Currently, Gujarat is immersed in the festive spirit of Navratri, a celebration dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. Despite exhaustion from their daily work, business, or studies, people enthusiastically dress in traditional attire in the evenings and congregate at various grounds and party venues to partake in Garba events, seeking the blessings of Goddess Durga. Amidst all the enthusiasm, a video from Nadiad in Gujarat has gained significant attention wherein Gujarati actress Urvashi Solanki made derogatory remarks about this revered Hindu festival.
The video that is circulating widely depicts a woman speaking into a microphone from a Garba stage, surrounded by a large gathering of Gujaratis joyfully participating in the Garba dance.
‘In Gujarat, we prefer using the occasion of Navratri rather than Valentine’s Day to say ‘I love you’ to a girl’: Urvashi Solanki
The woman has been identified as Urvashi Solanki, a Gujarati actress. Urvashi said, “Garba of Gujarat is famous all over the world. If in Gujarat, someone wants to say ‘I love you’ to a girl, they wait for Navratri and not Valentine’s Day.”
Subsequently, Urvashi asked the audience, as she felt the need for more backing on the issue, “Right? How many of you said (I love you to a girl) in these 4 days?” However, there was not enough response from the crowd.
She further said, “If you play garba for 9 days though even on the last day you are single, then surely you have played garba only. There will be all those who will not have an affair on the ninth day, they will be waiting for the next Navratri.”
Garba organised by the Samarpan Education Trust
The video that went viral on social media was reportedly from Nadiad in Gujarat where the actress attended the Navratri celebration called Maa Shakti Garba festival organised by The Samarpan Education Trust.
Actress Urvashi Solanki insulted the Hindu festival at Garba organised by Samarpan Education Trust in Nadiad. Image Source: (Facebook page of Samarpan Education Trust
Netizens demand an apology, Urvashi Solanki brazens it out
The video did not go down well with the netizens who expressed significant outrage after it started circulating on social media. Calling in a sheer insult to the Hindu festival, most of the miffed Netizens demanded that the actress should offer an apology to the Hindu community.
An X account named @i_am_prapti posted, “This Urvashi Solanki says Navratri is a festival of “affairs”. If you are single even on the ninth day, then you have played Garba only. This woman also knows that Muslim youths go to Garba in ‘disguise’ to trap our Hindu daughters, and she knows what happens after that. A stupid woman.”
આ ઉર્વશી સોલંકી એમ કે છે કે નવરાત્રી "સેટિંગ" કરવાનો ઉત્સવ છે. જો નવમે દિવસે પણ તમે સિંગલ છો,તો તમે ગરબા જ રમ્યા છો.
આ બેન ને ખબર પણ છે કે આપણી હિંદુ દીકરીઓને ફસાવવા માટે પંચર પુત્રો "વેશ" ધારણ કરીને ગરબામાં પહોંચે છે, પછી શું થાય છે?
A user named @just_hu_ wrote, “Navratri is the festival of worshipping Shakti Ambaji, the power of the mother of the universe, not of affairs. Really pity the mindset of this woman.”
નવરાત્રી માઁ જગત જનની શક્તિ અંબાજી ની આરાધના નું પર્વ છે ના કે લફરા બાજી નું
Another X user named @DhavalP0673838 wrote, demanding an apology from the actress, “Shameful comments on our festival by the Gujarati actress named Urvashi, we want an apology for the humiliation of Sanatan dharma.”
It’s incredible that the actress didn’t bother to apologise even after being called out for disrespecting the revered Hindu festival honouring the divinity and might of Goddess Shakti or Durga. Instead, she brazened it out by sharing a report on the same published by the Hindi daily news outlet Navbharat Times.
वैलेंटाइन डे पर नहीं, नवरात्रि में सेटिंग करो.. गुजराती अभिनेत्री उर्वशी सोलंकी का विवादित बयान
Hamas terrorists killed in the October 7 attack on southern Israel were discovered carrying instructions on how to deploy cyanide-based chemical bombs, Israeli officials have revealed, the New York Post reported.
The directions included detailed diagrams for a “cyanide dispersion device” and were stored in USBs found on the bodies of Hamas operatives who massacred Kibbutz Be’eri, according to Israeli intelligence reviewed by American news website Axios.
A cable sent by Israel to its embassies read: “This finding points to an intention by Hamas to use chemical weapons as part of its terror attack against civilians.”
The cable advised the embassies to inform its diplomats that Hamas had been instructed “to conduct attacks in a similar way that ISIS tried to do.”
The existence of the instructions was confirmed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog during an interview with Sky News on Sunday. He said the instructions originated from an Al Qaeda design for chemical weapons dating back to 2003.
“It’s Al Qaeda material. Official Al Qaeda material. We are dealing with ISIS, Al Qaeda and Hamas,” President Herzog said.
“This is how shocking the situation is where we’re looking at the instructions that are given on how to operate and how to create a kind of non-professional chemical weapon with cyanide,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have repeatedly compared Hamas to groups like ISIS — a terror group known for using horrifying violence while trying to force extremist Islamic law across the world — since its attack on the Jewish homeland two weeks ago, according to the New York Post.
