key stakeholders and leaders in the mobile industry to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made.

The meeting served as a platform to acknowledge the industry’s achievements, discuss emerging challenges, and explore strategies for sustained growth.

The growth of the mobile sector has not only bolstered the domestic manufacturing ecosystem but has also contributed significantly to reducing India’s dependence on foreign imports. Notably, earlier Google had announced that it would start manufacturing its phones in India. Google follows an illustrious list of global smartphone brands, from Samsung to Apple, to kick-start assembling its marquee phones in the country.

Minister Vaishnav expressed his satisfaction with the industry’s resilience and commitment to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

This remarkable achievement aligns with the government’s vision to enhance self-reliance and boost the manufacturing sector under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

The mobile industry’s success story underscores India’s capability to transition from being predominantly import-dependent to emerging as a key player in mobile manufacturing on the global stage.

The meeting with industry leaders provided an opportunity for constructive dialogue on future prospects, technological advancements, and collaborative efforts to sustain and further amplify this success.

Minister Vaishnav conveyed his optimism for the continued growth of the Indian mobile industry and its pivotal role in the nation’s economic landscape.

As India cements its status as a manufacturing hub for mobile devices, the ‘Made in India’ label has become synonymous with quality and innovation.

Minister Vaishnav’s post not only celebrates the accomplishments of the industry but also signifies a moment of pride for the nation as it charts a course toward self-reliance in the technology sector. 

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

World Hindu Congress in Bangkok adopts a declaration embracing ‘Hindutva’ as Sanatan Dharma’s English name, renounces ‘Hinduism’

OpIndia Staff
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World Hindu Congress in Bangkok adopts a declaration embracing ‘Hindutva’ as Sanatan Dharma’s English name, renounces ‘Hinduism’

On 24th November (Friday), the World Hindu Congress adopted a resolution embracing Hindutva over ‘Hinduism’. The resolution asserts that the word Hindutva is more accurate as it includes the spectrum of all that the word ‘Hindu’ encompasses. In contrast, ‘Hinduism’ misrepresents the global Hindu community and their inherent goodness. The resolution emphasised that “ism” is a suffix used with terms to define an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief.  

The resolution was adopted on the second day of the World Hindu Congress in Thailand’s capital Bangkok.

Advocating the use of the term ‘Hindutva’ or “Hindu Dharma’ instead of ‘Hinduism’, the Hindu Congress stressed that these terms should be used while referring to the faith in English. Consequently, it renounced the word ‘Hinduism’. 

The adopted declaration read, “In the term “Hindu Dharma”, the first word, i.e., ‘Hindu’ is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means ‘That, which sustains’.” 

In its resolution, the World Hindu Congress added, “Hindu Dharma, thus, signifies all that which eternally upholds everything; an individual, a family, a community, a society, and even nature–both animate and inanimate.” 

Explaining its reasoning, the declaration said, “In contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an ‘ism’. The term ‘ism’ is defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief. In the mid-nineteenth century, in the United States of America, the phrase ‘the isms’ was used to collectively refer to radical social reform movements and various non-mainstream spiritual or religious movements in a derogatory manner. The term ‘Hinduism’ should be understood in such a context.” 

Regarding the word ‘Hindutva’, the declaration said that Hindutva was not a complicated word and it simply meant Hindu-ness. According to the declaration, many academicians and intellectuals have been portraying Hindutva as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma because of their hatred and biases against the Hindu community or for political agendas. 

It noted, “But most are anti-Hindutva because of their visceral hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticising Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing regularity and vitriol.”

The World Hindu Congress also condemned ongoing attacks on the Hindu faith and urged Hindus worldwide to unite against those who are engaging in such bigotry and emerge victorious.

The resolution points out the history of the word ‘Hinduism’

The resolution observed that the usage of the word ‘Hinduism’ became prevalent only after the 1870s after Sir Monier Williams first introduced it in his handbook ‘Hinduism’. 

