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Apple ignores Trump’s threats, ramps up production of phone making machines in India after increasing iPhone production, ties up with dozens of Indian companies

OpIndia Staff
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Apple ignores Trump’s threats, ramps up production of phone making machines in India after increasing iPhone production, ties up with dozens of Indian companies

Despite repeated threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to stop manufacturing in India, Apple Inc. is doubling down on its Indian manufacturing ambitions. The company is not only expanding iPhone assembly lines in India, but now also increasing the localisation of the production of specialised machinery critical to the process.

The move comes despite Trump’s repeated pressure on Apple CEO Tim Cook to shift production back to the U.S. from India, including threats of a 25% tariff on iPhones not made domestically. In May, Trump publicly warned that iPhones sold in the U.S. should be “manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” or face steep penalties.

Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports in retaliation for India’s Russian oil purchases. However, smartphones like the iPhone secured a key exemption, allowing Apple to maintain cost competitiveness without immediate price hikes for American consumers. However, the U.S. President can remove that exemption anytime and impose tariff, as this entirely depends on his whims. In May this year, he had threatened 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the USA if they are made in India.

But these tariff threats have done little to derail Apple’s strategy, with India now supplying over 70% of iPhones sold in the U.S., a sharp rise from 31% a year ago. Production hit a record 22.88 million units exported from India in the first half of 2025, up 52% year-over-year, driven by diversification from China amid geopolitical tensions.

Now in a bold escalation, Apple is now venturing beyond component sourcing to manufacture the very capital equipment and tools used in iPhone production. As per a report by Moneycontrol, approximately 35 companies in India are active in this ecosystem, with nearly half, around 17, now directly partnering with Apple over the past 20-24 months. Major players like Titan Engineering and Automation Ltd (TEAL), Jyoti CNC Automation, Bharat Forge, and Wipro are supplying these machines, alongside smaller non-Chinese firms establishing local operations.

These companies make equipment used in the assembly of iPhones, and they are used after Surface Mount Technology (SMT) line production. In the SMT process, various electronic components and microchips are mounted onto printed circuit boards with micro-precision.

Apple holds the know-how and Intellectual Property Rights for these machines. “There are different types of machines required and that’s where Apple is localising the manufacturing of this machinery in India,” the source quoted by Moneycontrol said.

The report added that Apple’s Indian partners are also helping miniaturise capital equipment for electronics, especially smartphones. “With Apple’s IP and know-how, these companies are helping build the tools required for iPhone production,” the source reportedly said.

“This localization addresses logistical risks, cuts costs, and builds resilience,” one source further said.

The development comes amid China increasing restrictions on exports of critical machinery to India. Apple intends to match China’s production sophistication within two to three years in India.

Beijing has halted machinery shipments to Indian facilities run by Apple’s assemblers like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Jabil. The Chinese government has also recalled Chinese experts from India and has urged its firms to shutter India operations. Apple understands this escalating issue and is working to mitigate it.

Apple’s broader India footprint now spans five factories, including two new plants, producing iPhones and AirPods. The company engages 35-40 suppliers for components like batteries, chargers, and cables, achieving about 20% domestic value addition. The govt of India aims to push this to 30-40% via schemes like ECMS 2.0.

The report added that Apple is also engaging with Indian firms to explore joint ventures with Chinese, South Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese companies for the local production of critical components such as displays and camera modules. For example, Foxconn’s Yuzhan Technology investing $1.5 billion in a Tamil Nadu facility.

Despite Trump’s threats and Apple’s pledge of $100 billion in U.S. investments over four years, India’s low costs and maturing ecosystem make relocation to the U.S. unlikely. While China still dominates with 157 of Apple’s 470 global suppliers, India’s rise, from 14% of iPhone production in 2024 to a targeted 25% by year-end, positions it as a resilient alternative.

With iPhone 17 production in India ramping up, the tech giant’s India bet signals confidence that tariffs, while disruptive, won’t halt the “Make in India” momentum.