In an address shortly after the attack, Israeli PM Netanyahu said: “The atrocities carried out by Hamas have not been seen since the atrocities of ISIS.” “Children bound and executed with the rest of their families, young girls and boys shot in the back, executed, and other atrocities that I will not describe here,” he said.
Hamas even brought ISIS flags to some of the Kibbutzs attacked during the ambush, according to images released by Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers. Israel has disclosed other pieces of intelligence reportedly found on the bodies of Hamas agents, including battle plans to “kill as many people as possible” and take hostages as they raided and burned civilian villages.
According to the New York Post, some plans reportedly included explicit directions to target schools for kidnapping children en masse and pointed out locations where large groups of people were likely to be found like supermarkets and dining halls.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be visiting Israel this week, as per the Israeli prime minister’s office.
Macron will visit Israel on Tuesday to hold talks with Israeli PM Netanyahu, the French President’s office announced.
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden discussed the Israel-Hamas war with leaders of major Western powers, the White House said. The White House said that Biden spoke with the leaders of the UK, Canada, France, Germany and Italy.
“The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians,” the White House said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Months after Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) won the 2-year-long legal battle against false accusations of caste discrimination, The New York Times (NYT) has now targeted the newly-inaugurated Akshardham Mahamandir in Robbinsville in the New Jersey State of United States.
In an article published on Saturday (21st October), NYT claimed, “Federal law enforcement agents raided the temple construction site in 2021 after workers accused the builders, a prominent Hindu sect with ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and his ruling party, of forced labour, low wages and poor working conditions.”
“Their lawyers said workers who were Dalit, the lowest rung in India’s caste system, were specifically targeted. A federal criminal investigation is ongoing, as is a wage claim lawsuit,” the leftist newspaper further alleged.
Screengrab of the news report by The NYT
Although it had been 2 years since the infamous raid on the construction site of Akshardham Mahamandir in 2021 and no charges could be established, The New York Times continued to air the baseless allegations against the temple authorities.
“Even as visitors are making their way to the Robbinsville temple, the treatment of some of the people who worked on its construction is still at issue.When the temple was raided in 2021, dozens of workers were taken from the construction site,” the leftist newspaper alleged.
“Twenty-one temple workers filed a lawsuit that year, though this month, 12 of them pulled out of the suit. Their lawyer, Aaditya Soni, who is based in Jaipur, said in a text message that the workers believe the facts of the case are false and that they decided to pull out based on religious conviction,” it claimed.
No indictment in nearly 3 years & most of the plaintiffs suing the temple over “caste” dropped their suit saying they were coerced with false promises of green cards.
But yeah, @nytimes goes with this headline to belittle the opening of the largest Hindu temple in the country. pic.twitter.com/wWDRfdInDD
The New York Times highlighted the case of one boy who allegedly fell to his death at a construction site in 2017. It also cited a lawyer named Patricia Kakalec, who has now vowed to fight for the labourers involved in the construction of the temple.
The leftist newspaper wrote the propaganda piece, just two days after the grand Akshardham Mahamandir was made open to the public on Wednesday (18th October) by BAPS. The temple in question took 15 years to build and is the largest in the Western Hemisphere.
At a time when scores of Hindu pilgrims are visiting the spectacular temple and immersing themselves in its grandiose, The New York Times sought to sour the occasion with unsubstantiated claims of caste discrimination.
This is however not the first time when it tried to portray Hinduism in a bad light. Earlier in 2021, the newspaper had targeted the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), by falsely claiming that the Hindu sect actively engaged in caste discrimination against Dalit artisans.
On 11th May, 2021, it published an article titled ‘Hindu Sect Is Accused of Using Forced Labor to Build N.J. Temple.’
On 10th November 2021, The New York Timeswrote an article titled, “Hindu Sect Accused of Using Forced Labor at More Temples Across U.S.” The leftist newspaper also published one guest essay to further propagate the myth of caste discrimination by Hindus in the United States.
Artisans were lured with ‘green cards’ to make false testimony against BAPS
On 13th July this year, over a dozen artisans, who were part of a lawsuit against Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple in New Jersey, United States, decided to withdraw their names from the case.
In May 2021, a lawsuit was filed against BAPS in the United States of America alleging forced labour for construction of temple as well as human trafficking. Rajasthan High Court Advocate Aaditya SB Soni has issued a press release on behalf of the artisans under the banner of Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh and Patthar Gadhai Sangh stating the artisans were threatened to be part of the deep-rooted conspiracy to stall the construction of the grand Hindu Temple.
The volunteer stone carving artisans stated that they were made accomplices in the conspiracy but have rebelled against it. They have decided to withdraw from the civil complaint filed in an American court against the Hindu temple.“These artisans have made strong claims that Swati Sawant and her companions impressed upon them and misled them, using false temptations, to make a complaint against the temple management,” the press release read.