The resolution observed, “The term ‘Hinduism’ was first introduced into common usage by Sir Monier-Monier Williams through his handbook ‘Hinduism,’ published in 1877 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. This intellectually misleading terminology is identified as the origin of the negative anti-Hindu narratives spanning the past 150 years.” 

According to the World Hindu Congress, this was the reason why, many of our elders favoured the term ‘Hindutva’ over Hinduism, as the former is a more accurate expression, encompassing the entirety of what the term ‘Hindu’ signifies. The declaration stated that we align with their perspective and should adopt the same. 

Further, the declaration added, “Others have used the alternative “Sanatan Dharma”, often abbreviated as “Sanatan”. Here the term “Sanatan” works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharma’s eternal nature.” 

Notably, the Third World Hindu Congress commenced on Friday (24th November). The three-day event has attracted participation from over 2000 delegates across 61 countries. It is a quadrennial event, that is, it is held after a gap of four years.  

Earlier in the day, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the inaugural session of the WHC. He emphasised that India will show the path of happiness and satisfaction to the world which is stumbling from experiments with materialism, communism, and capitalism. He issued an appeal to the Hindu community across the world to reach out to each other and connect with the world together. 

Addressing the gathering of thinkers, activists, leaders, and entrepreneurs, the RSS Chief said, “We have to reach out, connect with every Hindu. And Hindus together will connect everybody in the world. As Hindus are connected in more numbers, the process of connecting with the world has also started.” 

The quadrennial event was initiated by Swami Vigyanananda, the founder and global chairman of the World Hindu Foundation. 

Additionally, addressing the Third World Hindu Congress, Thai PM Srettha Thavisin pressed that peace can be established in the world only through Hindu values of truth, tolerance, and harmony. 

The prominent participants include spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) General Secretary Milind Parande, Supreme Court advocate Vishu Shankar Jain, Bharat Sevashram Sangh Working President Swami Purnatmanand, Hinduism Today-USA Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami among others.

I did mention Hitler but had no intention to hurt Israel: Sanjay Raut after Israel wrote to India objecting to his antisemitic comment

ANI
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I did mention Hitler but had no intention to hurt Israel: Sanjay Raut after Israel wrote to India objecting to his antisemitic comment

Responding to a letter by the Israel Embassy over his ‘anti-semitic’ post, amid the ongoing ground operations against terror Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said he shared the post long back and did not intend to hurt Israel.

The letter from the Israeli embassy came close on the heels of an uproar over Raut’s post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which allegedly justified the Holocaust.

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Raut said, “It’s been a long time since I shared that post on X. I have since deleted that post. I did make a reference to Hitler in my post but had no intention to hurt Israel.”

The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that he had condemned the October 7 attacks by Hamas in southern Israel while also being critical of the Israeli reprisal.

“I did criticise and condemn the way Hamas attacked southern Israel and took innocent lives. At the same breath, however, I also condemned the way Gaza hospitals were attacked, killing newborns and children, and their essential supplies blocked. I believe children shouldn’t be targeted during a war,” Raut said.

“I said what was happening was inhumane. I did say as well that it is because of the lack of humanity that they are demonstrating now that a leader back in the day (Hitler) opposed you,” the Sena (UBT) MLA said.

He claimed that the Israeli Embassy must have been prompted by “someone” to “oppose” his post.

“It was only after a month that Israel’s High Commission in India wrote to me over the post. I feel someone may have prompted them to write to me,” he claimed.

The Israeli Embassy wrote a strongly-worded letter to the External Affairs Ministry and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing disappointment and dismay over Raut’s post.

Raut posted on X in Hindi that he understood “why Hitler hated the Jews so much”.

In the face of the backlash, however, Raut deleted his post.

During the holocaust, over 6 million Jews across German-occupied Europe were killed by the Nazis led by Hitler.

On October 7, over 2000 Hamas terrorists breached Israeli borders and unleashed coordinated attacks, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

In response, Israel has launched a fierce counter-offensive, targeting Hamas units in the Gaza Strip.