‘Graves turning into pilgrimage sites for radical elements’: PIL seeking removal of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat’s graves from Tihar jail dismissed by Delhi HC

OpIndia Staff
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‘Graves turning into pilgrimage sites for radical elements’: PIL seeking removal of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat’s graves from Tihar jail dismissed by Delhi HC

On 24th September, the Delhi High Court denied a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to have the graves of Kashmiri terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhat removed from the Central Jail in Tihar.

The prayer which was filed by the Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh wanted authorities to move the remains to a hidden location if needed to stop the glorification of terrorism and exploiting the jail’s facilities.

Mohammad Maqbool Bhatt, the founder of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru were given the death penalty and were executed at Tihar jail. Guru was put to death in February 2013 while Bhatt was hanged in February 1984.

What did the plea say

The plea mentioned that the two planned and carried out terrorist attacks that seriously jeopardised India’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity while working under the umbrella of “extremist Jihadi ideology.” It argued that the members of a particular community now uses the graves to pay respect to the terrorists.

According to the submission, Tihar has become a “radical pilgrimage spot” for extremist outfits due to the burial sites close to Jail No. 3. The PIL noted that the continued presence of these graves inside a state-controlled prison is illegal, unconstitutional, and against public interest.

“This not only undermines national security and public order, but also sanctifies terrorism in direct contravention of the principles of secularism and rule of law under the Constitution of India,” it expressed.

However, a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela pronounced that it is unable to consider the request since the government must make that decision while taking law and order into consideration. They added that the government’s decision to bury them within the prison was a critical one and could not be changed after more than ten years.

The PIL emphasised that the installation of tombs, shrines, or other religious structures on jail property is prohibited by the Prisons Act of 1894, the Delhi Jail Manual of 2018 and other established prison laws. Additionally, it noted that the Delhi Prisons Rules of 2018 and the Delhi Prison Act of 2000 both prohibit the interment of prisoners within prison walls.

Citing the treatment of executed terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon, where every effort was made to prevent glorification, the petitioners asked the court to step in immediately and order the dismantling of the graves and relocation of the remains in a secure and concealed manner.

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, specifically Section 397, which forbids burial at undesignated locations was also referenced in the plea. “The existence of graves inside the jail premises poses a serious risk of contagious and dangerous diseases to both the inmates and the employees of Tihar Jail,” it added.

The plea further contended, “The Jail Manual provides that bodies of executed prisoners are to be disposed of in a manner that maintains prison security, discipline, and public order. Nowhere does it permit the construction of permanent graves or shrines inside prison premises. By allowing such graves, the authorities have set a dangerous precedent that undermines the very purpose of prison discipline and order.”

The court agrees with the PIL

The court upheld the petitioner’s statement that the graves could not be used as a place of pilgrimage or glorification. However, it stated that a PIL asserting the same cannot be founded on newspaper stories and should be based on empirical evidence. “We understand there should not be glorification. But you say people are going there as a pilgrimage. Where is the data? If that is so, there can be directions to stop all this. But as of now, we do not know,” the court asked.

It added, “Somebody’s last rites have been performed, and that has to be done with solemnity. Removing a grave which might have been in existence for the last 12 years? The government decided it keeping in view the fallout regarding permitting giving the body to the family or burial outside the Tihar jail? These are very sensitive issues. There are so many factors. The government (took a decision) keeping in view all the aspects and took a call. Can we now challenge that decision after 12 years?”

The petitioner then applied for permission to withdraw the PIL and submit a new one with information on the site being visited and exalted by radicals. In light of this, the bench dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Mamata Banerjee overtakes Kejriwal in blaming others, says Kolkata flooding is due to water coming from UP, Bihar, and Farakka dam

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata Banerjee overtakes Kejriwal in blaming others, says Kolkata flooding is due to water coming from UP, Bihar, and Farakka dam

Kolkata woke up on Tuesday, 23rd September, to one of the worst downpours it has seen in nearly 40 years. The heavy overnight rain submerged major sections of the city during the height of Durga Puja. Eleven individuals died, the majority of them from electrocution, and thousands of locals were stranded indoors.