Remember the case against @BAPS Hindu temple in 2021 that alleged "caste discrimination"? #JUSTIN: A dozen artisans claim coercion, promise of US citizenship and large sums of money to testify against BAPS, are withdrawing the case. pic.twitter.com/0obQmSm9eL
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) July 15, 2023
Notably, these artisans have provided their services for BAPS temples in India and the US for many years. They never experienced any pressure, castism or discrimination during their association with the BAPS temple.
“These artisans have clarified that they were treated with love and respect at the BAPS Swaminarayan temple, where they served and were well cared for. Advocate Aaditya SB Soni stated that the temple provided all support and facilities to these volunteers, including their flight tickets, their stay in the USA, their lodging and boarding, clothes, healthcare and medicines. The temple also provided for their family members in India. The volunteers returned from the USA to India to visit their families regularly, as per their wishes. They would return as per their convenience after spending some time with their families,” the press release added.
Furthermore, Advocate Soni stated in the press release that the artisans were scared to tell the truth as Swati Sawant allegedly warned them that some of their own fellow artisans would report them to the US police and they would be put behind bars if they revealed the truth. She also “convinced them to make false allegations in court, tempting them with promises of American citizenship for them and their families, and huge amounts of money.”
As expected, The New York Times decided to not update their report so that readers who are misled about ‘caste discrimination’ and ‘human trafficking’ by the newspaper can continue to believe the lies.
On 14th October, while addressing the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India will leave no stone unturned in the efforts to host the Olympics in 2036.
PM Modi said, “India is eager to organise the Olympics in the country, there will be no deficiency in the efforts to ensure that the Olympics are organised in India in 2036.”
“This is a years-old dream of 140 crore Indians, it is their desire, and we want to fulfil this dream with the cooperation of all of you,” the Prime Minister said addressing the IOC members.
This was seen as an important confirmation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India is bidding to host the 2036 Olympics. And when it comes to imagining which Indian city tops the race for hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet, Ahmedabad is the name that appears naturally, thanks to the world-class sports facility developed in the city over the last few years. It, therefore, becomes important to take an account of the preparations of the prime Gujarati city to host the Olympics in 2036.
Till 2036, Asia will have a long gap in hosting the Olympics
The ‘Olympics’, the world’s most popular sporting event. As of 2036, it will have been a considerable stretch since the last Olympics took place in Asia. Notably, Beijing hosted the Olympics in 2008, while Tokyo was the host in 2020. Looking ahead, with Paris set for 2024, Los Angeles for 2028, and Brisbane for 2032, the International Olympic Committee is likely to turn its attention to Asia, with India being a prospective candidate.
With India being the most populous country in Asia, preparations have already begun. Ahmedabad and Delhi are under consideration as potential host cities, alongside a few other cities for some additional events.
About eighteen months before Narendra Modi’s public announcement regarding the possibility of hosting the Olympics in India, Narinder Batra, the President of the Indian Olympic Committee, disclosed in February 2022 that India was actively vying to be the host for the 2036 Olympics. Alongside this, he shared additional specifics.
?? The IOC Session will go back to India 40 years after its 86th edition, in New Delhi.
It is hoped that hosting the #IOCSession in India will highlight the role of sport in the country and celebrate the contribution of India to the Olympic Movement.https://t.co/zh6eAH0mmX
Notably, in a show of support for India, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) arranged its annual meeting of full membership in Mumbai for 2023. Recently concluded, the meeting witnessed Prime Minister Modi expressing India’s ambitions to host the games, widely interpreted as the initiation of India’s lobbying efforts for the bid.
Preparations in Ahmedabad to host Olympic Games 2036
Ahmedabad initiated preparations for the 2036 Olympic Games a significant time ago. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has been consecutively undertaking projects that will contribute to the advancement of these initiatives.
In preparation for the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad, progress is underway across three key areas viz Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, Naranpura International Sports Complex, and Riverfront Sports Complex. These three projects constitute the focal point of Ahmedabad’s endeavours to host the Olympic Games 2036.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave
The SVP Sports Enclave, sprawled across an extensive 236-acre area, boasts a comprehensive range of 50 sports facilities. Notably, the grandeur of this complex is elevated by the presence of the renowned Narendra Modi cricket stadium, recognised as the world’s largest of its kind.
?Giga_Project
A Thread on Ahmedabad's preparations for hosting Olympics
Projects included: 1. SVP Sports Enclave 2. International Sports complex at Naranpura 3. Riverfront Sports Complexes
Accompanying this iconic structure is a state-of-the-art athletic football stadium designed to accommodate 50,000 spectators, aligning meticulously with FIFA guidelines. Additionally, the premises include a meticulously designed field hockey stadium with a seating capacity of 15,000.
?Giga_Project
A Thread on Ahmedabad's preparations for hosting Olympics
Projects included: 1. SVP Sports Enclave 2. International Sports complex at Naranpura 3. Riverfront Sports Complexes
Beyond its sporting excellence, Ahmedabad’s SVP Sports Olympics district is set within a regal locale, providing top-tier hospitality and accommodation options, including a dedicated sportsman’s village.