However, the Israeli air assault and ground operations drew frowns from rights groups and the Arab world over the mounting civilian death toll.

According to the Hamas-run ministry in Gaza, over 14,000 people, including over 5,000 children, have perished in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli offensive. 

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

Leftist NGO ‘Media Matters’, which has been hounding X and Elon Musk, has a George Soros connection

Dibakar Dutta
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Leftist NGO ‘Media Matters’, which has been hounding X and Elon Musk, has a George Soros connection

Leftist NGO and media watchdog ‘Media Matters for America’ have come under the scanner after it accused X (formerly Twitter) and its founder Elon Musk of promoting Neo-Nazi content.

Musk was quick to dismiss the claims and pointed out that the NGO resorted to fraud and manipulation to portray the micro-blogging platform as ‘anti-Semitic.’

The allegations levelled by ‘Media Matters for America’ led to the exodus of large advertisers from X (formerly Twitter), prompting a lawsuit from the corporation. Coincidentally, far-left billionaire George Soros had donated $1 million to the leftist NGO in October 2010.

Screengrab of The New York Times report

As per a report by The New York Times, ‘Media Matters for America’ received a donation of $1 million from Soros. At that time, the leftist NGO vowed to use the generous sum of money to continue its smear campaign against the US conservative news network Fox.

“We are especially pleased that in this moment of hidden right-wing billionaire money corrupting our democracy, Mr. Soros, upon deciding to support our efforts, quickly and transparently has made that support public,” it said in a statement.

While confirming the development, George Soros had remarked, “Media Matters is one of the few groups that attempts to hold Fox News accountable for the false and misleading information they so often broadcast. I am supporting Media Matters in an effort to more widely publicize the challenge Fox News poses to civil and informed discourse in our democracy.“

Screengrab of the ‘Media Matters for America’ website

In return, ‘Media Matters for America’ has published a page, dedicated to George Soros and his vicious rhetoric. “He (Soros) is a frequent target of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories in right-wing media,” claims the beneficiary of the far-left billionaire’s ‘philanthropic’ empire.

OpIndia found that the leftist NGO has written 29 articles in support of Soros and dismissed every criticism has a ‘far-right conspiracy theory.’ Fox News hosts Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity have described ‘Media Matters for America’ as ‘the left-wing George Soros-funded media machine’ and ‘Hillary Clinton’s George Soros-funded group’ respectively.

It must be mentioned that in January 2020, the American billionaire committed $1 billion to start a global university to “fight nationalists” and climate change, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of our civilization.

Elon Musk and his views on George Soros

Elon Musk, who is now the subject of a smear campaign by ‘Media Matters for America,’ has been vocal against George Soros – the same man who donated $1 million to the leftist outfit.

On 31st October this year, the X (formerly Twitter) owner lashed out at the far-left billionaire for putting human civilisation under threat during a 2-hour 40 minute-long-podcast with radio host Joe Rogan.

“In my opinion, (Soros) fundamentally hates humanity. He is doing things that erode the fabric of civilization,” he was hearing saying. Elon Musk lambasted Soros for ensuring the appointment of District Attorneys (DAs) who refuse to prosecute criminals, thereby worsening the crime rate in major US cities.

“Getting DAs elected who refuse to prosecute crime…That is part of the problem in San Francisco, and LA, and a bunch of other cities. So why would you do that? He is pushing things in other countries as well” the Tesla CEO added.

“George, at this point is pretty old…basically a bit senile at this point…He is very good at arbitrage – famously he shorted the British pound…That’s how I think he made his first money,” Elon Musk added. He hinted at how the far-left billionaire is trying to influence local elections and getting a good value for his money.

“And one of the things he noticed is that the value for money in local races is much higher than it is in national races. “The lowest value for money is a presidential race. The next lowest value for money is a Senate race, then a Congress. And when you get to city and state district attorneys the value for money is extremely good,” the Tesla CEO stated.