The city, which was already abuzz with Durga Puja festival preparations, was totally paralysed as its roads, railways, and even Metro operations were submerged. 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, “the city received 251.4 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours, the highest since 1986. In some areas like Garia, the downpour touched 332 mm, while the northern parts of the city received around 195 mm.” 

Officials further said the intensity was nearly equal to a cloudburst, with the rain pouring at 98 mm per hour at its peak. For the 15 million people living in Kolkata, it was a night and morning of chaos, cars floated on water, homes were flooded, and major roads turned into rivers.

Amid this, chief minister Mamata Banerjee not only expressed her shock at the scale of the disaster but also blamed several factors outside the state’s control. She said the flooding in Kolkata was not just because of the rainfall but also because water from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states had flowed down into Bengal through the Ganga (Hooghly). 

According to her, the Centre has failed to properly dredge the Farakka Barrage, which has reduced the river’s capacity to hold water. “When the Ganga’s holding capacity goes down, where will Kolkata’s water drain out?” she asked.

Notably, the Hooghly River receives majority of its water from Ganga through the man-made Farakka Feeder Canal. The Farakka Barrage diverts a portion of Ganga water to this canal.

Mamata did not stop there. She also accused central agencies like the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and the Metro authorities of making matters worse. She said, “the state was already flooded because of the unilateral release of water by the DVC (another central utility), all rivers and canals were in a state of chaos. A lot of water is coming from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh through the Farakka Barrage; there was a problem because there was no dredging there. On top of that, this sudden heavy rain arrived.”

The Bengal chief minister made it clear that the situation was beyond what the state government could control. “This is nature’s fury. I had never seen rain like this in my life. Nobody can stop water from entering Bengal from outside,” she said. 

Mamata also slammed political opponents for trying to “play politics” over the crisis. “Instead of helping people in this calamity, they are spreading lies and misinformation,” she said.

She further hit out at the Centre, accusing it of taking away Bengal’s share of funds through GST while not helping the state in times of disaster. “Our own funds are being spent to deal with natural calamities. The Centre is not helping us at all,” Mamata added.

Back on the ground in Kolkata, the situation remained grim throughout Tuesday. In many neighbourhoods, people waded through waist-deep water while power cuts were imposed in several areas to prevent further electrocution deaths. 

The 11 deaths, nine of them due to electrocution from unattended live wires, exposed the city’s lack of preparedness for such extreme weather. “It breaks my heart that so many people died like this. Their families must be compensated and given jobs. CESC also has a responsibility here,” Mamata said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticised the West Bengal CM on the social media platform X. “Durga Pujo celebrations are starting this week. Yet, due to Kolkata’s extremely poor drainage system, Puja pandals are submerged under water. Years of anarchy under the CPM [Communist Party of India-Marxist] and nearly 15 years of corruption in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation under TMC [the ruling Trinamool Congress] have forced Bengalis to suffer even during their biggest festival, Durga Puja,” the BJP said on its X handle. 

Transport services were badly hit. Metro services between Dakshineswar and Shahid Khudiram on the Blue Line were halted on some sections due to waterlogging. Local train services from Sealdah were disrupted in both the North and South areas, and tracks at Howrah and Kolkata stations were also inundated, which caused multiple trains to be delayed. 

Traffic on the roads all over the city came to a standstill, and flights at the airport also suffered delays as runways were waterlogged.

The timing of the disaster could not have been worse for the people of Kolkata, as the city was halfway through preparing for Durga Puja. Several well-known outdoor pandals were destroyed by the rains, raising fears of whether the celebrations would be able to proceed as planned. Across the city, 3,000-odd puja pandals were submerged. The IMD also warned that another low-pressure system may form over the Bay of Bengal around 25th September, raising fears of prolonged disruption in south Bengal.

Seeing the current situation, Banerjee declared a holiday at all state-run schools and asked the universities to hold online classes. “I request private schools to prepone their already declared Puja holidays by two days,” she said.

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.

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