The proposed SVP Sports Enclave was announced at the inauguration ceremony of the Cricket Stadium in 2021. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave will be a multi-sport destination that will provide the infrastructure for hosting national and international sporting events.
The planned development of the SVP Sports Enclave anticipates a sprawling built-up area spanning 9,300,000 square feet. The entire project, estimated at a total cost of Rs. 4600 crore, involves a significant governmental investment of Rs. 3200 crore, supplemented by a potential PPP/private investment of Rs. 1400 crore. Notably, the project is strategically structured for phased development, with substantial progress already accomplished. The envisioned enclave stands as a unique entity, providing venues suitable for over 20 different competing events in the Olympic Games.
Features of SVP Sports Enclave (Image Source: Republic Media)
Among the notable features of the SVP Sports Enclave is a 50,000-seat athletics stadium equipped with a standard 400-meter track catering to both track and field events as well as football matches. Additionally, the enclave includes a 10,000 to 12,000-seat indoor arena designed for various spectator sports, along with a spacious 350,000 to 400,000 square feet indoor sports centre offering flexible support for multiple sports.
Furthermore, the facilities encompass a 100,000 to 120,000 square feet indoor aquatic centre, incorporating both indoor and outdoor pools, sized at 50m x 25m. Notably, the enclave also comprises a 15,000-seat field hockey stadium, along with provisions for other indoor and outdoor sports such as badminton, volleyball, and table tennis. The indoor sports centre is envisioned as a versatile venue accommodating activities like basketball, wrestling, kabaddi, squash, and boxing.
Additionally, the complex has facilitated the establishment of a tennis centre, featuring a central stadium and 12 outdoor courts. Moreover, a Signature Hotel, Outdoor Practice Court, Mixed-Use and Hospitality District, and a 50,000-seat athletic football stadium – all operating on a PPP basis – are also planned. These facilities are seamlessly linked through a meticulously crafted Pedestrian Bridge, enhancing connectivity from the Sports Enclave.
The undertaking also encompasses the provision of 2, 3, and 4-bedroom accommodations within the Athletic Village, featuring a cumulative count of 3,000 apartments, equating to a total capacity of 12,500 beds. Furthermore, the premises will incorporate designated areas for meetings and interviews, administrative and media offices, hotels, retail spaces, various facilities, food courts, and parking facilities capable of accommodating approximately 7,500 cars and 15,000 two-wheelers.
Naranpura International Sports Complex
Naranpura Sports Complex, covering a vast expanse of over 20 acres, is expected to incur an estimated cost of Rs 584 crore. The selection of the site meticulously considers all the prerequisites essential for an international sports venue, ensuring an impeccable mobility plan for both players and visitors.
Concept view of Naranpura Sports Complex (PImage Source: Ahmedabad Mirror)
In 2021, the Union Finance Ministry allocated a budget of Rs 10,000 crore for the development of a multi-sports facility near Vardan Tower in Naranpura. Following the approval of the Rs 584 crore budget, the construction of the expansive complex commenced at full pace. Encompassing an area of 82,509 square meters, the complex will house an array of cutting-edge amenities and will be under the complete management of the Union Sports Ministry.
Master Plan of the Complex (Image Source: TOI)
The primary highlights of the complex will feature an Olympic-sized aquatic centre, tennis court, and an athletic stadium, among others. As per the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the complex aims to elevate the local residents’ sports participation while fostering talent discovery.
2. Naranpura Sports Complex
– Around 20 Acres – Cost: ~584 Cr – Selected the plot in such a way that all the criteria for hosting an International Sports venue can be matched with respect to the mobility plan of Players and visitors. pic.twitter.com/wop3REMgW1
Notably, the Center of Excellence will host national-level players and trainers, amplifying the city’s sporting presence. Inside, the indoor sports facility will incorporate a dedicated table tennis room capable of accommodating 12 simultaneous matches. Additionally, the complex will offer ample parking space for 850 two-wheelers and 800 cars.
Riverfront Sports Complex
The Riverfront Sports Complex will encompass two distinct sports complexes, with one situated near Shahpur on the east bank and the other near NID on the west bank. Among its offerings will be a total of 4 cricket pitches, 4 tennis courts, and 4 basketball pitches, catering to a diverse array of sports enthusiasts.
Furthermore, the complex will incorporate additional recreational features such as skateboarding facilities, a synthetic jogging track, an open gym, and a dedicated play area designed specifically for children.
The Sabarmati Riverfront Sports Complex is strategically situated in two locations along the Sabarmati Riverfront, with one positioned on the eastern bank in Shahpur and the other on the western bank in Paldi. This initiative, in conjunction with the extensive Sabarmati riverfront development, represents a crucial element of the broader vision aimed at enhancing the social and cultural nucleus of central Ahmedabad. Spearheaded by HCP in 2019, this pioneering project marks a significant milestone in Gujarat, introducing a distinctive facet to the lively and pulsating essence of Sabarmati.