“Soros realized that you don’t actually need to change the laws, you just need to change how they’re enforced…If no one chooses to enforce the laws, or the laws are differentially enforced, it’s like changing the laws,” Elon Musk concluded.

This is not the first time that he lambasted the far-left billionaire. Earlier in May this year, Musk reiterated the fact that George Soros hates humanity. “You assume they are good intentions. They are not. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity,” he said then.

Elon Musk and the ‘Media Matters for America’ controversy

On 16th November, leftist media watchdog ‘Media Matters for America’ published a controversial article, claiming that X (formerly Twitter) was placing advertisements of large companies next to anti-Semitic posts.

In the article, it claimed, “As X owner Elon Musk continues his descent into white nationalist and antisemitic conspiracy theories, his social media platform has been placing ads for major brands like Apple, Bravo (NBCUniversal), IBM, Oracle, and Xfinity (Comcast) next to content that touts Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party.“

‘Media Matters for America’, which has a history of hounding non-left news organisations such as Fox Corporation, also alleged that X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk supposedly reinstated the accounts of ‘bigots’, ‘pro-Hitler’, ‘paid far-right extremists’, and ‘Holocaust deniers.

Screengrab of the article by ‘Media Matters for America’

The leftist organisation claimed, “During all of this Musk-induced chaos, corporate advertisements have also been appearing on pro-Hitler, Holocaust denial, white nationalist, pro-violence, and neo-Nazi accounts.“

It further alleged that advertisements for companies such as IBM, Apple, Oracle, Bravo, and Xfinity appeared next to ‘pro-Hitler’ and ‘pro-Nazi’ tweets on X (formerly Twitter).

Following the hitjob by ‘Media Matters for America’ on the micro-blogging platform, tech company IBM announced that it has pulled out advertisements from the Elon Musk-owned X.

Several other companies such as Apple, Lions Gate Entertainment, Sony, Disney, Comcast, Warner Bros, and Paramount Global have pulled out advertisements from X in the aftermath of the controversial report by ‘Media Matters for America.’

On Monday (20th November), Elon Musk filed a lawsuit against ‘Media Matters for America’ after it accused X (formerly Twitter) of promoting ‘anti-Semitism’.

In its lawsuit, X said, “Media Matters knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers’ posts on X Corp.’s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content and then portrayed these manufactured images as if they were what typical X users experience on the platform.”

“Media Matters designed both these images and its resulting media strategy to drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp,” the Elon Musk-owned company stated.

In a tweet on 18th November, Elon Musk vowed to file a ‘thermonuclear lawsuit’ against the leftist NGO. X (formerly Twitter) also published a statement, exposing the antics of ‘Media Matters for America’ that were designed to portray the micro-blogging platform as ‘anti-Semitic.’

DGCA flags ‘Spoofing’ and ‘jamming’ threats following reports of planes losing GPS signal over the Middle East, issues advisory to airlines

OpIndia Staff
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DGCA flags ‘Spoofing’ and ‘jamming’ threats following reports of planes losing GPS signal over the Middle East, issues advisory to airlines

On 24th November (Friday), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to all Indian airlines. The advisory highlighted measures to deal with the emerging threats from “jamming” and “spoofing” of the Global Navigation Satellite System. The advisory comes in the wake of recent reports of “interference” with the aircraft’s navigation system over parts of Middle-Eastern airspace. 

As a result of these “interferences” by ways of spoofing and jamming, there were increasing reports that aircraft lost GPS signals and several civilian flights had been navigating blindly over the Middle Eastern region. 

The DGCA circular is for aircraft operators, pilots, air navigation service providers, and air traffic controllers. It states, “The aviation industry is grappling with uncertainties due to new threats and reports of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) jamming and spoofing.”

The circular takes note of “increasing reports of GNSS interference over the airspace in the Middle East in the recent past”. It has called for the development of contingency measures so that it can deal with the jamming of navigation systems. Further, the DGCA has also sought the creation of a threat monitoring and analysis network. 