Riverfront Sports Complex near NID (Image Source: Desh Gujarat)
Spanning over 8 acres of land, the sports facility in Paldi is strategically positioned between the event ground and the senior citizen and children’s park. Designed as an integrated campus, it offers top-notch training and competition amenities adhering to international standards for sports such as tennis, basketball, volleyball, cricket, and kabaddi.
Complementing these features are public fitness spaces and a dedicated children’s entertainment zone. Along the periphery, a 400-meter shadow jogging track winds through the surroundings, bordered by lush green trees. Notably, the complex will house Gujarat’s inaugural skateboarding park, boasting an international standard inline speed skating rink.
3. Riverfront Sports Complexes
– two sports complexes: near Shahpur on East-bank, near NID on west-bank – Will have 4 cricket pitches, 4 tennis courts, and 4 basketball pitches. – Also amenities such as skateboard, synthetic jogging track, open gym, and play area for kids. pic.twitter.com/2dUSMKp6vU
Occupying a spacious area of 2 acres along the east bank of the riverfront, the Shahpur facility boasts international standard provisions for basketball, volleyball, and cricket. Embracing a holistic approach, the site offers shaded jogging tracks, coupled with dedicated spaces for children’s play, public fitness, and relaxation.
Ahmedabad stands fully prepared to host the 2036 Olympic Games, ensuring comprehensive readiness through meticulous planning and ongoing preparations. The pivotal role of the aforementioned three sports complexes is expected to significantly contribute to the success of the event.
In 2025, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members will visit Ahmedabad and witness these extensive preparations, there appears to be a strong chance that the city could be chosen as the host.
The Madhya Pradesh (MP) Assembly elections are scheduled for 17th November 2023, and the results will be announced on 3rd December with four other states: Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh.
In the 2018 elections, though Congress won, it could not hold the state for long as then-Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and almost two dozen lawmakers shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP had a slightly higher vote share percentage, with 41.02 per cent on the charts, compared to Congress, which had a 40.89 per cent vote share. However, Congress won 114 out of 230 seats, forming a coalition government with the support of MLAs from Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Independent candidates. The government ran for 15 months and collapsed due to the defection of the MLAs from the Congress party to the BJP.
Congress hopes to regain power in MP, but this time, they mostly rely on the ‘Muslim vote factor’. Reports suggest that out of 230 assembly seats, 22 MP seats can be influenced by the Muslim votes. The margin of victory in bi-party politics in MP has always been less than 20 seats, which might have prompted Congress to lure Muslim voters in upcoming elections.
Notably, Congress has already announced its candidates for all seats except for the Aalampur seat in the Betul district. In 2018, Muslim votes were crucial in Congress’s victory as the party managed to increase its vote share by 3-4 per cent. The coordinator of the Madhya Pradesh Muslim Vikas Parishad affiliated with the Congress, Mohammed Mahir, pointed out that the surge in the minority vote shared helped the Congress win the elections by a narrow margin in 2018.
Interestingly, Congress Unit Chief Kamal Nath asserted in 2018 that if 90 per cent of the minority votes favoured Congres, they could form a government. His appeal worked in Congress’s favour, adding around 10-12 seats to the party’s tally that had eluded them in the 2008 and 2013 elections.
According to the 2011 census, the Muslim population in Madhya Pradesh stands at 7 per cent. The minority population has increased to 9-10 per cent, as per the estimates. Their presence in 47 assembly seats is notable, while 22 out of these 47 can go either way, depending on how Muslims vote. Reports suggest that in those 22 seats, the Muslim voter base ranges from 15,000 to 35,000, making them pivotal in the event of a closely contested election. Some of the important seats among these constituencies include Bhopal, Indore, Burhanpur, Jaora, Jabalpur and others.
Recently, Congress has faced criticism from the BJP over the alleged betrayal of the minority community in politics. Though Congress aims to gain a substantial share of the Muslim votes, they field a limited number of minority candidates. On the other hand, the BJP flaunts to have not only nominated minority candidates but also focused on the social and economic development of the Muslim population.
The two major parties are competing to support the critical minority demographic in the upcoming assembly elections, which will provide insights into evolving voting dynamics in the state. Though the Aam Aadmi Party is also competing in the Assembly Elections, their presence may not dent the vote share of any of BJP or Congress.
On 22nd October, the spokesperson of the Israeli government informed that more than 200,000 Israelis have been internally displaced because of the Hamas terror attack and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war. During a media briefing, the spokesperson of the Israeli government, Eylon Levy, said that half of them were ordered to evacuate from 105 communities near the Gaza and Lebanon borders. Levy added that another half left areas close to the front of their own volition.
According to the information received, the Israelis displaced or evacuated mostly hail from communities that are adjacent to Gaza or are from the north of Israel bordering Lebanon, where Hezobollah has opened another front of the war. These include residents of Sderot and Ofakim near Gaza and Kiryat Shmona near Lebanon.
The population who have shifted include two categories, those who have been fully evacuated from their homes, and those who are eligible “to rest and refresh themselves” at state-subsidized guesthouses temporarily. People living in 25 communities up to four kilometres from the Gaza Strip and people living in 28 towns up to two kilometres from the Lebanon border have been evacuated, as these border areas have been turned into full-fledged war zones. The areas near the Gaza border have become a military zone closed to civilians, while the Lebanon border is a restricted area now.
The government will be responsible for these people until the military allows them to return to their homes. People living from 4 to 7 km from the Gaza border are not required to evacuate, but they are eligible to go and “rest and refresh themselves” for a week at state-subsidized guesthouses.
The horrific Hamas terror attack on 7 October was concentrated in the towns near the Gaza border, where entire families were shot dead by the terrorists. Now the towns have become completely deserted, and surviving people in many towns may never return. The communities that witnessed massacres by Hamas include Be’eri, Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv HaAsara and many others. The worst massacre took place at a music festival held near Re’im.
Following these developments, the Education Ministry announced that new schools will be established in the coming days for students who have had to leave their homes due to the security situation.
These new schools will be located in Eilat, the Arava, and near the Dead Sea. These are the areas where large numbers of citizens have been transferred. Under the wartime rules drawn up by the Home Front Command, in-person learning is permitted in these new schools. Beyond these areas, many Israelis have evacuated their homes near the northern and southern borders, even though they were not asked to do so.
In Eilat, Education Minister Yoav Kisch asserted that the school system has essentially doubled in size due to the influx of students. Kisch added that the schools are currently working in shifts, with morning and afternoon learning, in order to accommodate the influx of students.
The Ministry emphasised that in areas where security conditions permit, 40% of schools will resume in-person activities.
During the 2020-21 COVID lockdowns, distance learning gained prominence, and back then, Israel implemented it in most areas. Now, in order to facilitate distance learning, the ministry has distributed nearly 5,000 laptop computers to evacuee families. Now, they plan to double this number and provide a total of 10,000 laptops.
It is important to note that the walls of the Western media have been plastered with the stories of hardships being faced by Palestinians in Gaza because of the Israeli airstrikes on Hamas sites, which inevitably cause civilian hardships and casualties. Isreal has ordered people in north Gaza to move to south Gaza, ahead of a ground operation to wipe out Hamas, which has created a massive humanitarian crisis, and this has been adequately covered by media.
On the other hand, Israelis have also evacuated their homes near the northern and southern borders. However, the harrowing stories of innocent Israelis have been rugged under the carpet both during the 7th October terrorist attack and those currently faced in the aftermath of terrorist attacks and a consequent Israel-Hamas war.
In the meanwhile, Israeli media has reported that the Israeli security agencies Mossad and Shin Bet have established a new unit to track down and eliminate perpetrators of the 7th October attack by Hamas.
The new unit will be named after the World War I-era Jewish underground organisation “Nili”. It is an acronym for a Hebrew phrase that translates as “the Eternal One of Israel will not lie”. Nili will have the dedicated task of hunting down and eliminating every Hamas terrorist who was involved in the terrorist attacks and ground invasion in Southern Israel, two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, on Sunday (22nd October), the sixth flight under India’s ‘Operation Ajay’ brought back as many as 143 passengers. These includes two Nepalese citizens and four infants departed from Israel’s Tel Aviv.
Days after the Aam Aadmi Party tried to play politics over the death of an Agniveer soldier, now Rahul Gandhi has joined the dirty politics after the death of another Agniveer jawan recruited under the new Agnipath Scheme.
On Sunday (22 October), the Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps informed that Agniveer (Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman lost his life while posted at Siachen glacier. The corps posted on X, “All ranks of Fire and Fury Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of #Agniveer (Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman, in the line of duty, in the unforgiving heights of #Siachen and offer deepest condolences to the family.”
Quartered in snow silent to remain, when the bugle calls they shall rise and march again
All ranks of Fire and Fury Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of #Agniveer (Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman, in the line of duty, in the unforgiving heights of #Siachen and offer deepest… pic.twitter.com/1Qo1izqr1U
The reason for the death has not been disclosed, but most tragedies in the glacier take place due to natural disasters like avalanches.
Hours after the news of the unfortunate death of the soldier was published, Rahul Gandhi alleged that his family will not get any monetary payment, like the families of regular soldiers receive. In a tweet posted in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “A young man was martyred for the country – no gratuity, no other military facilities during his service, and no pension to his family in martyrdom.”
He further added that ‘Agniveer is a plan to insult the heroes of India’.
However, the allegations of Rahul Gandhi are completely false and inaccurate, and families of Agniveer soldiers who loss their lives in the line of duty do receive emoluments. As per terms of the Agnipath scheme, the Next of Kin of an Agniveer soldier who becomes a battle casualty receives ₹48 Lakh as Non-Contributory Insurance and Ex-gratia of ₹44 Lakh.
Apart from this, they also receive the amount of Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer, with an equal matching contribution by the Govt, along with the interest. The Next of Kin will also receive pay for the balance tenure from the date of death, till the completion of four years, which is the term of employment under the scheme. In Gawate Akshay Laxman’s case, his family will receive over ₹13 lakh in total.