Notably, in late September, there were multiple reported incidents where Indian civilian aircraft had to divert from Iranian airspace due to a snag in the navigation system. Reports underscored that multiple commercial flights near Iran deviated from their planned routes when their navigation systems experienced disruptions and they went blind while flying over the region. In one particular case, a flight came close to entering Iranian airspace without permission after it became a victim of spoofing. 

On 4th October, India’s highest civil aviation regulatory body, DGCA constituted an internal committee based on these reports of interferences with the GNSS over the Middle East. 

Based on the committee’s report, DGCA has issued this advisory which provides comprehensive mitigation measures and an action plan. The circular has also been issued to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which is the country’s air navigation service provider (ANSP), and all air traffic controllers come under it.

The DGCA circular is about the development of contingency procedures with support from equipment manufacturers and assessing operational risk by conducting a safety risk assessment.

Emerging threat of ‘Spoofing’

GPS spoofing and jamming are actions where someone intentionally transmits false signals to disrupt the regular operation of GPS systems. Spoofing occurs when a transmitter sends a misleading GPS signal, causing navigation failures for the receiver antenna. In contrast, jamming involves blocking authentic GPS signals, leaving the aeroplane to navigate ‘blindly’ without guidance. Although jamming is more common, spoofing is a more serious threat that can lead to significant mishaps.

Reportedly, a group of professional pilots, flight dispatchers, schedulers, and controllers named OpsGroup had also flagged the issue.

As per media reports, the planes flying in the Middle Eastern airspace initially receive a “spoofed” GPS signal which is aimed at fooling the aircraft’s in-built system. This leads it to believe that the planes are flying miles away from their intended route. In many cases, the signal is strong enough to compromise the integrity of the aircraft’s system.

Subsequently, the inertial reference system (IRS) of the plane becomes unstable and it often loses all navigation capability. 

(The dotted area shown reported incidences of navigation failures, as per Opsgroup, Image Source – Opsgroup/NDTV)

The main cause for concern lies in the busy air corridor situated in Northern Iraq and Azerbaijan, with several reported incidents, particularly near Erbil. By September, a total of 12 distinct incidents had been reported, with the latest occurrence near Ankara, Turkey on November 20.

Although any culprit remains to be unidentified, it is believed that the occurrence of jamming and spoofing might be linked to the deployment of military electronic warfare systems in regions experiencing heightened regional tensions.

‘Whenever opposition has abused PM Modi, the public has responded by voting for BJP’: Amit Shah on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Panauti’ remark

OpIndia Staff
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‘Whenever opposition has abused PM Modi, the public has responded by voting for BJP’: Amit Shah on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Panauti’ remark

Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Panauti’ comment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while holding a press conference in Hyderabad on 25 November. He asserted, “People have reacted in a special way whenever low remarks have been passed against PM Modi. People of Telangana will vote for BJP. All corruption scams will be investigated in Telangana after the BJP government is formed here.”

He noted, “Whenever they have abused PM Modi the public has given them an answer by voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party.” He expressed optimism for the BJP’s performance in the forthcoming state elections, the results of which will be revealed on 3 December. “I am confident that we will form a government in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and do extremely well in Telangana.”

The BJP remarked, “It is a good thing that they gained the knowledge even if it was late,” when asked about the temple hopping of Congress leaders on election day. He also attacked Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s government of Telangana. He stated that this election was important for the people of Telangana and the state which was formed after a long struggle. Telangana pride was an important issue and 10 years ago, the revenue was in surplus while now it is in debt.

He charged, “One lakh jobs were promised but the paper was leaked. KCR’s party Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) has done nothing but corruption in ten years and many scams have been perpetrated. Simultaneously, the BJP has kept all of its promises, including those regarding Article 370, Ram Mandir and triple talaq. KCR, on the other hand, solely engages in appeasement politics.”