Not only this, the next of kin will also be paid a contribution of ₹8 Lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund. Therefore, the next of kin of the deceased Agniveer soldier will receive ₹1.13 crore plus the Seva Nidhi amount, which could be around ₹3 lakh for service of one year, as opposed to Rahul Gandhi’s claim that they will receive no monetary compensation.
It is notable that the Seva Nidhi contribution is 30% of the salary.
Rahul Gandhi has been spreading false propaganda against the Agnipath scheme, designed to turn Indian defence forces into a younger force. He had claimed that the scheme was a brainchild of RSS, alleging that the scheme will create unemployed youths trained in guns, and will create violence in society. It is notable that Rahul Gandhi’s comments were the same as comments of PFI about the scheme, who had claimed that retired Agniveer soldiers would form groups to attack Muslims.
Earlier AAP had attacked the scheme after Agniveer Amritpal Singh died in Kashmir, after he was not provided a military guard of honour during his funeral. The Indian Army had then explained that no guard of honour or military funeral was provided because Singh had died from suicide. The Army said that this is the existing policy for all soldiers, not just for Agnivereers.
“Unfortunate instances of death arising out of suicide/self-inflicted injury, irrespective of the type of entry, are accorded due respect by the Armed Forces along with deep and enduring empathy with the family. Such cases, however, are not entitled to Military Funerals as per the extant Army Order of 1967, in vogue,” the Indian Army had said.
Under the Agnipath scheme, Agniveer soldiers are recruited for 4 years, with 25% of them eligible to enter regular service. Soldiers who retire after four years will be opportunity to work at PSUs, government agencies, paramilitary forces, and state governments. They also receive the Sewa Nidhi corpus of ₹10.04 lakh along with interest.
The Israeli security agencies Mossad and Shin Bet have reportedly established a new unit to track down and eliminate perpetrators of the 7th October attack by Hamas. According to Israeli media reports, the new unit will be named after the World War I-era Jewish underground organisation “Nili”. It is an acronym for a Hebrew phrase that translates as “the Eternal One of Israel will not lie.”
Mossad is the intelligence unit of Israel, while Shin Bet is the country’s internal security service.
Nili will have the dedicated task of hunting down and eliminating every Hamas terrorist who was involved in the terrorist attacks and ground invasion in Southern Israel, two weeks ago.
The new unit, Nili, has been specifically set up to dismantle Hamas’s special commando unit Nukhba (“elite”) within the military wing of the Palestinian terror outfit. On 7th October, terrorists of this Nukhba unit, thousands in numbers, infiltrated Israel and carried out mass killings, rapes, and abducted over 250 Israeli and foreign nationals to Gaza. The Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel through land, sea and air, killing over 1400 people and injuring many more.
A large number of Hamas terrorists who had entered Israel were killed by Israeli forces, but others managed to sneak back into the Gaza Strip. Many of them abducted civilians and took them to Gaza, and continue to keep them hostage. Now this Nili unit will be responsible for hunting down those Hamas terrorists who went back to Gaza after the massacre near the Gaza border in Israel.
As per Israeli media, the members of Nili will function independently from other Command and Control units. Those units are focused on neutralising strike cells and high-ranking terrorists. On the other hand, this particular mission is distinct which is why the Nili will have both field operatives and intelligence personnel.
The establishment of the new unit comes days after Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed several top commandos and operatives of Hamas. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have already announced the death of several Nukbha commanders including Billal al-Qedra, who headed the unit’s southern Khan Younis battalion, and Ali Qadi, a company commander.
On 18th October, the IDF announced that it killed over 10 terrorists of Hamas’ Nukhba unit while targeting top terror figures in the Gaza Strip.
A day earlier, on 17th October, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza reportedly killed Ayman Nofal who was the head of Hamas’s Central Gaza Brigade. On the same day, IDF announced that around 14 family members of Hamas Chairman Ismail Haniyeh died in its airstrikes when it hit a house belonging to the Hamas leader in Gaza. It was reported that Haniyeh’s brother and nephew also died in that airstrike.
At a time when an Israeli ground offensive is looming large, Israel has issued a warning that every Hamas terrorist faces death. However, two accused masterminds who hatched the 7th October attack are at the top of Israel’s hit list. They are Hamas military commander Muhammad Deif and political leader Yahya Sinwar.
(Yahya Sinwar, Image Source – Times of Israel)
Israel has asserted that Sinwar is “a dead man walking”. Following the terrorist attack on Israel, its Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pronounced, “Hamas terrorists have two options: Be killed or surrender unconditionally. There is no third option.”
Sinwar was among the founding members of Hamas in 1987 during the First Intifada or uprising. He spent 23 years in Israeli jails where he learned Hebrew but in 2011, he was one among 1,100 Palestinian prisoners who were exchanged for the release of a French-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Notably, Sinwar and Deif both were born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza. In 2015, both of them were added to the most wanted International terrorist list of the United States.
(Only full face picture of Deif, it is 20 year old picture, Image Source – Times of Israel)
Contrary to Sinwar, much less is known about Israel’s number one public enemy for the past two decades Deif who is the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. He has been accused of organising suicide attacks, kidnappings, and other raids. However, there is only one known full-face photo of Deif which is at least 20 years old.
While an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza is imminent, the timing of it still remains unclear. However, Senior Israeli commanders have been making public references to such preparations amid questions about when an operation might be launched.
According to a statement issued by Israel’s military on 22nd October (Sunday), the commanding officer of Israel’s ground forces, Maj. Gen. Tamir Yedai has been meeting in recent days with soldiers training for “ground maneuvering.”
In the wake of the ground invasion, the Israeli military has been reiterating its warning for civilians in Gaza to move to the southern part of the enclave. It has warned them to leave the Northern part of the enclave or be ready to be treated as a supporter of terrorists.
It is not a secret that Elon Musk hates left-media, as he frequently criticises the left-liberal media houses. He also has equal disdain for Wikipedia, given the fact that the online encyclopaedia has a well-known leftist bias. Earlier he had slammed Wikipedia and its ‘motivated’ editors for information manipulation and distortion of facts.
He also seems to be irritated with the constant appeals for donations by Wikipedia. On 22 October, he offered $1 billion to the site, with a condition. On X (Twitter) which he owns now, Elon Musk said that he will give Wikipedia a billion dollars if they change their name to ‘Dickipedia’.
He tweeted, “I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to Dickipedia”. He was tagging one of his previous tweets, in which he had posted the image of a Wikipedia banner message from 2022 headlined ‘Wikipedia is not for sale’. The banner was used to seek monetary contributions from users. Elon Musk posted the image of a portion of the banner with the Sleeping Face Emoji.
I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to Dickipedia https://t.co/wxoHQdRICy
When journalist Ed Krassenstein asked Wikipedia to accept the offer, saying that they could revert after collecting the money, Elon Musk said that the new name would have to be there for at least 1 year.
“One year minimum. I mean, I’m a not fool lol,” he responded.
One user replied with a screenshot of a Wiki page about a parody collection of satirical biographies “about people who are dicks,” Musk responded that he loved ‘Dickipedia’.
Elon Musk is a business magnate who heads Electric Car company Tesla, spacecraft maker SpaceX which also operates Starlink satellite internet service, infrastructure firm Boring, and social media site X (formerly Twitter). He is also co-founder of Neuralink, OpenAI and PayPal.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority is scheduled to hold exams in order to fill 670 direct recruitment positions in a variety of government agencies and boards on 28 and 29 October and the dress code for the examination has been released by the board. It has allowed candidates to put on hijabs to take the test notwithstanding that there continues to be a dispute regarding the same in the state.
The decision to permit the wearing of the Islamic head cover during examinations has followed months of debate about their acceptance in educational settings. However, those with hijabs have to show up at the location an hour early to be screened. It has been established that applicants who choose to wear hijabs during the exam need to adhere to certain rules. Clothes with embroidery, flowers, brooches, long sleeves and jeans are prohibited.
Minister of Higher Education Dr MC Sudhakar declared that hijab will be permitted and claimed that any restriction on it would violate people’s rights. “The hijab issue was not part of the discussion. Some want to raise objections to small things. But we cannot infringe on the rights of people. Even in NEET, candidates are allowed to wear hijab,” he remarked after attending a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to address the State Education Policy and appointments in vacancies.
He confirmed that candidates would be contacted an hour prior to the test to undertake extensive background checks that would eliminate any possibility of malpractice.
The recommendation for male candidates is to dress in simple low-pocketed pants and half-sleeved shirts. Jeans, kurta pyjamas, full-sleeve shirts and other outfits with embroidery are not acceptable. The exam is intended to fill a number of positions including Keonics and Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation on corporation boards.
Karnataka Hijab Row
The Udupi Hijab dispute in Karnataka arose in late 2021 which concerned Muslim female students in the state who wanted to wear hijabs as part of their school uniforms which led to major protests and legal battles as well as spread to other parts of the country.
The debate started in January 2022. A Udupi college turned away a number of Muslim students who were wearing hijabs to class. There were countless images on social media depicting college administrators forbidding students who donned the head covers from entering their campuses. Afterwards, the college administration contended that the hijab was not included in the uniform dress code that the students had been instructed to follow.
The administration had requested that female students forgo the hijab during their time in college, in accordance with the new state regulations. Eight female students consistently disobeyed the rule and claimed it inhibited them from practising their faith.
A student of PES College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Mandya named Muskan Zainab who rose to fame owing to her theatrics during the row was disclosed to have links to the banned radical Islamic organisation Popular Front of India through her father Abdul Sukoor who was a leader of the extremist outfit. The development had exposed the role of the group behind the controversy.
The girl came to the limelight after she was seen yelling “Allahu Akbar” in a niqab in response to Hindu students who were chanting “Jai Shree Ram.” They were protesting against the Muslim students who were screaming Islamic slogans in hijab and burqa inside the institution.