Will end Muslim reservation

According to the Home Minister, the chief minister grants 4 per cent religious reservation, which is unconstitutional. Muslim reservations would be terminated and transferred to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. He conveyed, “KCR told the media not to publish the name of a Muslim accused if he is caught in communal violence. Petrol will become cheaper if the BJP government is formed in Telangana. We will arrange a trip to Ram temple and Kashi.”

Vote for Congress and Owaisi means support for KCR

“If you vote for Owaisi, it will go to KCR. Every time Owaisi’s MLAs win, they support KCR,” he forewarned and added, “It is the same with the Congress. A Congress vote is a vote for KCR. Congress MLA went and joined BRS. BJP vote is for BJP. BJP and BRS can never be together.” The assembly election is scheduled to be held on November 30 in Telangana.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Panauti’ remark

On 21 November Congressman Rahul Gandhi blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s loss in the ODI Cricket World Cup Final. He contended that PM Modi whom he described as “Panauti” (bad omen/unlucky charm) caused the Indian cricket team to lose the final match of the esteemed tournament. He claimed, “Modi comes on TV and says ‘Hindu- Muslim’ and sometimes goes to a cricket match. It is a different matter that the match was lost. Panauti.”

He added, “Our boys were almost winning the World Cup, but the ‘Panauti’ made them lose.” PM Narendra Modi was accompanied by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, which was a scheduled event as part of India’s reformed ‘Cricket Diplomacy.’ Indian side which remained undefeated throughout the championship lost by six wickets in the final encounter with Australia on 19 November in Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

After Rashmika Mandanna, deep fake video of actress Alia Bhatt goes viral on social media

OpIndia Staff
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After Rashmika Mandanna, deep fake video of actress Alia Bhatt goes viral on social media

After deepfake videos of Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kajol, Sara Tendulkar, and industrialist Ratan went viral online, a deepfake video of actress Alia Bhatt is doing rounds on social media.

In the viral video, Alia Bhatt’s face has been edited on the video of another woman making obscene gestures. However, with little attention, one can notice that the woman seen in the video is not Alia Bhatt. Amidst the ongoing debate over threats the deepfake technology poses, the deepfake video of Alia Bhatt has sparked outrage.

This comes just days after a deepfake video of actress Rashmika Mandanna surfaced online. Earlier this month, Rashmika Mandanna expressed distress over a deep fake video using her face on the video of another woman that went viral on social media. She highlighted the urgent need to address technology misuse and emphasised potential harm, particularly for vulnerable individuals. She also called for community action against such incidents.

The video in question featured Instagram model Zara Patel with Mandanna’s face superimposed using deep fake technology. The post sparked calls for legal frameworks against such incidents in India. Bollywood veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan also endorsed the call for legal action in the matter.

Soon after the incident, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India (MeitY) issued an advisory to the social media companies to tackle the deep fake menace. he ministry reaffirmed the existing guidelines. Three main laws and guidelines are in place for such fake videos. The first is Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the second is Rule 3(1)(b)(vii) of IT Intermediary Rules 2021, and the third is Rule 3(2)(b) of the IT Intermediary Rules 2021.

It was recently reported that the probe into the deepfake case of Rashmika Mandana has hit a dead end as social media platforms have shown their inability to give any information about individual(s) who have allegedly made the deepfake profiles.

The surge in deepfake videos of celebrities surfacing online caught Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention as well. Earlier this month, PM Modi highlighted the threats of deep fakes in new-age digital media content and said that it was important to understand how Artificial Intelligence (AI) works since they could be used to purposefully spread false information or have malicious intent behind their use. “I recently saw a video in which I was seen singing a Garba song. There are many other such videos online,” PM Modi said.

Deep fakes are AI-manipulated photographs or videos that can convincingly depict events or statements that never occurred. Some apps use machine learning and face-swapping technology to create these forgeries by superimposing one person’s image onto another. The end results are often realistic and hard to detect. An OpIndia explainer on Deepfakes can be read here.

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